Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios

Xiang Wan walked out of the main entrance and waited for awhile before Fang Yuanyuan appeared with her car…

Both of them had something on that night.

Their youngest aunt’s daughter, Xing Feifei, would be holding her 18th birthday celebration. Both of them, being the elder cousins to Xing Feifei, even though they did not really like her, still had to appear.

Fang Yuanyuan wore a new dress and put on a bright-colored lipstick which made her look in good spirits.

In contrast, Xiang Wan was more muted.

As the car drove on the road, Fang Yuanyuan glanced at her repeatedly and tried to talk to her.

“Have you bought a present for Feifei?”

“Eh?” Xiang Wan turned to look at her. She took three seconds to digest what Yuanyuan had said and looked at her pair of empty hands. “I did. But… I forgot to take it.”

Fang Yuanyuan: “…”

“Goodness, big sister! What’s wrong with you?”

“I hate people calling me big sister. Don’t you already know?”

“Yes, Missy!” Fang Yuanyuan muttered, “Am I having the life of a maid? Now I need to think how am I going to drive back…”

That road was a one-way street. They drove for quite a while before finally able to make a U-turn.

The car was now on the way back. Fang Yuanyuan felt her head hurting. “Sis, do you know you’ve been so distracted lately that it’s scary?”

“I don’t know.” Xiang Wan had an innocent expression and smiled at her. “I only know that my updates have been pretty good lately. My lord editor, you haven’t noticed it?”

“Yes, your updates are pretty good lately. The subscriptions looked good as well. Our chief editor even talked about you during meeting today. She said that even though your book is niche, it is full of potential. You can apply to the website to get your book listed on the recommendation page…”

“Really?” Xiang Wan was glad. “Isn’t this great?”

Fang Yuanyuan pouted and turned to look at her. “Yeah, but somehow, you don’t seem quite right? You haven’t made up with Detective Bai? Is his attitude toward you better now?”

Oh well! There she goes again.

Why did everyone feel that when Bai Muchuan ignored her, she would be in a bad state?

“Let me make this clear one more time. I’m really fine. Fang Yuanyuan, don’t ask me again!”

“Well, I still don’t think so…”

“Shut up!” Xiang Wan stared at her gloomily.

“Hey!” Fang Yuanyuan pressed her lips tightly and gave her a sidelong glance. “Go shout at Bai Muchuan instead!”

“…”

Why did she have to shout at him?

On what basis could she shout at him?

Xiang Wan gave Fang Yuanyuan an unbelievable look before she looked straight ahead at the congested street.

Fang Yuanyuan had a brain that focused on love. Xiang Wan was different from her; she had slightly stronger control over her emotions.

As long as one believed in one thing, one could always stick to it.

However, the heavens seemed to be pranking her. She had finally calmed down and went back to the office to take her gift for Xing Feifei, but when she walked into the office, she heard the voices of Tang Yuanchu and another two women.

The voices sounded familiar. She could easily distinguish the owner of the voices.

It was Xie Wanwan and her female assistant.

“I’ve said it but she refused to listen. She’s like a queen, what can I do?”

“Didn’t I look all right now? I feel bad for troubling all of you to come fetch me and bring me all those nice food. I have nothing to do at the moment, so I came here to take a look. Isn’t it nearer from here as well?”

Xie Wanwan’s voice stopped abruptly.

This was because she saw Xiang Wan at the entrance.

Xiang Wan saw her as well.

Coincidentally, Xie Wanwan was sitting on Xiang Wan’s chair. She had a cap on her head, dressed in a cool and plain skirt that made her look like a fairy when coupled with her exquisite facial features. At one glance, she looked young like a college student. Her female assistant was sitting beside her, wearing T-shirt and jeans. She was quite good-looking as well, but sitting beside Xie Wanwan only made Xie Wanwan stand out more.

Tang Yuanchu was standing before where Xie Wanwan was sitting and looked at Xiang Wan in surprise. It was unsure what kind of embarrassing situations he had thought inside his head. He was stunned for a moment before he turned to face Bai Muchuan who just stepped out of his office.

Xiang Wan followed his line of sight and her nerves seemed to tug at her for a moment.

Bai Muchuan was a little far from them. He was wearing shirt and trousers; his long slender legs; his handsome face; his strong-willed expression; and his pair of peach blossom eyes could easily stir up one’s heart.

Xiang Wan felt really awkward.

Originally, the atmosphere without her was very good.

In the end, the moment she appeared, she caused them to stop chit chatting.

Xiang Wan said, “My apologies, I forgot to take something.

As she said so, she walked toward Xie Wanwan as she happened to be sitting at Xiang Wan’s desk.

Without looking at anyone, coupled with a smile in her eyes, she looked calm but her heart was beating furiously.

I’m still too inexperienced , she thought mockingly. She felt that this experience might not be as pleasant, but it was valuable. She must remember this feeling so that in the future if she could write such a moment in her novel, she could describe it more accurately.

Xie Wanwan saw her standing in front of her. “Eh?”

She did not understand.

Xiang Wan pointed at the drawers behind Xie Wanwan. “I need to get something.”

Xie Wanwan paused for a moment and immediately got out of the way.

“I didn’t know, my bad!”

Xiang Wan smiled at her politely.

At such a close distance, she could see Xie Wanwan’s face very clearly… her skin was smooth and fair, and her pores were so fine that one could hardly see any flaw. There was really a huge difference between ordinary people and celebrities.

Xie Wanwan had remembered her. “That day… thank you.”

“Don’t worry.” Xiang Wan nodded her head and smiled. “I should do that.”

Xie Wanwan smiled at her too. After Xiang Wan took out the gift and was preparing to leave, she extended an invitation politely.

“Let’s have dinner together?”

To be honest, after understanding Xie Wanwan’s childhood and experiences, Xiang Wan could not bear to dislike this woman.

But with Detective Bai standing at the walkway, in an unmoving stance that could make one flinch at the sight of him, how would she dare to join in the dinner?

“No thank you, I have an appointment.”

She had to reject their invitation once again and waved the gift on her hand at Xie Wanwan.

The fancifully packaged gift was clearly prepared for someone.

Hence, they believed her words.

Xie Wanwan took a look at Bai Muchuan.

“Next time then.”

“Mm, okay. See ya.”

Both of them were polite to each other.

She waved at Tang Yuanchu and Xie Wanwan and walked toward the entrance in a relaxed manner. However, Bai Muchuan actually walked over to her.

He stood before her, his hands in his pockets. Xiang Wan could not read anything from his dark pupils. His lips were tightly pressed together, but the corners of his mouth turned slightly upward which gave her a cold, bad*ss feeling.

Xiang Wan did not know what he wanted. She lifted her head slightly to look at him. Her heart was pounding very fast as she waited for him to speak.

Bai Muchuan said, after pausing for two seconds, “I’ve seen your profiling analysis.”

“…”

When at the workplace, talk only about work.

Xiang Wan took a small gasp, and told herself to calm down and look natural.

“I’m waiting for Captain Bai’s instructions and comments.”

“You’ve strayed greatly from the point.” His sharp gaze swept past her eyes. His good looks under the lighting of a rainy weather had a sense of chill that could penetrate into one’s heart. “You didn’t get to the heart of the matter, and your analysis of the case was like an amateur.”

“…”

She was originally an amateur.

She never said she was a professional in criminal psychology.

“So?” Was he trying to say that she was no longer of value to the team, that she should leave the team?

Xiang Wan looked directly at him without saying another word more and waited for further instructions.

Bai Muchuan’s dark pupils were as dark as the sea. “You need not participate in this case anymore.” He said after a while. “You need not write the report as well.”

She could not participate in the case analysis.

She need not write the profiling analysis anymore.

So what was she doing here? What was the meaning of her existence in the team?

“I can’t be getting paid and do nothing in return.”

Xiang Wan smiled sincerely as she looked at him. “Captain Bai, if you feel that I’m not up to the task and wanted to fire me, I’m fine with it. But you can’t let me do nothing while I’m still getting paid. My sense of responsibility will not allow that. You’ll be doing a disservice to the organization, right? So, since you’ve put it this way, are you terminating my service?”

Xiang Wan’s employment was classified under the department’s expense, as “contracted services”. Her salary was not being budgeted for nor was it categorized under payroll. Therefore, she was considered different from the rest of them. She did not want others to think that she was here because of Bai Muchuan and leave because she had “fallen out of favor”.

That would make her sleepless at night and unable to get through it.

“No.”

Bai Muchuan took a long time to say that.

“So what’s the arrangement?” Xiang Wan continued to press for an answer, staring into his eyes courageously.

“This case is drawing to a close so don’t waste your time on it.” Bai Muchuan looked at her coldly from his height. “If you’re willing,” he said casually, “you can pay attention to the case of ‘The First Middle School’.”

“What case is that?”

“Last night in ‘The First Middle School’, the safe inside the principal’s office was broken into.”

“…”

Xiang Wan left like leaving right away at that second.

Or to spat at him and tell him in the face that she would quit instead!

But she couldn’t forget why she was there in the first place. She couldn’t just quit like this.

“Alright, I understand, I’ll look into it.”

It was her immediate superior’s arrangement, so she just needed to comply with it.

That was how everyone worked there. It was no exception for her as well, and she also felt she shouldn’t be an exception, either.

She was preparing to leave when Bai Muchuan stopped her.

“Wait.”

“Is there anything else, Captain Bai?” Xiang Wan asked with a smile.

Bai Muchuan turned to Tang Yuanchu. “Send Teacher Xiang the case details of ‘The First Middle School’.”

“Ah?” Tang Yuanchu was somewhat taken by surprise. “Now?”

“Yes, now.” Bai Muchuan squinted his eyes. “Any problem?”

“No problem.”

Boss has said so, what problem will there be? Tang Yuanchu retorted inside his head.

Tang Yuanchu grinned and told Xiang Wan to wait for him as he quickly turned on his laptop. Xiang Wan waited quietly without moving even though she felt like her stomach was churning with all kinds of sour and spicy feelings. She managed to maintain her calm composure and attitude.

The office suddenly fell into silence.

The few of them did not talk. Xiang Wan could only look at Tang Yuanchu as she did not know where else she could look at.

Fortunately, Fang Yuanyuan could wait no longer and called to hurry her.

When Xiang Wan heard her mobile phone rang, she felt relieved, and as if grabbing a life-saving straw, she smiled at Bai Muchuan and Xie Wanwan and took the call after walking aside.

“Wait for me a little while more.

“I’m so sorry, darling…

“Don’t be angry, I’ll come right away… I promise, I’ll come out immediately when I’m done!”

When she hung up the phone, Tang Yuanchu had prepared the documents and gave her a summary of the case.

After listening to that, Xiang Wan knew what kind of case it was.

That was just a simple case of theft.

Totally different from the complexity of Xie Wanwan’s case.

Xiang Wan acknowledged but did not comment on it. “Okay, I’ll go back and take a look. Everyone, I’m leaving now.”

She turned away and she felt a cold, chilly feeling behind her back.

She was quite terrified if Bai Muchuan would stop her again and say something else.

However, he did not say anything.

Xiang Wan did not turn back to look either.

…

“Ohh…. huff!”

Tang Yuanchu heaved a sigh heavily.

“Boss, what happened between you two? My heart almost jumped out of my mouth.”

Bai Muchuan gave him a glance idly.

“I’m afraid your heart can’t be used anymore.”

“…” Tang Yuanchu laughed awkwardly and walked over to Bai Muchuan then took a look at Xie Wanwan. “I’m really confused,” asked Tang Yuanchu, perplexed, “I don’t understand why you did all these?”

Bai Muchuan patted on his shoulders.

“If you can understand, you’ll be my Boss!”

“No, no, no, I did not even dare to think that way!”

Bai Muchuan grunted a laugh. “Stop pretending! I don’t want soldiers who don’t want to be a general!”

“Heheh. So now…”

“Let’s go for dinner now.”

…

Fang Yuanyuan was flabbergasted at Xiang Wan’s encounter earlier.

“Oh my goodness! What coincidence! I also feel embarrassed for you!”

If she was not driving, Fang Yuanyuan would have given a thumbs up to her. “You’re my cousin indeed! If I’m the one who encountered this, I might have walked right out the door or quarreled with him. How can I just let the scum and b*tch off like this…”

“Stop your nonsense!” Xiang Wan said with a higher pitch and stared at her disapprovingly.

Fang Yuanyuan was frightened by her. She stole a glance at her and kept quiet.

“They’re friends. It’s perfectly alright to have a meal together. I’m not even friends with him now. If you call them scum and b*tch, won’t that make me worse than a b*tch?”

“I’m feeling unjust for you,” pouted Fang Yuanyuan in an unhappy tone. “How can he bully you like this, that’s too much… Wanwan, ignore him. Why don’t you consider Captain Cheng? I really feel that he’s a good choice. He doesn’t smoke, doesn’t drink and has no bad habits. He’s good-looking and capable. More importantly, he treats you wholeheartedly. Where can you find a man like this?”

“I know he’s a good choice but when I’m with him, I can’t help feeling cold as though I’m lying inside a coffin…”

“Umm!”

Fang Yuanyuan quivered at the instant and guffawed at her remark.

“Isn’t he a perfect match for you? Just look at you now, I feel like lying inside a coffin when I’m sitting beside you…”

“!”

…

At seven o’clock at night in Jin City, it was already dark.

After Fang Yuanyuan parked her car, she and Xiang Wan made their way toward the banquet room in the hotel.

Xing Feifei’s “coming of age” celebration was held at the New Century Hotel. It was the leading hotel in Hongjiang district as well as Jin City.

They could already feel the crowded atmosphere before they got close to it.

There was a huge lighted advertising panel at the entrance of the hotel where it showed an amazingly beautiful portrait of Xing Feifei in a lovely gown. Rows of arches decorated with happy birthday balloons and flowers lined up the entrance.

Tan Yunchun was standing at the reception and walked over when she saw Xiang Wan.

“Why are you so late? Didn’t I tell you to come earlier to help out?”

Fang Yuanyuan smiled and immediately freed herself from blame. “The moment I knock off from work, I went to fetch Cousin Wan.”

Tan Yunchun’s eyes then stared at Xiang Wan as if staring at an enemy.

It was Xing Feifei’s birthday celebration and Tan Yunchun placed great importance on it. She wanted to help out whatever she could as she was always grateful for the help her youngest sister had rendered all these years.

Xiang Wan was able to understand her feelings and chose to stay quiet.

“Mom, I’m late as I went to pick a present for Feifei.”

Tan Yunchun finally looked better after hearing her explanation.

“Feifei’s over there, you can give her the present now.”

Xing Feifei was raised as though she was a princess since young. She was currently standing beside her parents to receive guests.

Xiang Wan knew that her mom would have already given a red packet to Feifei. So she bought a scarf for her as they were relatives after all.

But she knew very well that no matter what she gave the little princess, she would not like it.

Hence, she did not actually spent a great deal of time choosing the scarf. She just bought it casually as the price and quality seemed alright. She took a ribbon as well as a nice bag to wrap it up and considered the mission accomplished.

Nevertheless, Tan Yunchun was very excited and pulled both girls along to Xing Feifei.

“Feifei ah, your elder cousins bought presents for you…”

“Wanwan, Yuanyuan!” She nodded at Xiang Wan and Fang Yuanyuan, taking over the presents.

Xiang Wan and Fang Yuanyuan smiled at the birthday girl.

“Feifei, happy birthday to you.”

Xing Feifei took a glance at both of them and smiled a little reluctantly. As there were guests around, she did not say much. She just nodded her head and took the presents, placing them aside casually. “Thank you!”

There was not much emotion in her thanks.

Xiang Wan knew that in Xing Feifei’s eyes, her mom’s relatives were poor and could not bring any benefit to them. Not only that, they might even make them lose face. Only her dad’s relatives could make her look good…

Relationship between relatives were sometimes very practical.

She understood that so it was not strange to her. She nodded and proceed to enter the banquet room.

At this time, Xing Feifei suddenly screamed and that attracted the attention of everyone.

“Eldest brother, eldest sister-in-law, you’re here! Dad, mom, my eldest brother and eldest sister-in-law are here…”

She had called out so excitedly that it would be impossible for anyone to not turn around and see what was going on.

There were several people walking on the red carpet. The couple walking right in front… were similar to the celebrities walking on the red carpet. The man was dashing with a valiant aura while the woman was graceful and beautiful.

As for Xing Family’s background, Xiang Wan had heard a little about it.

However, when her youngest aunt told them about it, it sounded too miraculous as though they were rumors. Hence, she felt her youngest aunt was boasting and did not take it to heart.

But at this moment, upon seeing these two people, a feeling of difference in class suddenly rose in her heart.

“Who is that? He’s dashing!” Fang Yuanyuan squeezed her arm. “I’ve never seen him before?”

Xiang Wan shrugged her shoulders and looked on quietly.

At this moment, her youngest aunt and uncle-in-law welcomed them warmly.

“Liehuo, Lian Qiao, you’ve travelled from so far to come here. Quick, come in and take a seat!”

Xiang Wan did not know who was Liehuo and Lian Qiao.

But when she saw the smiles on youngest aunt and uncle-in-law, she felt an uncanny resemblance to the smiles her mom, eldest aunt, and uncle-in-law made whenever they meet youngest aunt and uncle-in-law.

They were polite but at a loss. They wanted to be warmer to them, yet they were worried about being gossiped that they were trying to gain favor with someone of a higher social position.

Xiang Wan suddenly felt an urge to laugh.

A role reversal took place before her. The sad part of human nature was being portrayed thoroughly in the stunning and resplendent banquet.

Only when they sat on their table did Xiang Wan hear from her mom about the couple.

That married couple came from the Xing Family in the capital.

Xing Feifei’s grandfather and the grandfather of Xing Liehuo were brothers.

Their ties with each other was not as close, but not far, either. When Xing Feifei’s grandfather was still alive. Their families frequently got together. After Xing Feifei’s grandfather passed on, the frequency got reduced to occasionally. Furthermore, most of the time, Xing Yuanhang and family went to the capital as if to “pay tribute”. Afterall, the reputation and status of the Xing Family in the capital was much higher than them. Xing Yuanhang’s business had depended on these people’s support as well.

If there were events or celebrations over at the Xing Family in the capital, they would also invite youngest aunt and uncle-in-law.

If there were events or celebrations over at the Xing Family in Jin City, the Xing Family in the capital would only send gifts but never personally appear.

After all, it was too far, and it was the best excuse.

Therefore, the appearance of Liehuo and his wife at Xing Feifei’s birthday banquet somewhat overwhelmed youngest aunt and her family.

“Wow, so cool!”

After listening to Xing Liehuo’s personal legend, Fang Yuanyuan’s eyes widened.

“I’ve always thought that such heroes only lived in novels and dramas. Goodness, I’ve never thought a hero will appear right in front of me. I want to go to him… and ask for an autograph and make a small heart sign…”

Pffft! Xiang Wan was amused by Yuanyuan’s words. She looked at the couple that was being invited to sit at a table far away from them. “I’ve recorded what you said,” she said casually, “tell me, how much hush money you want to give me?”

“What?” Fang Yuanyuan stared at her.

“I’ll tell Huang He!”

“Oh, as if you don’t like this type…”

“Of course I don’t,” said Xiang Wan, “no matter how good that man is, he has not more value when he is married.”

“Why don’t you just tell me you’ve seen too many good-looking guys that you’ve developed an immunity?”

Xiang Wan rolled her eyes but did not say a word.

In her heart, there should totally be no comparison between Bai Muchuan and Xing Liehuo.

Firstly, they had different styles. Secondly, they look and feel completely different from each other.

The banquet started. The european styled banquet room and the high ceiling made the area even more spacious. The banquet room was decorated using fresh flowers, ribbons, and balloons. It looked posh and elegant with a touch of pink and sweetness suitable for a young lady’s birthday celebration. The color and the delicacies on the table when matched with the classy cutlery was luxurious.

Xing Feifei was as though a beautiful butterfly socializing around her guests. She was wearing a pink strapless gown which held her assets high. That made her a little sexy amidst her innocence as well as making one having a desire of destruction…

Xiang Wan would habitually choose to keep a low profile in such occasions and stay quiet. Besides, she and Fang Yuanyuan’s table was toward the side, neither were they the key guests of the Xing Family in Jin City. Therefore, they were very inconspicuous.

At the banquet, she also saw Cheng Zheng, but Cheng Zheng did not notice her presence.

Not only Cheng Zheng was here, there was also a middle-aged couple sitting beside him. Under the lighting of the glittering crystal chandelier in the hall, they were well dressed, elegant, and poised in their manners. They interact with Cheng Zheng from time to time and had loving smiles in their eyes.

So they were Cheng Zheng’s parents?

Xiang Wan’s gaze landed on their faces.

There were similarities between them, and she confirmed her conjecture.

It seemed like youngest aunt had invited some prestigious guests with some kind of background.

The only exception was… her family and eldest aunt’s family.

Eldest aunt and uncle-in-law as well as her mom behaved cautiously and watched their own behavior. They were worried that their actions and words might make youngest aunt lose face in such an occasion.

But what they didn’t know was that sometimes, the more nervous they were, the more likely they were to make mistakes…

The Emcee had just taken the microphone to host the banquet when the sound of a bowl and chopsticks fell and broken into pieces on the ground.

In the quiet banquet room, that noise was jarring to the ear.

At that instant, numerous people turned around.

Nobody said anything at all.

But.

Everyone seemed embarrassed, and the face of Xiang Wan’s mom was red as well as guilty. Xing Feifei was looking on with disdain, youngest uncle-in-law had a look of tolerance and youngest aunt seemed to be at a loss. That made Xiang Wan feel as though she had just been given a heavy slap on her face.

For the one whose bowl and chopsticks had accidentally fell was her mom, Tan Yunchun.

“Wanwan, hurry, hurry and help mom tidy up…”

Tan Yunchun tried to bend down to pick up the broken pieces but she was too nervous. Her hands were shaking like an alarmed rabbit.

Under everyone’s gazes, she was as if incompatible with the banquet itself.

Xiang Wan was unable to discern those gazes. She held her mom’s shoulders calmly then slowly bend down.

“Mom, I’ll do it. You sit…”