"Alright, you’re busy."

After saying goodbye to Wang Hongwei, Gu Ji turned and walked out of the crowd with Ding Lan. "Sorry for delaying dinner, are you hungry?"

"Not hungry."

Although Ding Lan shook her head with a smile, her eyes seemed a bit downcast.

That night, the two found a nearby hot pot restaurant.

After sitting down, Gu Ji scanned the QR code and handed the phone over, letting Ding Lan choose what she liked to eat first.

Ding Lan glanced casually and suddenly asked, "Can you drink tonight?"

"Sorry, I really can’t. I’m on stand-by this week, so I need to be on call 24/7 and can’t drink alcohol."

Seeing Gu Ji’s firm tone, Ding Lan could only say, "Alright," and then ordered a cocktail for herself.

Once the dishes were served, Gu Ji sincerely thanked Ding Lan for lending him the foreign language book.

"With our relationship, what’s there to thank for? So, was it helpful to you?"

"Not much, maybe I’ve underestimated the complexity of learning a language."

Hearing Gu Ji say this, Ding Lan lowered her head and looked at the red cocktail glass, unsure of what she was thinking. She took a slight sip and brushed her bangs aside. "If you have time, I can teach you personally, just like before!"

The latter half of the sentence almost made Gu Ji choke on his water.

In college, in order to improve his English and avoid failing, he often troubled Ding Lan. At that time, the school library was too crowded, and they even went off-campus to a hotel to study English.

"Cough cough... It’s okay, I mostly need it for occasional foreign affairs work, but we have translators too."

"You have foreign affairs work?"

"Yes, but I can’t tell you the specifics, thanks for understanding."

"Got it."

Ding Lan hadn’t expected that police work involved foreign missions, but recalling Gu Ji’s daring rescue upstairs, perhaps he had already encountered things ordinary people couldn’t, similar to the incident at Tianhu Mountain last Mid-Autumn Festival.

Although these matters are dangerous, for someone like her who lives a relatively mundane life, she finds them quite intriguing.

After dinner.

Gu Ji was about to book a car when Ding Lan suddenly leaned over from the side, exhaling slightly alcoholic breath. "Can you take me back to school?"

"Sure."

Considering Ding Lan had drunk, Gu Ji decided to send her back to school first.

Because their schools are close to each other, he once again saw his alma mater, Ningzhou Police Academy.

At night, looking at the school plaque illuminated by lights, Gu Ji couldn’t help but reminisce about past events. During school, he had just received the "Crisis Management Game" and was not handling the "Passion Fruit" internet case outside very well.

After nearly a year of reflection, things have finally been handled perfectly.

Before long, the car idled at the gate of Ningzhou Normal University.

Gu Ji was just about to say goodbye to Ding Lan when she unexpectedly asked him to get out the car, saying she had something to ask.

"What’s up?"

"I..."

Ding Lan’s lips gently bit down, revealing a hint of tension and unease. Her legs also lightly trembled, as if conveying her emotional turmoil.

After a moment of hesitation.

Ultimately, she summoned the courage to look into Gu Ji’s eyes. "Can we start over?"

"Start ov..."

Gu Ji mumbled halfway, then scratched his head, unsure how to respond but ultimately said, "Uh, I think us being friends like we are now is pretty good, sorry."

Though she had mentally prepared.

But hearing those words, Ding Lan couldn’t help but feel her heart crumble. However, outwardly, she pretended not to be affected, forcing herself to smile and say, "It’s fine, no need to apologize, maybe I’ve just drunk too much today and am speaking nonsense, don’t mind me!"

"Hahaha, I won’t. Now, you should get some rest soon."

Hearing this made Gu Ji feel relieved, and he promptly turned back to the car.

Watching the car’s tail lights gradually disappear, Ding Lan’s body began to tremble lightly, her breathing becoming rapid and erratic. She bit her lips tightly, refusing to let tears flow, although her eyes revealed endless sadness and helplessness.

If at the time I could have given Gu Ji more leniency, perhaps today we wouldn’t be like this...

Back home, it was already 10 PM. Knowing he had to be on duty at the team the next day, Gu Ji went straight to sleep.

The next day at the Dragon Tiger Assault Team.

Unexpectedly, as soon as he entered, the gatekeeper uncle gave Gu Ji a thumbs up, "Well done, Gu Ji. You really gave our team face!"

"Huh? Hahaha..."

Gu Ji was taken aback at first, then guessed probably because the rescue incident from the apartment building yesterday had spread online.

With today’s flourishing online media.

Any occurrence or news captured in reality gets quickly uploaded online for nationwide discussion, especially given the large crowd yesterday, plenty of videos must have gone viral.

After entering the team.

Before he could see who was present, he heard Gao Bo’s teasing greeting, "Morning, trapeze artist!"

"Get lost!" Gu Ji cursed with a smile.

"I say Gu Ji, are you Conan practically? Every time you go somewhere you stumble upon a case, but that kick of yours was truly impressive, the rappelling practice lately hasn’t gone to waste, hehe!" Zhou Yang chimed in, holding a cup of hot water and putting a hand on his shoulder.

"No way Conan had Gu Ji’s skills, you’d need Mouri Kogoro for that!"

Liu Weijun joined the playful banter.

Even the usually calm and silent Zhao Hua smiled at him.

Before Gu Ji could respond, Zhang Wenjun in uniform walked into the team, glanced at Gu Ji and stated, "Gu Ji, come to the office."

"Oh."

Gu Ji responded, then glanced at the bunch enjoying the show and put his things down, turning to head into the team leader’s office.

"Have a seat."

Zhang Wenjun sat behind the desk, took a sip of tea, and looked at the computer screen. "Do you know why I called you here?"

"Uh, I kind of have an idea."

Gu Ji didn’t dare to speak too definitively.

Zhang Wenjun set down his thermos, glanced at him twice. "Mr. Wang from Zhengyang Street Police Station at Lougu District Branch has called me!"

"Zhang Zhong, please don’t be mad, I happened upon it after work, wearing this uniform, no matter what, I couldn’t stand by and do nothing..."

"Did I say I was angry?"

Zhang Wenjun suddenly interjected, leaning back in the chair with a hint of a smile, "Mr. Wang kept praising you on the phone, giving you high remarks. I also understand the whole event, you handled it well this time! With planning procedures, organization, support, you followed onsite commands, didn’t act rashly, you’ve improved!"

It was Gu Ji’s first time hearing Zhang Wenjun praise him with so many words.

His heart instantly felt happier than winning a prize.

"Thank you, Zhang Zhong."

"Alright, calling you here is to inform you of two things: First, the municipal police publicity division might come to interview you today, seeing you’re now an ’internet celebrity,’ the department wants a public statement; Second, that woman you rescued, named Li Huiran, is persistently asking to meet you at the hospital, wanting to thank you in person. Pressed into a corner, Mr. Wang told her your name and unit, she might drop by the team in the next few days."

"Okay, Zhang Zhong."

Before Gu Ji turned away, Zhang Wenjun called him again, "Wait, according to Mr. Wang, Li Huiran seems particularly inclined towards you. When meeting her, think and prepare carefully, avoid any issues. Today’s online opinion can be powerful, got it?"

"Got it."

Gu Ji vaguely caught the deeper meaning in Zhang Wenjun’s words.

Today’s internet acts like a double-edged sword, capable of upholding justice, yet if irrational media instigate excessive outrage, it can easily destroy an innocent person.