Bai Mengyan insisting on hotpot really surprised Lin Chen. Eating hotpot in such hot weather… probably only she could come up with something like that.
The two chose a private booth and sat down. The server brought over the menu, and Bai Mengyan ordered mostly lamb and beef. After the server left, she took a sip of iced plum juice and said to herself, “So refreshing. Uncle Lin, you should try some too. Their plum juice is really authentic.”
As she spoke, Bai Mengyan poured a glass of the chilled drink for Lin Chen. He had been busy all morning and was parched, so he drank it in one go.
“Have some more,” Bai Mengyan said, noticing how hurriedly he drank, and she refilled his glass before he could even set it down.
“Thank you,” Lin Chen said politely. His slightly awkward demeanor made Bai Mengyan burst into laughter.
“Uncle Lin, you must be wondering why I ordered so much meat, right?”
“Yeah. You’re so slim… can you really eat that much? Besides, not many girls these days choose hotpot when they go out,” Lin Chen said honestly. He wasn’t wrong. Most girls in the south weren’t particularly fond of hotpot. They preferred trendy or aesthetic places. Many disliked how the smell of hotpot lingered on their bodies afterward, especially in winter, when it could cling to them for days.
“I’m not that fussy. Just go back, wash your hair, take a shower, and change clothes. Problem solved,” Bai Mengyan said casually.
Hearing that, Lin Chen couldn’t help but recall how Chen Ya had always hated eating hotpot. It wasn’t just the smell… after eating, especially in winter, she would have to wash her hair and bathe immediately. She found it troublesome every time.
Even now, after the divorce, Lin Chen realized that anything he did still dragged him back into memories of the past.
Seeing his thoughts drifting, Bai Mengyan gave a light snort and asked with slight displeasure, “What’s wrong? Eating with such a beauty like me, and Captain Lin Chen is still distracted?”
Lin Chen smiled faintly. This girl always managed to catch his wandering thoughts. He took out a cigarette and asked, “Mind if I smoke?”
Bai Mengyan immediately nodded with a smile and said, “I’m not that particular. Go ahead.”
Lin Chen lit the cigarette and began to smoke. Sitting across from him, Bai Mengyan asked curiously, “Uncle Lin, have you been having relationship problems lately? That night when you were drunk, you kept calling out a name.”
Lin Chen froze for a moment, then after a pause asked, “What did I say that night?”
“I don’t remember exactly. But if you don’t want to talk about it, that’s fine. Everyone has their own sad moments,” Bai Mengyan said lightly. She seemed carefree, but deep down, her heart was far more fragile than she let on. Follow the newest chapters on g.com.
“Heh, it’s not that dramatic. I got divorced from my ex-wife last week,” Lin Chen said. A sharp pain struck his heart as he spoke. He didn’t want to bring it up, but he had to face it.
Seeing the pain on his face, Bai Mengyan smiled and said, “Divorce is pretty common these days. Staying together unwillingly doesn’t bring happiness. Leaving earlier is a kind of relief for both sides.”
She didn’t know the depth of Lin Chen’s feelings for Chen Ya, nor that they had been married for ten years. So her words weren’t unreasonable. In truth, for a relationship like theirs, it might have been better to part ways early rather than remain bound by a marriage certificate. A forced marriage only accumulated wounds, and over time, most marriages simply turned into something like family ties.
“Thank you for your concern,” Lin Chen said, unsure how to continue the topic.
Bai Mengyan seemed to sense his sadness and asked, “Uncle Lin, did I bring up something painful?”
Lin Chen smiled faintly and shook his head, as if he wanted to say something, yet held back.
After the meal, he drove Bai Mengyan back to her residential complex. He had intended to return the car to her, but she casually said she rarely drove. Her job involved constant flights, and although she had bought the car a long time ago, it had only been driven about 1,000 kilometers. She asked Lin Chen to use it more often for her.
Seeing her indifferent attitude and knowing he did need a car, Lin Chen didn’t refuse. He thought that when the car’s insurance was due or if any modifications were needed, he could handle it for her as a way of compensating for its use.
On the way back, Lin Chen had assumed that once he returned the car, their interactions would end. However, this girl clearly didn’t follow any normal logic.
After returning to the Public Security Unit and completing the deployment for the evening’s operation, Lin Chen immediately took command in the control center. The night’s operation went smoothly. After a full night of questioning, at 06:00 in the morning, Lin Chen walked out of the interrogation room with a rare smile… they finally had a lead on the victim’s identity.
According to a woman, one of the girls working at their establishment, who was from out of town, had gone missing four days ago. The last time she was seen was that same night, when she left with a young male client. She never came back.
At first, they assumed she had been taken in by a wealthy client for a few days. However, two nights ago, the woman suddenly received a voice call from her. Before she could say anything, she heard the girl’s agonized screams through the phone… then the call was abruptly cut off. When she tried calling back, the phone was already turned off.
After learning that the girl’s belongings were still at the establishment, Lin Chen concluded they could obtain fingerprints or DNA for comparison. He immediately led a team to the scene. By 09:00 that morning, the victim’s identity was finally confirmed.
The victim was Jiang Xiaoyan, 29 years old, from Yancheng. She had come to Nanfeng City six months ago to work in the massage industry.
Lin Chen quickly arranged the next steps… checking surveillance footage, investigating the victim’s social circle, and conducting further interviews in the surrounding areas. Read this novel at g.com for the best experience.
In just two days, under Lin Chen’s leadership, the case had made significant progress. The team members grew increasingly impressed. It seemed that the title of Nanfeng City’s outstanding criminal investigation expert was no exaggeration.
After finishing these arrangements, it was already 13:00. Lin Chen planned to take a short nap in his office when an officer came in and said, “Captain Lin, the security desk just called. A Miss Bai Mengyan says she’s your friend and wants to see you.”
Lin Chen hadn’t expected Bai Mengyan to come to the station. Suddenly, he remembered that she had called him during the morning meeting, but he hadn’t answered because he was busy. Afterward, he had completely forgotten to call back.
During his marriage with Chen Ya, this had happened many times. At first, she would keep calling repeatedly. But after two or three years, she got used to it. What began as daily calls became once every few days, then eventually once every half a month or even once a month.
As Chen Ya once said, whenever she needed him, she couldn’t find him. And when Lin Chen finally called back, the issue had already been resolved. This had been a constant source of arguments between them. Over time, resentment built up on both sides. Gradually, they stopped communicating, and the distance between them grew.
If Bai Mengyan had come to find him in person, she must have had something important. Otherwise, she wouldn’t have come all the way here.
“Bring her in,” Lin Chen said immediately.
Soon, Bai Mengyan appeared at the office doorway. Her presence was like a bright spotlight in the police station. In a criminal investigation unit, it was rare to see such a youthful and striking beauty, tall and graceful, with exceptional looks. News of her arrival quickly spread throughout the station.
Many had thought Xia Meng was already stunning, but compared to Bai Mengyan, she still fell slightly short. And the key point was… this beauty was the captain’s friend. Naturally, everyone’s curiosity was piqued.
“Uncle Lin,” Bai Mengyan called out with a bright smile as she walked into the office. She was dressed in sportswear today, making her already slender figure appear even more graceful. Her entire presence radiated youthful energy.
“Please, have a seat. I don’t have coffee here… I’ll get you a glass of water,” Lin Chen said with a smile.
Bai Mengyan waved her hand indifferently, her curious gaze wandering around the room.
“Never been to a criminal investigation unit before? Curious?” Lin Chen said as he sat across from her, immediately seeing through her thoughts.
Bai Mengyan nodded with a smile, then said with a look of disdain, “Uncle Lin, your workplace isn’t tidy at all. But your brain works pretty well. You’re much sharper here than outside.”
It was the first time anyone had evaluated him like that. Lin Chen couldn’t help but feel amused by this girl’s personality… what kind of logic was that?