Chapter 422: The Plan

Translator: Atlas Studios  Editor: Atlas Studios

The natural disaster that took place 20 years ago…

Bai Muchuan just looked at her.

For a good while, no one spoke.

Xiang Wan’s eyebrows wrinkled together as she looked at his cold and solemn face.

“Bai Muchuan? Hello?”

“Mm?” Bai Muchuan glanced at her casually.

“Why aren’t you talking?”

“I’m thinking.”

“Any result you got after thinking that much?”

“Nope…”

“…”

What is there to think about then? Xiang Wan pouted and let out a puzzled sigh.

“You’re lying! You don’t look like you haven’t come up with anything?”

“…”

After their meaningless banter, Bai Muchuan did not say another word.

Xiang Wan examined his expression, but she couldn’t take it anymore when she did not see any reaction from him.

“I think I need to give my mom a call!”

“Why?”

“To ask her about this!”

Shouldn’t her mom be the best person to answer her doubts on things that happened 20 years ago?

Xiang Wan totally felt great about herself when she thought of her mom and quickly searched for her mobile phone in her bag.

Bai Muchuan couldn’t resist letting out a laugh at what he saw. “There’s no hurry at all. Why are you getting so excited for?”

“I’m always like this! I call it getting things done with a drive and speed!”

If she didn’t get this cleared up, she knew she wouldn’t be able to sleep well at night.

However, the result disappointed Xiang Wan.

When Tan Yunchun heard her daughter asking her about the disaster that took place 20 years ago, there was a period of silence over the phone before she uttered a “pah!” and changed the topic.

“Why are you asking about such an unlucky incident? Lass, when are you coming back? How are you and Little Bai? Are you getting along fine with him? Both of you have to watch your health, okay? There’s also Yuanyuan! Oh, your Eldest Aunt is really worried about her. You need to keep a close eye on her. Though you said that her boyfriend is rather dependable, marriage is a major event in one’s life; tell her that she shouldn’t be rash, you understand?”

Blah, blah, blah…

It felt as though there were thousands of bees flying around her.

Her mom immediately took control of the conversation and she had no opportunity to probe further.

Tan Yunchun bombarded her with all kinds of questions.

Xiang Wan did not know if she should laugh or cry.

“Mom, I know. I’m not a kid anymore.”

Tan Yunchun chortled. “You’re always a kid in mom’s eyes.”

Xiang Wan kept saying “Mm” or “Orh” to her mom.

Just when they were about to hang up, Xiang Wan was still thinking about the disaster 20 years ago.

“Mom! Are we really not involved in the disaster back then?”

Tan Yunchun remained silent for quite a while.

She seemed to be coaxing Tiantian to eat his food or talking with someone else.

When Xiang Wan asked one more time, she kept quiet for a while more before she puffed a sigh.

“We have nothing to do with it.”

“Then why did you say it’s unlucky?”

“So many people died back then,” answered Tan Yunchun, “of course it’s unlucky. Disasters are merciless.

“Lass! Mom’s only hope for you… is to see you living well and be happy! You shouldn’t think too much over unnecessary things like that, understand? Live a simpler life, don’t complicate things by thinking too deeply about it…”

“…”

Thus, her preaching started again.

Xiang Wan finally hung up the phone, feeling defeated.

She shrugged her shoulders as she looked at Bai Muchuan.

“… She said that we have nothing to do with it.”

Bai Muchuan’s expression seemed natural for someone who had heard news like that. He also seemed relieved at what he heard.

“Isn’t that good?”

“It’s not at all!” Xiang Wan looked sulky. “I must have been the most innocent player in this case, right? Just because I wrote a novel, I got myself entangled in such a big whirlpool of mystery. Uh, wrong, just because I used Zhao Jiahang as a reference and wrote ‘Murder The Dream Guy’, I gained that manipulator’s attention!”

“I can only say… it’s really a coincidence?” Bai Muchuan comforted her, “The person who started the reference was Tian Xiaoya, who was also your moderator, Er Niu.”

“Yeah, you’re right! My ex-moderators!” Xiang Wan thought about the dead moderators and the chat group she had deleted.

“Why did they have to die? For what reason?”

Xiang Wan muttered to herself and suddenly felt a chill in her heart.

“Could it be that… it’s because of me?”

Since this case involved her, the remaining moderators got implicated and became pawns of that manipulator.

“It just didn’t feel right, I’m sure I should have some relation to the disaster. Aye! I was too young back then. I was only six years old. There was nothing I could recall about what happened when I was that young.”

“If you can’t recall anything, then don’t think about it anymore!” Bai Muchuan smiled gently at her as he patted her head and pointed at the waffle on the table. “Go on and eat it. I’ll send you back after this!”

“All right!” Xiang Wan smiled sweetly at him and ate her waffle.

As for Bai Muchuan, he only watched while she was eating.

She could even feel his gentle gaze without lifting her head to confirm.

In a quiet cafe while listening to calming music and being with her loved one…

Once again, the joy of being in love temporarily took over Xiang Wan’s brain.

No, no!

She did not want to be led by the nose!

She wanted to help with Bai Muchuan’s burdens—

“I have a good way to solve the case!” Xiang Wan suddenly lifted her head and winked like a girl who was waiting for her boyfriend’s praise.

However, her words were enough to make Bai Muchuan jump.

“I remember Meng Chi told me before that their target was me. Those previous cases seemed to have something to do with me as well. Hence, I feel that the manipulator should be quite ‘interested’ in me. If that’s the case, no matter who he is, even if he is Meng Chi or some unknown person… Why don’t we make use of this small lead we have and lure him out?”

“Xiang Wan!” Bai Muchuan’s gaze was sharp.

Obviously, it was not something he agreed to do.

Nonetheless, Xiang Wan was very persistent. She held his arm with both hands.

“There’s no better way than this!”

“…”

“If we don’t do this, we’ll always be in a passive position!”

“…”

“Bai Muchuan!”

“…”

“Believe me, I trust you.”

“…”

Xiang Wan’s suggestion was actually justifiable.

However, it would be difficult to make Bai Muchuan agree.

The reason was simple. Even though he wanted to solve the case, he did not want his girlfriend to take the risk!

Nevertheless, Xiang Wan was very adamant on fulfilling the decisions she had already made…

She would keep bugging him about it for the next few days if he didn’t agree that day.

If he still didn’t agree the next day, she would just continue to bug him.

During this period, she would continue to write her story and update accordingly.

She was very concerned about the case now!

In the meantime, Bai Muchuan received news that they had confirmed another important clue—

It was quite difficult to prove that Sun Shangli and Tan Ziyang had been to Jin City and survived the natural disaster that year.

The officers in Serious Crime Division One had spent a lot of time and managed to find something substantial from a variety show interview on Sun Shangli many years ago.

In that interview, the host talked about a plot in a movie and affirmed Sun Shangli’s performance in that movie. Back then, she gained most of her fame from her performance in a movie by the title of “Catastrophe”.

What the movie wanted to show was the test of humanity in the face of a natural disaster.

Sun Shangli was not the leading actress in that movie, but she got a nomination for best supporting actress—

The host commented that her portrayal of the feelings for her character was so natural that those who watched it, were in tears.

However, when the host asked her what had triggered such wonderful acting, she had gone quiet for quite a while and mentioned that she had experienced an unforgettable natural disaster personally—which was that disaster in Jin City.

The most authentic performance often stemmed from real experience.

Only when she had gone through something similar to her role could she truly immerse herself into it…

Thanks to the rapid development of electronic technology, this video was well-preserved in that year, and it revealed the truth.

Mr. and Mrs. Zhao, Sun Shangli, Tan Ziyang, Xie Wanwan, Bai Muchuan… and those who had died, they might have been related to that disaster back then. Most of them were the ones inside the coach and had not withstood the test of humanity… while others were descendants or were individuals close to those people in that coach.

Subconsciously, the feeling that she had some connection with that disaster grew even stronger!

Maybe she was just an innocent part of the disaster that got implicated? Perhaps her connection to the disaster stemmed purely on her relationship with Bai Muchuan?

No!

When Zhao Jiahang’s case took place, she was not yet Bai Muchuan’s girlfriend.

That tiny camera mounted on the door of the rented apartment was certainly monitoring her.

Oh gosh!

Stop thinking about it!

The more she thought about it, the more goosebumps she was feeling.

She felt that if she couldn’t get this doubt cleared, she might go crazy!

However, when Bai Muchuan learnt that she had the idea of “drawing the snake out of its hole,” he did not want her to leave his sight!

Wherever he went, he would bring her along.

If he was at the Criminal Investigation Unit, she would be sitting in a quiet area where she would be writing her story!

How unfortunate.

Xiang Wan complained in her book reviews and comments page. “I live like a pet dog nowadays! Following everywhere my ‘master’ goes!”

A remark like that sparked a lot of comments.

“Xiang Gongzi has a boyfriend now?”

“Oh no, we fell out of love!”

“No! Xiang Gongzi is mine; I want to marry her!”

“…”

All kinds of comments poured in.

Xiang Wan would laugh as she read through them.

Regarding some questions of the people closest to her, she would smile at the sight of them but would not reply.

She also looked carefully for that mysterious ID.

However,

He never showed up again—

…

There was no progress on the case.

She also found herself in need of more ideas for her plot to continue her novel… she was suffering from writer’s block…

Xiang Wan felt that detaining Meng Chi with a minor charge of causing bodily harm to another was of little significance to the case.

The best way was to let him go.

At the same time, they should also pretend to let their guard down around him.

Only when the murderer realized that he was safe, would he go ahead with his plan.

When he made a move, the police could also find a direction as to where they should move next.

However, such a method was also risky.

Well, since she was not the police, she did not dare to suggest that to Bai Muchuan…

On the third day, Bai Muchuan had probably thought of the same thing as her…

They released Meng Chi.

Yu Ning had shown very clearly to the Prosecution that he did not want to press charges against Meng Chi. With the help of the lawyer, as well as the fact that Yu Ning only suffered some superficial wounds, Meng Chi left the police station without a worry—

Before leaving, he even asked Bai Muchuan a question.

He asked if they could have a meal together.

Xiang Wan did not know how Bai Muchuan had reacted, but when she heard that, she was seething with anger.

“You must find evidence and nab this person. He’s too brazen!”

That day after they returned to the hotel, Xiang Wan thought of her writer’s block and that was when her previous epiphany returned to her mind: using herself as bait to lure the suspect.

“Bai Muchuan, with you protecting me, I will be safe, so—”

Bai Muchuan only glanced at her and continued to unbutton his jacket. There was not much reaction from him as though he had heard nothing.

“Sir Little Bai…” Xiang Wan spoke in a gentle but higher-pitched tone and swung his arm to and fro, like a young girl.

Bai Muchuan still said nothing.

After removing his jacket, he just looked at her, unmoving.

“You might catch a cold!” Xiang Wan held him enthusiastically. Her big, watery-like eyes were glistening, and there was a trace of craftiness in them. “Come, let me give you some warmth…”

“…” Bai Muchuan was calm, her charms hadn’t affected him at all.

“Don’t worry so much!” Xiang Wan pulled a face. “Please, my Second Young Master, my idol, my ancestor…”

“…”

Bai Muchuan finally laughed.

He turned around and embraced her. His dark, frosty eyes slightly narrowed.

“If I agree to it, what are you intending to do exactly?”

Was that a yes?

Xiang Wan got excited. Her pinkish cheeks and face had the word ‘conspiracy’ written all over it.

“Well, we’ll break up!”

“…” Bai Muchuan instantly turned grim. His cold gaze fixated on her eyes. “What are you trying to do?” His charming, attractive voice sounded a little cold.

“I’m not trying to do anything…” Xiang Wan tried to explain. “It’s just a plan.”

“Hmm, have you gotten tired of me that you want to make use of this opportunity to ditch me?”

“…” Xiang Wan found herself at a loss of words.

“Little Xiang Wan.” Bai Muchuan spoke at her ear and puffed a sigh softly. “You’re thinking of rebelling against me, aren’t you?”

“I didn’t, Your Majesty!” Xiang Wan defended herself. “How would I dare to do that under your cruel and oppressive rule?”

“I got it.” Bai Muchuan nodded. “You think I’m old, so you wanted to find a hot young stud!”

“D*rn!” Xiang Wan was irritated and glared at him. “Can’t you let me finish talking first?”

Looking at the way she gritted her teeth, Bai Muchuan revealed a smile in his eyes. He raised a hand, motioning her to continue.

“We’ll pretend to break up. We need to pull this off by putting up a more realistic show. Only then would the person who wanted to deal with me take the bait!” Xiang Wan was full of confidence with her plan. She was certain that since she was someone the manipulator was “interested” in, then they would not let a good chance like this slip by…

As long as she was alone and out of Bai Muchuan’s sight, she could easily become the prey.

Therefore…

When the big fish took the bait, they could retrieve the fishing net!

Bai Muchuan looked grim while he thought about it.

Xiang Wan looked at him quietly and waited…

Hoping that he could give her an answer…

However, a minute later, Bai Muchuan suddenly embraced her tightly and stroked her neck with his finger… On that fair skin, there were some faint marks of hickeys he left that night.

Men were visual animals.

Sight stimulation would soften his defenses.

Bai Muchuan nuzzled her ear and whispered in a low and hoarse voice. “Baby, we have not done it for three days now.”

“…”

What!?

Xiang Wan didn’t expect to hear that from him.

She wished she could strangle him.

However, the man who claimed that he had not “done it” for three days behaved like a wolf cub that had never tasted meat before.

Xiang Wan knew very well that he was trying to avoid giving her a reply, but she couldn’t withstand his “stalling tactic”. After some canoodling, she felt her knees going weak.

Bai Muchuan’s eyes flashed a smile.

He held her waist, swept her off her feet, and carried her into the bathroom.

“You ate too little for the past few days. Look at your waist, I don’t even dare use much strength ‘cuz I’m afraid I might break you!”

“… I don’t want to talk to you anymore!”

“Who do you want to talk to then?”

“I want to talk to Second Young Master Mu!”

“…”

That “earned” her another round of hot kisses from Bai Muchuan.

That night, although Xiang Wan did not get the reply she wanted, she got a new chapter from Bai Muchuan’s novel, “The White List” instead.

After a bath and a round of rated scenes that one could not describe in detail, Bai Muchuan was drenched in sweat and laid on the bed for a while. He couldn’t take Xiang Wan’s pestering, so he finally took his laptop and wrote 3,000 words in less than an hour.

This was the first time the two of them sat together and worked on their own novels.

Xiang Wan was originally full of excitement.

Her boyfriend was actually her idol and her dream guy.

Moreover, they were just making out earlier. Someone she had thought was so far away was now so close…

That feeling… made her distracted while she was writing her story.

She found the difference between her and Bai Muchuan if she pitted herself against him on their writing speed.

He could easily clock 3,000 words in an hour. Moreover, it was still high-quality work.

She, on the other hand, spent a lot of time thinking and could only write a 2,000 word chapter in an hour, notwithstanding the fact that she wasn’t too satisfied with her work.

“I finally know what it means by being favored by the heavens!”

As Xiang Wan read Bai Muchuan’s latest update, she remarked about the unfairness in the world.

“However, I finally know how to chase for updates perfectly in the future!”

“What do you mean by that?” Bai Muchuan did not understand.

“… For every time we do it, you update a chapter!” Xiang Wan snorted and said matter-of-factly.

Immediately, Bai Muchuan picked her up. “If so, let’s have one more round.”

“Ah! You haven’t even written the chapter…”

Bai Muchuan paused for a few seconds. Then he laughed and kissed her on the lips, followed by an Eskimo kiss.

“Put it on credit. I’ll write the chapter tomorrow!”

“…”

Could they even put this on credit?

That didn’t sound suitable.

Of course it’s not suitable, thought Xiang Wan.

“If that’s the case… then forget it!” Bai Muchuan lowered his eyelids while looking at her indignant face. “I don’t know when I will update my next chapter then…”

Good grief!

Was that a threat?

It was a chapter that left readers hanging in suspense. How could he do this?

“You! You’re too shameless! … Go ahead then, hero! Don’t forget that it’s a chapter for every round! Don’t go back on your word!”

“Hurhur, of course, I mean what I say!”

“Hurhur!”

Xiang Wan bit her lower lip as she leaned against him. The next second, she suddenly lifted her head and kissed his chin. On her slender neck, there were some pinkish marks that looked like butterflies, as if they were narrating their love and affection…

Nonetheless…

Two days later.

Xiang Wan and Bai Muchuan broke up.

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