Chapter 2 Graduation

Chapter 2 Graduation

Your daddy was home when you left, you're right!

Your sister was home when you left, you're right!

Your brother was home when you left, you're right!

Your dog was home when you left, you're right!

Your cat was home when you left, you're right!

The fish was home when you left, you're right!

Your mommy and daddy, your brother, your sister, the dog, the cat, the fish

was home when you left, you're right!

And that's the reason you left, you're right!

I left my home, to join the army

I left my home, to join the army

The day I left, my momma cried

She thought that I would surely die

I left my wife, crying at the door

She knew that I would die at war

I left my son playing in the yard

Seeing daddy leave made him cry so hard

Oowie oowie, oowie oowie

Oowie oowie, oowie oowie

Left, march! We join the army

(Song - I Left My Home - Check it out.)

Jack always felt that the song the police officers sang during their exercises was quite strange. However, the instructors taught it that way, and everyone followed along. The whole song had only one tune, and the instructors liked to change the lyrics however they pleased, making it even more vulgar.ack always felt that the song the police officers sang during their exercises was quite strange. However, the instructors taught it that way, and everyone followed along. The whole song had only one tune, and the instructors liked to change the lyrics however they pleased, making it even more vulgar.

The middle-aged uncle next to him, who was slightly overweight, seemed quite engrossed in singing the song, even though he was almost out of breath.

After three years, Jack saw a familiar character from an American TV series again. At that moment, he felt a mix of complex emotions. The middle-aged uncle's name was John Nolan, the protagonist of "Rookie."

This was the last American TV series that Jack followed before he transmigrated. He couldn't remember the plot of each episode of such serialized dramas, but when he saw John, he suddenly realized why Zoe had seemed so familiar when he first saw her.

Zoe was the female police chief in the drama who sacrificed herself to save John from the gunmen. The reason Jack couldn't recognize her at first was that the real Zoe was much younger and prettier than the actress who played her.

"Hey, Jack boy, what are you thinking about? Today is the final driving assessment, so do your best!" John put his hand on Jack's shoulder and pushed him towards the training ground.

"I'm thinking about how to beat you," Jack said through gritted teeth.

John was a strange guy, a man in his forties who used to work in construction, but he came to the police academy to compete with a bunch of young people. Even though the average age of the students was around 30, they still couldn't beat him in most activities except for physical tests and written exams. Jack had to give his all to get first place in any other category.

In yesterday's pistol shooting test, he lost the first place to John due to a careless mistake, missing out on 4 experience points.

Gaining experience points from the system was challenging; passing daily tests only awarded 1 point, and getting first place was the only way to earn 5 points.

Today's driving assessment was estimated to be another failure. Jack had not driven much before in his previous life, and after transmigrating, he obtained a driver's license under Zoe's guidance. However, he never bought a car, and his driving skills were only reluctantly honed under the guidance of the police academy instructors. He was no match for John, a veteran driver who could handle big trucks.

Looking at the prompt on the panel that spending 5 system coins could upgrade his proficiency in driving, Jack gritted his teeth and chose to give up.

Although there were daily tests starting from the fifteenth week, he had only accumulated 2 coins so far, which was not nearly enough.

As long as he could obtain two out of the four comprehensive medals during the graduation, he would not let down the spot that Zoe had reserved for him.

Don't think that American society doesn't care about personal connections and relationships. For the sake of reserving that spot, Zoe must have owed many favors, and Jack didn't want to disappoint her.

After receiving the system rewards for officially becoming a police officer, he would consider upgrading some skills. Jack couldn't remember the plot when Zoe was killed. If necessary, he would prioritize mastering the healing skill. Then, he would keep an eye on John and even step forward to take a bullet for Zoe if he had to, just to save her from the plot.

After all, wasn't Zoe the first woman he encountered in this world, and she was a police officer.

As expected, after the driving assessment was over, John, who got first place, danced triumphantly in place and pointed at Jack with both hands, "You owe me a round of drinks tonight!"

Jack rolled his eyes in annoyance.

_____

"I really don't understand. How did the youngest police academy student and the oldest become such good friends?"

Tonight, Jack, John, and Lucy gathered at a small bar for some leisure time.

Lucy Chen, an Asian American, pointed back and forth between the two handsome guys sitting across from her, her eyes filled with soul-searching.

Jack shook his head, indicating that he didn't understand either and gestured to ask John.

To be honest, in the beginning, he deliberately approached John to keep an eye on him so he could save Zoe. However, unexpectedly, over time, the two of them became best friends among the students.

John shrugged and glanced sideways at Jack. "When everyone looked at me with pity or sympathy, thinking that I joined the police training at my age because I had just divorced and was going through a midlife crisis."

"Only Jack asked me- if it was because only when men reach middle age and get rid of the influence of hormones, they will truly consider what they can do for this world."

"Is that so?" Jack pretended to look puzzled. "I remember clearly that I asked if it's only when men reach middle age that they become interested in fishing or upholding justice and things like that?"

"Hey!" John, annoyed and feeling that his dignity as an old man was challenged, turned his head and glanced at Lucy.

Lucy, who was watching their eye contact, burst into laughter and secretly placed her hand on John's thigh to comfort the old man.

Seeing the eye communication between the two, Jack smiled meaningfully. "So, how are you two planning to shut me up?"

He knew that in the beginning of the series, the old man John and Lucy, had an underground romance. Looking at how they were now, they were probably already together.

Neither of them expected that Jack would figure it out in just a few days. Lucy, feeling guilty, began to make up a story, "I have a few good model friends."

Jack raised his right hand, rested his chin on it, and squinted his eyes. Using a magnetic male baritone, he asked, "Darling Lucy, look at me. Do you think I'm someone who wouldn't know how to have fun?"

The corners of his mouth curved up, revealing two shallow dimplesg.

Lucy's expression froze instantly. And her heart skipped a beat.

"Baby face, you're cheating!" John quickly hugged Lucy, asserting his dominance.

Of course, Jack wasn't interested in flirting with Lucy. In fact, he despised how American TV writers clumsily arrange various romantic relationships.

But since he found himself in this strange world, he was curious to see if these flesh-and-blood characters would be like puppets controlled by fate or if they would live out their real lives with their true personalities.

At least for now, Jack remained optimistic. For example, the originally planned rookie trio was now missing an African-American guy and had him instead.

Then there's the Texan girl, Hannah, whom he had never seen in any American TV show. And all the other characters living their ordinary lives, experiencing their unique emotions.

_____

"So, we got tasered, pepper-sprayed, and drowned in a bucket until we couldn't breathe, just to wear these uniforms in the scorching 35-degree heat in Los Angeles in August?"

Jack looked at the LAPD official uniform in his hands, unable to believe that this deep blue, almost black, thing was made of wool.

"They say there's a short-sleeve version of the top, and you can choose freely after you're no longer a rookie." John couldn't wait and started putting it on.

Suppressing the urge to swear, Jack reluctantly put on this $160 outfit, the most expensive piece of clothing he had spent on since coming here.

In fact, becoming an LAPD officer wasn't cheap. The police academy training and equipment costs were nearly $10,000. If he hadn't sold the small apartment and grocery store left by his former parents, Jack would have had to rely on loans.

Thankfully, after becoming a police academy trainee, the LAPD started paying them a salary, so Jack had saved some money to cover future rent expenses.

"Wow, looking handsome, man. You should consider wearing this outfit and stroll around Beverly Hills. I bet you'd make more money in one night than you would in months as a cop."

Seeing Jack all dressed up, John couldn't help but tease.

Jack playfully punched him on the shoulder, "You're not bad either. From what I know, Beverly Hills has plenty of wealthy older women."

—

As a disciplined force, the Los Angeles Police Department valued honor and professionalism. During the graduation ceremony, the trainees, usually playful, sat up straight, listening attentively to the speeches of high-ranking officers.

This was also the first time Jack saw Zoe in uniform, exuding a cool and elite American vibe, the image she projected as the highest commanding officer in the LAPD substation.

At the final awards ceremony, Jack and John both received four comprehensive awards, and Lucy also performed exceptionally well, quite a feat for an Asian girl.

Late at night, at Zoe's residence.

Sensing Zoe's sudden sadness, Jack gently caressed her smooth back and asked softly, "What's wrong, little biscuit?"

Zoe blushed with anger, "Don't call me little biscuit! That's my dad's special nickname for me. If he finds out you're calling me that, you're in trouble. He'll blow your head off with his beloved Colt Python."

Ever since accidentally finding out Zoe's childhood nickname, Jack often teasingly used it when they were being affectionate.

After a moment of silence, Zoe suddenly cupped Jack's face, stared into his eyes for a while, then once again pressed her pretty face against his chest, feeling the man's heartbeat.

Noticing the dampness on his chest, Jack was taken aback, "Sweetheart, are you crying? What happened?"

As he spoke, he tried to lower his head to check, but Zoe buried her head even lower, evading his searching gaze, quickly wiping away the tears from her eyes.

"I just feel like keeping this relationship is unfair to you, but I can't bear to let you go. Am I being too selfish?"

"Huh?" Jack looked puzzled, not understanding what this silly girl was talking about. Could this sophisticated American lady also suffer from lovesickness or indulge in being overly poetic?

Zoe left a teeth mark on his chest in anger. "We're about to have a superior-subordinate relationship. Don't you understand what that means? Once our relationship is exposed, my career is completely ruined."

"So?" Jack was a bit confused. He thought back to all the outlandish relationships in American TV shows. Isn't it just a secret romance? As long as they are careful not to get caught, it should be fine.

But then he figured it out. Zoe is only 35 years old and already a substation chief, which means she has strong connections in high places and is under the scrutiny of many.

"Then why did you specifically recruit me to the Wilshire Division?" Jack felt like he was being played by this mature woman.

"At that time, I thought you might only be a passing infatuation for me. After all, you're so young. Maybe you'd get tired of me soon or break up with me for Hannah."

"But I realized that the longer I stayed with you, the more I didn't want to leave. I started to regret it, seeing Hannah genuinely falling for you. I began to envy her, envy her youth." Zoe's voice grew fainter and almost inaudible.

Jack was taken aback. What a strange line of thought! So this silly woman created a love rival for herself?

As he reminisced about his time with Zoe, Jack felt that the problem might be with himself.

At first, they were just using each other for mutual benefits, but who knew a young body housed a middle-aged soft-hearted guy's soul.

Whenever he saw Zoe, the strong and independent woman, busy with work, he would casually cook her something delicious or buy Chinese medicinal herbs to make her a nourishing soup.

Recently, he even used the excuse of giving her a few ancestral massages. To test his healing skills to see if he could improve her skin condition. Truth be told, her skin did improve significantly after a few sessions.

But did all this lead to winning a gorgeous mature woman? It wasn't supposed to be this easy, just like in American TV shows!

Facing the affection from the mature woman, Jack couldn't remain indifferent. Though he had been passive in romantic relationships in his past life, he was still quite adept at how to charm women.

Moreover, European and American women like Zoe, were extremely rare. So what if she's a bit older? Older women can be caring, right? That's why he had already planned to break up with her but pre-emptively secured a backup, a Texan cutie, in case he'd feel sad afterward. Where else could he find such a silly big sister?

With this thought, Jack decided to employ the ultimate technique from American TV relationships. He rolled over and pinned Zoe beneath him, lowered his head, and whispered in her ear, "I love you, you fool."

At the same time, he activated his system in his mind. He didn't bother checking the unread messages or how much experience points or system coins he earned for successfully graduating from the police academy. Instead, he directly chose the healing skill and upgraded it from skilled to master level. Zoe, the alluring mature woman, will be saved. When Jack says it, not even Jesus can stop him.

Jack admitted that he should use the "I love you" ultimate technique sparingly; it's too much for his kidneys.

____

Song that was changed \

"Suzie told me a long time ago..."

"Darling, please don't join the military."

"They only like to make a fuss and fight."

"They look weird in tight pants."

"Their table manners are poor, and they are rude."

"They have a passionate sense of humor, and their jokes are rude."

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