Chapter 146 On the Way

Chapter 146: Same Route

The two of them traded playful jabs, and Shen Qingye, listening in, couldn’t help but feel curious. "Did you know each other before?"

Yan Haifeng glanced at Yue Lingchuan and pursed his lips. "We worked on a case together before."

He looked at Shen Qingye with a half-smile. "Your captain here is a real handful. Back when we were handling that case, he gave me quite a headache."

Though he said this, his demeanor didn’t suggest any real dissatisfaction with Yue Lingchuan. Instead, it seemed more like friendly teasing between close friends.

Shen Qingye chuckled lightly. "So it seems Team Leader Yan is quite satisfied with Captain Yue’s investigative skills."

Yan Haifeng paused for a moment before bursting into laughter. "You’re sharp, kid..." Quite perceptive.

Shen Qingye’s eyes curved slightly, her smile bright and warm.

·

Captain Yang, Captain Ma, and the others, still preoccupied with the case, had been waiting in the office. At the sound of the door opening, they immediately crowded around. "Well? Did Liang Wenjun confess?"

Yan Haifeng scanned the room sternly, making everyone tense. Was he really still holding out at this stage?

Just as they were thinking this, Yan Haifeng suddenly grinned and said casually, "He did!"

There was a brief pause before the room erupted into cheers.

Wei Zhengyi patted his chest. "You scared the hell out of me! I thought that guy was that stubborn, and would keep resisting like this."

Zhou Qiming looked relieved. "The evidence was airtight. There was no point in him resisting any further."

Captain Yang also let out a sigh of relief, rubbing his stiff lower back. "It’s finally done. These past two days nearly killed me."

Captain Ma nodded. "No kidding. From getting called out in the early hours yesterday till now—nearly two days straight—I haven’t had a single moment to close my eyes."

It wasn’t just the older ones who were exhausted; even younger members like Wei Zhengyi and Luo Kaiyang were struggling.

Luo Kaiyang glanced at Shen Qingye beside him, still in a daze. Ever since Xiao Shen had joined, it’d been forever since they’d had to pull all-nighters to crack a case. Returning to the work pace of half a year ago was a tough adjustment.

And it wasn’t just them—even Yan Haifeng, who had been running on fumes for two days, was worn out. Seeing everyone’s state, he clapped his hands and announced, "Thanks to all of you, this case has been successfully closed! The paperwork can hold. Go home and get some shut-eye. Recharge, and we’ll tackle the rest tomorrow!"

His words were met with unanimous approval. The office erupted in cheers before everyone quickly dispersed.

Wei Zhengyi had originally planned to catch a ride back with Yue Lingchuan, but the latter flipped him the keys instead. "Take the car back with Lao Zhou and Kaiyang."

Wei Zhengyi blinked. "What about you, boss? Aren’t you heading back?"

Yue Lingchuan waved a hand. "I’ve got some things to wrap up here. I’ll get back on my own later."

For a moment, guilt tugged at him, the keys suddenly feeling heavy in his palm. "Then you should keep the keys. We can manage on our own."

It felt wrong—the boss still had work to do while they took his car.

Yue Lingchuan gave him a look and waved him off. "Get going."

He paused. "I’ve got a ride lined up."

Wei Zhengyi suddenly remembered that their captain was on good terms with Team Leader Yan. Maybe he’d get a lift from him?

With that thought, he stopped hesitating, grinned, stuffed the keys away, and took off.

Yan Haifeng did indeed need to return to the provincial department to report his work, but he clearly had no intention of taking Yue Lingchuan along. Yue Lingchuan, on the other hand, looked unfazed and didn’t mention it at all. By the time Shen Qingye had finished getting ready and walked out holding her car keys, she saw Yue Lingchuan leaning against the wall outside the first floor, his head tilted as he looked at her.

The man’s tone was casual: "Let me take you home."

Shen Qingye paused: "Where’s your car?"

Yue Lingchuan jerked his chin, gesturing outside: "I let Zhengyi and the others take it."

Shen Qingye slowly tilted her head: "You let them take it?"

She looked at him, her eyes slightly curved, a knowing smile tugging at her lips, clearly suspecting he had ulterior motives.

Seeing this, Yue Lingchuan’s face showed a flash of resignation, but he didn’t hide his intentions. Instead, he looked down at her, his voice deep and unhurried: "I wanted to drive you."

He smiled: "Will Comrade Xiao Shen give me the chance?"

The man stood a head taller than her, yet at this moment, he seemed almost meek, his dark eyes hidden beneath thick, long lashes, deep and inscrutable. Shen Qingye couldn’t help but feel her pulse quicken as she looked at him.

She blinked, somewhat flustered, and averted her gaze with a light cough. The keys spun once around her slender fingers before she tossed them to Yue Lingchuan with a slight motion: "Then I’ll trouble Captain Yue."

Yue Lingchuan caught the keys, a glimmer of amusement in his eyes: "Wouldn’t have it any other way."

Shen Qingye couldn’t help but press her lips together, her ears growing warm involuntarily.

·

Yue Lingchuan drove smoothly and steadily. Shen Qingye had been wondering how to interact with him in such an enclosed space, but as the car moved along, her eyelids gradually grew heavy. Eventually, her head lolled to the side, and she fell asleep against the seat.

The girl’s breathing was even, her brows carrying obvious exhaustion. Yue Lingchuan glanced at her, feeling both helpless and a twinge of worry. He slowed the car further, making the ride even steadier.

When the car stopped at a traffic light, Shen Qingye started awake, her eyes snapping open. Before she could fully register her surroundings, a warm hand gave her a light pat, and a low voice sounded beside her ear: "We’re not there yet. Go back to sleep."

Still barely awake, Shen Qingye wanted to say something, but the drowsiness was too overpowering, and she soon sank back into deep slumber.

The journey home, which usually took just over ten minutes, stretched to half an hour under Yue Lingchuan’s careful driving.

He slowly brought the car to a stop and turned his head to see the girl in the passenger seat, her cheeks flushed, sleeping soundly.

His fingers twitched slightly, an urge stirring in him, but considering their professional relationship, he restrained himself. He simply watched her, his gaze softening, his own weariness gradually easing.

He could have sat there forever, but a car wasn’t the best place to sleep. Worried she might be uncomfortable, Yue Lingchuan hesitated for a moment longer before finally reaching out to gently pat her shoulder, his voice warm: "Qingye, we’re home."

Shen Qingye slowly opened her eyes, her bleary eyes looking at Yue Lingchuan. She blinked, slowly coming to: "Captain Yue..."

Her voice was muffled, still not fully awake. Seeing her so unlike her usual composed self, Yue Lingchuan felt his heart twinge again, his voice growing even gentler: "We’re already home. Get inside and get some proper sleep—sleeping in the car isn’t comfortable."

Shen Qingye rubbed her face, finally waking up properly. She glanced at the villa beside them, then back at Yue Lingchuan, nodding slowly: "Oh."

She straightened up, opening her mouth as if to invite him in. But given the time and circumstances, it didn’t seem appropriate.

Yue Lingchuan seemed to guess her thoughts and smiled: "Alright, hurry inside."

He added: "I’ll take the car for now. Tomorrow, on my way to work, I’ll come get you."

Shen Qingye’s fingers twitched slightly. They lived in completely opposite directions—how could it possibly be "on the way"?

"Okay," she said.