Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios
Their first topic of the day between two adult men was actually about sleep, was it really suitable?
Xiang Wan saw Cheng Zheng’s sharp gaze and felt speechless about it. Bai Muchuan, on the other hand, did not seem to mind as he shrugged his shoulders.
“Yeah, quite good.” He got closer to study Cheng Zheng’s face. Soon enough, the corners of his lips lifted upward. “Yo, dark circles under your eyes? You didn’t sleep well?”
“…”
This fellow always knew how to let himself be comfortable and diss the other at the same time.
Xiang Wan observed a moment of silence for Cheng Zheng.
No, it was a moment of silence for Cheng Zheng to have met Bai Muchuan.
With his character, he was no match for Bai Muchuan as he was too honest.
As the two of them pit against each other, their gazes fighting in the air. Bai Muchuan was elegant and relaxed, while Cheng Zheng’s expression was stiff and grim.
A few seconds later, he gave Bai Muchuan a sidelong glance and seemed to make a soft snort. “So what’s your decision?” Cheng Zheng changed the topic.
“Ah? What?”
“The instrument.”
“Oh.” Bai Muchuan seemed to finally react to his sudden change of topic as he nodded his head slowly. His gaze was serious, yet there was also some hidden ridicule in it. “Your performance was so good: washing the bowls, cutlery, pots and pans. How can I not agree?”
“…”
Xiang Wan felt speechless again while Cheng Zheng’s expression changed drastically.
Bai Muchuan must have been Cheng Zheng’s nemesis in their past life.
It was a simple sentence, but because of his tone, the flavor was different.
Especially the way he looked at Cheng Zheng, it was as though he was saying—You’re so obedient, of course, I have to dote on you!
—Well, Xiang Wan imagined that sentence in her head.
This thought suddenly made her shudder. She felt that she had become the shameless third party to the two men.
“Ahem!” She cleared her throat, interrupting the two of them who were continuing their staring contest from earlier. “Look, gentlemen, shall we go now?” She blurted a reminder, “The carpark is not a good place to talk about romance.”
“Let’s go!” Bai Muchuan retracted his gaze and placed a hand on her shoulder.
This possessive stance was totally domineering and provoking, as if he was declaring to someone he was the owner of something.
Cheng Zheng looked at Bai Muchuan intently with a hint of unfriendliness, before his gaze swept past Xiang Wan slowly as he made his way to his car without saying anything.
Bai Muchuan had one hand in his pocket and the other cuddling Xiang Wan. His sly expression was sexy and enchanting. Obviously, he was more receptive toward Xiang Wan’s humor and teasing than Cheng Zheng.
“He wanna pit against me? Too naive!”
Xiang Wan: “… You’re happy?”
“You’re not happy?”
Xiang Wan glanced at him and said nothing.
After getting onto the car, she asked slowly, “Did my words earlier offend Cheng Zheng?”
Bai Muchuan looked straight ahead at the back of Cheng Zheng’s car and let out a chuckle. “Who knows? If he’s offended, let him be.”
“…”
Xiang Wan was more of a homebody. She frequently cracked such jokes with her fellow author friends as well as her online friends no matter their gender. They had no problems with her achillean humor. However, Captain Cheng seemed to be more inflexible and conservative in such areas. He might not be able to accept jokes of such nature.
Xiang Wan gave a sigh due to her mindless words and turned to Bai Muchuan.
“So do you mind me saying that?”
“I don’t!” Bai Muchuan gave her a cool smile. “I have nothing to lose anyway.”
“!” As though he had everything to gain.
Xiang Wan believed him; she put on the safety belt, puffed another sigh and closed her eyes.
…
The daily routine of the Criminal Investigative Unit was almost the same every day.
There was tension in the silent environment, but sometimes, they were still able to relax in the tension.
That morning, however, the atmosphere at the office was as though pent-up.
The entire Criminal Investigative Unit already knew about Zhou Dequan’s suicide at the detention center.
But before Bai Muchuan held a formal meeting to inform about the details, everyone had tacitly chosen to stay silent. Even Little Liu, who loved to gossip, was working quietly with his mouth shut.
Although Xiang Wan did not buy any breakfast to the office that morning, she was still the same as usual, helping out her fellow colleagues run some errands and stuff like that. In the entire department, it seemed that she was the most carefree.
Bai Muchuan stayed inside his office the moment he arrived and only came out at 10:00 a.m.
“Everyone stop your work for a moment. I have something to announce—”
Earlier on when Xiang Wan went to get water, she heard him on the phone and his tone did not sound friendly.
But when he appeared in the hall, he was so calm and collected as though nothing had happened.
“I believe all of you have heard about what happened last night at the detention center. I’m not going to comment on this. But there are two important points to note. Firstly, Zhou Dequan’s case has been handed over to our team. Secondly, I’ve received news that Zhou Dequan left behind a suicide note where he confessed to all of his crimes…”
“What?!”
Everyone looked at each other.
He confessed to all of his crimes but he was already dead.
Darkness slowly crept in their minds but no one said anything.
After a moment of silence, someone spoke up. It was Tang Yuanchu. “Captain Bai, they didn’t even allow us to go to the detention center last night. And now they just passed over the case like that, is this a joke?”
Bai Muchuan’s forehead crumpled slightly. “We’re the ones in charge of this case originally, so there’s nothing wrong in handing it over to us.”
After that, he gave Tang Yuanchu a warning look. “We just need to do what we should for our job! We’re going to the detention center!”
“Yes.”
“Tang Yuanchu, go get the car!”
“Yes, boss.”
During this period, Tang Yuanchu was as though Bai Muchuan’s personal chauffeur.
There were many colleagues in the team who envied him. When he first arrived in their unit, he had Huang He’s support and guidance. Now that Huang He had left, he was well-liked and recognized by Bai Muchuan. This young fellow was on his way to a bright future.
Tang Yuanchu was very modest when he responded to their envious remarks.
“I actually did not have many talents. I mainly depended on my looks.”
“No, no, no, even if we don’t believe your character, surely we believe Captain Bai’s character?”
“What do you mean?”
“What do you think?”
This funny conversation amused the team for two years.
However, by then, Bai Muchuan was not in Jin City. As for Tang Yuanchu, he got his wish granted as he got transferred over to serve his favorite boss—
As of now, the team was still very harmonious. Although Tang Yuanchu liked to boast every day, he did not get beaten up to death.
…
The police car arrived at the detention center.
Bai Muchuan got Qi Canghai, his Vice-Captain, and Xie Hui to handle the paperwork for the handing over of the case, while he brought Xiang Wan and Tang Yuanchu to see Huang He.
The door to the reception room opened.
The same place, the same scene was replayed. Xiang Wan couldn’t help feeling sad about it.
Huang He was inside. Xiang Wan, Bai Muchuan, and Tang Yuanchu were outside. They were separated by a glass panel.
Huang He seemed especially haggard. He was already thin to begin with, but he was so much skinnier now. When he sat on the chair, it looked as though a tall bamboo pole was being bent. That was really dreadful and quite painful to watch.
Xiang Wan’s nose felt a tingle at that sight whereas Tang Yuanchu couldn’t resist calling out to him, his voice sounded as though he was in pain.
“Brother Huang—”