Atlas Studios

  Atlas Studios

  It was not groundless to say that women’s sixth sense could be matched up against Sherlock Holmes.

  The uneasiness and sixth sense in her heart were confirmed once again.

  Xiang Wan and Fang Yuanyuan alighted near Grand Orchid Pavilion. Right at that moment, they saw Bai Muchuan going through the police barricade tapes with Tang Yuanchu and Xie Hui clearing the path for him. His calm but brooding face moved through the crowd of onlookers. His tall stature, cold, solemn face was still as attention grabbing as always. He was carrying a woman in his arms: her head was turned towards his body and there was a jacket covering her. Only her long hair could be seen dangling from her shoulders.

  Xiang Wan couldn’t see the face of the woman clearly.

  However, Xiang Wan was certain that she was Xie Wanwan.

  Police cars and the ambulances were stopped just outside Grand Orchid Pavilion–


  Bai Muchuan was walking in big strides, looking very anxious. He did not see Xiang Wan. He walked directly towards the paramedics who were pushing the stretcher over. They placed Xie Wanwan onto the stretcher and hurried to send it back up the ambulance……

  “Huang He! Huang He! Where are you?”


  Fang Yuanyuan dashed over, standing outside the crowd and shouted at the top of her voice.

  However, Huang He did not appear. She attracted Bai Muchuan’s gaze instead.

  “Xiang Wan?!”


  Bai Muchuan stood before the ambulance and called out her name.

  With the crowd in between them, Xiang Wan waved at him to indicate that she had seen him.

  The police was there, the ambulance was there, this was a case, and he was a detective.

  There was nothing more precious than a human life. Xiang Wan knew better that she should not retort him with sarcasm just because she was feeling slightly bitter about this.

  Even though this man had just confessed to her an hour ago and promised to maintain a distance with Xie Wanwan……

  At least, before she gave the nod, their relationship would still be purely colleagues.

  Fang Yuanyuan saw Bai Muchuan as well. She turned to Xiang Wan with a surprised expression.

  “Sis, isn’t that Detective Bai? Let’s go, we’ll ask him.”


  She did not see Huang He but could not get through the police barricade tapes. Hence, she was perturbed and pulled Xiang Wan along, rushing forward.

  “Detective Bai! Detective Bai! Have you seen Huang He? He’s working in this club……”


  The scene was chaotic and the crowd was noisy.

  Bai Muchuan was unable to hear what Fang Yuanyuan had said. Paramedics beside him had closed the door of the ambulance and was rushing him.

  “Detective, is this your family? She’s not in a good condition. We need to send her to the hospital right away. Will you be coming with us?”


  He was so nervous about Xie Wanwan that the paramedics had instinctively thought they were family.

  “Ah?” Bai Muchuan responded and quickly took a glance at Xiang Wan and wanted to talk when he heard Xie Wanwan’s weak murmurs.

  “Little Bai……”


  Bai Muchuan looked back and smiled apologetically at Xiang Wan.

  “I’ll go over first and see what’s going on. Don’t run around and wait for my news.”


  Xiang Wan plastered a smile across her face and waved at him; she did not say anything.

  Watching her apathetic expression, Bai Muchuan seemed to want to say something……

  At this moment, the ambulance driver honked once more and the paramedic urged him again.

  The street was now almost blocked due to congestion. Their delay affected not only traffic flow but also the rescue operations……

  Bai Muchuan pressed his lips together, took another look at Xiang Wan, and hopped onto the ambulance.

  The ambulance left with the siren on, soon disappearing into the distance, but they could still hear the sounds of the siren from afar.

  Xiang Wan stood at her position and watched for a while before retracting her gaze.

  “I want to look for Huang He. Detective Tang, please help me out, alright? I won’t cause trouble. I just want to look for Huang He……”


  Fang Yuanyuan’s emotions were almost in an agitated state, and she was very close to stomping her feet.

  Beyond the police barricade tapes was a big crowd, while within the barricade tapes was a mess. Anyone could tell that the situation was bad as even the special police were being activated. Injured people were being carried out gradually. Under such circumstances, the police would not allow irrelevant people to get inside.

  Although Tang Yuanchu knew Fang Yuanyuan, he knew he could not accede to her request and was in a difficult position as well.

  “You can’t go inside. If there’s news of Huang He, I promise I’ll inform you right away……”


  “What do you mean by if you have news of Huang He?” Fang Yuanyuan’s eyes widened. “He’s working inside there. Before the incident happened, he was chatting with me. Detective Tang, none of you have seen Huang He?”


  Tang Yuanchu pursed his lips and shook his head.

  “There’s too many people in there. Earlier on, we were busy evacuating the people and I really didn’t take notice. How about this? You go back first, I’ll go and search for him……”


  Fang Yuanyuan was almost in tears. “.…… Okay, I’ll wait outside, I’ll wait outside. Please remember to help me find him……”


  At this time, Xie Hui was shouting for him.

  Tang Yuanchu waved at Fang Yuanyuan and Xiang Wan. “I gotta go now. I’ll inform if there’s anything.”


  When Tang Yuanchu and Xie Hui walked away into the distance, Fang Yuanyuan’s arms hang lifelessly beside her body. She looked dispirited and despondent.

  Her face was ashen and her gaze was glazed. She was like a wandering spirit without bones, standing together with the crowd and looking at the main entrance of Grand Orchid Pavilion. She also kept calling Huang He with her mobile phone.

  Xiang Wan stayed by her side quietly, hugging her shoulders.

  She could feel Yuanyuan’s rigid body as well as her hands that couldn’t stop trembling……

  Outsiders are always the sober ones.

  Xiang Wan could understand Fang Yuanyuan’s anxiety, but she was much more optimistic about it.

  If Huang He was not found, then he should be fine. Firstly, Huang He was an experienced detective who knew what to do in different kinds of situations. He was good at dealing with sudden situations and had good crisis management skills. Secondly, if he had sustained heavy injuries, he would have been carried out by the rescue personnel, and Tang Yuanchu and rest of detectives would have seen him……

  “Yuanyuan!”


  When Xiang Wan was analyzing all these, they heard a voice calling from behind them.

  Fang Yuanyuan was as if suffered a shock as she quivered at that sound.

  Slowly, she turned around and saw Huang He who had appeared out of nowhere. She pressed her lips together and suddenly burst out in tears.

  “You’re hurt……”


  “No, no, I wasn’t.” Huang He tugged on his security guard uniform that contained blood stains. “It’s not my blood but others! I was chasing after someone earlier……”


  “You’re so horrible,” scolded Fang Yuanyuan. “Do you know you scared me to death? Why didn’t you answer my calls……”


  She suddenly covered her mouth and dashed right at him, hugging him tightly at the waist.

  “You’ve scared me. You’ve scared me to death.”


  Huang He opened his arms, but he daren’t touch her as there were blood stains on him. He didn’t want her to get the blood stains, but Fang Yuanyuan cried too miserably and too hard. He sighed helplessly and hugged her back tightly with his head touching hers, comforting her.

  “It’s alright now, everything’s fine. Don’t cry, there’s so many people looking……”


  “Wooo…… Just let them see if they want to.”


  At this moment, Fang Yuanyuan was undaunted as she was still immersed in the joy of having just found Huang He.

  There were people using their phone camera to take pictures and that made Huang He a little awkward.

  Just then, a reporter squeezed through the crowd with a microphone on hand. “Hi there, please excuse me, are you the security personnel who fought the perpetrators bravely? We would like to interview you. Can you spare us 30 minutes of your time……”


  Huang He held out an arm to block the camera and shielded Fang Yuanyuan from it. She was still in his arms.

  “There’s no need for that. It’s my job, I’m just doing what I should……”


  “Please don’t be nervous. We just wanted to understand more about your heroic acts so more people will……”


  “My apologies, my girlfriend is scared due to the incident.” Huang He gave an awkward smile. “I feel that it’s more important to comfort my girlfriend than being a hero. Thank you!”


  The crowd who heard that exclaimed with approval.

  “Oh my! He’s so cool! That’s what a man should say!”


  “He really cares about his girlfriend.”


  “What a great boyfriend he is!”


  “I want to post in my WeChat Moments that I’ve fallen in love with this security officer……”


  There were girls who took photos of both Huang He and Fang Yuanyuan, exclaiming in delight as they did so.

  Fang Yuanyuan was held tightly by Huang He. Hearing the compliments that kept pouring in, she felt an unspeakable rush of pride growing within her.

  She finally broke into a smile and hugged Huang He even tighter. “Oh no, so many girls like you now. What am I going to do?”


  She had actually meant this as a joke but Huang He took it seriously. He suddenly turned to the two girls who were closest to them.

  “Please don’t joke about matters like this. My girlfriend will be unhappy about it……”


  The girls: “.……”

  , they thought.

  Fang Yuanyuan: “.……”


  “Aren’t you silly? Let’s go! It’s too shameful……”


  Although she was saying it was shameful but her face indicated the opposite.

  Xiang Wan stood quietly from the sides and looked at Fang Yuanyuan’s blissful expression. She felt warm inside and her face was filled with a pleasant smile.

  No matter when, people should look toward the optimistic side, right?

  In the world, simple and pure feelings do exist……

  Huang He needed to stay back for a statement as well as work-related matters at the club.

  Fang Yuanyuan was now at ease knowing that he was safe and sound. She was now willing to go back with Xiang Wan.

  As she wanted to keep in touch with Huang He anytime, she specially made a trip to the other street to get a new mobile phone as well as a prepaid card for him.

  “Treat this as my belated birthday present for you.” She pushed it to him and slipped them into his pocket.

  Huang He was slightly taken aback. “.…… Yuanyuan?”


  His mobile phone got broken during the incident. He had not thought of this matter as yet.

  Fang Yuanyuan’s act felt like a warm stream inside his heart and his eyes turned instantly red.

  “.…… I’ll pay you back later.”


  “I’ve already said this is a present. Don’t talk about money with me!” Fang Yuanyuan gave him a glare but smiled shyly the next moment. “Go get busy, I’m going back now or else the police will chase me away soon.”


  The police were now persuading the public to leave the area. They were good citizens who abide by the law, so of course, they would cooperate.

  Huang He turned for another look at her. He felt a lump in his throat and his voice actually sounded a little hoarse. “I’ll look you up tomorrow.”


  “Okay.” Fang Yuanyuan took a few steps back shyly and waved at him.

  After walking for a few steps, she ran back to him and gave him a peck on the cheek.

  “I’ll wait for you!”


  Xiang Wan thought inside her head. Fang Yuanyuan’s coy and shy look amused Xiang Wan throughout the journey back.

  “You know you’re so stingy whenever you go out to get food. Why are you suddenly so generous? You just bought a mobile phone, you know?”


  “What business is it of yours?” Fang Yuanyuan knew Xiang Wan was teasing her. She gave an elated smile and brought the topic back to Xiang Wan. “Eh, didn’t we see Detective Bai earlier? I’m not mistaken, right?”


  Back at that moment, all her head was filled with Huang He. Thus, she was unsure now that she looked back on what happened earlier.

  Xiang Wan gasped and chuckled. She was not sure if she should cry or continue to laugh. “From what I see, you’re suffering from a poison called ‘Huang He’.……”


  “You’re the one who’s being poisoned!” Fang Yuanyuan peered at her for a moment. “Detective Bai carried a woman out, right? And he got on the ambulance as well…… Sis, who’s that woman? Heavens! Is this guy two-timing you?”


  “You have a vivid imagination!” Xiang Wan rolled her eyes lazily. “If you change your profession from an editor to an author, you’ll definitely be more popular than me!”


  “Don’t change the topic!”


  “He’s from the police and did what he should.” Xiang Wan puffed a sigh. “Besides, we’re not in a relationship. Miss Fang Yuanyuan, don’t just doubt others so recklessly!”


  “Nah! You’re the one who’s pretentious. If you’re not his girlfriend, why are you helping him?” Fang Yuanyuan asked loudly, “Sis, why can’t you be braver and face your most inner desires? Tell me, do you want Cheng Zheng or Bai Muchuan?”


  “My most inner desires…… Fang Yuanyuan, I feel like beating you up after watching you and Huang He showing off your affection to each other the entire night!”


  “.……”


  In this modern society, even the most trivial things could be in the news, let alone a major incident that happened in Grand Orchid Pavilion?

  The fans of celebrities broke into a fight and elevated into a group brawl. Not only did this piece of news appeared in the major news, it also sparked off an in-depth discussion on social problems by people from all walks of life. Such opinionated posts were taking over the hot searches and hogged the top positions of trending news. They were, in turn, shared and posted from WeChat Moments to Weibo and many other social platforms. Such news were as though everywhere.

  As a result, the controversy between the originally angry fans took to another level as though they had a long standing family feud with each other……

  Fang Yuanyuan had washed up and headed back to her bedroom.

  Xiang Wan was sitting alone in her bedroom reading the news, as well as thinking about her novel plot.

  She had promised Bai Muchuan to write about the case into her novel.

  She had not yet finished writing about the case and now another incident popped up at Grand Orchid Pavilion……

  Death of a burglar and a group brawl were two different matters altogether. Nonetheless, due to the same character[Xie Wanwan] who was involved in the incident, Xiang Wan treated it as one case out of reflex.

  Therefore, her point of focus was different from most people in the internet.

  In the case of Ye Lun and Xie Wanwan, it was evident that someone was fanning the flames…… Generally speaking, if celebrity gossip became hot news, many would think that it should be the public relations team trying to hype up the news. But for this matter, was it the filming crew, the media firm, or someone with ulterior motives who did that?

  Xiang Wan wrote several paragraphs and felt her head drifting away. She was unable to concentrate.

  She took a look at the time. It was 1:00 a.m. already.

  She yawned and shook her muddled head. She decided to wash up and go to bed.

  Someone sent a message to her……

  There was only one person who would send her messages in the middle of the night.

  Bai Muchuan.

  This was an era where social apps were so advanced, yet the two of them never attempted to add each other’s WeChat or QQ. They used the most traditional method to communicate, which was SMS. In actual fact, this was considered strange somewhat.

  However, none of them took the initiative to add each other.

  They seemed to have tacit understanding and let things stay that way.

  Well, in a way, this was also something that differentiated them from others as well.

  Xiang Wan suddenly thought that she had always felt Bai Muchuan to be different from everyone else. Could it be a psychological hint because of all these little things?

  Recently, she had read a tad too many books on psychology.

  She smiled and looked at her mobile phone. She was so calm that she herself felt odd as well.

  “Are you asleep?”


  It was a simple three-word message which was Bai Muchuan’s usual style.

  Xiang Wan stroked her phone screen and thought for a while before replying the message. “Yes.”


  “Liar! If you’re asleep, why would you reply?” Although there was no emotion in Bai Muchuan’s message, Xiang Wan could feel his relaxed state of mind and thought he should be smiling at the moment.

  Her heart skipped a beat at that thought. After chewing over for a moment, she asked, “Is Xie Wanwan alright now?”


  Bai Muchuan: “Yes, her condition’s stabilized. I just came out of the hospital and am preparing to go the scene now……”


  It was already so late and he still had work to do.

  Being a police officer is really not easy.

  Xiang Wan: “Okay, go ahead. If I’m needed, do let me know anytime.”


  It was a polite exchange. They were friends as well as superior and subordinate.

  Bai Muchuan went silent for a while before he sent a reply. “Of course I do. When I get off work, can I borrow your bed?”


  Bed……

  Xiang Wan lied on her back on the bed, looked at the ceiling, and pulled her blanket.

  “No way! Rogue! Goodbye!”


  “I only act roguish in front of you.”


  Xiang Wan pursed her lips and chuckled suddenly. She read through the message records then put down her phone slowly. She did not reply to that message.

  People’s nerves tend to be more sensitive at night.

  Therefore, it was not appropriate to make decisions at night. No matter it was for a good or bad occasion, it should be left to the day……

  Well, as she had something in her mind, she was not able to sleep well at night.

  She fell asleep in a drowsy manner and got woken up by the doorbell in a drowsy manner too.

  Last night, Fang Yuanyuan and Huang He actually chatted late into the night. She was now sleeping like a log that the doorbell did not wake her up at all. Xiang Wan yawned and got out of bed bitterly and shuffled across the living room to the door.

  After taking a look from the peephole, she opened the door. “Looking for?”


  Outside the door, a young lady was holding a bouquet of flowers. Her eyes lit up when she saw her. “Miss, I’m here to deliver flowers to you. Please sign here to acknowledge receipt.”


  Xiang Wan looked at her in a doubtful expression and did not accept the flowers.

  The young lady’s eyes was filled with envy as well as some jealousy. Well, she had a complicated look. “Your boyfriend came last night to the florist and bought the flowers. He had specially indicated that the flowers are to be delivered to you this morning. Here, you can take a look at this card!”


  she thought.

  Xiang Wan took over the flowers and took out the card placed at the centre of the bouquet.

  “My Queen! Kindly accept this with a smile!”


  She pursed her lips and said her thanks to the young lady, holding the bouquet with her as she closed the door. She placed it on the coffee table and looked at it for a moment before giving Bai Muchuan a call.

  “Hello!” He sounded really energetic. It did not feel like he had just woke up from sleep.

  Xiang Wan furrowed her eyebrows and forgot to ask about the flowers. “You have not slept?”


  “Yeah!” Bai Muchuan admitted without hesitation. “Why did you call me so early in the morning? Miss me?”


  Xiang Wan kept quiet.

  She glanced at the flowers and did not know how to respond.

  “Say something! I’m busy.”


  she thought.

  Xiang Wan knitted her brows again and poked the gorgeous looking flower petals with a finger. Her heart was like a rippling pond.

  “Thank you for your flowers. I’ll accept them, but no more next time!”


  “What do you mean by no more next time?” Bai Muchuan asked lazily, “This is a first in my life! You can’t be so irresponsible after taking it away?”


  , Xiang Wan thought.

  “Cut the cr*p!” Xiang Wan grunted a laugh. “Who knows how many girls you’ve lied to using such a tactic?”


  “Hey! Please be nicer to the wise and brilliant Detective Bai! This is really a first for me, I do feel bashful about it……”


  His lighthearted tone didn’t sound like he was shy at all.

  There was no way Xiang Wan would believe him.

  She hugged the flowers and sniffed them, lying lazily on the sofa. “Then all the more I won’t, what will you do?”


  “Whack you!”


  “Hurhur, as if you are able to do that.”


  “Wanna try?!”


  The moment Bai Muchuan said that sentence, the doorbell rang.

  Xiang Wan took a look at the door. “I’m hanging up, someone’s at the door.”


  She hung up the call, walked over to the door and took a look through the peephole.

  It was all dark outside, she could see nothing.

  Xiang Wan was alerted and called out from behind the door. “Who’s that?”


  “Checking the gas meter!” Came the reply outside which sounded muffled.

  Xiang Wan opened the door slowly and glanced at the person outside from the corner of her eye.

  Outside, it was Bai Muchuan’s weary but handsome face with a smile.

  That morning, he put on his police uniform that she had never seen him in it before. He placed a hand in a pocket and the other hand rested against the door frame.

  “See if I’m able to whack you.”


  The early morning sunlight shone on his hair, on his well-defined face as well as the look of exhaustion that he was unable to hide.

  Xiang Wan stood and looked at him without moving.

  “Stand out of the way! Your friendly neighborhood police officer is checking the house!”


  Bai Muchuan had a half-smile on his face, his expression seemed flirtatious like those idol dramas, yet it also felt like a huge knife that was so powerful that it sliced Xiang Wan’s heart into pieces. No matter how hard Xiang Wan tried, she was not able to piece her heart altogether and was unable to express her inner feelings.

  “It’s so early. Why are you here and you’re actually wearing your uniform? Are you sure you’re alright?”


  “Yeah.” Bai Muchuan lifted his sleeves for a sniff and gave her a narcissistic smile.

  “I went back for a good bath and come here after changing into my uniform. Am I good-looking?”


  Her maiden heart was about to explode!

  But what exactly did he want?

  Xiang Wan narrowed her eyes and looked at him without saying anything.

  Bai Muchuan looked at her casually. He was wearing a warm smile which was like the sunrise.

  “I thought by wearing this, my question will also appear to be more formal and solemn.”


  “What’s your question then?” Xiang Wan lifted her chin.

  “I wanted to ask……” Bai Muchuan’s expression was a smiling one. “Xiang Wan, can you be my girlfriend?”
……