Chapter 149 Chen Kaiyuan

Chapter 149: Chen Kaiyuan

The awards ceremony was scheduled for Friday morning. Shen Qingye and her team arrived the night before to rest and reached the conference hall early the next morning.

Given the formal occasion, everyone ditched their usual casual clothes and donned sharp-looking dress uniforms.

This was Shen Qingye’s first time wearing this uniform. Standing in front of the hotel mirror that morning, she couldn’t help feeling momentarily disoriented.

In her memory, there had once been a tall, broad-shouldered figure who always wore a police uniform, with a booming laugh, and loved to carry her on his shoulders as they ran around wildly.

Whenever that happened, her mother would chide them affectionately, only to later straighten out the wrinkles on his collar with care, watching him leave with a fond gaze.

Shen Qingye blinked away the slight sting in her eyes and looked at her reflection. After a moment, she adjusted her cap, snapped to attention, straightened her posture, and lifted her chin, her eyes sharp and determined. A bright, confident smile spread across her face!

This was a memorable milestone in her police career—but it wouldn’t be the only one.

Dad, you're watching me, right?

·

A group of tall, uniformed police officers appearing in the hotel unsurprisingly drew plenty of stares, with the murmur of whispers following them.

Being professionals, they naturally paid no attention to the stares. Once gathered, they piled into the car without a sideways glance.

Shen Qingye’s gaze briefly lingered on Yue Lingchuan before she calmly withdrew it, her expression unchanged.

In contrast, Wei Zhengyi and the others had no filter, casting envious and resentful looks at Yue Lingchuan. “How come the boss looks so dashing and heroic in the same uniform, while the rest of us just look shabby?” Wei Zhengyi said with clear envy.

Zhou Qiming gave him a look. “You really don’t know why?”

Wei Zhengyi let out an exaggerated sigh, touching his face. “I’m not bad-looking either, so why does no one notice me?”

Luo Kaiyang scoffed. “Why do you keep setting yourself up like this? Every time the boss is around, who even looks at us?”

Wei Zhengyi grumbled, “This world only cares about looks.”

Yue Lingchuan chuckled. “Hey, looks are given by our parents. What’s the point of obsessing over them?”

Jiang Cheng, who never spoke up on such topics, glanced at him and remarked coolly, “Xiao Shen probably has the most say in this matter.”

“What do you think, Xiao Shen?”

“What do I think?” Shen Qingye was surprised the topic had turned to her, but meeting Jiang Cheng’s calm gaze and catching Yue Lingchuan’s reflection in the rearview mirror, a mischievous glint came into her eyes. She fought back a grin.

“I think… Captain Yue is kinda easy on the eyes.”

The car went quiet for a beat before everyone burst into laughter.

“Kinda easy on the eyes… Hahaha, only Xiao Shen would dare say that!”

Wei Zhengyi slapped his knee, roaring with laughter. “That's our Xiao Shen! She's got guts!”

No one had ever imagined the phrase “kinda easy on the eyes” being associated with Yue Lingchuan.

Shen Qingye met Yue Lingchuan’s exasperated look in the rearview mirror and raised an eyebrow, her posture relaxed. “Am I wrong?”

What could Yue Lingchuan say? He could only let out a soft laugh and concede, “No, you’re not wrong.”

He had never paid much attention to his appearance before. When work got busy, it wasn’t unusual for him to go ten or fifteen days without returning home—he'd end up looking pretty rough.

But now, with someone he cares about, Yue Lingchuan naturally started paying more attention to his appearance. Before leaving home this morning, he had even spent quite a while primping in front of the mirror.

Fortunately, Shen Qingye was into that kind of thing.

Yue Lingchuan couldn’t help but touch his face, thinking to himself that his brother had landed his sister-in-law largely thanks to his looks. Compared to his brother, he wasn’t lacking in that department either, so Shen Qingye should… like it, right?

Zhou Qiming, who had long sensed the dynamic between Yue Lingchuan and Shen Qingye, noticed the atmosphere between them and glanced at the two still fooling around. He shook his head helplessly.

With smarts like this, how did they even make it into the criminal police team?

·

The 6·21 major case was of a particularly heinous nature, involving heavy casualties and high-profile victims. As soon as the case broke, it prompted immediate scrutiny from higher authorities.

Now that the unit had successfully solved the case in just two days, it naturally garnered widespread praise. The awards ceremony was attended by Deng Yi, the head of the Criminal Investigation Division, Yan Haifeng, the deputy head, and even Qin Hongshan, the vice governor and director of the Provincial Public Security Department.

Qin Hongshan was a hands-on leader who had risen step by step within the law enforcement system. Stern and taciturn, he disliked empty pomp. After the solemn national anthem, he cut to the chase, summarizing the case and detailing the investigation process of the 6·21 major case. While praising the unit for their rigorous and efficient work, he also conducted an in-depth analysis and discussion of Liang Wenjun’s heinous act of premeditated murder. He called for Pingjiang to further strengthen public safety management, using this case as a warning and She Manqing’s organization as a starting point to expand efforts in cracking down on illegal gambling activities both within the city and across regions, aiming to boost public safety and well-being.

Afterward, in recognition of the unit’s outstanding performance in the 6·21 case, they were awarded the title of "elite unit" and received a unit citation (third-class).

One by one, the team members stepped onto the stage, where Qin Hongshan personally presented them with certificates and words of encouragement.

When it was Shen Qingye’s turn, she noticed the stern leader’s gaze seemed to soften slightly as he looked at her.

"Fine work, officer!" He shook her hand firmly. Shen Qingye stood at attention and saluted solemnly.

Qin Hongshan managed a faint smile. "Stay sharp."

Straightening her back, Shen Qingye responded crisply, "I’ll keep giving it my all!"

Nearby, Gao Zhengming watched with a gentle expression, clearly pleased.

·

With the awards ceremony concluded, the meeting came to an end. As the attendees filed out, a few senior leaders remained behind to listen to Yan Haifeng recount the details of the investigation.

"That Yue Lingchuan really is a quick thinker. He always comes up with unique ideas, and somehow, they always nail it."

"This time was no exception. While others were still stuck on the suspect’s identity as a man, he was the first to suggest the possibility of it being a woman."

"After all these years handling cases, his experience has only grown richer."

"Speaking of which, that young woman Shen also did well this time. Calm and composed, bold yet meticulous in her work."

"I’ve heard of her. Wasn’t she instrumental in Huang Wenqiang’s case last time?"

"And Jiang Chengtao’s case, as well as the recent Ankou case—she was specifically commended for those too."

"Impressive. Courageous, resourceful, and skilled—she’s among the best of the new generation."

"It’s not just those two. Wei Zhengyi and Luo Kaiyang, those young guys, are also quite capable. They may seem careless at first glance, but they’re actually very sharp-eyed. In just a few years on the team, they’ve already achieved notable results. They’re worth nurturing."

"Good, good. The force is in good hands."

The group mused approvingly. Qin Hongshan listened with his usual stern expression, though his sideways look at Gao Zhengming betrayed his curiosity. He leaned in and asked quietly, "This Xiao Shen… she’s your girl, isn’t she?"

Meeting his shrewd gaze, Gao Zhengming gave a slight nod. "Yes."

Qin Hongshan nodded approvingly. "She’s solid."

"No wonder you think so highly of her."

"She worked hard for it," Gao Zhengming replied with a smile. "Takes after her father."

Hearing this, Qin Hongshan couldn't help but recall that case.

Though he wasn’t directly involved, he knew roughly how far-reaching and serious it was.

Back then, multiple provinces and cities worked together, with joint military and police operations—the nation had mobilized immense resources, yet in the end...

He sighed to himself and repeated, "She's a good kid."

...

After leaving the conference room, their mission was pretty much over.

It was still early, and with nothing urgent awaiting them back at the station, the team had a rare half-day off.

Wei Zhengyi and Luo Kaiyang were eager to take advantage of the rare chance to explore the provincial capital, even trying to rope Yue Lingchuan into it. But Yue Lingchuan, just as eager to make the most of it, had no intention of spending it with two bachelors. He promptly refused, tossed them the keys, and told them to go enjoy themselves.

Instead, he followed Shen Qingye, hoping to ask her out while he had the chance.

Zhou Qiming and Jiang Cheng, aware of his intentions, politely bowed out to go explore, leaving the two alone.

As they reached the lobby on the first floor, Yue Lingchuan kept glancing at her, trying to figure out what to say, when suddenly an uncertain voice called from behind:

"Shen Qingye?"

Turning around, Shen Qingye was surprised but happy to see the person approaching:

"Chen Kaiyuan?"

Yue Lingchuan glanced back to find a polished, polite, and good-looking young man in police uniform striding toward them, his eyes bright as he looked at Shen Qingye. "I knew it was you! I can’t believe it!"

Shen Qingye laughed. "It’s only been a year—I can’t have changed much."

Chen Kaiyuan scratched his head, his face turning red—whether out of embarrassment or something else, Yue Lingchuan couldn’t tell. But his own eyes narrowed slightly as he observed.

Chen Kaiyuan looked her over, puzzled by her formal police attire. "What are you doing here? Work?"

What kind of work would require such formal dress?

Shen Qingye replied, "I’m here for an awards ceremony."

"Awards ceremony?" Chen Kaiyuan was taken aback, especially when he recalled the only such event held today. His expression grew even more astonished.

"You..."

Her tone was light. "I’m a detective now."

"A detective?" Chen Kaiyuan murmured, momentarily stunned—though not entirely surprised. "Right, right... You’ve always been studying for it..."

He gazed at her, his expression complex. "You finally got what you wanted."

Shen Qingye smiled warmly. "Thanks, Monitor."

Back when they were in the same class, he’d already felt like he wasn’t good enough for her. Now, with them in different places and different branches of law enforcement... the gap between them would only widen.

Chen Kaiyuan forced a smile. "No need to thank me—you did all the work. I’m happy for you."

"By the way, it's rare to meet like this. Want to grab a bite together?"

His hopeful eyes stayed locked on Shen Qingye. Seeing this, Yue Lingchuan immediately understood what he was after. He clenched his jaw slightly, his gaze shifting to Shen Qingye with an unconscious tension.

Shen Qingye chuckled lightly. "Meeting an old classmate, we should totally catch up over food. But I already have plans today, so I’m afraid I can’t make it."

Hearing this, Chen Kaiyuan’s eyes dimmed slightly, but he still refused to give up. "What's going on that's so important you can't even spare time for a meal?"

He asked with concern, "Tell me, maybe I can help?"

Shen Qingye paused, then sighed helplessly. "I’d love to, but I already made plans with my boyfriend. If I cancel last minute, he'd be pissed."

Chen Kaiyuan went visibly pale at her words. "You... have a boyfriend?"

Acting oblivious to Yue Lingchuan’s burning gaze beside her, Shen Qingye smiled softly. "Yes."