Unexpected Incident

After much hesitation, Wen Yiqian decided against performing the moment he stepped on stage.

If he inexplicably got too excited, the consequences would be unimaginable.

Better to be cautious in a setting like this.

Although he was so nervous he needed to use the restroom, it would be hypocritical to say he wasn’t looking forward to it at all.

After all, this was his first time receiving an award on stage, and he would even be on television. Most importantly, there was prize money. How could he not be excited?

“It’s just receiving an award. You’re a good person, not some criminal. What’s there to be afraid of?” Li Weiguo couldn’t help but say when he saw Wen Yiqian’s legs trembling nonstop.

“With so many police officers around, how could I not be afraid?” Wen Yiqian blurted out.

The words were barely out of his mouth before he realized how that sounded. He quickly added, “What I mean is, with so many police officers staring at me, it’s making me uneasy.”

“Uneasy?” Li Weiguo raised an eyebrow slightly.

“I… um…”

Wen Yiqian also realized his explanation had somehow made things worse.

He tried to come up with something better, but his mind had gone unusually sluggish. He couldn’t get a word out.

As an introverted shut-in, even back in school his mind would go completely blank the moment he had to go on stage, and he’d stumble over his words for ages. Now he was about to step onto an award podium.

Just thinking about how many eyes would be fixed on him, with people taking photos or recording video, made him panic.

Seeing that Wen Yiqian was genuinely nervous and stage-frightened, Li Weiguo didn’t press him further. He patted Wen Yiqian’s shoulder instead. “Don’t be nervous. Once you’re up there, just try to distract yourself.”

Wen Yiqian understood these principles perfectly well.

As a writer, he could talk theory endlessly and leave people utterly convinced.

Whether he could actually put any of it into practice was another matter entirely.

Just then, an organizer came over and walked him through the procedure.

All he had to do was go on stage when his name was called, receive the award, and hold the banner with a smile while taking a commemorative photo with the squad leader.

Wen Yiqian quietly breathed a sigh of relief.

It didn’t seem too difficult. Maybe he could grit his teeth and get through it.

There was still about half an hour before the ceremony officially began. Wen Yiqian tried to think about other things to ease his nerves.

Lost in his thoughts, he suddenly realized something.

Wait. Wasn’t today a bit too peaceful?

Given how things had gone these past few days, trouble should have already found him by now, or at least be lurking nearby.

Rarely having a moment of peace, and you’re still not satisfied? Wen Yiqian scolded himself inwardly for being a glutton for punishment.

He glanced around. Everything seemed normal, and being in a place like this gave him a considerable sense of security. He muttered softly to himself.

“In a place like this, with so many police officers around, if some clueless psycho dares to come looking for trouble, then I…”

He thought about it for a long time and decided not to jinx it. After all, last time, even at the police station…

Finally, the difficult half hour passed, and the ceremony began.

The squad leader was a middle-aged man who looked nearly fifty, with graying temples, a short stature, a potbelly, and a cheerful, approachable manner.

His name was Zhang Li. A minor extra in the novel, the kind commonly known as a disposable tool character.

He only appeared once, and apart from his name and appearance, Wen Yiqian hadn’t even bothered to give him a family background.

The man turned out to be a chatterbox. He took the microphone and spoke eloquently, moving from his past heroic deeds to his future goals and ideals, rambling on for over half an hour to thunderous applause from the audience below.

Just as Wen Yiqian was yawning from boredom, the squad leader finally seemed to remember why they were all here today.

“Alright, next, let’s welcome our hero, the outstanding citizen of Ditan City… Wen Yiqian!”

The moment the squad leader finished speaking, Wen Yiqian felt a sudden buzz in his ears, his mind going completely blank.

This was the first time he had ever received praise like this. In front of so many people, no less.

“Go up and receive the award. What are you standing there for?” Seeing Wen Yiqian standing there looking dazed, Li Weiguo gave him a push.

“Okay… okay…” Wen Yiqian snapped back to reality and, like a robot, walked step by step toward the stage.

At that moment, a police officer suddenly rushed onto the stage and whispered a few words into the squad leader’s ear.

The squad leader’s expression changed drastically. He spoke into the microphone in a grave tone: “Emergency, emergency! A major robbery has occurred on Mianyun Street next door. All officers, follow my orders and move out immediately!”

In an instant, the officers below began evacuating swiftly and in orderly fashion.

The reporters, like cats catching the scent of prey, moved even faster than the police.

Wen Yiqian had just reached the edge of the stage. He froze, unsure whether to advance or retreat.

Then the squad leader himself grabbed the banner and walked straight up to him.

“You must be Wen Yiqian. Young man, you’ve got real talent. Bright future ahead.” He handed the banner over. “Today’s situation is truly special. Please forgive us.”

“It’s fine, it’s fine.” Wen Yiqian was somewhat overwhelmed by the sudden personal attention.

“Keep it up.” The squad leader patted him on the shoulder and hurried off.

To handle a situation like this with such grace and composure, the man’s emotional intelligence and character actually earned a flicker of genuine admiration from Wen Yiqian. And for a disposable tool character, no less.

Wen Yiqian picked up the banner and looked at the words “Outstanding Citizen” written in large characters. His feelings were mixed.

He glanced around the now-empty auditorium, let out a long sigh, and found he couldn’t quite tell whether what he felt was relief or disappointment.

With nowhere in particular to go, he simply found a seat in the audience and sat down.

Trouble had arrived as expected. Fortunately, this time it seemed unrelated to him. No need to get involved, no risk of being implicated.

“A major robbery? Right next door?” Wen Yiqian muttered to himself.

“In this day and age, who would dare to commit a robbery so openly?”

“And a major robbery at that. It must be something like robbing a bank, right?”

Even for Ditan City, it felt somewhat unreasonable.

With technology this advanced and surveillance cameras everywhere, openly robbing shops or banks was basically asking to get caught. Even a well-prepared crew might stay on the run a little longer, but the outcome would be the same either way.

So Wen Yiqian’s instinct was that it must be a group of reckless, brainless desperadoes.

But then something started to feel off.

Even the most foolish criminal probably wouldn’t choose a location right next to a police station.

Just on the next street?

Anyone daring enough to pull this off was either incredibly stupid, utterly insane, or brimming with confidence. Or perhaps there was something deeper behind it.

Wen Yiqian faintly sensed that something wasn’t right.

(End of Chapter)