Muchuan and Xiang Wan - Chapter 131

Chapter 131: Are You Embarrassed?

Xiang Wan got rescued!

The hotel quickly carried out their fire emergency plan. Before the fire brigade arrived, the fire had already been put out.

Due to the unexpected fire, Xing Feifei’s 18th year old birthday celebration was now even more “exciting”. The guests crowded around and watched the fire, discussing and speculating about the causes of the fire.

The hotel personnel quickly said that the fire was caused by wear and tear of the circuit after their investigation.

The fire only spread over a small area, and the fire was quickly controlled. There were no casualties.

The hotel’s crisis’ public relations was well done, and the power supply was quickly restored to pacify the guests.

As such, the skepticism the guests had was greatly diminished.

Xiang Wan went back to the banquet hall, still shaken. A hotel manager came to see her and apologized for the scare she experienced in their hotel. He also told her that the hotel wanted to offer some financial compensation.

Xiang Wan waved her hand. “No, I don’t want it. I’m alright anyway.”

The manager smiled professionally and expressed once again the hotel’s apology for such an incident. “Miss, please leave behind your name and contact. When we come out with a compensation scheme, we will contact you to discuss it…”

Xiang Wan furrowed her brows. However, she did not reject again, and she wrote down her contact details.

“Thank you, Miss Xiang.” The manager smiled and paused for a while. “If everyone’s like you, our work would be so much easier.”

Xiang Wan was slightly surprised.

And immediately she heard Xing Feifei’s angry yelling.

“I don’t accept it! I don’t accept it! You can’t make up for my perfect eighteenth birthday no matter how much you compensate me!”

Apparently, the hotel was negotiating with them but was turned down flatly.

At this time, the guests in the banquet hall did not disperse as of yet. Those guests who got frightened did not rush to leave the place either.

By arguing with the hotel personnel like that, was Xing Feifei going to continue with the interrupted birthday celebration?

Youngest aunt, Tan Yuechun, smiled and try to comfort her guests while she secretly pulled Xing Feifei for her to stop talking. “We can talk about how to settle this matter later. My daughter’s birthday celebration is still ongoing. Please do your best to deal with the aftermath.”

“Yes.” The manager bowed to them with a very friendly attitude. “We’ll do our best.”

…

The Emcee took the stage with the microphone. The interrupted birthday celebration resumed.

Xiang Wan took a look all around and noticed that Ye Lun was nowhere to be seen.

He must have left after singing the song. But she was not sure if it was before the fire or after the fire had broken out…

“Wanwan!” Not sure where Fang Yuanyuan popped out. She looked flustered but relieved to see her. “Are you alright?”

“I’m alright.”

“You got me worried! It’s too frightening! How did a fire suddenly break out?”

Xiang Wan also wanted to know as well why a fire just broke out like that.

She thought of the situation and played it several times in her head. But, she did not find anything useful. Under everyone’s sympathetic and concerned gazes, she could only lower her head awkwardly and play with her mobile phone…

At this moment, Cheng Zheng sent a WeChat message to her.

“Are you hurt?”

Xiang Wan typed a reply. “No.”

“Are you scared?”

If she said no, it would be too fake.

But if she said she was scared, it would might give off a wrong signal that both of them had become closer.

So she only casually replied with a “shrug” emoticon.

The chat ended.

Cheng Zheng did not send any more messages. He did not come over as well.

The atmosphere in the banquet hall was much muted after the incident. The Emcee had a tough time warming up the atmosphere. Xiang Wan watched for a while and did not want to stay there anymore.

“Mom, I’m not feeling well. I would like to go back first.”

After surviving such an incident, even if she left early, no one would say anything.

Xiang Wan knew that very well and sure enough, her mom agreed in no time.

“Why don’t you go back with mom instead? I’ll cook you something nice to calm your nerves…”

“Don’t worry, mom. I’m not hurt, I’m just a little tired.” Xiang Wan took a glance at the song performance on the stage. “You’ll stay here to help Youngest aunt bid goodbye to the guests later. I can go back with Yuanyuan.”

“Yes, yes, yes, Second aunt. I’ll take care of Cousin Wan, just leave it to me!” Fang Yuanyuan was excited about leaving the place as well.

“Hmm… alright then.” Tan Yunchun did not refuse them and sized up Xiang Wan again. “You sure you’re really alright?”

“Of course!”

Tan Yunchun puffed a sigh of relief and fussed about her a bit.

Xiang Wan agreed to everything she said then blinked at Fang Yuanyuan.

After Xiang Wan was being saved by Lian Qiao till now, even the hotel manager came to check out her situation but Youngest aunt and family did not say a word of comfort to her.

Maybe there were too many guests to attend to and they were too busy. But somehow she believed that to them, she was simply not as important.

Xiang Wan understood that and did not really mind. She and Fang Yuanyuan left the banquet hall quietly.

At the main entrance of the hotel, they met Lian Qiao and Xing Liehuo. The couple was holding hands and waiting for their chauffeur.

Xiang Wan walked over and expressed her gratitude to Lian Qiao again.

“Aww, don’t be so polite with me. I’m getting embarrassed if you keep thanking me like that!”

“I should. There really ain’t a lot of helpful and brave people like you around…”

Xiang Wan was talking when a honk was heard from behind.

A car drove slowly towards them and stopped at the entrance of the hotel.

The man who got off the car looked cool and cold. He was tall and good looking with a pair of long, sexy legs and a pair of half-closed eyes. Under the bright lights, it seemed to have an enchanting effect on her that she was unable to take her eyes away from him…

Bai Muchuan?

Xiang Wan was slightly surprised.

He strode over and stopped in front of her.

“Are you alright?”

Xiang Wan felt her heart skipped a beat when she saw him after surviving the narrow escape from death that night. Nonetheless, she was at a loss of what to say.

Well, she was more curious about how he got to know about what happened to her?

Xiang Wan shook her head and narrowed her eyes to study him. “Why are you here?”

Bai Muchuan took a glance at her but did not explain. Xiang Wan turned to look at Fang Yuanyuan but she shook her head, took a step back and tilted her head innocently that she did not inform him about it.

For a moment, Xiang Wan felt a little stiff.

Bai Muchuan was able to get hold of the news in such a fast manner? And the fact that he came here in such a short period of time… Wasn’t that too bizarre?!

She looked at him, bewildered. Bai Muchuan then look away and gaze at the quiet Xing Liehuo who was beside them.

“Long time no see!”

Eh, they know each other?

Xiang Wan also turned to look at them. Her eyes were on Xing Liehuo for a moment then back to Bai Muchuan, wondering what was their relationship with each other.

Xing Liehuo laughed. “Long time no see!”

Silence ensued for the next moment. The few of them were blocking the entrance.

After hesitating for a moment, Bai Muchuan raised an eyebrow. “You’re still harping over it?”

Xing Liehuo replied, “So many years have passed! What’s the point of harping over it…”

The rest of them could not understand the conversation between the two of them.

But the two of them did not seem to want to explain either. They just looked at each other as if there were lots of words they wanted to say via their eyes but yet not reveal a single word.

After a while later, Bai Muchuan lowered his head and chuckled as he extended an invitation casually.

“I’ll treat you to supper tonight.”

Xing Liehuo did not reject. “Okay.”

“We’ll contact again later. I need to get something done.”

Bai Muchuan pointed at the hotel and Xing Liehuo nodded his head as he looked at him, his face seemed somewhat solemn.

At this time, their chauffeur arrived and they said their goodbyes. Xing Liehuo then left with his wife, Lian Qiao.

Xiang Wan felt that the relationship between the two was somewhat strange. They did not seem to be particularly warm to each other yet she could feel that they were very familiar with each other. Besides, for someone like Xing Liehuo agreeing to go eat supper with another person, their relationship should not be bad…

“Let’s go!” Bai Muchuan said suddenly, “Go in!”

Xiang Wan was confused and looked at him. “I’m preparing to leave.”

Bai Muchuan sneered mockingly, “You’re interested in other people’s cases but not in the slightest interested in your own ‘crime scene investigation’?”

Crime scene investigation? Is it that serious?

Xiang Wan was not a pessimistic person most of the time.

Well, she always felt that she was just an ordinary person and did not offend anyone. Why would anyone go to such lengths to harm her?

“What are you suspecting?”

“What do you think?” Bai Muchuan retorted with another question, smiling, “Why didn’t you die of stupidity!”

She had guessed that this could be arson.

But at that point in time, she was the only one in the female restroom. Who would be the one to commit arson?

Xiang Wan was more inclined towards an accident. But Bai Muchuan wanted her to come along. From the perspective of work, she could not refuse.

“Yuanyuan, you…” Xiang Wan felt bad and looked at Fang Yuanyuan. “Why not…”

“I know! I won’t be the third wheel!” Fang Yuanyuan pursed her lips and smiled. “I’ll go back and continue to eat to my heart’s fill. Both of you be careful alright?” With that, she squeezed her hands and put on a grin. “Detective Bai, my sis has got a bad scare today. Just now her face was all white and she was quivering badly. Please take good care of her…”

“I will!”

Fang Yuanyuan teased by winking at Xiang Wan and left.

Xiang Wan and Bai Muchuan looked at each other and went inside the hotel.

The hotel management had barricaded the female restroom and were dealing with the aftermath.

Bai Muchuan showed his police officer badge at the hotel manager. “We need to check out the scene.”

That manager happened to be the one who was talking to Xiang Wan about compensation earlier.

He glanced at Bai Muchuan who was beside Xiang Wan, puzzled. “Miss Xiang, you’re a police officer?” he asked.

Xiang Wan wanted to deny it but Bai Muchuan calmly took it all in. “Yes, we seek your cooperation in this matter.”

The manager was startled and keep nodding his head. “Yes, yes, of course, officers, please come with me!”

The restroom which was being burned was no longer the same from when Xiang Wan had escaped.

More than ten hotel employees were busy inside now. They carried the burnt items to wash, clean and lined them up nicely… How were they going to find any more clues?

Bai Muchuan’s eyebrows furrowed deeply as he looked at the scene once again. Then the manager brought them to the security room to check the surveillance footage. There was a surveillance camera outside the corridor of the restroom and did not find anything unusual. As there was no surveillance camera inside the female restroom, it was not allowed as well, they were unable to get anything useful. The manager apologized profusely to Xiang Wan that it was the hotel’s responsibility that they did not do a good job on the maintenance that caused the incident and indicated that they would definitely compensate her.

He had thought that Xiang Wan had brought along a police officer so as to pressure them to get more compensation.

Xiang Wan could feel what he was thinking from his tone. She felt a little awkward but found it inappropriate to talk about this openly.

Bai Muchuan did not bother about all these. After listening to Xiang Wan’s account of the incident, his brows creased again as he asked the manager. “What’s the cause of the incident?”

The manager: “Wear and tear of the circuit!”

Bai Muchuan looked grim. “The firefighters determined the cause?”

The manager: “Yes, unanimously.”

Bai Muchuan squinted his eyes but did not say anything more. He glanced at the busy employees at the scene and turned to Xiang Wan. “Let’s go!”

Xiang Wan followed behind him quietly. When they walked to a spot where nobody was around them, she stopped walking. “Where are we going?”

Bai Muchuan: “Let’s go for supper!”

Xiang Wan: “…”

The two of them were as though in each other’s “bad” books. Wouldn’t it be weird if they go for supper together?

‘I’m not hungry at all.” Xiang Wan was doubtful at Bai Muchuan’s sudden invitation and not willing to accept it. “If there’s nothing else more, I’ll go back first.”

Bai Muchuan looked at her deeply but did not persuade her.

She had just walked out of the hotel when she received a call.

It was Lian Qiao. She invited her warmly to the supper. “It was supper for the two men and it’s so awkward for a woman to be there right? Treat it as accompanying me, okay?”

Xiang Wan: “…”

Lian Qiao’s tone was the same as her personality: forthright. “You must come okay? Otherwise I’ll be angry!”

She was her life savior. How could Xiang Wan not listen? Moreover, it was only supper.

She glanced at Bai Muchuan quietly, and got on Bai Muchuan’s car.

She did not ask but she knew very clearly inside her head what was happening. Although Lian Qiao had saved her, she did not exchange contact details with Lian Qiao. So how did Lian Qiao know her number? The answer was obvious.

The car left the hotel. Both did not talk at all. There was only the constant soft humming of the car as it drove along the road…

After a long silence, Xiang Wan suddenly asked, “What is your relationship with Xing Liehuo?”

Bai Muchuan looked ahead emotionlessly. “Comrade-in-arms.”

Xiang Wan knew that he used to serve in the military, but she knew nothing about the details of his military service.

After furrowing her eyebrows for a thought, she wanted to make him tell her more. “But your relationship with him seems rather awkward…”

Bai Muchuan’s eyes seemed to be slightly dimmer. “That time the Red Thorn Squad had not formed for long and he needed me in the squad. But I chose to go to the police force.”

That explained everything.

Xiang Wan was clear now. “So, both of you had a conflict?”

“It’s not considered a conflict.” Bai Muchuan said flatly, his hands held the steering wheel slightly tighter. “Well, we got into a fight.”

“…”

Wasn’t a fight considered a conflict?

Hurhurhurhur! Xiang Wan really admired Detective Bai’s logical reasoning.

She had thought Bai Muchuan was just trying to brush her off by saying that. But in no time, she realized that she was wrong.

He did not lie at all and he was not joking at all.

There really were comrades-in-arms like that in the world, there were disputes but no conflicts. They took different paths, but their friendship was still there. Even if the world had changed, their friendship did not change.

Probably the friendship of those who carried a gun was like this? Ordinary but great!

The supper that Bai Muchuan treated them was not in a classy venue. It was totally beyond Xiang Wan’s expectations.

It was an ordinary kebab and hotpot eatery. Besides the fact that it recently got popular in Jin City due to its taste, the renovation and environment were just average.

The eatery had no individual dining rooms, and it was packed with people. Anyone eating inside would indirectly be experiencing the life of an ordinary civilian.

The four of them sat next to a window and merged with the surrounding atmosphere and liveliness. Lian Qiao seemed excited and was enjoying the spicy kebabs. Xiang Wan would chat with her occasionally, as the two of mainly focused on the food. Only the two men seemed weird throughout as they did not communicate, as though they had not walked out of the unhappiness they had.

“I heard you’re not with Red Thorn anymore?”

Not sure how long it was, Xiang Wan finally heard Bai Muchuan’s voice.

“Mm, not there anymore.” Xing Liehuo looked at him. “It’s an iron camp with soldiers who come and go.”

Bai Muchuan chuckled. “As long as Red Thorn is still Red Thorn, that’s good.”

Xing Liehuo’s gaze deepened. “Red Thorn is still the same. So are you willing to tell me the reason you’re not willing to say back then?”

Bai Muchuan’s hand which was holding a kebab became slightly stiff.

The atmosphere suddenly stagnated!

Xiang Wan was also very curious to know what was the reason he chose to become a detective when he obviously had a complex towards being a soldier?

Bai Muchuan remained silent.

A while later, the kebab was placed on his plate as he smiled casually.

“It was never my dream to be in the army. My dream is to be a detective.”

Xing Liehuo stared at him, not saying a word.

Bai Muchuan met his gaze, not saying anything more.

The two of them faced each other like that. If this was not an eatery, chances were they might be fighting again. The atmosphere was so heavy as though there was a stone weighing on them. Even Liao Qiao, who focused on eating, lifted her head as well. “Brother Huo…”

Xing Liehuo heard his wife calling him and his facial expression seemed much better.

“Hmph! You’re really good. For so many years, I’ve been brooding over it!”

Bai Muchuan laughed. “There’s no need to brood over it? You’re a magnanimous person!”

Xing Liehuo raised an eyebrow. “Magnanimous? From the day Red Thorn was formed, only Red Thorn would decide who is worth keeping, there’s no one else that wants to leave Red Thorn by crook or by hook! I even try so hard to keep you…”

Xing Liehuo couldn’t continue on anymore.

Bai Muchuan’s eyes seemed slightly red as well.

However, he laughed!

“Right!” He gave a gasp casually and placed a beef and pepper kebab on Xing Leihuo’s plate. “You’re right. Eat this beef and pepper kebab to mend your wounded pride and get this issue between us done and over with! Whoever bleeping mention it again is a wimp!”

“…” Xing Liehuo stared at him with a gloomy face.

But the words that he wanted to say never made it out of his mouth.

Lian Qiao was dumbfounded for a moment before she guffawed at Bai Muchuan’s words. She even gave him a thumbs-up.

“Wow! You’re good! You know how to deal with him!”

“…” Why did she choose to help an outsider instead of her husband?

Xing Liehuo gave her an icy glare before looking at Bai Muchuan for a moment. “I’ve come to Jin City this time to help you build your dream!” The conversation took a sudden turn.

“Hm?” Bai Muchuan was slightly stunned. “Me?”

“Yes, you!” Xing Liehuo grunted a laugh. “Otherwise, do you think I’m so free to come to the kebab eatery with you?”

“Hur!” Bai Muchuan rubbed his nose bridge. He could not contain his laughter. “You’ve never changed all these years. Your temper’s still the same! Say it then, what’s up?”

Xing Liehuo pointed to the boiling hotpot of red spicy soup and kebabs before them. “We don’t talk about official matters over food. I’ll go to your office and talk about it tomorrow.”

So formal?

Bai Muchuan squinted his eyes and nodded his head after a while later.

There was a vague suspicion in his head, but he only smiled and did not ask more. “What do you want to eat?” He turned to Xiang Wan, who was sitting beside him. “I’ll get them for you?”

The most convenient part of eating kebab with hotpot was its buffet style. They could get whatever kebab available or like. If they liked a particular kebab, they could just take more of that which gave them more variety of choice than just eating hotpot only.

However, when they were talking, Xiang Wan already ate quite a bit. So, she was slightly startled when he asked her.

“No need,” she smiled, “thank you.”

Bai Muchuan took a glance from the corner of his eye. “You’re so thin. Do eat more!”

“…”

Thin? But this is fattening! Xiang Wan thought.

Bai Muchuan ignored her disdainful look. “Mushroom, coriander beef, anything else to add?” He glanced at her and asked again.

“…” Xiang Wan was abashed.

Earlier on, those dishes he named were the ones she ate the most.

But Bai Muchuan did not look at her at all, how did he know all these?

Moreover, she remembered correctly that she was not that close to Young Master Bai. Could it be that he had selectively chosen to forget about it?

“Why are you in a daze? Wait for me!” Bai Muchuan directly got up to get more food for her.

Xiang Wan: “…”