Chapter 107: Let’s Elope

Outside, the sunlight was warm and serene. Soft, gentle rays filtered through a window, falling on the lazy couple lying in bed.

In the cozy room, Xiao Yu looked outside. It was already late morning.

Mu Qingwu had woken up early but didn’t want to move.

Xiao Yu leaned down and kissed his sister on the lips. If they didn’t get up soon, they’d be starving.

Mu Qingwu wrapped her arms around her brother’s neck.

Xiao Yu picked up Mu Qingwu and carried her to the bathroom.

Another day full of energy.

After buying groceries and returning home, the couple laughed and joked as they cooked lunch together. Compared to takeout, they still preferred eating their own cooking.

In the afternoon, their mother and mother-in-law arrived.

Spending two hours doing hair with the three women, then three hours shopping, Xiao Yu transformed into a shopping cart, wearing a mask of suffering.

In the evening, they found a nice restaurant, and Xiao Yu called his father to join them for dinner.

When father and son met, they exchanged a glance, each taking pleasure in the other’s misery.

Xiao Shengguo: Son, now you know the pain of marriage, right?

Xiao Yu: Yes, Dad, you’ve had your fair share of suffering over the years, haven’t you?

Both of them rolled their eyes in unison. Listening to the women chatter away, they dared not interrupt, focusing instead on devouring their food.

‘Tonight I need to grab my sister for some sisterly torture to heal my wounded soul.’

Xiao Yu looked at Mu Qingwu with a mischievous glint in his eyes.

Sensing his thoughts, Mu Qingwu turned and gave her naughty brother a playful glare.

After saying goodbye to their parents, the couple walked hand in hand through the streets as the city lights came on.

“In the memory of winter, the evening breeze blows through the alley. The secret in my heart needs a fairy tale to buffer it.” Feeling joyful, Xiao Yu sang softly, “The world of magic really exists, my sister is so gentle, so lovely…”

“Ha!”

Mu Qingwu’s charming and beautiful face lit up with a tender smile. Listening to her brother’s song filled her heart with sweetness.

“Sis, are you looking forward to our wedding?”

Releasing her white, jade-like hand, Xiao Yu embraced the gentle elder sister in his arms.

“Looking forward to it.”

Mu Qingwu rested her face against her brother’s chest.

“Do you remember the wedding vows we prepared?” Xiao Yu squinted, looking at the bustling streets.

“I remember,” Mu Qingwu replied. “This life and this world, never to part.”

Xiao Yu lowered his head, looking into Mu Qingwu’s eyes.

“For all eternity, we will be entangled forever!” 

Mu Qingwu’s lively eyes sparkled with anticipation and a hint of enchantment.

“Sister,” Xiao Yu blinked, “I’ve heard that organizing a wedding is exhausting. How about we elope?”

“Huh?”  Mu Qingwu was astonished, but her beautiful eyes gleamed with watery excitement. “Okay.”

“Haha.” Xiao Yu laughed heartily and took Mu Qingwu’s hand. “Let’s go, let’s elope.”

Under the setting sun, under the starry sky…

***

The three-day holiday flew by in the blink of an eye.

Early in the morning, the couple got up. One had to go to the brigade, the other to the company.

Was the happiness and sweetness too short?

No matter, they had the rest of their lives to make up for it.

After Mu Qingwu left, Xiao Yu drove to the Criminal Investigation Brigade. When his colleagues saw him, they became a bit reserved and polite.

Xiao Yu thought for a moment and realized why. It wasn’t a secret that he had become the chief commander of the jailbreak case.

Guo Qiang, who used to joke around with Xiao Yu under the guise of being his “mentor,” now didn’t know how to speak to him.

“What’s wrong, Master? Got your tongue cooked?” Xiao Yu teased. “Or were you subdued by Mistress last night?”

For men, dirty talk is always an entertaining and time-killing pastime.

“Damn!” Guo Qiang laughed, his expression returning to normal as he joked, “What do you know, kid? That’s not being subdued, that’s love.”

Xiao Yu intentionally lowered his stance, chatting and joking with everyone, smoking and shooting the breeze.

As the saying goes: A cigarette can pry open a man’s mouth, money can hook a man’s heart, and eating seafood together can make you kindred spirits. The three essentials of socializing. 

The colleagues all realized that Xiao Yu was still the same Xiao Yu, nothing had changed.

This scene, observed by the captain and the instructor, also made them breathe a sigh of relief.

Xiao Yu found himself a bit idle at work. No one came to him with small cases, and big cases weren’t that frequent.

Bored, he could only flip through case files to pass the time.

Around noon, Zhao Changshan called Xiao Yu over.

“Don’t want a promotion?”

To be honest, as the captain, Zhao Changshan was quite confused.

A few days ago, National Security delivered a First-Class Merit Medal, which Zhao Changshan wasn’t initially aware of.

However, his partner brought it to his attention.

Merits needed to be recorded in the file and come with a salary increase, and such matters were managed by Zhou Tinghu. Seeing that Xiao Yu had earned another First-Class Merit, instructor Zhou Tinghu was stunned.

Two First-Class Merits, one Second-Class Merit, and one Third-Class Merit…

Three months on the force, and this impressive record of achievements was a bit frightening. 

Receiving this news left Zhao Changshan stunned, so he found Xiao Yu.

“Captain,” Xiao Yu pointed to his shoulder, “First Class Inspector.”

“Damn!” Zhao Changshan slapped his forehead.

Promoting to Superintendent required not only merit but also a certain length of service. There’s a minimum of three years required to cross that red line.

Xiao Yu was only 22 years old and had been on the force for just over three months. He had already reached the rank of First Class Inspector.

“Really not planning to leave?” Zhao Changshan looked at Xiao Yu with a strange expression. “At least stay in our brigade for a few years.”

Nodding, Xiao Yu had already planned this. Living close to his parents’ house and his own home was convenient. As for solving cases, it didn’t matter where he was.

“Alright then, everything will be just like before,” Zhao Changshan laughed. “But old Liu is retiring, and we need a successor for a smooth transition. Yesterday, the director himself called, and your Deputy Section Officer position has been approved.”

Deputy Section Officer?

Xiao Yu was momentarily confused, then understood.

He remembered Director Yun Xiangguo’s promise from back then.

If he could crack the jailbreak case, he would be promoted one level. He just didn’t expect it to happen so quickly. 

“Just as old Liu is retiring, your position has been approved.” Zhao Changshan said seriously, “After discussing with the instructor and several deputy captains, and reporting to the higher-ups for approval, from today onwards, you are officially appointed as the Deputy Captain of the Criminal Investigation Brigade.”

Xiao Yu, “…”

‘Wait, you guys didn’t even give me a heads-up?’

“Don’t worry, we know you don’t like administrative work.” Zhao Changshan said with a smile, “But you also know your own situation. Not getting promoted is impossible. We’ve also discussed it, and from now on, you’ll mainly handle major and serious cases for the brigade. Small cases won’t cross your desk, is that okay?”

“If the leadership has arranged it, how could I have a problem?”

Xiao Yu could only accept, shaking his head with a smile.

Getting promoted was inevitable. He just didn’t expect it to happen so quickly.