The game of power begins with the police officers at the local police station.

In a private room at Chunlai Restaurant in Fushan Town, Wang Yanhong and Xu Mengmeng chatted and ate, getting along very well.

Wang Yanhong suddenly remembered the good news Xu Mengmeng had mentioned and asked, "Mengmeng, what good news is it? Can you tell me now?"

Xu Mengmeng put down her chopsticks, took a sip of milk tea, and said with a smile, "I have to thank Captain Chen for helping Zhang Hu transfer to the Criminal Investigation Brigade. I didn't want to be separated from my family, so I asked Captain Chen to help me transfer to the county town as well."

"Yan Hong, Captain Chen has been promoted. Why don't you go to the county town with him? It would be so much better if you were together, taking care of each other."

"I was enrolled in a targeted program and signed a five-year contract with the school. If I don't complete the full service period, I have to compensate for the tuition fees I paid before the end of the program and pay a penalty for breach of contract."

"Yan Hong, you're overthinking it. This kind of contract is for ordinary people. But you're a leader's family member now. As long as Captain Chen makes a call, the school will release you."

Wang Yanhong shook her head: "If I enjoy the rights, I must fulfill the obligations. As a teacher, I cannot break my promises, otherwise how can I educate and nurture students?"

Xu Mengmeng had mixed feelings. She hadn't expected Wang Yanhong to be so stubborn. Of all the people who go through the designated path, how many actually fulfill their contracts? If you have a good job, why don't you fight for it? After five years of service, who will still be waiting for you?

"Yan Hong, you can't think like that. You've served for more than two years, almost three. You can be temporarily transferred to the county town, and then officially transferred after the five-year term is over. Wouldn't that be perfect? ​​It won't stop you from having a romantic relationship with Captain Chen."

Wang Yanhong put down her chopsticks, looking preoccupied and with a serious expression.

Xu Mengmeng asked, "Yan Hong, is something on your mind?"

"No, I just overthink things."

Xu Mengmeng understands Wang Yanhong's personality; despite her carefree attitude, she is actually very meticulous and wants to try again.

"Yan Hong, life is about taking it one step at a time, don't think too far ahead. If you think too far ahead, life is all about finding your place. Everyone's final fate is contained in a box, and no one can live forever."

We should enjoy the process of living and cherish the present. I envy you for finding such a kind and loyal boyfriend as Captain Chen. You should cherish him.

Men are all the same; it's best if you have him by your side so he won't have any other thoughts. Living apart for a long time will affect your relationship.

When Zhang Hu entered the criminal investigation team, I followed him. That was my reasoning: I didn't want to give away the boyfriend I had raised.

Yan Hong, you shouldn't wait until you've served for five years. Just tell Captain Chen, and he can temporarily transfer you up.

Captain Chen is a hundred times better than Zhang Hu. A boyfriend this good is hard to find; there must be many women eyeing him. You can't give anyone else a chance.

Wang Yanhong fell into deep thought.

Xu Mengmeng stopped there, took a sip of milk tea, and said that Wang Yanhong should figure it out herself.

Overall, the meal was quite enjoyable. Xu Mengmeng didn't try to morally blackmail anyone. If Chen Shi had asked her to persuade Wang Yanhong to transfer to the county town with her, she might not have been able to go if Wang Yanhong didn't agree to the transfer.

Wang Yanhong will feel guilty. You can't force matters of the heart. Wang Yanhong doesn't want to be transferred, so you can't force her.

Xu Mengmeng couldn't understand what Wang Yanhong was so conflicted about. A boyfriend who was a deputy section chief—if it were her, she would be laughing in her sleep.

Excellent men are hard to find, which is why I went to great lengths to cultivate Zhang Hu.

When Xu Mengmeng saw that she had almost finished eating, she stood up to pay the bill, but Wang Yanhong stopped her.

"I'll pay."

"Yan Hong, I promised to treat you tonight, don't try to take it from me, or I'll lose my temper."

Wang Yanhong had no choice but to give up.

After Chen Shi was transferred, Wang Yanhong voluntarily moved out of the police station's apartment, since she had no connection with the police station anymore.

Chen Shi told her to stay there, firstly because it was safe, and secondly because it was free. Why shouldn't she stay? No one at the police station dared to kick her out.

Wang Yanhong has a sense of shame; she couldn't bear to live there, so she felt at ease staying in the rented apartment.

After Wang Yanhong moved out, Zhang Youcai asked Chen Shi whether he should leave the place for him so that he could come back occasionally and rest there.

Chen Shi wasn't one to take advantage of others, so he told Zhang Youcai to distribute the items and not keep any for himself.

Ma Guoliang took over as deputy director. He was assigned an apartment, and his wife had the whole family move in. They rented out their own house to earn rent.

After the two left the restaurant, Xu Mengmeng offered to take Wang Yanhong home, but she refused. Wang Yanhong then walked alone on the empty street.

In March, spring had arrived in Fushan Town, but the nights were still cold and shrouded in fog, creating a sense of oppression.

Fushan Town is very small, with only one street, about one kilometer long. Because of the overcast weather, once it gets dark, you can hardly see any pedestrians on the street.

Wang Yanhong's thoughts were in turmoil, and her lonely figure appeared particularly desolate in the dark night.

Her best friend, Xu Mengmeng, was leaving, and Chen Shi was leaving too, leaving her all alone.

Sometimes she thought about asking Chen Shi to transfer her to the county town, but she quickly dismissed the idea. She felt she had to have a sense of contract; she had to fulfill her obligations to enjoy her rights, otherwise she would feel guilty for the rest of her life.

Back in the rented room, it was quiet, and Chen Shi was nowhere to be seen. I felt very empty.

She had fantasized countless times that if Chen Shi had remained a grassroots police officer, the two of them could have stayed together in Fushan Town for the rest of their lives.

The Chen Shi of today is from a completely different world than me; the two are worlds apart.

Wang Yanhong just wanted a simple life and didn't want a boyfriend who was a deputy section chief. She was afraid she wouldn't be able to handle him and would be abandoned when she got old and faded, ending up in an even more miserable state.

Once she was transferred to the county seat, her fate was no longer in her own hands. She knew very well that she wasn't cut out to be a leader, so why make things difficult for herself?

Being with Chen Shi meant she had to improve herself, but she didn't want to. She just wanted to be a teacher, an ordinary teacher, dedicating her life to educating people. That was her truest thought.

Countless nights after Chen Shi was transferred, she struggled with what to do. In fact, she already had the answer in her heart, but she was just unwilling to accept it.

She didn't know how deep her feelings for Chen Shi were, but she couldn't help missing him when he wasn't around.

A sunny, cheerful boy often comes to mind.

Wang Yanhong took a hot bath, then lay down on the bed. She knew she was going to have another sleepless night, tossing and turning, unable to fall asleep.

When she broke up with her first love, she didn't feel this way. She thought, "It's over, it's over. What's the big deal? Everyone has to live, no matter who leaves whom."

Wang Yanhong is insecure; from childhood to adulthood, only her grades have made her feel proud.

Chen Shi is too outstanding and not suitable for me. Being with me will only be a burden to him.

Wang Yanhong sat up, her eyes brimming with tears. It was time to say goodbye. What isn't yours, don't force it.

She's an only child and has to consider her parents' needs, so finding a son-in-law to live with her family isn't a bad idea.

Being with Chen Shi was like having a beautiful dream, but now that the dream is over, it's time to wake up.