Xu Jin Lin, dressed neatly in her police uniform, walked through the bustling corridors with her usual calm and composed demeanor. It had been seven days since her return, and today marked her first official day reporting for duty. Despite her military background and extensive training, the air around her felt heavier than usual—a weight she carried from her last mission.
She reached Officer Han's office and knocked on the door, her sharp knuckles rapping against the wood. A deep voice from within called her in, and she stepped inside with a crisp military salute.
"Captain Xu Jin Lin, reporting for duty, sir," she said, her voice steady but her posture rigid.
Officer Han looked up from the paperwork on his desk and smiled warmly. "At ease, Captain Xu. Have a seat."
She lowered her hand and took the seat across from him, her sharp gaze scanning the familiar face in front of her. Officer Han was no stranger to her. He had been one of the most celebrated aces in the military's special operations team and had been her senior and mentor when she first enlisted at the age of seventeen. Back then, his patience and guidance had shaped her into the leader she became, though he had since transitioned to the police department due to an old injury.
"I heard what happened in your last mission," Officer Han began, his voice steady but tinged with empathy. "Your commander shared the details with me. The military will take you back after nine months, but in the meantime, I hope you'll bring the same efficiency and skill to this department."
Jin Lin nodded, her expression calm but her mind flickering back to the events that had led her here. "Yes, sir. I'll do my best," she replied, though the words felt hollow even to her own ears.
Han leaned back in his chair, studying her. "Jin Lin," he said, his tone softening, "you don't need to carry all of this on your shoulders. From what I understand, you did everything you could during that mission."
Her jaw tightened, and for a moment, she hesitated. "It was my fault," she admitted finally, her voice low but firm. "I made a wrong decision. Three of my team members were injured because of it—badly. As their captain, I should take responsibility."
Han sighed deeply, his fingers drumming lightly on the desk. "I know you blame yourself. It's only natural as a leader. But you also know as well as I do that every mission comes with risks—risks we can't always foresee. You made a decision in the heat of the moment, with the information you had at the time. You can't let this guilt consume you."
She looked down at her hands, clasped tightly on her lap. "But they trusted me. They trusted me to bring them back safely."
"And I'm sure you did everything in your power to protect them," Han said firmly. "You're not infallible, Jin Lin. No leader is. What matters is that you learn from it and move forward. Carrying this burden alone will only hold you back."
Jin Lin's lips pressed into a thin line. She knew he was right, but the weight of her actions still lingered heavily on her heart. The image of her injured teammates, their bloodied faces and pained expressions, was something she couldn't easily forget.
"Besides," Han added, leaning forward slightly, "I know the kind of person you are. The military invested a lot of time and resources into training you, but it's your determination and strength that made you who you are. You're one of the best I've ever seen, and I have no doubt you'll prove that here as well."
She looked up at him, her gaze steady but filled with unspoken gratitude. "Thank you, sir," she said quietly.
Han nodded, offering her a small, reassuring smile. "Now," he said, shifting back into his more professional demeanor, "let's talk about your first assignment."
He handed her a file, which she opened immediately. Inside were details about a case involving a series of robberies in a wealthy district of the city. The suspects were believed to be part of an organized gang that had been eluding the police for months.
"This will be your first task," Han explained. "I want you to work with Officer Chen on this. He's been leading the investigation so far, but I believe your experience will bring a fresh perspective."
Jin Lin scanned the file, her sharp eyes taking in every detail. "Understood," she said, her voice firm. "I'll get started right away."
As she stood to leave, Han called out to her. "And Jin Lin," he said, his tone softer this time. "Remember, you're not alone here. If you ever need to talk—about anything—you know where to find me."
She paused, looking back at him with a faint smile. "Thank you, Officer Han. I'll keep that in mind."
With that, she left his office, the file tucked securely under arm.