Chapter 408: I’m Still a Kid

Chapter 408: I’m Still a Kid (Update 2)

Winter has passed, and spring is in full bloom.

Stepping off the vehicle, he cast his eyes on the Criminal Investigation Team building before him.

Xiao Yu’s lips curled into a broad smile.

At 23, he was already a father.

And he even had a stunning older sister.

Sigh… getting old, indeed…

But he was still that same young man at heart!

Entering the Criminal Investigation Team office, he was warmly congratulated by his colleagues.

The entire unit buzzed with cheerful chatter and laughter.

Having snagged a box of special allotments from Dog King, Xiao Yu casually passed them out.

Everyone loves a kind word.

Especially when it comes from colleagues who are like family.

A box of cigarettes was nothing to fuss over.

Yet it did nothing to dampen Xiao Yu’s high spirits.

He was as generous as a sledgehammer…

Originally, he wasn’t even scheduled to show up today.

With no major cases recently, Xiao Yu had hoped for a few extra days off.

But every year, the department takes on new blood.

A few fresh police academy graduates are assigned as intern trainees.

This time, five academy graduates landed in the team.

Plus, there was someone who’d already given notice that he’d report for duty.

In the real world, you might not care much for etiquette.

But sometimes you just have to accept it…

Of course, today’s police academy isn’t about guaranteed placements.

Those who make it here have proven their true merit.

They earned their posts by acing rigorous assessments.

Inside the compound of the Criminal Investigation Team.

Five impassioned young officers, in full uniform, stood upright like javelins awaiting inspection.

Xiao Yu, Zhao Changshan, and Zhou Tinghu—the trio now at the helm of the Criminal Investigation Team—watched the young recruits with smiling eyes.

Behind them, a group of veteran detectives looked on, equally amused.

Xiao Yu sighed.

In the blink of an eye, over a year had passed.

Seeing the five fresh faces, he was taken back to the day he first reported to the team.

Now, he had risen to the leadership.

His gaze swept across those youthful faces.

Finally, his eyes settled on one intern.

About 1.8 meters tall, with a tanned face that wasn’t particularly handsome,

but with sharp, defined features and piercing, lively eyes.

The young man was also sizing up Xiao Yu, his eyes filled with curiosity, disbelief, and a burning passion.

When his gaze reached the shoulder badges on Xiao Yu—marking him as a Police Superintendent—his admiration flared into fervor.

Heh… Xiao Yu chuckled.

He favored ambition in people.

Ambition is what drives a person forward.

In the police force, promotions and accolades come by cracking cases.

By doing everything possible and pulling out all the stops.

Capture every villain you can!

Zhao Changshan and Zhou Tinghu began their motivational address.

This was a scene that played out every year.

Xiao Yu kept his distance from the limelight, not trying to outshine the boss.

Until, finally, he pointed at the young recruit and said, “Come with me!”

Everyone was taken aback.

A deputy personally taking on a trainee was a rare sight.

After all, Xiao Yu was no ordinary deputy.

All his subordinates were at deputy level—so why would he be mentoring a newcomer?

Was it because…?

Favoritism?

Exactly—that was it.

It was Wang Dong’s connection!

But such connections only went so far.

If you really wanted a top spot for your family and friends,

with someone like Wang Dong, you understood how it worked.

There was no way an intern in the Criminal Investigation Team could fill that role.

Clearly, even with connections, one had to start from the bottom.

If the recruit had the talent, Xiao Yu would keep guiding him.

If not, even Wang Dong’s influence would be worthless in a year.

That was the rule!

…

A knock sounded at the door.

A young officer entered the office, visibly excited upon seeing Xiao Yu.

“You’re Wang Cheng, right?” Xiao Yu asked with a smile.

“Yes!” Wang Cheng replied, nodding vigorously.

“Let me be frank with you,”

Xiao Yu’s smile faded as he continued, “Stick by me and prove your worth, understand?”

“Yes!” Wang Cheng nodded once more.

“Go get familiar with the team and find some work to do,” Xiao Yu said warmly.

“Got it.”

Wang Cheng turned and left…

Xiao Yu shook his head with a smile.

Becoming a full-fledged officer was no small feat.

This job demanded top physical condition from everyone.

And every officer had to pass a probationary assessment before being confirmed.

Xiao Yu’s case was an exception—one that couldn’t be replicated.

He recalled his early days as a rookie cop in another life.

Back then, someone reported a fire.

On his first alarm, he followed his mentor to the scene.

Clutching a fire extinguisher, Xiao Yu sprinted into the blaze, every muscle tensed to its limit.

Once the fire was under control,

Xiao Yu and his mentor went on a night patrol, passing a bustling barbecue joint where they shared a knowing smile…

He remembered his mentor advising him while enjoying skewers, “If you’re off duty, go home and sleep.”

It was a lesson—always keep your fitness up.

Because being a cop was undeniably a physically demanding job.

Sometimes, a case could have you on the move for a full 24 hours without rest…

On his second call, he joined a joint arrest.

He recalled trailing a group of SWAT Teams with his mentor, surrounding a villa.

Those SWAT officers were quicker than rabbits.

His mentor, a former soldier, was in peak condition.

By the time he charged in, the suspects were already subdued…

Drifting back to his memories, Xiao Yu smiled silently.

Good memories were never forgotten.

Just like the first time he met his sister…

Bang… The office door was flung open.

Not long after leaving, Wang Cheng returned, panting and exclaiming, “Sir, we’ve got a situation!”

Youth is truly a blessing… Xiao Yu grinned as he stood up.

Wait a minute—I’m only 23, right?

Yeah, I’m still just a kid!

…

As his colleagues watched the smiling Xiao Yu lead an excited Wang Cheng to the scene,

their expressions were oddly perplexed.

It was just a minor security case in their jurisdiction.

Did it really need Xiao Yu to handle it?

Everyone exchanged confused glances, utterly baffled.

What on earth was going on?

Xiao Yu offered no explanation.

Taking on a trainee didn’t mean diving straight into a big case.

One had to start small.

Sometimes biting off more than you could chew backfired.

You can’t try to devour an entire feast in one bite—you might get overwhelmed.

Guo Qiang, ever perceptive, joined in stride.

The three of them, in one police car, sped straight toward the incident scene…