Bai Muchuan had something to do.
He went to pick up a package.
The delivery guy was waiting for him downstairs on the ground floor.
It was a package he had to sign for personally.
The one who sent that package was Qi Canghai from Jin City.
The package contained information that Qi Canghai picked up from Luo Sheng’s house. It contained all the notebooks that Luo Sheng’s dad—the retired detective—had left behind. It was said that all those notes were his thoughts and opinions throughout all these years he worked as a detective. Bai Muchuan had been waiting for this for a long time and acquiring it made him feel excited.
His palms were slightly sweaty on a cold winter day while he was signing a document to acknowledge the item.
“Thank you!” He smiled at the courier guy.
His bright, radiant smile baffled the delivery guy.
It was just to receive a package, why was he so warm about it?
“You’re welcome, you’re welcome! Be careful since it’s a bit heavy. Do you need me to carry it up to your office?” The delivery guy offered.
But Bai Muchuan only smiled at him and left.
The package was indeed a little heavy.
It was a big cardboard box. Even though he was a man, he did feel it was heavy enough for him to feel this way.
Did Luo Sheng send the entirety of his dad’s study or something?
Bai Muchuan quickened his steps.
…
That afternoon, Bai Muchuan stayed in his office throughout the day.
When it was time to knock off from work, Xiang Wan was humming a tune when she picked up her phone to send him a message.
“Your Excellency, it’s time to leave!”
No response.
Xiang Wan asked again after some hesitation, “Shall we go back together or… separately?”
Soon, Bai Muchuan replied, “I need to work overtime tonight, I’ll get Tang Yuanchu to send you back!”
Working overtime again!
His health worried Xiang Wan but she couldn’t say much.
“Alright.”
She checked the Gossip group chat.
Nobody talked in there. She didn’t contact Tang Yuanchu either. She just took her bag and walked toward Bai Muchuan’s office.
She wanted to show her boss some concern.
The door of the office was closed. Xiang Wan knocked on it gently.
“Captain Bai?”
After that, she turned the handle to open the door.
Nothing happened.
Had he actually locked the door from the inside?
This took Xiang Wan aback.
It was really strange!
Why did he lock it from the inside?
Xiang Wan felt confused, but in no time, she heard Bai Muchuan’s voice. “Coming.”
The door opened.
He was standing in the office with his back facing the bright evening sunlight. Because of that, his face seemed cold and dark, but the side profile of his face was distinct. That layer of light felt like it had covered him with a mysterious veil. Suddenly, Xiang Wan felt as though she couldn’t understand him anymore.
Xiang Wan was very sensitive.
She did not ignore the sudden chill she felt inside her heart.
“Why did you lock the door?”
When she said so, she peered over his shoulder subconsciously.
“I had a video conference call earlier.”
Bai Muchuan’s answer was short and simple. His reason for locking the door sounded adequate as well.
However, Xiang Wan felt another chill in her heart.
He just stood at his spot. His dark eyes, his tall stature, and his indifferent face—she didn’t find any warmth he had toward her. Instead, she felt a distance, as if they had drifted apart with a river suddenly appearing between them…
There was no bridge across the river.
He did not intend to make a bridge for her.
Neither did he seem prepared to wade through the water for her.
…
What exactly happened in just an afternoon’s time?
…
Xiang Wan showed a smile and gave a gentle tug at his sleeve.
“It has been a while, and there’s still no update about ‘The White List.’ Are you not intending to find the time to update a chapter?”
This was their little secret that only both of them would know.
In the past, Bai Muchuan would surrender whenever Xiang Wan put on a soft stance.
However, that day, there was only coldness in his face. The shadow under his eyes was heavy, which seemed like he was haggard, but it was leaning more towards melancholic.
“There are a lot of things to do these days. I’ve no time to write.”
“…”
Did he just reject her outright?
Things didn’t seem good!
Did something happen during the video conferencing call with his superiors?
Was there something else bothering him?
Or—did she do something that made him unhappy with her?
Xiang Wan had wanted to go inside his office, but she was discouraged.
She looked into Bai Muchuan’s eyes. “Alright, so you’re… going to continue working?”
Bai Muchuan showed some hesitation.
His dark eyes stared at Xiang Wan.
His pair of eyes was beautiful like he was born with a natural pair of passionate eyes.
Every time he looked at her like that, Xiang Wan couldn’t take it.
“Why are you looking at me like this?”
Bai Muchuan remained silent.
A moment later, he let out a sigh and patted her head.
“I’ll be back late tonight. I still have to go out to work with Laowu later!”
Xiang Wan felt a little relieved.
Every time he patted her head like this, his emotions were always calm.
That meant there was nothing critical had happened to their relationship.
“Oh!” Xiang Wan nodded with a smile and pointed outside.
“So I’ll get going now?”
Bai Muchuan looked at the messages on his mobile phone. “Go on, Tang Yuanchu’s waiting for you at the entrance.”
“Alright then.” Xiang Wan drew her face near to him with a mischievous smile. “I want a kiss.”
Her side profile was facing him as she waited.
Bai Muchuan actually took three seconds to respond before a cold kiss fell onto her cheek.
“You better hurry!”
His lips were so cold.
It was unlike his usual warm and soft lips. It even felt a little dry.
Xiang Wan had a strange feeling brewing inside her head.
There was something amiss with the man before her.
Nevertheless, she did not know what was wrong with him.
In fact, after experiencing so many difficulties, which case was not tough and difficult to solve?
Yet no matter what happened, Bai Muchuan was always warm and reassuring. Never had he given her such a cold, chilly feeling before. It felt as though he had something hidden from her—
“I’ll go now. You should be safe too.”
Xiang Wan waved at him.
After walking a few steps, she suddenly turned back to smile at him.
“I’ll wait for you to come home.”
The corners of Bai Muchuan’s lips lifted upwards as if he puffed out a breath slowly with hands in his pockets.
“Stop dawdling. Just go.”
“Mm…”
Xiang Wan strode away.
He was behind her, under the lights in the corridor.
Xiang Wan did not turn back to look at him, but she could obviously feel the cold aura around him, as well as his gaze which was following her every move.
He was looking at her.
Coldly.
…
When Xiang Wan sat inside Tang Yuanchu’s car, her back still felt a little numb.
She adjusted the scarf she was wearing around her neck and hugged her own arms.
Tang Yuanchu was sensitive enough to notice that.
“Teacher Xiang, are you cold? Do you need me to switch on the heater…”
“It’s alright.” Xiang Wan smiled calmly at him. Naturally, she restrained the emotions she was feeling inside.
It was fear. A fear that originated from Bai Muchuan’s sudden change which made him elusive.
Sometime later, she broke out of her thoughts and asked Tang Yuanchu a question.
“What did Captain Bai do this afternoon?”
Bai Muchuan had something to do.
He went to pick up a package.
The delivery guy was waiting for him downstairs on the ground floor.
It was a package he had to sign for personally.
The one who sent that package was Qi Canghai from Jin City.
The package contained information that Qi Canghai picked up from Luo Sheng’s house. It contained all the notebooks that Luo Sheng’s dad—the retired detective—had left behind. It was said that all those notes were his thoughts and opinions throughout all these years he worked as a detective. Bai Muchuan had been waiting for this for a long time and acquiring it made him feel excited.
His palms were slightly sweaty on a cold winter day while he was signing a document to acknowledge the item.
“Thank you!” He smiled at the courier guy.
His bright, radiant smile baffled the delivery guy.
It was just to receive a package, why was he so warm about it?
“You’re welcome, you’re welcome! Be careful since it’s a bit heavy. Do you need me to carry it up to your office?” The delivery guy offered.
But Bai Muchuan only smiled at him and left.
The package was indeed a little heavy.
It was a big cardboard box. Even though he was a man, he did feel it was heavy enough for him to feel this way.
Did Luo Sheng send the entirety of his dad’s study or something?
Bai Muchuan quickened his steps.
…
That afternoon, Bai Muchuan stayed in his office throughout the day.
When it was time to knock off from work, Xiang Wan was humming a tune when she picked up her phone to send him a message.
“Your Excellency, it’s time to leave!”
No response.
Xiang Wan asked again after some hesitation, “Shall we go back together or… separately?”
Soon, Bai Muchuan replied, “I need to work overtime tonight, I’ll get Tang Yuanchu to send you back!”
Working overtime again!
His health worried Xiang Wan but she couldn’t say much.
“Alright.”
She checked the Gossip group chat.
Nobody talked in there. She didn’t contact Tang Yuanchu either. She just took her bag and walked toward Bai Muchuan’s office.
She wanted to show her boss some concern.
The door of the office was closed. Xiang Wan knocked on it gently.
“Captain Bai?”
After that, she turned the handle to open the door.
Nothing happened.
Had he actually locked the door from the inside?
This took Xiang Wan aback.
It was really strange!
Why did he lock it from the inside?
Xiang Wan felt confused, but in no time, she heard Bai Muchuan’s voice. “Coming.”
The door opened.
He was standing in the office with his back facing the bright evening sunlight. Because of that, his face seemed cold and dark, but the side profile of his face was distinct. That layer of light felt like it had covered him with a mysterious veil. Suddenly, Xiang Wan felt as though she couldn’t understand him anymore.
Xiang Wan was very sensitive.
She did not ignore the sudden chill she felt inside her heart.
“Why did you lock the door?”
When she said so, she peered over his shoulder subconsciously.
“I had a video conference call earlier.”
Bai Muchuan’s answer was short and simple. His reason for locking the door sounded adequate as well.
However, Xiang Wan felt another chill in her heart.
He just stood at his spot. His dark eyes, his tall stature, and his indifferent face—she didn’t find any warmth he had toward her. Instead, she felt a distance, as if they had drifted apart with a river suddenly appearing between them…
There was no bridge across the river.
He did not intend to make a bridge for her.
Neither did he seem prepared to wade through the water for her.
…
What exactly happened in just an afternoon’s time?
…
Xiang Wan showed a smile and gave a gentle tug at his sleeve.
“It has been a while, and there’s still no update about ‘The White List.’ Are you not intending to find the time to update a chapter?”
This was their little secret that only both of them would know.
In the past, Bai Muchuan would surrender whenever Xiang Wan put on a soft stance.
However, that day, there was only coldness in his face. The shadow under his eyes was heavy, which seemed like he was haggard, but it was leaning more towards melancholic.
“There are a lot of things to do these days. I’ve no time to write.”
“…”
Did he just reject her outright?
Things didn’t seem good!
Did something happen during the video conferencing call with his superiors?
Was there something else bothering him?
Or—did she do something that made him unhappy with her?
Xiang Wan had wanted to go inside his office, but she was discouraged.
She looked into Bai Muchuan’s eyes. “Alright, so you’re… going to continue working?”
Bai Muchuan showed some hesitation.
His dark eyes stared at Xiang Wan.
His pair of eyes was beautiful like he was born with a natural pair of passionate eyes.
Every time he looked at her like that, Xiang Wan couldn’t take it.
“Why are you looking at me like this?”
Bai Muchuan remained silent.
A moment later, he let out a sigh and patted her head.
“I’ll be back late tonight. I still have to go out to work with Laowu later!”
Xiang Wan felt a little relieved.
Every time he patted her head like this, his emotions were always calm.
That meant there was nothing critical had happened to their relationship.
“Oh!” Xiang Wan nodded with a smile and pointed outside.
“So I’ll get going now?”
Bai Muchuan looked at the messages on his mobile phone. “Go on, Tang Yuanchu’s waiting for you at the entrance.”
“Alright then.” Xiang Wan drew her face near to him with a mischievous smile. “I want a kiss.”
Her side profile was facing him as she waited.
Bai Muchuan actually took three seconds to respond before a cold kiss fell onto her cheek.
“You better hurry!”
His lips were so cold.
It was unlike his usual warm and soft lips. It even felt a little dry.
Xiang Wan had a strange feeling brewing inside her head.
There was something amiss with the man before her.
Nevertheless, she did not know what was wrong with him.
In fact, after experiencing so many difficulties, which case was not tough and difficult to solve?
Yet no matter what happened, Bai Muchuan was always warm and reassuring. Never had he given her such a cold, chilly feeling before. It felt as though he had something hidden from her—
“I’ll go now. You should be safe too.”
Xiang Wan waved at him.
After walking a few steps, she suddenly turned back to smile at him.
“I’ll wait for you to come home.”
The corners of Bai Muchuan’s lips lifted upwards as if he puffed out a breath slowly with hands in his pockets.
“Stop dawdling. Just go.”
“Mm…”
Xiang Wan strode away.
He was behind her, under the lights in the corridor.
Xiang Wan did not turn back to look at him, but she could obviously feel the cold aura around him, as well as his gaze which was following her every move.
He was looking at her.
Coldly.
…
When Xiang Wan sat inside Tang Yuanchu’s car, her back still felt a little numb.
She adjusted the scarf she was wearing around her neck and hugged her own arms.
Tang Yuanchu was sensitive enough to notice that.
“Teacher Xiang, are you cold? Do you need me to switch on the heater…”
“It’s alright.” Xiang Wan smiled calmly at him. Naturally, she restrained the emotions she was feeling inside.
It was fear. A fear that originated from Bai Muchuan’s sudden change which made him elusive.
Sometime later, she broke out of her thoughts and asked Tang Yuanchu a question.
“What did Captain Bai do this afternoon?”
