Half an hour later, Nalan Shuo sat in a chair in the hospital room, watching Yang Xiao chat rrily with Professor Cui. Professor Cui smiled with his face full of wrinkles, repeatedly saying how his talented nephew was this and that, while Yang Xiao respectfully addressed him as "uncle" and even peeled an apple for Professor Cui with a small knife.
In the spacious hospital room, Nalan Shuo felt out of place amidst the liveliness, as if he was the real outsider.
It was absurd for the Director of the Lin’an Patrol Bureau to feel like an outsider in his own office building!
By evening, after reluctantly parting with Professor Cui, Yang Xiao followed Nalan Shuo back to the Director’s office. As soon as he entered, Yang Xiao sensed sothing was off. The Director’s face revealed a polite yet distant smile, "Captain Yang, congratulations on recognizing Professor Cui as your uncle. Now you have a backer in the Provincial Office, your future is boundless."
"What are you talking about, Director? Professor Cui is affectionate toward , but you, Director, you have been gracious toward !" Yang Xiao clasped his hands in gratitude and said solemnly, "To repay the Director’s kindness, even if it ans going through fire and water, I’m more than willing to do so!"
At this, Nalan Shuo suddenly laughed, "So, you’re saying that recognizing Professor Cui as your uncle was actually for my sake?"
"Of course!" Yang Xiao stepped forward and leaned in to whisper sothing in Nalan Shuo’s ear as he sat on the sofa. Upon hearing it, Nalan Shuo’s furrowed brows slowly relaxed, and he couldn’t help but reply, "Is that the truth?"
"Absolutely true. I’ve found out from Professor Cui that his mission here wasn’t just to test the readiness of the various investigation teams; there was also a hidden task to grade the Directors of the various branches."
"According to Professor Cui, the scores for the Directors of branches such as Luming and Anping generally ranged around the middle to upper Grudge Level, and as for you and Chief Huang of the City Center Official Residence, the scores are higher: you are at the lower level of Fierce Grade, while he’s at the mid Fierce Grade."
"Why should I be worse off than Huang Guozhao?" Nalan Shuo almost rose from his seat upon hearing this, only abstaining because Yang Xiao gently pressed down on his shoulder.
"Calm down, Director. After a thorough discussion with Professor Cui and presenting all of your rits and personality to him, he was deeply impressed by your charisma. He imdiately wanted to adjust your score to the upper level of Severe Grade. But knowing how low-profile you are, Director, I suggested that your score be modestly placed at the mid Fierce Grade, the sa as Chief Huang’s," Yang Xiao continued after a pause.
"Apart from this, our investigation team’s situation has also improved. The incident of Xi nxiu’s collapse has been erased, and Beibei’s grade has been raised from the upper Grudge Level to the peak of Grudge Level. This way, our office might have an extra official captain position next year, which would certainly reflect well on you, Director."
"Is this... not against the rules?" Nalan Shuo’s tight lips softened slightly.
Upon hearing this, Yang Xiao laughed, "Rules are rigid, but people are flexible. Besides, with your reputation, Director, what’s an official position? In my opinion, you possess the makings of a Provincial Office Director!"
The chill on Nalan Shuo’s face quickly dissipated, and a slight smile appeared on his lips, though he insisted, "Enough. Such talk is fine between us, but everyone knows I dislike making a spectacle."
"I understand," Yang Xiao bowed with clasped hands, "I shall never forget who gave water to drink. Your great kindness is beyond repaynt. If anyone dares to oppose you, it would be tantamount to slaying my own parents; I, Yang Xiao, will fight them to the death!"
Nalan Shuo chuckled and said, "If I rember correctly, you were an orphan, right?"
"I was, but after eting you, Director, I found a ho. I will never forget your kindness," Yang Xiao replied with even greater respect.
"Hahaha!" Nalan Shuo laughed heartily three tis and stood up to help Yang Xiao to his feet, patting him on the shoulder, "We don’t need to be so formal between us. Officially, I am your superior, but in reality, we are brothers. Isn’t that right, Little Yang?"
"If the Director considers a brother, my life is yours," Yang Xiao affird, fully aware of how Nalan Shuo had treated him.
"Good, I like people who are loyal and true to their word. Ungrateful people don’t deserve to be my brothers." Nalan Shuo pointed to the sofa next to him, "Have a seat; I have sothing to discuss with you."
After Yang Xiao sat down, Nalan Shuo took out a box of cigarettes, offered one to Yang Xiao without asking, and then pulled out a lighter to light it for him.
Yang Xiao didn’t smoke, but under such circumstances, he couldn’t refuse. He accepted the cigarette and Nalan Shuo lit it for him.
When a leader lights a cigarette for you, it ans you’re either in trouble or being held accountable. Yang Xiao held the lit cigarette, not daring to smoke it, until Nalan Shuo also lit one for himself and took a deep drag before speaking slowly, "Beibei told , you’ve received another Ghost Script."
"Yes," Yang Xiao took a drag, mimicking the Director, but it seed he hadn’t quite mastered the essence—the smoke billowed out of his nostrils.
"You’re receiving Ghost Scripts too frequently, which is very dangerous. Have you counted how many tis it’s been this year?" asked Nalan Shuo, serious.
"The interval between your Ghost Script incidents should be getting longer and longer, and it should be increasing exponentially. Usually, there’s about a three-month gap between the first and second ti, six months between the second and third, and a year between the third and fourth. Then, it becos yearly. For example, it’s been over four years since I last received a Ghost Script," explained Nalan Shuo.
"Four years?" Yang Xiao was astonished.
Nalan Shuo nodded somberly, "I’m not one of those with the longest intervals. Those real old-tirs, the ancestors of the major families, so haven’t received a Ghost Script in ten or even twenty years. Otherwise, how do you think they’ve lived so long?"
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