Fang Yuanyuan took it so seriously.

She must be so worried about Yu Ning.

Of course, Xiang Wan would not tell her about the development of the case.

She said seriously, “Yuanyuan, let me ask you a question. If G.o.d gave you an opportunity to have Yu Ning, would you still want Huanghuang?”

Urgh! What kind of question is this?

Fang Yuanyuan had never thought of that before. “Of course, I want Huanghuang! He's my true love…”

“What about Yu Ning?”

“He's my idol; we should appreciate idols from afar and not as boyfriends… Huanghuang is different; I can do whatever I want to him…”

What an explanation!

Xiang Wan almost burst into laughter. “What if Yu Ning can also… let you do whatever you want to him?”

Pffft! Fang Yuanyuan immediately laughed at her words.

“It's impossible!”

Xiang Wan had a solemn expression. “Think again, what if it's a possibility?”

“If possible… Uh, all right, so you're asking me what I would do if Yu Ning is mine unconditionally.”

“Yes…” Come on, this is just an a.s.sumption, Xiang Wan dissed inside her head.

Well, Fang Yuanyuan took the question seriously as she looked at Xiang Wan, mulling over it.

“If it's Yu Ning, I can consider…”

A while later, her eyes darted around, and suddenly, she nodded her head affirmatively. “No, no, no, I'll still want Huanghuang. Idols should only be loved and kept inside our heart. I daren't imagine how I can get along with Yu Ning in real life. D*rn, I think I might go crazy, don't you think so? Think about it, if I'm made to face a good-looking man every day, won't I feel inferior, sad, and even depressed?”

“…”

“I and Huanghuang are made for each other. We will never desert each other in this lifetime.”

“…”

Xiang Wan laughed at what she heard.

Fang Yuanyuan winked at her.

Xiang Wan sighed solemnly. “You're so loyal and steadfast!”

Fang Yuanyuan replied thereafter, “Yeah, I won't waver and won't regret—”

Goodness! The sourness could make one's teeth fall off!

Both of them remained silent for a moment.

Soon, Xiang Wan couldn't stand it anymore and laughed.

“You should go check your Huanghuang!”

“That almost scared me out of my wits!” Fang Yuanyuan patted her chest. “Do you think his bones are made of iron? He's so heavily injured, yet he was already struggling to get up for the past two days! He wanted to get off the bed himself… Just now, that sound really scared the h.e.l.l out of me. I think I better go check if he already fell from the bed!”

She said so while getting up from the sofa.

Xiang Wan pointed at the laptop bag she took with her.

“Go ahead, I'll write my story while you're at it. We can have dinner together later.”

“All right!” Fang Yuanyuan flicked her hair. She then winked at her and wiggled her hips as she walked away before suddenly turning her head to look at Xiang Wan. “I've said nothing over the board, right?”

Xiang Wan was trying to hold her laughter as she shook her head. “No, no, you absolutely didn't!”

“That's a relief; my heart is racing now…”

Huff!

Xiang Wan leaned and sat on the sofa with the laptop.

She was weary, and her body was spent.

It felt as though she had just returned from a long journey…

Both her body and soul were drained of energy.

She felt as if her rib cage had shackled her heart as worry plagued her senses. Now that she met Fang Yuanyuan and was holding her laptop, she felt that she had found herself and returned to her own world… that belonged to her.

The world of a web novelist.

“Eh!”

As Xiang Wan thought about that, she suddenly remembered something.

The laptop she brought back with her was not hers.

Her own laptop was still at the hotel in Xi City.

While they were on the way to Nanmu, Bai Muchuan had lent her the laptop she was holding now temporarily, so she could work on her story while she was there.

Nevertheless, since she was so emotionally affected of what had occurred the day before, not to mention the exhaustion of so much traveling over the past few days had left her stressed out, she did not know if she even wanted to lift a finger.

When she got off the police car, she had actually forgotten and took this laptop back with her—

She covered her face with her palm.

This was an occupational disease of a web novelist… their laptop was just like their mobile phone; it was something that they would carry it around.

Forget it!

Just make do with it! she persuaded herself.

Xiang Wan opened the laptop and sent Bai Muchuan a message.

“Darling, what's the login pa.s.sword for the laptop?”

Soon, Bai Muchuan replied the pa.s.sword to her.

“I'm using your laptop to write my story!” Xiang Wan thought she should ask just in case. “There's nothing I'm not allowed to see, right?”

“There are… some 50GB of video clips! You must not watch them…”

“What? For real?”

“Yeah, for real, if you dare watch those videos, I'll practice with you from beginning till the end!”

“… You naughty man; I'm so scared! Come then, if you have the guts!”

“Little nymph! You've successfully gotten my attention for tonight!”

*Pffft! *”All right, go get busy.”

She was actually using Bai Muchuan's personal laptop.

Xiang Wan had seen him using it for work, but she had never paid attention to what he had stored on the laptop.

The laptop was now in her hands, and there was no one else beside her—

As a matter of fact, she could see what was stored in the laptop without anyone knowing about it.

However, using his laptop actually made her felt constrained.

In this modern age, people considered their laptop and mobile phone to be a personal item that concerned their privacy.

She felt that snooping within the files inside of his laptop… would be disingenuous and ungentlemanly of her.

… Don't be so curious!

… So what if she's ungentlemanly? She's a woman, anyway.

… Don't look! Don't look!

… She didn't want Bai Muchuan to look down on her!

It was getting too difficult to restrain that strong desire to look at what was inside his laptop.

Xiang Wan resisted that urge and opened a new doc.u.ment to write her story.

Suddenly, she saw a familiar doc.u.ment under “Recent Files”.

…”The White List”?

Wasn't that Second Young Master Mu's current ongoing novel?

What's happening?

Xiang Wan's heart skipped a beat.

Almost subconsciously, she double-clicked on it—

Criminal Investigation Unit—Xi City.

It was a busy sight!

Bai Muchuan and team, as well as Captain Zhang's team, worked together on the case. They shared all information, evidence, and clues needed.

Both teams came together and held a simple meeting to share whatever they had found. They also a.n.a.lyzed the case and expressed their views and opinions.

It was unanimous—the biggest suspect was Meng Chi.

Nonetheless, there was no progress on the earlier interrogations with Meng Chi.

Meng Chi expressed that he knew nothing. Even when he heard that voice recording which had the same voice as him, besides being surprised why the voice sounded the same as his, he did not show any panic. He even expressed that he was fervently looking forward to the police solving the crime…

That gaze of his did not seem to be fake.

“Captain Bai, Captain Zhang… please solve the case quickly so I can be cleared of all these suspicions!” he said.

When Bai Muchuan and Captain Zhang came out of the interrogation room, both of them looked at each other.

Captain Zhang remarked, “It seems that none of his actors have acting skills that are as good as his.”

After listening to the voice recording, Captain Zhang had more or less concluded that Meng Chi was the culprit.

“We need to plan on how to get him to open his mouth!”

They couldn't detain a suspect for over 48 hours in the absence of adequate evidence.

Of course, they applied that 48-hour rule in this case as well. The higher-ups approved it because the case had gotten major with a tad too many deaths involved.

If the police could not get anything substantial on the suspect, they must release him after 48 hours.

Bai Muchuan grunted a laugh. “It should be all right. Don't forget, we have the voice recording!”

At the moment, other than the voice recording and Xiang Wan's statement about the Meng Chi “lookalike” she saw. There wasn't anything related to him directly that could prove his involvement in the 121 case… a fingerprint or a strand of hair; they had nothing similar to that.

Nevertheless, they could still use the voice recording against Meng Chi for their next step of action.

Captain Zhang gave it a thought. “That female celebrity could be a breakthrough.”

Bai Muchuan glanced at him. “Don't get your hopes up.”

Captain Zhang replied, “Why?”

Bai Muchuan responded, “What she knew might not be of use at all.”

“Oh.” Captain Zhang did not continue further.

“We might be able…” added Bai Muchuan, “to pry into his relations.h.i.+p with the two actors…”

That was Xiang Wan's guess.

Captain Zhang looked at him in confusion.

Bai Muchuan did not explain. “This is a big case, after all; don't expect it to be solved overnight!”

“Mm.” Captain Zhang nodded in approval. “We'll interrogate him again after dinner!”

“All right!”

Captain Zhang took two steps and halted when he suddenly thought of something. He looked back at Bai Muchuan. “By the way, when I was listening to the voice recording today, I suddenly remembered the matter you mentioned last time—”

Bai Muchuan seemed a little grim.

Captain Zhang did not notice the change in his expression as he spoke while walking. “That day after I came back, I found the contact of my mentor in Jin City… I forgot to pa.s.s it to you that day. Today, that recording mentioned the case in Jin City and I remembered again!”

Bai Muchuan followed along. “Thank you!”

Captain Zhang replied, “Should I send the contact number to you later?”

Bai Muchuan thought for a while. “Sure!”

Captain Zhang laughed. “My mentor has been retired for several years, but he's not in good health. Maybe once we solved this case, I'll come along with you to Jin City.”

Bai Muchuan pursed his lips into a smile. “It's okay. I've already caused you a lot of trouble.”

Captain Zhang replied with a refres.h.i.+ng smile, “It's no trouble at all. I've already told my mentor about it. You can call him directly!”

“Sure!”

It was dinnertime.

Some detectives went to the canteen for dinner.

Most of them would pack food back to their office.

The life of a detective was really busy whenever a case pops up.

Bai Muchuan was preparing to go to the canteen when he saw a young man in the main lobby, snooping around the place…

It surprised him and told Captain Zhang to go ahead first while he strode towards the young man in the main lobby.

“Tang Yuanchu!”

“Yes Sir!”

This young man had just removed his bandages and gauze; the red marks on his face had not yet faded away. He immediately stood still and straight, looking as solemn and he could, when he turned to face Bai Muchuan.

“Captain Bai, Tang Yuanchu is here to report back to work!”

What! Report to work?

Bai Muchuan immediately turned gloomy. “Who allowed you to discharge?”

Tang Yuanchu scratched his head and grinned. “Me!”

“Your guts are getting bigger!” Bai Muchuan's eyebrows knitted closely together. “Go back to the hospital right now!”

“But why? I'm all right now! Look, I'm fine…” Tang Yuanchu looked at the officers in the main lobby. “Captain Bai… I've looked around and have seen that there is hardly anyone from Serious Crime Division One here. I know that you needed manpower… and you need me badly.”

Bai Muchuan was so angry that he nearly laughed.

“I need you badly?”

Tang Yuanchu nodded, looking all innocent.

“Yeah! A subordinate like me, so suave, so obedient, and so hardworking; you won't find another man in Serious Crime Division One like me. How can you not need me? Of course, I need you too!”

He paused for a while and showed a pleasant smile to Bai Muchuan.

“Just let me come back to work, Captain Bai,” there was pleading in his tone. “I will get moldy if I stayed another second in the hospital…”

“Even if you got molds growing on you, you got to rest in the hospital!” Bai Muchuan pointed at the main entrance. “Get back to the hospital now, hurry!”

“… Don't be so cruel, cold, and heartless, please!”

“I'm cruel, cold, and heartless, so what?”

“Fine, please continue to be cruel, cold, and heartless!” Tang Yuanchu's eyes looked downcast. “That… how is Xie Wanwan related to the case?”

“Tang Yuanchu!” Bai Muchuan looked grim. “Did you not hear me or what?”

“Sir, I heard you!” Tang Yuanchu stood straight and still once again; it seemed that he wanted to show him that “my body is all good now” by doing that. After that, he walked away sighing, looking glum and dejected.

Ten minutes later.

A “cry” came from the “Gossip” chat group in WeChat.

Tang Yuanchu was the one who messaged in the group chat. “Captain Bai does not need me anymore… I'm useless but handsome!”

Quan Shaoteng replied, “… What the…!”

Captain Quan was having his meal.

He looked at Ding Yifan and Tu Liang who was sitting opposite him, and his lips quirked upwards.

“Aren't I the most handsome?”

Tu Liang and Ding Yifan were focusing on having their meal. They did not check their phones; hence, they thought nothing of it when Quan Shaoteng asked that.

Both of them exchanged glances with each other. “… You're the most handsome!”

Quan Shaoteng stroked his chin in satisfaction and revealed an enchanting smirk. “That's my good comrades!” he said meaningfully.

Although they were being complimented, their eyelids couldn't stop twitching.

Sure enough, the next moment, Quan Shaoteng stared at them. “Send what you've just said to the chat group now!”

“Captain Quan…” Tu Liang seemed troubled by that request. “That's not a nice thing to do.”

“We'll offend many people if we do that!” Ding Yifan was not willing either.

“Don't worry.” Quan Shaoteng laughed. “You're serving justice when you speak the truth! This is to prevent this arrogant young lad from being overly optimistic in the marriage market, so he wouldn't be able to get himself a girlfriend… Aye, we're actually helping him. This is called acc.u.mulating good fortune.”

Tu Liang looked at him with an unconvinced gaze. “…”

Ding Yifan's mouth was agape. “…”

Quan Shaoteng gave a devilish snicker. “A Captain who is so handsome and kind-hearted like me is rare, agree?”

“You're… right!”

“I can also fight very well. I can take you both on without problem…”

“…”

Both of them reluctantly exchanged glances with each other again.

“Captain Quan, I need to confirm something first.”

“Mm?” Quan Shaoteng tapped on his bowl slowly. “Confirm what?”

“Confirm that if we said that… will Captain Bai beat us to death?”

“Tch!” Quan Shaoteng looked at them seriously. “Are there something wrong with your eyes?”

Tu Liang shook his head. “… Captain Quan is indeed very good-looking; there's nothing wrong with our eyes!”

Ding Yifan followed, “It's just that… Captain Bai is our boss; we need to give him some face, you know?”

Quan Shaoteng loved to hear this sentence.

He gave an expression that said “you're very sensible,” and showed another smirk. “Does that mean both of you also feel that I'm better looking than Bai Muchuan? It's simply because… he's the boss, so we, as subordinates, got to let him have some face, right?”

“Cough… About there!”

The two of them looked at the narcissistic Quan Shaoteng with sympathy.

Quan Shaoteng also looked at the two of them with sympathy…

Then, his line of sight moved slowly beyond them.

“Did you hear that? Little Bai ah! Now you know how important looks can be? You should be more forgiving and know your place… The t.i.tle of the best-looking man goes to me now!”

“…”

Tu Liang and Ding Yifan turned their heads together, in slow motion.

“Captain Bai…”

Bai Muchuan was holding his food tray and he sat beside Quan Shaoteng. “As long as one is shameless enough,” he said indifferently, “of course you can take that t.i.tle. I can understand that!”

The three of them looked at him in silence. “…”

Bai Muchuan looked up calmly. “Eat your food. Why are all of you looking at me?”

“Okay, okay!”

Tu Liang's expression seemed weird as he continued to eat.

While Bai Muchuan took his food quietly, he dealt another blow to Quan Shaoteng with a sentence.

“Take it that we're doing this for Captain Quan… so he could avoid being overly optimistic in the marriage market and end his bachelorhood earlier. Treat this as us acc.u.mulating good fortune…”

“Tch! Little Bai, is behaving mischievously fun for you?” Quan Shaoteng glanced over with a raised eyebrow as he smiled confidently. “I know that all of you live in bitterness when you're living under the halo of my good looks… Forget it, I won't fuss over such matters!”

“…” Bai Muchuan only smiled.

“Aye, men are jealous of me whereas women like me.” Quan Shaoteng rubbed his forehead and ate his food slowly. “This is actually a troubling problem… All of you should hurry and console Tang Yuanchu. This young lad… will drive himself crazy because he's ugly!”

Tang Yuanchu, who would drive himself of being “ugly,” had been complaining in the chat group.

It was actually because he wanted to go back to work. He did not want to stay in the hospital anymore.

However, n.o.body wished to bother with him so far.

Quan Shaoteng couldn't stand that anymore. “You're so pitiful! You're ugly… that's why the hospital refused to discharge you. Once again, this world only focuses on the face… what a cold and heartless world!”

Tang Yuanchu replied through chat, “Captain Quan… even if I'm ugly, I still want to go to work!”

Bai Muchuan chatted back. “When your doctor says he can discharge you, then you can come back to work! Just behave yourself and stay there!”

Tang Yuanchu sent a crying emoticon. “Save me, please? Anyone? I really don't want to stay in the hospital anymore! I've looked for the doctor, but she can't bear to let me leave… Will I be the first man who couldn't leave the hospital because of my handsomeness?”

At this moment…

Mei Xin suddenly sent a question mark. “What are you talking about?”

Tang Yuanchu looked as if he saw his savior when he saw Mei Xin's message. “Sister Mei Xin, do you think I'm handsome?”

Mei Xin responded with some hesitation, “… I don't know.”

Tang Yuanchu paused for a moment and seemed to get an idea of how to get back at Quan Shaoteng. “How about Captain Quan then,” he asked suddenly, “is Captain Quan handsome?”

Mei Xin paused for a moment and replied. “Which one is Captain Quan?”

Tang Yuanchu replied, “Hahahahahaha…”

A group of people were laughing.

Mei Xin chatted back again. “My apologies, I'm not good at remembering faces… I just transferred to this new team, and I'm still unclear about who is who.”

Tang Yuanchu laughed at her reply. “Hahahahaha…”

Tu Liang and Ding Yifan who was with them were also cackling away.

Bai Muchuan was as calm and composed as usual. He even sent a disdainful glance at Quan Shaoteng.

“Tch! This is deliberate, definitely deliberate!” Quan Shaoteng touched his chin and squinted his pair of fox-like eyes. “This Mei Xin… maybe she's secretly in love with me? Did she say that to get my attention? Right, it must be like this!”

“…”

Bai Muchuan put a piece of potato into Captain Quan's food tray. “Just eat! We've got lots of work to do later!”

“… D*rn, I'm so p.i.s.sed!”

There was actually someone who didn't know him?!

He had a face that was almost at the peak of its “beauty”!

He felt that what Mei Xin said had slapped him in the face!