Chapter 125 A Bear and a Rabbit
Translator: MintCatnip | Editor: AtlasStudios /Atlas Studios
Found the person?
They found the person who livestreamed the contents of the doll?
Xiang Wan suddenly cheered up, but it did not last for more than 10 seconds when she began to worry instead.
In the previous cases, the situations were never quite as favorable…
“Are we going over?” She asked Bai Muchuan.
Bai Muchuan took a look at Xie Wanwan who was almost unconscious. He nodded his head then walked toward Xie Wanwan.
“Leave the remaining matters to me. Go and have a good rest. Don’t listen to anything and don’t think of anything.”
Xie Wanwan lowered her head as if she had not heard him. She did not even lift an eyelid.
Bai Muchuan remained silent for a while and talked to the SWAT team members. At this time, Xie Wanwan’s manager and female assistant had come up to the rooftop.
The female assistant burst into tears and dashed toward Xie Wanwan and hugged her. She cried so miserably that it sounded heartrending. The manager also came up and offer her comfort as she sobbed…
“It’s over.
“It’s over now!
“No one can hurt you again!”
A flock of birds flew past, making shrill cries.
Xie Wanwan looked at the sky. A tear slowly rolled down her cheek as she closed her eyes slowly.
“I think she will not try to kill herself again.” Entering the elevator, Xiang Wan heaved a sigh. “However, I think you need to let them know to never let down their guard. It’s best to keep her under a 24 hour surveillance, once she tides over this most difficult period, she’ll get better…”
“Mm.”
Bai Muchuan replied casually and suddenly turned to her. “Thank you for earlier.”
“Me?” Xiang Wan raised an eyebrow and laughed. “I didn’t do anything…”
Bai Muchuan pursed his lips to a straight line, placed a palm on her shoulder and gave it a squeeze but did not explain anything.
Xiang Wan looked at him, puzzled, but chose to keep quiet.
There was so much going on that day. That voice recording was as though she had used the few minutes of time to experience the pain of Xie Wanwan’s childhood as well as her teenage years. She had not entirely gotten herself out of the heavy feeling…
She was thinking if Bai Muchuan was the same as well?
…
After leaving the building, the sunlight had kept itself into the clouds.
When the wind blows, it actually felt cold.
It was autumn now.
The cars were driving on the roads where leaves were slowly falling from the trees alongside them.
Xiang Wan seemed distracted throughout the journey till a familiar sight appeared before her eyes.
“Eh? Why are we here?” She stared at the surroundings.
Green Garden Estate.
The neighborhood that she used to live in.
She had stayed there for slightly more than a year and was familiar with every detail here. Due to this, the horrific scenes she witnessed there was especially clear to her as well.
Watching the car nearing the neighborhood, Xiang Wan’s heart started to beat wildly.
“Bai Muchuan, that person’s staying here?”
Bai Muchuan turned to her. “Yes.”
No wonder Tang Yuanchu had used such a tone earlier on.
Xiang Wan wondered at the strange coincidence and the police car finally arrived at the neighborhood.
The security guard, Uncle Wang, still recognized them and received them warmly but he seemed to be nervous as well.
“Detectives, why are all of you here again?”
As he said so, he pointed ahead where there was another police car as well as an ambulance. “You’re together with them? Geez, something big happened in our estate again, right?”
Bai Muchuan nodded his head at him, parked the car and walked directly inside without saying a word.
It was the familiar stairway.
Right in front of them.
Xiang Wan’s heart missed a beat and pointed upward.
“Goodness, that person’s living on the same block as me, huh?”
Bai Muchuan only gave her a glance.
The result, however, was even scarier than she had imagined.
That person not only lived at the same block as her, that person was also living at the tiny apartment she used to rent.
Tang Yuanchu and Xie Hui had arrived before them and was waiting.
At the corridor, there were two paramedics who were preparing to go downstairs.
Upon seeing Bai Muchuan, Tang Yuanchu seemed downcast and a little depressed.
“Captain Bai, we’re a little too late.”
When Xiang Wan heard that, she had a feeling that her fear had become reality.
She asked nervously, “Don’t tell me… the person ran away again?”
Tang Yuanchu’s eyes seemed to be still for a moment. “She’s dead!”
The door creaked open, and the smell of blood immediately dashed toward the nose.
Xiang Wan took a step back out of reflex; her nerves were tense and her heart was pounding furiously.
It was still that house. The layout, the way the furniture was arranged, everything was still the same.
A girl was lying on the bed that she had slept on before, quietly.
She had slashed her wrist.
Blood flowed from her wrist and along the edge of the bed where it dripped down to the floor, giving a strong visual impact.
Xiang Wan did not feel good.
Seeing that girl was as though she could see herself who had once slept on that very same bed.
“How could this happen? How could this happen?”
She muttered to herself, asking the same question twice.
Bai Muchuan patted on her shoulder to comfort her. “Have you informed the forensics team?” He turned to ask Tang Yuanchu.
Tang Yuanchu took a look at the girl’s corpse and nodded his head. “Captain Cheng will be arriving any moment!”
“Mm.”
Let the professional do what they specialized in. Letting Cheng Zheng come and handle the matter was the most suitable. Prior to this, Tang Yuanchu and Xie Hui had already done the preliminary scene investigation and had gotten ahold of the ID card of the girl as well as some other personal identification documents.
The girl was actually the female university student who went missing in Grand Orchid Pavilion, Cao Mengjia.
Her ID card, student card, as well as her bank card were inside her purse.
No one knew how she managed to get out from Grand Orchid Pavilion and how did she come to stay in this neighborhood.
That voice recording doll… Xie Wanwan’s doll, was sitting quietly on a pillow.
It was a very old doll, though it seemed to have gotten new clothes. However, the face of the doll could not cover up the fact that it had been around for many years…
The doll had a sweet smile which was a contrast against this bloody scene…
Bai Muchuan walked up to it and picked up the doll. After examining it, he put it inside an evidence bag and passed it to Tang Yuanchu.
“Take it back!”
Tang Yuanchu took a peek at him. “Yes.”
The doll involved Xie Wanwan’s privacy. Earlier on, he was contemplating if Captain Bai would submit it as evidence or he would directly take it away with him. He had wanted to ask him about it, but it was not easy to openly ask something like this. Bai Muchuan’s professionalism in his job made Tang Yuanchu, a new detective, could not help but feel dignified in his heart.
“Captain Bai, you taught me another lesson.”
He scratched the back of his head awkwardly and grinned. “I thought…”
Bai Muchuan gave him a casual look and did not comment on that.
The few of them did another round of checks and made some notes when Cheng Zheng and Mei Xin arrived.
Bai Muchuan gave Cheng Zheng a glance and talked to Tang Yuanchu. “You can leave the rest to Captain Cheng. I’ll go back first to rest. Tomorrow morning, we’ll have a meeting to go through the case.”
Tang Yuanchu nodded his head heavily. “Okay, leave it to me.”
As if worried that Bai Muchuan would not believe that, he even gave him a salute, as solemn as he could. “I promise I’ll complete the mission!”
Bai Muchuan grunted a laugh and gave a soft blow on his chest. “You little weasel.”
“Heheh!”
As all the windows in the house were closed, the bloody smell could not dissipate.
Cheng Zheng wore a mask, furrowing his brows and putting on the gloves that Mei Xin handed to him.
Bai Muchuan nodded at him as greeting and walked past him.
“Let’s get going, you still want to feel the nostalgia here?” he asked Xiang Wan who was standing at the entrance of the house.
Eh? Xiang Wan was surprised. “I’m coming with you too?”
“You’ve seen for yourself,” he said emotionlessly. “You are not needed in any of the work later on. You should go back and take a good rest. Tomorrow’s morning will be the analysis of the case, do a good job.”
“Okay.” Xiang Wan looked at his bloodshot eyes. “Alright then, I’ll go back now. You don’t need to send me back.”
Across the street, it would be Bai Muchuan’s house.
She felt that she could just hail a cab back. She need not trouble him at all.
After all, he had been working for the past few days without much rest, so he needed to rest more than her.
However, Bai Muchuan gave her a look and directly took her wrist without any explanation.
“Hey…” Xiang Wan felt awkward but not appropriate to struggle too much, so she followed along.
“Ahem, cough!” Behind them, Tang Yuanchu had a sneaky look and cleared his throat. “Boss, Teacher Xiang, you both need to go back and have a good night’s sleep…”
“…”
It was just a normal sentence.
But when their names were being mentioned together, wouldn’t it just sound a little weird?
Xiang Wan turned around for a look and happened to meet Tang Yuanchu’s gaze where he blinked his eyes meaningfully, darting between her and his boss. Not only that, he also gestured an “okay” sign which made Xiang Wan’s face instantly turn red.
She returned him a glare and while turning away, she noticed Cheng Zheng was also looking at them.
His chilly line of sight had no temperature, no emotion, but followed them for as long as he could see them…
Xiang Wan was so embarrassed that her ears were burning, while Bai Muchuan felt nothing wrong at all.
He did not even look back. He walked very fast and Xiang Wan tried to follow him with some difficulty.
D*rn, don’t you know you have a pair of long legs?
She was displeased, but seeing that he was not in a good state, she kept quiet.
When they reached downstairs, Bai Muchuan pulled open the car door for her to get in.
Xiang Wan was somewhat hesitant. “Captain Bai, you really need not send me home. You’re already so exhausted…”
“Who said I’m going to send you home?” Bai Muchuan puffed a sigh wearily. “I’m hungry, you need to make me some food…”
Ah? So this was just to get her to make him food?
But Xiang Wan had a bad experience at that house before.
“It’s not that I don’t want to help out, but… it’s not appropriate. Why not I help you order some takeouts?”
As she said so with hesitation, her fingers were constantly stroking her bag strap, revealing her inner emotions…
Bai Muchuan glanced at her from the sideways and held her shoulders. In the next instant, he “lifted” her onto the seat, buckle the safety belt and went back to his driver’s seat.
“My comrade, haven’t you learnt about the Eight Honors and Eight Shames… at all? How can you have the heart to let me sleep with an empty stomach?”
“…”
What?!
Hats off for such an accusation!
Xiang Wan looked at him in displeasure. “The heart is obvious to all!”
Bai Muchuan smiled and looked at her with a complicated gaze. “Oh, so you can read what I want now. Good!”
With that, he stroked Xiang Wan’s head as if he was patting a little puppy’s head. Then he stepped on the accelerator and left the neighborhood.
Uncle Wang waved goodbye at them.
The familiar scenes, the long, narrow alley seemed to shadow Xiang Wan’s heart.
“Bai Muchuan, this is too much of a coincidence!”
Did this female student, Cao Mengjia, had a deep hatred or grudge toward Xie Wanwan?
Why did she want to kill Xie Wanwan? Why did she happen to live in the house Xiang Wan used to rent? Why did she expose Xie Wanwan’s privacy on a livestream and then commit suicide by slashing her wrist?
All these unsolved questions were left to the police.
Xiang Wan could feel her head aching just at the thought of it.
“There’s too many things that I could not figure it out. No, I need to go back and go through the clues of the case once again. Otherwise, I’m going to suffer from having a split personality…”
She was talking to herself, and did not mind even though Bai Muchuan did not answer her.
“When did you get to know Xie Wanwan? Did you know about her past since long ago, that’s why you have always been tight-lipped about this? There’s more, Xie Wanwan’s starting line in her recording: ‘I am Xie Wanwan, but Xie Wanwan is not me.’ What does this mean?”
Bai Muchuan’s gaze was fixated on the road. “Why is this red light taking so long?”
“Ah?” Xiang Wan turned to look at his side profile. “You’re not listening to me at all?”
Bai Muchuan returned a glance. “I heard it, but there’s too many questions. I don’t know how to answer them.”
“Just answer me one by one!”
“My Queen, I’m tired.”
His gaze lingered on her face; hot, warm, tired, but tender. His innocent look somehow reminded Xiang Wan of the police dog, Xiao Tian. She suddenly felt an urge to pat him on the head, to smooth his fur…
“I’m dead-tired. Shouldn’t you be thinking of what you will be making for me?”
Xiang Wan: “…”
Well, this was a depressing story after all.
Xiang Wan felt that Bai Muchuan had a reason for not talking about it, apart from being tired.
Nevertheless, the story was indeed too distressing and not suitable to continue talking about it.
She should let him get away from it for a while.
Xiang Wan did not ask about the case again.
Soon, they arrived at his house.
It was a mansion where Nanny Li was not around to take care of it. It felt unusually empty without a tinge of noise.
Upon entering the house, Xiang Wan noticed that a bachelor living alone was more miserable than a bachelorette living alone.
The kitchen seemed to have never been touched. Even the covers for the sofa that Nanny Li put on were never removed.
“Bai Muchuan, are you a ghost? It’s like nobody lived inside the house…”
“Take it that I’m a ghost then.” Bai Muchuan puffed a sigh casually. When Xiang Wan turned back to look at him, he was already lying on the sofa with his eyes closed, like an exquisitely carved face with a laid-back attitude. His brows were slightly furrowed, several wisps of his slightly ruffled hair rested on his forehead…
Xiang Wan’s heart skipped a beat.
Fine then!
This is a world where appearances matter.
Xiang Wan admitted that she was one of them as well.
She was unable to reject the request of this man who wanted to eat a meal prepared by her.
Ironically, she might not even be willing to cook for herself even when she was dead-tired…
…
There was a supermarket just up ahead.
In no time, Xiang Wan returned after purchasing some vegetables, meat and fruits.
She took a peek at Bai Muchuan who was still asleep and she went to the kitchen quietly.
The sky gradually got darker.
The sky outside the windows was dark, as though a black curtain had covered it.
In a huge house like this, there were only the two of them.
She washed and rinsed in the kitchen alone. Not long after, the aroma of food filled the kitchen.
He was sleeping soundly on the sofa with a very peaceful demeanor…
Maybe a peace and quiet life could be used to describe this?
Before she had finished cooking dinner, Xiang Wan went to check on Bai Muchuan once.
He had a good sleeping posture. How he was like when he lied down was exactly how he looked now. He did not even move his hands and legs…
However, Xiang Wan felt a little worried seeing him sleeping so soundly. She was thinking when dinner was ready, would he be able to get up and eat dinner?
She returned to the kitchen and started to drift into her thoughts as she looked at the kitchen top…
While preparing the meal, she thought a lot.
She thought about Xie Wanwan’s story as well as her story with Bai Muchuan.
If she still felt single mindedly that Bai Muchuan and Xie Wanwan were in a romantic relationship, that would simply mean she was too stupid or too unreasonable.
She could tell that they were not in love.
At least, Bai Muchuan was not in love with Xie Wanwan.
This guy… how should she say this?
Just like her, he also had a sense of insecurity which was brought about living in this era.
Perhaps he was steady, practical, clear-headed, and methodical in his work. But it was not the same for his inner heart. He seemed to have grown up without much love. At first, his attitude toward her was hot and cold, but in actual fact, it was a problem amongst many modern men and women.
One by one, the dishes were laid on the table.
The last one was the soup which would be ready soon.
Xiang Wan lowered the flame and went to check on Bai Muchuan again.
This guy sleeps like a log! she thought.
Maybe he will only wake up after three days and three nights of sleep?
As Xiang Wan thought so, she slowly squatted beside him and looked at his eyebrows. She raised her finger and touched his eyelashes playfully.
“Get up! Dinner’s ready!”
She spoke very softly, the sensation she felt on her fingertips were unusually soft.
“Don’t fool around…” Bai Muchuan wrinkled his nose in irritation but did not open his eyes. His hand waved around as if chasing a fly away and continued to sleep.
“Bai Muchuan?” Xiang Wan chuckled softly.
Why is he so adorable when he’s asleep? she thought.
When he was quiet again, Xiang Wan used her finger to touch his eyelashes.
“Do you still want to eat dinner?”
Bai Muchuan groaned uncomfortably and used a hand to cover his eyes.
“Try again and I’ll beat you up!”
Pffft! Xiang Wan could not help laughing, even her shoulders were trembling in laughter.
“Bai Muchuan?”
Nobody answered her.
She did not know if he knew she was pranking him.
After thinking for a moment, she called his name again. “Bai Muchuan…”
Bai Muchuan was as if he had heard nothing. Obviously, he was still sleeping.
“Sigh, if you don’t get up to eat, then I’ll make a move then?”
Xiang Wan puffed a sigh and wanted to get up by holding onto the sofa but was suddenly grabbed by the wrist.
She was startled and had no time to say anything as Bai Muchuan quickly go around her waist and pulled her to him. She fell helplessly into his arms.
“Bai Muchuan…” She said his name softly.
His eyes were now half-opened, and he did not give her any chance to speak by directly giving her a kiss on the lips.
Xiang Wan stared into his eyes…
After a short nap, his eyes recovered quickly. It was now clear without exhaustion. However, the scary part was that because of this hug, his “wolf” side was rapidly recovering, making such close contact extremely ambiguous.
“Don’t be like this!” Xiang Wan hurriedly struggled to get up by using his shoulders as support.
But he simply refused to let her go—he sighed and kissed her lips again. After which, he tightened his grip and held her in his arms.
“Don’t move! I’ll just hug you for a little while,” he murmured in a hoarse voice while breathing heavily.
Just a little while… Just a little while…
Then why was he panting like this? He seemed so nervous, and his heartbeat was beating really fast…
Xiang Wan felt awkward as she was practically lying on top of him. The unexpected hug by the “wolf” as well as the kisses had flustered her.
“Bai Muchuan, you’re hungry, right?”
“Yeah…” He inhaled and seemed to be gritting his teeth. “I’m a little hungry.”
“Then why don’t you get up and eat…”
“Mm.” He responded gently but did not get up. Instead, he hugged her even tighter. “I want to bath first then eat dinner…”
Through his words, he seemed to totally treat her as a family member…
Erm no, he was treating her as though she was his closest family.
He wanted to obtain her tenderness, so he gave her gentleness without qualms.
Xiang Wan’s palms started to get moist, and her scalp started to get numb. She ignored the sexy and charming Bai Muchuan as her eyelids fluttered faster than her heartbeat.
“… Go ahead to take a bath then?”
“I’m too tired to move…” he said innocently, his chin rested on her shoulder, where she could feel his warm breath.
Xiang Wan was utterly confused—she had never felt this way before…
As though her mind did not belong to her, everything was in a state of confusion.
“Don’t tell me you want me to help you with that? Are you a three-year-old?”
“Eh? You’re willing?”
“…” Xiang Wan looked at him in a daze—that confused and innocent look made Bai Muchuan amused. He laughed and touched her nose. “I’m just teasing you. I’m not willing even if you’re willing.”
“…”
Did he have to be so arrogant and behave like a young master?
“But, you need to help me fill the bathtub and get me clothes…”
D*rn! Xiang Wan facepalmed.
“Bai Muchuan, do you need a mom?”
Her unintentional joke made Bai Muchuan suddenly turned stiff.
Xiang Wan could sensitively feel the change. She looked at him and found that his eyes had dimmed tremendously…
“I need a wife. You want to give it a try?”
“…” Xiang Wan grinded her teeth. “Are you getting up or not?”
“You’re angry?” Bai Muchuan said slowly and laughed when he saw Xiang Wan’s face flushed red. “You’re lying on me, how can I get up like this?” He tapped on her back.
… This guy!
Xiang Wan hurriedly got up from him and dashed straight into the kitchen.
Behind, she could hear Bai Muchuan’s laughter.
…
Bai Muchuan took a bath and changed his clothes quickly.
When the soup was ready, he had finished bathing and come back.
“Smells really nice!” After taking a bath, he seemed to regain his energy and all of the exhaustion on his face had vanished without a trace. He directly went up to her, hugged her from behind, and rested his chin on her shoulder. “What did you make for me?”
His warm breath were just next to her ear.
His tall stature enveloped her like a big bear holding a rabbit.
Xiang Wan felt really warm and poked him using her elbow.
“Get off me! The soup is ready now. I need to find a bowl to contain it…”
“Let me do it.” Bai Muchuan gave a peck on her ears and found a soup bowl in no time. “Let the men handle such chores!”
Xiang Wan felt her cheeks getting warm.
Why did this feel like we’re a young married couple? She thought.
She softly cleared her throat and found her wits, shooting a frown at him.
“Cut it out, why are you pretending to be nice? If you’re so capable, why don’t you cook for yourself?”
“Well, I’m really worn out.” Bai Muchuan gave her a pleasant smile. “I’ll prepare a feast for you one day to thank you for your help today. How does that sound?”
“Hur! A feast?” Did I hear wrongly?
Xiang Wan showed an incredulous expression: she shook her head and pouted her lips.
As Bai Muchuan scooped the soup into the soup bowl, he glanced at her as well. “Just believe me!”
After putting down the bowl of soup, he walked up to her again unexpectedly and kissed her forehead without warning.
“You can eat whatever you want. I can promise that!”
Uh! The warm feeling made Xiang Wan woke up from her daze and touched her forehead in a confused expression where Bai Muchuan just kissed her.
“I got kissed by a wolf?”
“Hurhur!” Bai Muchuan gave her a cold look. “You’re taking it for granted!”
“What the? Better make this clear, who took advantage of who?”
“I’m such a heartthrob. You must be feeling so happy inside?” He glanced at her with a teasing manner before walking past her while carrying the soup. “Her Majesty, dinner is ready!”
Chapter 125 A Bear and a Rabbit
Translator: MintCatnip | Editor: AtlasStudios /Atlas Studios
Found the person?
They found the person who livestreamed the contents of the doll?
Xiang Wan suddenly cheered up, but it did not last for more than 10 seconds when she began to worry instead.
In the previous cases, the situations were never quite as favorable…
“Are we going over?” She asked Bai Muchuan.
Bai Muchuan took a look at Xie Wanwan who was almost unconscious. He nodded his head then walked toward Xie Wanwan.
“Leave the remaining matters to me. Go and have a good rest. Don’t listen to anything and don’t think of anything.”
Xie Wanwan lowered her head as if she had not heard him. She did not even lift an eyelid.
Bai Muchuan remained silent for a while and talked to the SWAT team members. At this time, Xie Wanwan’s manager and female assistant had come up to the rooftop.
The female assistant burst into tears and dashed toward Xie Wanwan and hugged her. She cried so miserably that it sounded heartrending. The manager also came up and offer her comfort as she sobbed…
“It’s over.
“It’s over now!
“No one can hurt you again!”
A flock of birds flew past, making shrill cries.
Xie Wanwan looked at the sky. A tear slowly rolled down her cheek as she closed her eyes slowly.
“I think she will not try to kill herself again.” Entering the elevator, Xiang Wan heaved a sigh. “However, I think you need to let them know to never let down their guard. It’s best to keep her under a 24 hour surveillance, once she tides over this most difficult period, she’ll get better…”
“Mm.”
Bai Muchuan replied casually and suddenly turned to her. “Thank you for earlier.”
“Me?” Xiang Wan raised an eyebrow and laughed. “I didn’t do anything…”
Bai Muchuan pursed his lips to a straight line, placed a palm on her shoulder and gave it a squeeze but did not explain anything.
Xiang Wan looked at him, puzzled, but chose to keep quiet.
There was so much going on that day. That voice recording was as though she had used the few minutes of time to experience the pain of Xie Wanwan’s childhood as well as her teenage years. She had not entirely gotten herself out of the heavy feeling…
She was thinking if Bai Muchuan was the same as well?
…
After leaving the building, the sunlight had kept itself into the clouds.
When the wind blows, it actually felt cold.
It was autumn now.
The cars were driving on the roads where leaves were slowly falling from the trees alongside them.
Xiang Wan seemed distracted throughout the journey till a familiar sight appeared before her eyes.
“Eh? Why are we here?” She stared at the surroundings.
Green Garden Estate.
The neighborhood that she used to live in.
She had stayed there for slightly more than a year and was familiar with every detail here. Due to this, the horrific scenes she witnessed there was especially clear to her as well.
Watching the car nearing the neighborhood, Xiang Wan’s heart started to beat wildly.
“Bai Muchuan, that person’s staying here?”
Bai Muchuan turned to her. “Yes.”
No wonder Tang Yuanchu had used such a tone earlier on.
Xiang Wan wondered at the strange coincidence and the police car finally arrived at the neighborhood.
The security guard, Uncle Wang, still recognized them and received them warmly but he seemed to be nervous as well.
“Detectives, why are all of you here again?”
As he said so, he pointed ahead where there was another police car as well as an ambulance. “You’re together with them? Geez, something big happened in our estate again, right?”
Bai Muchuan nodded his head at him, parked the car and walked directly inside without saying a word.
It was the familiar stairway.
Right in front of them.
Xiang Wan’s heart missed a beat and pointed upward.
“Goodness, that person’s living on the same block as me, huh?”
Bai Muchuan only gave her a glance.
The result, however, was even scarier than she had imagined.
That person not only lived at the same block as her, that person was also living at the tiny apartment she used to rent.
Tang Yuanchu and Xie Hui had arrived before them and was waiting.
At the corridor, there were two paramedics who were preparing to go downstairs.
Upon seeing Bai Muchuan, Tang Yuanchu seemed downcast and a little depressed.
“Captain Bai, we’re a little too late.”
When Xiang Wan heard that, she had a feeling that her fear had become reality.
She asked nervously, “Don’t tell me… the person ran away again?”
Tang Yuanchu’s eyes seemed to be still for a moment. “She’s dead!”
The door creaked open, and the smell of blood immediately dashed toward the nose.
Xiang Wan took a step back out of reflex; her nerves were tense and her heart was pounding furiously.
It was still that house. The layout, the way the furniture was arranged, everything was still the same.
A girl was lying on the bed that she had slept on before, quietly.
She had slashed her wrist.
Blood flowed from her wrist and along the edge of the bed where it dripped down to the floor, giving a strong visual impact.
Xiang Wan did not feel good.
Seeing that girl was as though she could see herself who had once slept on that very same bed.
“How could this happen? How could this happen?”
She muttered to herself, asking the same question twice.
Bai Muchuan patted on her shoulder to comfort her. “Have you informed the forensics team?” He turned to ask Tang Yuanchu.
Tang Yuanchu took a look at the girl’s corpse and nodded his head. “Captain Cheng will be arriving any moment!”
“Mm.”
Let the professional do what they specialized in. Letting Cheng Zheng come and handle the matter was the most suitable. Prior to this, Tang Yuanchu and Xie Hui had already done the preliminary scene investigation and had gotten ahold of the ID card of the girl as well as some other personal identification documents.
The girl was actually the female university student who went missing in Grand Orchid Pavilion, Cao Mengjia.
Her ID card, student card, as well as her bank card were inside her purse.
No one knew how she managed to get out from Grand Orchid Pavilion and how did she come to stay in this neighborhood.
That voice recording doll… Xie Wanwan’s doll, was sitting quietly on a pillow.
It was a very old doll, though it seemed to have gotten new clothes. However, the face of the doll could not cover up the fact that it had been around for many years…
The doll had a sweet smile which was a contrast against this bloody scene…
Bai Muchuan walked up to it and picked up the doll. After examining it, he put it inside an evidence bag and passed it to Tang Yuanchu.
“Take it back!”
Tang Yuanchu took a peek at him. “Yes.”
The doll involved Xie Wanwan’s privacy. Earlier on, he was contemplating if Captain Bai would submit it as evidence or he would directly take it away with him. He had wanted to ask him about it, but it was not easy to openly ask something like this. Bai Muchuan’s professionalism in his job made Tang Yuanchu, a new detective, could not help but feel dignified in his heart.
“Captain Bai, you taught me another lesson.”
He scratched the back of his head awkwardly and grinned. “I thought…”
Bai Muchuan gave him a casual look and did not comment on that.
The few of them did another round of checks and made some notes when Cheng Zheng and Mei Xin arrived.
Bai Muchuan gave Cheng Zheng a glance and talked to Tang Yuanchu. “You can leave the rest to Captain Cheng. I’ll go back first to rest. Tomorrow morning, we’ll have a meeting to go through the case.”
Tang Yuanchu nodded his head heavily. “Okay, leave it to me.”
As if worried that Bai Muchuan would not believe that, he even gave him a salute, as solemn as he could. “I promise I’ll complete the mission!”
Bai Muchuan grunted a laugh and gave a soft blow on his chest. “You little weasel.”
“Heheh!”
As all the windows in the house were closed, the bloody smell could not dissipate.
Cheng Zheng wore a mask, furrowing his brows and putting on the gloves that Mei Xin handed to him.
Bai Muchuan nodded at him as greeting and walked past him.
“Let’s get going, you still want to feel the nostalgia here?” he asked Xiang Wan who was standing at the entrance of the house.
Eh? Xiang Wan was surprised. “I’m coming with you too?”
“You’ve seen for yourself,” he said emotionlessly. “You are not needed in any of the work later on. You should go back and take a good rest. Tomorrow’s morning will be the analysis of the case, do a good job.”
“Okay.” Xiang Wan looked at his bloodshot eyes. “Alright then, I’ll go back now. You don’t need to send me back.”
Across the street, it would be Bai Muchuan’s house.
She felt that she could just hail a cab back. She need not trouble him at all.
After all, he had been working for the past few days without much rest, so he needed to rest more than her.
However, Bai Muchuan gave her a look and directly took her wrist without any explanation.
“Hey…” Xiang Wan felt awkward but not appropriate to struggle too much, so she followed along.
“Ahem, cough!” Behind them, Tang Yuanchu had a sneaky look and cleared his throat. “Boss, Teacher Xiang, you both need to go back and have a good night’s sleep…”
“…”
It was just a normal sentence.
But when their names were being mentioned together, wouldn’t it just sound a little weird?
Xiang Wan turned around for a look and happened to meet Tang Yuanchu’s gaze where he blinked his eyes meaningfully, darting between her and his boss. Not only that, he also gestured an “okay” sign which made Xiang Wan’s face instantly turn red.
She returned him a glare and while turning away, she noticed Cheng Zheng was also looking at them.
His chilly line of sight had no temperature, no emotion, but followed them for as long as he could see them…
Xiang Wan was so embarrassed that her ears were burning, while Bai Muchuan felt nothing wrong at all.
He did not even look back. He walked very fast and Xiang Wan tried to follow him with some difficulty.
D*rn, don’t you know you have a pair of long legs?
She was displeased, but seeing that he was not in a good state, she kept quiet.
When they reached downstairs, Bai Muchuan pulled open the car door for her to get in.
Xiang Wan was somewhat hesitant. “Captain Bai, you really need not send me home. You’re already so exhausted…”
“Who said I’m going to send you home?” Bai Muchuan puffed a sigh wearily. “I’m hungry, you need to make me some food…”
Ah? So this was just to get her to make him food?
But Xiang Wan had a bad experience at that house before.
“It’s not that I don’t want to help out, but… it’s not appropriate. Why not I help you order some takeouts?”
As she said so with hesitation, her fingers were constantly stroking her bag strap, revealing her inner emotions…
Bai Muchuan glanced at her from the sideways and held her shoulders. In the next instant, he “lifted” her onto the seat, buckle the safety belt and went back to his driver’s seat.
“My comrade, haven’t you learnt about the Eight Honors and Eight Shames… at all? How can you have the heart to let me sleep with an empty stomach?”
“…”
What?!
Hats off for such an accusation!
Xiang Wan looked at him in displeasure. “The heart is obvious to all!”
Bai Muchuan smiled and looked at her with a complicated gaze. “Oh, so you can read what I want now. Good!”
With that, he stroked Xiang Wan’s head as if he was patting a little puppy’s head. Then he stepped on the accelerator and left the neighborhood.
Uncle Wang waved goodbye at them.
The familiar scenes, the long, narrow alley seemed to shadow Xiang Wan’s heart.
“Bai Muchuan, this is too much of a coincidence!”
Did this female student, Cao Mengjia, had a deep hatred or grudge toward Xie Wanwan?
Why did she want to kill Xie Wanwan? Why did she happen to live in the house Xiang Wan used to rent? Why did she expose Xie Wanwan’s privacy on a livestream and then commit suicide by slashing her wrist?
All these unsolved questions were left to the police.
Xiang Wan could feel her head aching just at the thought of it.
“There’s too many things that I could not figure it out. No, I need to go back and go through the clues of the case once again. Otherwise, I’m going to suffer from having a split personality…”
She was talking to herself, and did not mind even though Bai Muchuan did not answer her.
“When did you get to know Xie Wanwan? Did you know about her past since long ago, that’s why you have always been tight-lipped about this? There’s more, Xie Wanwan’s starting line in her recording: ‘I am Xie Wanwan, but Xie Wanwan is not me.’ What does this mean?”
Bai Muchuan’s gaze was fixated on the road. “Why is this red light taking so long?”
“Ah?” Xiang Wan turned to look at his side profile. “You’re not listening to me at all?”
Bai Muchuan returned a glance. “I heard it, but there’s too many questions. I don’t know how to answer them.”
“Just answer me one by one!”
“My Queen, I’m tired.”
His gaze lingered on her face; hot, warm, tired, but tender. His innocent look somehow reminded Xiang Wan of the police dog, Xiao Tian. She suddenly felt an urge to pat him on the head, to smooth his fur…
“I’m dead-tired. Shouldn’t you be thinking of what you will be making for me?”
Xiang Wan: “…”
Well, this was a depressing story after all.
Xiang Wan felt that Bai Muchuan had a reason for not talking about it, apart from being tired.
Nevertheless, the story was indeed too distressing and not suitable to continue talking about it.
She should let him get away from it for a while.
Xiang Wan did not ask about the case again.
Soon, they arrived at his house.
It was a mansion where Nanny Li was not around to take care of it. It felt unusually empty without a tinge of noise.
Upon entering the house, Xiang Wan noticed that a bachelor living alone was more miserable than a bachelorette living alone.
The kitchen seemed to have never been touched. Even the covers for the sofa that Nanny Li put on were never removed.
“Bai Muchuan, are you a ghost? It’s like nobody lived inside the house…”
“Take it that I’m a ghost then.” Bai Muchuan puffed a sigh casually. When Xiang Wan turned back to look at him, he was already lying on the sofa with his eyes closed, like an exquisitely carved face with a laid-back attitude. His brows were slightly furrowed, several wisps of his slightly ruffled hair rested on his forehead…
Xiang Wan’s heart skipped a beat.
Fine then!
This is a world where appearances matter.
Xiang Wan admitted that she was one of them as well.
She was unable to reject the request of this man who wanted to eat a meal prepared by her.
Ironically, she might not even be willing to cook for herself even when she was dead-tired…
…
There was a supermarket just up ahead.
In no time, Xiang Wan returned after purchasing some vegetables, meat and fruits.
She took a peek at Bai Muchuan who was still asleep and she went to the kitchen quietly.
The sky gradually got darker.
The sky outside the windows was dark, as though a black curtain had covered it.
In a huge house like this, there were only the two of them.
She washed and rinsed in the kitchen alone. Not long after, the aroma of food filled the kitchen.
He was sleeping soundly on the sofa with a very peaceful demeanor…
Maybe a peace and quiet life could be used to describe this?
Before she had finished cooking dinner, Xiang Wan went to check on Bai Muchuan once.
He had a good sleeping posture. How he was like when he lied down was exactly how he looked now. He did not even move his hands and legs…
However, Xiang Wan felt a little worried seeing him sleeping so soundly. She was thinking when dinner was ready, would he be able to get up and eat dinner?
She returned to the kitchen and started to drift into her thoughts as she looked at the kitchen top…
While preparing the meal, she thought a lot.
She thought about Xie Wanwan’s story as well as her story with Bai Muchuan.
If she still felt single mindedly that Bai Muchuan and Xie Wanwan were in a romantic relationship, that would simply mean she was too stupid or too unreasonable.
She could tell that they were not in love.
At least, Bai Muchuan was not in love with Xie Wanwan.
This guy… how should she say this?
Just like her, he also had a sense of insecurity which was brought about living in this era.
Perhaps he was steady, practical, clear-headed, and methodical in his work. But it was not the same for his inner heart. He seemed to have grown up without much love. At first, his attitude toward her was hot and cold, but in actual fact, it was a problem amongst many modern men and women.
One by one, the dishes were laid on the table.
The last one was the soup which would be ready soon.
Xiang Wan lowered the flame and went to check on Bai Muchuan again.
This guy sleeps like a log! she thought.
Maybe he will only wake up after three days and three nights of sleep?
As Xiang Wan thought so, she slowly squatted beside him and looked at his eyebrows. She raised her finger and touched his eyelashes playfully.
“Get up! Dinner’s ready!”
She spoke very softly, the sensation she felt on her fingertips were unusually soft.
“Don’t fool around…” Bai Muchuan wrinkled his nose in irritation but did not open his eyes. His hand waved around as if chasing a fly away and continued to sleep.
“Bai Muchuan?” Xiang Wan chuckled softly.
Why is he so adorable when he’s asleep? she thought.
When he was quiet again, Xiang Wan used her finger to touch his eyelashes.
“Do you still want to eat dinner?”
Bai Muchuan groaned uncomfortably and used a hand to cover his eyes.
“Try again and I’ll beat you up!”
Pffft! Xiang Wan could not help laughing, even her shoulders were trembling in laughter.
“Bai Muchuan?”
Nobody answered her.
She did not know if he knew she was pranking him.
After thinking for a moment, she called his name again. “Bai Muchuan…”
Bai Muchuan was as if he had heard nothing. Obviously, he was still sleeping.
“Sigh, if you don’t get up to eat, then I’ll make a move then?”
Xiang Wan puffed a sigh and wanted to get up by holding onto the sofa but was suddenly grabbed by the wrist.
She was startled and had no time to say anything as Bai Muchuan quickly go around her waist and pulled her to him. She fell helplessly into his arms.
“Bai Muchuan…” She said his name softly.
His eyes were now half-opened, and he did not give her any chance to speak by directly giving her a kiss on the lips.
Xiang Wan stared into his eyes…
After a short nap, his eyes recovered quickly. It was now clear without exhaustion. However, the scary part was that because of this hug, his “wolf” side was rapidly recovering, making such close contact extremely ambiguous.
“Don’t be like this!” Xiang Wan hurriedly struggled to get up by using his shoulders as support.
But he simply refused to let her go—he sighed and kissed her lips again. After which, he tightened his grip and held her in his arms.
“Don’t move! I’ll just hug you for a little while,” he murmured in a hoarse voice while breathing heavily.
Just a little while… Just a little while…
Then why was he panting like this? He seemed so nervous, and his heartbeat was beating really fast…
Xiang Wan felt awkward as she was practically lying on top of him. The unexpected hug by the “wolf” as well as the kisses had flustered her.
“Bai Muchuan, you’re hungry, right?”
“Yeah…” He inhaled and seemed to be gritting his teeth. “I’m a little hungry.”
“Then why don’t you get up and eat…”
“Mm.” He responded gently but did not get up. Instead, he hugged her even tighter. “I want to bath first then eat dinner…”
Through his words, he seemed to totally treat her as a family member…
Erm no, he was treating her as though she was his closest family.
He wanted to obtain her tenderness, so he gave her gentleness without qualms.
Xiang Wan’s palms started to get moist, and her scalp started to get numb. She ignored the sexy and charming Bai Muchuan as her eyelids fluttered faster than her heartbeat.
“… Go ahead to take a bath then?”
“I’m too tired to move…” he said innocently, his chin rested on her shoulder, where she could feel his warm breath.
Xiang Wan was utterly confused—she had never felt this way before…
As though her mind did not belong to her, everything was in a state of confusion.
“Don’t tell me you want me to help you with that? Are you a three-year-old?”
“Eh? You’re willing?”
“…” Xiang Wan looked at him in a daze—that confused and innocent look made Bai Muchuan amused. He laughed and touched her nose. “I’m just teasing you. I’m not willing even if you’re willing.”
“…”
Did he have to be so arrogant and behave like a young master?
“But, you need to help me fill the bathtub and get me clothes…”
D*rn! Xiang Wan facepalmed.
“Bai Muchuan, do you need a mom?”
Her unintentional joke made Bai Muchuan suddenly turned stiff.
Xiang Wan could sensitively feel the change. She looked at him and found that his eyes had dimmed tremendously…
“I need a wife. You want to give it a try?”
“…” Xiang Wan grinded her teeth. “Are you getting up or not?”
“You’re angry?” Bai Muchuan said slowly and laughed when he saw Xiang Wan’s face flushed red. “You’re lying on me, how can I get up like this?” He tapped on her back.
… This guy!
Xiang Wan hurriedly got up from him and dashed straight into the kitchen.
Behind, she could hear Bai Muchuan’s laughter.
…
Bai Muchuan took a bath and changed his clothes quickly.
When the soup was ready, he had finished bathing and come back.
“Smells really nice!” After taking a bath, he seemed to regain his energy and all of the exhaustion on his face had vanished without a trace. He directly went up to her, hugged her from behind, and rested his chin on her shoulder. “What did you make for me?”
His warm breath were just next to her ear.
His tall stature enveloped her like a big bear holding a rabbit.
Xiang Wan felt really warm and poked him using her elbow.
“Get off me! The soup is ready now. I need to find a bowl to contain it…”
“Let me do it.” Bai Muchuan gave a peck on her ears and found a soup bowl in no time. “Let the men handle such chores!”
Xiang Wan felt her cheeks getting warm.
Why did this feel like we’re a young married couple? She thought.
She softly cleared her throat and found her wits, shooting a frown at him.
“Cut it out, why are you pretending to be nice? If you’re so capable, why don’t you cook for yourself?”
“Well, I’m really worn out.” Bai Muchuan gave her a pleasant smile. “I’ll prepare a feast for you one day to thank you for your help today. How does that sound?”
“Hur! A feast?” Did I hear wrongly?
Xiang Wan showed an incredulous expression: she shook her head and pouted her lips.
As Bai Muchuan scooped the soup into the soup bowl, he glanced at her as well. “Just believe me!”
After putting down the bowl of soup, he walked up to her again unexpectedly and kissed her forehead without warning.
“You can eat whatever you want. I can promise that!”
Uh! The warm feeling made Xiang Wan woke up from her daze and touched her forehead in a confused expression where Bai Muchuan just kissed her.
“I got kissed by a wolf?”
“Hurhur!” Bai Muchuan gave her a cold look. “You’re taking it for granted!”
“What the? Better make this clear, who took advantage of who?”
“I’m such a heartthrob. You must be feeling so happy inside?” He glanced at her with a teasing manner before walking past her while carrying the soup. “Her Majesty, dinner is ready!”
