Chapter 80: International Collaboration

The celebratory dinner was remarkably peaceful. The restaurant was spotless, the ingredients were fresh, and aside from being a bit pricey, there was nothing to complain about.

That evening, when Mo Fei arrived home, he received a message from Wu Miao.

Wu Miao: Brother Mo, did you pass the audition?

Wu Miao: I passed on my end. You probably did too, but our boss says I have to read the script before deciding whether to join the cast.

Wu Miao: She says she’s already played the male lead for Director Wang once, and doing it again doesn’t mean much.

Wu Miao: If you decide to join, I’ll join too!

Mo Fei couldn’t help but twitch his lips as he read. He was elated just to receive the acceptance notice, while the other side was still hesitating and weighing options.

Truly, comparisons can be deadly.

He flopped onto the sofa and replied: It’s settled. Unless something unexpected happens, I’ll be joining the cast.

Wu Miao: Then I’m in too!

Wu Miao: I’m going to argue with the boss right now!

Wu Miao: Wait for me!

Mo Fei felt a mix of emotions. Was he some middle schooler who couldn’t even go to the bathroom alone? Childish! Yet he couldn’t help feeling happy.

“If you grin any wider, your face will split,” came a look of disdain from One-Line, who was licking his paws on the coffee table, showing no hint of restraint toward Mo Fei.

“I’ll show you that not only will my face stay intact, but I can also eat cats!” Mo Fei sprang up and launched a not-so-intense chase after One-Line.

Downstairs, Grandma Zhang was sleeping soundly with her eye mask on.

...

The next day at the police station, passing officers couldn’t hide their surprise upon seeing someone in the office.

“Xiao Xu, you’re back so soon? You were hurt so badly, why not rest a few more days?” a female officer asked, placing a bottle of milk on his desk with concern.

“We’re short-handed here. Even if I just do some paperwork, it helps,” Officer Xu said with a smile, looking up. “Thank you, Sister Wang.”

His desk was already piled high with snacks and drinks; all his colleagues had come by to greet him.

The female officer sighed as she looked at him. “Don’t overwork yourself, young man. Your mentor used to—”

“I ended up with a useless apprentice like you because I never took care of myself,” Officer Tang interrupted, striding in and helping himself to a piece of bread from Officer Xu’s desk. As he chewed, he grumbled, “He’s just a bit injured, not retired. You’re treating him like a shrine. Someone who doesn’t know better might think he’s achieved sainthood like Lord Guan.”

The female officer rolled her eyes and gave Officer Xu a playful glance. “I’m heading back. Bye.”

Officer Tang waved her off. “Take care.”

He pointed to a yogurt. “Hand me that and put the straw in.”

Officer Xu not only poked in the straw but handed him the drink. “Didn’t eat breakfast again?”

“Wrong question,” Officer Tang shook his head. “I haven’t eaten since lunch yesterday.”

“You pulled another all-nighter?” Officer Xu looked at his mentor as if he were an alien. “Do you even remember how old you are? Aren’t you afraid of dropping dead?”

Officer Tang stuck two fingers in his ears. “Alright, get on with it.”

Officer Xu was almost exasperated by his mentor’s stubbornness. After a moment’s silence, he turned to his computer. “Send me your tasks for today. Go home and rest.”

Officer Tang eyed him. “How many stitches in your hand?”

“Don’t lie. I’ll strip you right here to check if I have to.”

“…Thirteen.”

Officer Tang sipped his yogurt. “And your leg?”

“Twenty-five.” Officer Xu turned back with a helpless look. “Why are you asking?”

“With those two numbers, one more and you’d have lost an arm.” Officer Tang drained the yogurt, crushed the carton, and tossed it into the trash. “That woman’s dead.”

Officer Xu froze. “How? Wasn’t she rushed to the ambulance?”

“You can’t control everything,” Officer Tang shook his head. “She was already an accomplice facing prison time, and had a chunk of her face bitten off. In the middle of the night, while people were resting, she opened the bathroom window and jumped. Died on the spot.”

Officer Xu pressed his lips together and lowered his head.

“Young man, don’t start thinking that if you’d moved faster and stopped her at the door, she wouldn’t have been bitten or wouldn’t have killed herself,” Officer Tang said, pulling up a chair. “Doesn’t she know why her creditor died? Wasn’t she the one who opened the kennel door?”

“If you really want to stay in this line of work, reflect on yourself less and blame others more.”

Officer Tang waved a hand in front of his face. “Hey, do you know what I was up to yesterday?”

Officer Xu shook his head, puzzled.

“That Aunt Mei is trouble if not caught. The higher-ups have decided to start international cooperation. We’re one of the starting points, and they’ll pick a few people from our department to join.”

Officer Tang watched Officer Xu’s eyes light up, then poured cold water on him: “You’re patched up like a rag doll, and you’re still hoping to take international cases? Wake up.”

“Then why mention it?” Officer Xu’s face fell and he turned back to his work.

“Hey!” Officer Tang waved. “This isn’t something that can be set up overnight. Recover well—maybe when the time comes, you’ll be ready to go.”

“Really?” Officer Xu eyed him with suspicion.

“Would I joke about something like that?” Officer Tang unwrapped a piece of candy and popped it in his mouth. “You’ve always had the best record here, and your practical performance is solid too. If you heal up, who else but you?”

A smile finally appeared on Officer Xu’s face.

“So after our group discussion—” Sister Wang appeared again out of nowhere, holding up a leave slip. “We’re collectively approving your leaves. Both of you, go home together.”

Officer Xu glanced at Officer Tang in confusion—Was this your doing?

Officer Tang looked even more confused—What’s going on?

“Go on, go on,” Sister Wang waved them away like shooing flies. “You think this place can’t run without the two of you?”

“Old Tang, while you’re at it, take your precious apprentice with you.”

“Hurry up!”

By the time they’d been hustled into the car and were being hurried out, Officer Tang was still in a daze behind the wheel.

“Does this count as driving while fatigued?”

Officer Xu, who’d been practically lifted into the passenger seat, looked at him and offered, “Want me to drive?”

Seeing the security guard urging them to leave, Officer Tang resigned himself and started the car. “Where am I not unwelcome? Is it really necessary to chase me out like I’m a plague?”

Officer Xu nodded in agreement, then shook his head. “If you actually keeled over in the station, then you really would be a plague.”

“Pah, don’t jinx it,” Officer Tang glared. “Let’s get you home first, you almost-martyred fool. Does your mother know you’ve got over forty stitches?”

“…Keep it a secret! Otherwise, I’ll tell Mrs. Tang you pulled another all-nighter without eating!”

“Fine, we’ll go down together and see who breaks first.”

“Bring it on!”

“Hey, you little rascal, wait till you’re better—we’ll see who wins!”