Atlas Studios

  Atlas Studios

  Cheng Zheng took a few pictures of the glass window.

  Intrigued, Xiang Wan exclaimed, “You can find traces of evidence this way?”


  “By making use of the multiband light source to take pictures, we can record the fingerprints on the glass.” Bai Muchuan glanced at her and dutifully explained……

  However, Xiang Wan appeared not to hear his explanation.

  She didn’t respond to him and instead asked Cheng Zheng, “Can I take a look at this camera back in the office……?”


  “Of course!”


  “Of course not.”


  The two men had different responses.

  Cheng Zheng was willing, but Bai Muchuan wouldn’t allow it.

  The different answers and tones held a different meaning to Xiang Wan at that moment.

  “Captain Cheng, you’re so friendly.” Xiang Wan gave him a thumbs up, then got closer to observe him collecting fingerprints. She started to chat with him, “I actually wanted to know how forensic science experts like yourself actually collect the clues left by criminals and in turn, assist in solving cases……”


  “It can sound quite complicated,” answered Cheng Zheng.

  “To be honest, I have a lot of questions about evidence gathering that would help me with my novel. Can I ask you some questions at a later time?”


  “Of course.” Cheng Zheng turned and nodded at her.

  “Thank you!” Xiang Wan’s pair of clear eyes seemed to lit up with joy.

  It wasn’t that she was doing this deliberately to anger Bai Muchuan, it was just her first time seeing the process of evidence gathering, and she was fascinated by all these techniques and equipment. In addition, if she tried to incorporate them into her novel, she might waste more time than necessary trying to understand and learn this knowledge by herself. Even then, she might not be able to describe such knowledge professionally either.

  If there was an expert who could give her some pointers, that would be wonderful!

  When Xiang Wan thought of this, she seemed to brighten up.

  “Captain Cheng, I have another question. Do you think it’s meaningful to collect fingerprints here?”


  “?” Cheng Zheng looked at her.

  “This is a hotel where people come and go. The hotel concierge, the chambermaids, the previous guests of this suite, they could have left their fingerprints in here……”


  Cheng Zheng nodded. “What you said is reasonable……”


  “Reasonable, but still a novice,” Bai Muchuan continued the topic, “Criminal evidence won’t just stay there for us to collect it. Even if there’s only a one-in-ten-thousand chance to gain a clue, we can’t give it up. What if the collected fingerprint happened to have a match in the database? In fact, anyone with even a bit of intelligence would try to destroy evidence after committing a crime. Every time we solve a case, we’ve looked for evidence from the smallest possible probability.”


  Xiang Wan kept quiet.

  She didn’t smile nor displayed any emotion. It was as if he was just air.

  Thus, Detective Bai’s lengthy guidance was ignored.

  The sunlight outside the window was quite glaring, so the light in the room was quite strong. But between his well-defined brows, there was a hint of gloom which depicted him as an impressionable but profound oil painting…… Well, it was exactly the state before a volcanic eruption.

  “Little Bai.” Xie Wanwan walked over with a bottle of water. “Help me open this.”


  It was an intimate form of address which was similar to a pet name.

  When they heard this from Bai Muchuan’s buddy, Quan Laowu, it was full of bromance.

  When they heard this from Xie Wanwan, it had a gentle and lovely feeling to it.

  Xie Wanwan nonchalantly handed him the bottle; her movements were natural and casual. Bai Muchuan turned around with his back facing Xiang Wan, his face gloomy. He quietly took the bottle, twisted it open and handed it back to her.

  This intimate and unpretentious way of getting along with each other looked very pleasant to anyone witnessing it.

  Xiang Wan’s spine was stiff as she looked at Cheng Zheng work. She didn’t turn her head, acting like she didn’t see how the two interacted with each other.

  “Found anything?” Xie Wanwan took a sip of water. “I need to start work in about half an hour!”


  Soon enough, several men and women gathered at the door of the suite. From their way of dressing and their mannerisms, they should be Xie Wanwan’s manager, assistants, and the like. They stayed outside in order not to interfere with the investigation, observing curiously from the entrance.

  Bai Muchuan took a look at her. “You can go ahead, I’ll let you know if anything comes up.”


  “Okay.”


  Xie Wanwan was still looking languidly indifferent.

  At the same time, her attitude was coldly proud and calm.

  From the moment they entered her room, she hardly interacted with anyone else except for Bai Muchuan.

  “If so, I’m going to my assistant’s room next door to get changed and touch up on my makeup. Let’s catch up later.”


  “Mm,” Bai Muchuan responded indifferently.

  “When you get back, do remember to take a good rest,” she added.

  “Mm!”


  Xie Wanwan got two assistants to come in to get her cosmetic bag as well as some clothes. They also packed some other items.

  “Little Bai, I won’t be coming back to this room.” Xie Wanwan turned around right before she left the room. “Help me close the door later.”


  “Sure.”


  Bai Muchuan maintained the same tone for his three earlier ‘Mm’s.

  His deep, pleasant masculine voice made Xiang Wan’s heart waver a few times.

  Not only did she like good-looking men, she also liked men with pleasant voices. For Bai Muchuan who had a charming and husky voice, Xiang Wan found it especially irresistible and borderline lethal……

  However, at this moment, it felt strange hearing him talk to another woman!

  Yesterday, the feelings she had when Cheng Zheng told her about their relationship, and her feelings now after seeing their relationship firsthand was totally different.

  Actually, Bai Muchuan and Xie Wanwan didn’t display any physically intimate actions or conversations.

  However……

  The Bai Muchuan who was so protective of Xie Wanwan……

  Xiang Wan watched Cheng Zheng at work without blinking her eyes, but it was turbulent inside her heart……

  “Done!”


  Cheng Zheng suddenly exclaimed.

  He looked at Bai Muchuan as he put away the camera. “There’s a fresh fingerprint just between the tempered glass and the aluminum alloy.”


  There would be differences between a fresh fingerprint and an old one.

  Nonetheless, the difference was sometimes subtle. Aside from relying on equipment, experience was also necessary to make the correct judgment.

  Tang Yuanchu and Mei Xin came over upon hearing Cheng Zheng statement.

  “Could it belong to the thief?”


  “Maybe? I tried to push the window open just now—it was quite difficult,” Tang Yuanchu remarked, gesturing with excitement as he tried to give his own opinion of what happened. “If the thief wore gloves and couldn’t push the window open, he could only remove the gloves to do it. After the window was open, he tried to clean up his fingerprints but overlooked a spot. Everyone, do you think this is possible?”


  “Hard to say,” commented Cheng Zheng. “As long as you’re happy.”


  Tang Yuanchu: “.……”


  Bai Muchuan furrowed his eyebrows in thought. “You did a good job in analyzing it! You’ve improved.”


  Tang Yuanchu: “.…… Thank you, Captain Bai.”


  Cheng Zheng took a look at Bai Muchuan before he faced Xiang Wan. “I need to get this back to the office for testing; time is of the essence.”


  “Alright, please go ahead.” Xiang Wan smiled at him.

  Cheng Zheng left with Mei Xin.

  They had more or less combed through the entire room.

  Bai Muchuan wore a grim expression. “Get ready to leave!”


  They needed to gather everything into evidence bags to bring back to their office.

  The group left the room.

  As they left, Xiang Wan deliberately walked towards the lift next to Tang Yuanchu, so as to avoid walking with Bai Muchuan.

  Just when they walked past the neighboring hotel room, the door of that room opened.

  Xie Wanwan popped out and called for Bai Muchuan.

  “Little Bai! Come here for a moment.”


  Bai Muchuan didn’t make a sound. Xiang Wan didn’t turn around either.

  She hastened her steps, walked through the long corridor and entered the lift……

  It was quiet inside the lift.

  Xiang Wan was absorbed in her thoughts for a moment when she noticed that the lift wasn’t moving. Only then did she realize that Tang Yuanchu had been holding onto the lift door.

  “Why are we still here?” Xiang Wan asked.

  “Let’s wait for Captain Bai,” said Tang Yuanchu.

  It wouldn’t be nice of her to say no since he wanted to wait.

  Thus, they both waited for Bai Muchuan inside the lift.

  They waited for less than two minutes, but Xiang Wan felt like a whole century had passed by…… Her brain was filled with PG scenes starring the two of them. Were they hugging, kissing…… or saying sweet nothings to each other?

  She recalled some of Bai Muchuan’s expressions; how he would wear a sly smile on his face as he teased her……

  “Let’s go to the City Hospital!”


  Bai Muchuan’s cold command pulled Xiang Wan back to reality.

  She looked up and noticed that when he stood in front of her, he resembled a door god.

  “Yes, Captain Bai,” said Tang Yuanchu, “I’ve asked Xie Hui to drive the car to the entrance. They should be there soon so we can go straight to the hospital……”


  The security guard who got stabbed was sent to the City Hospital.

  They needed to determine his current situation!……

  Xiang Wan stayed quiet inside the lift without interacting with anyone.

  When the lift stopped, Bai Muchuan moved aside to let them out.

  Tang Yuanchu was puzzled for a moment by this strange action, but he went out of the lift, nonetheless.

  Xiang Wan was about to follow him as well when her wrist was abruptly grabbed by Bai Muchuan.

  He exerted great strength, and the sudden movement left her defenseless and shocked.

  “What are you doing?”


  Now, they were both inside the lift.

  There was a surveillance camera inside, and Tang Yuanchu was still outside.

  “Ahem, just pretend that I’m not here.” Tang Yuanchu heard the noises behind him and quickly gave an excuse. “Captain Bai, I’ll go meet up with Xie Hui and the others!”


  He got out of their sight faster than a hare.

  Leaving Xiang Wan behind, whose face was flushed red from being “detained” by Bai Muchuan at the lift door.

  “What are you hiding?” Bai Muchuan seemed to be fiercely repressing his anger. He stared at her, and his eyes resembled a hissing snake’s—sharp and cold. The hand gripping tightly onto her wrist gave her no chance to think about how to escape; he placed her arm behind her waist and pinned her against the door frame of the lift. Xiang Wan felt her back hurt from the impact, and her heart pounded violently from nervousness.

  “Bai Muchuan.” She gritted her teeth.

  “I’m talking to you. Why are you hiding?” He was seething with anger. “Do you think I’ll eat you up?”


  Xiang Wan was cussing inside her heart.

  “Let go of me, are you crazy……!”


  Lots of people come and go on the ground floor of a hotel.

  Every so often, there would be people wanting to use their lift, but when they saw them, they would walk towards another lift, leaving this space to the two of them.

  Due to the friendly and harmonious deeds of the masses, Xiang Wan was completely isolated and left at the mercy of the “beast”, completely unable to move.

  “Tell me what happened!”


  The way that Bai Muchuan stared at her felt as if he was going to swallow her up.

  “When have I offended you, huh? That you have to join forces with that Cheng Zheng to diss me?”


  “How did I diss you when I didn’t even talk to you?”


  “By not talking to me, that’s the same as dissing me!”


  “.……”


  His answer left her feeling helpless and powerless.

  Xiang Wan felt like a little bunny that had nowhere to run to.

  “Bai Muchuan, just do a good deed and leave me alone, okay? There are so many pairs of eyes here!”


  “Hah!” Bai Muchuan grunted out a laugh. He stared into her eyes and barely managed to squeeze out a few words through his teeth. “Tell me what happened last night.”


  Xiang Wan placed a hand between them and pushed him away. “What could have happened to me? Detective Bai, please don’t mess around with me anymore, alright?”


  Did he really not know how charming he could be?

  Did he really not know that a casual flirtation from him could make her heart leap, make her dizzy and let down her defenses?

  Xiang Wan took a deep breath and mumbled.

  “I really don’t want to get into an ambiguous relationship with you. Just look at what you’re doing to me now; this isn’t normal. It could easily make people misunderstand……”


  “Misunderstand? Who are you worried about?” Bai Muchuan sneered, “Cheng Zheng?”


  “Fine, I can’t control your thoughts,” remarked Xiang Wan helplessly. “In any case, we should keep some distance from each other. It would be good for us both. What do you say?”


  He could afford to flirt, but she couldn’t.

  Xiang Wan didn’t want to get involved with a man who already had a woman.

  “Very well.” Bai Muchuan suddenly sneered coldly, “I understand what you’re trying to say. But……” He paused for a while, his burning gaze staring straight into her blinking eyes; his good-looking face was filled with an overwhelming iciness. “I won’t let you off!”


  With this, he released his grip, stepping back slowly while staring at Xiang Wan. He then abruptly turned to walk away.

  “We’ll be waiting for you outside, hurry up!”


  Xiang Wan shivered for an instant.

  Standing at the entrance of the lift, she looked at Bai Muchuan’s back.

  “A**hole,” she muttered.

  A couple walked over. “Miss, are you going up or down?”


  Xiang Wan then realized that she was still blocking the entrance into the lift.

  “I’m sorry. I’m not going up or down.”


  As she said that, she ran out of the lift……

  The police car was parked at the entrance.

  Everyone was waiting quietly inside.

  Bai Muchuan sat at the front passenger seat without moving.

  Tang Yuanchu heaved a relief when he saw Xiang Wan.

  “Teacher Xiang, here! We were waiting for you.”


  “Thank you!” Xiang Wan smiled apologetically as she realized that everyone was looking at her. She suddenly felt self-conscious.

  No one spoke while on the journey to the hospital.

  The atmosphere was quiet and slightly gloomy.

  When they almost reached the hospital, Tang Yuanchu couldn’t hold it in anymore. He tried to find a topic to talk about while driving. “Boss, what’s so special about Miss Xie’s doll that made her kick up such a big fuss over it?”


  Bai Muchuan still seemed to be suffering from a hangover. He slouched against the seat.

  “It can talk like a human. Aside from that, it’s no different from any other doll!”


  “.……”


  Tang Yuanchu shuddered at the thought, at a loss for words.

  Bai Muchuan looked at him from the corner of his eye. “Why? Never seen a talking doll?”


  “Those electronic dolls?”


  “What else do you think it is?”


  Tang Yuanchu snapped out of his thoughts of a horror fantasy. After pausing for a moment to look at Xiang Wan’s expression, he asked again, “Is it because it’s Miss Xie’s doll, so we—”


  “Am I the kind of person who mixes official business with private matters?” Bai Muchuan removed his cap, smoothed back his messy hair and put on the cap again, allowing the brim of the cap to cover half of his face. “Why do you think I slept at the hotel last night?”


  “Huh?” Tang Yuanchu was stunned by his question.

  “Did you think that Xie Wanwan was someone who sleeps so deeply that she’d never notice someone entering her room to mess with her things?”


  Tang Yuanchu chewed over what he said in his head.

  “Is it because you two drank alcohol and got drunk?”


  Bai Muchuan didn’t deny it, but he didn’t admit to it either.

  After a short pause, he told Tang Yuanchu in a languid tone, “When we arrived at the hospital, help me get a queue number!”
……