Free Web NovelChapter 209: Tricked again.
At the end of the shift, Liwu dragged her feet as she left the precinct. Physically, she was not worn out, but mentally it was like she had a dozen heavy blankets sitting on her head. The interviews, paper work, going through hours of footage to find out where Han disappeared from--it had been a long day. She had to rely on the services of her driver to get home. And when she arrived, her mind was already rehearsing the bliss of sleep.
But when she walked through the door, there, waiting with a smile too bright, was her husband Weijun.
"My dear, I am so glad you are back in time. Change into a new outfit," he said cheerfully, "We’re going out."
She blinked. "Out?" At this hour? I have been on my feet almost all day. This case is still waiting to be solved. I don’t have the enthusiasm to be your partner of a date tonight."
He grinned, leaning against the wall with casual charm that had won him the support of system hosts that believed in IH, and the residents of this city. "I know how taxing your job is and this city thanks you for your service, but I promise that you will be relaxed. You won’t have to be on your feet. We are going for a movie. Just us. You need it. I need it. The marriage alliance inspectors will be here next week, we have to show them how great we are getting along."
Liwu opened her mouth to refuse, but then caught it: the faint metallic tang in the air. Blood. One time could be ignored but more than that...it was suspicious. What the hell went on in city hall? Were they operating some kind of hospital or slaughterhouse in there? Even if she asked, he would just deny it with his charming smile. She narrowed her eyes, but he only smiled wider, as though daring her to ask. Instead, she exhaled slowly and said, "Fine. I will get changed."
Thirty minutes later, she had bathed and changed, and within another thirty minutes, they arrived at the theater near a large mall in the city. The theater was not crowded, but neither was it private. Liwu noticed immediately. "Why not rent a private one?" she asked, suspicion threading her voice.
Weijun chuckled. "Because appearances matter in politics. Like us. A normal mayoral couple, out in the city, living like the ordinary residents. It sends a message that we belong to the people. A private theater says were elitist and unapproachable."
She arched a brow. "I am police, I am trained to be approachable. If you have to think about it, then you are calculating."
He winked. "I am. It will grow on you."
Weijun paid for movie snacks. waving at families that were excited to see them, as he predicted. The movie he chose was a historical epic on an alien world, full of battles, betrayals, and heroes. Liwu found herself only partially watching, as the rest of her was studying her husband. He laughed at the comedic relief, whispered to her during the action, and clapped loudly whenever the hero survived death.
"It smells..." she muttered. It all smelled suspicious and performative. They had watched movies in private, at home, and he was not this enthusiastic.
Halfway through it, the answer arrived. During the intermission, the dim lights came alive temporarily and Liwu saw two familiar faces. The Minister of Energy Kuo Ming, and his family. They just so happened to be sitting right next to them!
Minister Kuo was a broad shouldered man, famous for how his bulky figure filled out suits. He had a booming laugh, and he was a darling of the press. He was on vacation in the city, with his wife.
Weijun was quick to introduce himself and Liwu. Minister Kuo was quick with a laugh and handshake. His nature was approachable, but it was his wife who caught Liwu’s attention. Shy at first, she warmed quickly, her words tumbling out in a rush once she realized Liwu was not as hostile as the media sometimes made her out to be.
"I have always admired you," she said, cheeks flushed. "Accepting to marry your family’s enemy! I would never have done it. You are so brave. You turned an arranged marriage into something sweet. I follow the updates on your story whenever they pop up. How did you do it? How do you deal with being the wife of a man who performs for the cameras? My Ming is always smiling and laughing. He is kind, but politics makes him different. Colder. Crueler than he used to be." fɾēewebnσveℓ.com
Liwu smiled faintly, choosing her words carefully. "It wasn’t easy in the beginning. At first, it felt like a cage and I couldn’t wait to get out. I thought we would be living like strangers. But we both set boundaries and did some talking. We compromised, built some trust, brick by brick and now here we are. I won’t lie, we are still stumbling.
As for the political side of things, we agreed to separate our work from our home life. As long as he is not committing crimes, I support him. I think the coldness and cruelty you speak of is a side effect of the job. King people don’t survive in the political world if they don’t protect themselves.
Look at me, I am suspicious of everyone because of my job. Because I have seen what kind of damage blind trust can do. We are all struggling. But I believe in sweetness and persistence."
The woman laughed. "Sweetness and persistence. That gives me a new way of looking at things." She put her hand on her chin. "If I were a criminal, what would I be? Indulge me?"
Liwu laughed lightly. "A shopaholic. In my books, that is a crime."
The two women laughed.
Weijun seized the moment, to invite the minister home for dinner. "You have to come before you leave. My wife will entertain you with her stories of chasing thieves and slipping on banana peels while you tell us all about how you raised such wonderful children. I heard your son invented a machine that takes toxic air and turns it into water. He is not even a system host and he is achieving great things at ten years old!"
Minister Kuo puffed his chest. His laughter boomed louder than ever, as the intermission came to an end. They traded seats, the men sitting together and the women alike. Liwu could hear her husband lie through his breath about how big he was on family. It was well known that Minister Kuo was a big family man, very devoted.
Her husband was mirroring it, aligning himself with the minister’s values. Calculated, deliberate. Politics.
Her husband knew it. She knew it. The minister knew it. Only his wife was sweetly negligent.
The movie ended after 45 minutes, applause rippled through the modest crowd. The two couples made their way out, exchanged contacts and went their separate ways.
Liwu waited until they were out of the cool night air and inside the warm car before twisting Weijun’s ear playfully, like a boy caught in mischief.
"You knew they would be there in advance didn’t you?" She barked.
Weijun winced. "Hurts, hurts, my dear take it easy. Do you want to disfigure your husband? Think about it, would you love to have a one eared man for a husband?"
She increased the force. "Right now, I am seriously considering it. A date for two you said. How was that two? It was a public theater and our neighbors were politicians. You tricked me again." She let go reluctantly, wishing she could twist it again for a few minutes.
He leaned closer, rubbing his head against her like a cat. His tone cutely contrite. "I tricked you. I knew you would say no, so I pushed a little. I just needed a way in with him. Forgive me?"
Liwu’s lips twitched despite herself. "You are insufferable."
He clamped his arms around her, voice dropping. "Then let me make it up to you. I will give you something your team needs, for your latest case." freewebnσvel.cøm
From the front seat, he pulled a folded layout, sliding it into her hands. Liwu unfolded it, her eyes widening. It was the fortress plan for Chen Guowei’s house. The team was waiting for a search warrant to search the premises lawfully. It was detailed, precise, including secret rooms and passages they had not known about.
The plan for the fortress in the archives of city hall was very different from this one.
"This..." she whispered. "Where did you get this?"
He smiled mysteriously and stuck his tongue out, tilting his head from side to side like a kid, "I have my ways. Consider it my apology."
Her heart softened despite her suspicion. This insufferable man could cute when he wanted to be, and the gesture was undeniably useful.
In a more serious voice, he added, "I advise you to search between 2 and 4 a.m. Any later than that, the reporter will disappear forever."
