Chapter 12: Three Days Apart, A Model Emerges!

As Sun Pangzi's voice reading the newspaper grew louder, the private room became silent; everyone was immersed in the story.

One has to admire the pen of the propaganda department!

It makes one feel as if sitting on the clouds, drifting and ethereal.

When Sun Pangzi read the name of the correspondent, Du Xi, Tang Ye secretly sighed with emotion. Du Xi's writing was excellent; through her polishing and elevation, the image in the article was not himself, but a model worthy of everyone's study and respect—even more perfect and towering.

"Tang Seng, you really don't show your true colors; you actually made it into the Provincial Public Security Daily."

Sun Hai subconsciously patted Tang Ye on the shoulder.

He didn't know his own strength, and the wound that hadn't yet had its stitches removed reacted immediately.

Tang Ye gasped in pain.

Sun Hai apologized hurriedly, "Sorry, I forgot you were injured."

Tang Ye endured the pain, squeezed out a smile, and explained, "The process wasn't that exaggerated. Du Xi has a good pen and wrote it too brilliantly; she is material for propaganda work."

Du Xi's eyes were red for some reason. "I often submit materials to the Public Security Daily, and they are usually just small snippets, but this time they published a full page because the material was solid and had depth; the leaders approved of it. Tang Ye, you are amazing; I must learn from you!"

Sun Hai put his arm around Tang Ye's shoulder. "I didn't expect a hero to be right by my side; you are a good man!"

The other classmates also cast looks of approval toward Tang Ye one after another.

As for Shao Jinbo, he watched with a sense of loss as Tang Ye replaced his position, becoming the object of everyone's attention, and felt quite bitter inside.

Where did Tang Ye get such dog-shit luck? He hadn't been in Pinghu Town for long, and he had already performed a meritorious service and made the newspaper!?

Shao Jinbo had intended to show off at the class reunion today about the news that he was about to be promoted to Deputy Section Chief, but he hadn't expected Tang Ye to stifle his words in his stomach with a single mention of the public notice period.

Even less did he expect Du Xi to throw out a news report directly, which completely ruined his state of mind.

Xiao Hui noticed the disappointment in her fiancé's eyes and didn't know how to comfort him for a moment.

Ripples stirred in the lake of her heart, especially seeing Du Xi and Tang Ye walking so closely; she felt as if they were flirting with their eyes, as if she had been betrayed.

Shao Jinbo nudged Xiao Hui's arm with his hand. "Du Xi seems to have taken a liking to Tang Ye."

Xiao Hui acted as if she were not surprised. "Older single men and women attracting each other, what is there to be strange about?"

Shao Jinbo curled his lip. "Du Xi is your best friend; don't you find it disgusting that she's picking up the leftovers you didn't want?"

Xiao Hui froze for a moment and glared at Shao Jinbo. "I reiterate: I have absolutely no relationship with Tang Ye."

Xiao Hui's jade-like face turned cold, and she rose to head to the restroom.

Shao Jinbo vented his depressed mood on Xiao Hui, feeling much more comfortable inside.

He secretly glanced at Du Xi and couldn't help but sigh; he hadn't expected Du Xi to change so much.

A rounded, oval face, cheeks pink and white, red lips like cherries, and a beauty mark at the corner of her eye, just like the finishing touch on a painting, added three parts of charm.

Her figure was tall and slender, clearly showing a good habit of exercise; her jet-black, shiny hair was simply tied behind her head, and below her long, slender neck were clear collarbones, yet between her brows was a unique professional heroic spirit, giving people a clean, healthy, and sunny feeling.

At this moment, his fiancée was actually somewhat eclipsed.

The key was that Du Xi's attention was only focused on Tang Ye.

A huge sense of disparity arose in his heart.

After finishing the meal, they moved the venue to a KTV.

Arriving at the KTV, Tang Ye sat in a corner, quietly acting as a listener.

After Du Xi finished singing "Fruits of Midsummer," she chose to sit by Tang Ye's side. "Why don't you go pick a song?"

Tang Ye smiled. "I'm tone-deaf; don't let me go up and make a fool of myself!"

A look of disbelief appeared on Du Xi's face. "Don't be modest. I'll go help you pick one."

Seeing Du Xi stand up, Tang Ye, in his urgency, grabbed Du Xi's arm.

Du Xi felt as if her breathing had stopped, and her cheeks flushed red.

As she sat down following that downward pull, her heart pounded like a deer...

The light in the private room was dim, so her burning cheeks couldn't be seen clearly, and no one knew that she and Tang Ye had just had such a small interlude.

Seeing Du Xi suddenly fall silent, Tang Ye realized his previous action was a bit presumptuous and explained patiently, "With so many people, there are only two microphones, and one of them is controlled by a microphone hog; let's not join the fun."

Du Xi suddenly said, "You not only have amnesia, you're also a liar!"

Tang Ye was confused. "Why?"

But he saw Du Xi's grape-like eyes filled with smiles.

"Saying you're tone-deaf, isn't that lying?"

Tang Ye discovered that Du Xi was quite serious.

In his impression, when they were in school, she loved to be persistent when studying; if she couldn't remember a certain point while reciting, she would mutter it over and over again.

Sure enough, looks are easy to change, but once character and habits are set, they are difficult to change.

Tang Ye scratched his head. "Isn't that modesty? I actually sing okay, especially red songs; my signature piece is 'Xiu Hongqi.' Let's leave the opportunity to others today."

Du Xi said as if possessed, "Next time when it's just us... when there are fewer people, you must sing; I want to see if you're bragging!"

After speaking, she felt a bit annoyed inside—was she being too proactive?

Immediately, she thought, inviting a classmate to sing isn't a big deal, why think so much?

"Alright, when there are fewer people, I'll keep you company to the end." Tang Ye didn't think much of it.

After Xiao Hui finished singing a song, she was met with applause.

She saw Tang Ye and Du Xi whispering in the corner.

It cut off everything happening in the outside world.

The fingers holding the microphone tightened subconsciously.

The singing session ended.

Shao Jinbo had driven his father's car and could give the two of them a ride.

Xiao Hui asked Du Xi, "Are you coming with us? Shao Jinbo drove, he can take you home."

Du Xi shook her head, "I'm going to take a taxi and leave with Tang Ye, Sun Hai, and the others."

Xiao Hui was just about to persuade her otherwise when Sun Hai hailed a taxi not far away and waved at Du Xi.

Du Xi smiled to say goodbye to Xiao Hui and ran off with light, quick steps.

Sun Hai sat in the front passenger seat.

Du Xi climbed into the back seat of the taxi first, and Tang Ye followed right after her.

Shao Jinbo stood by the car, feeling extremely indignant and furious inside!

Having failed to show off once again, he could not hide the look of resentment in his eyes.

"So what if he helped the Police Station solve a case? A petty person drunk on success!"

Xiao Hui sensed intense jealousy coming from Shao Jinbo.

"Du Xi's family background is very good; the blind date candidate her family picked out for her last time was a returnee from abroad and a high-level recruited talent. Tang Ye's situation is decent, but there is a gap compared to that blind date candidate. Du Xi is a rather stubborn person; once she sets her mind on something or someone, she will get stuck in a rut. I've warned her not to get trapped just because of a class reunion!"

Shao Jinbo was stunned for a moment, then spat on the ground.

"That just means she's blind! As her best friend, you've done your duty by warning her!"

Xiao Hui frowned subconsciously, "Why can't you wish others well!"

People's mentality is just like this: if they can't have something, they want to see it destroyed.

Shao Jinbo desperately hoped that Du Xi would make the wrong choice and live to regret it!

Shao Jinbo got into the car on his own and shouted impatiently at Xiao Hui, "Hurry up and get in."

Xiao Hui felt dejected.

Ever since they got engaged, Shao Jinbo had changed a lot; it was one thing for him to boss her around, but today he had treated her like a punching bag several times!