Chapter Eight: Mo Lan Is Demoted

A case had been solved so effortlessly by An Feng that the officers at the precinct now worshipped him even more than before. When Detective An Feng returned, even the chief came out personally to greet him.

A crowd had gathered outside the station, unable to get in. Passersby shot curious glances their way, but once they heard what had happened, even strangers had stars in their eyes. Some women gazed at An Feng as though they wished they could fling themselves at him, pink hearts practically floating in the air—a sight that was, frankly, headache-inducing.

It was quite a spectacle, the kind that drew envy from others. Meanwhile, the other protagonist, unwittingly at the center of attention, sensed nothing at all—unaware that danger was creeping closer, that someone had already begun to make their move.

“We are truly grateful for your help, An Feng. You’ve handled the situation brilliantly. You never disappoint—truly a master detective.” The chief shook his hand, uttering these words of courtesy.

“You’re too kind, Chief. It’s my honor to work with you all. I hope we can cooperate well in the future—and that you won’t disappoint me, either.” An Feng, as always, spoke coolly, indifferent to whether his words stung.

But to the others, his words only confirmed his extraordinary qualities. He was their beacon, the one they should strive to emulate.

Mo Lan, standing neglected to the side, felt awkward, especially as some people kept darting glances her way.

“Good day, Chief.” Mo Lan stepped forward respectfully to greet him, her courtesy conveying both her yearning for justice and her respect for her superior.

The chief’s expression was pleasant enough, but when his gaze fell on Mo Lan, he looked at her as one might a child—thinking her still too young and impetuous, unable yet to match An Feng. His doubts surfaced again. Appointing her as captain had been too hasty, he thought; he’d hoped to find someone who could handle things, but now he regretted the decision and felt Mo Lan had let him down.

He took a deep breath to steady himself, glancing around at the others. He didn’t want to show too much disappointment, nor did he wish to appear overly concerned.

Mo Lan wasn’t surprised by any of these reactions, but her colleagues felt indignant on her behalf, whispering among themselves in private.

“Mo Lan, from now on you’ll serve as An Feng’s deputy. Learn as much as you can from him.” The words fell, and silence swept over the room.

Mo Lan was surprised too. Until now, her rank had been on par with An Feng’s. Although he was famed as a master detective, this was a sudden demotion. But she reflected that her recent performance had indeed declined, and her private affairs had interfered with her work. Since she had been demoted, she would simply start over. It was, after all, a valuable opportunity to learn—nothing to be ashamed of. With this realization, she let go of her resentment.

“Yes, Chief.” Mo Lan maintained her gentle smile and politely distant manner.

Seeing her so unbothered, the chief didn’t know whether he’d overestimated her or whether he should feel disappointed. Whether it was because of the Mo family’s status or her own performance, he had always favored her.

All he could do was sigh inwardly at the whims of fate.

An Feng remained impassive, offering little acknowledgment to the others. Still, he admired her composure—a peer demoted for no clear reason, yet so magnanimous about it. To have reached her position after only three years on the force was no small feat. This setback could be a valuable trial.

And so the matter was settled. Mo Lan’s former subordinates could not follow her; all the staff here were An Feng’s men. Liu Fei was appointed to replace Mo Lan.

Liu Fei’s promotion had been recommended by the officers; in their eyes, his sense of responsibility surpassed Mo Lan’s, and he was better suited to lead.

Yet Liu Fei felt no joy, only disappointment—he was now even further from the one he cared for.

Mo Lan got into An Feng’s car. The two of them were going to share a meal and get to know each other better.

Neither spoke as they drove. Their usual followers had already left, as if intentionally giving them space. They arrived at an upscale restaurant.

Both were people of few words. They sat, ordered their preferred dishes, and paid no mind to each other’s attitude.

Even the waiter arched his brows, finding them odd—too distant to be a couple, yet anyone with an eye could see they were a perfect match, both in looks and temperament.

“Would you care for any drinks?” the waiter asked, noticing they hadn’t ordered any beverages or tea.

“Dragon Well tea,” An Feng replied, eyes already lowered to the files in his hands—a true workaholic. The documents likely detailed recent cases in the area which had not been passed to Mo Lan, so she had no knowledge of them.

The waiter left to prepare the tea. Mo Lan, idle, glanced around the restaurant, occasionally sneaking a look at the aloof man before her. Was this the first time she’d dined with another man?

When the food arrived, An Feng laid aside his work, handed the file to Mo Lan, and began eating in silence.

Mo Lan set the file aside for the moment and focused on her meal. It was best not to discuss work over dinner.

Their table manners were impeccable—almost stiflingly so. Their indifference was so pronounced that it seemed to freeze the air. Thankfully, the restaurant wasn’t crowded, or their presence might have intimidated others.

After the meal, Mo Lan began to read the file, but An Feng simply settled the bill and left. With no other choice, she gathered the documents and followed him to the car.

This man was a true workaholic, utterly indifferent to beauty—even with such a lovely woman before him, nothing could distract him from his cases. Though Mo Lan could only complain inwardly, she found his lack of gallantry rather appalling.

In the car, she had no choice but to read as they drove. It was uncomfortable, but there was nothing she could do. An Feng drove in silence, headphones on, as if listening to something else entirely.