However, after giving the responsibility to Xu Jun, Xu Xu naturally eliminated this matter out of her head.
The deputy director of the criminal investigation team was Liu Zhixun. His office was on the top floor. Because of that, only Ji Bai had his own office while everyone else worked in a big office altogether. Xu Xu and Yao Meng’s desk were placed next to the door facing each other.
On the second day, everything was calm; there wasn’t any special case. Xu Xu received Ji Bai’s email as soon as she turned on her computer asking her if she can turn in her report today, his first assignment to her.
According to a normal person, it was quite harsh to expect the report to be completed in a day. However, Xu Xu really liked these harsh condition. She calculated the work and replied to him that it would be finished around 11 PM. After that, Ji Bai replied: “Good.”
They both seemed to regard overtime as a matter of course.
Xu Xu was itching to get started on the documents while Yao Meng was sitting facing her with nothing to do. After sitting for a while, she stood up to walk up to Xu Xu’s* table: “Brother Zhao Huan, arrange some work for me to do.”
Yao Meng asked: “What case are you busy with?”
“Report on some past cases.” As Zhao Han turned the report in his hands: “Home robbery at City N, a case about an injury caused by a knife left on the bench in a park at TA; also a case about an accidental wound at a car factory…I have to go to a meeting.”
Yao Meng smiled at Xu Xu* and returned to her desk continued to read some documents.
In the afternoon, Xu Xu who had been working continuously for several hours felt quite tired. She stood up to pour a cup of coffee only to realize the empty room. The door to the meeting room was closed. Perhaps the team was having a meeting.
Because they haven’t officially participated in the case, they weren’t attending to this kind of meeting yet. Xu Xu stood in the empty room for a while only to find the door to Ji Bai’s office suddenly open to show a busy figure.
The office was very simple and organized. The shelf was organized clearly, the desk was cleaned, and had a wooden chair. At a glance, everything seems to be composed of straight lines, only white, black and gray. Neat and tidy. But after a close observation, one can see small details out of the place, like on one layer of the bookshelf, there was a model of a black Ferrari. A black jacket was placed on the chair; a painting hung on the wall, the detail was exaggerating and the colors are dark. The painting was like of a person, but perhaps a ghost, like a mountain but perhaps nothing.
“It seems like Ji Bai is a very strict person, but he also has a distinct personality.” Yao Meng was standing up straight next to her desk, holding a wet towel, talking and smiling with Xu Xu.
Xu Xu nodded, her judgment was the same.
Yao Meng sighed: “Our classmates envy that we can join the investigation team of the city. I wonder if Ji Bai would want to train anyone? Brother Zhao told me that Ji Bai rarely ever accepted to train any college student.”
Xu Xu realized one thing; Ji Bai still hasn’t told anyone that he contacted her.
During their time in college, Xu Xu and Yao Meng weren’t close, but Yao Meng was very outgoing. She was still one of the few people that spoke a few words to Xu Xu. Xu Xu didn’t have any special feelings for Yao Meng. She just felt that Yao Meng was a very well rounded girl in terms of her abilities.
Xu Xu could tell that Yao Meng really wanted to follow Ji Bai. This was to be expected because she was also the same. So Xu Xu honestly revealed: “Yesterday, Ji Bai called me and arranged some work to me. I think he will train me.”
Yao Meng turned still; there was a trace of disappointment in her eyes. But she quickly exposed a helpless smile: “Alright, I know I cannot win against you.”
Yao Meng being straightforward about her attitude made Xu Xu smiled.Yao Meng also smiled, while throwing the wet towel to Xu Xu: “I wanted to work hard so Ji Bai will notice me. Now then, each will serve their own master, I’m not doing it anymore!”
Xu Xu nodded, received the towel starting to wipe carefully. Yao Meng smiled looking from behind Xu Xu, while bending her back: “Xu Xu, let’s work hard. Even though we don’t have the same teacher, let’s talk to each other often.”
“Alright,” Xu Xu nodded.
After work ended, Xu Xu was still sitting at her computer. Yao Meng didn’t help the others who were working overtime order food like before and left work on time.
Yao Meng’s parents were retired workers from the shoe factory and lived in the south factory old dormitory. When she got home, Yao Meng had no appetite. She went into her room and locked it, ignoring her parents’ words of concern.
After laying in bed for a while, she took out her phone and dialed the number that she memorized very well.
“Hello, Ji Bai.” Yao Meng was a bit nervous and strived to maintain a sweet voice: “ I’m the intern, Yao Meng. I’m sorry to bother you. Today while trying to gather information, there was some information that I couldn’t quite understand. I’ve heard from Brother Zhao that you were specialized in this kind of thing. I was wondering if you could help me?”
One day that made her happy was that Ji Bai nice attitude. After listening to her question, he patiently explained it to her while also complimenting her for trying hard. That made her gain confidence to opened her mouth to asked: “Ji Bai, I know you rarely ever lead new intern, but I really want to have the opportunity to follow you. Could you give me an opportunity to do so?”
At the other end of the line, Ji Bai laughed: “About that, the team has already been decided. Officer Wu will lead you. He has a lot of colorful experiences in the field. When I first joined the team, I’ve learned a lot from him.”
Yao Meng smiled: “That’s great.”