Chapter 92: The Character of a Hero

This abandoned residential complex covered a considerable area. The police officers, together with Mo Fei, began their search from the outskirts and gradually worked their way inward. At last, they discovered a room on the second floor of an apartment building, shrouded in black cloth.

The construction of the unfinished building wasn’t advanced; although the rooms had taken shape, there were no doors or windows—just bare cement shells. When the officers found this room, they didn’t act rashly; instead, they called out directly.

Soon, Mo Fei and the bomb disposal experts stood outside the black cloth. By comparing the layout in the video Zhao Chengye had sent earlier, they determined that Lu Chunqiu was inside this room.

The greatest concern now was how much explosive was in the room and whether there were any traps awaiting them. The bomb disposal expert cut a hole in the black cloth with scissors to observe the interior.

Inside, Lu Chunqiu sat alone at the center of the room, upon a chair piled with explosives. She was awake, her face marred by a purple bruise, and she looked dazed, not entirely lucid. Noticing the arrival of others, Lu Chunqiu mumbled phrases like “Don’t rush,” and “Take your time, I’m not afraid.”

“Lu!?” Mo Fei called out, “Don’t worry, that man has been apprehended. We’ll get you out soon!”

Lu Chunqiu’s voice rose sharply: “Are you trying to get yourself killed?!”

“What are you doing here? Leave the professional work to the experts; you’re an actor, don’t make things worse.” She frowned and shook her head. “Mo Fei, don’t hold them up, you hear?”

“I’m not afraid! Take your time!”

Mo Fei and the bomb disposal expert exchanged glances. “What do you think?”

“She’s right,” the expert replied, and immediately began preparing to dismantle the explosives.

They had disarmed several homemade bombs in the city before, all likely Zhao Chengye’s handiwork. The methods were similar, and with experience, dismantling them was quick.

Once the explosives had been removed and carried away, Mo Fei entered the room and carried Lu Chunqiu downstairs on his back.

As he descended the stairs, Mo Fei comforted her, “It’s alright now, I’m taking you to the hospital.”

“I’m fine,” Lu Chunqiu murmured, her head drooping, “Mo Fei, don’t be afraid…”

When he brought her downstairs, the taxi driver immediately opened the door. “Get in quickly, I’ll take you both to the hospital.”

Another police officer joined them in the cab. “I’ll come with you.”

He spoke while dialing to report the situation. When they arrived at the hospital and saw Lu Chunqiu settled onto a bed, Mo Fei finally breathed a sigh of relief.

As Mo Fei paid the driver, he noticed his phone was flooded with missed calls—Xiao Qian, Mrs. Qian, Director Wang, Wu Miao, Officer Xiao Xu, and Ji Xingyu. Everyone wanted to know what had happened.

At first, Mo Fei considered explaining, but when he saw the photos they’d sent, he was at a loss for words. The street photo he’d taken earlier had gone viral, along with snapshots from the bomb disposal last night and early this morning.

The netizens may not have known the police had thwarted a heinous crime, but they recognized that the handsome man accompanied by officers at night was the same as the one from the digital magazine. Suddenly, it seemed the whole city had run into Mo Fei.

“I’m in East City. My mom woke me up at dawn to show me this handsome guy—he’s my wallpaper! (see attached picture)”

“I was walking my dog in the railway district last night and thought the grim reaper was on the streets. (laughs)”

“This guy, that face, that vibe—he looks tough!”

“Yeah, all these bizarre angles and he still looks great. He’s only a little less impressive than me.”

Amid the teasing, some saw through to the truth.

“Isn’t it odd that this guy’s always surrounded by police? Did something happen?”

“There’s a citywide lockdown today, and yesterday there was an explosion—connect the dots.”

“Remember that video?”

“Watch out, comments might get deleted!”

...

Mo Fei scrolled through, feeling overwhelmed. This time, he’d made a striking public appearance, though not in the way he would have wished.

Sitting in the hospital lobby, he replied to each contact in his phone, keeping his answers brief as the case was still unresolved—he simply reassured everyone that he was safe and there was no need for worry.

Officer Xiao Xu entered the hospital, walking with an unnatural gait. He glanced around the lobby until his gaze settled on Mo Fei.

“I asked my mentor, and sure enough, you’re here.” Officer Xiao Xu sat down beside Mo Fei. “You all are too much—something this big happens and no one bothers to tell me.”

Mo Fei exhaled. “You should ask Old Tang about that—it’s his responsibility.”

Officer Xiao Xu could only smile sheepishly. He knew his wounds hadn’t even been stitched yet, so Officer Tang’s decision not to notify him was reasonable. Still, a minor injury shouldn’t keep him away from the front lines.

“Now that everything’s settled, when you get back I bet there’ll be a mountain of reports waiting for you.” Mo Fei turned to him, lips curling in a smile.

“Did you think you could escape?” Officer Xiao Xu lifted his chin, feigning seriousness. “You’re famous now—everyone’s talking about their idol Mo Fei.”

Mo Fei shook his head, grinning, then suddenly asked, “What time is it now?”

Officer Xiao Xu glanced at his phone. “Ten thirty.”

“One and a half hours left.” Mo Fei closed his eyes and leaned back in his chair.

The [Joker] card would refresh in another hour and a half.

Thinking of the bomb from last night, Mo Fei was grateful that the last card he’d drawn was the [Joker]. Though it hardly seemed a positive card, it had proved invaluable in this crisis.

Officer Xiao Xu noticed Mo Fei’s subdued mood. After a moment’s thought, he patted Mo Fei’s shoulder. “I heard from my mentor that you were a huge help this time—a hero who saved lives.”

“I wouldn’t say that,” Mo Fei replied with a bitter smile. “Compared to me, many others are true heroes—Officer Tang, the bomb disposal officer, all the police, even the taxi driver who brought me here. They’re more heroic than I am.”

“If it hadn’t been Lu, I’m not sure I would have stepped forward so decisively.”

“That’s not important,” Officer Xiao Xu said solemnly. “We do everything we can because it’s our duty, and our training lets us act without hesitation. But you, and that driver you mentioned—you’re just ordinary people without training.”

“It’s normal to stand by or even run away, but you both stepped up. Everyone who does is a hero.”

Officer Xiao Xu patted his shoulder again, smiling. “Or rather, you already possess the qualities of a hero.”