"Where are you going with this? Not to mention that we're classmates, but with my profession, it's my duty to help." A faint fragrance lingered around David Carter's nose, making his thoughts wander. He wasn't good at dancing, but Eric Turner was very fond of cultural activities, so David Carter had to bite the bullet and learn to dance. From three steps to four steps, it eventually became a single step. "I've been transferred back to the Jiangmiao Police Station."

"Ah? Weren't you in the Criminal Police Team? Why are you back at the Jiangmiao Police Station?" The girl raised her face in surprise. Her delicate skin looked even more tender under the laser lights, as if a layer of moisture was about to seep out.

"Uh, the Jiangmiao station is short of people to handle cases, and my family is here, so the bureau sent me down."

"But everyone says the Criminal Police Team has better prospects. Many people are desperate to get transferred to the county, isn't it the same in your Public Security Bureau?" The girl didn't seem to understand David Carter's troubles. "Unlike us, who have to stay in this mountain valley all our lives."

"Actually, the county isn't much better than the factory, just bigger. The factory has everything, what's not good about it?" David Carter casually said as he carefully stepped aside to avoid a couple slow dancing together.

"That's not the same. The county is much livelier, it has everything. In the factory, it's always the same people. If you want to buy something nice, you have to go to the county."

Grace Collins's gentle, oval face was less than half a foot from David Carter, strands of hair occasionally brushing across David Carter's cheek, the scent of shampoo drilling straight into his nostrils. Her full chest was high and firm, no longer the awkwardness of junior high, and with David Carter's right hand resting on her waist and back, the strap of her bra, through the thin dress, happened to fall right under his fingers. A strange feeling, like wild grass in a spring field, began to grow wildly in his heart.

At that moment, a phrase suddenly popped into David Carter's mind: "If there are flowers to be picked, pick them now; don't wait until there are no flowers and only break empty branches!"

"That's true, but transportation is convenient now. Taking the factory bus, it's only an hour to the county."

As the song ended, David Carter reluctantly let go of her hand and, with great poise, accompanied Grace Collins back to the edge of the dance floor. The woman in the purple dress was already standing to the side. From the earlier introduction, David Carter already knew she was a new teacher at the children’s school, Edward Harris, with a pair of braided pigtails, youthful and charming, and dimples on her round face that were very attractive.

John Foster and Philip Warren were already chatting enthusiastically with Edward Harris, but David Carter could tell at a glance that Edward Harris didn't seem very interested in either Foster or Warren. Although she appeared polite, there was an innate sense of pride that even Grace Collins could sense.

"Your friend seems pretty proud," David Carter whispered in Grace Collins's ear.

"Yeah, that's just her personality. If she doesn't like someone, she doesn't bother with them. If it weren't for you, she probably wouldn't even bother talking to Philip Warren and the others," Grace Collins whispered back.

"Where is she from?"

"She's from the county seat of Pingchuan, assigned here after graduating from Andu Normal College," Grace Collins laughed. "Why, David, you don't have a girlfriend yet, are you interested in her? Hmm, she seems to like you too."

"Heh, Grace Collins, since when did you become a matchmaker?" David Carter grew bolder. "You don't have a boyfriend either. If I were to look, I should be looking at you. After all, we grew up together as childhood friends."

"Pfft! Who grew up with you as childhood friends? How do you know I don't have someone?"

Grace Collins's face flushed a little. She remembered back in junior high, David Carter always seemed to be hanging around her, clearly interested, but at the time she was focused on getting into the children’s school and didn't think about such things. Unexpectedly, he got into Jiangkou High School, while she only made it into Jiangmiao High School. In the end, he was admitted to the provincial police academy, while she failed the entrance exam.

"Well, doesn't it count from elementary school to junior high as classmates?" Her shy look stirred up David Carter's restless feelings, and his words became even more casual. "So what counts, do I have to be your child bride for it to count?"

"What are you talking about?" Grace Collins finally couldn't take it, giving his waist a hard pinch, though the move was subtle—she didn't want anyone else to notice this little secret.

"Hehe, Grace Collins, they say girls change a lot as they grow up, and you really do get prettier and prettier. It fits you perfectly—no wonder you were the class beauty," David Carter said, a man of experience, knowing you can never praise a woman's looks too much.

"Class beauty? That's just you boys making things up," Grace Collins was secretly delighted, but outwardly acted indifferent. "Edward Harris is prettier. Didn't you see how nice her dimples are?"

Of course, David Carter had noticed Edward Harris. The girl was indeed outstanding, especially with that proud and aloof temperament that added to her charm. But he knew women well—if you looked at someone else too much at a time like this, you'd only make the one in front of you unhappy.

David Carter just glanced casually at Edward Harris, then turned his gaze back to Grace Collins. "Yeah, she's not bad. Let's see if John Foster or Philip Warren have a chance."