Chapter 241: It’s Finally Over

At the airport, by the security checkpoint.

“Let’s not meet too often in the future,” Xiao Yu joked as he looked at Wang Dong. “Every time I see you, it means trouble.”

“What happened to trust between people?” Wang Dong looked frustrated. “Are you sure it’s not you causing all the mess, and I’m just cleaning it up?”

“Haha!” Xiao Yu laughed heartily, giving Wang Dong a brotherly hug. “I’m off.”

As he watched Xiao Yu head toward the security gate, Wang Dong shook his head with a smile.

‘What a carefree guy. He just met with two of the biggest bosses, and he’s still so calm and composed. How many young people could pull that off? Heck, even someone like me still gets a little shaky when facing those top-tier bosses.’

But then…

Beep, beep, beep!

Xiao Yu got stopped at the airport security gate.

Seeing his confused expression as he pulled out his medal box, and the shocked looks on the security staff’s faces, Wang Dong couldn’t hold back and burst out laughing.

Balance restored—it turned out the little brother could be a bit clueless sometimes too.

“Honestly, who’s the real fool here?” Xiao Yu smiled and shook his head as he made his way into the VIP lounge.

Sometimes, playing the fool gives others a false sense of superiority. It makes them lower their guard just a little. Their attention won’t linger too much on you. 

It was both experience and common sense.

Thinking about Zhou Lie, the leader of Group Nine, Xiao Yu frowned.

At that moment, did he reveal his killing intent on purpose?

Did I show enough in return? Hopefully, they won’t mess with my life going forward.

Beloved Bencheng, I’m coming back!

***

A summer breeze occasionally swept through the city, carrying with it waves of heat. Holding his wife’s hand, Xiao Yu watched as people hurried past under the scorching sun. On his face, a smile burned brighter than the sun itself.

You come to this world, and you should take a look at the sun.

And walk down the street with the one you love.

That’s exactly what I’m doing…

“It’s so hot.”

Mu Qingwu glanced at a cold drink shop by the roadside and stopped walking.

“No way.” Xiao Yu’s eyes flashed with affection. “Didn’t the doctor say? You need to get some sun and exercise during pregnancy to boost your immune system. It’s good for you and the baby.”

“Yeah.” Mu Qingwu replied softly, but her beautiful eyes were still fixed on the cold drink shop, a playful smile tugging at her lips.

Just like she could never say no to her little brother, her brother could never say no to her either.

Never!

“You can’t have cold drinks, only juice.”

With a helpless shake of his head, Xiao Yu led his wife toward the cold drink shop. Her rosy lips curled into a soft smile, and her eyes glowed with tenderness. Mu Qingwu walked beside him, like a happy little woman.

What is love and life?

Sharing the same bed, working hard together, cooking a few dishes after work, curling up in bed to watch a movie, with no betrayal, no doubt.

Simple, pure—what else is love and life if not that?

‘She and Summer are keeping me company. Being a little kid together… it’s so nice!’

***

A three-day vacation was short, but Xiao Yu was quite satisfied.

Being a cop meant he had to learn to sneak in some fun during his time off.

His wife had gone to work, and with Sister Bai taking care of her, Xiao Yu felt reassured.

He arrived at the Criminal Investigation Unit early in the morning. His colleagues beamed with joy. Xiao Yu knew everyone was still buzzing from cracking a major special case.

Who would’ve thought that a county-level investigation team would handle a special case on their own?

Sure, the National Security folks got involved later, but it didn’t overshadow their success. The whole unit was credited with the victory, and there was no doubt a collective first-class merit was on its way.

As for Xiao Yu, the team leader…

Wang Dong had joked, “You’ve already got a first-class honor, giving you more credit would just be too much.”

Xiao Yu was well aware of this. But as for his police rank…

“Already a First-Class Superintendent, huh!” Zhao Changshan looked at the insignia on Xiao Yu’s shoulder, his expression complicated.

Zhou Tinghu had the same look.

A 22-year-old First-Class Superintendent?

Anywhere else in the country? Nowhere but here.

And that was with them deliberately holding back on promoting him any higher. They couldn’t delay it any longer. Otherwise…

Zhao Changshan and Zhou Tinghu didn’t dare to think about it.

Six first-class merits and a first-class honor.

This wasn’t a joke.

If Xiao Yu left the Criminal Investigation Unit and started moving up the ranks, it’d be one promotion after another. Even Yun Xiangguo, the big boss at the city police bureau, would be a junior compared to him now. But, funny enough, the little brother didn’t care about any of that.

“It’s all thanks to you guys for being such great leaders.”

Xiao Yu threw out a compliment, just like old times. Still playing the part of just the boss’s errand boy.

“Haha!”

Zhao Changshan and Zhou Tinghu chuckled, shaking their heads.

By now, everyone at the Criminal Investigation Unit knew who the real boss was, who the kingpins were.

Xiao Yu was just too lazy, didn’t like the hassle, and didn’t want to deal with anything—except the cases.

***

Back in his new office.

Xiao Yu now had his own office too. A deputy team leader with an office—seemed like a joke, right? But with Xiao Yu’s unique position in the Criminal Investigation Unit, no one found it strange.

Sitting in his chair, feeling a bit bored again, Xiao Yu flipped through some case files, killing time while also trying to spot any hidden clues in the cases.

Another week flew by.

Just as Xiao Yu got to the office, an unknown number popped up on his phone.

“Hello?” Xiao Yu answered, a bit puzzled.

“Is this Comrade Xiao Yu?”

The person on the other end sounded polite, with a warm tone and a deep, middle-aged voice, “I’m calling from the Provincial Department…”

‘Uh… the head of the Provincial Department?! Why is someone like him calling me?’

Xiao Yu was full of questions, “Hello, sir! How can I help?”

“Come to the Provincial Department. We’d like you to help with a case.”

The voice on the other end lost its friendly tone and became more serious.

Xiao Yu, “???”

‘Wait, doesn’t the Provincial Department have their own people? Why would they need me to get involved in a case?’

Xiao Yu never thought of himself as someone that special.

The world was going on no matter who was on or off the job. So why were they asking for him?

Sensing his hesitation, the Provincial leader added, “It’s on the big boss’s orders. He specifically asked for you to join the investigation. Oh, and he asked me to pass along a message. He said giving you an entire province to handle shouldn’t be too much, right? Or should we maybe promote you?”

Xiao Yu, “…”

‘Big boss, are you serious? Is that a threat or a promotion? Wait, my territory is just Becheng.’

Do you realize how big a province is?

“I understand,” Xiao Yu chuckled wryly, “I’ll head over now.”

Hanging up, he knew it. His carefree days of having fun? Yeah, they were over.