Chapter 118: Chapter 55: Winning 2nd-Class Merit Again, Yang Mei Invited to Watch a Concert (Seeking Subscriptions and Monthly Votes)
Wednesday, one in the afternoon, Zhao Donglai notified everyone in the criminal police team to gather in the meeting room for a meeting.
Office of Group Three
"Leader, why did the captain suddenly call a meeting? Have you heard any inside scoop?" Wang Yong inquired.
Luo Fei shook his head, but he guessed in his heart that the meeting was mostly about his and Yang Mei’s official confirmation.
As it was about to be one o’clock, Luo Fei walked with the people from Group Three toward the meeting room.
Just as they reached the stairs, Yang Su and the members of Group One also came out of their office.
Naturally, Luo Fei and Yang Su walked ahead, while Sun Jun, Wang Lei, and others naturally fell behind.
"How is it? Are you getting used to being in Group Three?" Yang Su asked.
"It’s alright," Luo Fei replied with a smile.
Talking, the two walked into the office. Apart from the absence of the K9 unit, the technical group and Group Two were already there. Zhao Donglai stood at the podium smiling.
Luo Fei and Yang Su sat in the row behind the technical team.
"Shouldn’t Luo Fei treat us to a meal?" As soon as Luo Fei sat down, Wu Xiaoyue, sitting in front with Yang Mei, suddenly turned around and asked with a suggestive tone.
"Treat us?" Luo Fei didn’t understand what Wu Xiaoyue meant.
"Xiaoyue, did you take a shine to my Luo Fei?" Yang Su joked.
"Come on, Leader Yang, don’t talk nonsense, okay? Our Luo Fei already has someone," Wu Xiaoyue retorted.
Yang Mei, sitting next to Wu Xiaoyue, immediately blushed and pinched Wu Xiaoyue’s thigh hard, making her grimace in pain.
"Is it true?" Yang Su looked at Luo Fei and asked, full of gossip.
Luo Fei looked expressionlessly at Zhao Donglai on the podium, pretending not to hear.
"Why be shy, young man? Just admit you have a girlfriend openly. It’s not the age for hiding such things."
"The meeting has started," Luo Fei said seriously.
At this time, everyone from the criminal police team had arrived in the meeting room.
Zhao Donglai first glanced around, then began to speak: "The purpose of today’s meeting is mainly to announce two things. The first thing, given the diligent and responsible performance during their acting period, Group Three’s acting leader Luo Fei and the technical room’s acting leader Yang Mei have been confirmed. After discussion within the bureau, we’re officially appointing Comrade Luo Fei as the leader of Ningjiang County’s Criminal Police Team’s Third Sub-team, and Comrade Yang Mei as leader of Ningjiang County’s Criminal Police Team’s Technical Team."
As soon as Zhao Donglai finished speaking, applause erupted first from Group Three and the technical room, followed by others. Strictly speaking, both Luo Fei and Yang Mei were newcomers; some of the older members in the team were dissatisfied with the new appointments, feeling that they had seniority over Luo Fei and Yang Mei.
Especially regarding Yang Mei. Luo Fei was somewhat tolerable because of his outstanding track record, which made it hard for anyone—whether they liked or disliked him—to deny his abilities. Luo Fei’s achievements were enough to silence everyone.
But Yang Mei? Yang Mei was excellent, but not so excellent that everyone was convinced. Many people who knew Yang Mei’s background believed she got the position due to Zhao Donglai, leading to much private discussion.
Once the applause settled, Zhao Donglai continued: "The second issue is about the Ma Kai serial murder case and Cheng Wei’s murder of his father Cheng Zhiyou. The bureau will hold a summary commendation meeting for these two cases. It will be on Friday at 2 p.m., and our criminal police team is expected to attend. Luo Fei, the bureau wants you to give a presentation to share your case-solving experience and insights with everyone. Any issues with that?"
Zhao Donglai smiled as he looked at Luo Fei.
"I guarantee the task will be completed," Luo Fei replied.
"Take some time in the next few days to think it over and write it carefully and thoroughly. Once it’s done, bring it to me first so I can check it for you." Zhao Donglai continued as he looked at Luo Fei, who sensed a kinder attitude from Zhao compared to before.
"Understood."
After delivering these messages, Zhao Donglai dismissed the meeting.
"Luo Fei, Yang Su, Wang Lei, Yang Mei, you four stay behind," Zhao Donglai said, leaving Luo Fei and the others behind.
Once everyone else left, Zhao Donglai explained, "I kept you four because, for the upcoming commendation meeting, all of you will go on stage to receive your awards. Wang Lei and Yang Mei are receiving individual commendations; Yang Su is getting a third-class merit award; Luo Fei is receiving a second-class merit award."
Of the four, Wang Lei was the most excited upon hearing Zhao Donglai’s words. Luo Fei, Yang Su, and Yang Mei had previously been commended, so while they were happy, they weren’t as excited as they were the first time.
But Wang Lei was different; he was extremely excited as he had never expected to receive an individual commendation. He didn’t even anticipate it, so when he was suddenly informed of the commendation, he was overwhelmed with excitement, which was evident from his flushed expression.
Of course, Wang Lei’s individual commendation was more of a consolation, similar to when Luo Fei solved Jiang Sanqiang’s case, and the Songxi Town police station received a collective third-class merit. After all, even if there’s no merit, there’s hard work involved.
"Captain Zhao, did Sun Jun’s individual commendation application not go through?" Luo Fei asked, aware that after solving Cheng Wei’s case, Zhao Donglai had applied for an individual commendation for Sun Jun.
"No, the higher-ups felt our team was receiving too many commendations this time. Let’s wait for the next occasion; it shouldn’t be a problem for Sun Jun to receive one then." Zhao Donglai shook his head.
Leaving the meeting room
"Luo Fei, you’re really enviable, getting a second-class merit this time," Yang Su said jealously.
"Leader Yang, aren’t you also getting a third-class merit? We envy you too." Yang Mei spoke up from behind before Luo Fei could answer.
"Envy what? This third-class merit was basically handed to me. Now that Luo Fei is no longer with Group One, I doubt I’ll have a chance for another easy third-class merit." Yang Su said, half-joking, half-seriously.
"Don’t worry, Team Leader, you’ve still got me, haven’t you? I’ll make sure you keep earning merits while lying down," Wang Lei said cheekily from the side.
"Oh, cut it out!" Yang Su immediately showed a disdainful look.
"Team Leader, that’s not fair. People say thirty years east of the river, thirty years west, and that you should look at someone with new eyes after they’ve been away for three days. I’m still young, who can say what the future holds, right, Team Leader Luo?" Wang Lei said solemnly.
"That’s right," Luo Fei nodded with a smile.
"The premise of ’thirty years east, thirty years west’ is hard work and that the clumsy bird flies early, you know?" Yang Su retorted.
"Team Leader, seriously? Do I look like a clumsy bird to you? I thought only Xia Zheng and Zhong Jun were the clumsy birds in your mind, this is so heartbreaking."
"You’re overthinking it. You three are all the same to me."
"Haha."
"Haha."
Luo Fei and Yang Mei both laughed.
When Yang Su and Wang Lei walked into Office Group One, Yang Mei and Luo Fei walked side by side toward the office.
"Wang Lei and Team Leader Yang are really hilarious," Yang Mei said with a laugh.
"The atmosphere in Group One is indeed nice, I had a good time when I was in Group One before," Luo Fei replied.
"Yeah, by the way, what are you planning to do after work today?" Yang Mei asked.
"I usually just go straight home after work," Luo Fei said.
"You don’t hang out with classmates or friends?" Yang Mei asked curiously.
Luo Fei shook his head and replied, "Nope, I was quite introverted before, so I didn’t have any close friends."
"Really? You were introverted before?" Yang Mei’s beautiful eyes looked at Luo Fei as if she had heard something amusing.
"Yes."
"How introverted?"
"So introverted that I had no friends."
"Haha, that really is quite introverted," Yang Mei laughed, and soon they arrived at the office.
"Um... Sun Ling is going to have a concert at the music square tonight. If you have time, let’s go see her concert," after hesitating for a moment, Yang Mei looked at Luo Fei with a determined look and asked.
"Sure, after work, I’ll wait for you. We can grab something to eat first, and then go to the concert," Luo Fei suggested, feeling extremely excited at that moment.
"Okay, I’ll head back to the office then," Yang Mei nodded, then quickly turned and went back to the technical office, as if inviting Luo Fei to the concert had used up all her courage.
Just returned to the technical office
At the entrance of the technical office, Wu Xiaoyue was poking her head out sneakily looking down the corridor.
As Yang Mei approached
"So, Yang Mei, did you tell Luo Fei?" Wu Xiaoyue suddenly asked, startling the somewhat dazed Yang Mei.
"Wu Xiaoyue, what are you doing, that scared me!" Yang Mei glared at Wu Xiaoyue in dissatisfaction.
"Don’t change the subject, did you tell him or not, Yang Mei?" Wu Xiaoyue continued to ask, staring at Yang Mei’s face.
"I told him, and he agreed," Yang Mei answered.
"Yes, keep it up, Yang Mei! They say that chasing a man is like a paper-thin barrier for a woman, go for it and try to win him over tonight, then you’ll have him wrapped around your finger for good," Wu Xiaoyue encouraged, pumping her fist to cheer Yang Mei on.
Faced with Wu Xiaoyue’s crude remarks, it was no surprise that she was met with Yang Mei’s pinching attack.
Once a person starts looking forward to something, time always seems to move really, really slowly.
Luo Fei felt like today’s clock had been slowed down dozens of times. Every time he checked it, thinking an hour had passed, it had only been less than twenty minutes.
Fortunately, Luo Fei used great willpower to shift his focus to writing a report on his crime-solving insights and reflections.
When one concentrates on something, time again seems to pass quickly.
By the time Luo Fei finished writing the crime-solving insight report and checked the time again, it was almost time to clock out.
After reviewing and making sure there were no issues with the report, Luo Fei printed out a copy and delivered it to Zhao Donglai’s office.
When Luo Fei returned to the office, the people from Group Three were already packing up to leave.