Police officer Chen Shu

Chapter 458 Julie's Plan

"Chairman, with our relationship, there's no need for formalities. Just say what you need. But let me make this clear: this is only a favor, and I'll have to think twice about anything that might violate regulations," Chen Shu joked, mimicking the tone Zhou Qinghu had used in his office earlier.

"You rascal!" Zhou Qinghu chuckled, then his expression turned serious. "It's about my trip to Xinjiang. It's a research trip, so I'll be taking a few students with me. We'll be leaving next week. It's a bit tight on time, but the New Year is just around the corner."

After listening to Zhou Qinghu ramble on and on for a while, Chen Shu couldn't help but laugh and say, "Chairman, pick the important thing."

Zhou Qinghu took a deep breath and said, "I hope you can come with me."

Chen Shu put down his chopsticks and said in a deep voice, "Chairman, rest assured, I will definitely do what I promised. If it's a short trip, I'll take my annual leave and go with you. If it's a long trip, you'll need to coordinate the relevant official matters. As for what I need to prepare afterwards..."

Zhou Qinghu quietly looked at his old classmate and listened to his thoughts and suggestions on the details of the trip. He knew that after asking him to go to Xinjiang in the morning, he had begun to carefully consider the next steps in his plan.

Zhou Qinghu remained silent until Chen Shu finished speaking. Finally, he raised his glass and said softly, "Chen Shu, I'd like to toast you."

"Don't dare."

The two drank it all in one gulp.

They drank for hours, but the most important decision was made in those few minutes. For the rest of the time, they tacitly refrained from drinking, instead ordering two bottles of Coke and chatting about their school days over the meager food on the table.

Jiang Hai, who was half-asleep and half-drunk, with one hand resting on the table, slightly opened his eyes, murmured a few words, and then closed them again.

"Nxz. Xinjiang. Research trip with students. Me."

Evening, in the conference room of the Donghai Provincial Public Security Bureau office building.

Old Ma watched intently as several self-media professionals, specially invited by the publicity department, introduced the publicity plan that was specifically designed for the public security system across the province.

"Director, this time we will try to reduce the traditional propaganda methods that the public is tired of seeing, and instead take a down-to-earth approach that is close to daily life. This way we can penetrate the crowd and reach the lower-level markets directly."

"Director, the term 'lower market' isn't meant negatively. It means that our videos, besides being aimed at urban white-collar workers, can also be enjoyed by people of all ages. Different people experience different emotions while watching the same video, and they all have reasons to stay engaged."

"We will combine interesting segments to create a thought-provoking story. After making people laugh, they will also fall into deep thought and reflect, thus achieving our propaganda goals."

An official from the publicity department tapped on the table to signal the other person to stop speaking, and then added, "Director, in terms of implementation, we will distribute the tasks to every level of public security organs, from the provincial level down to the local police station. Each unit will be equipped with one Douyin account, and we will assess their follower count, views, likes, etc., every quarter."

Old Ma listened attentively to the explanation, nodding frequently, and discussed it for a long time before finally concluding, "This short video propaganda is a new thing, but in essence, it's still similar to newspapers from the old days. On the surface, it seems like you're playing a game with the media, but in reality, it's a game of human nature, a game of understanding society and the true thoughts of the masses. Only by thoroughly understanding these points and applying them to the filming of videos can you truly achieve propaganda that benefits the people."

After saying that, Lao Ma assigned several cadres from the publicity department to follow up.

The meeting adjourned.

As Lao Ma walked out of the conference room, he was surprised to find Julie standing quietly by the door.

"Xiao Li, what's wrong?" Seeing Zhu Li's anxious expression, Lao Ma paused, quickly realized what was happening, and signaled the staff behind him not to follow.

He pulled Julie to the reception room at the end of the corridor and closed the door.

Old Ma asked, "Xiao Li, what brings you to Tingli so late at night? Your dad's in a meeting upstairs, do you want me to take you there?"

Julie walked around the table, hesitated for a long time, and then asked, "Uncle Ma, didn't you say you were going to have dinner with Chen Shu tonight? Why are you still working overtime at the office? Aren't you going to have dinner?" Old Ma chuckled, his face full of wrinkles, looking kind and honest: "Little Li, you're not even married yet, and you're already showing concern?"

When Lao Ma, Zhu Li, and Chen Shu met in the audience, Lao Ma really wanted to invite Chen Shu to have a casual dinner that evening. The main reason was to let the executive director, who was almost driven crazy by the pressure to get married, meet him and put his mind at ease.

Julie hesitated for a long time, not at all like the famous "Zhu Wuchang" from the Criminal Investigation Department of Zhengming University: "Uncle Ma, it's not even close to being settled yet, so don't talk nonsense~ By the way, you still haven't told me why you don't eat together tonight?"

"You little rascal! You really want your dad to meet that kid? Don't worry, a few of us met this afternoon and chatted for quite a while. The main reason we didn't eat today is because Chen Shu is going to accompany the college's teachers on a research trip to Xinjiang next week, and we need to prepare as soon as possible."

Nxz.Xian? Are you going there to conduct research?
As Julie listened to Uncle Ma's explanation, she couldn't help but feel uneasy.

"You've kept it a secret for a long time. If that kid hadn't said he brought his girlfriend to the police academy for the ceremony, your father and I would have been completely fooled." As an elder who had watched Julie grow up, Old Ma spoke with increasing pride and excitement, as if his own daughter were getting married.

But the word "girlfriend" struck Julie like a thunderbolt. She bit her lip, her bright eyes instantly losing their light. She couldn't hear a word Old Ma said after that.

"Uncle Ma, I'm suddenly feeling a bit unwell. I have to go now."

Julie's face turned pale, her lips trembled, and she stood up to leave. All she wanted to do was escape as quickly as possible; she was afraid that if she stayed any longer, she would succumb to her emotions and burst into tears.

"Hey, what's wrong with this child?"

Watching Julie's stumbling figure, Old Ma seemed to realize that she was intentionally avoiding his words. Just as he was about to think about it carefully, several urgent shouts outside pulled him back into his busy police work.

Standing by the roadside, watching the bustling street scene, Julie, barely able to come to her senses, complained about her overreaction and then repeatedly tried to cheer herself up.

"What's there to be nervous about! There's nothing between you two! What are you so nervous about, Julie! It's embarrassing!"

"No! Julie, this absolutely cannot continue! You need to calm down! You're almost thirty, why are you still acting like a little girl!"

"calm down!"

As her breathing gradually calmed down, Julie walked to the car parked not far away by the roadside, opened the door, and got in.

After the surrounding environment quieted down again, she thought for a moment, took out her phone and sent a message to her colleague on duty at the Criminal Investigation Department. A long time later, a long call record analysis report was sent to her.

Julie, who was nominally a criminal investigator, carefully read through the report two or three times from beginning to end. Then she broke into a smile, her stunningly beautiful face suddenly brightening up with a sweet smile, and the flame of hope rekindled in her previously dim eyes.

"That Chen Shu, his call logs over the past few months show that he hasn't contacted a single woman more than twice. If he had a girlfriend, I, Julie, should just change my name to 'Black Impermanence'!"

Julie patted her ample breasts, which bounced back and forth. She felt lucky to have received an early warning this time, but she couldn't let Chen Shu run around freely anymore, or he would be eaten alive sooner or later.

She tilted her head and thought for a long time before finally dialing the number, pleading, "Uncle Ma~ didn't you say Chen Shu was going to Xinjiang? Can you arrange it for me?"

"I don't care, they're all under the police anyway."

I don't care.

Outside the car, raindrops were falling, and it was cold and windy.

(End of this chapter)