On rainy nights, most people have already left work and gone home early.
Tan Shu put away his umbrella, carefully brushed off the raindrops on his shoulders, walked through the long corridor, and knocked on the door of the Sheriff's Office.
"Come in." Behind the imposing desk sat Cao Junmin, the officer reviewing documents.
He has a square face, thick eyebrows, big eyes, and smile lines at the corners of his mouth. He looks both dignified and elegant.
"Teacher." Tan Shu stood beside the table and called him.
Tan Shu was once his student when he was the principal of Sentinel Academy.
After Cao Junmin was promoted to the head of the Public Security Department, he promoted several students he had personally trained to his side.
As a confidant, when there were no outsiders around, Tan Shu always called Cao Junmin "Teacher" to show his affection.
Cao Junmin wrote quickly without even looking up. "What's the matter?"
"It's about Ni Ji." Tan Shu approached the table. "He has been detained in the military control office for several days."
"That kid will have this day sooner or later. It's better to let him suffer a little." Cao Junmin picked up the signed document, blew it, and read it carefully in his hand before looking up. "What's wrong? You were classmates back then. Do you want to run for him?"
Tan Shu hurriedly said: "No, no, no, I will follow your instructions, teacher."
Cao Junmin sat behind his large desk, crossed his hands, and looked at him with a smile, like an amiable school principal who showed some concern for the five students who were punished to copy the school rules.
Tan Shu's thoughts turned over and over in his mind, trying to figure out Cao Junmin's thoughts, not knowing how to say it in a way that would please his teacher.
If it was out of selfish desire in his heart, he would be very reluctant to see Ni Ji appear again.
Ni Ji was almost a huge shadow over his student days.
Back then, when he was in school, Ni Ji was so dazzling. In almost every league match of Sentinel Academy, he could win the title of the best single-soldier for the school. Wherever he was, everyone else was overshadowed.
Over the years, he had worked so hard, almost abandoned his dignity, and tried to please Cao Junmin like a dog. Only then did he become Cao Junmin's most trusted confidant.
If Ni Ji came back, would he take over his current position
He knew that Cao Junmin had mixed feelings of love and hate for Ni Ji, and he was still brooding over the things that Ni Ji had done to disobey him in the past.
"It's not that I am cruel, he is my student just like you after all." Cao Junmin, who was sitting behind the desk, said slowly, his tone like a principal who cares about his students.
"People tend to be too arrogant when they are young. Especially people like Ni Ji who have a little ability. They always feel that there is nothing in the world worth bending over backwards for. Only when they suffer and have their bones broken, they will understand that living in this world is not so easy."
He lowered his head and reviewed the documents again. "Let him suffer in the hands of the military control department for a few more days. He will realize that he was wrong and will ask me for help. Then I will go and get him out."
Tan Shu carefully observed his subtle changes in expression and whispered, "But I just heard that he was acquitted."
Cao Junmin raised his eyelids from behind the desk and looked at him with a smile.
Tan Shu was shocked and broke out in a cold sweat. He waved his hands and explained, "Teacher, I really don't know. I have been following your instructions a few days ago and have been paying attention to this matter. Today I heard that it was a coincidence. Someone happened to prove that he was wrongly accused. The evidence was also made public, and the people in the Military Control Office had no choice but to release him."
He had followed Cao Junmin for many years and knew that his teacher was a notorious smiling tiger.
Although he always looks gentle and polite and speaks with a smile, he is actually very petty.
He wanted to use Ni Ji, but he also wanted to break Ni Ji's bones first, so that Ni Ji would put aside his dignity and be as obedient as himself.
So, even though he knew what kind of place the Military Control Office was, he knew how those people would deal with a tough guy like Ni Ji.
He still pretended not to know about this, just waiting for Ni Ji to be tortured to the end and his will to collapse, and then he would appear in the guise of Shi En.
Tan Shu understood his teacher's thoughts and said immediately, "Although he was released, he has nowhere to go in the capital. In addition, he was injured all over his body in the military control office these days. He is probably still sitting outside the military control office now."
"In that case, go and fetch Ni Ji back, clean him up, and tell him that the teacher hasn't forgotten him. See what he thinks now."
Tan Shu nodded in agreement, feeling relieved yet reluctant to leave the office.
Cao Junmin looked at his back as he left and sneered in his heart.
You are still too young. I can see through the little thoughts in your heart at a glance.
Back when he was in Sentinel Academy, Tan Shu followed Ni Ji around every day. Many of his achievements in major competitions were due to Ni Ji's guidance.
Now it seems that he has no feelings for Ni Ji anymore. He doesn't even hope that Ni Ji can survive this incident.
Otherwise, with Tan Shu's smooth personality, he would have been able to lobby for his former classmate in a place like the Military Control Office where money is everything. He didn't have to be so seriously injured that he couldn't walk.
The rain in the sky gradually became heavier.
Ni Ji sat in the dim alley, looking up at the rain falling from the dusty sky.
The weather is still very hot here in the imperial capital. If it were in the north, it would be snowing by now.
If it were this time of year in previous years, they would have already built high walls, stockpiled supplies for the winter, and gathered around the stove.
He closed his eyes and stopped thinking about the people he would never see.
There was the sound of footsteps stepping on water outside the alley.
Ni Ji smiled in his heart. Finally, it came.
A non-commissioned officer in a neat military uniform, holding an umbrella, trotted over from the other end of the road.
He had an expression of disbelief, worry and anxiety on his face.
"Aji, is it really you?" Tan Shu bent down to help the person sitting in the rain, and said anxiously and complained, "I just heard the news and I couldn't believe it. How could you not contact us immediately when such a big thing happened?"
Ni Ji said nothing and let him help her up.
I heard my best classmate from my school days, propped up on one arm and kept talking.
"You really should find a teacher. After all, we are all his students."
"Although you and the teacher had a bad time back then, the teacher still cares about you."
"You see, as soon as he heard the news, he immediately sent me to take you back."
"This is too much. Those people in the Military Control Office actually tortured you like this. One day, I will never let them go."
Ni Ji was seriously injured and could hardly stand up on his own. He was completely dependent on Tan Shu to support his body.
He listened to these words and looked at the puddle of rain water under his feet.
His eyesight was very good. In the reflection of the water, he could clearly see the faces of his classmates who were concerned about his tone.
On the dirty water, the face looked down at its scarred self.
Seeing him in such a miserable and destitute state, the corners of his former friend's mouth curled up in a twisted, uncontrollable smile.
Ni Ji thought it was ridiculous, but he didn't expose it. He just leaned all his weight on this former classmate.
"Yeah. I was thinking that you and the teacher would come to find me."
(End of this chapter)