Chen Family of Handong.
Chen Yanshi, who had been sitting in front of the television the entire time, smoking continuously with a deep frown, suddenly heard a voice coming from the set.
"We now interrupt our regular broadcast with a breaking news report!"
"The situation at the abandoned vehicle yard in the suburbs of Binhai City has been brought under control!"
"According to on-the-ground reports from our journalists, Qi Tongwei, an officer from the local police station, engaged in a fierce half-hour battle with drug traffickers inside the warehouse and has now brought all of them to justice!"
"Currently..."
Chen Yanshi abruptly stood up, fumbling in his haste as he picked up his reading glasses from the table.
He hurried over to the television and peered down at the screen, watching the figure of Qi Tongwei walking out of the warehouse.
"Good! Good! Excellent!!"
"Mom, Tongwei is safe! Stop sleeping!"
"Yangyang, Shanzi!"
At Chen Yanshi's call, the rest of the Chen family members emerged from their bedrooms one after another and gathered in front of the television.
Chen Shan watched a rerun of the news report and muttered in disbelief, "Is Tongwei really that tough?"
He had met famous veteran criminal investigators from Handong in the past, men who boasted of how formidable they were. But compared to Qi Tongwei right now, those guys didn't even measure up to a single hair!
To charge into a tiger's den single-handedly and take down dozens of vicious drug traffickers—including over a dozen armed gunmen—even movies wouldn't dare to exaggerate things to this extent!
Beside him, Chen Yang burst into tears of joy upon seeing the news on television.
However, when she caught sight of the unfamiliar young woman being embraced by Qi Tongwei on the screen, a trace of displeasure and envy involuntarily flashed across her pretty face.
What was the meaning of this? Was Qi Tongwei going behind her back to keep a mistress?
Although Qi Tongwei and Chen Yang had yet to officially define their relationship, Chen Yang could have gone to work in Longcheng had she wished; she had chosen to stay in Handong specifically for Qi Tongwei.
Who in Handong didn't know they were a couple?
"Mom, I'm tired! I'm going to sleep!"
Hearing this, Chen Yanshi felt somewhat puzzled and was about to call out to his daughter when Wang Fuzhen suddenly grabbed his arm and pointed a finger at the girl in Qi Tongwei's arms.
"What's wrong with her now?"
"Old Chen, you really are as dense as a rock!"
"No, spell it out clearly!"
"I can't be bothered explaining things to a rock. It's like playing the lute to a cow!"
...
Liang Family of Handong.
At this moment, Liang Lu was the only one sitting in front of the television, waiting for the good news of Qi Tongwei's demise.
She had to see Qi Tongwei dead to vent the anger in her heart!
Yet when the breaking news broadcast flashed across the screen, showing Qi Tongwei walking out of the warehouse safe and sound, Liang Lu froze in place.
How could Qi Tongwei not be dead?
He had to die!
Her face flushed with rage, Liang Lu stared unblinkingly at the television in resentment, a look of unmistakable malice and hatred in her eyes.
...
Handong University.
Evening self-study had already ended, and students were returning to their respective dormitories one after another.
Nevertheless, many students were still scrolling through their phones for videos concerning the warehouse in the suburbs of Binhai City. They were staying up late, waiting for the latest updates from the scene.
"Interrupting with a breaking news report..."
As soon as this news segment appeared, the students of Handong University were struck dumb with astonishment.
"What? Senior Qi is still alive?"
"Not only is he alive, but the senior also captured dozens of drug traffickers inside the warehouse!"
"As expected of our veteran senior from Handong!"
"A lone hero! A modern-day lone hero!"
News about Qi Tongwei spread with astonishing speed, and several dormitory buildings at Handong University instantly erupted as if a pot had boiled over.
Countless university students ignored the dormitory manager's attempts to stop them, rushing out onto the balconies to shout at the top of their lungs, venting the surging emotions in their hearts.
...
"Xiao'ai! Xiao'ai, look! Senior Qi has come out!"
In Zhong Xiao'ai's dormitory, her upper-bunk roommate brandished her phone and shoved the screen toward Zhong Xiao'ai on the lower bunk.
Hearing this, Zhong Xiao'ai snatched the phone away and saw Qi Tongwei holding Xiaoyou in the video.
A wave of joy first welled up in her heart, but when she saw Xiaoyou in his embrace, a complex mix of dissatisfaction, anger, jealousy, and envy uncontrollably surged from the depths of her heart.
"I know!"
Zhong Xiao'ai handed the phone back to her roommate without showing much happiness at all, leaving her roommate's face full of question marks.
"Xiao'ai? Weren't you worried sick just a moment ago? Why are you now—"
"Who was worried sick?! Go to sleep, we have early classes tomorrow!"
The displeasure in Zhong Xiao'ai's tone was so glaringly obvious that anyone could hear it.
Her roommate's eyes rolled around as if a thought had just occurred to her, and she couldn't help letting out a chuckle.
"I say, Xiao'ai, could it be that... you've fallen for Senior Qi? Are you jealous seeing him holding another girl?"
"Nonsense! I'll tear that mouth of yours if you keep talking!"
"Look, look, you're getting flustered! Oh my god, I actually guessed right!"
...
Chen Hai's dormitory.
Ever since Chen Hai and Hou Liangping had a falling out, the two had remained top and bottom bunkmates without exchanging a single word.
Suddenly, another of their roommates bolted upright and cried out in shock.
"Monkey, Haizi! Latest intelligence! Senior Qi came out of the warehouse! And he actually captured all the criminals!"
"What?"
"What did you say?!"
The tones of Hou Liangping and Chen Hai were entirely different.
The former carried a tone of hysterical disbelief, while the latter was filled with wild joy and excitement.
Before either of them could pull out their phones to check, various screams and roars rang out from outside the dormitory. Faintly, everyone could be heard shouting Qi Tongwei's name.
"Looks like everyone knows! As expected of our old senior, he's just too badass! I really yield to him!"
Several of their roommates leaped down from their beds and rushed toward the balcony together, eager to join in the carnival belonging to Handong University.
Chen Hai's face flushed red; as he watched the report on the video, his blood boiled with excitement.
A real man should be just like this!
Meanwhile, down in the bottom bunk, Hou Liangping wore an expression of bitter resentment as he slammed his fist hard against the wall.
Qi Tongwei, why won't you just die?!
...
This major criminal case in the suburbs of Binhai City spread across the country with incredible speed, even reaching overseas.
Consequently, Qi Tongwei became a sensation without a shadow of a doubt!
He personally emerged as a hot topic figure across Daxia.
"Qi Tongwei from Handong is truly a fierce warrior! A modern-day champion general!"
"Taking down dozens of drug traffickers single-handedly sounds like something out of a novel—I never expected such a person to exist in real reality!"
"The peace and quiet we enjoy is entirely due to heroes like Qi Tongwei carrying the heavy burdens forward!"
"Shouldn't the country award him the title of First-Class Combat Hero?"
"I heard it's already been granted! The official documents have been issued!"
"Tell me, with someone as formidable as Qi Tongwei, why is he cooped up in a small suburban police station? Is there some inside story?"
"It looks like the waters in Handong run deep! Could the official circles in Handong be corrupted?"
"Hard to say!"