"Girls!" Minnie clapped her hands, and a shuffle ensued in the group until the girls were standing in a neat row. "This," —she gestured towards him— "is Detective Li Xiajun."
"Hello," the girls murmured rather unenthusiastically.
Xiajun smiled. They must be in a bad mood because a stranger had just interrupted their sleep.
"Now," Minnie said sternly, "you are to address him as 'Sir'. He is to be regarded with the utmost respect. I don't think I need to run it past you all what he's here about; I expect you to be smarter. Or smart enough. Now introduce yourselves!"
Nobody spoke a word.
"Girls!"
"Isn't it better if the man introduces himself first?" a girl chirped. Xiajun raised an eyebrow as his eyes swept to her. She was standing on the 3rd spot from the right, her stance defensive.
