After seeing off his son, Yin Baiquan drove to the company. The small TV in the car reported an early-morning collapse incident in the mountainous area. In what was usually a tranquil mountain region, a sudden magnetic interference caused the sturdy rocks to collapse, crushing the village at the foot of the mountain. Houses deformed and collapsed, and over a hundred villagers, still in their sleep, were buried beneath the mud and rocks.
When the military received the anonymous tip, it was already too late.
However, to their surprise, when they arrived via helicopter with several medical personnel, they discovered that, apart from looking disheveled, all the elderly and children in the entire village were unharmed. They hugged each other tightly, their expressions a mix of excitement and gratitude.
How did these people manage to escape? Faced with the military’s bewilderment, a group of elderly men and women tremblingly explained, “A young man saved us. He spent the entire night digging, rescuing all of us from the collapsed houses.”
“Yes, it’s like he doesn’t need a life detector; every dig was accurate. At that time, my mouth was full of mud, and just when I thought I was going to die, warm hands dug me out. I really… really thought I was going to die, wuwuwu. I hugged him and cried for a long time, and he comforted me. He’s truly a gentle person!” A girl with hair covered in dirt, crying as she covered her face, couldn’t describe the feeling of being on the verge of despair, where her will to survive was nearly zero. When she found herself back on the surface, breathing fresh air again, tears streamed down uncontrollably, wetting her face.
“Even my dog, Ah Huang, he didn’t give up. He went to great lengths to rescue him from the mud. I have no parents; Ah Huang is the most important family member in my life. He allowed me to reunite safely with my family. I’m so grateful to him!” Facing reporters and curious cameras, a man in pajamas covered in mud, holding his big barking dog, hugged each other. The scene was too emotional for words.
In the past, they often said that men don’t easily shed tears, but it’s only when on the brink of tears that they instantly understand the value of life.
The military personnel asked, “Do you know who that person is?”
“We’ve seen the reports; he’s that mysterious young man, N. He had a symbol on his clothes,” one survivor eagerly replied. Due to the magnetic disturbances, accidents occurred every year, and they happened rapidly. Surviving was already considered incredibly lucky for them.
“Indeed, it’s him,” the military personnel spoke gently, as if it was expected. They had also seen the previous reports and had a favorable impression of the civilian hero, the young man N. Like many internet users, they were eager to know the real identity of this person.
Yin Baiquan listened attentively to the report. He never imagined that while he and his son were sound asleep, disasters might be unfolding in other parts of the city. If it weren’t for the appearance of the young hero, these people would have already perished. The presence of this individual had done its best to minimize the loss of life and property caused by the riots, earning unanimous appreciation from both the civilian and military sides.
Over the next month and a half, the figure of Young Man N appeared in different corners of the city, continuously acting bravely and coming to the aid of those in need. The individual remained truly mysterious, with no information about their identity, age, or even nationality. However, their actions were no longer a secret. Every appearance was accompanied by countless admirers, evolving from solo acts to a multitude of cameras and enthusiastic fans.
Some believed he was seeking attention, while others who had been saved by him were endlessly grateful. After hearing multiple reports and experiencing several accidents occurring not far from their own homes, people felt as if they had brushed shoulders with death.
Even Yin Baiquan found the moniker “Young Man N” as endearing as his own son. During a candlelit lunch with his girlfriend, he couldn’t help but praise, “This Young Man N is truly warm-hearted. His age should be similar to Minglu’s. While he’s busy saving the world in the middle of the night, Minglu is playing on his phone. Both are young guys, why is there such a big difference? I’ve confiscated his third phone and a stack of comic books, even locked his computer. Somehow, he still manages to stay up late, and every day, he has dark circles under his eyes. I’m puzzled; how can he be so tired every day? Is he busy saving the world or something?”
Comparison is inevitable, especially when their figures and actual ages are likely very close.
In a tone of bewilderment, the man expressed his confusion about dealing with his teenage son, showcasing the uncertainties of parenting during adolescence. This made the woman at the neighboring table chuckle.
The woman said with a smile, “Minglu is so well-behaved. Even if he stays up late and his grades are a bit lacking, he hasn’t done anything wrong. Do you really have to engage in a constant mental battle with him? Maybe he’s just enjoying his youth a bit, you should comfort him and not get angry. Over time, he’ll surely listen to you.”
Yin Baiquan also smiled, shaking his head and saying, “I lose my temper? I’ve been driven to the point where I have no temper left. He leisurely wanders around all day and only comes back when it’s dark. He returns home in the middle of the night and doesn’t sleep. If he were out saving the world, that would be one thing, but the problem is he has no idea what he’s staying up late for. He doesn’t tell me the reason either. I even suspect he might be in love. Ah, teenage boys are indeed rebellious. They may look obedient on the outside, but their actions are not like that. They act all mysterious every day, like they have their own opinions.”
Moreover, that hesitant look in his small eyes always leaves him uneasy.
“It’s normal. When kids grow up, they have their own secrets. As parents, all we can do is watch over them from behind, hoping they stay safe forever.” Faced with the man’s helpless complaints, the woman extended her slender hand, holding hands with him on the dining table, gently comforting him.
Seeing the man lost in thought, the woman continued, “And why are you comparing Minglu to that little hero? The little hero sacrifices himself every day to save the world, facing danger and risking his life. I saw it last time; the bullets grazed the face of Young Man N, and half of his mask was torn, with blood coming out. It scared me. Saving the world may seem glamorous, but it’s a high-risk profession with constant danger to life. If Minglu really goes to save the world, as a father, you’d be the first to oppose it, no doubt.”
“That’s true,” Yin Baiquan agreed.
Thinking about his son walking in such dangerous situations, fighting blood-soaked battles against terrorists, and constantly facing the possibility of death, it made him anxious. Yin Baiquan would rather his son lead an ordinary and uneventful life.
Moreover, when the woman mentioned the scene where Young Man N’s cheek was almost pierced by a bullet, Yin Baiquan couldn’t help but sigh. He had also watched that scene in an online video.
It was an incident involving terrorists using a bomb-laden truck to ram into a high-rise building. The terrorists were well-equipped, continuously firing bullets, and Young Man N was fighting alone. Several times he barely dodged bullets, narrowly avoiding being shot. Onlookers gasped in fear, afraid that the teenager might lose his life. After all, Young Man N was human, not an invincible deity. If a bullet hit him, he would surely die.
Fortunately, the teenager decisively closed in, jumping next to the leader of the terrorists. Amidst the hail of gunfire, he swiftly and decisively clamped down on the leader’s throat, then pressed him to the ground.
That scene was incredibly cool, arguably the most classic gunfight in history, impressively handsome, making people want to scream in excitement. Young Man N subdued the thieves, and other criminals surrendered one after another as the police arrived. When Young Man N thought the situation was under control and was about to leave, he was suddenly shot from behind.
Luckily, the teenager reacted quickly, dodging the bullet and only leaving a bloodstain on his cheek. The consequences could have been dire. His narrow escape frightened everyone, as they thought the young hero had come close to death. Fortunately, it was just a facial injury.
Yin Baiquan had the same thoughts. That day left him uneasy, and when he returned home, he saw his son with a bloodied white cloth wrapped around his face, uncertain whether the red was real blood or red medicine.
Him: “…Why are you cosplaying as Young Man N?” In the short walk back home, Yin Baiquan saw at least a dozen young people cosplaying as Young Man N, each covering their faces as if they were truly injured. They even imitated the determined gaze of the teenager from the video, looking quite convincing.
He had thought that even if his son admired Young Man N, he wouldn’t be so bored. Unexpectedly, his own son turned out to be just as bored. With a piece of white gauze and a few drops of red medicine, he wanted to low-cost cosplay the famous teenage hero from the internet.
Faced with his father’s annoyed question, his son made a vague sound, scratched his face with his fingers, and looked innocent, as if unsure of what to say. Seeing his son’s expression, Yin Baiquan couldn’t bring himself to scold him further, unaware that he had narrowly missed encountering the real Young Man N several times.
Just as Yin Baiquan thought his son was imitating Young Man N, some classmates in the class had the same impression. When Yin Minglu, with the gauze covering his face, silently made his entrance, the class monitor, Wang Panpan, walked over angrily, slapped his desk hard, and scolded him, “How can you be so tasteless! I thought you were just bad at academics, but I didn’t expect your character to be so low!”
Yin Minglu, still half-asleep, innocently tilted his head and asked, “?”
Wang Panpan said, “When Young Man N accidentally gets hurt, it’s so heartbreaking. You heartless people are actually imitating him one by one, simply disgraceful!” Unbeknownst to others, she had watched the video of Young Man N bravely fighting terrorists, saving the high-rise building from a bomb countdown, dozens of times privately. Every time she saw the bloodstains on his face, her eyes would unconsciously become moist.
Her eyes filled with hot tears, feeling an overwhelming heartache, almost crying to the point of breathlessness.
It was this handsome young man who suddenly appeared, fulfilling the imaginative hero in her mind as a teenage girl. She became his devoted fan. Naturally, she couldn’t stand anyone who imitated him for attention and fame.
She would call out and criticize those internet celebrities who dared to cosplay as the injured Young Man N, leaving comments to express her disapproval. And now, faced with a classmate imitating him, it was no exception.
So, Yin Minglu was scolded severely. Not to mention the girls who threatened him to stop imitating, it wasn’t just Wang Panpan; girls from neighboring classes joined in as well. Faced with this, Yin Minglu genuinely expressed his innocence, wondering if he was imitating himself.
Qiao Kai sympathetically patted his shoulder, with a tone of amusement, saying, “Others have girls from neighboring classes coming to confess their feelings, but when it comes to you, it’s girls from neighboring classes threatening you. Brother, you’re really in a tough spot. But seriously, maybe you should stop imitating Young Man N. He’s a big hero, and we have many fanboys and fangirls in our school. Girls might threaten you the most, but if male fans don’t like it, they might just beat you up. You better take off that gauze. Just cosplay at home for your own enjoyment.”
Yin Minglu also felt a bit miserable. He hadn’t slept well the entire morning due to the scolding. However, in response to the comments, he helplessly shrugged and said, “I didn’t imitate anyone; I’m genuinely injured.”
“How could it be so coincidental? Young Man N gets hurt, and you get hurt too? In the exact same spot, and with the strong smell of red medicine. Bro, who are you trying to fool?” Qiao Kai flat-out didn’t believe him. “Listen to big brother’s advice, take off the gauze, stop showing off. What if someone from another class takes offense and beats you up? We won’t be there to protect you.”
As he spoke, Qiao Kai seemed to have already envisioned the scene of Yin Minglu being beaten up by Young Man N’s fanboys and fangirls, fearing it might implicate him. He quickly distanced himself from the situation.
Yin Minglu: “…”
Fortunately, the rest of the day remained calm. However, after the bell rang signaling the end of the last class, as Yin Minglu packed up his things, the usually reserved class monitor approached him.
Yin Minglu was stunned: !!! Is the class monitor a fanboy of Young Man N, coming to beat him up?
Before he could say anything, Fu Jinxiu suddenly handed him a cup of red jujube and ginger-flavored milk tea. As he smelled the pungent aroma, Yin Minglu paused, subconsciously took the cup, and then looked at Fu Jinxiu, wondering, what does this mean?
Fu Jinxiu said, “Drink it. It speeds up wound healing.” Ginger can also help reduce scarring. Although he didn’t understand why, when he bought the milk tea at the tea shop, the staff winked at him and asked if he was buying it for his girlfriend. He coolly replied that he was buying it for a male classmate, leaving the staff stunned. Even though he found it puzzling, he didn’t see anything wrong with it.
Yin Minglu was taken aback. “You believe I’m injured?”
Fu Jinxiu nodded and calmly said, “I believe you’re not the kind of person who seeks attention for show.” Someone who had gained a reputation for acts of bravery but refused to acknowledge it wouldn’t indulge in the low-level amusement of imitation.
Yin Minglu was touched, thinking that the class monitor really had a discerning eye.
However, his moment of appreciation was short-lived as the class monitor’s next words dispelled it. Fu Jinxiu said, “Let’s go, I’ll give you extra lessons. Although I’m not angry that you skipped last time, it doesn’t mean I don’t take it into account. If you can rank in the top 150 in the next monthly exam, I’ll forgive you.”
Fu Jinxiu was still clear about rewards and punishments. Although his mother said that some people are like shy grass, and if he takes the initiative a few more times, the other person will surely open up to him, he couldn’t feel good when someone he cared about stood him up for no reason.
With a total of one thousand students in their grade, being in the top 150 would secure admission to a top-tier university. The original host’s grades had consistently hovered around seven or eight hundred.
So, when he heard this, Yin Minglu was shocked. “!!! Class monitor, do you really have that much confidence in me? But, but…”
Fu Jinxiu’s gaze sharpened. “Do you want to stand me up again?”
Yin Minglu: “…No, no.”
After school, the bubble tea shop was primarily dominated by girls or couples strolling in, holding each other’s arms. Suddenly, two handsome young men appeared, attracting quite a bit of attention.
Especially one of them, with a handsome face and gauze wrapped around his cheek. The other was biting a straw, sitting restlessly on the sofa, seeming somewhat uncomfortable.
This appearance made people think a few times that they were urgently holding it in and needed to use the restroom, and Fu Jinxiu was no exception.
He lowered his eyelashes, holding a pen with his slender fingertips. He calmly said, “If you want to go, then go.”
Hearing these understanding words, Yin Minglu looked up with surprise. “Really? It might take a while, though.” Checking the location, it seemed to be a couple of kilometers away, and he wasn’t sure how many hours it would take to return.
But the way Fu Jinxiu heard his words was…
It turned out that Yin Minglu urgently needed to use the restroom, imagining the scene where Fu Jinxiu might be holding it in and couldn’t wait to undo his belt. The usually indifferent young man blushed, avoiding eye contact. He said, “Don’t delay, go quickly.”
“Thank you!! You’re so considerate!” Yin Minglu immediately stood up, not sparing any praise before leaving. Fu Jinxiu couldn’t help but blush, the redness spreading to his ears.
Then, Fu Jinxiu quickly understood why Yin Minglu was so grateful for his consideration. When the other returned, it was already three hours later.
Fu Jinxiu: Hehe!