Chapter 227: Add Me
Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios
Xiang Wan did not know what happened in the Capital.
Her mom, who had been in a coma, was now awake. That almost lit up her world.
She now worked harder and took care of her mom meticulously.
On one hand, she wanted to earn more money, while on the other, she was hoping her mom would return to her healthy state soon.
When that happens, she could go to the Capital to see Bai Muchuan.
On the third day, Qi Canghai’s new appointment as Captain was announced.
From the day of the announcement, Bai Muchuan was no longer related to the Criminal Investigation Unit in Hongjiang District.
Due to that, Xiang Wan felt that there was not much value-add with her presence in the team.
More importantly, with the current cases they were handling, there was no need for a profiler. Rather, she felt they might not be willing to keep a trainee profiler like her.
On that day, she tendered her resignation to Qi Canghai.
“Why? You want to resign?” Qi Canghai was an honest man who had worked in Hongjiang District as a detective for many years.
He knew what happened between Xiang Wan and Bai Muchuan. Hence, he could understand her concerns.
“Teacher Xiang, if you want to leave because of reasons like career development, I won’t keep you. However, if you want to leave because of other concerns, I really hope you will think twice about it. The team does need you.”
The insight of an old, experienced detective was very sharp.
It was as though he could see through what Xiang Wan was thinking. She lowered her head shyly and brushed her hair with her fingers.
“There’s a little of everything. It’s mainly because of my writing job which is more demanding now. Another thing is… I do not have a well-defined job scope and feel it’s not good of me to get paid when I hardly do anything.”
“Did anyone said anything?” Qi Canghai smiled.
“Nothing of the sort,” said Xiang Wan honestly, “I’m the one who feels this way.”
“You’ve thought too much over it,” replied Qi Canghai seriously, “although Captain Bai is the one who recruited you into the team, he had gone through the proper procedures to make you part of the team. We had a discussion on this and even obtained the approval of the Municipal Bureau. Teacher Xiang, it’s not that you are of no use in the team, it’s just that our district’s too small. There are not many major cases for you to work on that could make you feel you’re an asset to the team…”
Captain Qi’s words made Xiang Wan abashed.
“In actual fact,” Qi Canghai gave her a look of approval. “I’ve seriously read through your profiling analysis for the previous major cases. I must say, I’m really amazed and shocked. Profiling is something new to us in this district. I admit I did not think much of it before. Your profiling skills has provided great help for us in solving the cases.”
Xiang Wan’s face was a little red as she was being complimented.
“Captain Qi, thank you so much. It’s basically everyone’s effort that we managed to solve the cases.”
“Yes, as long as we’re united, there is no difficulty we cannot overcome.” Qi Canghai nodded his head. “So, Teacher Xiang, personally, I sincerely hope you will stay with the team.”
“Well…”
“How ’bout this? You’ll consider till the end of the month.”
“At least stay till the end of the month, ” smiled Qi Canghai, ” and get your deserved salary?”
“Fine,” she chuckled. “Thank you, Captain Qi.”
Well, what more could Xiang Wan say?
Moreover, to quit at this moment was, in actual fact, bad timing.
With regards to this point, she only thought of it after she left Qi Canghai’s office.
Even if she put aside what Qi Canghai had affirmed about her talent, it must be true he did not want her to leave.
As soon as Bai Muchuan left, she tendered her resignation. Those who knew about her situation would think she left by herself. What about those who didn’t know? What would they think and what would they say?
Therefore, quitting at this point in time was not good timing.
Once Xiang Wan thought this through, she sat down to work on her stuff as always.
Not long after, Little Liu came over to her in a hurry with a big smile on his face.
“Teacher Xiang, someone’s looking for you.”
Xiang Wan looked up and felt that his smile was strange. “Who’s looking for me?”
Little Liu seemed thirsty; he swallowed a big gulp of water before answering. “It’s a really, really gorgeous woman.”
“…”
Hmm, who is it?
Little Liu blinked his eyes. “Just go out and you’ll know.”
Xiang Wan swept a doubtful glance at him and went outside.
At the reception hall, a young woman wearing a cap as well as a mask was sitting leisurely with her legs crossed. The moment Xiang Wan saw the behavior of the woman, she felt her headache acting up.
“Xie Wanwan?”
Xiang Wan called out her name and walked over.
Xie Wanwan sat up straight and gave her a cold glance. “Could you not call me by my name?”
Xiang Wan was dumbfounded. “…”
Xiang Wan looked at towards the left and right before letting out a chuckle.
“Do you think people won’t know who you are when you’re dressed like that?”
Xie Wanwan pursed her lips and looked to the sides.
A little girl around five to six years old had accompanied her parents to the police station. She was playing around by herself on the chairs.
Xie Wanwan asked, “Little girl, do you know who I am?”
The little girl might have been daunted by the woman who was wearing a mask. She seemed startled and shook her head.
Xie Wanwan was pleased and patted the head of the little girl. “Little girl, call me big sister.”
“Hello, big sister.”
“Good!”
Xie Wanwan took out a lollipop and gave it to the little girl.
“…”
Xiang Wan was dumbfounded at that sight.
There’s actually lollipops inside her bag?
“Is it strange?” Xie Wanwan swept a glance at Xiang Wan and did not smile.
“No, it’s not.” Xiang Wan casually stood before her, but she was not too friendly, either. “You’re looking for me? What’s up?”
“Nothing.”
“…”
“Asking you out for a drink.”
“…”
Drink? No way… That day she drank alcohol, and Bai Muchuan took the opportunity to plant so many hickeys on her neck. She had to wear a scarf for three days to cover her neck before the marks disappeared…
If she could go to the Capital, she would have rushed there to teach him a lesson.
“So, wanna go drinking?” Xie Wanwan stared at her impatiently.
“No.” Xiang Wan rejected her flatly and asked with her arms crossed, “Why me?”
Xie Wanwan raised an eyebrow. “I’m happy!”
“But I’m not happy.” Generally, Xiang Wan was a polite and courteous person. However, she knew that to deal with Xie Wanwan required her to behave in a more bad*ss manner, or she would be led around by the nose.
Since she had no interest in drinking with her, she had to refuse thoroughly.
“My apologies, Bai Muchuan’s not here, so I won’t go drinking.”
“Hurhur!” Xie Wanwan sized her up indolently. “Are you afraid of me?”
“Afraid of you?”
Xie Wanwan lowered her tone and winked at Xiang Wan. “Do you really think I like women?”
Xiang Wan found the situation awkward and funny at the same time. “Of course not. You don’t like women. You like my boyfriend.”
“…”
For about two or three seconds, Xie Wanwan did not move or speak.
As Xiang Wan did not show much emotion, she regained her composure quickly.
“For that matter… I apologize.”
“Hm?” Xiang Wan looked around again and sat beside Xie Wanwan. “Tell me then.”
“What do you want me to say?”
“Didn’t you want to apologize? I’m listening now.”
“…” Why is she behaving like that?
Xie Wanwan took a breath. She realized Xiang Wan was someone who was not as gentle and easy to bully as what she seemed.
She gave a sneer. “I’ve already apologized earlier.”
Xiang Wan stared at her. “But I don’t know the reason for your apology.”
Xie Wanwan returned her stare. Both women started a staring contest, and after about 10 seconds, Xie Wanwan chuckled. “Fine, I admit I used to like Bai Muchuan. Moreover, I have also told him that day I will not like him anymore.”
Xiang Wan squinted her eyes. “Can we erase our feelings when we want to?”
Nobody could control their feelings freely.
She was really bewildered by that, whereas Xie Wanwan felt a little awkward by her remark.
She thought Xiang Wan was wary of her and looked away.
“You’re right. It’s a little difficult. This is why I decided to be friends with you…”
“…”
“I’ll chop off my hands if I snatch a friend’s boyfriend. Be rest assured I will never do that.”
“…”
Xiang Wan took a breath and thought for a moment before she let out a laugh.
“But… I don’t dare to be friends with a woman who likes my boyfriend.”
Her words were calm, indifferent, and firm.
Xie Wanwan narrowed her eyes as she looked at Xiang Wan. A while later, she laughed.
“You’ve got character.”
“You too.”
“Fine, if you don’t want to drink, so be it!” Xie Wanwan took her handbag and wanted to leave.
Coincidentally, Tang Yuanchu was returning from an errand.
Not sure where he had gone to, his forehead was filled with beads of perspiration and both of them met each other face-to-face.
He was surprised to see her and was in a daze. “Why are you here?”
Xie Wanwan stopped in her tracks and glanced at him from head to toe from the corner of her eye before letting out a disdainful snort.
“None of your business—Tang, Seng[Tang Monk].”
“…”
Obviously, she had totally forgotten what she had done that night.
At this moment, Tang Yuanchu’s heart, which had been tortured for the past few days, was torn into pieces.
Seeing how Xie Wanwan left like this without turning her head, he took a gasp and gave Xiang Wan what he was holding.
“Help me give this to Captain Qi. I need to go out for a while.”
Xiang Wan took a look at the documents placed in an envelope. “…”
…
Tang Yuanchu went after Xie Wanwan and managed to catch up to her at the carpark.
This woman loved to go out alone by herself without her assistants following her around. As she did not want the paparazzi to know about her whereabouts, Tang Yuanchu was sure she must have driven here.
He was spot on. She drove her white Maserati there, certainly very eye-catching.
Xie Wanwan was inside her car, about to leave the parking lot when Tang Yuanchu appeared and blocked right in front.
“What are you doing?” She pressed the horn once. “Move aside.”
Tang Yuanchu went over to her car without a word and pulled the door.
… It’s locked.
This woman has a high level of alertness , he thought.
He knocked on the car window. “Open the door!”
Xie Wanwan tilted her head and looked at him with a grimace. “Why should I?”
Tang Yuanchu knocked on the car window again. “I have something to tell you.”
Xie Wanwan grunted a laugh and ignored him by starting the car directly.
Vrrooom! The car suddenly started and drove out of the parking lot, leaving Tang Yuanchu stunned for a moment.
He was holding the door handle and was dragged along a few steps. His anger was starting to pile up.
Young men like him tend to have a quick temper. Seeing how Xie Wanwan ignored him, he held onto the handle and grabbed onto the car with his whole body.
“D*mn!” Xie Wanwan was stunned by his actions.
She stepped on the brake as fast as she could before rolling down the window and scolded him. “Do you want to die?”
The perspiration on Tang Yuanchu’s brows was glistening. His veins on his forehead and the back of his hand were bulging. When he spoke, he was gnashing his teeth.
“Open the door!”
Xie Wanwan glanced at him from the corners of her eyes. “Just tell me what you want to say, I can hear you.”
The car window was rolled down earlier. She could hear him although she was inside the car.
The two of them met each other’s gaze. The words that stayed in Tang Yuanchu’s mind had hovered around many times, yet he was unable to squeeze a word out of his mouth.
“Are you saying it or not? Out with it or scram—I’m a busy person.” Xie Wanwan was getting impatient.
“I’ll say it!” Tang Yuanchu gulped and looked at her as though there were flames spewing from his eyes. “That night, do you know what you did?”
“Oh, this.” Xie Wanwan looked at him as though she was looking at a lunatic and shrugged her shoulders indifferently. “I heard you were the one who sent me back. Fine, I’ve not said my thanks. Thank you, Detective Tang!”
“…”
She really couldn’t remember?
Not even a little bit?
Tang Yuanchu’s heart was as though squeezed tightly when he realized that.
“Anything else?” Xie Wanwan looked at his cheeks which were now suffused with a red hue and looked at her as if she was a savage beast. “Hey, little friend.” She was amused by his gaze. “Do you have a crush on me or something? I’m warning you, there are too many men who’re pursuing me… the queue is as long as 10 years from now. If you really have such a thought, it’s better for you to toss that out early…”
“…”
Narcissistic!
Tang Yuanchu could hear the sounds of his teeth gnashing away.
He would never admit he liked Xie Wanwan.
However, it seemed impossible for him to let her go just like this.
He was in a tizzy. He hadn’t the least idea of what he wanted or what he wanted to do…
Before Xie Wanwan ran out of patience, he uttered words that even surprised himself.
“Cigarette, cost of cigarette. You haven’t paid me.”
That night, Xie Wanwan had told him she had no small change with her.
Hence, Tang Yuanchu paid for the pack of cigarettes first.
Xie Wanwan was slightly surprised and let out peals of laughter.
“Sorry, I forgot about that, but I don’t have any change on me today, either. What should I do?”
Tang Yuanchu took out his mobile phone. “Add me in WeChat then do a transfer to me.”
Xie Wanwan shot a glance at him and pulled down her mask. “Your motive is to add my WeChat, right?”
Tang Yuanchu’s cheeks seemed to become redder. “… I only wanted you to pay me back.”
“I see!” Xie Wanwan nodded her head understandingly. She took out her mobile phone from her bag slowly and gave him a sidelong glance. “There’s no need to add WeChat. You can just show me your collection code for a scan…”
Tang Yuanchu sighed. “…”
Ding!
The transaction was complete.
She had paid up the money.
He had no more reason to stop her from leaving.
Rather, he might not be crossing paths with her ever again.
Tang Yuanchu’s heart was making a racket, each beat was loud and muffled.
“Let go now?” Xie Wanwan was puzzled. “I’ve already paid up. What more do you want?”
“I…” Tang Yuanchu was unable to say another word.
His palm that had held onto the door was already clammy from perspiration.
Finally, he let go and walked back quietly, looking down at his shadow that portrayed a sorry figure.
Xie Wanwan’s car drove past him.
The car logo of Maserati was especially dazzling.
“Tang Yuanchu—” She suddenly stopped the car. “How about I treat you to a drink?”