19 - You alone are my hero

His face was white with anger, but Zhou Yanling asked softly: “Are you angry?”’

Wu Fengrong opened his hand: “Why would I become angry? About what do I have to be angry? I’ll still have to look at myself after others have given me a car for nothing. Isn’t that too ungrateful?”

Zhou Yanling ingratiatingly said: “You say that this is how you’ll appear because of this but you’re so witty, talented and elegant in appearance, of noble character and unquestionable integrity. If it weren’t for my assets, would I have the face to remain at your side?”

Wu Fengrong’s expression eased somewhat: “Don’t. I don’t like to listen to this kind of aggrieved speech, either.”

“You’re looking down on me, RongRong.” Zhou Yanling sighed: “As the saying goes, a sword is a gift for a hero, but a fine jade is for a beautiful woman 1 . In my opinion, don’t say anything about houses or cars. Only a rainbow would be enough for you, but I don’t have one. If I could call down a rainbow down for you, how would I not be willing to do so? Look at me. I’m an almost 40 year old man and my appearance isn’t good. These are the only things I have. If you look down on them then I can only blame myself for being unfortunate.”

Wu Fengrong couldn’t keep the corner of his mouth from curling: “Who do you think hasn’t seen a rainbow? Why would I want those vapid things of yours? I’m not going to be called a hipster with those useless things of yours 2 . I admit that I’m not your equal in earning money, but you must not use this to suppress me. Each of us are financially independent and my dignity is not below yours.”

“Where’s the distinction?” Zhou Yanling was resolute: “What’s mine is yours. It’s I, Zhou Yanling, who follows you. Everyone here is yours.”

Wu Fengrong relaxed greatly. He didn’t feel dizzy, his temples didn’t hurt, and he felt unimaginably healthy. Zhou Chi had explained over and over again that he shouldn’t move, but his mind was occupied with thoughts of He Youan and Shi Xiaoranm and he really couldn’t rest. He decided that he might as well go in person to ask Hé. Zhou Yanling saw that it was late. Outside the sky had begun to darken, and he knew that they shouldn’t tarry. The two slowly walked to the conductor’s office.

Less than five square meters away from the conductor’s office were four transit police on guard, allowing nothing past. Zhao Xintao had arranged for more officers from Wancheng station to board, effectively doubling the number of officers immediately. Now there was a lot of manpower, but they were all young and inexperienced, and there was no one who could coordinate the squads. Zhao Xintao was not familiar enough with the tasks required of the transit police to pair them up. He had no other choice but to have Wu Fengrong come over and personally arrange them. The new officers were also confused. The four tall and robust police officers were guarding the teenager as he were a hardened criminal. At first glance this scene seemed very comical.

Hé Youan was handcuffed to the bed and wasn’t in a good mood. His facial expression told Wu Fengrong that he was furious. Seeing Wu Fengrong, he felt a little ashamed and uneasy, possibly feeling that he had inconvenienced Wu Fengrong. Zhou Yanling dismissed the transit police and returned the cellphone to Hé Youan. Hé Youan repeatedly looked at his list of text messages, a heart-broken expression on his face.

Wu Fengrong didn’t want to think of this kid as a bad guy. His personality was only cold and reserved compared to that of others’, and he had lacked parental care, so his soul was warped and he only let his girlfriend inside. This wasn’t good. People couldn’t rely on others to live their entire life. Ultimately it was best to stand by oneself. Right now, Hé Youan’s heart was filled with passion, and he whole-heartedly wanted to save his girlfriend. He wondered if he would regret that decision later.

“Youan, I want to know. Have you told us everything there is to know?”

“I already told you not to ask me.”

“About Xiao Quan’s murder, about Xiaoran, about all the details of that night, there’s really nothing else?”

Hé Youan innocently looked at Wu Fengrong: “Why do you think I know where Xiaoran is? I really don’t know. Uncle Wu, she really killed him, but she didn’t mean to. She was just scared. She only picked up the water pipe because she wanted to protect me. She’s not a bad person. She’s my girlfriend, so I know her. I know what kind of person she is.”

“Anyway, not only is she missing at the moment, she’s also trying to evade the authorities.”

“She doesn’t need to turn herself in. I can take her place. In any case the two of you only need one criminal, and I meet those requirements.”

Wu Fengrong almost wanted to laugh angrily at him. Zhou Yanling opened his mouth to speak: “Youan, I feel like I have a right to comment on this matter since the two of you framed me. In all fairness, as one of your victims, I don’t think that you two are good people.”

As soon as he put forth his sentiment, Hé Youan’s faced flushed red as though he’d been slapped. In front of Zhou Yanling he lost his aloof bearing. Listening, even Wu Fengrong was silent, not daring to speak.

Zhou Yanling said, unenthusiastically: “Although the two of you should receive some punishment, I can’t make that decision. That ought to be something that a judge decides. In my heart, even if I wanted to beat you half to death, that’s something I can only think about and shouldn’t act out, because doing so would be just as illegal, and I would only humiliate myself. Others can call me weak. If a dog bit me, and I bit it back, that would only be farcical. I must restrain myself and not take my grievances out on you as I please, but wait for a judge to administer justice. This would be honorable and courageous in the eyes of others and make me stronger as a person.”

Hé Youan looked gloomy at being scolded: “I didn’t frame you deliberately…..”

“I’m tell you this because I want you to know that you shouldn’t completely base your actions on your feelings and opinions.” Zhou Yanling leveled him with a profound look and said: “You’re fond of Xiaoran, so you’re convinced she’s can’t do anything wrong. What’s more, she killed someone for you, so you sympathize with her and want to protect her. This is only wishful thinking on your part. You protect her by taking the fall for her, but right now everyone in world is trying to find her, and on the train the passengers are uneasy. The brothers and sisters of the crew are uneasy as well, and outside the police are also in a frenzy. All of this because of your way of thinking. Do you really think that it’s right to allow so many people to panic?”

He rudely interrupted: “In our hearts, we want to see the good side of those we like, but their bad sides still exist. Shi Xiaoran isn’t the person you’re imagining. You know her, but you don’t know all of her. I’ve seen many people injured by their own family and friends. In hindsight, they are unable to figure out why that happened to them. They say, ‘before, that person was so nice, so he wouldn’t have done that.’ But often it’s those so-called ‘nice guys’ who con people of their money and disappear.

With a shout, Hé Youan stood up and emotionally exclaimed: “You need to punish me! Xiaoran isn’t like that! Framing you was my idea! I thought of it, not her! She just impulsively did the wrong thing. I’m the one who framed you. The criminal is me.”

“Sit down.” Zhou Yanling quelled him with a look: “Speak nicely. So you’re the one who planned to frame someone? Who do you think wants to listen to that?”

Hé Youan calmly sat down again, compliantly, sitting perfectly straight with both legs together.

Zhou Yanling said: “Think carefully about what you haven’t said. It’d be best for you and best for her if Xiaoran is found as as quickly as possible. You’re still a minor. Even in court the judge will likely be lenient in sentencing. But it’s impossible for you to take her place in culpability for her crime. What do you take the judge and the police to be? You dare scoff at the sanctity of the law? Do you think this is a game?”

He spoke, not allowing Hé Youan any space to explain. Wu Fengrong saw the boy’s face turning alternately green and white, and laughed inwardly. Zhou Yanling’s ability to put on an act like a suit of clothes was perhaps because he needed to scare people into buying insurance: first you tell someone that they have an illness. Then you tell them that, actually you’re not sure if they have that illness, only that you know about that illness. And finally, you tell them that as long as they do what you say, you can guarantee that they’ll never catch that illness. In the end you still threaten them that, if they don’t do what you say, their obstinacy will lead to disaster.

Even though he used this swindler’s trick like a stick to beat down one child, he still insisted in referring to himself as someone with a noble character. His face was so thick it was disgustingly outrageous. Others were unaware, but Wu Fengrong understood clearly. Who was Zhou Yanling? He was a big show-off 3 !

Hé Youan couldn’t play Zhou Yanling, who was too imposing and exuded a pressure that made it difficult to breath out of anxiety. He turned to Wu Fengrong, his expression pleading for help. Wu Fengrong, unexpectedly finding himself in the role of the bad cop, stared back blankly as though clueless.

After a while, the boy wrung his hands and spoke, stammering–

“Xiaoran told me…..that she had a maternal uncle who took her to Baihe…..she’ll probably call on him…..”

Wu Fengrong frowned as he quickly exchanged glances with Zhou Yanling.

“Who is her maternal uncle? Is he traveling together with you two? What’s his name?”

“I don’t know. I didn’t ask his name, and I’m not sure if he was sitting with us…..”

“Then how did this uncle arrive?”

“Xiaoran said that her uncle didn’t feel comfortable that she was traveling with me and thought that I wouldn’t take care of her well enough. He wanted to follow us to Baihe and see us off before leaving. He didn’t bother us and he didn’t board with us.” Hé Youan bit his lip hard and choked out: “Her uncle must know about Xiao Quan. She said that she’d spoken about it with her uncle.”

Shi Xiaoran was a girl and not yet an adult. Even if there weren’t any accidents, it was only reasonable that her family probably wasn’t comfortable with her traveling alone with a male on a long trip. Sending a relative to accompany her the entire trip was only normal. They just didn’t know how much this so-called “uncle” knew about what had actually happened and how much of an influence he had on her. If he urged her to flee, or even if he gave her advice, it would make it that much more difficult to capture her.

Wu Fengrong asked again: “Besides for her maternal uncle, has she told anyone else?”

“She said that she only told her maternal uncle. Normally she and her uncle are very close. While her mother is very strict with her, her uncle indulges her.”

“Do you know what her mother’s surname is? We could look up names.”

“I…..didn’t ask…..”

Wu Fengrong found this ridiculous: “You don’t even know her mother’s name. What kind of love is this?”

Hé Youan didn’t know what to say in reply.

Wu Fengrong was an adult. If he was together with someone, he would ask about the other’s family. This was a normal way an adult would handle an interpersonal relationship, but these were school sweethearts. Maybe they hadn’t been dating for long, or maybe they had been so cheerfully engrossed in each other that weren’t concerned with talking about parents or marriage.

Zhou Yanling pulled Wu Fengrong from the conductor’s office out into the hallway to talk.

“In my opinion, I think it’s good that there’s someone around her.” Zhou Yanling lowered his voice: “This girl has a lot on her mind, and her state of mind might not be stable. Without an adult, it may be more likely for her to get into trouble. If by any chance she does something foolish, it’s everyone around her who’ll suffer. We need to call their school and get in touch with their homeroom teacher. From there the parent’s information won’t be hard to get. We just need a name.”

Wu Fengrong nodded: “I got it. I’ll personally made that call.”

“Shi Xiaoran is most definitely the killer. The uncle spoils her. If he doesn’t want her to go to prison, he’s there to help execute a plan. If the adults weren’t raised right, the children won’t come out much better. Rongrong, I have an idea, but it depends on whether you’re willing to help.”

“Tell me about it.”

“It’s been dragging on for almost a day, and we’ve been very passively chasing these people’s asses. Perhaps it’s time to take the initiative and switch it up. I think that, since Shi Xiaoran wants Hé Youan, we shouldn’t waste the bait that’s already in our hands. Dangling the right person, we might hook that little fish and catch her.”

“How exactly?”

“We’ll arrive at Yangjiao at 7PM today, so there’s still two more hours to go. Let Zhao Xintao and the service crew handle the news that we’ll be handing Hé Youan over to the police at Yangjiao. Shi Xiaoran is afraid that we’ll let Hé Youan take the fall. She’s afraid that we’ll save ourselves the trouble of trying to find her. We’ll grant her wish and force her. When we reach the station, she’ll definitely appear. As soon as the thief had been transferred out the train doors at Wancheng station, she must have known.”

Wu Fengrong didn’t agree: “In the event that she comes and starts a fight or if that uncle is there to fight for her, innocent people might be hurt. Even Hé Youan might be in danger. He’s still a child. Have you thought about the morality of using a child as bait? The transit police and the crew are only government employees, not members of law enforcement. Most of all, the transit police don’t have the power to enforce the law, so if she really does this it’ll be difficult for us to put it to rights. You’re asking me to put the lives of the passengers and the crew at risk!”

Wu Fengrong’s words were powerful and resonating. Zhou Yanling slowly let out a sigh. He took Wu Fengrong’s hand and lead him to the doorway of the car. Wu Fengrong’s complexion was a little pale. Zhou Yanling stroked his cheek, gathered him in his arms and let him lean his head against his shoulder. Wu Fengrong hesitated for a moment before he hugged him back. Within the depths of Zhou Yanling’s shoulder, his voice sounded muffled.

“Yanling, you understand me. I’m the conductor, so I can’t allow something this dangerous. I’ve already overstepped my bounds for you. If the higher-ups investigate they’ll charge me with abuse of power, bending the law in favor for known associates. It’s a straightforward criminal charge. It’s not that I care about my title. It’s that I bear certain responsibilities in this job.”

“I know. That’s the reason I wanted to ask your opinion first. I respect your way of thinking.”

Wu Fengrong gripped his shoulder tightly, the shaking of the train making him dizzy. His heart beat rapidly. Zhou Yanling kissed him on the top of his head and briefly patted him comfortingly on the back.

“You’ve done more than enough for me, RongRong. Never have I ever met anyone who has done so much for me.” Zhou Yanling said: “A friend in need is a friend indeed. You’re a person whose affection is hard to come by, and it’s enough to move anyone. I’m very happy to be the recipient of your affection.”

Wu Fengrong buried his head even deeper.

Zhou Yanling said: “RongRong, don’t let what happened with your parents cloud your judgment. I know that you’re not fond of the role of a hero. You’re willing to be a hero for one person, but not to be a hero to everyone in world. You helped me. You risked being misunderstood by everyone here in order to help me, because if you didn’t help me you feared that I would be like your childhood self, forced into a situation that would only benefit another. Only in this case, you would receive the fame for performing another meritorious deed with my sacrifice.” He paused there, briefly.

“Actually, it’s not like that. RongRong. I’m an adult. I can make my own decisions. Nobody else should be accountable for the consequences of any of my actions. If you didn’t help me, and if I was really caught and made to take the blame for Shi Xiaoran’s crime, naturally that would be my own business and you would not be at fault. Do you understand what I’m saying? This is my own life. You don’t bear my burdens so there’s no need for you to carry any of my responsibilities or blame.”

He felt Wu Fengrong tremble slightly in his arms.

Wu Fengrong said: “But I can’t stand by idly and watch…..”

Zhou Yanling’s voice was solemn and forceful: “In my heart, you alone are my hero. I’ll be proud of you for my entire life.”

Wu Fengrong bit down his collarbone and let out a soft sob.

There were footsteps hurriedly advancing towards them.

Zhao Xintao saw this pair of lovers embracing, and became even more flustered and exasperated: “Still have time to whisper sweet nothings to each other! Something big is happening!”

Wu Fengrong broke away from the embrace. Zhou Yanling intercepted him first.

“What’s happened?”

Zhao Xintao looked distressed: “There’s a dead body.”

T/N: Added the accent to Hé Youan’s name, because, otherwise, when the author just used his surname it read as the pronoun ‘he’.

宝剑配英雄，美玉赠佳人 : resources should be allocated to those who make the best use of it Thank you @barebones and @oinkoink for the help translating this! 文艺青年 changed its meaning to hipster in the 21st century – person who refuses to follow the trend and mark their own distinctive ambitions and taste 尾巴狼 : literally a big-tailed wolf