Outside the pharmacy.
Muffled discussion drifted over from the cleaning crew. Lu Chao glanced their way, his gaze sweeping across their familiar, envious faces.
The sound of footsteps heralded Fatty Cui's arrival. He trotted over, bowing and scraping as he fawned over Captain Yang and Chen Xiao.
After they went inside, he quickly sidled up to Lu Chao.
"Lu... Lu Patrol."
The scheming, difficult expression that usually graced the balding, middle-aged man's face was gone, replaced by a purely obsequious smile.
Fatty Cui fumbled in his pocket, pulled out a pack of cigarettes, and offered one to him.
Lu Chao raised an eyebrow and held up a hand to refuse.
"Where's Old Cheng?"
"Heh, well, you know how the logistics team has been short-staffed lately."
