Mr. Yuan’s Dilemma: Can’t Help Falling in Love with You

When he heard Yuan Xuan mentioned that Su Qingcheng would leave on official business as well today, Shao Yibai’s heart became rather unhappy at the thought of this woman leaving Luo Hai.

Fortunately, Shao Yibai was unlike Yuan Xuan. The biggest difference between one person who had tasted physical pleasures and another who had not was that the former would crave the taste of flesh again since he had already tried it. He would probably be unable to bear it if he went a few days without it. Conversely, Shao Yibai was already used to this because he lived a life that resembled a monk’s…

The “monk” consoled him, saying, “You can relax. Your Little Chenyan will be safe with Su Qingcheng. If you really can’t accept that, I’ll secretly go and help you keep an eye on her?”

When Yuan Xuan heard this, the corners of his lips stretched into a sly smile before he said, “Thank you for your trouble!”

Shao Yibai was speechless.

Hmph, this man had really treated him like a bodyguard!

However, when he thought about it again, he felt that this was not a bad idea. After all, he had nothing important to do in Luo Hai.

Yuan Ran personally visited him almost every day. Unlike the women outside, Shao Yibai obviously could not treat the members of the Yuan Family as he pleased. Thus, Yuan Ran certainly resembled a dangerous beauty before him in the sense that he could neither touch her nor cast her aside.

He could go and see the woman he liked on the pretense of sneaking around to protect Little Chenyan. Shao Yibai’s adaptable personality instantly made him feel as though Yuan Xuan had thrown him a pleasant task.

…

Mu Chenyan and Su Qingcheng left for East Bridge City.

Their journey did not take long because that place was close to Luo Hai. Moreover, since the two women had endless topics to discuss along the way, they quickly reached East Bridge and did not feel weary after their journey.

They found the hotel that was arranged by their workplace’s cooperative partner. Their companions that arrived with them also included police officers from Luo Hai’s other departments. Additionally, the police station in East Bridge had also sent their representatives.

In the hotel where they were staying, everyone briefly studied the schedule of their operations during these few days. They would visit the station on the second day.

The two women had an early dinner in the evening. “Since we’re already here, we can’t take the public expense vacation that Wu Huai mentioned for granted!” said Su Qingcheng as she led Mu Chenyan out the door.

Su Qingcheng had asked about the exciting night scenic spots in East Bridge much earlier. They took a stroll and circled it before she dragged Mu Chenyan to the night market in East Bridge.

It was April and the spring flowers were in bloom. During this warm and windy season, the lively night market was filled with the noise of chattering people.

When she thought of how their next two days would be filled with work, she became worried that there would not be enough time to buy some gifts if she did not do it now.

The two women chose some items that each of them planned to bring back.

Su Qingcheng had even gotten something for Wu Huai. She said, “I’m buying a small gift to bribe our leader!”

In the end, she bought several toys for children as well.

Mu Chenyan curiously asked, “Why did you buy those toys?”

Su Qingcheng bashfully smiled and said, “I’m still a child at heart!”

The people of East Bridge worshiped Mazu. Thus, there were Mazu temples everywhere. There was one near the end of the night market. The joss sticks there were still burning although it was already evening.

Mu Chenyan wanted to ask for a talisman for Yuan Xuan and pray for her brother’s safety at the same time.

Thus, she dragged Su Qingcheng over to the Mazu temple.

She lit the joss sticks and prayed to Mazu to ask for a talisman. Mu Chenyan saw that Yuan Xuan’s Koenigsegg sports car had a talisman but its pouch was already slightly faded. She could exchange it with this new one when she brought it back.

“Miss, would you like to draw a stick for your fortune?” (TN: Refers to “Kau Cim” or Chinese fortune sticks.)

There was an elderly person with white hair and a white beard at the doorway. He resembled a transcendent being, unlike the usual fortune tellers at the street stalls who were merely sly businesspeople.

There was a smile hidden behind his eyes when he turned to Mu Chenyan and said, “You two young ladies aren’t locals, right?

“It seems like we’re fated to meet! Although both of you are charming and extraordinarily beautiful, your love lives seem rocky…”

Mu Chenyan and Su Qingcheng glanced at each other when they heard him mentioning their troubled love lives. Both of them initially did not trust this roadside fortune teller.

Asking for that talisman was simply a psychological form of reassurance. However, Mu Chenyan was suddenly moved when the fortune teller fixed his sharp gaze on her.

How rocky were their love lives going to be? Curiosity killed the cat!

“Old man, I’ll make an exception and ask you for a stick.”

Mu Chenyan kneeled down as she spoke. The old man looked at the young woman before him and smiled, saying, “Everything was fated when I manned this stall here. I won’t charge you since you’re only asking for one stick. You can just take this as a first-meeting present that I’m giving to you because you’re a foreign guest.”

Curiosity flooded Mu Chenyan’s heart when she heard the old man said that he did not want payment. She picked up the bucket and gently shook it before a bamboo stick fell out.

The old man picked it up and looked at it before a smile appeared on the corner of his mouth as he said, “Stick 19, medium-down!” (TN: Medium-down refers to the type of fortune that is predicted.)

…

Su Qingcheng could tell that Mu Chenyan’s expression had slightly changed after they returned from the Mazu temple. People would naturally act differently from usual when they had something on their mind.

“I’ve never believed in things like fortune sticks or divination!” Su Qingcheng consoled her, saying, “Moreover, you didn’t get the worst stick. The old man also said that you should just accept everything for the way it is instead of being conflicted. This will blow over and pass soon enough.”

Mu Chenyan smiled before she opened her palm and revealed the corresponding fortune based on her stick that read, ‘When the choppy waters force your boat to the shore, what can you do when the waves crash and the wind roars? Wait for the tides to turn and the gale to return as before, so that your boat may safely sail back once more.’

“A word of advice, Miss. Let go of the unhealthy thoughts in your mind and play your role as an obedient wife when you go home. You should also distance yourself from conflict because anything can be damaged in the process. If you continue to be entangled with the past, I’m afraid that…”

Although the old man did not continue, Mu Chenyan was already aware of this in her heart.

She had come here to investigate an old case…

…

The female ringleader of the child trafficking syndicate was very cunning because this woman hid her tracks and completely disappeared the moment the people from Luo Hai reached East Bridge.

Her whereabouts were unknown, causing the police to run around in circles for a week. Finally, on a weekend afternoon, she was spotted by the spies when she could not help but come out for a breather. Thus, several police officers managed to catch her red-handed effortlessly.

Su Qingcheng participated in the operation this time.

She seemed unusually agitated because she was unwilling to calm down although the woman was already badly beaten up by her. Mu Chenyan had witnessed Su Qingcheng’s strength before but she was still rather shocked when she saw her frenziedly kicking and punching the captured female ringleader of the child trafficking syndicate.

When several of their male colleagues from the branches of Luo Hai’s police departments saw that the heroin who was sent by the major crimes department was so tough, the attraction that they felt towards this beauty in their hearts after cohabiting with her for several days instantly vanished into thin air…

“Qingcheng, do you… Do you particularly hate child traffickers?”

The two women returned to their hotel and prepared to leave for City C. Mu Chenyan chatted with Su Qingcheng while they packed.

When she came back, Mu Chenyan had overheard a discussion between several of the officers from Luo Hai’s police station in the corridor.

“I’ve never seen a woman fight so violently. The ones from the special department are so different!”

“Yes, two of her front teeth were kicked out! I heard that the criminal still wants to sue Miss Su when she gets back. She probably feels that she was wronged because she had to suffer such a terrible beating despite already being sentenced to death!”

“You couldn’t fully vent your anger even if you gunned someone like this to death over a thousand times! How dare she f*cking feel wronged after she destroyed so many families?”

“I wouldn’t dare to lay a hand on her though. After all, we’re just office workers who are trying to support our families. Rumor has it that Miss Su is different because she was pushed to the major crimes department by Bureau Chief Lee’s son…”

…

Su Qingcheng bitterly laughed, “I really do hate them. You could even say that I despise them!”

Su Qingcheng pulled her suitcase over while she spoke. She messily balled up her clothes and stuffed them into her suitcase. Mu Chenyan could not help but furrow her eyebrows when she saw her clumsy actions.

She snatched Su Qingcheng’s suitcase over in one go before she lowered her voice and gently said, “Women are usually better at things like this. You should move aside and take a break.”

Su Qingcheng was also at a loss for words.

This was not the first time that someone had insulted her like this!

She gently twisted bits of her short hair while her pretty little face faintly blushed. The image of that man floated in her mind as she recalled him poking her chest and furiously saying, “Samson Su, you’re really manly!” (TN: Original pun compared Su Qingcheng’s name to indigo and it’s tough properties. However, that did not translate well in English so I changed it but tried to keep the essence of the pun.)