When you’re popular, troubles follow.
As the dia coverage of Li Xiang increased, more and more people sought him out—so wanting to sign him, others hoping to ride his wave of fa.
But each and every one was flatly refused by Li Xiang.
Those people were indignant, throwing sarcastic remarks that he was putting on airs, holding out for the best offer, and knew how to hype himself.
Rumors like that, repeated enough, beco as convincing as truth.
Even so well-inford colleagues at the police station started gossiping behind his back.
"Have you heard? The departnt plans to award him a second-class rit."
"Is that true? Swapping 300,000 for a second-class rit is really quite the deal!"
"No wonder he turned down the 300,000! He must have gotten expert advice!"
With more and more comnts like these, even if Li Xiang didn’t want to listen, he couldn’t help but hear them.
This left him a bit helpless. Clearly, he didn’t want to be famous; he had already restrained himself a lot, trying to minimize his presence. Yet, things still turned out this way. If he had started with all sorts of promotions and statents, he would’ve been impossibly famous, and the rumors would’ve been even more outrageous.
Although life now involved a lot of finger-pointing, Li Xiang’s daily work had not slackened.
He still sought to be on duty at Tis Square.
"Tomorrow is New Year’s Eve, and there are activities at Tis Square. We need police for duty. If anyone is available, please sign up."
The instructor ca around, trying to see who had ti to go.
"My father-in-law is calling for drinks; I can’t make it. I’ll definitely go at other tis."
"I’ve also got plans with my girlfriend for dinner and fireworks."
"My dad rarely cos back all year, just arrived today. I plan to have a couple of drinks with him tomorrow."
Various reasons and excuses, all expressing the sa idea: no ti to go.
"I’ll go!"
"Alright, Li Xiang, I’ll schedule you then. Thank you for your hard work."
After the instructor left, Li Xiang returned to his seat. Before long, Sun Zhidong ca over, face full of curiosity, and asked, "You’re not going ho for the New Year?"
"I’m not going back, the little furball is still young, taking it ho isn’t convenient."
This year he didn’t plan on going ho. To be honest, he didn’t feel up to it.
Every year going back is like putting himself on the roasting rack.
Aunts and uncles interrogating like detectives:
"Where do you work now?"
"How much is your salary?"
"Have you found a girlfriend yet?"
"My daughter-in-law works as a manager in a listed company now, earning twenty grand a month, with good prospects."
"You need to work hard!"
These seemingly encouraging words were actually annoyingly sharp to his ears.
His family’s less fortunate relatives can’t stand to see others doing better, so without any success, he really doesn’t want to go back.
"That’s understandable. But if you ever want to go back, you can leave the little furball with to take care of."
"It’s no bother. Ever since I got the little furball, I’ve felt much more fulfilled."
Before, going ho every day ant entering an empty dorm room, sotis feeling incredibly lonely. Now, the little furball brought a bit of joy into his life.
"Okay then, but don’t mind the rumors at work. They just can’t handle it when soone else has what they can’t have. If they’re so capable, let them catch an A-level wanted criminal. Don’t lower yourself to their level."
Sun Zhidong clearly heard so things, so he ca over to offer so words of comfort.
Though he sotis didn’t fully understand Li Xiang’s thinking, after spending so much ti together, he still supported his brother’s decisions.
"It’s alright, mouths are on others; I just need to do what’s right for . You go ahead, don’t worry about ."
-----------------
January 21, New Year’s Eve.
In the afternoon, a small event was organized at Tis Square, supposedly bringing together snacks from all over the country for people to enjoy on one street.
It was actually just stallholders from different places in Jinghai City gathering to set up stalls, hoping to make one last round of money before returning ho for the New Year.
The winter chill couldn’t dampen the foodies’ enthusiasm.
The square was bustling, with crowds moving in and out among the stalls, eyeing this, glancing at that, wanting to try it all.
With the heavy crowds, so security issues arose, so Li Xiang took on the honorable task of patrol duty.
Though the job only rewarded 100, unlike last ti’s lucky A-level wanted criminal catch, he wasn’t sure when he’d ever gather enough to open a new quest with 3000 diamonds.
Thus, accumulating as much as possible over ti was especially important.
Currently, the daily free quest opportunity afforded him a fixed 3000 Skill Experience. For now, this was enough for skill upgrades, so he didn’t need to spend additional diamonds on quests. Therefore, tasks like patrol duty, which rewarded 100 diamonds, could be spared.
"Li Xiang? What a coincidence, is it your shift again today?"
While Li Xiang was calculating how many more tis he’d need to patrol to accumulate 3000 diamonds to open a new quest, a voice as clear as an oriole suddenly ca from behind.
Hearing this, Li Xiang turned around, only to see soone wrapped in a dark green coat, covering them thoroughly with a beige scarf around their neck, hiding half their face. But he recognized her imdiately: "Lin Feifei? You’re here too!"
At this mont, Lin Feifei looked a bit tired, but her delicate makeup compensated for so imperfections.
"Yeah, I can’t go ho this New Year, but to , ho is wherever I am."
"Why do you say that? Don’t your parents miss you?"
"I’m an orphan."
"Sorry, I didn’t know..."
Li Xiang didn’t keep up with celebrities much, so he wasn’t aware of her background, and swiftly changed the topic:
"I believe you’re innocent; everything will pass."
"Yeah, let’s not talk about this. What about you? On such a special day, not going ho is one thing, but why aren’t you even with your girlfriend?"
At that concert, she had seen Li Xiang bringing his girlfriend to see her perform.
"No girlfriend, going ho just ans more pressure to marry, so being on duty lets enjoy so peace."
Seeing Li Xiang not admit to having a girlfriend, Lin Feifei assud he hadn’t succeeded yet, and changed the topic: "By the way, are you hungry? I was just wandering around and eating, want to get you sothing?"
"Uh, no need, I’m on duty, I can’t eat. Thank you for the thought though."
"Then how about we et after your shift? I’ve wanted to treat you to a al since last ti, and since we bumped into each other today, how about celebrating the New Year together?"
"Alright~" Li Xiang couldn’t refuse the kind offer, so he agreed.
Seeing him agree, Lin Feifei happily said, "Good, it’s settled then. What ti do you get off? I’ll co find you later."
These past days she’d been feeling quite suppressed, and her old insomnia issue seed to worsen. She originally ca out today to ease her mind but, unexpectedly eting this helpful policeman again, suddenly lifted her spirits.
Li Xiang glanced at the ti and replied, "I finish at five, so an hour and a half to go."
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