Slow to mature after marriage

The testing center remained quiet on Friday afternoon.

Mu Siwan sat at the workbench, continuing to process the bone samples she hadn't finished that morning. The tweezers moved steadily in her hands, and under the light, the texture of the bones was clearly visible.

There was a knock on the door twice.

She didn't look up.

"Please come in."

The door opened, and it was my colleague delivering the materials.

"Sister Mu, there's an urgent document from the Municipal Bureau. They need to deliver it before the end of the workday."

Mu Siwan paused in her movements.

She looked up and glanced at the clock on the wall.

4:20.

"it is good."

Her colleague left the file folder on her desk and left.

Mu Siwan looked down at the file folder, and suddenly Xiao Qin's voice flashed through her mind—

"Master, if you're going to the Municipal Bureau to deliver some documents, could you help me see what that handsome guy looks like?"

She didn't pay any attention and continued processing the bones in her hands.

At five o'clock sharp, she finished her work, took off her gloves, picked up the file bag, and walked out.

-

The Municipal Criminal Investigation Division is located in the north of the city, a 20-minute drive away.

Mu Siwan parked her car in the yard and walked towards the office building carrying a file bag.

The evening breeze was a bit chilly, so she wrapped her coat tighter and walked quickly.

Once inside the lobby, she walked toward the front desk.

"Hello, I'm here to deliver materials."

The young woman at the front desk glanced at her ID and pointed to the elevator.

"Sixth floor, forensic room."

Mu Siwan nodded and walked towards the elevator.

The elevator doors opened, and a person stepped out.

She didn't pay attention, stepped aside to make way, and stepped into the elevator.

Just as we were passing each other, a cheerful voice drifted past from behind.

"Okay, see you tonight."

The voice was soft, with a touch of familiar casualness.

Familiar, yet strange.

Mu Siwan paused in her steps.

She turned around instinctively.

The elevator doors were slowly closing, and through the gap, one could only catch a glimpse of a tall figure in a police uniform, his profile outlined by the setting sun, walking towards the main entrance.

Mu Siwan stared at that figure for two seconds, momentarily lost in thought.

The elevator doors closed completely.

She looked away and pressed the button for the sixth floor.

-

We've reached the sixth floor.

Mu Siwan walked out and headed deeper into the corridor.

Around the corner, a familiar figure was leaning against the window making a phone call.

Meng Wan.

She was dressed in neat casual clothes, facing the corridor sideways, with a smile on her face and a soft tone that sounded like she was being coquettish.

"Brother—" she trailed off, "You absolutely have to be there on time tonight. I've already made a reservation. If you dare to be late, I'll put up a banner in front of the Municipal Bureau."

She smiled, her eyes crinkling, after hearing what was said on the other end of the phone.

"No, no, you just transferred here on your first day, I have to be the first to welcome you. Seven o'clock, not a second later."

She listened for a few more sentences, and her smile deepened.

"That's more like it. I'll wait for you then, don't stand me up."

Meng Wan hung up the phone and turned to leave when she saw Mu Siwan walk past her.

"Siwan?" She paused for a moment, then greeted her with a smile, "Here to deliver materials?"

Mu Siwan nodded.

Meng Wan waved her phone and walked towards the elevator.

"I won't keep you any longer. I have dinner appointments, so I'll be going now."

She brushed past me, her steps light and quick.

Mu Siwan continued walking deeper into the corridor.

After walking a few steps, I heard the sound of the elevator doors opening and closing behind me.

She didn't turn around.

The door to the forensic lab was open. She handed in the file folder, signed it, and turned to go downstairs.

-

When Mu Siwan opened the door, the living room lights were on.

Bo Yan leaned back on the sofa, holding a tablet in his hand. Hearing the noise, he looked up at her.

"You're back?"

"Um."

She changed her shoes, walked over, and sat down at the other end of the sofa. Grace slid down from the sofa armrest and rubbed against her ankle.

She bent down and stroked its head.

Bo Yan put down the tablet, leaned back, and slumped into a relaxed posture. Her cashmere sweater clung to her body with the movement, outlining her shoulders and chest.

"What problem are you facing?"

Mu Siwan looked up, equally puzzled.

"What?"

"It's written all over your face," he said. "Something's wrong."

Mu Siwan paused.

She recalled the figure she had seen in the city bureau corridor, and the profile outlined by the setting sun as the elevator doors closed.

But it's just a thought.

"It's nothing," she said. "I just went to the city bureau to submit some documents."

Bo Yan nodded and didn't continue the topic.

He tapped the armrest lightly with his fingers before finally speaking, "We might have to go back to the old house tomorrow."

Mu Siwan looked up in confusion.

"Grandpa and Grandma are back," Bo Yan explained patiently. "The two old folks invited us over for a get-together."

A hint of surprise flashed across Mu Siwan's eyes.

"You're back?"

"Um."

She paused, took out her phone, and opened her WeChat Moments.

The old lady posted a photo of Tuscany yesterday—an old castle, a sunset, and red wine—with the caption, "I don't understand the old man's romance."

How did we end up in China today?

Bo Yan saw her action and clicked his tongue softly.

"Don't flip it," he said. "I flew back overnight last night."

Mu Siwan looked up at him, even more puzzled.

Bo Yan leaned back on the sofa, his hand on his forehead, feeling a bit of a headache.

"They're afraid I'll mess things up."

The old lady's exact words were—

"Xiao Yan, I'm warning you, Si Wan is a really good girl. If you neglect her or drive her away, don't call me grandma anymore. For those three years you were away, she was all alone, and when we called, we were always very polite and never complained. Now that you're back, you better treat her well. If you don't know how, learn. If you can't learn, then pretend. But if you're going to pretend, at least make it convincing. Bring her back tomorrow so I can see. If I find you acting all indifferent, you'll see what I do to you."

These words were relayed verbatim from Bo Yan to Mu Siwan.

Mu Siwan listened, her eyes lowered without showing any emotion.

Then her lips twitched, and a hint of a smile flashed in her eyes.

It's very light.

Bo Yan saw it.

"What are you laughing at?"

"It's nothing," she said. "Grandma is lovely."

-

The next morning, the black Bentley pulled up in front of the door right on time.

Bo Yan wore a dark gray coat today, with a black turtleneck sweater underneath, which made him look tall and slender with a relaxed air.

He leaned against the car, a mint between his fingers, twirling it absentmindedly.

Mu Siwan walked out and her gaze lingered on him for a second.

"The shoulders are structured and the cut is flattering," she said earnestly. "This coat will showcase the symmetry of your shoulder blades to the fullest extent."

Bo Yan: "..."

"Also," she said, her gaze shifting downwards, "the waistline is just right, and the waist-to-hip ratio is around 0.85, which is within the visually comfortable range."

Having grown accustomed to the android's unique way of praising people, Bo Yan twitched his lips, looked up at her, and prepared to return the compliment.

Then he froze.

She's different today.

Her usual military green coat was replaced with an oatmeal-colored double-faced wool coat, knee-length, with a belt to accentuate her waist. Underneath, she wore a beige cashmere dress, the neckline revealing a sliver of her collarbone. Her hair wasn't tied into a low ponytail as usual, but instead hung loose, the ends slightly curled inwards, softening her features.

Her face was no longer bare—she had a light foundation and a thin layer of pink on her lips, like a newly opened apricot blossom.

She stood in the morning light, looking as if she had stepped out of a painting.