Because she had previously helped the police solve the murder case of Huang Yuan by poisoning, the murder case of Mo Yun, and later the incident of a kidnapper, Lü Qingqing had become a celebrity at the training center, though people's understanding of her was not deep enough.
Her voluntary sharing of her experiences after being kidnapped had solidified her reputation in the new student class.
Before, everyone had only heard her name, but they hadn't interacted much. This time, however, it had unconsciously given everyone a psychological suggestion: Lü Qingqing had combat experience, practical knowledge, could remain calm and collected when facing kidnappers, was not selfish, and understood the concept of scattered sand coming together.
Several people were mentally repeating, hoping to be grouped with Lü Qingqing for the drill.
As soon as school let out in the afternoon, many people followed behind Lü Qingqing, clamoring to eat a bowl of hot and sour noodles, their goal being to leave an impression on her.
As they slurped their noodles, they also asked Lü Qingqing about jungle survival methods.
Lü Qingqing spoke with great enthusiasm, her face animated.
Especially when the hot and sour noodles were served, her eyes shone with happiness.
"Wow... this chili oil is a bit spicy!" Lü Qingqing praised after taking a bite. She rubbed her hands, ready to dig in.
"Does it taste good?"
"Delicious!"
Just as Lü Qingqing was about to take another bite, her body stiffened. That voice?
She quickly put down her chopsticks and pushed the bowl of hot and sour noodles toward Cai Xiaojuan: "I can't eat spicy food these two days."
"Heh!"
A cold chuckle came from behind. Lü Qingqing inwardly groaned and turned her head: "Oh, Captain Hu? You're here too."
Hu Jia had already seen through her lie. If he hadn't deliberately made a sound just now, this woman might have been covered in oil.
"What? Did I come at an inconvenient time?"
Lü Qingqing knew she was in the wrong: "Not at all..." After speaking, she immediately shifted the focus, pointing to the group of women beside her: "These are all my classmates."
Almost everyone present recognized Hu Jia; even if they hadn't met him in person, they certainly knew his name.
"Hello, Captain Hu. My name is Cai Xiaojuan, from the Forensics Department of the Daping Branch."
"Hello, I'm Zhou Fengjiu, from the Taipingmen Branch. I've heard your name often in the Criminal Investigation Department before."
"..."
A group of women chattered, introducing themselves one after another.
It was a competition; this was the boss of the Special Operations Unit, and he was handsome. Who wouldn't want to catch his eye?
Hu Jia cast a faint glance at them, nodding slightly.
If he hadn't considered that these were Lü Qingqing's classmates, he might not have even said, "Hello."
The women weren't disappointed. They had heard he was a man of few expressions; him smiling at all was already a good thing.
"Eating hot and sour noodles at this hour, are you not planning to eat at home?"
It was a very ordinary sentence, and the women heard nothing unusual, as they all knew Lü Qingqing was from the Special Operations Unit.
However, Lü Qingqing's heart sank at that moment. She had a bad premonition.
"Let's go, home!"
Damn!
As expected!
His words shocked everyone!
Go home? Who was going home with whom? Did Lü Qingqing and Hu Jia live together?
Lü Qingqing, flustered, knocked over her stool without bothering to right it. "Uh, we're going the same way, we both live near the Special Operations Unit."
Hu Jia pursed his lips, remaining silent. The women also accepted this explanation, as subconsciously, they wouldn't think these two were a couple.
It wasn't that Lü Qingqing was not good enough, but Hu Jia gave off a sense of being too distant.
On the way home, Lü Qingqing was still excitedly sharing her day at school with Hu Jia.
"You said you want to build your network?"
"Yes, it's easier to get things done with people. Promotion and a higher salary, reaching the peak of life, and then I'll have you in my hands..."
Uh.
Lü Qingqing stopped herself in time.
She couldn't say her inner thoughts.
"Have me in your hands?" Hu Jia's gaze was strange.
Lü Qingqing gave a dry laugh. Fearing Hu Jia might misunderstand, she quickly explained, "I mean, to be your superior."
"I know. At work, I'm your superior, and at home, you're my superior."
Well...
Her explanation was wasted.
Upon returning home, Lü Duobao immediately threw herself into Hu Jia's arms, "Brother-in-law."
Well...
Her efforts to raise her were in vain.
After dinner, Lü Duobao washed the dishes in the kitchen, while Lü Qingqing pulled Hu Jia to the balcony.
"You have something to say?" You've been hesitant to speak since dinner.
"That..." Hu Jia hesitated, "You don't want people to know about our relationship, do you?"
Huh?
Lü Qingqing hadn't expected Hu Jia to ask this. She thought for a moment, figuring it must be because she said they were just going the same way at the hot and sour noodle stall.
"Don't misunderstand, I just don't want to cause any unnecessary trouble."
"Trouble?" Hu Jia was confused.
"Didn't you see how they looked at you? Like wolves. If they knew you had a fiancée, they would definitely see me as a thorn in their side."
"Why? I don't know them."
"You don't know them, but they know you. After all, everyone likes excellent men."
Lü Qingqing thought this was the best excuse, even though her true thoughts were different.
However, Hu Jia heard this completely differently. "So, you also think I'm excellent?"
Lü Qingqing nodded. She wasn't being perfunctory; she truly thought Hu Jia was an excellent person.
Seeing this, Hu Jia's eyes lit up. "Then I've always had a question."
"Go ahead."
"Back then, who was chasing whom between us?"
Lü Qingqing: ...
Hu Jia had asked this question once before, but Lü Qingqing had always skirted around it.
Hu Jia had also gone back and searched through his notebooks, only to find that he had never recorded how he and Lü Qingqing met or got to know each other.
It started with fiancée, and Li Yang's explanation to him was, "Because when you two met, it was just a working relationship. At that time, she was just an unimportant person, and you never expected to marry her, so you naturally wouldn't record her in your notebook."
Hu Jia thought that made sense. But now that he and Lü Qingqing were together, he naturally wanted to recover those lost memories.
After all, women could be terrifying when they brought up old grievances. What if one day she asked a series of three questions, and he couldn't answer any of them? That would be terrible.
"You! You spoke first." Lü Qingqing thought about it. It was indeed Hu Jia who first asked her to pretend to be his fiancée. So, her answer was not wrong.
"Me?"
"What? Don't you trust your own good judgment?"
Uh, Hu Jia was choked. Your self-praise makes it impossible for me to respond.
Lü Qingqing smiled smugly and turned to leave.
Hu Jia, on the other hand, opened his notebook and recorded all the conversations he had with Lü Qingqing that day.
Finally, he looked at the full page and moved his lips slightly: "Superior?"
...
Saturday, the last day at the training center this week.
There was nothing special. The teaching assistants just briefed them on various matters and precautions for the wilderness drill. Then, they introduced all the teaching assistants for this wilderness drill.
The new student class was led by Tong Hua, which everyone had expected. What they hadn't expected was that Hu Jia and Ouyang Wen would also be there.
Ouyang Wen was the commander of the old and new student confrontation. His appearance made many people eager to compete. They all understood why Ouyang Wen was here: to find a promising talent to cultivate.
And Hu Jia, even participating in the drill as a team doctor, could not stop the girls from smiling.
"Hey, I envy you!" Zhou Fengjiu was already star-struck.
"Envy me for what?" Lü Qingqing looked bewildered.
"Envy you for already being injured," Zhou Fengjiu pointed to Lü Qingqing's leg.
Speechless.