117 The Enjoyment Process

The meeting ended.

When they came out of the meeting room, everyone got back to work.

No one talked; there were only a series of keyboard punching sounds which made the atmosphere rather heavy.

The investigations were still ongoing. One by one, news came back to the team, and they got to summarize and analyze them. Nowadays, with the use of technology in handling cases, many things have become much simpler…

However, if the case was to close with a headline like this: "Burglar as well as assailant to a security guard—Kong Qingping, met with an accidental death", that surely would not be able to convince the public.

At least Xiang Wan felt this way.

There were a few doubts that were not unraveled. Even if Bai Muchuan himself was not involved in this case, there were some matters that just wouldn't make sense.

…

After having lunch at the canteen, Xiang Wan was back to being idle again.

Sitting before her laptop, she was just preparing to do some private stuff when Xie Wanwan arrived at the Criminal Investigation Unit.

She did not go directly to the main office but waited at the reception room outside to see Bai Muchuan.

Tang Yuanchu was the one who told Xiang Wan about it.

That fellow deliberately took a detour to come by her desk for the sake of gossiping to her.

"Teacher Xiang, Captain Bai just went out, you're not going to take a look?"

Seeing him put on a meaningful smile, Xiang Wan frowned. "Did Captain Bai ask me to go?" she asked seriously.

Tang Yuanchu grinned. "You can go even without him asking."

Xiang Wan stared at him with a straight face. "Why?"

After being asked twice and her face still looking as though she had nothing to fear, Tang Yuanchu couldn't stand it anymore. He scratched his head and decided to come clean with her directly. "Ahem, Teacher Xiang, actually I wanted to ask a small favor from you…"

"What is it?" Xiang Wan chuckled. "So secretive! You must be up to something bad!"

"No, no, no," Tang Yuanchu spoke in a low voice, "don't joke with me, Teacher Xiang. Actually, it's like this, I know a girl sometime back and got to know that Xie Wanwan is here. She insisted me to help get an autograph from her… You know I'm a tough guy, I can't be doing this, right? Heheh, Teacher Xiang, take it doing a good deed please?"

What?

Xiang Wan had thought that he had passed on the information purposely so as to tease her about her relationship with Bai Muchuan.

She had not expected that he had another "agenda".

Xiang Wan retracted her gaze from him casually. "I'm not going. I'm not interested in girls."

Tang Yuanchu turned back for a look before grabbing a chair and sat beside her. He narrowed his eyes and asked, "Don't be like this, it's just a favor since you're on the way? Your love rival's here, and you're not going to find out what they're talking about? You're fine with someone snatching boss away?"

Snatch? If something doesn't belong to me, what's the use of snatching it?

Xiang Wan raised an eyebrow. "My apologies, Detective Tang. I really can't do this."

Tang Yuanchu pursed his lips and passed a notebook to her cautiously. He also kept blinking and kept moving his eyes to the direction of the reception room. "Come on, please go! I beg of you, Sister. You're the only woman in the team. I have no one else to ask…"

"… Mei Xin is going to hit you if she hears this."

"Oh her? I've never seen her as a female."

"…"

At that moment, Mei Xin was standing right behind him.

She was holding a pile of documents, and her cold gaze swept his face.

Next, she walked passed them with her eyes looking straight forward.

This was really an awkward situation!

Tang Yuanchu's mouth was slightly agape for a few seconds.

As he was caught "red-handed" for "criticizing" Mei Xin, he heaved a sigh of relief only after she was far away from them.

"See? How is she considered a female? Teacher Xiang, I can only ask you for help…"

Xiang Wan examined him for a few seconds, hesitating.

It was not that she did not want to help, but Xie Wanwan and Bai Muchuan were talking to each other, so it would be inappropriate of her to appear just like that.

"I dare to guarantee that Captain Bai likes you the most, Teacher Xiang! It's true, if you go, he won't get angry but be really glad instead…"

"I don't care if he is happy or not."

"Since you don't care about it, why not treat it as helping this younger brother out?"

He even used the words "younger brother", Xiang Wan did not have the heart to reject him even if she was cold-blooded.

Moreover, the last sentence of what Tang Yuanchu said really managed to convince her:

"Teacher Xiang, are you not curious about what they are talking about? That mysterious doll… Sigh, I'm also almost dying of curiosity!"

To Xiang Wan, this task would really put her in an awkward position.

But after mulling it over for a while, she took the notebook and made her way to the reception room.

…

Reception Room.

Xie Wanwan's celebrity status was being portrayed to the fullest.

She alone took one big sofa and sat with her legs crossed. Her assistant and two bodyguards were standing beside her. The three of them wore the same uniform which made her look like a female boss who came for a negotiation. Her current image was entirely poles apart from her marketed image.

Not sure what Bai Muchuan had told her, Xie Wanwan's expression did not seem to be good.

"It's been two days and there's still no news. The efficiency of the police force leaves much to be desired, no?"

Bai Muchuan swept a cold glance at her. "No choice," he snorted, "just keep waiting. I'll inform you right away if I found it."

"You've been telling me to wait, wait, and wait. Will this wait be months and years? What should I do if there's no news at all?" Xie Wanwan really seemed to be in a poor mood. It was obvious that she was trying desperately to control herself, but she was unable to hide her overwhelming amount of anxiety.

"Is there any other way out if you can't wait?" Bai Muchuan asked coldly and suddenly pointed outside. "If you have the means, you can go find it yourself, why do you still need the police?"

Xie Wanwan was stunned.

"Little Bai."

The moment Bai Muchuan adopted a tough attitude, her stance softened.

Xie Wanwan put her palms together and her expression was as if she was going to cry anytime. "Please, please, you must find it, you must," she implored in a low voice, "for the past two days, I don't have the mood to do anything. No, I couldn't do anything at all."

Bai Muchuan took a glance at her with his back leaning on the chair, furrowing his brows without giving a reply.

It was suddenly quiet inside the reception room.

Xiang Wan's appearance at the entrance seemed a little out of place.

Hence, she cleared her throat. "Captain Bai!"

Bai Muchuan looked up and saw her holding a notebook. He narrowed his eyes in confusion, but the next moment, his eyes seemed to light up as if he had thought of some happy things that his whole mood lifted. His thin lips curved into a smile as he beckoned to her. "Come over here."

Why so warm toward her?

Shouldn't he maintain a distance to other girls in front of his girlfriend?

Xiang Wan hesitated for a moment and went up in a proper manner, handing the notebook out. "Detective Tang wanted to ask Miss Xie to sign an autograph for his sister. He's busy at the moment, so I'm here to help him out…"

She made the facts clear so as to not create a misunderstanding between Xie Wanwan and Bai Muchuan.

However, the moment Detective Bai heard she was there for an errand and not to catch him with "another woman", his expression instantly took a dip.

"Tang Yuanchu's family information states that he has no sister at all." He pushed the notebook back to Xiang Wan. "And, this is an office, not a place to get autographs."

Xiang Wan: "…"

She could not understand why he suddenly flared up.

It was just an autograph, would that tire out his girlfriend?

Xie Wanwan took a glance at Bai Muchuan then Xiang Wan. After a short pause, she took the notebook from Xiang Wan.

"It's just an autograph, a small matter. Is there a need to lose your temper?"

Xiang Wan smiled stiffly. "Thank you!"

The assistant gave her a pen and bent down to help Xie Wanwan open the notebook.

Xie Wanwan lowered her head emotionlessly as she used her beautifully manicured fingers to hold onto the notebook and started to sign.

After signing, she closed the notebook personally and handed it to Xiang Wan.

"Need to trouble you to give it back to him."

"Alright, thank you!" Xiang Wan continued to maintain an appropriate smile. "So I'll make a move first, Captain Bai." She lowered her head to look at Bai Muchuan.

"Mm," Bai Muchuan responded with an unclear expression.

His tone sounded rather chilly and unhappy.

Xiang Wan took a glance at him and walked out of the room.

She felt a gaze following her as she walked out of the door.

…

When Xiang Wan was nowhere to be seen, Xie Wanwan retracted her gaze.

"Little Bai, is she the one?"

Bai Muchuan gave her an impatient look and prepared to get up.

"Don't concern yourself with matters that doesn't involve you. Just go back, I'll contact you the moment when there's news."

He wanted to walk out the moment he finished saying his words.

Xie Wanwan suddenly called out to him. "Little Bai…"

Bai Muchuan turned around, his gaze slightly deepened.

Xie Wanwan's mood seemed to be different from earlier.

Probably because people who were in the performing industry had such an ability that they could switch between different personalities with ease.

She was just fine earlier, but the next instant, her eyes had completely gone red.

"My words earlier have been harsh. This is because I'm really… really anxious. I'm very scared. Little Bai, you must help me, please."

Bai Muchuan looked at her quietly.

After a while, he nodded and walked away in big strides.

…

At the office, Xiang Wan was reading a book with her chin resting on a hand.

Bai Muchuan took a glance at that book and saw that it was "The Grey List".

As this book was going to be made into a drama, Xiang Wan had a renewed interest in this book which had long ended. Now that she read it again, she was more focused than when she had first read it.

Hence, she did not notice when Bai Muchuan had come around till he knocked on her desk.

She lifted her head in surprise. "Eh? Captain Bai, you're looking for me?"

Bai Muchuan took a glance at the other colleagues in the office and moved his head. "You come with me."

"Oh, okay."

Why did he put on a face like he was trying to pick a fight?

Xiang Wan was unable to ascertain his motive for looking her up. She quickly kept the novel inside the drawer and followed him along.

Rays of sunlight shone in from the window, which made Bai Muchuan's desk as if covered with a golden glow.

Xiang Wan stood at the entrance of his office for several seconds before walking inside and sitting down formally.

"I'm here. What's up?"

Bai Muchuan looked serious. "Xiang Wan, are you willing to believe me?"

Xiang Wan paused for a moment before she smiled. "I don't think you asked me to come just to ask me this question?"

Bai Muchuan rested a palm onto a stack of folders and deliberated for a moment. "I'd like you to go through this case and update this to your new chapter of 'Murder The Dream Guy' as your third case."

Eh?

Xiang Wan's heart seemed to take a dip.

Somehow, she thought of that mysterious ID and his comments.

"Why? I don't feel like writing it."

Bai Muchuan remained silent.

After a while, he spoke slowly, "I have an almost absurd idea about this case. There's no way to prove it, and I'm unable to tell anyone about it. But I thought you'd be able to understand me."

Eh? Xiang Wan was dumbfounded.

He has such a feeling as well? she thought.

Somehow, a certain quixotic idea would spring out of nowhere with regards to the case, but wary to voice out and seek approval from others. Yet she felt that he would be able to understand her.

A strange sense of tacit understanding somewhat shook her heart. "Say it, I'll listen."

Bai Muchuan gazed directly into her eyes. "This is not a simple case of killing due to theft. In actual fact, there are many cases of theft turning into murder, but a case done in such a clean slated manner are few and far between."

Clean slated manner?

Xiang Wan gave it a thought. "You're saying that there's someone behind all these?"

"I suspect someone is manipulating the recent spate of cases in Jin City." He seemed deep in thoughts after he said this. Suddenly, he lowered his head, tousled his hair with both hands and knocked on his forehead. "Till now, I have not found any evidence to prove all these."

On the surface, there seemed to be no connection between these three cases.

There was not even a related motive or clue…

One couldn't keep using conjectures without hard evidence to convince others, right?

Xiang Wan agreed by nodding her head while Bai Muchuan suddenly stared at her with a deep tone. "I've mulled over this the whole morning. There's actually a common point."

"What is it?" Xiang Wan was surprised.

"Your novel." A cold glint flashed past Bai Muchuan's eyes. "It's your novel that linked up the previous two cases."

She looked at him for a moment and seemed to realize something.

"So, you hope that I'll continue my story by writing about this case of theft and link it up with the previous two cases?"

"Correct!" Bai Muchuan nodded his head. "I feel that the other party is a conflicted person. Initially, he could have done the cases even more perfectly without leaving even a trace that the police could not even sense his presence. Yet he felt dissatisfied about the police's ignorance. Hence, every time, he would try various methods to remind us… about his presence."

"He's obviously enjoying this process." Xiang Wan continued the conversation. She could totally understand what he was trying to say as if they could understand each other at the soul level.

"There's a popular saying on the Internet, I don't know if you have heard it before?"

"Which one?" Bai Muchuan furrowed his brows.

"I simply like to see your expression when you're unable to get me."

"…"

Bai Muchuan knocked on his desk with his knuckles while contemplating and suddenly flashed her a smile.

"Accurate conclusion!"

His smile was so alluring!

Xiang Wan had always been unable to resist his smile.

She cleared her throat and looked toward the window where the sunlight shone in. "If there were really such a person, I feel that his state of mind should not be conflicted. Rather, during the process, the thoughts of wanting to get noticed got stronger."

"Tell me about it!" Bai Muchuan seemed interested.

Xiang Wan relaxed and analyzed the situation in a serious manner after looking at his smiling, glowing face.

"In Zhao Jiahang's case, it was the first time he experienced the joy of being a 'Chief Game Designer' as he used the complicated relationships of Mr. and Mrs. Zhao, Tian Xiaoya and Wang Tongsheng to replicate the case in my novel, creating the hottest news in Jin City this year ever that caused panic amongst countless number of people…"

"Of course, I'm unable to ascertain if he had enmity with these people. I don't know if he had created this killing game out of whim or if it was an elaborate plot. But I'm sure of one thing, he did not feel good for long. In fact, he started to feel worried."

Her eyes glowed as though she had not stayed up last night at all. Bai Muchuan smiled and started to relax as well.

"Why do you say that?"

"Let's put it this way. Assume you created a game and the gamers are having a lot of fun playing the game: the whole world was high because of the game. They guessed the rules of the game, argued about how to play the game and it became phenomenal as everyone celebrated it… But, nobody knew about your existence as the gamer creator. Your intelligence was kept in the dark… Will you feel disappointed about it?"

Bai Muchuan smiled. "I think I will? It sounds reasonable, continue."

Xiang Wan raised her eyebrows as she received his encouragement.

"What was particularly frustrating to him was that he had deliberately left a trail of clues in the case, but the police never noticed them. Zhao Jiahang's case had been solved, the case of the mutilated body at 'The Palace' had been solved, but nobody knew about his existence… Hmm, do you think he could have been like this: d*mn, it's time to give the police some clues."

The last sentence, she had imitated a man's voice so skillfully that it could easily pass off as one.

Bai Muchuan was stunned; he suddenly rubbed his forehead and chuckled in his low voice.

"Teacher Xiang, you really cracked me up!"

"…"

"Jokes aside!" Bai Muchuan straightened his posture and spoke with a solemn tone. "So, let's do this. You'll write about this case. If there's such a person, he will definitely be following your novel…"

"So you'll use the opportunity to lure him out?"

"With your book, I can say something that the police could not say conveniently."

Xiang Wan furrowed her brows and nodded to express her understanding.

"Anyway, it's to lay a trap." Xiang Wan blinked at Bai Muchuan and smiled suddenly. "But I do not know much about what happened before the theft occurred, so it would be difficult for me to start writing… Unless you are willing to answer some of my queries."

"Mm, say it!" Bai Muchuan responded.

"So we assume that a 'manipulator' existed in all these cases," Xiang Wan pursed her lips as Bai Muchuan looked calm. "Hence, in other words, Kong Qingping is equivalent to a cannon fodder. The manipulator's aim is either you or Xie Wanwan, or even the doll. Given the fact that both you and Xie Wanwan are being drugged at the same time, I have to know two things. Firstly, who asked who out for a drink? Who else knew about your date with her? Secondly, what kind of secret is the doll carrying?"

Bai Muchuan's gaze felt chilly as he stared at her without a word.

Xiang Wan shrugged with her hands spread out. "Is this so hard to answer? Detective Bai, I'm not a deity. I'm unable to write something that could match up with reality without knowing what actually took place. I'm afraid the manipulator might not bite the bait as well, right?"

Hur! Bai Muchuan suddenly chuckled.

He lifted his hand as though he wanted to hold Xiang Wan's hand which was resting on the desk now.

But the next second when he saw her pulling her hand away, he drew back and put on a serious face.

"Alright, I'll answer you. Firstly, Xie Wanwan is the one who asked me to go for a drink at the bar on the third floor of Jinyi Hotel. No one else knew about it, only the two of us were there. Secondly, the doll contained some of her privacy which… I'm not in a position to talk about it. You can put in some creativity here and just write what you think."

Xiang Wan looked at him intently.

"You're very kind," she smiled, "you do keep your promise."

Bai Muchuan replied, "Of course."

Xiang Wan looked at the time on her mobile phone. "So, Kind One, you still have one more day left to complete your mission. How do you intent to close the case?"

"The assailant of the security guard, Kong Qingping, is dead. The facts are clear with hard evidence as proof. What Commissioner Wang wanted has been achieved. As for whether the 'manipulator' really existed… this is not something that we can ascertain in one or two days. Take it slow."

"Mm." Xiang Wan raised her eyebrows innocently. "So Detective Bai, how are you going to prove that Kong Qingping's death is not an accident but killed by his own father?"

"I only said that Kong Guangming is a suspect of his son's death! I didn't say it must be him." Bai Muchuan grunted a laugh, his gaze seemed slightly sly. "That's why I asked you to come in. Quickly write about this case and say that the police is preparing to close it as they affirmed that Kong Qingping died due to a freak accident…"

"… If that's the case, won't the plot seem too simple?"

"We can always explain the plot later." Bai Muchuan looked at her. "As per what you've said, if the 'manipulator' is really following your novel, he will definitely be upset at what you've written…"

"And, we'll play him at his own game?"

Bai Muchuan extended his hand. "Cheers to our cooperation!"

Xiang Wan high-fived with him too energetically that her hand hurt a little. She felt like laughing when she thought of it later.

"This cooperation felt somewhat like a fantasy!"

…

At the end of the day, whether there was a "manipulator" behind the cases were just their assumption.

It was evidence that they needed to get hold of.

Xiang Wan did not have evidence. Bai Muchuan did not as well.

However, because of this cooperation between them, they suddenly had their own little secret. Such a feeling made her somewhat excited about it as well as more energetic toward solving the case.

For the rest of the day, she sat in the office without moving away from her desk. Even her dinner was delivered to her desk by Tang Yuanchu.

She finally completed writing when it was night time around 9:30 p.m.

After uploading and publishing the chapter, she heaved a sigh of relief.

Huff! She stretched herself and turned around.

Not sure when Bai Muchuan had come back. He just stood somewhere behind her, not too far away.

"You're back?" she asked, curious as to how the investigations turned out. "Any new developments?"

That afternoon, Bai Muchuan and team brought Old Kong back to Kong Village for a re-enactment of the scene. As she had to write her update, she did not follow them…

Bai Muchuan came over and gave her a bottle of water. "From Kong Guangming's performance, he did not seem to hold any murderous intent."

Pffft! Xiang Wan was drinking water and nearly choked in laughter upon hearing his words. "Why? You finally realized that you're being a little extreme about this matter?"

Xiang Wan did not know if it was because he was at loggerheads with Cheng Zheng that he behaved that way. In any case, she felt that his sensitivity to this matter had gone slightly extreme.

Nonetheless, Bai Muchuan gave a snort instead. "No, the less intentional he is, the more likely he is intentional."

"… Eh? What do you mean?"

"It is normal for a father to hit and scold their own child. But which average person would tie their child up like that and seal his mouth with tape? The most important thing is… Kong Guangming is unable to explain clearly the origin of the tape. Furthermore, Kong Qingping is a 22 year old, why was he unable to resist his weak and sickly father and landed in such a state?"

"Hmm?" Xiang Wan's eyes lit up slightly. "You're right! Kong Qingping is definitely not the obedient child who listens to his dad…"

The villagers had told her that the father and son would fight each other the moment they couldn't agree.

Under such circumstances, how could Kong Qingping be at the mercy of his father?

When something illogical appeared, it was similar to writing a novel with a new arc or plot. Xiang Wan immediately perked up.

"So what do you prepare to do?"

Bai Muchuan smiled lightly looking at her eager expression. "I'm waiting for our Teacher Xiang to come with us to interrogate the suspect."

"What? Me?" Xiang Wan was somewhat taken aback that he would trust her so much.

"Yes!" Bai Muchuan was back to his languid state. "Do an analysis for this case by tonight so we could report to Commissioner Wang tomorrow."

As he said this, his pair of peach blossom eyes glanced at her for an instant.

"My future is in your hands now. You'd better do well!"

"…"

"Let's go! To the Interrogation room."