Chapter 138: Don’t Worry, I Wasn’t Out Fooling Around

The doorbell rang.

The contraceptive pills Wen Shuang had ordered after waking up had arrived.

She opened the door, brought in the package, and took out the contraceptive pills. She snapped a photo and sent it to Ji Shen.

A while later, the man replied: "I'm sorry, Shuang-shuang. This won't happen again in the future!"

Seeing the message, Wen Shuang felt a sense of disappointment. This was not the answer she truly wanted. She wanted him to say that since the pills were bad for her health, she should stop taking them and have the baby instead. It seemed that Ji Shen had not made any long-term plans for them. However, every time Grandma Ji held Wen Shuang’s hand and spoke to her, she subconsciously made her feel as though they could have a future together.

At the police station.

Midway through his work, Ji Shen was called into Chief Wang’s office.

"Ah Shen, the year-end personnel adjustments are starting soon. How is the progress on the cases you're currently handling?" Chief Wang unscrewed his thermos, steam rising from it.

"Things are going smoothly, though a few aspects are quite tricky. But they can be resolved with some extra effort," Ji Shen replied.

Chief Wang looked him up and down, a look of satisfaction in his eyes. "You've handled every case well this year. Your superiors have praised your capabilities, your decisiveness in handling matters, and the way you face difficulties head-on."

"Chief Wang, please, don't over-praise me. I know exactly how I've performed in the second half of the year," Ji Shen said with a self-deprecating chuckle.

At the mention of this, Chief Wang paused.

"Indeed, the suspension incident in the latter half of the year caused quite a stir. Mostly because the Xia family wouldn't let it go and reported you several times. You did commit a disciplinary error, after all." Chief Wang rubbed his temples. "However, the organization still thinks highly of you. Ah Shen, keep up the good work! We intend to promote you."

Ji Shen expressed that he was flattered.

Chief Wang patted him on the shoulder. "In truth, several leaders believe you are the most suitable candidate. But you must be careful regarding matters of principle; as a police officer, you cannot afford any slip-ups there!"

Ji Shen understood what that meant. The Chief was warning him to avoid any salacious rumors or scandals. Recently, the news of his past relationship with Jiang Ning had been spreading like wildfire online. While it had brought him visibility, it was having a negative impact on him as a public servant.

After leaving the office, Ji Shen called Jiang Ning.

Seeing the familiar name flashing on her screen, Jiang Ning was overjoyed! She knew it—Ji Shen hadn't truly let her go!

She deliberately waited a moment before answering, her voice soft and gentle. "Brother Shen, what is it?"

"Jiang Ning, you've seen the gossip on Weibo regarding our past, haven't you?" Ji Shen asked in a deep voice.

"I have. Seeing those stories makes me uncontrollably think of our past... Brother Shen, I want to see you."

Actually, Jiang Ning was the one who had intentionally leaked the news to the reporters. She wanted Wen Shuang to see them and retreat in the face of difficulty, and she wanted Ji Shen to be moved by the nostalgia.

Ji Shen’s voice turned cold. "Since you've seen it, deal with those false reports immediately! Jiang Ning, you are a public figure now. Your fans probably won't be happy about your romantic history."

"I don't care if they accept it or not. This relationship and those memories mean everything to me!"

Ji Shen had no interest in dwelling on the past. "If you don't take them down, I will find a way to do it myself."

He hung up the phone.

Jiang Ning was left in a daze. She had thought the man called because he missed her, only to realize he was simply trying to distance himself from her. Could it be because of Wen Shuang? Jiang Ning was not about to give up.

That afternoon, Ji Shen received orders to depart immediately for Lucheng to apprehend a criminal. He sent a message to Wen Shuang as soon as he received the news, telling her he would be away for about a week. He even sent her the assembly order from the group chat to prove his whereabouts.

Ji Shen: [Look closely, I’m not out fooling around.]

Wen Shuang was still rehearsing her dance drama. She chuckled: [Alright, I believe you. Take care on your trip!]

Ji Shen: [Yes, Officer Wen!]

The frequency of the man's business trips was unpredictable—sometimes he was free, sometimes busy. When he was free, he worked nine-to-five and got home before her rehearsals ended. When he was busy, she wouldn't see him for ten days or half a month, save for the occasional call or text. Wen Shuang hadn't been used to it at first, but after enough times, she had become indifferent.

Recently, the dance troupe had split the role of "Zhaojun Goes Beyond the Frontier" between her and Yao Qianqian. Because of the previous audience vote, Wen Shuang’s popularity was high, and the troupe felt she could still carry the lead.

Yao Qianqian wasn't upset. She just said, "Oh, I'm just worried that since your shows are selling out, the audience won't appreciate mine when it's my turn!"

Wen Shuang smiled and said that wouldn't happen. She wasn't just being humble; Yao Qianqian had improved rapidly over the past six months, and she was every bit as good as Xia Anran and He Luo—perhaps even better—she had just been overlooked before. Now, the troupe’s leadership thought highly of her as well.

After the rehearsal, Yao Qianqian invited the female dancers to go out for barbecue. Dancers, who were always watching their weight, usually detested such food.

Yao Qianqian waved her hand dismissively. "What are you afraid of? We train so hard every day; even if we eat barbecue, the calories will be burned off by our exercise!"

The others still hesitated.

Yao Qianqian said boldly, "I'm paying tonight! Sisters, are you coming or not?"

"We're coming! If you're paying, how could we not?" The dancers immediately signed up.

Yao Qianqian asked, "Shuang-shuang, you should come too!"

Whether it was before or after her return, Wen Shuang rarely participated in the troupe's social gatherings. She smiled and declined, saying she wanted to go home and get some rest.

Yao Qianqian sighed. "Fine, I know you're rushing home to have a romantic evening with Officer Ji!"

Everyone laughed.

Wen Shuang went home alone. The apartment felt empty. She suddenly wished she had a cat or a dog to keep her company so she wouldn't feel so lonely when she returned.

She drew a bath, stripped off her clothes, and soaked in the tub for half an hour to wash away the day's fatigue. Then, she exfoliated, applied body lotion, and pampered her face with various skincare products. Regardless of whether the man was there or not, a woman had to take care of herself.

It was nearly eleven o'clock by the time she finished. Wen Shuang poured a glass of red wine and sipped it slowly. She found herself missing him. Usually, at this time, if he saw her like this, he would have already pounced on her.

She initiated a video call to Ji Shen, wanting to know what he was doing.

Five seconds later, Ji Shen hung up.

"Brother Shen, what a coincidence, you're staying at this hotel too."

Ji Shen had just checked in when he saw Jiang Ning and her team. He frowned. "Why are you here?"

Jiang Ning offered a gentle smile. "I happen to have an event in Lucheng these few days. What a coincidence, Brother Shen. Which floor are you on?"