638 Not Simple

In the living room, the men waited for a long time.

When they finished smoking a cigarette, Assistant Xie refilled their tea thrice…

The bedroom door finally opened.

Tang Yuanchu stood up and was the most concerned amongst them.

\"Teacher Xiang… what did you both talk about for the past hour?\"

Xiang Wan chuckled. \"It's women's talk, why do you want to know?\"

Tang Yuanchu didn't know what to say. \"…\"

He stopped probing, but he kept stealing glances at Xie Wanwan.

Nevertheless, her gaze was not on him.

Tang Yuanchu felt a little upset and looked towards Bai Muchuan.

However, the latter didn't say anything as well.

Xiang Wan didn't say anything, so he didn't say anything, either.

This was their tacit understanding that others wouldn't be able to feel or understand.

Xiang Wan smiled at him appreciatively and walked towards him. \"It's this late already? Shall we go back?\"

Bai Muchuan agreed while Tang Yuanchu couldn't understand what was happening. \"Are you going back like this?\"

Xiang Wan showed an amused smile. \"Otherwise? Are you keeping us for dinner?\"

Tang Yuanchu was once again rendered speechless. \"…\"

\"Alright, the issue is settled!\" Xiang Wan smiled and turned to take a glance at Xie Wanwan. \"I've already spoken to Miss Xie, and she is willing to cooperate with the police that she would not go out alone.\"

Bai Muchuan glanced at Xie Wanwan.

She was looking downwards and did not express any disagreement with Xiang Wan's words.

His experience told him that things were not so simple—

\"Let's go!\" He trusted Xiang Wan, so he didn't want to say anything now. He looked towards Ding Yifan and got up from the sofa.

Xie Wanwan leaned against the door of the bedroom without showing any expression. \"Goodbye.\"

Bai Muchuan didn't look back but patted Tang Yuanchu's shoulders. \"Do your work well and report immediately if anything arises.\"

\"Mm…\" Tang Yuanchu was the one who wanted to know more than anyone in the house what had happened.

He was not a sensitive person, but judging the atmosphere, even if he was slow, he knew that something was bothering Xie Wanwan…

\"Teacher Xiang…\" He still wanted to know.

\"Oh, right!\" Xiang Wan halted in her steps, turned around, and smiled at both Tang Yuanchu and Xie Wanwan. \"Should we have dinner together? My treat?\"

Her treat?

Everyone was slightly taken aback.

That included Bai Muchuan.

Xiang Wan blinked at them, showing a joyful smile. \"Well, I just received my royalties! I'm always at the receiving end, so I feel bad, you know? So, please don't look at me like this.\"

Bai Muchuan instantly pulled a long face.

What did she mean that it's her treat?

What did she mean when she said that she was always at the receiving end?

Was she trying to draw the line with him?

Tang Yuanchu and Ding Yifan smiled. \"Sure, thanks, Teacher Xiang.\"

Xie Wanwan moved her lips, but her voice was inaudible.

Xiang Wan gestured and looked at Xie Wanwan. \"You must come!\"

Xie Wanwan looked at her. \"Mm.\"

…

When they got out of Xie Wanwan's house, Bai Muchuan asked her what they talked about throughout the one hour, but Xiang Wan refused to tell him anything. She ignored his displeased face until they got back to Serious Crime Division One. Only when Ding Yifan went back to work and when both of them were alone did she puff a sigh.

\"I learned about Xie Wanwan's secret accidentally and promised to keep it a secret for her. I don't know what to do now. What say you?\"

Bai Muchuan was surprised for a moment.

Xiang Wan raised her eyebrows playfully.

However, Bai Muchuan knew she was actually getting back at him.

Bai Muchuan was smart, after all. He soon realized what her expression was hinting.

This was because… he used to be like this.

He had refused to disclose some matters since it concerned Xie Wanwan's privacy.

There was a turn of the tide, for it was her turn to do this to him.

Bai Muchuan was amused. He drew closer and wanted to pinch her nose. \"Little thing, you've become naughty.\"

Xiang Wan quickly evaded his 'attack.' \"You're annoying! Didn't you know that my nose is very sensitive? It cannot be touched.\"

\"…\"

Even her nose became sensitive?

Bai Muchuan seemed to ponder over it. \"You've quite a lot of sensitive points… Good, I like it.\"

Xiang Wan remained silent. \"…\"

He pulled the chair opposite her desk and sat on it. He showed a stance, which said that he wouldn't be able to leave until she told him about it. \"This is not her private affair. It's related to a major case that endangers national security. That's why, Comrade Xiang Wan, you must tell me about it.\"

Well…

He's actually using his official business tone to talk to her now?

In actual fact, Xiang Wan had never thought of keeping the matter from him.

Earlier on, she was simply… teasing him.

\"Comrade Bai Muchuan, I understand that very well.\" Xiang Wan raised her eyebrows and spoke with a straight face. \"The matter that Xie Wanwan found difficult to express and let others know—I also feel the same as you—that it is certainly related to that major case. Moreover, up till now, I couldn't ascertain if it is fake. Therefore, I need to discuss it with you.\"

\"Then why didn't you tell me earlier?\"

\"Ding Yifan's with us earlier.\" Xiang Wan pressed her lips together, and her gaze seemed a little dim. \"Xie Wanwan really minded that a lot… especially Tang Yuanchu. She didn't want him to know.\"

Bai Muchuan furrowed his eyebrows; his face became grim.

Xiang Wan chuckled teasingly when she saw that. \"Why? Did you feel a little disappointed? The one she likes the most is no longer you!\"

Bai Muchuan sent her a glare. \"Do you think I'm you?\"

\"Me, what about me?

\"Tell me!\"

\"… So fierce!\"

Serious Crime Division One—everybody was busy like bees.

Only the two of them were in an office, talking about the issue.

Xiang Wan was not in a hurry. She knew that his throat was not well, so she poured him a glass of water. When he finished drinking the whole cup, she started to tell him the reason for Xie Wanwan's behavior.

\"For a woman, this is too cruel,\" remarked Xiang Wan, \"if that kid is really hers and that supposed foster father asked her to meet… knowing that we refused such a request, it seemed even crueler.\"

This matter was difficult to handle.

Xie Wanwan didn't want the matter to be exposed.

She was hesitating and was in pain…

However, if she didn't tell the police about this, then the police wouldn't be able to help her.

She needed someone wise and intelligent…

… To tell her what she should do.

This was why, although Xiang Wan agreed to keep a secret, she still told Bai Muchuan about it.

However, Bai Muchuan didn't show much expression at all. \"She didn't want to cooperate with us just because of this matter?\"

Xiang Wan replied, \"Yeah, what else?\" Looking at his calm expression, Xiang Wan asked, \"So you think that this is a small matter?\"

\"Of course, it's not a small matter.\" Bai Muchuan furrowed his eyebrows in thought. \"But it's unlike Xie Wanwan's style…\"

Indeed!

Xiang Wan felt that the latter was not afraid of difficulties.

Although her painful past was being exposed, she endured it all.

Yet this time, she was afraid.

\"I can only say—\" Xiang Wan dragged her tone and smiled. \"It's love? Women are sometimes contradictory. The moment they fall in love, it's over. One is strong when one has no desires. The moment they desire for love… they couldn't be strong anymore.\"

\"…\"

Bai Muchuan remained silent.

\"Maybe she loves Tang Yuanchu more than you?\" Xiang Wan deliberately teased him. \"When she loves you, she would tell you everything, even if it's those terrible things that were done to her… Pardon me for saying this, but such feelings are geared more toward friends… Women will only be bothered about their image before the people they like. They would be bothered about how their love interest saw them in their heart…\"

\"With regards to her secret,\" Bai Muchuan ignored her teasing but focused on the case, \"Xie Wanwan must go meet that man.\"