Police officer Chen Shu.

Police officers at local police stations are usually given a compensatory day off the next day if they work an overnight shift and there are no urgent cases to handle.

At 8:30 a.m., after the group finished their shift handover with the next shift, Chen Shu, along with Zhu Chaoran and Li Chaoyang, changed into civilian clothes and walked together toward the Lanzhou Ramen restaurant at the north intersection of Gongyuan Road.

Upon arriving at the restaurant, Chen Shuzhao, as usual, ordered two portions of beef for Zhu Chaoran, while he and Li Chaoyang each ordered a regular Lanzhou noodle dish.

While the ramen was still on the table, Chen Shu told the two a joke about what happened when he and some of his older colleagues from the institute were on a mission shortly after he graduated.

At the time, the police station had set some targets for cracking down on prostitution. Based on a report from an informant, they had also uncovered a prostitution den. That very night, they deployed police forces to raid it in one fell swoop.

Around 10 p.m., the old man and Chen Shu, along with a group of auxiliary police officers, cordoned off several roads near the target location.

The older comrade instructed Chen Shuxian to take a police auxiliary officer, disguised as a customer, to the brothel to assess the situation.

The two men didn't hesitate and immediately took off their police uniforms and went inside.

Unexpectedly, they alerted the enemy, and the two officers all fled. In the aftermath, it was discovered that neither of them had changed their police trousers.

The police badge button on the back of his pants gave away his identity.

After saying that, Chen Shu took out several pairs of chopsticks from the chopstick holder and distributed them to everyone. He then said, "You see, a major prostitution case was ruined just because of the police badge button on the pants. So, details determine success or failure."

Zhu Chaoran nodded, his face serious: "Brother Shu is right."

Unfortunately, his occasional glances toward the kitchen door ruined the carefully crafted atmosphere.

Li Chaoyang tapped his chubby hand lightly with his chopsticks, somewhat helplessly: "Fatty, your senior brother has been talking for so long and you haven't reacted at all? Do you have work to do today?"

Zhu Chaoran scratched the spot where he had been tapped, feeling a bit ticklish, and exclaimed in surprise, "I just finished my shift this morning, what happened?!"

Li Chaoyang pointed at his pants while holding his chopsticks: "Fatty, you changed into a T-shirt after get off work, but your pants are still in your police uniform."

Zhu Chaoran curled his lip in disdain: "Yes, it's about meeting someone to see a movie. What, can't I wear police trousers?"

"It's a first date, you should dress up a bit. It shows you take it seriously," Chen Shu said with a smile, stubbing out his cigarette. "Details matter."

Li Chaoyang's mouth dropped open: "Hey Fatty, not bad. Got a girlfriend? My senior and I are still single. How can you be so shameless?"

"Go away. Always criticizing people. It's just a blind date; we don't even know if it'll work out. But this morning, Brother Shu taught me a trick, and I feel like it might work!"

Zhu Chaoran nodded emphatically, "Okay, I understand. I'll go back to my dorm to change my pants and then go to the cinema to buy paper tickets. I was just thinking about it on the way here, buying movie tickets on my phone and taking a screenshot is not as sincere as going to the cinema to buy paper tickets in person."

Li Chaoyang gave a thumbs up: "Great! Looking forward to good news."

As the three were chatting, the ramen shop owner came over carrying a large tray with three large bowls of ramen.

"Officers, here comes the ramen."

Zhu Chaoran, who had been staring at the small kitchen door for a long time, quickly stood up and helped put the large tray down.

Chen Shu said with a smile, "Master Ma, your noodles are authentic. Every time I finish my shift, I think about coming here to have a good bowl of beef noodles."

"Yes, yes, Ma Baozi, although your beef is a little less, it's genuine and of good quality, so we feel safe eating it." Zhu Chaoran nodded and smacked his lips as he smelled the aroma of the meat.

"Go away! What kind of talk is that?" Li Chaoyang kicked him under the table.

"Master Ma, don't listen to this fat man's nonsense. He doesn't know how to talk. The price and quality of your beef noodles are unmatched; you won't find another place like it on this entire street."

"Unless it's still a Lanzhou noodle shop." Chen Shu took a sip of the aroma in front of him and added with a light laugh.

Ma Baozi smiled, his eyes crinkling. "You guys come here to eat noodles every few days, how could I not know? You guys eat, I'm going back to the kitchen to get busy."

After finishing their noodles and paying the bill, the three parted ways at the entrance of the noodle shop and went home separately.

There were no police reports last night, and although I went to bed a little late, I still got a full night's sleep. I felt like my energy had returned, so I thought I should ask Huang Siqian out... When you're well-fed and clothed, you think about romance. Chen Shu was strolling down the street when he decided to find a movie theater near Huang Siqian's dorm and buy two paper tickets.

I just helped someone get their phone back, and now I'm asking them out like this... It feels like I'm taking advantage of their kindness, which isn't appropriate...

Besides, sending the movie tickets directly via WeChat after purchase seems too forceful and inappropriate...

Chen Shu was conflicted the whole way.

He sensed some noise nearby, stopped, and looked over, only to find a group of people gathered there.

With the primary goal of serving the people and a casual, gossipy curiosity to see what had happened, Chen Shu quickly walked forward.

As he approached, he pushed through the crowd and entered. There he saw an elderly woman, about seventy years old, with white hair, sitting on the zebra crossing, frowning and clutching her chest. Beside her were vegetables and pork scattered all over the ground.

"Help me, help me..." the white-haired old woman groaned, her head bowed.

A large crowd gathered, some calling the police, some calling for emergency medical assistance, and others taking photos and videos with their phones.

But not a single person went to help the elderly person up.

Although it is nearing the end of summer, the weather is still hot. If a person were to stand on the asphalt road, it would be scorching hot, yet people let elderly people stand in the sun to scorch, and no one stepped forward to help.

Upon seeing this, Chen Shu's forehead veins bulged, and the old man's cries for help were like steel needles piercing his mind.

He went straight to the old man, first checking his injuries and finding no fractures or other conditions that would prevent him from moving. He then knelt down, put his arms around the old man's neck and knees, and whispered:

"Don't be afraid, grandpa. I'll carry you to the shade of a tree by the roadside to block out the sun. The ambulance will be here soon."

"Young man, you'd better not move the old man. The ambulance will be here soon."

Just as Chen Shu was about to lift the old man up, he heard a sound and looked towards the speaker. He saw a woman in her fifties or sixties standing to the side, holding a parasol and speaking urgently.

Perhaps they were worried that I would be extorted, or perhaps they were worried that the old man would get injured again while moving, but no matter what, they were still kind people who stood up to speak for me... Chen Shu gave the other person a friendly smile, and then turned back to carry the old man to the shady side of the road.

"Hey, slow down, slow down..."

"Young people are too impatient..."

The woman carried a parasol, which barely covered the old man's body, and then followed Chen Shu to move the old man under the tree.