Chapter 45 - Eradicating Evil in Hong Kong (Part V)

As others walked into the room, they all stood there awkwardly, seeing the situation inside.

Zheng Ruirui felt she was about to lose her mind and cursed internally, “Damn Chen Shaoxian, why isn’t he coming out yet.”

The bathroom door clicked, and Chen Shaoxian emerged to see so many people in the room. His face flushed as he said, “You’re all here.”

Everyone’s gaze shifted immediately to Chen Shaoxian, particularly focusing on his chest.

Chen Shaoxian looked down and saw a few drops of blood on his shirt. He quickly explained that he had accidentally bumped into a wall the night before, and then pulled Zheng Ruirui to corroborate his story.

Zheng Ruirui nodded rapidly, her face flushed, affirming that it was true.

The others let out a long “Oh,” and Zheng Lei glanced between Chen Shaoxian and Zheng Ruirui, remarking, “A grown girl can’t be kept at home, huh?” Then he stared sternly at Chen Shaoxian and said, “Take better care of Ruirui from now on.” After patting Chen Shaoxian on the shoulder, he walked out the door, leaving with a mischievous grin.

The people in the room murmured in agreement and followed Zheng Lei out, soon followed by laughter echoing back.

Chen Shaoxian and Zheng Ruirui, heads bowed, trailed behind everyone. Although unsure where they were heading, they felt too embarrassed to ask, especially as Zheng Lei gave them odd looks every few steps, silencing any questions they might have had.

Reaching the hotel lobby, Chen Shaoxian suddenly noticed everyone staring at him, with many whispering and pointing as they followed him.

As the hotel doors opened, the entrance erupted with noise and countless flashlights flickered intensely, the sound of shutters clicking endlessly.

Seeing the scene before him, Chen Shaoxian instinctively shielded Zheng Ruirui.

Numerous reporters stood at the door, rushing towards Chen Shaoxian as he exited the hotel. Thankfully, several police officers helped hold them back, preventing him from being overwhelmed. However, the reporters aggressively reached out with their microphones, bombarding him with a myriad of questions.

Chen Shaoxian turned around to protect Zheng Ruirui, and with Liang Bi clearing the way, they finally squeezed through the crowd and got into a police car.

After getting into the car, Chen Shaoxian wiped the sweat from his brow and asked, “What’s going on here?”

Liang Bi turned to look at Chen Shaoxian and said, “You’ve become famous.” He then fell silent.

No matter how much Chen Shaoxian pressed him, Liang Bi remained mute, just smiling strangely, which made Chen Shaoxian feel uneasy.

The car stopped, and Chen Shaoxian and his companion were invited out by Liang Bi. Leading the way, Liang Bi brought them to the door of a room, knocked, and then gestured for them to enter.

As they walked into the room, Liang Bi closed the door behind them.

Inside, three men in suits were seated. Upon seeing Chen Shaoxian and Zheng Ruirui enter, they stood up to greet them, reaching out their hands and saying, “Hello Mr. Chen, my name is Chang Kun, and this is my colleague Ma Ming.”

After exchanging brief greetings, Chang Kun invited Chen Shaoxian and Zheng Ruirui to sit down and got straight to the point, “Mr. Chen, you are now a celebrity.” Seeing Chen Shaoxian’s puzzled look, he explained, “Yesterday, your confrontation with violent and evil forces on the street was captured and has hit the front pages of major newspapers, with widespread sharing online. Your popularity now rivals that of any major star, and everyone supports you. However, your actions have put our police department in a tough spot, as many criticize us for not maintaining public security well.”

He continued with a friendly smile, “However, thanks to you, there is a high sentiment against the triads among Hong Kong citizens, who are demanding that the police take strong action against these forces. Many have come forward to testify for the police, and a special operation order has been issued for us to rigorously eradicate illegal societies in Hong Kong. The Tong Le Society, involved in yesterday’s fight, was thoroughly dismantled by the police this morning, with all members arrested.”

“Additionally, the police are planning to hold a commendation ceremony for you tomorrow to honor your struggle against these evil forces. We have decided to award you with the Good Citizen Award and all the benefits of a citizen of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, along with a reward of five hundred thousand Hong Kong dollars. We hope you can attend,” he added, then said, “If you have any requests, please let us know, and we will do our best to accommodate them.”

After hearing this, Chen Shaoxian frowned and said to the three men, “Can I choose not to attend? As for the awards, I can take them or leave them.”

Upon hearing what Chen Shaoxian had said, Chang Kun, Zheng Ruirui, and Zheng Lei were momentarily taken aback. Chang Kun quickly responded, “Please take your time to think this over. This is the highest level of recognition we can offer. If there’s anything unsatisfactory, just let me know and I will report it to my superiors.”

Chen Shaoxian smiled at the three of them to show his gratitude, then added, “Thank you all for your kindness, but I prefer to live as an ordinary person. Please, give these rewards to others.” After a pause, he continued, “I would be very satisfied if the five hundred thousand Hong Kong dollars could be donated to a charity.”

The three looked into Chen Shaoxian’s sincere eyes, deeply moved. Chang Kun nodded earnestly and said, “I can’t quite figure you out, but I can tell you are no ordinary person. I will convey your wishes to my superiors. The five hundred thousand will definitely go to those in need.” He then extended his hand, “It’s an honor to meet you.”

Sitting in the car back to the hotel, Zheng Ruirui felt as if she were dreaming. She smiled softly at Chen Shaoxian, who was dozing off beside her.

The sunlight fell on Chen Shaoxian’s face, casting a pure halo around him. Zheng Ruirui turned to look out the window, opened it slightly, and felt the comfortable breeze brush against her. She quietly took Chen Shaoxian’s hand, took a deep breath, and sensed a sweet freshness in the air.

Back at the hotel, Chen Shaoxian approached the front desk to inquire if Zheng Lei had returned. The hotel staff, starstruck, stared at him for a while before blushing and informing him that Zheng Lei had not yet returned.

Meanwhile, people in the lobby recognized Chen Shaoxian and crowded around him for photos and autographs, leaving him covered in sweat. Finding a moment, he signaled to Zheng Ruirui and they hurried out.

Zheng Ruirui watched Chen Shaoxian’s flustered escape and followed, laughing.

Wiping the sweat from his forehead, Chen Shaoxian turned to Zheng Ruirui and said, “Let’s head home. This place isn’t suitable for staying; Hong Kong is too dangerous.”