The cases of the cat spirit and the human meat buns were officially over. Sun Tiger opened a grand commendation meeting and rewarded all the people involved in the investigation. Dali and I each received 20,000 yuan in bonus. Xiaotao received special awards as the task force leader and won a second-class merit medal from the Ministry of Public Security. Wang Yuanchao rose one level from a bottom-ranked police officer.

Director-General Cheng’s good opinion of my ability increased. He told Sun Tiger to inform me that if I encountered any difficulties at all, I could just give him a call! I also received his private phone number, of which no more than twenty people in the province had.

Xiaotao told me that this medal should’ve been awarded to me. Unfortunately, I did not have a position in the police force, and I didn’t care much for that. In fact, simply being the special consultant was good enough for me.

In order to make it easier for me to investigate in the future, Sun Tiger gave me an official badge. It looked basically the same as Xiaotao’s police badge with “Nanjiang City Public Security Bureau Criminal Investigation Special Consultant, Song Yang” written on it, which sounded really cool. It was more than enough to intimidate most people!

Sun Tiger also joked that if it was not enough, then I could just go to the toy store and buy a fake gun and carry it on my waist.

After that, I returned to my uneventful campus life. The difference made me feel very bored. I was so bored that I yawned in class every day. In truth, not having a murder case to investigate was a good thing—it meant that the law and order in Nanjiang City was under control. But still, I must admit my life was boring because of it.

Xiaotao was still so busy every day. We occasionally sent text messages. Sometimes we would send each other some embarrassing texts, like “Do you miss me?” or “Wanna come over at my place tonight?” and all that. I felt we were getting closer, but there was still a thin barrier between us. Perhaps she was really too busy to fall in love, or perhaps it was me who didn’t know how to take the next step. But overall, I was happy with the way things were.

One day, Dali borrowed my phone for something and accidentally saw the text messages. He was stunned and cried, “Holy shit, dude! So you’ve gotten together with Xiaotao-jiejie?”

I quickly grabbed the phone. “How can you violate my privacy and read my texts like that?”

“Don’t change the subject, dude! Jeez, I thought you were still single! So you’ve advanced now, huh? Explain everything to me now, or I’ll tell the other bros in the dorm and they’ll interrogate you!”

“No, don’t do that!” The other bros he mentioned would surely spread the news to the entire campus by dawn if they found out I had a close relationship with a beautiful police officer.

And so, I explained everything to Dali. He patted me on the shoulder and told me, “Dude, usually you’re so nervous when you talk to girls. I sometimes worry about your long-term happiness. But damn, you even caught such a hot woman like Xiaotao-jiejie! I’m happy for you, dude!”

“So I didn't hurt your feelings? Are you not interested in Huang Xiaotao?” I asked.

Dali laughed. “Don’t you get me yet, dude? I’m the kinda guy who would throw my net in a wide area. Knowing that I didn’t catch any fish in this spot, I’d just move to the next! But I do wish you’d told me sooner, dude. I was still teasing Xiaotao-jiejie in front of you like an idiot all this while!”

“Never mind that, how about I buy you a drink tonight at the bar?” I smiled.

“No, maybe not tonight.” Dali shook his head. “I’ve got a date.”

At this time, I noticed how Dali was all dressed up and his hair was combed neatly and styled with gel. It was definitely a date with a girl.

“And you said I was the one keeping you in the dark! Who is this girl? Which year is she in?”

“Um, actually, I don’t know!” Dali looked confused.

It turned out that there was going to be a party between people from his old school. They were going out to eat a hot pot dinner tonight, but there was a guy who had to go home urgently, so they invited Dali to join them.

There were four girls and they were all seniors like us, and they were all single. I was a bit uneasy. “If they’re all fourth-year students and still single, would they be alright?”

“Well, if I don’t try my luck, how would I know? You can join us if you like.”

“No, I’d be uncomfortable having dinner with four girls.”

“Then just wait for my good news tonight!” Dali made a gesture of victory.

In the evening, Dali sent a text message to me, “There is a super cute girl here! Can’t believe she’s a fourth-year!”

“Then good luck to you!”

“Lend your strength!!!”

I typed the words ‘super strength’ and sent it to him.

Dali replied, “Received! I am full of energy now.” Dali was particularly funny when he was in a good mood. As his bro, I couldn’t help but be happy for him.

At about eight o’clock, Dali still hadn’t returned. I began to worry. I received a text from him saying there was a guy there who was particularly annoying. He’d been getting in the way between Dali and the cute girl and Dali couldn’t even speak a word to her.

I asked, “Do you need me to help out?”

“We’re at Sunshine Bar. Hurry, the enemy fire is too fierce, requesting for reinforcement!” Dali replied.

I changed my clothes and quickly went out. I thought about how I would help Dali. Do I need to sacrifice myself and seduce the guy? Nevermind, I thought, I’d figure it out once I got there.

I came to the small bar outside the college gate. In truth, the bar didn’t just sell alcoholic beverages. They had milkshake and juice too, and the price was very friendly to the average student’s budget. It was a convenient spot for couples who were dating, but I had never been there.

The bar turned out to be quite decent, and many students were having meals there. The speakers were blaring some soothing music.

I looked around and found Dali at the corner table. He stood up and shouted, “Song Yang, what a coincidence!”

I played along and replied, “Oh, I just had a meal so I was just thinking of getting a drink. What are you doing here?”

There were three other people at the same table. One was a very cute girl with big eyes who was wearing a yellow sweater. Sitting next to her was a girl wearing heavy makeup. Her whole face was white. She wore a gorgeous pink dress, and her figure looked good. She looked pretty, but I couldn’t tell what she would look like if she removed her makeup.

There was also a bespectacled guy in a casual suit who was dressed up smartly and had a cigarette in his hand. I disliked students who smoked.

The girl who wore a lot of makeup asked Dali with a cloying voice, “Is that handsome boy your classmate, Dali?”

Dali patted me on the shoulder and announced, “Let me introduce you to my bro, Song Yang!”

I smiled at them, and the cute girl smiled politely at me. The girl with the heavy makeup looked at me seductively, and the smoking guy snorted.

Dali then introduced the three of them. They were called Xia Mengmeng, Zhang Yan, and Ye Shiwen.

I whispered to Dali, where were his old school buddies? He answered they were all drunk and were sent home. He then made me sit down and ordered a drink for me. When I sat down, Zhang Yan instantly showed a strong interest in me. She asked me what was I studying, where was my hometown, and whether I had a girlfriend. I thought she was way too straightforward, but I answered her out of politeness. Once she heard that I had a girlfriend, she immediately lost interest in me and continued to talk to Dali about some Korean dramas.

Ye Shiwen completely ignored me and continued to talk to Xia Mengmeng. He was talking about the poems and songs of the two Jin dynasties. Xia Mengmeng did not say a word—she just laughed occasionally and listened to Ye Shiwen speak.

As the four people chatted with each other, I analyzed the situation in front of me. Ye Shiwen was hogging Xia Mengmeng’s attention, while Zhang Yan clawed at Dali and wouldn’t let go. This prevented Dali from chatting up Xia Mengmeng.

As a bro, now was the time for me to take action!