Chapter 15 – 015

“Aiya, Comrade Xiao Gu, how come you’re here this time even before we notified you!”

As soon as Gu Xian stepped into the police station lobby, the reception officer at the front desk greeted him warmly.

The overly familiar tone made it clear that Gu Xian’s visits here were as common as daily meals. Both Xie Yunjing and Old Master Xie, who had come in with him, immediately had a change in expression.

In front of Old Master Xie, Xie Yunjing and Gu Xian maintained a close distance. The former slightly lowered his head and whispered in the latter’s ear, “What kind of trouble have you been in to make the police recognize you so well?”

Gu Xian elbowed him. “Stop talking nonsense! I’m a City-level Three Good Citizen!”

Ignoring the skeptical gazes from the Xie family’s grandfather and grandson, he stepped forward and greeted the receptionist officer with familiarity. “Brother Sun, I’m here to file a report.”

“Another case?” The officer showed a surprised expression but didn’t doubt him. Without asking further, he stood up and said, “Alright, I’ll take you to file a statement.”

Xie Yunjing and Old Master Xie followed behind, their initial skepticism gradually turning into astonishment. Everyone in the police station seemed very familiar with Gu Xian, treating him with warmth and friendliness. Every greeting was an affectionate “Comrade Xiao Gu.”

No matter how you looked at it, this was definitely not the attitude reserved for a repeat offender who refused to mend their ways.

The key to this report was Ke Silin. Gu Xian and the others quickly finished their statements and were escorted to a lounge.

The officer attending to them was replaced by someone else. As it was already late, the new officer left a few packets of biscuits and bread, apologetically explaining that these were the only available snacks and apologizing for the inconvenience.

However, Xie Yunjing noticed something peculiar. The young female officer, who was equally kind and friendly, discreetly handed Gu Xian two pieces of high-end chocolate clearly from her personal stash before leaving. Her behavior was akin to a kindergarten teacher sneaking an extra treat to her favorite child.

Gu Xian made no attempt to hide it, even showing off a little as he immediately unwrapped a piece of chocolate and popped it into his mouth.

The rich aroma of the chocolate spread from his lips and teeth, subtly sweetening the air around them.

Xie Yunjing couldn’t help but ask, “What exactly did you do?”

To make everyone in the police station treat you as if you were their own son.

Gu Xian glanced at him, slightly raising his chin like a proud little peacock. “None of your business.”

When Ke Silin was brought over after finishing his statement, his eyes and nose were red, clearly indicating he had cried again during the process.

The one escorting him was the vice-captain of the Criminal Investigation Team. After explaining that they would immediately open a case and conduct a thorough investigation, he turned and took two items from a police officer who had just arrived.

“Here, Comrade Xiao Gu, I had one of the administrative staff rush an approval from the leadership just now. You can take the certificate back with you today,” the vice-captain said.

The items he handed to Gu Xian included not only the so-called “certificate” but also a rolled-up banner of commendation.

Gu Xian was clearly caught off guard by this. After a moment of hesitation, he accepted them and said, “Why the rush for something like this? You’re all so busy; it would’ve been fine to take your time.”

The vice-captain patted him affectionately on the shoulder, his bright white teeth practically gleaming. “Didn’t the leadership say we shouldn’t inconvenience comrades who help us? Since you’re here today, it’d be a shame to make you come back another time.”

“Haha,” Gu Xian laughed dryly, avoiding the inquisitive gazes of others. Trying to downplay the situation, he muttered, “It’s just a small matter, nothing worth making such a big deal about…”

“What did you just give him?” Old Master Xie suddenly spoke up.

The vice-captain froze for a moment before realizing the old man was addressing him. “Oh, I’m sorry, sir. May I ask how you’re related to Comrade Xiao Gu?”

“He’s my grandson-in-law.”

“Oh, grandson-in… grandson-in-law?!” The vice-captain looked at Gu Xian in shock. “Xiao Gu, you’re married? When did this happen? Didn’t you say before that you hadn’t even found a partner yet?”

“Well, I just got married not long ago…” Gu Xian mumbled, quickly pulling Old Master Xie in an attempt to change the subject. “Grandpa Xie, it’s already so late. Let’s head back and eat dinner, shall we?”

Old Master Xie wasn’t buying it. “Then show me what you’re holding.”

Gu Xian stiffened. “There’s nothing worth seeing…”

“Are you saying the police would give you something shameful?”

The vice-captain, clearly puzzled by Gu Xian’s reluctance, chimed in, “Exactly, Xiao Gu. What’s so secretive about a ‘Courageous Act’ commendation certificate?”

“‘Courageous Act’?” Old Master Xie and Xie Yunjing said in unison.

“That’s right, didn’t you know?” The vice-captain, who looked to be in his thirties at most, spoke in a tone that sounded as though he were proudly talking about his own son. “Xiao Gu often provides us with tips to help solve cases. Just recently, he gave us a lead that helped us take down a criminal gang selling illegal drugs online.”

Perhaps the curious and attentive expressions on the faces of the Xie family grandfather and grandson spurred the vice-captain to share more. His tone became even more like a proud parent. “Oh, I still remember when Xiao Gu first came to us with a tip, he was still in high school and wasn’t even as tall as he is now!”

The vice-captain gestured a height with his hand, sighing with some emotion. “It’s been seven or eight years now. Xiao Gu has really helped us a lot.”

“Give it here,” Old Master Xie suddenly extended his hand toward Gu Xian.

Though Gu Xian looked as if he desperately wished for a crack in the ground to hide his things, he had no choice at this point but to reluctantly hand over the certificate and the banner of commendation.

“Now this is more like it.” After carefully reading the contents of the certificate and banner twice, the wrinkles on Old Master Xie’s face seemed to ease considerably.

As he handed the items to Xie Yunjing, he scolded Gu Xian in a tone laced with satisfaction and pride. “Hiding it like that, I almost thought it was something shameful!”

Gu Xian rubbed his nose and slightly turned his head, clearly trying to avoid the topic.

The vice-captain, busy with work, exchanged a few more polite words with Old Master Xie, praised Gu Xian a little more, and then quickly said goodbye before leaving.

However, Gu Xian wasn’t nearly as polite with Xie Yunjing. Seizing the opportunity, he snatched the certificate and banner back.

“Just a few words, and you had to stare at it for so long. Are you brain-dead or something?”

Xie Yunjing didn’t get angry or even respond. He simply looked at Gu Xian with an unusually quiet gaze.

Gu Xian, as if stung, instantly avoided his gaze and turned to follow Old Master Xie, who was heading out, as if trying to escape.

“I thought you’d be bragging about something like this to everyone,” Xie Yunjing said just then.

Gu Xian paused for a moment and threw out a single sentence: “I don’t want to get targeted for revenge by those criminals,” before hastily walking away again.

Xie Yunjing followed behind him at a measured distance.

He knew why Gu Xian tried to hide it.

Seven or eight years ago, back in high school, that was when Gu Xian began letting himself fall apart, allowing himself to sink into the mud.

In high school, Gu Xian’s grades weren’t terrible. He even scored well enough on the college entrance exam to attend the same university as Xie Yunjing. But compared to Gu Xian’s earlier accomplishments, it was a significant step down.

After all, the reason Gu Xian and Xie Yunjing first became arch-enemies was that, during Xie Yunjing’s first week at the school after transferring in elementary school, he took Gu Xian’s spot as the top-ranked student in their grade. Their escalating rivalry and conflicts over the years were fueled by their mutual refusal to settle for second place.

But by the second year of high school, Gu Xian abruptly and unilaterally withdrew from the eight-year competition. He started skipping classes, getting into fights, smoking, drinking, and doing everything that would disappoint teachers and parents alike.

Even when his arch-enemy mocked him with his own progressively declining grades, Gu Xian would merely hold a half-burned cigarette in his mouth, lazily lift his eyes, and sneer, “I’ve handed first place to you, and you’re still not satisfied?”

Under the gaze of many, Gu Xian transformed from the once-envied “model child” to a hopeless mess that couldn’t be salvaged. Even his grandfather, due to Gu Xian’s change, eventually chose to distance himself completely from the Gu family.

And now, what had he and his grandfather just discovered?

Gu Xian hadn’t truly become hopeless, nor had he ever really intended to.

Xie Yunjing had stumbled upon a little secret Gu Xian didn’t want others to know, a secret that disrupted Gu Xian’s carefully laid plans to make everyone disappointed in him.

As for the excuse about “not wanting to get targeted for revenge by criminals,” that was pure nonsense. If he were truly afraid, how could he have continued acts of “courageous deeds” for seven or eight years?

No one understood Gu Xian better than Xie Yunjing. Before Gu Xian decided to make everyone disappointed in him, he had been a proud little peacock. Any small achievement would make him eager to show it off to everyone, eager to flaunt his newly grown, beautiful tail feathers.

When Gu Xian first received a commendation certificate for “courageous deeds,” his initial choice to keep a low profile might have stemmed from safety concerns. But there was no way that would stop him from bragging about his honor to his arch-enemy.

“Why are you staring at me like that?” Gu Xian snapped impatiently. “Feeling inferior now that I’m a courageous, model citizen while you’re just an ordinary, black-hearted businessman?”

The little peacock had tucked away the unease of having his secret touched upon and couldn’t wait to fan his feathers in front of Xie Yunjing.

After dropping Ke Silin off at home and seeing Old Master Xie off, the old man left in an unusually good mood. He was so pleased with his discoveries today that he even temporarily set aside his dissatisfaction with homosexuality, staying for a meal with them before departing.

After taking a shower, Gu Xian rolled onto the bed and started playing games, while Xie Yunjing still had to deal with the work delayed by the afternoon’s events.

By the time Xie Yunjing finally lay down, it was a while longer before Gu Xian put down his phone.

Silence spread through the darkness. Listening to Gu Xian’s steady breathing, Xie Yunjing couldn’t help but feel the urge to probe into his secret. “Gu… Gu Xian!”

The calm tone suddenly rose sharply. Xie Yunjing propped himself up, his hand under the blanket abruptly grabbing something.

“What are you doing!”

“What do you mean, what am I doing?” Gu Xian replied in a tone full of disdain, as if Xie Yunjing was overreacting. “I just touched your abs. Didn’t you touch my stomach this afternoon?”

Author’s Note:

Xiao Xie: My wife is the same species as me—makes perfect sense.