Captured By The Cold Detective (BL)-Chapter 505: Are You Out There?
He Juan’s heart soared like a dragon taking its first flight and he swiftly abandoned his super late lunch in lieu of following the man to the port. He had deliberately taken residence near the sea so that he could receive the news about Marius as quickly as possible, and it only took him less than ten minutes to reach the deck where the men had been waiting for him.
"Boss, we found this stuck on the coral reefs five kilometers away from the explosion!"
An item was promptly presented to He Juan, and his breath snagged in his throat when he realized that it was none other than Marius’ buddhist bracelet which he had always worn on his wrist, still intact and unharmed.
Trembling, He Juan took the bracelet in his hand, his fingers caressing each bead and feeling out the cold, solid sensation. It was as if he could see Marius returning, smiling apologetically for having made everyone worried. He Juan raised his head, revealing a pair of bloodshot eyes filled with agitation and adrenaline. "Start a more intensive search around that area!" He ordered in a hoarse voice. "Question the villagers nearby if they have spotted him ashore. He must be found, no matter what!"
"Yes, Sir!"
The appearance of the bracelet was akin to a spark that ignited their fighting spirit, especially after a month of fruitless searching. He Juan clutched the bracelet tightly in his hand as he gazed at the sea before him, until the originally cold beads were suffused with the warmth of his skin. He closed his eyes and took in a lungful of salty air he had gotten extremely familiar with over the month.
You must return, Marius, he fervently prayed with all of his heart. You must.
On the first day, He Juan forewent sleep altogether as he waited for news from his men with his heart full of hope and anticipation. Yet the result was disappointing.
Then came the second day, the third day, and the fourth...
It was a harrowing cycle of waking up with renewed hope, only to be crushed with immense disappointment and despair when his men returned each evening empty-handed. This continued for another half a month until one of his men cautiously suggested,
"Boss, maybe we should... consider giving up," he braced himself to say. "The chances of surviving in such deep waters is already slim to begin with. On top of that, there’s also the injuries we have to take account of and the predators—"
Click.
He Juan drew his gun and aimed the muzzle at the man’s forehead with such speed that no one could react. The safety trigger was already off, and he only needed to exert a little strength on his finger to make the shoot. "I dare you to say one more word," he hissed, his silver eyes piercingly cold.
"B-Boss!" The man was so frightened that his face turned pale, while the others knew better than to intervene and turn themselves into the target of He Juan’s ire.
He Juan’s voice growled with menace, "Say it!"
The man trembled in fear, large beads of sweat rolling down his temple despite the chilling temperature. He closed his eyes and sank to his knees, desperately begging for forgiveness. "I–I have spoken out of turn. Please forgive me, Boss! I will never mention it again!"
He Juan’s wintry and hostile glare bore into him like a predator’s, as though he was looking at a dead body. His jaws clenched tight, his chest rising and falling rapidly with each breath he took. He resembled a beast driven to a corner, full of rage and desperation to struggle out of his current predicament. In the end, he did not pull the trigger but swept his gaze over everyone present, the warning in his eyes evident.
"This will be the last time," he declared coldly. "If I ever hear one word about it again, don’t blame me for being cruel."
As his words settled heavily in the air, he turned and made his way to the deck like he always did everyday. He gazed at the retreating sunset on the horizon, lost in thought. The golden glow cast dark shadows upon his silhouette and highlighted his desolate figure. Are you there? He whispered in his heart. Are you out there somewhere, waiting for me to find you? Please, give me a sign. Show me you’re still alive. I beg you, M. Just once... just help me one more time...
It was not like He Juan was ignorant. He also knew that the chances of Marius surviving was slim. That night, he had surely been injured by the explosion. The waters were so cold and dark, the currents overwhelmingly powerful. In such a grave condition, could he find his way to the surface or...
He Juan dared not continue that line of thought any longer or else he felt like he could really go insane. He could not give up – he must not. The Interpol had withdrawn, even his men had become disheartened. And if He Juan were to give up as well, who would find Marius? Who would save him and bring him back to where he was supposed to be? To where countless people had been waiting for him?
"XIU!"
That voice struck He Juan akin to a bolt of lightning, causing him to freeze up. His eyes widened, his breath stuttered and his entire body grew tense. Impossible, how could he be here...?
However, when he turned around, there stood Sirius on the other end of the deck, panting. Behind him were Jia Molei and Chen Youzhi who had no doubt accompanied the boy here.
He Juan had maintained regular video calls with him over these past two years, but it was not until now that he saw the eleven years old Sirius face-to-face again. He had grown much taller, his limbs longer though his cheeks still retained a bit of baby fat. He was starting to look more and more like his elder brother, especially those brilliant blue eyes of his.
Yet at the end of the day, he was still an eleven years old child.
Tell Sirius that I’m sorry.
Sirius sprinted over, his feet pounding the deck with the rhythm that matched He Juan’s thundering heart. He stopped right before He Juan and tilted his head, the rims of his eyes reddening. "Marius... My brother. W–Where is he?"
