After Pear Flower University, at a road corner, an entire black Army aviation force car was parked. The car appeared exceptionally sturdy and heavy, with the windows covered in reflective film that blocked the view inside. Inside the car, there were no seats, but instead, various electronic instruments and a camp bed were piled up. What was even more peculiar was that several staff members in subdued gray uniforms were vigilantly observing the electronic instruments, while a young man lay lazily on the camp bed. This young man, around 24 or 25 years old, had high-fidelity earphones on, seemingly engrossed in whatever he was monitoring. With his eyes narrowed, he gave the impression of someone who had fallen asleep.
If Xu Le were to witness this display, he would surely think that this young man appeared just as languid as an uncle boss who could stay in such a state even in such a hectic work environment. If not somewhat pessimistic, Xu Le would find it somewhat pale to see someone like that in such intense working conditions.
One of the staff members removed the young man's earphones and said with a bitter smile, "Team leader, even if you don't feel like monitoring, shouldn't you listen to government-related matters instead of music? Otherwise, if the director finds out, you'll get scolded."
The young man opened his eyes, yawned, and his attractive face showed signs of exhaustion after a hangover. He muttered, "It's such a shame not to listen to music. It's such a good thing." He glanced at a small illuminating screen on one of the electronic instruments and asked in a bored tone, "What's wrong? Does that spirited young woman have any issues?"
"It's nothing. Why would the bureau want us to keep an eye on her just because she returned from S2? What major problem could a schoolgirl have?" The staff member shrugged and pointed towards Pear Flower University, asking, "Can a schoolgirl be a cause for concern?"
"Zhang Xiaomeng came back so casually, without any issues? I must be an idiot," the young man said with a yawn. His name was Shi Qinghai, a graduate of the top military academy, currently assigned to the federal Bureau of Investigation. The staff members in the entire black Army aviation force car were his subordinates. Boredly looking in the direction of the back door of Pear Flower University, he casually remarked, "A lamb starting a new life?... Her parents are government officials, so if there were really no issues, this little lamb should have cried in her parents' arms at Capital International Airport, rather than returning to the university city alone and running all the way back after more than ten days."
"Why doesn't she meet up with her parents? She's still rebellious and hasn't matured yet. She's just a pitiful girl who has been led astray," a tinge of ridicule flashed across Shi Qinghai's attractive face. "Although our bureau has a pile of useless wastes, choosing her as our surveillance target shouldn't pose any major problems."
As he spoke, the six individuals surrounding the black Army aviation force car stopped what they were doing and listened to the team leader's analysis, nodding in agreement. One of them smiled and said, "Team leader, we all know that you're not an idiot."
Naturally, Shi Qinghai was not an idiot. Graduating at the top of his class from the military academy and joining the federal Bureau of Investigation, he had successfully cracked several spy cases, demonstrating his abilities to everyone. If he continued on this path safely, the Bureau of Investigation believed that he could become the youngest deputy bureau-level cadre in history. However, no one expected that this talented young man would quickly deteriorate and spend his days indulging in alcohol and women within the Bureau of Investigation, effectively giving up on his own future.
"Stop drinking so much alcohol. What's the point of trading in women every day when they're all the same with the lights off? Don't you need a change?" complained one of Shi Qinghai's subordinates, visibly frustrated. "Let's not offend the boss, or else we won't rise early, and we'll have to deal with the consequences."
"Don't talk nonsense to me, who hasn't risen with me yet? I don't have the patience to deal with those young masters. This university city is great, there are so many beautiful women... so many young and beautiful women..." Shi Qinghai licked his lips, his gaze infatuated and blurred. "The aura of youth and vitality surrounds me. How can I abandon it?"
He got up from the camp bed, absentmindedly rubbed his unwashed face, and mumbled, "Rising in any profession is all nonsense. I wish I could transfer to the Charter Bureau. Those guys just sit in front of computers all day and don't have to manage anything. It's a great place for retirement."
Although he said that, the work still needed to be done, even if it was just for show. Shi Qinghai mechanically put on his monitoring earpiece and listened for a while. He started his usual routine, but gradually his expression changed from indifference to excitement, until he couldn't contain his laughter.
"Gatekeeper? This young master can't help but laugh... Does he know that he was asked to wipe off the saliva of a congressman's son?" Shi Qinghai laughed heartily, patting his thigh. "This young gatekeeper is interesting, interesting! It's rare to see such a sincere person in this damn society."
"Hey, team leader, lower your voice!" one team member scolded Shi Qinghai angrily, staring at him in disbelief. Lowering his voice, he said, "We're in surveillance mode, not in a movie theater!"
"Oh, right," Shi Qinghai snapped out of his daze, smiling. He opened the car door and walked towards the vehicle, saying, "We need to keep an eye on Pear Flower University for at least one semester. It's too boring. I want to see that interesting young gatekeeper."
The Bureau of Investigation staff members looked at each other in bewilderment under the sunlight. They had no idea how to deal with their crazy and absurd team leader. Looking at him lazily strolling under the sunlight, moving as if he had no bones, he seemed more like a young hooligan than a team leader. Awkwardly averting their eyes, one of them muttered, "Isn't this a violation of regulations...? Why does the team leader act so much like a young hooligan?"
"The team leader grew up in a rural area. His father was a farmer."
"Really? That's quite an unusual occupation. But what does that have to do with the team leader acting like a hooligan?"
"Didn't George Carlin say that hooligans exist because of the unfair distribution of wealth?"
...
...
At the back door of Pear Flower University campus, there was no class struggle between wealthy students and poor young gatekeepers. Xu Le, the embodiment of the Karin principle, did not resort to dragging the other party down and forcing him to kneel on the ground while forcefully wiping off the saliva. Xu Le would doubt his own intelligence quotient if he were to do such a thing. Instead, he followed the school regulations and wrote a note about the incident, which he would submit to the designated student mailbox via the computer. Then, he took out the water pipe and rinsed the clean pavement once again.
Before, Xu Le used to walk past because he noticed that the boy seemed to have an intention to continue bothering the girl. So, he tried to find a way to intervene. If it weren't for the black-framed glasses, Xu Le wouldn't have remembered that the girl was the one who stole the person's biscuit on the bus. Xu Le had no idea about the Karin principle or the negotiations between governments and anti-government forces. He simply felt uncomfortable seeing so many students indifferently watching the girl, who seemed incredibly lonely. That's what made him take action when the boy blocked the girl's way.
Of course, the main reason was that he knew the girl... Although the girl probably didn't remember him and was rude to him at that time.
After cleaning the pavement, Xu Le grabbed a chair and sat down beside the entrance, faithfully carrying out his duties. Basking in the warm sunlight, he squinted his eyes, and although it seemed like he was about to fall asleep, he was actually thinking about when he would get his student ID card, when he could access the library, and when he could visit the experimental farms.
As a Bureau of Investigation official, Shi Qinghai had no real interest in getting to know a common young gatekeeper like Xu Le. He had spent the previous evening frolicking with a beautiful blonde woman, had too much to drink, and was feeling extremely exhausted and uncomfortable. That's why he took a walk to clear his head. He bought a pack of cigarettes from the convenience store at the school gate, selected one, and squatted by the roadside. He casually glanced at the young gatekeeper, and then his gaze inexplicably lingered on Xu Le for a long time. He stood up and walked towards Xu Le, smiling.
"It's really enviable how you can enjoy the sun so openly in your work," Shi Qinghai remarked. Xu Le was surprised by the sudden conversation. In this strange star, in this strange place, he never expected someone to initiate a conversation with him. He raised his head and saw the green trees lining the street, the clear light, and a young man in a wrinkled black suit smiling at him.
"... Perhaps it is very comfortable," Xu Le replied cautiously, unsure of how to respond to this question. He squinted his eyes, blocking the sunlight, and spoke carefully.
"Care for one?" Shi Qinghai smiled and offered a cigarette with an extended filter tip. Xu Le wanted to decline, but then he suddenly thought of his boss who never seemed to let go of a cigarette. Something sparked in his heart, and he accepted it, lighting the cigarette with the lighter, and thanked Shi Qinghai.
Not far from the big iron gate of Pear Flower University, the two of them smoked their cigarettes, unaware of the taste, as if they were engulfed in endless concerns. Shi Qinghai flicked the cigarette butt to the ground, ran his fingers through his messy hair, and suddenly stared at Xu Le.
"Sitting on the chair, body hanging, horse stance. You really take your practice seriously," Shi Qinghai remarked.