Tina Shen set down the case file and checked the time on her phone. It was already 6:30 p.m.
The four rookie officers who had come with her had already left. Her mentor, Kevin Guo, had even come by to invite her to dinner, but Tina Shen had turned him down. She was racing against time; after all, the system had given her only three days to solve the case, and she was feeling the pressure.
Tina Shen had already felt how extraordinary the abilities granted by the system were, and she was craving the "Falcon's Eye" skill more than anything. Though she didn't fully understand the difference between "abilities" and "skills," she wanted them all. If she didn't solve the case, not only would she lose the skills, but even her current abilities might be taken away by the system! Tina Shen couldn't help but grumble inwardly: This system is such a scam!
Just as Tina Shen was about to dive back into the case files, her phone suddenly rang. She took it out and saw it was a call from Ethan Jiang. Tina Shen was puzzled. What could he want from me?
"Hello," Tina Shen answered the phone, her voice tinged with confusion. "Do you need something, Brother?"
"Are you busy?" Ethan Jiang's deep, magnetic voice came through the line. "Let's have dinner. I need to talk to you about something."
Tina Shen was about to decline, but her stomach growled at that moment, so she smiled and replied, "Alright, where should we go?"
"Where are you? I'll pick you up," Ethan Jiang said, his tone carrying an unquestionable air.
"Your bossy personality isn't very popular with girls, you know," Tina Shen teased, sticking her tongue out playfully. "I prefer the gentle, cute type who knows how to act spoiled, or maybe a big brother who speaks softly."
"..." Ethan Jiang was silent for a moment before slowly replying, "I've gotten used to speaking like this. I'll try to change it in the future."
This time, it was Tina Shen who was taken aback. She realized that Ethan Jiang had a good quality—he could listen to feedback. This was a stark contrast to some of the guys she'd met in her past life, who almost never admitted their mistakes, only acknowledging they had picked the wrong girlfriend. Although Ethan Jiang didn't directly admit fault, his willingness to change was close enough...
"XX Road, Criminal Investigation Detachment," Tina Shen reported the address.
In less than twenty minutes, a sports car smoothly pulled up in front of the Criminal Investigation Detachment's building and stopped right in front of Tina Shen. She opened the car door and got in. Ethan Jiang started the engine.
"So, what's up?" Tina Shen asked, curious. They had just parted ways in the morning. What was so urgent that he needed to see her?
"I told my mom that I have a girlfriend now," Ethan Jiang said, his expression calm. "She wants to meet you tomorrow."
Tina Shen: ...
She felt a chill down her spine, and her heart involuntarily skipped a beat. In her mind, mothers-in-law were terrifying creatures. Although they were only pretending to be a couple, the thought of meeting the "mother-in-law" still made her feel uneasy!
"Wait, your mom just believed you like that?" Tina Shen stared at Ethan Jiang, flabbergasted. "This is way too hasty!"
"Ha," Ethan Jiang glanced at Tina Shen from the corner of his eye, noticing her surprised expression, and couldn't help but chuckle. "My mom's impatient. She's been desperate for a grandson. She doesn't care who I'm dating, as long as it's a girl and she's alive!"
"You're something else," Tina Shen pretended to be angry. "You're just using me as a tool to deflect attention, aren't you?"
"Don't be mad," Ethan Jiang laughed and reassured her. "That's why I'm taking you to dinner, so we can arrange things properly."
Wait, is he trying to bribe me? Tina Shen asked in confusion, "Arrange what?"
"Practice our lines, and also... the kind of things couples should do..." Ethan Jiang said, his ears slightly turning red as he hesitated to continue.
Things couples should do? Tina Shen immediately understood, and she couldn't help but laugh. Of course, it meant showing some intimate interaction. If they claimed to be in a relationship but kept a two-meter distance, who would believe it? Couples had to maintain some kind of intimate atmosphere; otherwise, how could they possibly keep up the pretense?
As she laughed, Tina Shen's smile froze for a moment. In both her previous and current life, she'd never had a boyfriend. The realization made her feel a sudden pang of sadness. So, she really was just like the infamous "single dog," treated the same as the family dog, Kara?
No, it's fine. I can still recover! I'm only 22; there's no rush!
Outside the hot pot restaurant, the sports car smoothly parked in a space.
"Do you like hot pot?" Ethan Jiang raised an eyebrow. "Don't you think it's too greasy?"
"Are you implying..." Tina Shen opened the car door with a smile, "Are you asking if I'll gain weight or get pimples?"
Ethan Jiang: ...
As she got out of the car, Ethan Jiang thought to himself: This girl is too clever! For most guys, body management was also important, especially when they were worried about gaining weight or getting pimples. Even if they craved hot pot, many men would avoid greasy foods as they got older to maintain their appearance.
Entering the hot pot restaurant, their striking appearances immediately drew the attention of everyone around. Tina Shen's delicate features and radiant beauty made her stand out, while Ethan Jiang's sharp features and handsome face made them look perfect together, causing a wave of envy.
Ethan Jiang, dressed in a casual suit that perfectly highlighted his tall, athletic frame, moved with an effortless charm. His deep eyes exuded confidence and composure, as though everything in the world was under his control.
Tina Shen noticed many women occasionally glancing at Ethan Jiang and couldn't help but roll her eyes. She teased, "You really don't belong in a place like this. You're just asking to be hated!"
"Is that so?" Ethan Jiang smiled and replied, "Actually, I have to thank you for not taking me to a street-side stall."
"Ha!" Tina Shen laughed out loud. The image of Ethan Jiang, dressed in a sharp suit, sitting on a small bench at a street stall eating skewers was too funny. The contrast was just too much to imagine!
This book is provided by FunNovel Novel Book | Fan Fiction Novel [Beautiful Free Novel Book]