After the Divorce, I Went Back to My Hometown, Pregnant and Became the Sheriff - Chapter 7

He Xianxing seemed to have grown hungry from listening to the bureaucratic pleasantries. He kept his head down, focused entirely on eating, though he didn’t forget to urge Jiang Xu to join him. “Jiang Xu, don’t let the shabby look of this place fool you; the food is actually quite good. Try that fish.”

As he spoke, he reached out to rotate the glass turntable. He wanted to bring the fish dish closer but found the turntable held firmly in place. He Xianxing looked up to find Shen Yucheng pressing his hand down on the glass. The two locked eyes across the table.

Sensing that something was wrong, Cheng Zhen spoke up. “Oh, Xiao He, what are you doing?”

He Xianxing replied with a grin, “Chief Inspector, I want some fish.”

“Goodness, look at you, only thinking about your stomach. Have you toasted Team Leader Shen yet?”

“Haha, I forgot.” He Xianxing abruptly let go. The turntable spun under Shen Yucheng’s force, making a low rumbling sound. He Xianxing stood up and raised his glass. “Team Leader Shen, a toast to you.”

Shen Yucheng frowned slightly. He remained seated, his knuckles tapping lightly against his glass, showing no intention of drinking.

He Xianxing maintained his composure and took a sip. “Team Leader Shen, the fish here is excellent. I heard it was caught fresh from the river. River fish is a rarity around here, and it’s my favorite.”

“Is that so?” Shen Yucheng picked up his chopsticks and gingerly placed a small piece of fish in his bowl. Jiang Xu’s eyebrows twitched. Shen Yucheng looked up and added, “River fish has many bones. Inspector He, try not to let one get stuck in your throat.”

“Don’t trouble yourself, Team Leader Shen. I’m an expert at eating fish. A few bones won’t stop me.”

Cheng Zhen, oblivious to the subtext, turned the attention to Jiang Xu. “Xiao Jiang, don’t just sit there. You and Team Leader Shen are schoolmates. It’s a rare chance to work together. Come, stand up and have a drink!”

Under the pressure of the Chief’s rambling, Jiang Xu was forced to stand. He raised his glass slightly. “Team Leader Shen, welcome. We look forward to your guidance.”

Yet, Shen Yucheng remained in his original posture, not even lifting an eyelid.

The atmosphere grew awkward. Ye Yilang jumped in to smooth things over. “Team Leader Shen is thirty this year, right? Our Xiao Jiang is also from S-Police University. It’s possible you two even crossed paths back at the academy. Hahaha.”

Jiang Xu didn’t bite. He offered a formal smile to Shen Yucheng. “I toast to you with this cup.”

Just as he was about to drink his tea, someone nearby spoke up. “Jiang Xu, why is there tea in your cup?”

Others began to heckle him. “That’s quite disrespectful. How can you not have a drink at a welcome dinner for Team Leader Shen?” Someone pushed a full glass of liquor toward him without taking no for an answer.

“Come on, show some respect! Toast to our Team Leader Shen!”

“Exactly, one glass won’t hurt!”

The clamor of the drinking crowd rose. At that moment, Shen Yucheng, who had been silent, slowly looked up. His gaze, cold as frost, landed directly on Jiang Xu’s face. “He is allergic to alcohol. Tea is fine.”

The noisy private room fell deathly silent.

Cheng Zhen and Ye Yilang looked at each other, then back and forth between Shen Yucheng and Jiang Xu in shock. “Oh, well, Team Leader Shen… it seems you two… know each other?”

Shen Yucheng opened his lips to speak.

“We don’t.” The denial came from Jiang Xu. He took the glass offered by his colleague. “Team Leader Shen might have me confused with someone else. Come, I toast to you.”

Under the prying eyes of the crowd, he tilted his head and drained the glass of white liquor.

The high-proof alcohol burned his throat and traveled down to his stomach. Jiang Xu set the glass down. Without waiting for a response from Shen Yucheng, he sat back down with a neutral expression.

This was treated as a minor interlude. Shen Yucheng offered no further explanation, so no one truly believed a low-level officer in G-City would have any real connection to a high-ranking prosecutor from S-City. The senior leaders gathered around Shen Yucheng again, trying to fish for information regarding the General Administration’s true intentions.

He Xianxing poured a cup of tea and placed it by Jiang Xu’s hand. “How are you? Drink some water.”

“I’m fine, thank you.” Jiang Xu picked up the cup. Some tea splashed onto the table. He took a sip, trying to suppress the rising heat inside him.

He Xianxing looked at him with concern. Jiang Xu shook his head. “I’m going to the restroom.”

Jiang Xu rushed into a bathroom stall and reached into his throat to induce vomiting. However, he had eaten almost nothing all day. He could only dry heave, unable to get the alcohol out while his body felt increasingly hot.

I need to get back. He pushed open the stall door and splashed cold water on his face. When he opened his eyes, the mirror reflected Shen Yucheng’s silhouette.

Shen Yucheng stood with his arms crossed. His pale skin looked slightly sinister under the artificial light. His gray-blue eyes were lowered, fixed on Jiang Xu’s broad back where the muscles were tense and twitching slightly beneath the fabric.

“You clearly can’t drink. Why did you have to show off in front of them?” As he spoke, his cold gaze moved to Jiang Xu’s face. Their eyes met in the mirror.

“You clearly don’t eat fish. Why did you have to put a piece in your bowl?” Jiang Xu stood straight and coldly pulled out a paper towel to dry his hands.

“That’s different.”

“It has nothing to do with you, Team Leader Shen.”

“We are legally married.”

“We’ve been divorced for a long time, haven’t we?”

Shen Yucheng pressed his pale lips together. After a long silence, he said, “According to Article 1076 of the Civil Code, a divorce agreement signed unilaterally cannot enter the formal divorce process.”

Jiang Xu rubbed his throbbing brow, his voice thick with exhaustion. “If the Team Leader is here to demand a procedural divorce agreement, you might be disappointed today. I will cooperate another time. Right now, I’m busy. Please move.”

“You are misinterpreting my meaning.” Shen Yucheng looked at him and didn’t budge.

“Then what do you mean?”

“I simply want to know why you left without a word five years ago.”

Jiang Xu froze for a moment. “Does it matter?”

“I prefer to finish what I start.”

“Team Leader Shen, our relationship was never that strong.” Jiang Xu irritably loosened his tie. “From the day you went to Germany without saying a word, an end was the only logical conclusion.”

“I never intended to hide it from you.”

“Is that so?”

“Jiang Xu.”

“The chapter is closed.” Jiang Xu turned the doorknob, but his hand was shaking violently from the alcohol and his pheromones. He couldn’t grip it properly.

“You shouldn’t be buried here,” Shen Yucheng said from behind him. “I’m here to investigate the kidnapping case from five years ago.”

Jiang Xu stopped. His fingernails made a strange scratching sound against the handle. The urge to vomit surged again. He covered his mouth, leaning against the door to find his balance.

“Themis,” Shen Yucheng whispered. “Themis in the Rain and Mist. The painting used as ransom disappeared after the kidnapping. But reliable sources say it reappeared in G-City’s underground market two months ago.”

“Shut up.”

“Jiang Xu, you handled that case. Don’t tell me you?”

Jiang Xu turned around with bloodshot eyes, drenched in sweat. Shen Yucheng stopped speaking. He reached out toward Jiang Xu, his fingertips touching the burning forehead. “Your condition is not right.”

With a cool touch, his fingers gently brushed the sweat from Jiang Xu’s brow.

Shen Yucheng’s palms were always cold. Jiang Xu instinctively leaned into that once-familiar hand, but the source of the coolness was suddenly pulled away.

“I’ll call a doctor. Just endure it a little longer.”

Jiang Xu snapped back to reality. “No.” He finally turned the knob. “Don’t bother, Team Leader Shen.” He pushed the door open and hurried out.

But Shen Yucheng followed closely. “Jiang Xu.”

When Shen Yucheng grabbed his arm, Jiang Xu flinched violently and threw off his hand. “Don’t touch me!”

A flash of shock crossed Shen Yucheng’s flawless face.

“Leave me alone.”

Jiang Xu’s voice was hoarse. He stumbled away, fleeing down the dim corridor.

Support After the Divorce, I Went Back to My Hometown, Pregnant and Became the Sheriff