Growing Fond of You, Mr Nian

“Oh, I’ve heard of them.”

Someone added, “Aren’t they a family of scientists? Damn. Genetics do matter after all. The whole family is in the field of science. He’s so amazing, and he’s so young.”

Director Wang smiled. “Yes, they are a family of scientists. Their grandfather studied overseas back then as well. He did research with the Americans and he came back home when our country was liberated to join in the revolutionary movement. He was the first batch of scientists to build our country. Jiang Yuning is not only just a physicist; he is an astrophysicist. I can’t divulge too many secrets, but I can tell you he had some breakthroughs with his research and nothing must happen to him.”

“I understand, Director. I’m willing to step forward to protect him.” Hong Li from Team One stood up immediately.

“Yup. Hong Li is the most agile and capable officer in the police force.” Director Wang nodded with satisfaction.

“I want to go too.” Nian Xi raised her hand quickly. “I can do this.”

Director Wang looked at her and said, “Nian Xi, you are too young, and your body physique is a little…”

Nian Xi said stubbornly, “Jiang Yuning is a man. I think there should be a female officer there who is more attentive to the details. Communication would be easier as well. After all, a man and woman are a heavenly match.”

The crowd burst into laughter.

Director Wang laughed as well. “Don’t treat me like a fool. Men and women as partners, spells trouble.”

Nian Xi scratched her head. “Anyway, a woman is better at coordinating.”

Director Wang nodded his head. “That’s true…”

“Director, I want to go too.” Feng Jichuan suddenly stood up. “I think I am the most agile here.”

“Although you are the best, we are teaming up with the police force from another state to crack down on a case of drug trafficking. You are in charge of the case, so I don’t think you should leave your position now. This is a crucial moment.” The Director then picked four people other than Feng Jichuan.

“Director Wang. Why didn’t you mention my name?” Nian Xi protested again saying, “You seemed to approve of me earlier…”

“Yup. So I’m sending Fan Yi. She’s much more experienced than you. All right. We’ll end this meeting here.” The Director clapped his hands.

Nian Xi was going to faint from frustration.

Feng Jichuan said to her, “It’s good that you’re not going. It’s too dangerous.”

“Dangerous? If I’m going to stay away from danger, why am I a policewoman?” Nian Xi was annoyed.

Feng Jichuan frowned and said strictly, “Nian Xi, I think you need to correct your mindset at the moment. Although your job seems dry and mundane, you should do it with a hundred percent of your effort. Every job has its own meaning and purpose. If you’re constantly thinking about putting yourself in the forefront, I have to be honest with you. Your mindset is not suited for fieldwork.”

Nian Xi’s chest was heaving with anger.

She knew these things but she couldn’t stand taking a lecture from Feng Jichuan.

“Think about it yourself.” Feng Jichuan looked at her helplessly and walked away.

“Nian Xi, don’t think too much about it. Feng Jichuan has a point. This is no ordinary person we’re protecting,” Chen Jing said.

“Ok.” Nian Xi nodded her head. She wasn’t an unreasonable person. She was just passionate when she volunteered herself and she admired the scientists.

Back in the office, Nian Xi couldn’t resist satisfying her curiosity; she looked up Jiang Yuning on the internet, but there was barely any information about him.

In the afternoon, she found out that Captain Luo, Zhan Hong and the rest of the officers had already gone over to Jiang Yuning’s.

She didn’t hear about anything else, and went home at around six o’clock.

The next morning, her colleagues were huddled up in a discussion. Fan Yi who was about to leave for Paris was there as well; she looked dejected.

When Nian Xi walked over, her teammate Zhao Fan said, “Fan Yi didn’t pass the test yesterday. Jiang Yuning insisted on swapping for someone else.”

“Why?” Nian Xi was surprised.

Fan Yi sighed. “He said that my name was too tacky.”

“…”

Was he choosing his bodyguards or choosing names?

“I met him yesterday, from a distance away. He was really… so handsome,” Fan Yi said. “He even made me, a thirty-year-old woman’s heart, flutter. It’s a good thing I’m not going. I’m worried that I might fall in love with him if I go to Paris. It would jeopardize my marriage.”

Everyone was silent.

“I wonder who can fill in though.”

Nian Xi muttered. It wasn’t going to be her anyway.

She sat down on her desk but not for long; the Director had asked for her at his office.

“Director Wang, do you need me to do anything?” Nian Xi walked in to see Zhan Hong, Huo Lizhi and Fang Qi seated in the office.

Director Wang looked at her strangely. “Nian Xi, do you know Jiang Yuning?”

“Nope.” Nian Xi was puzzled. “I would have went around showing off if I knew someone so amazing. Why do you ask?”

Director Wang replied, “Jiang Yuning said that he wanted to swap you for Fan Yi. Since he requested it himself, I said yes.”

Nian Xi was stunned. “For what reason?”

“He said your name sounds a lot nicer.”

“…”

Did she have to thank Nian Qingyun, who named her, for this?

Aiya, he had finally done something right for her in his lifetime.

“Forget it. You can go since he wants you to be there. There might not be any danger there anyway.” Director Wang stood up. “Go fetch your passport and send it as soon as possible to the administration department for processing.”

“Oh, okay.” Nian Xi quickly saluted the Director.

Within an hour, news that Nian Xi replaced Fan Yi had spread around the station.

Feng Jichuan had heard about it as well and he appeared in Nian Xi’s office in the afternoon. His expression was grim.

“If you are here to persuade me not to go, or if you think I’m not qualified enough to go, I can tell you that he had picked me himself,” Nian Xi said.

Feng Jichuan was quiet. He only said, “I’m just here to remind you to be careful.”

Nian Xi was surprised and she didn’t say anything in return.

The silence between the two of them was broken by Nian Junting’s phone call.

“Who said you could go?”

“Brother, don’t worry about me. I’m an adult now, and I will be careful over there.” Nian Xi hung up the phone promptly. Nian Junting was frustrated and called Nian Qingyun. “Did you hear about Jiang Yuning? How come I never heard about this man before?”

Nian Qingyun replied, “Forget it. Let her go. It shouldn’t be too much danger. His research is not well-known to the public. We can’t take care of her for the rest of her life. If she really wants to fly there, we will have to let her go, just as long as we’re around to protect her.”