The following days were uneventful. After Hu Jia finished analyzing the key's whereabouts, he once again fell into amnesia.
From then on, neither Hu Jia, Lu Qingqing, nor anyone else ever mentioned the key again.
Soon, it was mid-March.
The training institute's graduation ceremony was held.
The day was exceptionally lively, with many people coming to observe. Naturally, Hu Jia was among them.
After Li Hongjiang's closing remarks, he announced the list of outstanding trainees.
Lu Qingqing, Guan Jinsong, Cai Xiaojuan, and others received awards, and naturally, Tong Meng's name was also on the list.
After all, she had achieved her best results in the final examination.
"Next, we will announce the best trainee of this advanced class." As Li Hongjiang's voice boomed, the noisy playground suddenly fell silent.
Best trainee?
At least half of the students present believed that this crown would fall upon Lu Qingqing's head. Although Lu Qingqing had been absent from classes more frequently in the later stages, each absence was due to her participation in actual combat missions.
If nothing else, every time a case was solved, the criminal investigation team and the special operations team would commend and publicly praise Lu Qingqing in the name of the higher authorities.
In the face of so many honors and achievements, those occasional absences were simply not a big deal.
Lu Qingqing also hoped to win the "best trainee" award, as these foundational achievements were necessary for climbing the ranks.
"The best trainee is..." Li Hongjiang glanced at the crowd below, finally settling his gaze on Lu Qingqing. Lu Qingqing's heart skipped a beat; she saw uncertainty and helplessness in his eyes.
"Tong Meng!"
The square erupted.
No one had expected this name to be announced.
Li Yang, whose hands were already raised to applaud, froze. He looked at Yu Yue, "What did he say? Did he misread it?"
Hu Jia squinted, his thoughts unclear.
Lu Qingqing also didn't expect it to be Tong Meng. It wasn't that she felt the "best trainee" award was rightfully hers, but rather she didn't think Tong Meng deserved it.
"I object!" Zhan Ruoxuan, without even raising his hand, directly voiced his dissatisfaction.
Li Hongjiang chuckled awkwardly, "This student, if you have any questions, you can raise your hand."
In fact, Li Hongjiang was happy to see someone questioning. Thus, he gave Zhan Ruoxuan the chance to speak without allowing others to object.
"Tong Meng is excellent, that is acknowledged outside, but she only attended for half a semester. Her credits, no matter what, would not be among the highest in this group. Furthermore, in both the outdoor drills and regular training, Tong Meng's performance was not outstanding. May I ask, Director Li, on what basis was this 'best trainee' decided?"
This was not Zhan Ruoxuan causing trouble; it was the doubt shared by everyone.
Let alone Lu Qingqing, even Guan Jinsong would be a more convincing choice for the award than Tong Meng.
"This is the result of deliberation by all instructors and school leaders." Li Hongjiang raised his hand, "If anyone has objections, you can ask Director Tong Hua of the Municipal Public Security Bureau's Judicial Section, who organized this selection, for an explanation."
Tong Hua was stunned. He cursed the old fox internally. He never expected Li Hongjiang to push him out as a shield. Seeing Tong Hua's constipated expression, Li Hongjiang scoffed inwardly. This was the outcome you wanted, and I delivered. But this mess, you have to clean up yourself.
Yes, Tong Hua had forced Li Hongjiang to vote for Tong Meng. Li Hongjiang hadn't wanted to agree, but thinking about the final result being a vote, Tong Meng would surely not receive many votes. With a mindset of half-threatened, half-compromised, and half-not-offending, Li Hongjiang nominated Tong Meng.
But what he didn't expect was that over half the people chose Tong Meng.
Only then did Li Hongjiang realize that Tong Meng had not only swayed him.
Therefore, knowing he would be criticized, Li Hongjiang naturally wanted to shift the blame. He told everyone that the organizer of this selection was Tong Hua, not me!
Moreover, he specifically mentioned Tong Hua's new position, giving the impression that one had to bow to authority.
Indeed, upon hearing Tong Hua's name, everyone felt a sense of inevitability.
Only Lu Qingqing and Hu Jia were shocked.
Because they heard their colleague's new position.
Head of the Judicial Section?
Isn't that their direct superior?
"Although Tong Meng transferred to our institute midway, her outstanding performance is evident to all." Tong Hua paid no mind to the crowd's opinions. After all, he had his own calculations, which was to tell everyone that Tong Meng indeed got this award through connections.
He couldn't stand to see her do well either!
"You all studied at the training institute for seven months, while Tong Meng studied for three months. Yet, in the final graduation exam, she crushed everyone present. If she is not outstanding, who is? If she is not the best, who is?"
The crowd remained silent. Now that you are a leader in the public security bureau, whatever you say goes, who would dare object?
Zhan Ruoxuan was about to step forward, but Lu Qingqing tugged his sleeve, signaling him to back down.
Lu Qingqing didn't want Zhan Ruoxuan to provoke this vindictive person on her behalf.
"That statement is debatable." Hu Jia stepped forward. "I didn't know Director Tong Hua had become the Head of the Judicial Section. Congratulations on that first."
There was no smile on Hu Jia's face. He turned to look at everyone, "Everyone has their strengths and weaknesses; mountains have their unique formations, and waters have their different depths. What defines 'best'? It is knowing how to enjoy the sunshine on a clear day, and also facing the wind and rain unflinchingly on a cloudy one. That is 'best'!"
"The best time to plant a tree was ten years ago; the second best time is now."
"To change oneself, it is never too late. As long as you dare to start and move step by step in the direction you desire, you will discover that everything is possible."
With that, Hu Jia turned and rejoined the crowd. He did not argue for Lu Qingqing, nor did he question the result. He simply expounded his understanding of what "best" meant.
"Yes! We are the best versions of ourselves right now." Zhan Ruoxuan was the first to shout, "We don't need others' affirmation; we affirm ourselves first."
"Cai Xiaojuan, you are the best in my eyes!" Zhou Fengjiu shouted, "Your meticulousness, your perceptiveness, your composure, your calmness – you are the best I have ever seen!"
"Ye Fengyi, you are also the best in my eyes!" Guan Jinsong turned his head, "You chose the most obscure field. Although no one has discovered your value yet, you are the first person to venture into new territories."
"Yuan Han..."
"Min Zhao..."
Instantly, everyone began expressing who they considered "best" in their hearts.
Hu Jia's words told everyone that there was no single standard for "best." Even if you excel in one area now, I may surpass you in another, it's just that you haven't seen it.
But that does not mean I am inferior!
With unspoken agreement, no one called out Lu Qingqing's name.
They knew that name belonged to that man.
And with unspoken agreement, no one called out Tong Meng's name.
They knew that name was part of a deliberate arrangement.
"Lu Qingqing!" Hu Jia stepped forward. "Perhaps in others' eyes, I am not the best, and you are not the greatest, but so what? We are the best to each other. You are the best to me, and in my world, there is only one 'best'!"
"That is you! Lu Qingqing!"