Chapter 146: Meeting Up, They're All Old Acquaintances

Xie Wantang always knew that as long as she hadn't seen the corpse, Lu Chen might still be alive.

Even if the chance was minuscule, even if many of them said that without a body, it was possible that a large sea creature had devoured him.

To Xie Wantang, Lu Chen was quite capable.

This person could succeed at anything he did.

Just the fact that he could turn himself into another person and let those around him show no flaw means his ability had to be enough to pull it off.

So Xie Wantang greatly admired those undercover cops, because they were clearly good, honest and kind people, yet they had to overcome many difficulties and pretend to be utterly wicked.

This required not only psychological endurance but also various other abilities.

Moreover, they couldn't reveal even a hint of a flaw, lest the villains notice and cost them their lives.

That afternoon, Lu Chen landed in Haishi; the first thing he did upon arrival was gather all the Special Task Force members together for a meal and a meeting.

He acted with great swiftness.

Including Xie Wantang, this external hire, everyone had to be in place.

Shen Ye wanted to speak up for Xie Wantang, but Lu Chen wouldn't listen, ordering that anyone who didn't show up would be replaced outright.

His attitude was decisive, making Shen Ye furious to the point of exasperation.

When Xie Wantang heard Shen Ye complain about Lu Chen's big temper and unpleasant attitude, she didn't mind at all.

It sounded a bit unlike the Lu Chen they had known before.

But their identities were different now.

Now Lu Chen was Shen Ye's superior.

In other words, Lu Chen was now the head of the Special Task Force; since the force had been established, its members had to obey him as their team leader.

That was the rule.

Unless Shen Ye didn't want to investigate this Human Face Case, didn't want to resolve that old regret from years ago, along with all those mysteries.

Those matters were Shen Ye's inner knots.

You should know that Shen Ye was a crack investigator; almost any case he took could be solved, and he hardly ever had unsolved cases.

Yet strangely, with the Human Face Case, the outcome was that after the An sen Case ended, the superiors announced its closure and directly replaced the Human Face Case with the An sen Case.

Shen Ye immediately raised an objection, but no one listened to him.

Those who were willing to hear him had no say or decision-making power.

Since the higher-ups said not to investigate, he could only not investigate.

Of course, someone would say, "You won't investigate it yourself?"

Investigating a case also requires many resources; with no support from above, what could he possibly do investigating alone?

Should he quit his job?

Now the Human Face Case has been reopened—first Yan Xiu, then Lu Chen's return—making the mysteries surrounding them even greater.

At this point, Shen Ye is even less likely to quit the Special Task Force.

They all understand that to solve those old mysteries, they must remain in the Special Task Force.

"Senior Martial Brother, I'll go take part, it's fine."

Xie Wantang actually still wanted to meet Lu Chen quite a bit.

"Mm, I've put you out, making you sacrifice parent‑child time with your kids." Shen Ye said.

Lu Chen had already issued a death order—if you didn't go, you'd be replaced; he didn't want to leave the Special Task Force, and Xie Wantang felt the same.

Not wanting to leave, naturally they had to obey.

Xie Wantang had already said in the family group that she wouldn't be eating dinner at home.

Qin Lao Da: 【Received, I'll leave work early today to pick up Dongdong and Xiao Chengzi.】

Qin Lao San: 【Big brother, I can also leave work early; I'll go with you to pick them up.】

Qin Lao Da: 【Okay, then let's meet at the kindergarten gate.】

Qin Lao San: 【Happy JPG, thanks big brother, see you later.】

Qin Lao Er: 【@Tang Bao, I have a surgery today, sorry, Tang Bao】

Xie Wantang: 【It's fine, the three of them—big brother and second brother have time.】

Qin Siyuan: ……

Ha, this family is practically falling apart.

Later, looking at her phone, she found she couldn't even get a slot to pick up the kids.

Fortunately, there's still a little princess named Qian Qian at home.

Qin Siyuan instantly sprang to life: 【Tang Bao, when are you heading out? I'll come back early to keep Qian Qian company.】

Xie Wantang: 【It's fine, Dad—if you come home after your normal shift, you'll be in time.】

Qin Siyuan: 【Mm, I'll leave work an hour early today; ask the little princess what she wants to eat, and Grandpa will buy it for her.】

Xie Wantang: 【Okay.】

The three brothers: ……

Ginger is still spicy when old—this old man is the most scheming.

Meanwhile, Xie Ningmeng, at noon break, saw this father‑son quartet again putting on a magic‑lantern show in the group, and she was utterly exasperated.

After arranging the children, Xie Wantang went back to her room to pick out clothes.

She looked for a while, but nothing seemed suitable.

She opened her phone, entered the app, intending to buy something new, then suddenly wondered if she was just too nervous.

Wasn't it just about meeting Lu Chen?

Did she really need to make such a fuss?

Moreover, they were all members of the project team eating together, not just her and Lu Chen eating alone.

Finally, Xie Wantang casually picked out a set of everyday clothes, loose and comfortable.

The dinner was held at a private kitchen restaurant, and the name of that private kitchen restaurant was Old Cat.

Xie Wantang felt very familiar, and then she remembered.

When she and Lu Chen, who was then impersonating Lu Yanshen, proposed divorce, that night Xia Meng deliberately posted a photo that made her misunderstand on her social media circle, and Lu Chen was actually at the Old Cat Private Kitchen.

But, isn't this private kitchen restaurant in Sijiucheng?

She didn't know when a branch opened in Haishi.

If it weren't for today's gathering, Xie Wantang really wouldn't have known.

Xie Wantang drove her car in and saw an acquaintance—the boss, Old Cat.

Tonight's guests at the private kitchen restaurant were their project team, and Old Cat and his two assistants personally greeted them.

Moreover, this alley is quite long, with sidewalks on both sides, and the passage only allows one vehicle to pass, so fortunately it's a one-way street, allowing entry and exit from the other side.

Otherwise, passing another vehicle would be really troublesome.

Old Cat saw Xie Wantang and came out to greet her happily, saying, "MrsLu, we meet again."

Upon hearing 'MrsLu,' Xie Wantang mistakenly thought that time was still stuck a few years ago.

Actually, no—time flies, and her son and daughter are about to turn three.

"Old Cat, you got it wrong—I'm now divorced and single."

"Oh, okay, Miss Xie." Old Cat is also a clever fellow; when Xie Wantang corrected him, he immediately changed.

"When did you open a private kitchen restaurant in Haishi?" Xie Wantang asked.

"It depends on the organization; wherever the organization needs it, the restaurant opens there—previously in Sijiucheng, and now in Haishi."

"Hmm."

Xie Wantang understood; Old Cat was also a member of Lu Chen's organization.

What exactly does Lu Chen do, and why do so many people follow him?

The two were chatting when another car pulled up; Pei Xiao got out of the driver's seat and Su Nianchu got out of the passenger seat—both old acquaintances.

"Miss Xie, long time no see." The two approached openly and greeted Xie Wantang.

They all knew her and weren't pretending not to.

Xie Wantang guessed that when Lu Chen appeared later, he probably wouldn't pretend not to know her.

He probably wouldn't pretend to have amnesia, especially the kind where he remembers everyone but not her.

After all, that tactic is really low.

"Long time no see." Xie Wantang also responded openly.

She didn't press the two of them, wondering what Lu Chen had been up to all these years of his disappearance.

She wanted to keep that question, and after seeing Lu Chen, ask him directly in person would be better.

Just then, a jeep drove in; Lu Chen got out of the passenger seat, and behind him were several unfamiliar faces. After getting out of the car, Lu Chen went straight to the corner and continued making phone calls.

They completely ignored Xie Wantang.