"Director Zhou, Captain Han, hello!" Qin Si Yue greeted them warmly and without reservation.
Her face showed no ripple of emotion.
"You know each other?" Director Zhou looked at Han Hao Ming with curiosity.
He had just spoken with Dean Bai, who had said a female doctor named Qin would be delivering something to him. He hadn't expected this doctor to be acquainted with Han Hao Ming.
"Director Zhou, this is Qin Si Yue. She helped with the Li Qiang case last time," Han Hao Ming nodded slightly to Qin Si Yue before turning to Director Zhou.
"Oh. So it's Director Qin. Hello, hello, you were a great help to us last time." Hearing this, Director Zhou enthusiastically extended his hand to her.
Qin Si Yue quickly stepped forward and politely shook his hand lightly. "Director Zhou, please don't be so polite. It was just a small effort, not worth mentioning."
As she spoke, she took a small metal box from her bag and presented it to him.
"This is a USB drive that Dean Bai asked me to give you. Please accept it, Director Zhou."
"Alright, thank you! Director Qin, please have a seat." Director Zhou glanced at the box and casually placed it in the drawer in front of him.
"No need, thank you. Since the item has been delivered, I won't disturb you any further."
Qin Si Yue felt she had arrived at a most inopportune moment. They might have been discussing a major case, and it would be best for her to leave quickly, so as not to interfere with their work.
Just as she turned to leave, Director Zhou suddenly called out, "Director Qin, please wait. I'd like to ask, did you study psychology before?"
Qin Si Yue turned sideways, her expression as usual, and replied, "I read some when I was in university."
"Oh, no wonder," Director Zhou said, looking at her thoughtfully, then asked with a smile, "I apologize for troubling you to come all this way, Director Qin. How did you get here?"
Qin Si Yue replied truthfully, "I hitched a ride with a friend."
"Oh?" Hearing this, Director Zhou suddenly looked at Han Hao Ming. "Hao Ming, it's almost time to get off work. You know Director Qin quite well, so why don't you give her a ride home?"
"Yes." Han Hao Ming immediately stood straighter, as if accepting an order, and replied with a serious one-word answer.
Qin Si Yue, however, was inwardly delighted, feeling as if a pie had fallen from the sky and hit her.
Her gaze towards Director Zhou was filled with gratitude.
The two of them left the director's office and encountered Zou He and several other police officers in the hallway.
"Hello, Captain Han!"
"Mm!"
"No overtime today, right?"
"Correct. Once closing time arrives, you can all head back."
"That's great, we can finally go out for a meal."
Their gazes were peculiar as they looked at Han Hao Ming and Qin Si Yue with playful smiles.
Han Hao Ming's eyes darkened, and he shot Zou He a stern look.
It must have been this guy who had said something nonsensical in front of them.
Zou He met his gaze and shrugged innocently, as if to say: I didn't say anything, comrade. Your eyes are sharp enough to see for yourselves.
The two soon got into the car. Han Hao Ming glanced at Qin Si Yue and asked in a low voice, "Director Qin, where do you live?"
"Han Hao Ming, did you forget our agreement?" Qin Si Yue suddenly glared at him, her expression turning serious.
The man beside her was startled. It was the first time he had heard her speak so loudly, and she seemed a little angry.
He didn't understand where he had offended her and asked softly, "What?"
"Didn't we agree to call each other by our given names in private?" Qin Si Yue's voice lowered slightly from before.
Han Hao Ming finally understood and quickly said, "I'm sorry! I'll repeat what I just said.
Qin Si Yue, where do you live?"
"That's more like it." A faint smile gradually appeared on Qin Si Yue's refined and handsome face. However, she still didn't answer his question, instead asking, "Why is it that every time I call you for a meal, you say you're working overtime?"
Han Hao Ming replied with some guilt, "The bureau has been taking on quite a few cases recently, so we do often work overtime."
Actually, she had called him three times. The first two times were indeed because he was working overtime and couldn't make it, but the last time, he admitted, he had lied to her.
"Then you're not working overtime today. Since we're friends, could we go out for a meal together?" Qin Si Yue looked at him with a gentle expression. Her anger and suspicion had completely dissipated after hearing his explanation.