Chapter 22: Have We Lost Our Minds?

The next day at the Civil Affairs Bureau, a couple dressed in white shirts went through the motions – lining up, registering, taking photos, and reciting vows until they finally stepped out of the building.

Xiao Yu and Mu Qingwu, clutching their marriage certificates, stared blankly at each other, then turned their gazes to the overjoyed elders. It seemed unbelievable, but they were officially married.

A lump of disbelief was lodged in Xiao Yu’s throat, unsure whether to laugh or cry at their situation.

Mu Qingwu, equally dumbfounded, looked at the parents as if they were seeing something otherworldly.

They had initially assumed the elders were just speaking casually the previous day, that even if they talked about marriage, it would be a future discussion.

But the very next day, both families had their household registration books ready to go.

First, get the marriage certificate, then plan the wedding.

Had it not been for their firm refusal – one citing a new job and being hard of taking wedding leave, and the other overwhelmed with recent business commitments – a wedding might have been hastily arranged within days.

Despite their resistance, the following day, the elders had already arranged a banquet at a hotel, inviting a multitude of relatives and friends to celebrate.

Xiao Yu and Mu Qingwu had drunk late into the night, so inebriated that they didn’t even recall how they got home.

Upon awakening to a new day’s dawn, Xiao Yu discovered that his left arm… seemed to have vanished. No, not really. It was just so numb that it felt non-existent, thanks to a woman lying in his arms.

‘Damn…’ Xiao Yu nearly cursed aloud. What a shock.

But then he recognized the peacefully sleeping Mu Qingwu in his embrace. A quick peek under the blanket, and he sighed in relief.

Thankfully, despite the drunken haze of the previous night, he hadn’t done anything reckless.

He wasn’t sure whether to feel relieved or somewhat disappointed.

His emotions were, to say the least, complicated.

“Sister, wake up,” he gently shook the beauty in his arms.

“Don’t disturb me,” Mu Qingwu mumbled, snuggling further into Xiao Yu’s embrace and continuing her slumber.

Xiao Yu, ‘…’

Am I not human anymore? Or not seen as a man?

If it weren’t for the need to rush to work, would I…?

With the thought of work pressing on him, Xiao Yu couldn’t resist teasing, a smirk on his face, “If you keep pretending to sleep, I might really start doing something.”

Mu Qingwu, “…”

A blush crept over her face as she opened her eyes. Her watery eyes, amidst the disheveled hair, flickered with a mix of warmth and irritation.

That look seemed to accuse Xiao Yu of being despicable.

“Don’t give me that look, check your conscience,” Xiao Yu retorted with an eye roll. “It was you who ended up in my arms, not the other way around.”

“Does it make a difference?”

In Mu Qingwu’s cool demeanor, there was a touch of ethereal elegance, like a celestial being untouched by worldly dust, as if she wasn’t the one lying in Xiao Yu’s arms, speaking so righteously.

Xiao Yu was momentarily at a loss for words.

Arguing with a woman was futile. Hadn’t he learned from the countless beatings from his mother?

Sometimes, silence is golden.

A faint smile returned to Mu Qingwu’s lips as she regained her icy composure, gracefully rising and drifting away.

It was only then that Xiao Yu realized this wasn’t his home, but Mu Qingwu’s – specifically, the villa she rarely stayed in, which was now their new marital home.

Slightly bewildered, Xiao Yu shook his head and made his way to the bathroom to freshen up.

He put on his clothes and rushed out of the room, Xiao Yu found Mu Qingwu seated in the living room, calmly sipping her coffee.

“Sister, I’ll have to catch up later, I’m running late,” he said, hurrying to leave the villa.

“Take my car, or you’ll definitely be late,” Mu Qingwu suggested calmly.

Pausing, Xiao Yu hesitated but eventually took the car keys from Mu Qingwu and dashed off.

Arriving late at the brigade, especially just days after joining, would certainly not bode well with his colleagues.

However, as he pulled up in the luxury car at the Criminal Investigation Brigade, he was met with odd stares from his coworkers.

Xiao Yu suddenly realized his mistake. A police officer driving a luxury car to work? Wasn’t that inviting trouble?

Indeed, as soon as he had changed into his police uniform, the brigade commander summoned him to his office.

Zhao Changshan eyed the embarrassed Xiao Yu, “What’s this about? Don’t you know your car is way too extravagant? Even if your family is wealthy, you must consider the impact. It can cause problems.”

It sounded like a reprimand, but it was actually a protective gesture, a way of caring. Zhao was making sure Xiao Yu understood the potential risks and repercussions.

“My apologies, Captain,” Xiao Yu explained. “The car isn’t mine, it belongs to… my wife.”

With all the formalities and being legally married, calling Mu Qingwu my wife shouldn’t be a problem, right?

“Ah?” Zhao Changshan was visibly shocked. “You’re so young. You’re married?”

“Just got the certificate the day before yesterday,” Xiao Yu said with a wry smile.

“…” Zhao Changshan’s expression shifted to one of disbelief as if he thought Xiao Yu was joking.

“It’s true,” Xiao Yu insisted with a bitter smile. “I overdrank at a family banquet yesterday and woke up late, so I had to use my wife’s car.”

“Why didn’t you mention such a major event like getting married in advance?” Zhao Changshan’s stern demeanor softened into a smile.

“I didn’t think it would be appropriate to take marriage leave so soon after joining the brigade,” Xiao Yu explained, feeling a bit awkward about the situation.

He thought to himself, ‘As if I wanted to get married. I had no choice!’

“Congratulations, then.” Zhao Changshan’s smile faded to a more serious expression. “I was actually planning to call you yesterday. It’s good I didn’t.”

“Ah?” Xiao Yu looked puzzled.

“There’s a big assignment coming up at the station,” Zhao Changshan said with a hint of a wry smile. “A really big one.”

Hearing this, Xiao Yu felt a sense of foreboding. What did ‘a big assignment’ mean? A major case.