The white rose I picked up cried and said she liked me.

As Officer Zhang finished speaking, Xu Nian couldn't help but look at Xu Xi.

I never imagined this little girl had such good grades before.

Luckily, I insisted on letting her go to school, otherwise it would have been a waste of such a promising student.

"However, Xu Xi's admission process was a little different from that of other students."

Officer Zhang paused for a moment, then continued.

"Normally, students need to take the high school entrance exam in the enrollment year and their scores must meet the admission standards to be admitted."

"Xu Xi's middle school entrance exam results are from last year, and the enrollment period for this year has already ended, so the normal enrollment channels are not open."

"However, my friend managed to access the records and included Xu Xi in the list of students who enrolled last year."

"In other words, Xu Xi will be enrolled in the second year of high school, and will be considered a student who has already completed the first year of high school."

Upon hearing this, Xu Nian frowned.

Directly enrolling in the second year of high school means that Xu Xi needs to learn both the second-year and first-year material at the same time to ensure she doesn't fall behind.

This will greatly increase the academic pressure on Xu Xi.

"Uncle Zhang, is there any way to get Xu Xi into a first-year high school class?"

Officer Zhang shook his head.

"Then you'll need to retake the high school entrance exam next year, and as a non-current year student, the admission score will be much higher."

Xu Nian fell silent.

If Xu Xi takes the high school entrance exam again next year, after nearly two years of not studying, it will be questionable whether she can get into a top high school.

He turned to look at Xu Xi, only to see that she also had a furrowed brow.

Direct admission to the second year of high school...

By then, my classmates will have been together for a year. How will they view me, someone who joined the class halfway through?

"Xiaoxi, do you want to start from the first year of high school next year, or enroll this year to be a second-year student?"

Xu Xi lowered her head, feeling extremely nervous.

She had already promised her brother she would go to school, so she had to go back no matter what.

Starting from the first year of high school, I will have to be away from my brother for another year, and he will have to pay for my tuition for another year.

Instead of doing that, I might as well just transfer to the second year of high school this year.

So what if I'm ostracized? Having my brother is enough.

"Let's enroll this year, brother."

"That's good. My friend told me that the enrollment policy will be much stricter next year. It would be a waste if a promising student like Xu Xi were to get into No. 2 or No. 3 High School."

"Then I'll have to trouble you, Uncle Zhang."

While Xu Nian breathed a sigh of relief, she also felt a little worried for Xu Xi.

Hopefully, Xu Xi can keep up with the pace of her studies and catch up with the progress of the second year of high school.

"It's no trouble at all. In fact, I'm the one who wronged the little girl first."

Officer Zhang waved his hand, looking at Xu Xi with some guilt.

"It was a mistake of mine to send you back to your father's place before. I should have checked on the situation beforehand. I'm so sorry that you had to suffer for those few days."

"It's alright, Uncle Zhang."

Xu Xi quickly shook her head.

"I've been used to being beaten since I was a child, so those few days were nothing to me."

Upon hearing this, both Xu Nian and Officer Zhang felt a lump in their throats.

Xu Nian picked up a piece of pork rib and placed it in Xu Xi's bowl.

"Little guy, if anyone hits you again, go find Uncle Zhang. No matter who he is, I'll arrest him."

Xu Xi nodded vigorously.

After a brief exchange, the group moved past this heartbreaking topic.

"Xu Nian, do you drink?"

Officer Zhang glanced at Xu Nian and gave her a meaningful smile.

"What would you like to drink?"

Xu Nian asked, puzzled.

Officer Zhang chuckled and pulled two bottles of baijiu (Chinese liquor) from his pocket.

Xu Nian gasped.

How did it manage to hide in there?

Upon seeing the wine bottle, Xu Xi's eyes revealed a hint of unease.

Her biological father was an alcoholic who would yell and beat her mother for money for alcohol every day.

After drinking, he becomes completely indistinguishable from animals, and there is never a peaceful day in the house.

Coupled with her experience of being kidnapped by the drunkard Li Laogui, Xu Xi instinctively felt a strong aversion to alcohol.

She gripped Xu Nian's hand tightly under the table, signaling him not to agree.

"Haha, my family is very strict and won't let me touch a drop, so I can only sneak out to drink a little."

Officer Zhang chuckled as he opened the bottle cap, sniffed the contents, and looked completely absorbed.

"Want to have a drink with me, Xu Nian?"

Xu Nian squeezed Xu Xi's hand back, thinking that Xu Xi just didn't want to sit here, so she gestured for her to get off the table first.

"Have a drink. Uncle Zhang has helped us so much, it's only right that we treat him."

Upon hearing this, Xu Xi's face immediately showed displeasure.

She pinched Xu Nian's thigh hard to express her dissatisfaction.

"Xiaoxi, go wash the dishes first."

Xu Nian guessed that Xu Xi wanted her to give her an excuse to leave the table, so she instructed her to clear away the empty bowls on the table first.

Xu Xi gritted her teeth, her face full of grievance.

However, she dared not disobey Xu Nian's words and had no choice but to do as Xu Nian said.

"Let me make this clear first, Xu Nian, I'm not the kind of person who likes to force others to drink."

Officer Zhang poured half a glass of baijiu (Chinese liquor) into a glass and handed it to Xu Nian.

"If you can't drink anymore, don't force yourself. I won't blame you."

"Mainly because I haven't had it in so long, I was really craving it, haha."

Xu Nian took the wine glass and drank it all in one gulp.

The pungent alcohol, mixed with a pungent bitterness, poured down his throat.

In an instant, Xu Nian felt her throat ignite.

What's so good about this stuff that tastes like horse urine?

Although he thought this in his heart, he did not show the slightest displeasure on his face.

Xu Nian knew that Officer Zhang must have gone to great lengths to help Xu Xi enroll in school and had incurred a debt of gratitude.

We have to make him happy today, no matter what.

"That's great! I really can't tell. Have you had this before?"

Officer Zhang's face lit up with joy, and he quickly poured Xu Nian another cup.

No, this is my first time drinking it.

A burning sensation came from his stomach, and Xu Nian dared not gulp it down anymore. He picked up the cup and took a small sip.

"It has a faint wheat aroma, and it also seems to have a hint of corn flavor."

He smacked his lips, carefully savoring the other flavors amidst the indescribable bitterness.

"Haha, you're right, this is a 1:1 replica of Wuliangye liquor made by my friend."

Officer Zhang took a sip, a look of ecstasy on his face.

"Unfortunately, the taste is quite different from genuine Wuliangye liquor, and I've heard it has a strong aftereffect."

"No wonder they can sell for thousands of dollars a bottle. I can only get a few sips during the Chinese New Year."

"A while ago, a suspect's family member came to me with genuine Wuliangye liquor, asking for my help. When I chased him away, I was so angry I almost ground my teeth to powder."

......

The two chatted over drinks, and Officer Zhang got more and more excited as he talked, from the troubles in his life to his disobedient children.

Xu Nian listened quietly from the side, occasionally chiming in with a few words of agreement.

Xu Xi, who was washing dishes in the kitchen, had a very gloomy expression.

Every time a wine glass hit the table, she silently gritted her teeth.