Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios

He was so solemn and so serious.

The lighting was good, the atmosphere was good, and even the breathing frequency was good.

As long as his head could lower further, his nose and lips would come into contact with hers.

Xiang Wan took a deep breath and looked directly in his deep set eyes. “By not missing out on me… are you saying that you wanted to kiss me?”

Bai Muchuan paused for a while and laughed. “Can I?”

“Well, if I want to…” Xiang Wan looked at his dashing face and suddenly gave a sneer. “You wanted me to cooperate with you, but there’s no script and we haven’t talked about remuneration. Don’t you think you’re going too far?”

“Mm?” Bai Muchuan was confused by her. “What are you talking about?”

“Haven’t you been going to the filming set frequently and wanted to try out acting? Don’t tell me you’re not looking for someone to hone your acting skills with?” Xiang Wan struggled hard to get her hand free, rested her hand on his forehead, and pushed him back. “Why don’t you change your career to be an actor instead?” She gritted her teeth. “Your acting is so professional, it will be a waste of talent if you didn’t become an actor.”

“Acting? Acting!”

Bai Muchuan repeated the same word twice and was so angry that he laughed.

“So you thought that I’m so free to come and act with you?”

Xiang Wan asked provokingly in response, “Isn’t that the case?”

Bai Muchuan paused for two seconds and smiled casually while drawing in to Xiang Wan’s face. “What kind of show can we act together? ‘Lust, Caution’ or ‘Lost in Beijing’?”

The way he looked at her was especially focused.

Xiang Wan’s back was moist from all the perspiration, and she felt a little sticky. She was a little scared of meeting his gaze directly.

Frankly, Detective Bai was similar to the male leading character in a Mary Sue idol story. Even his angry smile could mesmerize Xiang Wan that made her heart skip a beat and pound away. She wished she could act in an uncensored scene in “Lust, Caution” or a bath scene in “Lost in Beijing” with him…

Cough!

She had wandered off.

Although Xiang Wan had wandered off in her thoughts, her face still looked very serious.

“Don’t you think that you’re laughable? What right does a man, who already has a girlfriend, to tell another woman that life is too short and did not want to live in regret? Even authors daren’t write such content for they will be drowned in readers’ verbal abuses, do you know that? If I wrote about your behavior in my novel, your head would be full of tags.”

“What tags?”

“Scumbag, scumbag, scumbag!”

“!” Bai Muchuan narrowed his eyes. “I don’t have a girlfriend. How many times do I have to say it?”

“Oh right, you seem to have broken up with her unilaterally.” The corners of Xiang Wan’s lips curved into an evil smile. “Alright, I’ll put it this way then. How can a man who just jilted his girlfriend say something like that to another woman with just a turn of his head…”

“Xiang Wan, are you dumb?” It was hard enough to struggle free from Bai Muchuan, but after listening to what she said, he pulled her back and hugged her tightly. That exasperated look of his was as though he would attack her lips any moment and eat her up without even spitting out the bones…

“Hey! Don’t try anything funny!”

Xiang Wan quivered. “No matter if you want to act out ‘Lust, Caution’ or ‘Lost in Beijing’, without my permission, everything is illegal! Do you believe I’ll call the police?”

“Try saying one more word!” Bai Muchuan got closer to her face again, his nose almost touching hers. “Say it!”

“…” Xiang Wan shut her mouth up but gave him a sidelong glance.

“Speak more nonsense! And I’ll make sure to kiss you till you’re out of breath…”

So fierce! He’s sure overbearing.

Xiang Wan tried her best to pull a distance away from him, furrowing her eyebrows as she struggled. “Alright, alright, I’m not talking anymore. Detective Little Bai, your exaggerated acting has successfully attracted my attention… I’ll write a recommendation letter to the filming crew of ‘The Grey List’ to let them change the first male lead to you instead!”

“Xiang, Wan!”

“Yes?”

“Can you please shut up?” Bai Muchuan’s enchanting eyes seemed to contain fire. “Or you actually wanted me to kiss you?”

“Can you let go of me?” Xiang Wan retorted, “or you actually wanted to be the first male lead of ‘The Grey List’ to form a couple on screen with Xie Wanwan?”

The two of them pitted their verbal skills against each other, but none of them made any other movement.

Xiang Wan’s scalp felt numb. She felt as if a deer was jumping inside her heart…

His warm breathing, deep set eyes, and well-defined chiseled features slowly filled up her mind in an overbearing and arrogant manner, breaking her defenses…

Her head gave a stern warning that things might get out of hand.

If she continued to look at him, she was worried… worried that she would be the one to kiss him till he was out of breath.

“Bai Muchuan.” Xiang Wan cleared her throat, moistened her lips and attempted to push him away. “Yuanyuan’s going to be awake soon, and I don’t want her to see this. Let me go first, we can talk over matters as we’re not enemies anyway, there’s no need…”

“She’s already awake.” Bai Muchuan grunted a laugh. “She’s smarter than you.”

“…” She’s awake?

So this girl is hiding in her bedroom and listening on them?

“There’s also Cheng Zheng…” Xiang Wan gave it a thought. “You’ve asked him to come here to talk business, right? He’s coming over soon.”

“Hurhur! Naive.” Bai Muchuan raised an eyebrow. “Do you really think I’ll open the door for him?”

“…”

What did this fellow really want? she thought.

“I understand now!” Xiang Wan glanced at him awkwardly. “Clear logical reasoning, thorough planning. Looks like you have planned it out. Nevertheless, things might have gone the way you want yet there is something lacking!”

The analogy she used was funny!

Bai Muchuan pulled her slender waist closer to him with a sly smile. The feeling was too good, and he couldn’t help holding her tighter. He took a breath of the pleasant scent that didn’t belong to him and spoke to her in his low, husky voice, “Tell me then, what’s lacking?”

“Lack some love.”

“Didn’t you say that you like me?”

“Yes, that was in the past, but I don’t now.”

Xiang Wan really admired herself.

She was already in the arms of the “wolf”, but she was able to talk terms with him without batting an eyelid.

“My apologies, I’m unable to get involved with a man in such an ambiguous situation… If you want to fool around, find someone else.”

“Didn’t I make myself clear enough?” Bai Muchuan narrowed his eyes as though he wanted to see through her heart. “Both me and Xie Wanwan are not involved in a romantic relationship at all. To put it bluntly, I never felt any romantic feelings for her and never even touched a finger of hers. How can she be considered my girlfriend?”

Not even touched her finger?

He did not touch such a beautiful and sexy celebrity? Is he sick somewhere?

Xiang Wan squinted her eyes in doubt, and then quivered when she thought of Bai Muchuan’s cold and aloof expression when she first met him.

“I’m not interested in your private matters with her. Bai Muchuan, since we’re on this topic, let me make it clear to you then. Even if you are not romantically involved with her and did not feel anything for her, I still find it difficult to accept.”

“Mm?” Bai Muchuan swept a glance at her and stayed silent.

He seemed to be willing to hear her out.

Xiang Wan was able to free herself slightly from his arms. “Firstly,” she took a deep breath, “you are friends of life and death with a girl where both of you shared a secret that no one else can know about it. Secondly, you said you owed her. That means the relationship between you and her will be a long term one… Anyone would feel vexed by being your girlfriend.”

Bai Muchuan’s arms felt stiff.

He raised his eyebrow without a word and just looked at Xiang Wan.

“Do you think that I’m too unreasonable here?” Xiang Wan gave a soft chuckle and felt braver. “That my expectations of my boyfriend is too high? Are you thinking that by stepping down from your pedestal to chase after me, I should be grateful, express my thanks, and welcome you warmly?”

“… I didn’t.” Bai Muchuan’s lips twitched slightly. “Don’t be so sensitive.”

“This is not being sensitive.” Xiang Wan looked at him and suddenly puffed a sigh. “In fact, the society has never given women the right to choose their spouse. That includes your declaration of love right now, there’s also an air of superiority…”

Hur. Bai Muchuan did not know if he should be amused or irritated. “I just couldn’t understand.” He thought for a while before asking, “Why couldn’t you accept me? I pledge with my honor that I do not and won’t have any romantic feelings toward her whether in the past, present, and in the future. Will that do?”

“No!”

Xiang Wan paused for a while and smiled again.

“If I have a male friend just like that, will you be able to accept it? If I’m always available whenever he needs me and I’m always grateful toward him; if when he’s in trouble I’ll immediately help him out; if I’ll give him even my life but not my body, will that be fine to you?”

This rhetorical question was sharp but practical.

Bai Muchuan had a change of expression. “Who is that? I will strangle him to death!”

Pffft! Xiang Wan chuckled.

“See, you couldn’t take it even though I’m just saying it. On what basis do you want me to accept the same thing then?”

“It’s not the same.” Bai Muchuan furrowed his brows and tried to explain to her. However, he seemed to have difficulty doing that and finally heaved a heavy sigh. He spoke gently in a soft tone as he lifted his hand to pat her head, “Xiang Wan, I know what is important and what is not… Going ahead, I will definitely try to keep my distance with her and not meet unless necessary.”

Bai Muchuan said this very earnestly.

The well-defined, handsome face was tinged with a faint sense of melancholy.

This look of Bai Muchuan reminded Xiang Wan back at Green Garden Neighborhood–the first time they met. Especially the way he looked as he leaned on the entrance to her apartment while waiting for her.

Even though she knew him better as time went by and his image in her heart had undergone many changes, there was always a tinge of coldness and melancholy between his eyebrows.

He was a man with a story to tell.

And this story, had nothing to do with her.

“I’m sorry,” Xiang Wan heard his uneasy voice, “I don’t know what you have experienced with her, but I don’t want to question you about it either. Everyone has their own past, and I’m not the type to be difficult on purpose. Nonetheless, I feel that you’re not clear about your feelings right now. I feel that this is an act of impulse that comes after being provoked, is it not?”

Bai Muchuan was taken aback for a moment.

Xiang Wan met his gaze bravely.

“During this period, I’ve read many of the reference books that Senior has given me,” she smiled, “in the past, those feelings that I could only feel but not able to find the exact words to describe the feeling… Slowly, I think I can understand now.”

Bai Muchuan did not say a word.

In his deep and depressed eyes, there was a tinge of distress within.

Xiang Wan lowered her head and paused for a moment before looking at his now brooding eyes. “There was once a time I thought you liked me and I was even confident that we should be able to develop our relationship.” There was a touch of tenderness in her flat voice. “But, before going back to the Capital, you denied me outright… At that time, I know that we are not separated by distance but the heart.”

“I didn’t think much about it then.” Bai Muchuan puffed a sigh and brushed the tip of her nose. “I surrender. Don’t bring up the old scores, please? In future, you can look at my performance?”

“I remember when I read Second Young Master Mu’s novel, ‘The White List’,” Xiang Wan laughed, “there’s a sentence in there that summarized men’s attitude toward love. He said, men’s love is more complex than women’s, but their behavior toward it is much simpler.”

Bai Muchuan stayed silent for a while.

“How is it complex and how is it simple?”

“Men’s love needs weighing, thinking and choosing… This is the complexity. Whereas behavior can be presented in a single form, it is driven only by sex.”

“!”

Bai Muchuan’s slightly narrowed eyes gave a sudden smile.

“Female authors can’t be trifled with.”

“Then why don’t you let go of me?”

“Don’t be in a hurry, I need to get this cleared!” Bai Muchuan’s expression was much more relaxed, and his hand which was on Xiang Wan’s waist gave a light squeeze. His palms were hot and had rested on her thin blouse where it was now moist with perspiration. “We have said so much and you are basically concerned about two points. Firstly, you’re unable to feel my sincerity. You feel that I’m not serious so you’re unwilling to accept me. Secondly, you still have doubts toward my friendship with Xie Wanwan. Even though I’ve pledged on my honor, you’re still skeptical.”

A serious man is most attractive.

His burning gaze seemed to penetrate into her skin and made Xiang Wan’s logical thinking power deteriorate for that moment.

“I think so.”

“Very well.” Bai Muchuan pinched her nose gently in satisfaction. “I can resolve these two points!”

Resolve… How is he going to resolve them?

While Xiang Wan was perplexed by his words, Bai Muchuan suddenly released her and guided her to sit on the sofa. Lastly, he placed the glass of water in front of her.

“Just you wait!”

What is he doing?

Xiang Wan looked at him with her eyebrows closely knitted.

Bai Muchuan just left like this without giving an explanation.

When he opened the door, he turned back to look at Xiang Wan who was sitting on the sofa, confused. He suddenly walked back before her and patted on her head gently. His smile seemed especially enchanting under the light.

“Be good and wait for me!”

There was a warm, electric current that came from his arm, which spread to her hair and went into her blood.

Xiang Wan felt her heart going numb and her cheeks slightly burning.

“…”

Has he gone crazy?

She stared at the door as he closed it.

…

Outside the door, Cheng Zheng had just finished washing up and changed into a fresh set of clothes and happened to see Bai Muchuan leaving the place as both of them opened the door at the same time.

He paused for a while. “You’re leaving now?”

“I’ve something on.” Bai Muchuan walked away like a gust of wind. “They’ve gone to bed, don’t disturb them,” he said loudly while pressing the lift door.

Cheng Zheng: “…”

So what are you here for exactly? he thought.

…

It was now night time in Jin City.

Lanterns were hanging along the roads in the midst of an impending festival, giving it a prosperous sight.

In a flower shop by a street, Bai Muchuan was frowning.

“What kind of flowers do girls like?”

The female retail assistant was completely “murdered” by his good looks. Her amiable smile was so gentle that even she herself was terrified by it.

“… Actually, no matter which flower you choose, your girlfriend is going to be very happy.”

Why would one need to look at flowers if one had such a good-looking boyfriend?

Which girl would not like that?

While the retail assistant was thinking about this, she felt a sudden rush of emotion. The expression of Bai Muchuan, on the other hand, was instantly frozen. “What did you say?”

Bai Muchuan was not the type of “central air-conditioning system” that treated everyone with the same temperature. His sudden change of expression made the retail assistant immediately get out of her trance.

“I was saying, all girls like flowers. As long as it’s from someone they’re fond of, anything is fine…”

What she said was true.

But Bai Muchuan was caught in a fix.

“What if it’s from someone that she’s not so fond of?”

“What?” The retail assistant had an incredulous expression.

Is there someone who didn’t like him, huh?

Oh gosh, I feel like teaching that girl a good lesson! she thought.

The retail assistant was in a daze again and Bai Muchuan swept a weird glance at her. “Hurry and introduce me two types of flowers that can please girls.”

Retail assistant: “… Okay.”

Just introduce him the expensive ones then, She thought.

“This types are the more popular ones. Girls do like them a lot. This bouquet is called ‘Missing You’, this bouquet is called ‘Your Alluring Smile’, this one is called ‘You’re My Life’, and this one is called ‘Autumn Fairy Tale’…”

“Enough!” Bai Muchuan could not listen anymore. He pointed to some flowers inserted in the cylinders. “Just help me make a beautiful bouquet.”

“Oh, okay.” Those introduction was for nothing.

Bai Muchuan kept looking at the time and avoided the retail assistant’s gaze.

It was the first time he bought such stuff. He was not used to it and actually felt bashful.

The retail assistant worked fast. The bouquet was ready in no time, and she handed him a card.

“Sir, do you want to write something on the card…”

Bai Muchuan furrowed his brows. He took the pen and contemplated about what to write.

“My Queen! Kindly accept this with a smile!” He wrote.

“…” The retail assistant’s hair stood on end upon seeing that.

What kind of girl has such luck that her boyfriend treated her in such a careful manner?

“Thank you!”

Bai Muchuan paid up and wanted to leave with the bouquet when his mobile phone rang.

He took a look at the incoming number before taking the call. “What’s up?”

Xie Hui, who was on duty that night, called him up.

“Captain Bai, something happened at Grand Orchid Pavilion. A group of fans gathered and got into a fight. The public who called the police said there are casualties… And, that Xie Wanwan seemed to be hurt as well. The 110 Command Center just called, we need to deploy officers to the scene immediately…”

Bai Muchuan’s face was frozen after listening to what Xie Hui said.

He hung up the phone and looked at the bouquet he was holding. He pondered for a while and gave it to the retail assistant.

“I’ll give you an address. You’ll help me deliver it tomorrow morning!”

…

In a room, there was a solitary lamp.

Xiang Wan was unable to sit at the living room and wait without doing anything. So, she decided to write her story in the study.

Bai Muchuan’s smile.

Bai Muchuan’s expression.

Words that Bai Muchuan said.

As well as how Bai Muchuan looked before he left…

All of these occupied her brain as well as her laptop.

She was unable to write anything.

She was unable to digest what happened that evening. It was as though seaweeds grew inside her brain; going round after round that everything got entangled…

Geez!

Why didn’t you leave me alone in my head as well? I can’t write my story!

Xiang Wan scratched her head and was trying to calm herself down.

Creak! Someone entered the study.

Fang Yuanyuan, who was wearing her pajamas, came in a hurry looking flustered.

“Sis, Detective Bai has gone back already?”

Xiang Wan nodded her head. “What’s up?”

Fang Yuanyuan’s face looked slightly drained of color. “I was chatting with Huanghuang earlier when he suddenly said there were fights breaking out at his workplace and did not reply me anymore. I called him just now, but he did not answer as well. Sis, I’m worried. I worry that something might happen to him…”

“Calm down!” Xiang Wan said, “It’s a very big nightclub after all, so he’s not the only security officer there. Moreover, if something happened, the police will definitely be informed. Since the police will be there, there’s nothing to worry about. Don’t forget, your Huanghuang used to be a detective. He knows how to protect himself.”

Women in love are blind.

Fang Yuanyuan’s heart was filled with Huang He. She was unable to take in her consolation.

“The last time when something happened, I was not there with him. This time… No, I need to be there…”

“!” Xiang Wan looked at her. “It’s better not to go and create more trouble for him.”

“I’m not going there to create trouble. I’m just worried and will only take a look. As long as he’s safe, I’ll come back immediately.” Fang Yuanyuan was so apprehensive that she was nearly in tears. “Sis, how about you accompany me there? We’ll just take a look at the situation, please?”

Sigh! Xiang Wan placed her laptop on the coffee table and got up from her seat. “Go get changed quickly then!”

“Okay, I’ll be ready in a minute.”

Fang Yuanyuan dashed back into her bedroom.

Xiang Wan took a look at the tightly shut main door and thought of Bai Muchuan. After pondering for a moment, she was worried he might come back here and thought it was better to send a message to him.

“Where are you? Are you coming over?”

Bai Muchuan did not respond right away.

Xiang Wan received his reply only when they were about to leave their place.

“I have urgent matters to attend to. I won’t be coming over today. Do rest early!”

Urgent matters? Xiang Wan frowned. “Is there a case? Do you need me to come over?”

“No need, just go and have a good sleep. Don’t tire yourself out!”

Xiang Wan raised her eyebrow as she could feel the strong boyfriend tone and couldn’t help laughing about it.

“I see.”

…

Grand Orchid Pavilion.

It was an upscale nightclub in Jin City.

It was not uncommon for celebrities to chill out in bars and clubs. However, it was rare that a large number of fans were gathered to continue their fight from online quarrels to an offline large scale brawl.

While on the way to Grand Orchid Pavilion, Fang Yuanyuan kept dialing Huang He’s number while Xiang Wan kept refreshing the internet news.

Online sources were not always accurate, but they tend to be faster in speed.

Sure enough, people started to post news in the local Jin City forums and news sites.

The sources claimed that Xie Wanwan put on airs during filming that day. She was supposed to film an intimate scene with Ye Lun, but she wore a dark, brooding expression throughout and rejected to film that scene. The director took care of her feelings and indicated that they could use the forced perspective technique. In the end, the moment Ye Lun touched her waist, his head had not even went near her when she immediately gave him a slap on the face. Next, she pushed him away, went to the ladies, got a mouthwash and was vomiting badly inside…

It was a really trivial matter.

The rational netizens felt that it was not necessarily because Xie Wanwan despised Ye Lun. Perhaps Xie Wanwan could be feeling unwell.

The jesting netizens thought maybe Xie Wanwan was pregnant, so she might be suffering from morning sickness?

Xie Wanwan’s fans tried to defend their idol, expressing their opinion that all these years, Xie Wanwan had hardly acted in intimate scenes and always had a pure image. Her agreement to act in “The Grey List” was solely out of love for the story. Prior to the shooting of the scene, the director should have communicated with her earlier and not informed her at the last minute that there was a kissing scene, forcing her to behave intimately with a stranger…

The more popular Xie Wanwan was, however, the more haters she would have as well.

The haters criticized her mercilessly: smoking, drinking and messy private life. They beseeched the fans not to humiliate the word “pure”.

Ye Lun’s fans attacked Xie Wanwan like tidal waves. They condemned her by saying that she was much older than Ye Lun, yet she was acting cute. They said she should be glad that Ye Lun, such a handsome young man, was willing to act out the kissing scene with her. They were infuriated that she actually dared to despise their idol, definitely too wicked to be pardoned…

Everyone has their own views.

Everyone has their own beliefs.

At one time, the fans were locked in a super intense battle online.

The spectators found it fun and fanned up the flames until things started to get out of hand.

The film set was not afraid that the incident was hyped up. The more hype it had, the better. But the online verbal abuses between fans could seriously affect the mood of the celebrities which was not good for the rest of the shoot. Therefore, that night, the director invited the main cast to Grand Orchid Pavilion to ease the tension between them. No one expected that fans of both sides would get the news and gather all they could so as to teach the other party a lesson…

Those teenage girl fans were the most vulnerable to incitement.

They were young and impulsive. Nobody was able to stop them in their “righteous ardor” to defend their idol.

“Wow! They’re so crazy!”

Xiang Wan puffed a sigh and suddenly thought of Bai Muchuan.

That fellow said he had something urgent to attend to. Could it be that he had gone to Grand Orchid Pavilion?

The internet sources said that Xie Wanwan was being jointly attacked by Ye Lun’s fans and nearly got splashed by sulphuric acid. How could he not go?

…