Chapter 87: Landed a Golden Rice Bowl!

“What kind of collaboration do we talk about in the middle of the night?” The car was nice and warm with the heater on, so Xiao Fen simply took off his gloves.

Fang Si Ting grabbed his hand—it was ice-cold—and simply held on without letting go, warming it with his palm.

“The other side was especially urgent. As soon as I finished recording, he called and said he wanted to see you.”

Xiao Fen grew even more curious, but he followed up right away. “What was the final result? Besides me, who else succeeded?”

“You didn’t watch the live stream at all after you got back?” Fang Si Ting’s smile faded a bit.

“Asking you directly is more efficient.”

Fang Si Ting’s long fingers on his left hand casually rested on the steering wheel as his gaze fixed straight ahead on the road, his expression serious. “Besides you, all the criminal guests were caught.”

“What a shame. One step further from the five hundred million prize.” Xiao Fen gloated.

“Congratulations, you’re one step closer to the five hundred million prize.”

“When I get the money, I’ll split you 2.5 billion. At least half the credit for the prize money goes to you.”

“Losing to you every time, and now you’re splashing dirty water on me, saying I took bribes to go easy on you?”

“So, did you go easy on me?”

“No.” Fang Si Ting answered cleanly and decisively, beyond any doubt.

“Looks like you really want to beat me.”

“Of course.”

All these years, he had only ever suffered defeat at Xiao Fen’s hands.

But what could he do? While admiring him, he could only helplessly accept it.

“Should I go easy on you next time?”

“Even if you don’t, you’re still the biggest mastermind behind the scenes. I’ll keep my eyes on you.” Fang Si Ting said with interest. His hand turned the steering wheel in a big arc—they had arrived.

The destination was a tea restaurant. By the time Xiao Fen and the others got there, the other party had already been waiting for a while.

Fang Si Ting said, “Professor Lü Siming, professor of criminal investigation at Capital Criminal Investigation University, and also the vice dean of the Forensic Institute at the same university.”

Lü Siming had already stood up and eagerly shook hands with Xiao Fen.

“I’ve heard so much about you—your name is like thunder piercing the ear. Here’s the thing: our institute wants to invite you to be a guest professor. You’d just give some casual lectures to our students. Very relaxed. What do you think?”

“I’ve never taught a class.” Xiao Fen hadn’t expected this to land on his head. “Me lecturing students? I’m afraid I’d mislead the next generation.”

“No problem. You can come visit our school first. Our school has a long history, with talents emerging in droves…” Lü Siming went on nonstop for about ten minutes, hyping up his school like it was the best in heaven and earth.

“You sly Lü Siming. What was that about my face being too fierce and scaring the kids? You tricked us into waiting in the side room so you could introduce your school nonstop and completely ignore me, huh?”

Two people entered the private room.

Fang Si Ting was a bit surprised but still made introductions. “This is Inspector Tang from the National Special Investigation Bureau, and Bureau Chief Wu from the Capital Special Investigation Bureau.”

Though only called inspector, anyone who could make Bureau Chief Wu follow behind must be someone of even higher rank.

Lü Siming complained, “Look at you, always so impatient. I was going to finish introducing my thing first, then introduce yours.”

The two were clearly good friends, speaking without much politeness.

“Little Fen, no more beating around the bush. Everyone’s seen your abilities.” Inspector Tang said with a hearty laugh. Bureau Chief Wu beside him hurriedly handed over a contract. “Do you want to serve the country?”

Xiao Fen took it and saw that it was a contract for a national special talent recruitment program from a relevant state unit.

A national-level deal was different—top benefits, generous treatment, an unbreakable golden rice bowl. The only thing was the position in whatever bureau was pretty secretive, like being an undercover agent.

“Don’t you need to test me or something?” Xiao Fen asked. “Or assess me before hiring?”

You’re just going to trust me like this?

“We actually noticed you from the warm-up activities of the show. And in the second episode, with the real sudden case, your abilities fully met our requirements for talent.” Lü Siming said, while secretly glaring at Bureau Chief Wu.

Their superiors had noticed Xiao Fen early on. This Bureau Chief Wu had nearly incited the Lu Family Members to get him banned out of fear of taking responsibility. Fortunately, someone from a brother unit had called in time to smooth things over and hint at the higher-ups’ intentions.

“Thank you for recognizing me, but I’m a lazy guy who loves his freedom.”

“No problem. No clocking in, no sitting in an office. As long as you don’t break the law or cause trouble, you can do whatever you want normally. Think it over. With us as your backers, you’ll have an extra layer of protection, and it’ll make things a lot more convenient in your daily actions.” Inspector Tang tempted him with benefits.

“So what do you want me to do?”

“Just when we hit major cases, tricky cases, or tough cases here, we might need you to provide some ideas and clues, or borrow your skills for some small tasks.”

Inspector Tang smiled. “Other than that, whatever you want to do or resources you need, we’ll provide maximum support within a certain range, all discreetly.”

The benefits were painted like a dream, while the tasks were glossed over. Sounded like a trap.

“What do you mean by ‘small tasks’?”

Treating him like consumable material? Pass.

Inspector Tang said, “Take the Lu Corporation, for example. Such a massive business empire—if it collapses, over a hundred thousand people will be unemployed. That’ll cause a bit of social unrest.”

Xiao Fen’s mind sharpened.

“With so many people’s rice bowls in the hands of just a few in one family, even minor squabbles in the entertainment industry get wildly suppressed. As an ordinary citizen, would you feel at ease? Everyone dozes off sometimes. We can’t let that many people pay the price just because their family acts out, so sometimes we even have to lend a hand—out of necessity. Fortunately, everything is ready now; we just need that east wind.” Inspector Tang stopped there. “I’m just the messenger; I can’t give you written promises. But rest assured, everyone here today can bear witness. Or you could trust your future colleagues in advance.”

Xiao Fen got the picture.

“Looks like you investigated me thoroughly.” When the national machine made a move, it was indeed highly efficient.

“Joining our unit, a background check is normal. Don’t mind it.” Inspector Tang stood up, and the others followed suit. “Go ahead and do what you need. If you want help from us, just tell me directly. If you’re shy about it, tell Si Ting—he can handle it too.”

Xiao Fen thought for a moment and said, “I get it.”

He signed his name crisply. Both sides chatted happily.

“You guys are chatting so cheerfully—did you forget about me?” Lü Siming said. “I’m the middleman here.”

“Teacher, don’t worry.” Fang Si Ting said.

Before he could persuade further, Xiao Fen laughed. “So you’re Professor Lü’s student? If I’d known that, why would I hesitate?”

With that, he also accepted the guest professor position at Capital Criminal Investigation Academy.

————

On the way back, Xiao Fen was visibly in a great mood.

“So happy?”

“Of course. Think about it—I’ve got a powerful backer protecting me now.” Xiao Fen poked his arm with a finger. “Scared yet?”

“Definitely scared.” Fang Si Ting played along. “I’m just a retired little inspector. How can an arm twist a thigh?”

“Real retirement or fake? Inspector Tang just told me if I have any problems, I can go to you—you can handle it.”

“It’s real retirement. Now I just do some paperwork for the bureau and go on occasional business trips.”

“You’re so young, and your skills and abilities are strong—though maybe ten percent behind mine. Logically, you shouldn’t have retired so early.”

Fang Si Ting pursed his lips. “I got injured, and my family always worried about my safety. They didn’t approve of me choosing this career, so I just retired smoothly.”

“But luckily I joined this show. Counts as making up for some regrets.” He added right away.

Xiao Fen looked at his profile, full of fighting spirit, and suddenly realized that Fang Si Ting truly loved this show.

Loved it from the heart.

“Sorry…” Xiao Fen murmured.

Fang Si Ting glanced at him, then back at the road. The car slowed down.

“Why say that out of nowhere?”

“Nothing.” Xiao Fen immediately switched back to his roguish self, hands pillowed behind his head as he looked out the window. “Where are you going? This isn’t the way to my place.”

“This is Jade Qiong Mountain.”

“Planning to traffic me?”

“What are you worth? Not even two taels of meat on you.”

The two bantered back and forth. Before they knew it, the car had reached the mountaintop.

Silence all around.

The car stopped at the edge of a cliff overlook on the summit. Besides them, there wasn’t a soul in sight.

Fang Si Ting got out, went around to his side, and opened the car door for him.

Xiao Fen had just stepped out when he was pulled into an embrace. The large cotton jacket wrapped around both of them, just enough.

The wind on the mountain was strong and cold.

Xiao Fen felt the warmth radiating from him—cozy and comfortable. He reached out and wrapped his arms around his waist.

“Suit with this cotton jacket looks weird.”

“The program crew gave it out temporarily after the show ended. The temperature difference between here and Y Country is too big.”

Xiao Fen pursed his lips and smiled. “These past few days before you came back early, I actually watched your Live Stream Chat. Just didn’t get to today’s yet—you came back too fast.”

If he’d returned tomorrow, he could’ve watched from day one.

Fang Si Ting looked at him, waiting for him to continue.

“Watch it yourself when you have time.” Xiao Fen ducked his head, eyes shifting to the scenery below the mountain. He didn’t have the nerve to say more.

This generation of netizens was too good at overinterpreting—reading comprehension like that, none scored 150 on the college entrance exam.

Looking down from the railing, the entire city sprawled below, warm yellow and deep blue blending together into the brilliant, majestic night view of the Imperial Capital in City A.

“Beautiful.” Xiao Fen said in surprise. “I’ve never seen City A’s night view from here.”

Fang Si Ting reached out, pointing distantly below. “Your home’s that way, your company’s there, Lu Corporation headquarters is over there, and the tea restaurant we ate at is here.”

He knew City A like the back of his hand, rattling off famous sights and landmarks effortlessly.

After going around once with no response, he looked down into his arms. Xiao Fen’s cheeks were flushed red, his head bobbing like a little chick pecking rice—drooping low, then snapping up, fighting to stay open but eyelids drooping again. His eyes were about to fully close.

Years later, Xiao Fen would still tease him about this from time to time.

“Who takes a good person on their first date to a mountaintop? Atmosphere was perfect, but you just kept yapping about boring place names. I’m not the mayor—who wants to hear that stuff?”

“But Hubby’s arms are so warm and toasty—the comfiest.” He’d nuzzle into the embrace and act spoiled.

……

The mountain wind blew fiercely, now carrying hints of damp, chilling moisture.

Fang Si Ting unzipped his jacket, took off the cotton coat, carefully wrapped it around him, then scooped him up horizontally and headed to the car.

The sudden weightlessness jolted Xiao Fen awake. Opening his eyes, he saw the tight line of Fang Si Ting’s jaw.

“Sorry, I got a bit sleepy.” He gave an awkward smile.

As he spoke, he saw a few flakes of white drifting down from the plain, dull sky.

“Mr. Black Cat, what’s that?” He reached out in delight.

“It’s snow!”

He shouted excitedly, nose tip red, frozen-pink cheeks lifted, eyes sparkling as he looked at Fang Si Ting.

More and more fine snowflakes drifted from the sky, swirling, floating lightly, scattering joyful white specks in the dark, vast heavens.

Fang Si Ting set him down on the ground.

“How lucky are we to catch it snowing.” He had never seen snow in this world before.

No blood, no roars of rage, no schemes or betrayals, no severed limbs or pus-stained pollution. So pure white, so clean—even the tip of his nose could sense its fresh sweetness, like elves ignorant of worldly affairs.

Just like the person before him.

“Weather forecast mentioned it yesterday.” Fang Si Ting had his hands in his pockets. Seeing him so happy brought a smile to his face, tinged with a bit of shyness.

“Today, Jade Qiong Mountain will have City A’s first snow of the year.”

He had rushed to end the show recording just to make it in time.