But now,

heh heh,

I fear it's hard to say.

Some people are indifferent, looking down their noses.

Of course, since everyone's heads are always bumping into each other, nobody is so blind as to come up and mock directly.

"Li Xiang, come to my office for a bit."

When Zhao Jianguo saw Li Xiang and the others return, he called him to his office.

"Yes."

Li Xiang arrived at Zhao Jianguo's office, and the latter first offered him a seat, then asked about the brawl incident.

"I went to Jinling this time, thanks to the help of some friends, that's how we found the location of the stationery factory. So, before coming back, I thought we'd drink and gather, but unexpectedly got into a conflict and it turned into a group fight. Everyone had a bit to drink at that time, emotions were high, and I couldn't control the situation."

Li Xiang reported the situation carefully to Zhao Jianguo, omitting the part about being summoned by Yan Xiong.

"Sigh, you had such a bright future, but now it's ruined. I wanted to talk to Director Song to help you, but he said that since this incident occurred in another city, there's not much he can do, otherwise people might gossip. If I had known, I wouldn't have approved your leave to Jinling in the first place."

Zhao Jianguo regretted it more and more, feeling very sorry. He hated that he had indulged Li Xiang's whims and approved such a long leave.

Even though Li Xiang eventually cracked a major case, this incident severed his future in the police force.

This looks like a deal that isn't worth it at all.

Li Xiang couldn't discuss Yan Xiong's special task, but seeing how Zhao was so considerate of him, he felt quite touched.

"It's not your fault, Zhao, and it's nobody else's fault, either. If I blame anything, it's my poor fate. What's meant to come will come, and what's meant to be avoided won't be. As long as I get my second-class merit, I'm fine."

"That must be given, what's due is due, no matter what. If Director Song doesn't grant it, I'll personally demand it."

Zhao Jianguo's eyes widened, looking fierce. He had always been clear about rewards and punishments — if a minor mistake not only led to punishment but also a revoked reward, it would be too severe.

"Your formalization process has been temporarily halted. As per regulations, someone with a negative record cannot become a full officer. But you've contributed a lot to this station and earned many honors, so no one dares to make a fuss. As long as you want to stay at Hongqiao Police Station, you'll always have a place here. I'll figure out your salary situation and see about getting you a raise."

Zhao Jianguo called Li Xiang up to talk about this; he worried that the blow would be too much and wanted to offer some consolation.

Upon hearing about the potential raise, Li Xiang couldn't care less about anything else — it's a shame not to take a good opportunity.

Li Xiang, already on a double salary, now could get his auxiliary police salary doubled. A little grievance now was no big deal, right?

Although this double salary would disappear once he officially became a police officer, at least he was quite pleased with what he was receiving now.

It was tough on Zhao Jianguo and the others; they were kept in the dark and worried needlessly for him.

They even wanted to figure out a way to raise his salary — how embarrassing.

"Thank you, Zhao. When can my salary be increased?"

"Aren't you upset at all?"

Seeing Li Xiang so focused on the salary, Zhao was somewhat baffled.

A normal person, knowing they had a stain on their record and couldn't be formalized, shouldn't they be filled with regret, remorse, and grievance?

Why did Li Xiang look quite happy instead?

Could it be the blow was too much for him?

Indeed, if this happened to anyone else, it might be hard to bear.

Let's make it up to him properly.

Auxiliary police currently earn a little over two thousand a month — even doubling it wouldn't match a regular officer's salary. Would that be too little?

But he didn't have a lot of authority to offer much more, so he said, "Starting this month, salary and bonuses will double. Adjust your mindset, and work well."

Upon hearing the salary and bonuses would double, and adding the salary from Yan Xiong as well, he was set to earn well over ten thousand a month!

"Thank you, Zhao. I'll definitely work hard."

Seeing Li Xiang's expression, Zhao began doubting himself: Had he perhaps overpaid?

Or was Li Xiang just too easily satisfied?

He must be easily satisfied. He worked for three years for a bit over two thousand, and now with the pay doubled, it's just fair.

What a good kid, only it's a pity.

"Oh, by the way, next week the city bureau will hold the 20** annual summary commendation meeting and the police honor ceremony. Prepare yourself. Not only will you receive your second-class merit, but you'll also speak on behalf of all the auxiliary police."

"Me, a blemished auxiliary officer, speaking for all auxiliary officers — is that appropriate?"

"But nobody is more suitable than you."

Leaving the office, Sun Zhidong saw Li Xiang come out with a happy face from Zhao Jianguo's office, and he walked up curiously to ask:

"Hey, Xiang, what did Zhao say to you?"

"Nothing much, just that my record has a blemish, so I can't be formalized."

"You can't be formalized, yet you're this happy?"

Though Sun Zhidong had heard some rumors suggesting Li Xiang might not be able to formalize because of this incident, without official notice, he had still held some hope.

But now, hearing it from Zhao Jianguo himself, it was as if the shoe had dropped.

So, how could Li Xiang's mood possibly be as buoyant as he seemed to express?

To those unaware, they might even think he's just been formalized.

He must've found it hard to process — being so close to the official status he had dreamed of, only to hit a snag at the final step was a bitter pill for anyone to swallow.

"But they gave me a raise."

"Damn, why not me?"

Sun Zhidong had just been feeling sorry for Li Xiang. Now upon hearing he actually got a raise, he was suddenly indignant, "Same as auxiliary police, why the special treatment?"

"Your family's wealthy, you need more?"

"It's not about the money; I want respect."

"Hey, why does this sound so familiar? Isn't this the line from a love scorned woman's notes? You've gone and learned it."

After returning to Jinghai, Li Xiang's life went back to the usual blend of calm days, occasionally taking on small tasks from the instructor and Zhao Jianguo to earn a hundred or two diamonds.

Li Xiang gradually faded from being the talk of the town over tea and snacks, replaced by new topics filling the void in people's hearts.

Every day after he got home, Li Xiang would spend a hundred diamonds to open the pet training space and continue training Coal Ball's obedience.

Under the skill of master-level dog training, Coal Ball quickly learned to follow some simple commands, showing a lot of spirit.

Occasionally, he'd interact with Lin Feifei on the phone, each sharing their own interesting life experiences. Her next concert was approaching, and due to the chaos at her first one that ended life, she was extremely nervous about the next, hoping things wouldn't go awry again.

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