"Director Tang, this is..."
Yang Qi froze, looking at the gift box.
"Go on, open it," Tang Yuan said with a smile.
Puzzled, Yang Qi lifted the lid.
Inside, neatly arranged, were two honorary certificates with deep blue covers, two gleaming commemorative police badges, and two bulging manila envelopes.
The covers of the certificates were stamped with a gold-foil police insignia and the words "Binjiang City Public Security Bureau".
Yang Qi grew even more confused. "Director Tang, are these for me?"
Tang Yuan laughed heartily. He pointed to Bai Wan, who was squatting by Yang Qi's feet, and then to Xiaojiu, perched on the arm of the sofa, licking her paws.
"They're not for you. They're for them."
"Both Xiaojiu and Bai Wan performed meritoriously in cracking the 'Accident' serial case."
Tang Yuan said seriously, his tone leaving no room for doubt that he was joking.
