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 Public Security Bureau chief's office.

"Come in." Sitting behind the imposing desk was 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 a student he taught when he was the president of Sentinel Academy.

After Cao Junmin was promoted to the head of the Public Security Department, he promoted several students he had trained personally to his side.

As a confidant, when there were no outsiders around, Tan Shu always called Cao Junmin "Teacher" to show his affection.

Cao Jun 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 such a 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 the matter? You were classmates back then. Do you want to run some errands for him?"

Tan Shu said hurriedly: "No, no, no, I will follow your instructions, teacher."

Cao Junmin sat behind the large desk, crossed his hands, and looked at him with a smile, like a kind and amiable principal who showed some concern for a student who was punished for copying 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 something that would better please the teacher.

If it was out of selfish motives 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 always brooding over the things that Ni Ji had done to disobey him in the past.

"It's not that I'm 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 that is worth bending over backwards for. Only when they suffer and have their bones broken, they will understand that living in this world is not that easy."

He lowered his head and reviewed the documents again. "Let him suffer in the hands of the military control office for a few more days. When he realizes that he was wrong and remembers to ask me for help, I will 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 his desk and looked at him with a half-smile.

Tan Shu was startled 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 those 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 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 down 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 manipulate 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 a generous manner.

Tan Shu understood the teacher's thoughts and immediately said, "Although he was released, he has nowhere to go in the capital. In addition, he was tortured and injured in the military control office these days. I guess he is still sitting outside the military control office now."

Cao Junmin stood up from behind his desk and patted Tan Shu on the shoulder. "The teacher doesn't mean to blame you. After all, you were classmates and were very good friends back then."

"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 but also reluctantly leaving the office.

Cao Junmin looked at his leaving back and sneered in his heart.

You are still too young. I can see through the little thoughts in your heart at a glance.

When he was in Sentinel College, Tan Shu followed Ni Ji around every day. Many of his achievements in competitions were brought out by Ni Ji.

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 help his former classmate in a place like the Military Control Office where money is everything. He didn't necessarily have to be injured so badly 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 a high wall, stored winter supplies, and gathered around the stove.

He closed his eyes and stopped thinking about those people he would never see again.

Outside the alley, there was the sound of footsteps on water.

Ni Ji smiled in his heart. Finally, it came.

A non-commissioned officer in a neat military uniform, holding an umbrella, came jogging 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. You are really something. Why didn't you contact us immediately after 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 go find the teacher. After all, we are all his students."

"Although you and the teacher had a bad quarrel, the teacher still cared about you."

"You see, as soon as he heard the news, he immediately sent me to take you back."

"That's too much. Those people from the Military Control Office 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 rainwater under his feet.

He had very good eyesight. In the reflection of the water mirror, he could clearly see the faces of his classmates who were concerned about his tone of voice.

On the dirty black water, that face looked down at the wounded self from above.

Seeing him in such a miserable state and in such a miserable 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 see me."