The Theft of the Eternal Clock, Part 3

*Sigh* Miss Bai, please don't make jokes like that again," said Detective Gu, as he watched with a serious expression while the current heiress of the Bai family pouted, puffing out her cheeks.

“Well, but you have to admit I tried, Brother Chen,” said Bai Ninbing, addressing Detective Gu by his childhood nickname, since they were actually childhood friends.

“Heh, it's been a long time. Ever since someone called me that...” Detective Gu Tienchen said with a smile as he looked at Bai Ninbing; the two of them had been friends back when they both still lived in Daxia City.

“You know, now that we no longer live in Daxia, that doesn't mean we can't keep the promise we made back then,” said Bai Ninbing as she stepped closer, walking toward Detective Gu, then wrapped her arms around him while whispering those final words into Gu Tienchen's ear with a seductive tone in her voice.

“Oh, interesting, but how do I know you're not actually Phantom Lady pretending to be the real Bai Ninbing?” Detective Gu whispered in her ear to the woman who was hugging him, oblivious to the stares of the people around them—including some members of the Bai family and police officers hiding among the crowd.

Clack

“Oh, I see. So you don't mind the fact that I gave Maria permission to post that photo of the two of us—the day you dressed up as a Kabuki and I as a geisha—to amuse and entertain your mother when her illness took a turn for the worse.” — Bai Ninbing concluded, giving his answer while smiling brazenly, ignoring the sound of the gun’s trigger clicking, and then feeling the man’s revolver lower as he stopped aiming at his heart.

“Tch, she's still a very clever and cunning vixen, Ninbing,” -- Detective Gu complained, knowing that only a very few people knew about that shameful and humiliating memory from his childhood; in particular, only he and Bai Ninbing knew of the existence of that photo, which she occasionally used to **** him into helping her with certain things or doing some work she assigned him.

“True, but I am and always will be your cute, cunning little vixen,” Bai Ninbing remarked with a smile as she pulled away from Gu Tienchen, breaking their embrace, and then looked him in the eyes.

“I see. And about your proposal... I'm sorry, Ninbing, but I already have someone else in my heart,” Detective Gu said, apologizing as he glanced discreetly in Lu Quianwei's direction. Whats When Bai Ninbing noticed this, she realized that the female police officer had won his heart.

“I understand,” said. “Then I hope you'll be very happy with her. And that you'll also be able to win over Mistress Lady.” -- That was what Bai Ninbing said, before leaving under the watchful gaze of Detective Gu Tienchen, who could only sigh to himself as he noticed a single tear falling from the eyes of the young heiress of the family.

It pained her, but it was necessary to lie to her childhood friend and confirm that she was the real Bai Ninbing. Detective Gu knew full well that Mistress Lady was a master of disguise and a true professional who had even managed to fool the most advanced high-tech security systems.

*(Well, it seems my plan didn't work out after all. This detective is very interesting, and you can tell he’s very cautious)* — thought Mistress Lady, as she discreetly noticed that one of the Bai Clan guards, accompanied by a police officer disguised as a waiter, was following her after Detective Gu signaled the two of them to tail her.