Knock! Knock! Knock!
Outside the commissioner's office, Zhou Quan straightened his appearance, then knocked on his boss's glass door with measured force.
When meeting his boss, Sir Kwan naturally wanted to look his best.
"Zhou Quan, come in and sit down!"
The glass door to Number One's office stood open. He looked toward the sound and immediately spotted his most valued and trusted subordinate.
Beckoning with a kindly smile, Number One even rose from behind his desk and invited Zhou Quan to sit with him on the visitors' sofa.
"Sir!"
Zhou Quan raised his hand in a solemn salute, then dispensed with formalities and sat directly beside his boss.
"Zhou Quan, this isn't like you."
Number One looked him up and down with mild surprise, then chuckled and teased, "Usually, when you visit my office, you never pass up a chance to help yourself to something."
"An old friend just sent me some good tea. Care to try it?"
Whenever Zhou Quan came to his boss's office to report on work, he often had his eye on his boss's tea cabinet.
It was a fine habit he had picked up from Chow Sing Sing.
Number One had never been stingy, either. In fact, he was more than happy to see Zhou Quan being so familiar with him.
He had always treated this trusted subordinate, whom he had personally promoted and entrusted with important responsibilities, with warmth and generosity.
At the same time, Zhou Quan had never failed to live up to that special favor. From beginning to end, he had never disappointed Number One.
Today, however, Zhou Quan was behaving out of character, and Number One clearly found it a little unfamiliar.
"Boss, if even you call it good tea, I certainly can't miss out!"
Zhou Quan grinned, with no