Chapter 162: Sa Day Last Year
A year later, Jiangcheng.
Su Mian is standing in the office staring out the window at the misty rain. It's already autumn, but the rain has been coming down even more frequently, like a grey screen blanketing Jiangcheng.
Her arms are feeling sore. She rubs them a bit and twitches her mouth into a smile. It hurts.
The pain always makes her recall certain mories. They're like maggots inside her body; can't get rid of them or bury them.
She stands there depressingly for a while before an old voice says full of energy, "Xiao Bai! Hurry and review this new case!"
"Sure!" she answers crisply as she turns to walk over.
She has already regained her true identity a few months ago. It has also been proven that the past incidents were done by the real "Bai Jin Xi." She has obtained a new identity card, but several old officers, like Old Zhou from Jiangcheng's archives library, are still used to calling her "Xiao Bai." She's also too lazy to correct them.
They carry the stack of files to the table together and then start to categorize them. They get busy for a while before Old Zhou can't help but sigh, "The number of cases on missing people has increased recently. Look at these young college girls."
Su Mian lets out a few sighs as well. This young and old pair sigh together and curse these criminals in Jiangcheng dialect.
Old Zhou rembers sothing suddenly, "Do you rember a long ti ago, there was a young fellow who ca here in the middle of the night with you?"
Co here to the archives library with her in the middle of the night?
Su Mian understands. He's talking about Han Chen.
It has only been a month since she started working part-ti here. During this month, Han Chen has been traveling back and forth between City Lan and Jiangcheng and has never bumped into Old Zhou once. Old Zhou usually stays in the library and doesn't keep up with the news, so it's normal that he doesn't know about her past and present. Although she often boasts about how handso, capable, considerate, and loyal her boyfriend is in front of Old Zhou……she never talks too much about the past.
"I rember," she says unhurriedly, "His na is Han Chen, wasn't it? What's the matter?"
Old Zhou sighs, "That night, you silly girl was sleeping like a pig. You didn't know, but he was also searching for soone." He talks about what happened that night and sighs, "At the ti, that young fellow had a smoke with . What did he say again……Oh, 'no na, don't know what she looks like, and I don't know whether she's dead or alive. But she's my fiancee.' Sigh, it was a little unbearable. I don't even know if he has found her yet."
The image of Han Chen when they first t floats into Su Mian's mind. That face full of arrogance, aloofness, and coldness. She tries to imagine what he looked like smoking and saying these words with her sleeping beside him.
She keeps quiet for a while. She then scrunches up a piece of paper and disrespectfully throws it at Old Zhou, "Old Zhou, do you not have any skills on making inferences? He already found his fiancee!"
"Huh?"
Su Mian laughs. She looks down at her watch; it's almost ti for her to et Han Chen. She picks up her purse swiftly and fixes her long dress, "Bye bye, Old Zhou. Hurry and think. I'll reward you with a pack of cigarettes!"
Old Zhou is shocked, but he seems to understand a little. But she has already left in a rush.
_____
Outside, it's raining nonstop.
Su Mian is holding an umbrella as she walks out of the library. She sees Han Chen's car parked on the side. Not afraid of getting wet, he rolls down the window watching her co out.
He's wearing a black windbreaker and a turtleneck sweater underneath. His hand is on the steering wheel as he stares at her from inside of the car.
Su Mian can't tell if it's just her imagination, but why does she feel that even a casual glance from him seems to carry a sense of teasing now that they've been together for so long? It's as if he's never tired of looking.
Alright, she's probably just too full of herself.
Just as she's about to hop into the car, she spots a few new scratch marks on the body of the car. Su Mian says in surprise, "What happened to the car?"
Han Chen pushes open the passenger door gesturing for her to get in first and then says lazily, "It got scratched on the way here."
"Hah? Wait!" Su Mian switches on her strict-wife mode as she pinches his tall nose, "You weren't racing with soone again, were you?"
Su Mian can't be blad for being overly anxious.
After the dust settled, they took absence without pay and left their investigation work behind. She concentrated on accompanying and taking care of Han Chen who was recovering from his wounds.
She has always been the sa. But a certain soone, although still mature and dependable for the most part, has regained his temperant as a young master.
For example, he's less hardworking and endures fewer hardships, yet he's more laid back and picky like a young master. He even needs her to pull out the fish bones by hand before eating it while he sits beside her and wait. She has to order imported coffee beans from online when he wants to drink coffee; he would grind them when she doesn't know how, but puts her down, "How did you swindle to be with you? You don't even know how to grind coffee." Su Mian pushes him away, "Get lost!"
As for street racing, it's probably a favorite hobby that every man who loves car racing can't forget regardless of age. Moreover, he's only twenty-eight to nine years old. Therefore, after settling down, he drives the car by himself at night a few tis and never tells Su Mian where he's going. He cos back spinning the keys with his pinky looking rather in a good mood.
Later, they receive a few speeding ticket bills at ho. As a past police officer, Su Mian would forgive him for having a little fun every now and then.
Although he's not talkative, his young master temperant has subsided a little now.
For example, after hearing Su Mian's criticism, he answers indifferently, "Am I that careless? Would I be street racing when it's pouring and cause traffic? It was so a–hole who lacked skills and scratched my car."
Su Mian is speechless.
Just listen to that. He's full of arrogance and even calling soone an a–hole.
They continue chatting as they drive ho in the rain.
"The temperature has gone down today. I bought so lamb at in the afternoon. We can eat it with hotpot tonight to warm up," Su Mian says.
"Mm."
"You have to wash the veggies."
He says unconcernedly without glancing at her, "Sure. As long as you don't make do work for nothing."
Su Mian understands what he ans and scolds, "You scoundrel!"
The corners of Han Chen's mouth curve into a slight smile.
They are still living at the place Su Mian has been renting since the beginning. Although it's a bit old, it's just right with two people.
As they approach the entrance, Su Mian spots three familiar figures standing at the door dodging from the rain. The mont they see their car, two of them wave imdiately.
Su Mian grins from surprise. Han Chen smiles as well.
They park the car. Su Mian gets off right away. Han Chen opens an umbrella and holds her shoulder as they walk toward the group.
"Yo! It's rare to see you guys here!" Su Mian has a loud mouth and starts to act surprised, "What brings you, three handso guys here?" She laughs right after finishing saying it.
It's not wrong to call them handso. Although Zhou Xiao Zhuan's looks pull down the average of the three, dressing well plays a big part. He's learned now; he's no longer wearing those big cotton-padded jackets, and instead, he has started to wear standing-collar jackets! With the three of them standing together like this, their presence is quite strong.
But the instant Zhou Xiao Zhuan speaks, his aura breaks with a snap. It's because he acts alongside Su Mian well! He lets out a long sigh and says poetically, "Since farewell at City Lan, we've missed you much. So we've co today!"
Before he finishes, Chatterbox knocks on his forehead, "Xiao Zhuan, get to the point!" He turns to look at Su Mian and the others, "Oh man, how co it took you guys so long to co ho! Cold Face said we shouldn't bother you guys for a ride, so we've been waiting here for half a day now! We're starving and need to eat!"
Su Mian bursts out laughing. Cold Face, who hasn't said anything, smiles as well. He exchanges glances with Han Chen, nods, and that concludes their greeting with each other.
Su Mian guides them up to the stairs. As she walks, she can't help but turn to glance at Cold Face, "Cold Face, why do I feel that you've……gained weight recently?" Of course, he's still handso as usual. It's just that his chiseled face that made him look thin before now seems smoothed out and rounded.
Before Cold Face answers, Xiao Zhuan butts in, "He boils soup for his girlfriend every day. It's making him fat!"
Chatterbox expresses his complaint, "You guys don't even know. We haven't had a single sip of soup lately."
Cold Face interrupts them, "Nonsense."
His word is too cold and painful and valuing sex over friendship. Chatterbox and Xiao Zhuan take turns sighing. Su Mian giggles while Cold Face is calm and composed. Han Chen smiles slightly but doesn't comnt. On the topic of won, they are the winners in life; they just can't bring themselves down to Chatterbox and Xiao Zhuan's level to carry out in-depth conversations.
_____
A boiling hot pot warms up the place; the windows fog up slowly. The night scenery outside of the window becos blurry. On this cold day, it seems as if only this apartnt is spreading the warmth.
The five of them are sitting around a small rectangular table. It's a bit squishy, but they don't mind. Chatterbox clicks his tongue and teases seeing Su Mian bringing out the lamb at slices, "Gees……you are so caring to Leader. You know that Leader is from the North and loves to eat lamb, so you buy him such great food!"
Su Mian answers calmly, "Of course! Since you don't have a wife, you won't understand."
Chatterbox: Holy Sh-t!
He suddenly realizes a hard cold truth. Whenever he's with this group of people, he's always the one getting stabbed!
They eat, drink, and chat together. Chatterbox and Cold Face make eye contact, and Xiao Zhuan puts down his chopsticks as well.
They didn't co just for fun. They do have business here.
Cold Face raises his glass to Han Chen and they drink the last bit of wine. He puts down the glass and says, "We've found the bones."
At an instant, the apartnt is completely quiet.
Su Mian pauses holding her chopsticks. She lifts her head to look at him and puts down her chopsticks. Han Chen's arm is resting on the back of the chair. He's a bit drunk but his eyes are shining, "Tell ."
The surface area of the Peninsula developnt was very large and very deep on top of its soil issue. After the incident, the excavation continued.
Cold Face says simply, "They dug up a few bone pieces a couple of days ago. After the DNA test results, it matched up with Xu Si Bai. But we haven't found the remaining pieces. Furthermore, Xiao Yao is still nowhere to be found. Xiao Yao is now on the national wanted list."
Everybody is silent. Su Mian doesn't say anything. Her pupils are dark as she remains quiet.
"I understand," Han Chen says.
Chatterbox speaks suddenly, "Speaking of which, Leader, Su Mian, when are you two going to co back to the team? Captain Qin and the Chief are always ntioning the two of you!" The mont he finishes, Zhou Xiao Zhuan looks toward them with his eyes gleaming imdiately. Those eyes are glistening like a young deer. Although Cold Face hasn't said anything, his gaze is also full of anticipation.
Han Chen smiles and takes a sip of wine. Su Mian looks up and exchanges a gaze with him.
"It's up to him."
"It's up to her."
They say at the sa ti.
They're both stunned slightly. The other three roars, "Oh man! A married couple sure does sing along with each other!" "This is too much!" "Co back then!"
……
It's already late at night by the ti the three of them leave.
Han Chen drives them back and agrees to take them to eat good seafood and drink at Jiangcheng tomorrow. Su Mian washes the dishes, unplugs the electric pot and tucks it away in the cupboard. But she's stunned.
She returns to the middle of the room and is in a daze. She opens the door to the balcony.
The sun is setting, blanketing her view. In the hazy color, the lower buildings around have already turned on their lights. Smokes are rising from the cooking, and the sll of food perates the air. In the convoluted alleyways, so people are walking hurriedly, and soone is shouting. Everywhere is filled with a sense of peacefulness.
She stares at the scenery for a long ti before lifting her gaze and looking far away.
The most beautiful building in Jiangcheng stands by the Yangtze River. The neon signs above have already lit up. The sky hasn't turned completely dark yet, so it makes the colors look dim as it shines onto the river surface.
The Yangtze river is wide, straight, and gray looking. It moves slowly between the two sh.ores. Other than the boats on it, there is nothing else.
Tears slowly begin to fall from Su Mian's eyes.
Han Chen is back. He slides open the balcony door lightly. Without saying anything, he hugs her from behind. Su Mian holds onto his hands. They embrace each other quietly until the night sky appears. Her body becos warm because of him.
_____
The rain is not only falling in Jiangcheng, but it's also falling on a small town upstream of Yangtze River.
The na of the town is unknown. Only the local people live there. The small town has dark cyan pavent and big trees with canopies that are large enough to cover the road. There are very few people on the streets when it's raining. It gets cold at night and there is almost no one on the streets.
At the corner of a street, a new flower shop opened a few days ago. It's quite rare in the small town, but everybody has gotten used to it. The shop doesn't have a na, but its flowers sll especially nice and are especially fresh. You can sll the faint scent of the flowers when passing by. The shop owner is a young man who's gentle, polite, and taciturn. Therefore, the people in the town all have a good impression of him.
The sky is already very dark. The rain continues to shower, hitting the front of the doorstep. The shop is still lit. That man is standing holding scissors as he trims the flowers.
"Boss! I want to buy Carnation," a high school student looking girl lifts up the curtains and dashes inside, "Just one."
Her clothes and shoes look rather worn out for a girl her age. Her backpack isn't pretty or of a new style. It's easy to tell that her family isn't very wealthy.
"Sure," the shop owner puts down the scissors, picks out the biggest one and hands it to her.
The high schooler examines the flower and her face blushes slightly smiling, "It's my mom's birthday today. Giving her a Carnation should be right, right? How much is it?"
The shop owner smiles politely and says, "It's one flower for your mom, so no need to pay."
The highschooler thanks him putting both hands together, "Boss, you're too nice! Thank you! I don't need to use up tomorrow's breakfast money then! If any of my classmates need to buy flowers next ti, I'll definitely take them here. You can rest assured!"
The shop owner smiles slightly, "Thank you then. Take care on your way ho."
"Mm!" the high schooler turns around to leave, but is captivated by the purple color flowers beside the door, "Boss, what kind of flowers are these? They're so pretty."
The shop owner hums and answers, "Qi Ye Jin."
In front of a young man, girls tend to be a bit more playful, so she smiles and asks, "Do you like these flowers a lot? There are so many here. Are they expensive?"
But the shop owner answers, "No, I don't really like them."
The girl lets out a, "Oh," says goodbye and leaves.
After a brief mont of silence, he looks at the rain outside. There probably won't be any more people coming this late. He closes the shop, but when he turns around, he sees the large amount of Qi Ye Jin.
He's a bit stunned.
That's right, he doesn't like them a whole lot. It's just that so things can only be rembered this way.
Or perhaps, there is no need to rember it anymore.
Tears suddenly flow from the young man's eyes.
Buried deep underground, a pile of bones unclaid; that should be his real ho.
It's what he deserves.
……
The most simple existence of the universe,
crisscrossing and turning repeatedly.
The most complicated form of life
loses morning and gains night.
He says that everybody is born different, but how different are they?
When you look up at the stars in the sky, and when you look down at the vast land like a crouching beast…
Have you ever spotted ?
I'm just an ordinary person. Perhaps I'll live my life busily like the rest of them.
But I will still be . I am afraid of being let down and desire for soone to cherish .
Have you ever seen my eyes in your dreams?
Have you ever rembered my words and the blurry contours of my face?
Have you ever been like and be lost in a beautiful dream not willing to wake up yet not wanting to turn back.
Do you know that at the ti, I held out my heart to you?
Before finding you and after losing you, happiness never once ca.
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