Fight, Flight, or Freeze: The Healer's Story
Chapter 47: The Truth Revealed

Chapter 47: The Truth Revealed

Bai Long Qiang turned around to look at the sergeant sitting in front of him. Most people here treated him with some form of respect, knowing who his father was, and yet, this man did not show any of that.

"Sir?" he asked, raising an eyebrow. Just because he was the best at what he did, didn’t mean that he would allow a stranger to criticize him. Especially when he had no idea what he was talking about.

"I’m sorry, was I not clear?" replied the other man with a slight smirk on his face. "And here was me thinking you were somewhat intelligent."

Bai Long Qiang bristled at his words, but he bit his tongue, refusing to let his temper get the best of him. He needed this man on his team.

"I have never missed a funeral," answered Bai Long Qiang through clenched teeth.

"Huh, that’s funny. I mean, your father and grandfather were there. Shouldn’t you have been, too?"

"My father and grandfather attend many events that I don’t," shrugged Bai Long Qiang as if it wasn’t that big of a deal. But internally, he was racking his brain, trying to figure out if there was a funeral that he was supposed to go to.

Assured that he hadn’t turned down his father’s request to attend one lately, he simply looked at the man.

"Ah, and here was me thinking that you would have at least gone to support Wang Tian Mu," mused Cheng Bo Jing, the smirk never leaving his face.

However, Bai Long Qiang stiffened as her name passed the man’s lips. "What. Are. You. Taking. About?" he asked slowly, each word pulled out of him. He reached into his pocket and took out his phone. No missed calls or texts from her.

Pulling up the tracking app, he furrowed his eyebrows. What was she doing in City Z? How long had she been there?

"I don’t know if you are really this stupid, just acting, or if you really didn’t know..."

Bain Long Qiang returned to the chair he had previously occupied and sat back down. Fuck whatever else he had today. He wasn’t leaving his office until he knew what was going on...

And how Cheng Bo Jing knew that name.

"Huh, I might almost be convinced that you didn’t know. But I know for a fact that she called you a few times, and you never answered."

It took everything inside of him not to reach over the desk and punch the other man. It didn’t matter that he outranked him or that Bain Long Qiang needed him on his team.

"She didn’t call me."

"On that, we have to agree to disagree. But if you honestly don’t know what is going on, I highly suggest you speak to the General." Cheng Bo Jing heard another ding from his phone, and he felt that he had given the idiot in front of him enough of his attention.

"You know where the door is," he said, not looking up from his phone. Wang Tian Mu had sent him yet another meme. With a smile on his face, he replied to her. If the little shit in front of him couldn’t offer her comfort when she needed it, he couldn’t be upset when others did.

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"Dad," said Bai Long Qiang as he strolled into his father’s office. It was a very typical office, done in reds and golds with a large wooden desk in the center and bookcases lining the walls behind it. Hell, even the drapes were done in a heavy red fabric, lending opulence to the room.

"Hey," replied his father, looking up from his computer. "What can I do for you? How is your team coming?"

"Fine," dismissed Bai Long Qiang as he took a seat in front of the desk. "I have a question for you thought."

"Go ahead," grunted his father as he looked back at the computer and started typing away.

"Did I miss an event that I shouldn’t have?" asked Bai Long Qiang point blank, watching his father’s reactions. Ever since Wang Tian Mu had mentioned micro expressions, he had been interested in learning about them.

"Not that I can think of," replied his father, not bothering to look away from his computer.

"Really? Because Major Cheng seems to think differently. Something about it being okay to miss a wedding but not a funeral?"

There was a slight pause in the General’s fingers before he continued whatever it was that he was doing.

"So I did miss something," mused Bai Long Qiang with a slight smile on his face. Internally, he was absolutely pissed. What did he miss and how did it involve his girl?

"It was nothing that needed your attention. You had enough on your plate. You still do. How is your team coming again?"

Ah, deflection. Bai Long Qiang didn’t move in his chair, not a twitch, not an extra breath.

One of the things learning about micro expressions teaches you was how to control your own.

Five minutes passed before the General let out a long sigh and turned his attention back to his son.

"It wasn’t that big of a deal. You didn’t need to know."

"I beg to differ, seeing as it is enough to make Cheng Bo Jing not want to be in my team," replied Bai Long Qiang.

"Right, he was there too..."

Bai Long Qiang’s eyes narrowed at that statement. "He was where?"

"At patriarch Song’s funeral," said the General, as he removed his glasses and started to rub his eyes. His wife had said that Bai Long Qiang didn’t need to go and he listened to her. Maybe he should have at least given Bai Long Qiang the option.

"Wang Tian Mu’s grandfather passed away?" demanded Bai Long Qiang, the calm that he was trying for slipping through his fingers. "And you didn’t think to tell me about it?!"

"There’s more," sighed General Bai as he replaced his glasses and returned his attention to answering the email in front of him.

"I’m waiting."

"It wasn’t just him. The entire family was in the car at the time of the accident."

And just like that, Bai Long Qiang’s world shattered.

"And Wang Tian Mu?"