Chapter 9 - Episode 008: The Hero of the Racing Car

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A large crowd had gathered on the street, watching intently. Zhang Yantong immediately took command, instructing the police officers to cordon off the area. The scene was chaos: the driver was forced to the ground by several riot police, one officer's boot pressed against his forehead, two others pinning his back with their knees. The poor man was utterly restrained, handcuffed, and rendered completely immobile. The three officers stood imposing and resolute. At that moment, television reporters had already arrived, their cameras capturing the officers’ valiant figures in a frenzy of flashes.

An ambulance wailed onto the scene. Ye Chen was swiftly lifted onto a stretcher by several nurses and whisked away. The media, preoccupied with photographing the police, failed to notice Ye Chen—who had played a critical role in the fierce pursuit.

The female officer who had fallen was still sitting dazed on the ground. In that split second, her mind had erupted with a thunderclap—gunfire, the trajectory of a bullet almost visible. She had been convinced she was about to be shot, only to be knocked out of harm’s way by a man. What unsettled her most was that she had lost her first kiss in that bewildering instant.

"Xiao Qin, are you alright?" Zhang Yantong helped the stunned Fang Qin to her feet, gently embracing her and patting her back. "It’s over now, but you must be more careful in the future."

"I understand, Captain Zhang," Fang Qin nodded, biting her red lip as she watched the ambulance disappear swiftly down the street, a complicated look flashing in her eyes. Dusting herself off, she collected her composure and led the unfortunate driver to the patrol car.

A gunfight had erupted on the streets—an incident that instantly became breaking news in Jianghuai City, a place long accustomed to peace. Such a rare shooting was explosive, and the sensational headlines quickly seized the attention of the city’s people.

Elsewhere, a black Chrysler Grand Voyager sped crazily toward South Gate Pedestrian Street. The driver, a burly man in black with a scar on his face and sunglasses, was the head of the security department. Lin Ziwen, Li Ruo’s assistant from Tianya Group, sat in the passenger seat, her expression anxious. Two more black-clad bodyguards occupied the rear.

This was all an unpleasant surprise—they hadn’t expected their boss, President Li, to go shopping alone, let alone to encounter a shooting. They were as restless as ants on a hot pan.

"Captain Cao, hurry!" Lin Ziwen urged anxiously, gripping the door, prepared to leap out as soon as they arrived.

"Assistant Lin, there are too many people on the road!" Captain Cao’s hands tightened on the wheel, equally worried.

"If anything happens to President Li, I’ll have your hides!" Lin Ziwen shouted, her anger flaring.

The bodyguards in back hung their heads; who could have foreseen that President Li would slip out alone? If they’d known, nothing would have stopped them from following, openly or covertly.

The Grand Voyager sped to a halt in front of Louis Denway. "President Li!" Lin Ziwen immediately spotted Li Ruo curled up at the shop entrance.

Li Ruo was utterly spent, her body drained. In that moment, no one could have guessed the assassin’s true target—nor that in that instant, she felt she’d lived an entire lifetime.

"Ziwen, you’re… you’re here?" Li Ruo looked up, her face pale as she managed a weak smile.

The three bodyguards quickly formed a perimeter, hands dipping into their jackets for concealed weapons, earpieces in place, eyes keenly scanning the surroundings. These were professional guards, each licensed to carry firearms, ready to shoot at a moment’s notice if their employer was threatened.

"President Li, are you hurt?" Lin Ziwen hurried to support her.

"I’m fine," Li Ruo shook her head, finally feeling safe at the sight of familiar faces.

Just then, a police car pulled up. Zhang Yantong, accompanied by two male officers, got out and politely presented her badge to Li Ruo.

"President Li, we’ve apprehended the suspect. Please come to the station to assist with our investigation," Zhang Yantong said with utmost courtesy—after all, Li Ruo was a prominent figure in Jianghuai.

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"No, President Li is shaken. We’ll wait for our lawyer," Lin Ziwen shot Zhang Yantong a glance and ushered Li Ruo into the Grand Voyager.

The bodyguards quickly piled into the spacious vehicle—Captain Cao at the wheel, one bodyguard in the front, while Lin Ziwen, Li Ruo, and another bodyguard took the back row. The car sped away from South Gate Pedestrian Street.

"Captain Zhang!" one officer muttered through clenched teeth, spitting in the direction of the departing van, "Rich people think they’re untouchable, riding around in their fancy Grand Voyagers!"

"Heh, perhaps they’re just frightened," Zhang Yantong replied with a soft smile, tucking away her badge.

The setting sun’s afterglow faded, the oppressive heat easing into the coolness typical of a coastal city. Golden light bathed Zhang Yantong’s dignified, delicate face—a lock of black hair fluttering in the breeze, crescent-shaped brows arching above star-bright eyes, a petite nose, shy pink cheeks, and small cherry lips. She was as beautiful as a flower, her snowy skin luminous and tender as jade, her slender figure as graceful as an orchid.

The two male officers beside her could hardly tear their eyes away. Though they worked in the same precinct, they rarely interacted. Her reputation preceded her—Jianghuai’s own Sherlock Holmes, and the city’s most famous police beauty.

To every officer at the Jianghuai Police Bureau, Zhang Yantong was an idol. Possessing doctorates in both criminal psychology and trace evidence, she was a modern-day female Holmes. No matter how bizarre the case, she had never failed—until today, it seemed, thwarted by Li Ruo.

"Captain Zhang, shall we head back?" one officer asked, averting his gaze. Admiration for her remained a silent longing, never daring to be spoken aloud.

"Yes," Zhang Yantong replied.

The patrol car turned back.

That night, during prime time, families gathered at home, laughter ringing out in front of their televisions.

The news broadcast covered the day’s gunfight and dramatic chase. The anchor’s face was solemn, tone severe: "This was the situation on the scene—one individual was dragged from a car and fatally run over, another was beaten and seriously injured. Civic heroism is admirable, but we urge viewers to remember: there must be limits…"

The media’s stance sharply contrasted with what many expected. The hero who pursued the suspect was instantly recast as a manslaughterer facing criminal charges.

In the office of Tianya Group, Li Ruo sat watching the news, stunned. She hadn’t seen the hero’s face clearly during the chaos, but she knew someone had leaped from the shadows to apprehend the assailant. In that frantic moment, he had disappeared almost instantly, leaving only a vaguely familiar silhouette in her memory.

She snatched up her wireless phone and dialed a number.

"Director Liu! It’s Li Ruo. What’s going on? Wasn’t that person chasing the criminal? How did he suddenly become a manslaughter suspect?" she demanded.

"President Li, it all happened so fast," came Director Liu’s voice.

"Just tell me what happened!" Li Ruo pressed, her grip on the phone unconsciously tightening.

"I’m not sure myself. The city’s Propaganda Department sent word this morning to halt positive coverage. The official narrative will be decided by them," Director Liu sighed. "We have to wait for guidance from above."

"And what is the city’s attitude?" Li Ruo pressed, her tone steely.

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"Recently, the city’s image has been slipping. With an incident like this, we risk losing our status as a model city next year. So the municipal government wants to set an example, eliminate the negative impact, and highlight the courage of our police," Director Liu explained in one breath.

"And what about the hero who helped the police?" Li Ruo pressed further.

"No word from above—at best, he’s facing manslaughter charges and will probably be sentenced," Liu lamented.

"Understood. Thank you, let’s have dinner sometime," Li Ruo replied, hanging up.

After a moment’s thought, she picked up the phone again. "Ziwen, it’s Li Ruo. Get me the best lawyer in Jianghuai, immediately. Yes, the best—contact one right now!"

...

The next day.

Ye Chen’s daring rescue had set off a massive storm online. The story of the hero’s actions flooded the internet; many supported what he’d done, arguing that in such a critical moment, his intervention was justified—a classic case of courage in the face of injustice, something most young people applauded.

Naturally, the so-called "experts" and "scholars" emerged, pontificating with grave authority. They quoted legal texts and argued heatedly that this "hero" was nothing but a reckless brute, lacking any law enforcement authority. According to national law, all suspects are entitled to legal protection and full judicial rights until convicted.

Soon, a netizen using the alias "Meichuan Neiku" posted a thread titled "So-called Hero: Banditry in Disguise!" From the content, it was obvious this was the fashionable young man whose Merida bicycle Ye Chen had commandeered. His post was a tirade: "Can’t even enjoy a weekend in peace! My bike got stolen! What hero? It’s plain robbery! He could have just called the police!"

His rant attracted a wave of clueless netizens. Many sympathized with "Meichuan Neiku’s" plight, sparking a heated online debate that showed no signs of abating.

...

At the hospital, Ye Chen had the bullet removed from his back. Thanks to his sturdy physique, recovery was swift, and he was placed in a regular ward for observation. At dawn, Ye Chen pulled out his IV lines, jumped out of bed, and changed out of his hospital gown into his dark security uniform—though the knee was torn open.

"Sigh, how am I going to explain this?" he muttered, frustrated, and walked out of the ward.

The nurses didn’t recognize him—only hospital gowns and bed numbers mattered. Seeing him in a security uniform, they assumed he was a visiting family member, still chatting animatedly as they ate snacks and discussed the televised exploits of the motorcycle hero.

"Did you hear? That hero is being treated right here in our hospital!"

"Really? Should we go see him?"

"What’s the point? He’s just another guy with two eyes and two nostrils."

"Hmph, you don’t get it. He’s supposed to be quite handsome. I wonder if he has a girlfriend..."

As Ye Chen passed the nurses’ station, he overheard their gossip, sighed, shrugged, and walked out of the hospital.