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

Wang Tao arranged for a police car to take Chen Shi and the other three back to the mall, while Jiang Yiqiu's car remained at the mall.

Upon arriving at the mall, Chen Shi expressed his gratitude to the police officer who had driven him.

The four got into the car. Jiang Yiqiu sat in the passenger seat, while Shen Xiaorong and the boy sat in the back.

Shen Xiaorong said, "Brother, thank you for tonight."

Chen Shi, driving, said, "Xiao Rong, try not to go out at night; it's not safe."

The boy quickly said, "Tonight is Christmas Eve, and I asked Xiao Rong to come out with me."

Jiang Yiqiu turned to the boy and asked, "Su Fan, are you and Shen Xiaorong dating?"

Su Fan thought to himself, "I would like to date Shen Xiaorong, but she doesn't like me and only sees me as a friend."

Shen Xiaorong chimed in, "Principal Jiang, we're still so young, we don't understand your adult love and relationships. Su Fan is my friend, he said he's under a lot of academic pressure and wanted to ask me out to a movie. I was also bored, and tonight is Christmas Eve, so I thought I'd go out and relax."

Su Fan is also a top student. Without Shen Xiaorong, he would be the top science student in Chunyang County.

Jiang Yiqiu didn't say much, but said in a deep voice, "Tonight is a normal class. You guys snuck out. Don't do it again."

Upon arriving at the No. 1 Middle School teachers' apartment, Su Fan glanced at Shen Xiaorong, then looked at Jiang Yiqiu: "Principal Jiang, I'm going back to my dormitory."

Jiang Yiqiu asked, "Is the injury on your face alright? We'll compensate you with a thousand yuan for medical expenses. Go get it checked out tomorrow morning."

Su Fan said, "It's nothing, just a superficial injury."

Chen Shi then noticed that Su Fan's cheeks were swollen.

Shen Xiaorong looked at Chen Shi: "Brother, Principal Jiang, I'm going back too. Thank you for tonight."

Chen Shi nodded to Shen Xiaorong: "Go back and get some rest."

Chen Shi and Jiang Yiqiu returned home. Jiang Yiqiu sat on the sofa in the living room and said, "Christmas Eve was anything but peaceful. We didn't even get to see a movie. You have to come with me to see a movie on New Year's Day."

Chen Shi sat down next to Jiang Yiqiu: "Okay, let's go see it again on New Year's Day."

Jiang Yiqiu hugged Chen Shi tightly: "Don't you think Shen Xiaorong and Su Fan are dating?"

"Probably not."

Jiang Yiqiu hoped they would fall in love. She always felt that Shen Xiaorong's gaze towards Chen Shi was full of love; it was a woman's intuition.

He quickly denied it, saying that Shen Xiaorong couldn't be in a relationship because it would affect her studies, and that he was counting on Shen Xiaorong to get his position as principal.

If she can become the top science student in Donghai Province, she will have achieved political success. If she removes the "deputy" title and is promoted to principal, the chances are quite high.

If she had to choose between love and career, she would still choose career. Love is illusory, invisible and intangible, but career is real.

"With only half a year left until the college entrance examination, Shen Xiaorong can't be in a relationship, it would affect her studies."

"You should interfere less with a top student like Shen Xiaorong and give her enough freedom. Ensure her safety. For example, in tonight's situation, the teacher who was supposed to be guarding her didn't show up. If we hadn't stumbled upon her, the consequences would have been unpredictable."

Jiang Yiqiu nodded. The teacher who protected her tonight lost his bonus, was blacklisted, could not be promoted or given important responsibilities, and was kicked out of the teaching team protecting Shen Xiaorong. He was too irresponsible.

Jiang Yiqiu went to take a shower. Chen Shi sat in the living room, listening to the sound of running water coming from the bathroom. He went to his room, took off his clothes, and tiptoed to the bathroom. He gently pushed open the door and saw Jiang Yiqiu showering naked. Startled, he scolded, "What are you doing? You scared me to death!"

Chen Shi grinned mischievously: "I'll help you wash."

"No, get out, you're going to do something bad again." Jiang Yiqiu's cheeks flushed.

Chen Shi went over and hugged Jiang Yiqiu, and the two engaged in another exhilarating battle.

2013 has come to its last day. Tonight is New Year's Eve. Chen Shi promised Jiang Yiqiu that they would watch a movie to celebrate the New Year. They didn't watch a movie on Christmas Eve, so they will make up for it tonight.

After get off work, Chen Shi went to the No. 1 Middle School teachers' apartment and told Yang Bin to go home early to spend New Year's Eve with his wife and children.

Yang Bin now works in the Party and Government Office and is responsible for driving Chen Shi. His employment status has been resolved, and he can speak loudly at home. His wife no longer dares to talk to him about being a temporary worker.

He was very satisfied with the job, and if he served Chen Shi well, he would have the opportunity to be promoted to a leadership position.

After Yang Bin left, Chen Shi went into the apartment and met Shen Xiaorong at the door. She was dressed up beautifully.

"Brother, come see Principal Jiang."

Chen Shi hummed in agreement: "Where are you going?"

"I'm going to the supermarket to buy some things. Don't worry, I won't be going out tonight. I'll be spending New Year's Eve alone."

Chen Shi looked at Shen Xiaorong and sensed that she was in a bad mood.

"Xiao Rong, is something on your mind?"

"No, I just spent New Year's Eve alone and felt a little lonely."

"I'm going to see a movie with your Principal Jiang to celebrate New Year's Eve. You're coming with us."

Shen Xiaorong thought for a moment, then pouted and said, "If I go with you, Principal Jiang will be unhappy."

"She won't be upset, let's go."

Shen Xiaorong hesitated for a moment, then followed Chen Shi to Jiang Yiqiu's house.

Jiang Yiqiu was a little puzzled when he saw Shen Xiaorong come along. Chen Shi smiled and said, "Xiaorong is going to see a movie with us. It's more lively when there are more people around at New Year's Eve."

Jiang Yiqiu thought to himself, "Why didn't you invite a few more? Wouldn't that have been more lively?"

Although she didn't want to bring Shen Xiaorong along, she still smiled and said, "Okay, it's better to have more people for New Year's Eve."

Shen Xiaorong smiled and said, "Thank you, Principal Jiang."

Jiang Yiqiu changed his clothes, and the three of them went out to the mall for dinner.

The mall was bustling with people celebrating the New Year. Arriving at the food street, Jiang Yiqiu asked, "Honey, what do you want to eat?"

Chen Shi asked, "Xiao Rong, what would you like to eat?"

Shen Xiaorong casually said, "I want to eat hot pot."

Chen Shi looked at Jiang Yiqiu: "Let's go eat hot pot."

"There's a mutton hot pot restaurant up ahead," Jiang Yiqiu said.

Shen Xiaorong replied, "I want to eat beef hot pot."

"Yi Qiu, let's go eat beef hot pot."

Jiang Yiqiu glanced at Shen Xiaorong and said, "If you weren't a top student, I'd teach you a lesson at school."

"There's a beef hot pot restaurant in the alley ahead; it's really good."

Jiang Yiqiu led the way, with Chen Shi and Shen Xiaorong following behind.

Shen Xiaorong and Jiang Yiqiu are both very good-looking, attracting countless eyes.

When they arrived at the beef hot pot restaurant, it was packed with people and there were no empty seats, so the three of them had to sit outside and wait.

Jiang Yiqiu said, "Honey, let's go to another place. There are too many people here."

Chen Shi asked Shen Xiaorong, "Should we try another one?"

"I'm not changing it. Wait a minute, I think this one looks good."

After waiting for more than ten minutes, a seat was finally available. Jiang Yiqiu ordered the food and handed it to Chen Shi, who handed it directly to Shen Xiaorong without even looking at it.

"Order whatever you want to eat."

Shen Xiaorong ordered a few dishes she liked and asked, "Brother, what do you like to eat? I'll order for you."

"I have a general palate, I can eat anything."

After a short wait, the waiter brought over the side dishes. Jiang Yiqiu and Shen Xiaorong had ordered a lot, with more than a dozen plates of side dishes.

Chen Shi looked at the side dishes and said, "These side dishes are enough to fill me up; there's too much."

Jiang Yiqiu said, "None of the side dishes Xiao Rong ordered are ones I like."

Shen Xiaorong added, "I don't like any of the side dishes that Principal Jiang ordered."

Why did Chen Shi get the feeling that Jiang Yiqiu and Shen Xiaorong both disliked each other?

That shouldn't be the case. Shen Xiaorong is a student, and Jiang Yiqiu is the principal. How could there be a conflict between them?