Chapter 225 - Joyous Occasion

Chapter 225: Joyous Occasion
Translator: 
Atlas Studios 
 Editor: 
Atlas Studios

Even though life did not go the way one wanted most of the time, Xiang Wan still treasured it a lot.
Go to work; writing her story; visit her mom after her shift. Workplace, hospital, and her rented house—it had become her new daily routine. It was a period where her days were fulfilling and filled with heartwarming moments.
With so many people concerned about her, how could she not work hard?
After Bai Muchuan returned to the Capital, the two of them kept the same rhythm of communication at least three times a day. Both of them were focused on their work and would think of each other in their spare time. Due to that, although they did miss each other, they did not think that lovesickness was bitter.
Her work at the Criminal Investigation Unit was as usual.


Xiang Wan would see Cheng Zheng almost every day at work.
Occasionally, they would exchange a few words with each other.
Cheng Zheng did not ask much about her affairs. Xiang Wan did not tell him much, either.
After Bai Muchuan left, the closest people to Xiang Wan in the workplace would be Gossip Boy—Little Liu, as well as Tang Yuanchu.
Xiang Wan wanted to ask Tang Yuanchu badly if he encountered problems in sending Xie Wanwan back that night. This was because Xie Wanwan was really drunk that day.
However, whenever she mentioned Xie Wanwan, Tang Yuanchu would speak evasively and make excuses that he was very busy with work and leave in a hurry.
Such behavior made Xiang Wan feel perplexed.
She asked Little Liu,
Did anything happen to Tang Yuanchu for the past few days?

Little Liu raised an eyebrow.
Huh? Something happened to him?

Immediately, Little Liu’s eyes lit up as though he smelt gossip.
Teacher Xiang, did you hear something?




You’re asking me? I’m the one who wanted to ask you.

Little Liu was akin to the ‘official’ channel for gossips in the entire Criminal Investigation Unit.
If there was something he did not know, then Tang Yuanchu should be fine.
Hence, Xiang Wan just let it be.
Well, when it was around noon, Tang Yuanchu actually came to look for her.

Teacher Xiang, I need your help for something.

Xiang Wan was a little surprised.
Okay, sure.

There were a lot of people in the main hall, so Tang Yuanchu brought her to a small meeting room.
There was nobody inside the meeting room. He took a glance at her and closed the door.

Take a seat, Teacher Xiang.




…

What is he up to by making it so mysterious?

Xiang Wan looked at him and knocked on the table as she sat down, smiling thoughtfully.

Is there something personal you’d like to tell me?

Personal? 
Tang Yuanchu frowned a little.
Yes.


Have you heard that Captain Bai’s notice of transfer will be announced very soon?
Xiang Wan puckered her brows.
Oh?
She had thought he would be talking about his relationship matters. It never occurred to her he would be talking about work.

… No, have not heard about it.


Old Qi will be the next Captain.

Qi Canghai was the Acting Captain during this period when Bai Muchuan was not around.
If Bai Muchuan got transferred, he was indeed the most likely person to get promoted.


Nevertheless, Xiang Wan had not heard of such news, neither was she concerned about it.

This news has yet to be officially announced. I heard this from Little Liu.

Little Liu had a classmate working in the Municipal Bureau and was, therefore, able to get much firsthand information before it got officially announced.
Problem was, Xiang Wan did not know what Tang Yuanchu was trying to get at by telling her about this.

It’s just a matter of time that Captain Bai gets transferred away.
Xiang Wan looked at him, puzzled.
Isn’t it the same… no matter who becomes the next Captain?

Tang Yuanchu did not reply to that. He pulled a chair to sit next to her.
Won’t you follow Captain Bai to the capital?


…

She was also struggling with this problem.

I’m afraid, not at the moment.

She had answered rather vaguely. Tang Yuanchu pouted after hearing that as though he had been abandoned.



I want to follow him.


…
Xiang Wan’s lips twitched.
You fell in love with him?


What are you saying?
Tang Yuanchu rolled his eyes. Next, he felt a little depressed as he drooped his eyelids.
Now that Captain Bai is really leaving, I seem to lose passion in my work.


Passion?

Xiang Wan could not understand.
Wasn’t their work still the same whether or not Bai Muchuan was around?

Is it because there hasn’t been any major case lately?
She laughed.
Are you feeling restless?


It’s not that.
Tang Yuanchu ruffled his hair uncomfortably.
I don’t know why, but I just feel weary.

Previously, he was always brimming with energy and full of passion for his work. It was still the same routine, yet he felt as though something was lost.
Xiang Wan felt amused.
Those who don’t know what’s going on might mistake you as his girlfriend…

Tang Yuanchu rubbed his face.
Stop that, Teacher Xiang, I already feel bad enough. I’m serious in telling you all these.
A second later, he suddenly said,
Teacher Xiang, I have something very personal to ask.


Tell me about it.


What do you think if a woman…

Tang Yuanchu suddenly paused.
He scratched his head, furrowing his eyebrows as if he could not go on anymore.

Nah, forget it, you’re not that type of woman. You won’t know.


…

That type of woman? Did a woman piss him off or something?
Could it be Xie Wanwan?
Xiang Wan felt funny as well as a little annoyed.
If you don’t tell me, how would I know? Come on, tell me about it?


No, forget it.

Tang Yuanchu seemed to be caught in a whirlpool, his face was full of dejection.
With a sigh, he pointed weakly at the door.
Let’s go for lunch.

It was lunchtime.
From the meeting room, they could faintly see there were people walking outside.
Xiang Wan was bewildered. She felt that Tang Yuanchu was not acting like himself that day.
Since he was not willing to talk about it, she could not press him to tell her, either.

Alright, let’s go for lunch.

She got up from her seat when Tang Yuanchu suddenly stopped her.

Teacher Xiang, wait for a moment. I almost forgot! I still have another matter to tell you.


… What is it?


An investigation. Definitely official business.

So he had looked for her was also because there was official business and not only personal matters?
However, he actually talked about his personal matters before official business? She thought, is he really alright?

Xiang Wan looked at him from head to toe and could not help laughing.
You’re not quite yourself today.


Of course not!
Tang Yuanchu replied awkwardly,
Maybe I’ve been thinking too much that my brain couldn’t function well.

He laughed and showed Xiang Wan his mobile phone.
Take a look at this first.


Eh? What is this?


It’s about the investigation of the remaining four moderators of your reader chat group.


Oh!
Xiang Wan quickly took his mobile phone for a look.

Captain Bai had assigned this task to me back then,
explained Tang Yuanchu.
As we do not want any complications, this was not lumped with Mao Guigui’s case. I had investigated this myself…


So how is it?


Here, take a look.


…

The information was very detailed.
Xiang Wan’s moderator chat group consisted of seven people including herself. After taking away Er Niu [Tian Xiaoya] and Cotton Candy [Mao Guigui], only four moderators remained. They had not appeared in QQ for a long time. According to Tang Yuanchu’s investigations, the four of them actually went for a tour together.
The four of them lived in different cities.
They got to know each other because of her book. They became friends and even traveled together.
From the looks of it, all these seemed to be very reasonable.
However, from what Tang Yuanchu found out, Xiang Wan noticed they were already away from home for more than 10 days.

Those who had work did not go to work, those who had school did not go to school… They had gone traveling for more than 10 days… Ain’t this strange?


It’s not strange at all!
Tang Yuanchu smiled as he took his mobile phone back.
It’s a spur-of-the-moment trip!


…


In any case, Teacher Xiang, just be rest assured. They contact their friends and family members every day…


Hm, that’s good to hear.

Tang Yuanchu seemed relaxed and felt there was nothing wrong which made Xiang Wan thought she might have been overly worried.
While having lunch, Xiang Wan opened the moderator chatgroup in QQ once again.
The avatar of the four of them was still grey. All those messages Xiang Wan sent still had no reply.
At that moment, she finally understood—they were safe and well. It was just that they did not want to talk to her anymore.
…
They used to chat and laugh with her, but now, they had become strangers.
Xiang Wan ate her meal while looking at her main reader chat group to see what they were chatting about.
Not long after, she slowly typed and sent a message.

‘Murder The Dream Guy’ is looking for moderators, those interested please private message me!

It was time to look for new moderators.
The few that had left would not be coming back.
Notifications from QQ came in.
Xiang Wan opened the message and found the first person who responded was Yuan Qianqian.

Hi! Consider me? I don’t have many capabilities, but I have big boobs and am a daredevil.

Pffft! 
The dark clouds that had been residing in Xiang Wan’s heart instantly cleared out.

I don’t have much preference, but I like those with big boobs. I choose you, my daredevil comrade.


Heh! Just a sentence and found out we’re birds of a feather!


I guess people who are beautiful are similar.


Hahaha!

With that,
Murder The Dream Guy
reader chatgroup welcomed their second generation of moderators.
They created a new chat group. Nevertheless, Xiang Wan was not someone who liked to handle such matters. She let Yuan Qianqian handle all matters of the chat group, including the recruitment of more moderators. In no time, she managed to find a few more like-minded readers as moderators. The quiet chat group of
Murder The Dream Guy
regained its vitality once again.
For Xiang Wan, this was something to be happy about.
However, she didn’t expect good news to come one after another.
The next day, Bai Muchuan told her that Serious Crime Division One was now officially formed.
Bai Muchuan, Inspector 1st Class, was being officially appointed as the Captain of the newly formed unit.

Congratulations!

Men tend to be more passionate about their careers. Xiang Wan felt that he should be thrilled about it and sent her well wishes the moment he told her.
But Bai Muchuan’s tone sounded nonchalant and cool.

There’s nothing to be happy about.


Eh?
Xiang Wan noticed his mood.
What’s up? You don’t seem to be in a good mood?


I’m not happy, but I’m not in a bad mood, either.


Why?


Because—you are not by my side.


Although I’m in Jin City, I can still share the joy with you, too!


It’s not some joyous occasion anyway.
Bai Muchuan’s response was still tepid.
From his tone in the messages he sent, Xiang Wan could sense a little gloominess in his mood. However, before she could ask him about it, she was distracted by another piece of major news that made her exhilarated.
A nurse came out excitedly to look for Xiang Wan.
Miss Xiang, your mom’s awake!

…