Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios
Xie Wanwan was dazed for half a minute before she let out an “Aye” and she laughed.
“Detective Tang is an interesting person but he’s too naive. It’s hard to find someone like him in this society. If I were to be younger by a few years, maybe I will fall in love with him.”
She seemed like she was joking around.
Her eyes were smiling; her eyebrows were smiling; every part of her was smiling.
Yet Xiang Wan could see the heavy feeling of dejection from the bottom of her eyes—
She was not indifferent.
Her woman’s intuition told her that Xie Wanwan had feelings for Tang Yuanchu.
To the extent that it was more than what she had expected.
Perhaps she had resigned to reality, perhaps she had weighed the pros and cons or perhaps she was really hurt by the statement that Tang Yuanchu’s mother had made, as well as the cruel remarks that swarmed her Weibo account… She restrained herself, not to let her feelings get the better of her.
A mature and sensible woman is practical.
She was different from Tang Yuanchu who was a young fellow that just stepped into society.
In the former’s life, the most important thing in life was no longer love.
Only a big boy like Tang Yuanchu would place love first.
In fact, Xie Wanwan had made the right choice if it was doomed that they would never get together.
Her clear-cut attitude to end this would let Tang Yuanchu know that he did not have the slightest chance to be with her at all.
Only when he realized that fact, he could go on and seek out his own happiness.
And grow up from all these experiences.
…
The atmosphere had changed because of this episode.
No matter how hard Xie Wanwan tried, she was unable to change it back.
Soon, the dishes were being served. The food was exquisite and the taste was good. They chatted about ‘The Grey List’ and talked about incidents and things that happened during filming. Xie Wanwan also shared some ideas about post-production and publicity… It was obvious that she was trying very hard to come out of her unhappy mood after Tang Yuanchu had left.
She tried her best.
For topics that she would know very well, she actually gave vague answers, some of her replies were even wrong although her words might sound reasonable.
She was obviously distracted.
Ye Lun took several glances at her with the corners of his lips lifted upwards.
Hence, there was nothing important being said during the meal.
They were there for about 40 minutes when Bai Muchuan received a call and wanted to leave when he came back after taking the call.
“My apologies, we gotta go now. Do enjoy your meal.”
Bai Muchuan was polite and courteous. Even if he was cold, he was rarely someone who was overbearing and self-centered. Hence, Ye Lun—a rare and expensive abstract painting, even if he was not tainted with ink, paled in comparison before him as well.
A flavor that came from the bones.
A flavor that came to a man who had experienced a lot in life.
A flavor that came from an open-mind after seeing so much evil in life.
When the two of them arrived at the carpark, Bai Muchuan propped his forehead and was a little frustrated. “We need a designated driver.”
He had drunk wine.
Although it was just a small cup.
“Mm.” Xiang Wan took out her mobile phone.
“Let me find one!”
Bai Muchuan put a hand on her waist and pulled her closer. “Let me do it. I can’t tire out my wifey.”
As the two of them talked to each other softly, a shadow walked over to them.
“No need to get a designated driver. I’m right here.”
Tang Yuanchu?
Earlier on, he was squatting in a corner and did not move.
The lighting in the underground car park was not very good. Thus, they didn’t realize that he was there.
It was natural that the underground carpark would not get fresh air. Hence, there was a damp and musty smell at the atmosphere. If one stood there for a while more, even the breathing wouldn’t feel smooth. Xiang Wan did not like this smell yet Tang Yuanchu had been squatting in such an environment for 40 minutes.
Xiang Wan asked, “If we didn’t come down for a long time, how long do you intend to wait here?”
“I’ll wait for you two to appear,” replied Tang Yuanchu as he reached out a hand to get keys from Bai Muchuan.
Bai Muchuan passed the keys to him without saying anything.
Tang Yuanchu took the driver’s seat and started the car.
Xiang Wan and Bai Muchuan took the passenger seats and she glanced at the back of his head. “You sure this is okay?” she asked half-jokingly as she wanted to make him talk more, “You reek of alcohol. What if the traffic police found out?”
“But I didn’t drink any wine.” Tang Yuanchu adjusted his seat.
Then he looked at the wine stains on his pants quietly and said nothing more.
…
The car got out of the underground carpark smoothly. His driving skills were still the same as ever.
The expression on Tang Yuanchu’s face was very peaceful as well. One wouldn’t be able to tell that he had just been hurt emotionally.
Was 40 minutes of time enough for him to lick his wounds and successfully heal himself of that?
Xiang Wan was doubtful. She would sneak a peek at him occasionally but she knew it was not appropriate for her to ask so much.
For something that was humiliating or embarrassing, if one kept mentioning and asking about it, it would not appear as consolation but more of rubbing salt on another’s wounds, which was a rather mean act.
Along the way, the three of them were unusually quiet.
Xiang Wan thought of how Tang Yuanchu pleaded with her to help him out.
Then she thought of his sunny and lively smile and felt really bad for him.
Nevertheless, any type of pursuit that was not successful was the same.
“I still have something on.” Bai Muchuan suddenly opened his mouth. “Drop me at the office and you’ll send Xiang Wan back. After that, you are free to do what you want.”
Was that a time-off for him?
Xiang Wan was slightly surprised.
The present situation at work was rather tense but yet he gave Tang Yuanchu time-off, looks like he favored Tang Yuanchu a lot.
However, Tang Yuanchu did not appreciate his good intentions. “No need.”
Bai Muchuan seemed a little grim. “This is an order.”
Tang Yuanchu: “…”
An order, every time he would use that on him.
So that he would comply.
Tang Yuanchu puffed a sigh and looked at the rearview mirror with gratitude. “I’m really alright, boss. I’m the police. I can’t go missing in action at a time like this. I’m the one who’s liaising with the hospital. What if something urgent crops up?…”
Bai Muchuan’s face seemed dark and grim. “Tch, do you think that we can’t work without you?”
“…”
Tang Yuanchu knew that he was just trying to make him feel better.
“Boss, I…” said Tang Yuanchu in a tepid tone, “I’m really afraid of taking a break now and have nothing to do.”
Then he tried to persuade Bai Muchuan. “Boss, just let me continue working. Only work can make me feel better.”
Bai Muchuan opened his half-closed eyes to look at Tang Yuanchu via the rearview mirror. In there, he saw that his eyebrows were deeply furrowed.
“Fine, as you wish.”
…
The end result was that the three of them went back to Serious Crime Division One.
As Xiang Wan had finished updating for the day, she need not go back home.
The first thing that she did when she arrived at Bai Muchuan’s office was to catch Bai Muchuan. “What happened to you today?”
Bai Muchuan had an innocent look. “What about me?”
Xiang Wan replied, “You understand Xie Wanwan more than me.”
Bai Muchuan: “…”
Although she was friendly and smiling, he felt that it was not simple.
One wrong answer to her question and he would be in for a hard time.
Not answering questions like this was usually a better choice.
So he kept quiet and looked at her with a confused expression.
Xiang Wan gritted her teeth as she looked at his “honest and sincere” face and let out a snort. “I’ve already said not to let Tang Yuanchu come along with us but you insisted to let him come along. You even said that Xie Wanwan wouldn’t mind. Now look at what happened? He’s so hurt now!”
Bai Muchuan looked serious. “You think that this is not a good thing?”
“What’s good about it?”
“What’s not good about it?”
Bai Muchuan sighed as Xiang Wan was glaring at him. He embraced her gently and patted her back. “Pain would come, it’s just a matter of time. If so, why not let it come sooner? The earlier the wound comes, the faster it heals.”
Xiang Wan was dazed for a moment.
She looked up from his arms and stared at his eyes.
“You guessed it already?”
“… Not really.”
“Does that mean Xie Wanwan told you something privately?”
“She didn’t.”
“Hur!” Xiang Wan frowned a little and her tone sounded sour. “That’s even more unbelievable. Is this what they call ‘the bosom friend’? Someone who will always understand the other’s actions and thoughts?”
