Murder the Dream Guy

“Attention!”

“Hats down!”

“Salute!”

The police officers lined up neatly in their uniforms. They removed their police hats and showed their salute.

Tu Liang’s corpse was lying inside a coffin placed at the center of the parlor. He looked peaceful, dressed up in his police uniform. The bright-colored flags, coupled with the yellow and white chrysanthemums were like the stairs: solemn and serious. These flowers surrounded him as he laid there, and it seemed as though he was sleeping.

In a low, soft melody, an elderly leader who presided over the ceremony made his mournful speech.

“Comrade Tu Liang had served the police force for 12 years. He had taken part in the investigations of over 300 cases… he served the people wholeheartedly. He was brave and gallant. He always fought at the front lines against crime… we have awarded Comrade Tu Liang a medal to show that he’s a role model of the police force and one of the Capital’s most excellent police officers. We awarded him the ‘third-class meritorious service’ three times and ‘second-class meritorious service’ once…”

The elderly leader delivered his speech in a cadence and clarity of voice that clearly rang around the surroundings. Tu Liang’s life story also showed on the electronic display screen in the memorial hall:

—A picture of him perspiring during a training session, but he was showing a wholehearted smile nonetheless.

—His happy face when he stood on the podium of an awards ceremony, holding a trophy in his hand.

—His contemplating expression while he was thinking hard about a case as he sat before his desk.

—His combat skills when he was capturing a suspect…

One after another, they presented the pictures of Tu Liang to everyone as if he was just right in front of them.

In the hall, they heard some soft, sobbing sounds.

Outside the parlor, amongst the crowd, some also started to sob…

After the memorial speech, everyone queued up to look at Tu Liang for one last time. The solemn, depressing atmosphere in the hall immediately turned into a sea of cries.

“Old Tu, this brother is here to send you off!”

“Brother Tu, rest in peace!”

“Old Tu, we have to be brothers again in our next life!”

“… Old Tu, please rest in peace!”

“Old Tu… you said you wanted to give us a treat after you solved the case. How can you go just like this…?”

“…”

Everyone mourned and walked around the coffin.

Shen Wenjing was dressed in mourning clothes as she stood with her daughter beside the coffin. She was supporting her mother-in-law whose hair were already all gray. She also bowed and told her thanks to the people who came.

She did not make a sound, but the tears welling in her eyes kept slipping down from the corners of her eyes down to her chin.

“Sister-in-law, please take care of yourself!”

“Aunty, please take care too!”

“Sister-in-law… Aunty, my condolences!”

“…”

Xiang Wan followed Bai Muchuan and stopped before Shen Wenjing, then they looked at Tu Liang lying in his coffin…

Tears had already blurred her eyes.

At this moment, she found herself at a loss of words.

She couldn’t speak what was on her mind. Besides an occasional sniffle, she couldn’t make any sound at all.

“Sister-in-law, Aunty, my condolences…” Bai Muchuan said nothing new either.

After that, he patted Tu Siya’s little head. “You’re a good girl! You can call me if there’s anything you need help with.”

Tu Siya’s eyes seemed red indicating that she had cried earlier.

However, she was still a child after all; death to her was… She still lacked real knowledge about such matters.

“Thank you, Uncle!” She remembered what mom had taught her as she bowed to Bai Muchuan and Xiang Wan…

The little girl was in her mourning clothes; that look of hers made Xiang Wan burst into tears.

“… Brother Tu! We’ll miss you!”

A group of men was crying bitterly.

“Tu Liang, rest in peace!” Xiang Wan whispered as she took one last look at the coffin before walking out of the parlor and dashing toward the square in the snowy weather.

She squatted down and cried bitterly on her knees…

…

She felt a hand on her shoulder, giving her a comforting squeeze.

Xiang Wan needed not to look up, for she knew who it was.

She cried even more bitterly!

“Don’t cry.” Bai Muchuan’s voice sounded indifferent.

Xiang Wan did not see him cry earlier, even though his eyes showed otherwise.

However, she knew that… Bai Muchuan felt worse than her.

After all, he had spent much more time with Tu Liang compared to her…

“Bai Muchuan, I’m so sad. If that day wasn’t my birthday then Tu Liang wouldn’t have died, right?”

If that day was not her birthday, Bai Muchuan would not go to Jin City.

If Bai Muchuan did not come to Jin City, he would not have given the mission to Tu Liang…

Many things like this were on their minds; as long as there was a twist in the middle of an event, it would change the outcome.

“I feel so guilty!” Xiang Wan looked up at him with her tear-stained face, like a helpless child. “… I even felt that what had happened was all my fault. If I didn’t leave Xi City in the first place and didn’t leave you, maybe everything would have been different.”

“Idiot!” Bai Muchuan sighed as he pulled her up and looked into her eyes. “We couldn’t decide the life and death of others. Everyone has to go through it eventually.”

“But I—”

“It doesn’t concern you!” Bai Muchuan pressed his lips tightly, there was pain in his eyes as he spoke in a low tone. “If anyone should be blamed, it should be me and not you. Don’t you get it?”

“…” Xiang Wan sniffled, unable to say a word.

“But no matter what it is, this is not what Tu Liang wanted to see. He’s someone who values loyalty the most!”

Xiang Wan thought of Tu Liang’s smiling face.

Tears came to her eyes, and she cried even harder than earlier.

“Little Xiang Wan! Don’t cry anymore!” Bai Muchuan wiped her tears with his fingers gently but heaved a sigh when they proved that the tears would never end. “If one day I also end up the same, I hope you’ll be strong…”

“Stop saying things like that!”

This was exactly what Xiang Wan did not want to hear the most.

“You won’t!”

“Who knows?” Bai Muchuan looked at her while showing a smile. “As a detective, I’ve sent off many comrades… Maybe one day, it might be my turn!”

“Bai Muchuan!” Xiang Wan snapped at him. “You’re not allowed to say that.”

He looked at her but there was no expression on his face.

“Nothing will happen to you, and I mean it!”

They both looked at each other’s eyes.

He then laughed.

The smile that appeared amidst the snowy day accompanied his tearful eyes.

“Alright, I’ll believe you. Nothing will happen to me!”

…

That afternoon, Xiang Wan pulled along her luggage, for she had to return to Jin City.

The next day was the Annual Awards Ceremony of Wen Quan Book Treasury held in Jin City.

Hence, she had to return that afternoon.

She had booked the tickets two days before and the timing was perfect.

Bai Muchuan drove her personally to the airport.

The snow stopped in the afternoon.

However, the weather was still freezing cold.

Bai Muchuan opened the car door, stuffed her inside the car and helped to fasten her seatbelt before returning to the driver’s seat and switched on the heater.

“Once you board the plane, remember to ask the stewardess to get you a blanket!”

“Mm!” Xiang Wan nodded.

“Don’t be a silly girl!” Bai Muchuan looked like he was instructing a kid on what to do. “When you’re back in Jin City, just tell me if there’s anything troubling you. You might find the matter troublesome, but who knows if it might be very convenient for me to settle the problem…”

“Mm!” Xiang Wan nodded again.

What problems could arise?

Compared to life and death scenarios, petty bickering on the internet was too trivial in comparison!

She did not feel the need to get Bai Muchuan’s help.

“Aye!” Bai Muchuan didn’t know what to do with her when he saw that expression.

“Okay, you’ve finished crying, let’s not think about this anymore. Be happier, get it!?”

“I know that.” Xiang Wan finally spoke before she looked at him with her reddened eyes. “Same for you too.”

“Me?” Bai Muchuan chuckled softly. “I don’t cry!”

“… Did you think I don’t know? I just didn’t want to expose you.”

He had gone to the toilet for half an hour, and when he came out, his eyes seemed a little red and swollen.

He just didn’t want to cry in front of anyone.

Bai Muchuan took a glance at her while showing an unnatural smile. “Really! I… couldn’t cry for a long time already!”

There was another moment of pensive silence.

Xiang Wan didn’t know how to react when he showed an unnatural smile like this.

“Crying is the last way to solve our problems! It only reduces our thinking ability and intelligence!”

“…” Xiang Wan sniffled. Although what he said amused her, it also made her feel annoyed at the same time.

“However, women can cry.” Bai Muchuan quickly glanced at her, a gentle glint flashed past his eyes. “It is a privilege granted to women!”

“Hur!” Xiang Wan huffed. “Alright, I’ll call you tonight and cry all I want!”

“Sure, but you don’t have a shoulder to lean on over there. I’m worried that you might drown in your own tears!”

“As if!”

Xiang Wan spoke to him rather softly; she didn’t really joke as much as she used to anymore.

As the car drove towards the airport, the scenery constantly changed…

They couldn’t hear the mournful melody at the memorial service anymore.

…

Fang Yuanyuan had returned a day earlier to Jin City and waited for Xiang Wan at the airport in Jin City.

On their way back, she told Xiang Wan many things about the Annual Awards Ceremony.

Usually, the authors only communicated with another fellow author or editor on the internet. Chances to meet up with each other were few and far between. Hence, the thought of having to meet so many people made Xiang Wan a little nervous. As Fang Yuanyuan constantly chattered away, Xiang Wan’s thoughts were pulled to Jin City away from the Capital and away from the cases; she was now back to her online world of literature.

“Doll up yourself tomorrow!” said Fang Yuanyuan, “everyone has to walk the red carpet!”

“What?” Xiang Wan was a little taken aback. “So formal?”

“Of course! They will show it live on the internet! Your readers will be able to see you! There are also some activities…” Fang Yuanyuan gave her a sidelong glance. “Remember to wear a gown!”

“A gown!?”

Xiang Wan was totally not prepared for that.

“Oh my, didn’t I tell you just the other day?” Fang Yuanyuan instantly understood what was going on when she saw her dumbfounded expression. “You didn’t even prepare anything, did you?”

“… Yeah.”

How in the world would she prepare herself a gown, or specifically, the Annual Awards Ceremony, when she was in such a bad mood?

All of her attention was on the case; her story and the memorial service had clouded her mind.

Fang Yuanyuan just pulled her back to “face” reality.

“Xiang Wan, are you sure you’ve listened to what I’ve said?” Fang Yuanyuan wished she could strangle her.

“… Well, I’m not sure.”

It was far more than that!

She didn’t remember if Fang Yuanyuan told her about these at all!

“Gosh!” Fang Yuanyuan tapped on the steering wheel. “Fine, fine, fine! I must have owed you in my past life! We’ll go get a gown tonight!”

“Thank you!” A smile appeared on Xiang Wan’s face as she leaned closer to Fang Yuanyuan. “May I know how much you owe me in your past life?”

“… Tch! Why are you being so annoying right now!?” Fang Yuanyuan remarked casually, “Isn’t it just a matter of two to three million yuan of debt? You don’t need to chase me to clear my debt this lifetime!”

“…”

She would feel lighthearted and carefree whenever she hung out with Fang Yuanyuan.

This was what Xiang Wan noticed long ago.

Her cousin lived a forthright and simple life.

As for her, she had too many things inside her head. Sometimes, she found it difficult to take things easy!

However, the next day would be the Annual Awards Ceremony; she really got to perk herself up!

It wouldn’t be nice if her lovely readers saw her in such a melancholic state; that would probably cause her to lose fans, right?

…

It was the night of the ceremony and all the invited authors showed up; they were all staying at a hotel called Jin City Hotel.

There was a great deal of excitement in the temporary chat group that had been created for the Annual Awards Ceremony.

Everyone was talking non-stop about sightseeing, shopping, eating, and so on. The atmosphere was very friendly.

Since Xiang Wan was originally from Jin City, she need not stay in the hotel. Hence, in the chat group, she said nothing.

First, she was not familiar with most authors in the chat group, and second, she didn’t know what to say to them.

Currently, there were many rumors going around about her. It was impossible to say that Xiang Wan did not care about it the least.

It would seem that no matter what she says, it would not sound right.

Therefore, she stayed silent.

As for Fang Yuanyuan, before she went shopping with Xiang Wan for a gown, she went to Jin City Hotel to mingle with the authors.

Some authors in Fang Yuanyuan’s care were also invited to the Annual Awards Ceremony. Hence, she wanted to go greet them. In doing so, she also received compliments such as “the editor’s so beautiful” and “the editor’s so slim”. She was grinning from ear to ear when she met Xiang Wan later.

“Indeed, if an editor has good looks, he or she will be well-liked!”

“…” Xiang Wan frowned at her words.

“Aye! If I can lose another 20 pounds, then that would be perfect.” Fang Yuanyuan had a longing look on her face as she looked at a street light afar. “Just wait up, every plump girl has the potential to become a peerless beauty!”

“In my eyes, you’ve always been peerless!”

“Eh?” Fang Yuanyuan looked at her, thrilled. “Really?”

“Hmm, peerless in being noisy!”

“…” Fang Yuanyuan snorted, “D*rn!”

Xiang Wan thought she was reacting to her diss and was grinning.

However, she saw that Fang Yuanyuan’s face turned grim. The latter was actually looking at her phone before she suddenly flared up.

“We should teach these keyboard warriors a lesson!”

“What happened?” Xiang Wan asked.

“It’s nothing…” Fang Yuanyuan put away her mobile phone and took Xiang Wan’s arm. “Forget it! Let’s go, let’s go! We’ll shop for a gown!”

Xiang Wan glanced at her from the corner of her eyes and quietly took her arm back, so she could use her phone.

She tapped on her reader chat group and saw that her moderator, Huangpu, had posted a link.

It was a link to a post in the forum.

Recently, Xiang Wan had chosen not to check out all those dramas that had been happening. Hence, she had turned off the notifications for her reader chat group off for the meantime…

However, since she saw how peeved Fang Yuanyuan was earlier, she couldn’t contain her curiosity and tapped on the link.

… Well, indeed, it had everything to do with the recent ranking drama—a lot of readers were gossiping and badmouthing her.

However, this new wave of readers seemed to be even nastier and meaner in their remarks.

From what they had written, they claimed that they were Second Young Master Mu’s fans!

The most ferocious group who made the nastiest remarks claimed that they were the “wifey fans” of Second Young Master Mu…