Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios
Zi Tan?
Xiang Wan was confused for two seconds.
She felt speechless and when she was replying to the message, she couldn’t help laughing.
“Am I the murderer just because she said so? She’s not the police.”
“She thinks she’s the police, and said to be better than the actual detective. Besides, insinuating someone and distorting facts in the internet need not bear any legal responsibilities…”
“Who said so? Defamation is a crime.”
“I’ve already said it’s an insinuation. How can it be considered defamation? What’s more, do you think you have thicker arms than her that you can win against her in arm wrestling?”
Indeed, the words of the one whose backing was stronger would have more weight.
Xiang Wan knew the rules of the society.
She rubbed her nose and replied lazily.
“Fine, I admit, her arms… are thicker than my waist!”
“Hahahahaha…”
They chatted for a while and Yuan Qianqian pasted a few screenshots over.
The first screenshot was Zi Tan’s condolence as well as denunciation post on her Weibo.
“Zhang Lu’s death is a huge blow to me. At this very moment, there are no words to describe my sorrow. I just want to ask, the scum who killed and humiliated people just because of some bickering. Ain’t everyone born and raised by their parents? Is your bottom line of morality this low?”
“…”
At first glance, there was nothing wrong with the post.
She was just scolding the one who murdered Zhang Lu.
However, the real culprit had not been identified. How did she know that Zhang Lu was murdered because of “some bickering”?
Under that post, it was filled with all kinds of insinuating insults that were directed at Xiang Gongzi Wan…
Xiang Wan felt her scalp going numb just from watching that.
Due to Zi Tan’s insinuating post, Xiang Wan knew very well that her Weibo account would definitely come under bombardment.
Therefore, she made up her mind not to check her Weibo account as well as the forum. There was no need to torture herself by reading all those malicious comments.
The enthusiasm of the spectators would not go down for the time being. What she could do now was to ignore them.
“This woman is really capable. She already solved the case that even the Criminal Investigation Unit has not managed to solve.”
Xiang Wan had an ironic smile as she replied to Yuan Qianqian.
“As she did not point out my name specifically,” advised Xiang Wan, “we should not respond to them. We’ll be at a losing end if we get too worked up, just ignore her.”
Silence is golden.
At moments like this, the best thing for her to do was to keep her silence.
However…
Yuan Qianqian sent a facepalm emoticon.
“She’s inciting readers to scold you. You can ignore her, but we couldn’t… D*rn, I’m not afraid of her! We’ll retaliate. Do remember this, you also have readers standing by you!”
“…”
Xiang Wan felt like her heart had almost collapsed.
“Fine, I’m weak!”
“Don’t be weak, just put up a fight!”
“… What if we’re unable to beat them?”
“Don’t worry, I’ll write an article to get you out of the situation. I’m your dearest reader after all!”
Of course, Xiang Wan would not trash it out with Zi Tan and her readers.
They were obviously trying to stir things up. If she were to go along with that, it would be just what they wanted.
However… she had no control over her readers.
Over the internet, everybody has their own freedom to decision making.
Among her readers, there were also no lack of young fans who were willing to lend a helping hand by defending her.
They quoted classics, poems and songs, philosophy of life, as well as laws and regulations to ethics of life to prove that it was impossible for Xiang Gongzi to kill someone.
However, would it work to talk about all these with the bandits?
It was of no use.
The result was pretty much what Xiang Wan had expected. The more her readers responded to them, the more the other party blasted them.
The more they defended, the more loopholes were found in their argument.
There was a huge difference between Xiang Wan’s readers and Zi Tan’s readers.
Like attracts like. Xiang Wan’s works were relatively closer to life. Most of her readers tend to be more mature with relatively more knowledge, whereas Zi Tan’s readers were relatively much younger with immature thinking and values. These group of people tend to have the “chunnibyou syndrome”: they were overflowing with fervor, ready to charge at Xiang Gongzi and shred her into pieces for the sake of their idol, Zi Tan.
They would attack and abuse her with all their might.
They even resorted to fabricating evidence to prove her crime by creating fake images.
Ultimately, Zi Tan’s readers even activated a cyber manhunt—
Xiang Wan’s personal information was being disclosed and posted on the Internet.
They laughed at her as an ignorant dropout who had never done anything serious. Yet by sheer luck, due to a novel of hers, she was asked by the Criminal Investigation Unit to be an Advisor.
The results were obvious.
She only worked there for a only a couple of months and got terminated from the Criminal Investigation Unit.
“…”
Xiang Wan experienced the horror of online rumors firsthand.
It was not as serious when they ‘refer donkeys as horses’. After all, these two animals were similar…
But these people could totally ‘point to cows as tigers’ indiscriminately.
Of course, it was impossible to say that Xiang Wan did not suffer any harm.
Even if Xiang Wan deliberately avoided reading all these things, there were still some well-meaning readers who would inform her and even send her screenshots…
Every screenshot was dreadful and hurting.
Once again, Xiang Wan experienced the horrors of cyber violence.
Nevertheless, she did not tell Bai Muchuan about it.
For the past two days in the Capital, he was working on the transfer of the case.
Moreover, men had different views toward the catfight between women. It was impossible for them to mind so much over it, unlike women.
Xiang Wan had chosen to keep quiet about it.
For the two consecutive days she lived in Bai Muchuan’s house, even though she had so much time with her, her chapters were getting shorter and shorter.
Her mood and emotional state were affected.
Yes. She was hurt by the incident.
She was deeply hurt by those people that she did not know and would never know…
…
She stopped staring at her laptop. She went out to buy ingredients for cooking and prepared dinner. When Bai Muchuan came back from work, a delicious meal was waiting for him. Xiang Wan chatted with him as though nothing had happened.
She thought that Bai Muchuan did not notice that as well.
Xiang Wan was relieved as Bai Muchuan was still the same as always, calm and collected.
She felt that it was right not to tell him about her situation.
It was now the third day.
Xiang Wan was totally unable to write anything.
She sat before her laptop for one hour, two hours, four hours, five hours… Her head was blank, her soul was as if being taken away by force. She kept thinking about the dark side of human nature and the unreasonable yet real incidents that had happened to her.
She was unable to think about the case.
She was unable to write her story.
There was a tearing pain in her heart.
Bai Muchuan went to Serious Crime Division One in the morning as usual.
Xiang Wan paced back and forth in the huge house.
The lush green plants on the balcony, the cold workout equipment in the gym room…
She was so depressed that she didn’t know how she could vent it. She wished she could simply pull her hair and shout out loud to the whole world.
Just what kind of grudge did she have with them that they had to do this to her?
However, for a web novelist, the most painful thing was that no matter how hurt she was, she had to get up to write her story.
She had not yet updated for the day.
If she didn’t write her update, what would happen?
But she couldn’t write anything, what should she do?
Her frustrations were as though tangled up like a rope that went around her heart round after round.
She sat on the rocking chair in the balcony like a lifeless doll, her eyes as though empty and gloomy as she looked out at the sky.
That was when she received a call from Zhan Se.
“Hey Babe, wanna go for a meal together?”
Oh my! What did she call her? Xiang Wan felt speechless.
“Sure, Senior.”
“When are you free then?”
“I’m always available, just awaiting your summoning!”
“Hahaha, okay, I’ll come pick you up. Let’s have lunch today.”
“… Alright, I’m troubling you then. See you later.”
“It’s no trouble. See you later.”
After hanging up the call, Xiang Wan realized something.
Zhan Se did not ask her for the address?
Hence, she sent another message with the address and started to prepare to go out by taking a shower and getting changed.
She had been in the Capital for three days; besides the supermarket nearby, she had yet to visit any other place.
Originally, she should have taken the initiative to meet up with her Senior Zhan Se.
As Zhan Se did help out in getting materials for her in her profiling work…
She did not do so as the past two days were not the right time.
Bai Muchuan was busy with work, and as for her, she was not in the right state of mind to meet up with anyone.
…
Zhan Se did not reply to her message but arrived outside the neighborhood about an hour later.
“You can come out now. I’m waiting for you at the entrance.”
By then, Xiang Wan had already changed her attire and even put on some light makeup. Her dispirited look was swept away. She now looked vivacious with a big smile on her face—she was as though a changed person.
“Long time no see, Senior.”
As soon as she got into the front passenger seat, she gave Zhan Se a warm hug.
Zhan Se returned her hug and studied her with a smile. “Hmm, you seem to be in good spirits? How are you recently?”
“Not bad.” Xiang Wan smiled.
Sometimes, one could share their joys and sorrows with their friends.
But she was currently filled with too much negative energy at the moment. She really didn’t want to treat Zhan Se as her emotional dumping ground.
Furthermore, it was hard for people outside of the online literature industry to understand what was happening even if she told her everything.
Zhan Se took another glance at her, her mouth formed a smile as she started the car. “What do you want to eat?”
“I’m not familiar with the Capital, I’ll listen to you.”
Zhan Se: “Okay, I’ll take you to a nice place.”
Needless to say, Zhan Se would only take her to clean and quiet places. Xiang Wan was psychologically prepared for that. But she was still amazed when she arrived at a very special private kitchen.
This private kitchen was not open to the public.
They had a membership system where every diner must be a member.
“What a nice place!” Xiang Wan sat down and looked around the place. “Senior,” she exclaimed, “thank you for taking care of me…”
“Haha! You’ve learnt to crack jokes from Little Bai!”
Xiang Wan felt a little embarrassed.
The last time when she came to the Capital, she was trying to draw a line between herself and Bai Muchuan…
And now, she had become Bai Muchuan’s girlfriend.
“Well, it turns out that I have a good eye in discerning things.” Zhan Se took a sip of tea with a smile.”
“… Well, I really didn’t expect things to turn out this way.”
Xiang Wan let out an awkward chuckle as she observed Zhan Se’s expression and tried to change the topic.
“Senior, you’re really beautiful.”
It was not that Xiang Wan had hardly come across other beautiful women. Take for instance, Xie Wanwan was considered to be a topnotch beauty. Nonetheless, Zhan Se’s beauty was different. She had exquisite features and a tall and slim body with rosy white skin. When she lifted up a teacup, her fingers looked as if they were peeled onions…
She could not help admiring her Senior even though she was a woman herself.
However, Zhan Se was modest. “Please don’t say that—”
“I’m not joking around,” Xiang Wan chuckled, “you’re really beautiful. And this is not flattery!”
“Haha!” Zhan Se felt amused. “Well, I wanted to say that you can try using other artistic or poetic words to describe my beauty… You kept saying beautiful, beautiful, but mind you, you’re a novelist…”
“…”
Xiang Wan laughed so hard that she almost banged on the table.
“But that’s the most appropriate word! The rest of words… they’re too superficial. Can’t match up to you.”
“Aye, fine!” Zhan Se seemed to be a little upset. “I’m such a beautiful person, the only word that could match up to me is only beautiful.”
“Hahaha!”
Women are sometimes more fun to be with than men.
They talked about celebrity gossips, social news, beauty and skin care… time passed by quickly.
The dishes were served. It was exquisite and nutritious.
Xiang Wan seemed to like them, but she did not have much appetite.
But in order not to spoil the fun for Zhan Se, she would occasionally eat a small mouthful with her chopstick as she spoke.
“Mmm, it’s really good.”
“Yeah, the food here is pretty decent,” Zhan Se smiled, “but yet such nice food is unable to cheer you up?”
“…”
Xiang Wan suddenly looked up.
She was welcomed with a smiling Zhan Se and her pair of eyes which was scrutinizing her.
Xiang Wan was a little intimidated by a face to face, eye to eye “confrontation” like this.
She learned a lot about Zhan Se when she was studying the reference books that Zhan Se gave her—this Senior of hers was certainly an accomplished psychologist.
So, Zhan Se had already seen through her pretense right from the beginning?
Xiang Wan felt slightly abashed and put down her chopsticks.
“Actually, there’s nothing much, it’s just that I encountered a bottleneck in writing my story—”
As her reply was as though nothing serious, Zhan Se’s advice was also of no help.
“…” In no time, Xiang Wan found herself at a loss of words.
“Do you know why I looked you up?” Zhan Se asked with a smile.
“Why?” Xiang Wan pursed her lips into a smile. “Could it be that you’ve come all the way to comfort me, no right?”
“You’re actually right.”
Zhan Se laughed as she come clean with her.
“In actual fact, Little Bai had come to ask me for help two days ago. He asked me to bring you out, chit-chat with you, and to hear you out or offer some advice… but I was caught with work for the past two days. Today, I finally managed to get some free time and so here I am, I need to clear my mission.”
“!” It’s actually Bai Muchuan.
For the past few days, he did not ask her anything.
And Xiang Wan thought that she was good at hiding her own emotions.
“Aye!” She puffed a sigh with a smile and rubbed her face. “What a disgrace! And here I thought Senior saw something amiss.”
“Of course, I did.” Zhan Se raised an eyebrow and deliberately gazed at her with a stern face. “Don’t doubt my professional capability.”
“I do not dare to! Please spare my life, great heroine!”
“Hur!” Zhan Se laughed, “You can still crack jokes. Seems that you’re handling it well. Your desire to survive is very strong.”
“Heh, of course. I’m your Junior after all.”
“… Come on, tell me what happened?”
She knew Xiang Wan was not in a cheerful mood, but she did not know the reason.
As for Xiang Wan, she only knew that she was in a bad mood, but did not expect that after listening to her story, Zhan Se would tell her… that it was not just bad mood but also a sign of depression.
“I can’t give you any advice on what’s going on in your circle, but getting out of it really depends on oneself. Of course, it also depends on love.” Zhan Se gazed at her and smiled. “Little Bai really cares about you and loves you very much. You have a man who’s trying to protect your self-esteem with such great care and also takes care of your feelings, what other reason do you have that you can’t get out of it?”
Xiang Wan only smiled.
“I know that.”
After pausing a while, she added, “That’s why I didn’t want to tell him and you.”
“Mm?” Zhan Se listened attentively.
“The most terrible thing about cyber violence is that, no matter how much pain the victim feels, for these people who are not related to the victim in anyway, they just treat it entertainment—like watching an interesting show. Moreover, they would also feel that it’s not a big deal… even when I’m so upset that I feel like I’m dying, there’s nothing I can do about it. Reason being, no matter what I do, say, or respond, they will only continue to chastise me that I’m unable to retaliate. I can only suffer quietly and wait for time to heal myself.”
Zhan Se looked at her for a long time before showing a smile.
“Looks like Little Bai is worrying too much. Actually, you don’t need any counseling. Because, you are the best counselor for yourself.”
“Eh?” Xiang Wan giggled. “Who said I do not need counseling? I do need it! Having talked to you, I’m in a much better mood. Besides, my counselor also brings me out to eat delicious food!”
“What a glib tongue you have!”
Zhan Se gave her a bantering glare before taking her mobile phone out.
She took a glance and smiled as she passed her mobile to Xiang Wan.
It was a WeChat message from Bai Muchuan.
“Sister Zhan, have you talked to my girlfriend? How is she?”
Xiang Wan: “…”
This man! Sigh!
Isn’t he busy with the case transfer? Xiang Wan thought, he still have time to worry about me?
She pressed on the voice message icon in front of Zhan Se. “Your girlfriend is perfectly fine,” chortled Xiang Wan. “I’ll cook some delicious food for you tonight! Do come back early when you’re done for the day.”
Maybe when Bai Muchuan heard that it was actually Xiang Wan who sent him a voice message, he was taken aback and took quite a long time to respond with a voice message.
“Baby, you really scared the hell out of me. Okay, I’ll come back home earlier today. We need to go to Xi City again tomorrow!”
…
