Chapter 396: Their Little Tantrum

“Mm.” Bai Muchuan sounded languid.

“Who knows which one is innocent? Rather, both of them are not innocent.”

Xiang Wan was startled. Somehow, she felt that this sentence did not feel quite right.

There was a strong feeling of stinging satire as if he was taking a dig at somebody.

“What do you mean?” she asked.

“What are you referring to?” Bai Muchuan asked her back.

“…” Xiang Wan was stumped, unable to say anything.

Both of them were too familiar with each other. Even a little expression or emotion could not escape another’s eyes.

Besides, Xiang Wan was an especially sensitive person.

She chose to shut up and did not talk, treating it as though she had heard nothing.

Bai Muchuan paused for a while. “If Ye Lun is innocent, it does not mean Yu Ning is guilty. If Yu Ning is innocent, it does not mean Ye Lun is guilty either. Xiang Wan, there are many things that people make judgments based on their perspective—”

That felt like an explanation.

An explanation to explain the case.

As well as an explanation to explain his emotion.

Xiang Wan looked at him, deeply.

Then expressed her agreement with an “Mm”.

However, she did not utter a word thereafter.

Bai Muchuan pressed his lips together, a little powerless toward Xiang Wan’s reaction. The earlier arrogance of his had ceased to exist. He moved his hand and brushed past the back of her hand. Then he held her hand slowly, stroking the back of it with his thumb. “It’s still a long way to go. Close your eyes and take some rest.”

“Mm!” Xiang Wan was a fast learner.

She behaved exactly the way he had treated her earlier.

The attitude, tone, and the gaze—everything was the same.

Next, she closed her eyes to rest to show her obedience.

If he had not noticed her eyelashes moved from time to time, he thought that she had really fallen asleep.

Bai Muchuan looked at her. “…”

He was jealous like he had tasted vinegar, sour all over.

However, Xiang Wan felt as if she tasted sulphuric acid and her heart was in pain—

She had given it some serious thought over the course of this incident. She felt that she had been wronged!

As a web novelist, her main job responsibility was to write her story. She was very interested to know about murder cases and was trying her best to become a murder mystery author. She knew she was the one who wanted to follow him in his investigations when appropriate… During this period, she had placed Bai Muchuan as her priority, so he could concentrate on his work… Surely he had seen what she had done for him?

She would always place his interests before hers.

Whether in life or work, it was the same.

However, look at what happened… She didn’t even do anything out of the ordinary, yet he treated her so coldly. She couldn’t stand it.

She felt that the contact between her and Cheng Zheng was within the appropriate range. She didn’t do anything out of the ordinary with him, there was not even a bit of ambiguity…

At the very least, she didn’t feel that at all.

However, he misunderstood and distrusted her.

He even implied that maybe both of them were not innocent.

Xiang Wan felt a little hurt—

In Bai Muchuan’s work circle, she was actually in a rather awkward position.

She was not a member of the police force, neither was she a contracted employee. She was only his girlfriend.

That day, those words Cheng Xin said in her face had stabbed her and left her in pain, although she had retaliated harshly as well—

If Cheng Xin had felt that way, what about the others? Sometimes, she would wonder about that as well.

She had been following Bai Muchuan around, yet she was not one of them. Didn’t it sound ridiculous?

Of course, all those feelings she had when Bai Muchuan was nice to her had long since diluted!

She was not someone particular about everything. She didn’t really want to fuss how others see her.

Nevertheless, when Bai Muchuan was unhappy, he would pretty much ignore her. Sitting with a bunch of detectives and like, she already felt like an outsider. Now that he had misunderstood her like this, she could not shake off the feeling of being accused and bitter…

On what basis?

On what basis!?

All women have a temper!

Especially when they were in a relationship.

Bai Muchuan was gloomy and unhappy. Xiang Wan also had her frustrations.

As the two of them did not talk, for a long period, it was all quiet inside the car.

Their trip to Nanmu this time was different since the locals had rebuilt the collapsed stretch of road. They need not do a detour like the previous time and that saved a lot of time. With the road repaired and rebuilt, they could take another highway and the main road which greatly reduced the journey.

As the car traveled on the road, Xiang Wan thought about a lot of things while she sulked.

After that, she felt like sleeping.

She pouted a little and her cheeks were puffed up a bit in anger. However, her breathing was even and such a sight was actually quite adorable.

When Bai Muchuan saw that, the corner of Bai Muchuan’s lips lifted upwards. Then he shifted Xiang Wan a little to let her sleep more comfortably…

Cheng Zheng looked at the rearview mirror. “Drive slower,” he told the driver, “the road condition gets poorer as we go.”

They had all been through this part of the road before and knew what it was like.

Hence, Cheng Zheng’s words at this point in time, how much of it was because of the sleeping Xiang Wan?

Bai Muchuan found it difficult to ignore the discomfort he felt. Since there were also two of the Xi City detectives with them, they were not as familiar with him… Hence, if he had to say something, he had to go in a more roundabout manner.

His eyebrows furrowed slightly. “Thank you for today, Captain Cheng.”

Cheng Zheng was expressionless. “No need.”

Bai Muchuan grunted a laugh. “Captain Cheng also has a pet cat at home, no?”

Cheng Zheng did not turn his head. “I’ve kept one many years ago. Now I don’t.”

“No wonder—” Bai Muchuan’s tone was neither warm nor cold. “You’re so interested in other people’s cats!”

Cheng Zheng smiled. “I just couldn’t stand seeing people mistreat cats. After all, I used to own a cat, and I still like cats.”

Bai Muchuan’s expression turned brooding and dark.

“Nonetheless, someone else’s cat belongs to someone else,” continued Cheng Zheng in a casual manner, “even if I like it a lot, that’s all there is to it!”

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A glint flashed past Bai Muchuan’s eyes. “I didn’t know that you’re quite a gentleman!” He showed a half-smile.

“I’m always like this. I’m different from you, right?”

“Of course we’re different.” He snapped back wittily, “I won’t even have any thoughts about things that don’t belong to me.”

He countered Cheng Zheng so well that the latter could not say another word.

Bai Muchuan changed the topic with a chuckle. “Well, we may need to consult you for more information about the equipment and stuff we need for keeping a cat. Both Wanwan and I have never kept a cat and did not know what to do. We’ll learn as we go.”

Cheng Zheng’s expression seemed rigid and was silent for a moment.

“I can give you a list of what to get when we get back.”

The corners of Bai Muchuan’s lips quirked upwards. “Thank you!”

…

When they arrived in Nanmu, the sky was already pitch dark.

The lightings in Nanmu and Xi City looked as if both had come from different eras.

The sky was high and peaceful, the street lights were shining, quiet and relaxed.

Throughout the journey, Xiang Wan was sometimes semi-conscious. When she opened her eyes again, she saw the conveyor belt hotpot restaurant in the wealthier area of Nanmu City.

She looked up and saw the resplendent signboard. As always, it was still seemingly the most prosperous place in Nanmu.

Xiang Wan rubbed her eyes. “Why are we here?”

Bai Muchuan replied, “Dinner.”

His voice sounded emotionless.

Was he still angry with her?

Xiang Wan swept a glance at him.

She had sulked for almost the entire journey and did not bother to coax him.

Both of them left the car, and they did not converse with each other. They went up the stairs which the restaurant had decorated according to the local ethnic flavor.

They had arrived at the restaurant at its peak hour. However, it seemed that their business was not as good as when they came here for the first time. There were empty seats and none of the private dining rooms were taken…

Xiang Wan was a little doubtful about Bai Muchuan’s intention to come here for dinner.

“Welcome, sir, table for?”

A waitress came up to them warmly.

Bai Muchuan mumbled, “Can’t you see for yourself?”

“…”

It was really rare to see him behaving so impolitely.

When he was rude, however, the cold and arrogant look on his well-defined face was even more attention-grabbing.

A few waitresses looked over.

A tall woman who seemed to be the head waitress came up and gave an apologetic smile.

“My apologies, sir, she is our new waitress…”

“Enough!” Bai Muchuan was obviously in a bad mood. He interrupted her, but he was not too unreasonable. “I’m looking for Mr. Abdul!” he said coldly.

Oh, so he’s not purely here for dinner? Xiang Wan thought.

The head waitress was a little surprised to hear that. “Sir,” she smiled politely, “our boss is not at the restaurant at the moment.”

Bai Muchuan looked at her from the corner of his eye. “We’ll wait for him! I want a private dining room!”

The head waitress was a little awkward. “Alright. Sir, please feel free to take a seat. I’ll call Mr. Abdul right away!”

There was not much change in the hotpot’s flavor.

However, since everyone was hungry, the flavor that day tasted especially wonderful!

The group sat in the private dining room. The hotpots were served, and it soon boiled. Without waiting for them to serve all the dishes fully, everyone had already started to dig in!

Bai Muchuan did not talk much but throughout the meal, he would still take care of Xiang Wan by putting her favorite food on her bowl. She would say her thanks politely and smile at him.

However, both of them still felt strange. Neither of them refused to take another step.

Abdul arrived at the restaurant about half an hour later.

When he entered the private dining room, he was panting and gasping for breath. He was also perspiring and his cheeks were red—it was obvious he had rushed over to the restaurant.

Maybe the head waitress had told him about them over the phone since Abdul did not seem surprised when he saw Bai Muchuan and the rest of them.

“Mr. Bai, sorry to keep you waiting. I’ve something on at home, so I didn’t come to the restaurant and could not receive all of you…”

Abdul was still as polite as always. He was wearing his ethnic costume that day. He looked immaculate and tidy in them, which was unlike most of the Nanmu locals. However, on that day, his eyes seemed deeper, his nose more prominent, and his long face seemed thinner. He seemed kinda weary and haggard than when they first met him.

Bai Muchuan and the rest had already eaten for the past half an hour, they were more or less full now.

Hence, all of them stopped and was looking at Abdul and waiting for Bai Muchuan to speak.

Bai Muchuan was the only one who was still putting some food into the hotpot to boil them before he swiped a glance at the seat opposite him.

“Do sit down and talk!”

Abdul sat down submissively.

Xiang Wan did not know what Bai Muchuan was up to.

Abdul did not know that either since he stole some glances at Bai Muchuan nervously.

Bai Muchuan asked slowly, “You know what I’m working as, right?”

Abdul paused for an instant and nodded. “Yes, yes,” he gave an ingratiating smile, “but CEO Meng has warned me not to tell anyone. I’ve always been keeping that in mind…”

The corners of Bai Muchuan’s mouth lifted upwards. Although he seemed to be smiling, a sharp, unfeeling glint flashed his eyes.

“How long has it been since you opened this restaurant?”

Abdul was a little stunned. He revealed an uncertain smile. “I think it has been over 10 years now?”

“I see.” Bai Muchuan appeared to be enlightened. “So it has been here for so long.”

As he remarked about that lazily, his eyelids suddenly looked up. “I heard your wife has passed away many years ago?”

Abdul didn’t speak. “…”

The rest of the team did the same. “…”

What was Bai Muchuan doing by talking about all this stuff?

Was Abdul close to him? Why did he ask him personal questions like this?

Xiang Wan turned her head slightly to look at him. From his features, she could see an unusual kind of sardonicism. She could not tell what kind of feeling he was going through. Nevertheless, she was clear about one thing—Bai Muchuan’s motive for asking this was certainly not so simple.

Tiny beads of perspiration started to appear on Abdul’s forehead.

“Yes, I didn’t expect that Mr. Bai… even knew about this.”

“Your wife didn’t seem to have given birth before.” Bai Muchuan smiled. “After she passed away, you did not remarry either… In that case, where did your daughter, Lima, come from?”