The young woman, stopped by a traffic officer, paid her fine and begged the officer not to keep a record of the incident. Only after being lectured and criticized did she finally depart.
Her name is Cheng Yingying. Today was meant to be her first day working at the City Guard Bureau, but she had overslept and, in her haste, had forgotten her helmet.
"It's over, it's over, I'm completely finished!"
After gunning the throttle and racing all the way to her destination, Cheng Yingying sprinted inside.
Inside the lobby of the City Guard Bureau, several other new recruits were listening to a briefing from their superior. Cheng Yingying came charging in in a disheveled state, shattering the solemn atmosphere.
"I’m sorry, I’m so sorry! I, I’m late!"
Standing to the side, Team Captain Cheng Tongtian cast a glance at his younger sister, his face etched with fury.
The Chief of the City Guard Bureau didn't look pleased. After finishing his brief remarks, he handed the remaining duties over to Cheng Tongtian and turned to leave.
Cheng Tongtian made a few more arrangements before turning and roaring, "Cheng Yingying, get in here!"
With her head hung low and muttering about how she was finished, Cheng Yingying followed her brother into his office.
"Thwack!"
Cheng Tongtian sat in his chair and slammed a hand down on the desk. "Why were you late today? Do you have any idea that this is your first day? You’re late on your first day! How do you expect your colleagues to look at you?"
Cheng Yingying lowered her head, trying to explain, but Cheng Tongtian cut her off: "A three-thousand-word self-criticism! Have it on my desk before you leave today!"
"Huh?"
"No way, brother," Cheng Yingying pleaded. "I was just..."
"None of that 'brother' business here! In this office, I am your superior. Did you hear me? Three thousand words, before you clock out!"
"Understood!"
Cheng Tongtian was still fuming.
Just then, another colleague knocked and entered. "Captain Cheng, the safety presentation at the Longshui District elementary school is about to start. We should head out!"
"Ah, well, that, I have a meeting to attend in a moment. Xue Ming, find someone else. You two go, that’ll have to do!"
Xue Ming looked troubled. "Captain Cheng, everyone on our team is busy; there’s no one else available!"
"No one left?"
Cheng Tongtian glanced at his sister. "Fine. You—go with him."
"Me?" Cheng Yingying pointed at herself. "Captain, it’s my first day..."
"You still remember that, do you? And yet you were still late. It’s settled!"
With that, Cheng Tongtian stood up and walked out. Cheng Yingying sighed, resigned to her fate, and drove to the school with Xue Ming.
On the way, seeing how miserable Cheng Yingying looked, Xue Ming chuckled. "It’s your first day, that’s normal. Our captain is a man who values punctuality above all else—be one second late, and you’re writing a report!"
Cheng Yingying sighed. "Yeah, I get it."
"Today we’re going to the school to give a safety presentation. A while back, there was a hostage situation at the World Trade Mall where a passerby was saved by an anonymous hero. Since the incident is recent and local, the students should find it more relatable as a case study."
Cheng Yingying frowned. "An anonymous hero?"
"Exactly!"
Xue Ming gave a brief summary of what happened that day. Cheng Yingying remarked, "That person was quite brave. They never found out who he was?"
"No. By the time we arrived, he had already left. We wanted to give him an award, but we have no idea where to find him."
"Right, if you find him, you really should give him an award."
Before long, the two arrived at the school. Led by the school administration, they went from classroom to classroom giving their presentation.
Meanwhile, Wu Hao was sitting in his son’s classroom, preparing for a parent-teacher meeting.
The other parents in the room were busy getting to know one another.
"Hello, hello, buddy! I’m in real estate. Here’s my card, give me a call if you ever need anything!"
"Hello, Yangyang’s dad. I heard you’re in cosmetics. I’ve heard so much about you! Who would have thought our sons would be in the same class? Here’s my card, let’s go for a drink sometime!"
"Xuanxuan’s dad, your business is incredible! I saw you pull up in a Land Rover earlier. You’ll have to help me out in the future, brother!"
Wu Hao sat there, listening to the chatter, offering only a faint smile.
Just then, two other fathers approached him. "Sir, I haven’t seen you around before. May I ask what business you’re in?"
"Ah, me?" Wu Hao turned to look at them. "I’m just a martial arts instructor."
"Oh, a martial arts instructor, eh? I hear the Wulinfeng finals are coming up soon. The Beidou Martial Arts Hall against the Dongshan Martial Arts Hall. Tell me, isn’t the Dongshan Martial Arts Hall crazy? What kind of status do they have compared to the Beidou Martial Arts Hall? They actually dared to challenge them! And against their top disciple, Li Kailong, no less! Tell me, buddy, who do you think is going to win?"
Wu Hao smiled. "Actually, I’m from the Dongshan Martial Arts Hall."
"D-Dongshan Martial Arts Hall?"
The two men froze in place upon hearing this.
One of them, a stout man, immediately pivoted. "Well, I mean, who knows? Winning or losing is never certain. The Dongshan Martial Arts Hall is actually quite formidable, don't you think?"
"Right, right! I think you're absolutely right!"
The two exchanged a look and quickly retreated to the back row, striking up a conversation with the parents sitting there.
"Hey, hey, have you heard? Liu Yafei, the president of the Liu Group, seems to have started a new business recently!"
"Really? Didn't the Liu Group go bankrupt?"
"It’s just hearsay, but rumor has it that Liu Yafei’s boyfriend from back in the day has returned. He pulled out five million in one go to help her make a comeback!"
"Oh my, is that for real? Her boyfriend must be something else!"
"You said it! A man like that is a real man. If I ever have the luck to meet him, I’m definitely going to get to know him!"
"Me too!"
In an instant, the big bosses and small business owners alike were buzzing with excitement.
Just then, the homeroom teacher, Teacher Ge, walked in. After some polite pleasantries, she organized for the parents to take the stage and introduce themselves.
After about ten minutes, Wu Hao walked up to the podium. "Hello, fellow parents. I am Liu Chenghao’s father, Wu Hao. I look forward to working with you all."
"Liu... Liu Chenghao’s father?"
The parents below froze instantly, exchanging glances and whispering to one another.
"Liu Yafei of the Liu Group has a son named Liu Chenghao. Could it be... could he be Liu Yafei’s boyfriend? The man who pulled out five million to help her make a comeback?"
"My god, is it true? Isn't he just a martial arts instructor?"
"Maybe that's just his side job! Oh my god, why didn't I try to get to know him earlier? I have to add him on WeChat later!"
"Liu Yafei was the 'Iron Lady' CEO of the Liu Group back in the day. It was only because of a betrayal by the board of directors that the company went bankrupt. Now that she’s starting over, doesn't that mean the whole of Hecheng will belong to the Liu family again?"
"It’s true what they say: behind every successful woman is a successful man. Looking at it now, this Mr. Wu is clearly a big deal."