As the first ray of morning sun penetrated the window and hit the warm bed, the simple and unelaborated furniture showcased the attentiveness of its owner.

Xu Lan was woken up by the blaring of his ringing phone. He mumbled as he picked up the call.

“Hey, Xiao Xu, do you intend on coming to the station? We’ve already brought Song Xi over.” Wang Meng was on the other end of the line with his characteristic bright and jolly voice.

“Hm?” Upon hearing Song Xi’s name, Xu Lan flipped over in search of a warm spot. He did not expect to find some cold, empty bedding beside him.

“Bai Wu?” he murmured. Moments later he called out again, but slightly louder this time.

“Hey, Xiao Xu, have you sweet-talked the boy yet? Are you coming or not?” The man’s voice was crisp and clear despite them talking over the phone. Xu Lan turned again to his other side and buried his head there.

“Wait, I’ll…”

“Hm? What is it?” Bai Wu pushed open the door. He was all dressed up and ready to go; his soft hair was smoothened toward the back and held in place with some water, while his face displayed an unwavering determination. With sunlight radiating all over his body, he looked just like Apollo bringing out the sun from underneath a dome.

“Why are you up so early?” Xu Lan’s spoke with his back was facing Bai Wu.

“Mm, the manager’s letting me take a look around the office. If everything goes well, I can start working. I said I wanted to support you, remember?”

Bai Wu knelt with one knee on the bed and looked at Xu Lan. He was surprised that Xu Lan’s pale face still had not regained any energy. He kissed Xu Lan’s forehead and covered Xu Lan with the blanket once again.

“Song Xi’s at the station. Wang Meng asked me if I wanted to go.” Xu Lan waved the phone about and asked.

“… Mm, I’ve made breakfast, once I wash my face and rinse my mouth, I’ll be ready.” Bai Wu stood up and adjusted his shirt collar.

“I can choose not to go since I’m no longer a police officer. If there’s anything I did wrong, please tell me.” Xu Lan flipped over, looked at Bai Wu, and whistled before making the remark.

“Oh f*ck, Xiao Xu, can you not be so unprincipled! I told you to sweet-talk him, not to spoil him!” The call was still ongoing and Wang Meng exasperated voice passed through the radio waves and reverberated across the room.

“Oh, just go. If you don’t, you won’t be at ease anyway.”

Bai Wu walked over, ended the call, and urged Xu Lan to get up. Bai Wu watched as Xu Lan walked over to the dinner table and dressed him up before leaving as if insinuating that he must not embarrass himself in front of someone who he once openly loved. It made Xu Lan feel somewhat uncomfortable.

Song Xi was already at the station when Xu Lan arrived. She wore a Qipao that was as red as a maple-leaf. She was full where it mattered most and lean in all the right places. Her fair thigh was even exposed somewhat, giving off an air of composure and refinement.

“Well, well, you’re here. I thought the one at home wouldn’t let you come.”

Wang Meng was a loudmouth, speaking loudly once Xu Lan entered the room as if he was worried that no one would notice Xu Lan’s arrival. What Wang Meng did not know was that Xu Lan once liked Song Xi. Xu Lan cast a sideways glance to him and pinched him in a hard-to-reach part of his body.

“Lawyer Song.” Xu Lan sat awkwardly in front of Song Xi. “How are you these days?”

“Mm, I’m good,” she replied with a befitting elegance.

“Er, Lawyer Song, I’ve heard you and the Zhao family lady from the mental institution are…”

“Xu Lan. You don’t need to feel uneasy. I am the mentally deranged lady from the mental institution, but that’s all I can say. No matter how you ask, there’s no other answer.”

In contrast to Xu Lan’s cautiousness, Song Xi was blatantly confessing her role, although she omitted her reasons for doing so.

“Really? Well, since you put it that way, Lawyer Song, there’s nothing much for me to say. Still, I have some questions, and I simply want to confirm them with you.”

“What is it?” Song Xi began to frown. Her guard was up as she looked at Xu Lan.