Chapter 43: The Miserable Fate of Huang Silu

"Wu Ya, think carefully! This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity! With such great honor, you might even get recommended to a top university!" Inspector Zhou's tone suddenly turned stern.

Wu Ya had just graduated from high school and was awaiting admission to Huaiyuan University, a provincially run institution. If, at this moment, he were to rise to fame because of this matter, becoming an official model of upholding justice, he would naturally have the chance to be recommended to a more prestigious university. After all, the nation needed such figures—those who acted bravely for righteousness and reported crimes.

"Inspector Zhou, thank you for your concern and care. Please tell the leaders on my behalf that I am willing to remain anonymous. Please, don't let this matter disturb the peace of my life."

Without the slightest hesitation, Wu Ya declined Inspector Zhou's well-meant offer. He claimed not to wish for disturbance, but in truth, he feared retaliation. Wu Kui's accomplices were undoubtedly a gang of desperadoes. As the saying goes, it's not the thief you fear, but the thief who keeps you in mind. You can't be on guard all the time, wary of someone making a move against you. Living with nerves perpetually taut would be utterly exhausting.

"Alright then, I’ll reply to the leaders with your exact words," Inspector Zhou said, recognizing the resoluteness in Wu Ya's tone and knowing his mind was made up. He did not press further. Having served in the force for many years, Zhou could more or less guess Wu Ya's true thoughts. Cases of informants suffering retaliation were all too common. Protection? It simply wasn’t possible to guarantee it at every moment. From one perspective, Wu Ya’s decision was correct—he was keeping himself safe. But after Zhou reported this up the chain…

"Oh? Doing good without leaving a name? What a noble spirit! Not something you’d expect from an eighteen-year-old. Truly a paragon of virtue, a model for our times!" With the mayor’s final pronouncement, the media went into a frenzy. "A paragon of virtue, a model for our times" swiftly became a household phrase. Doing good without seeking recognition—this became a celebrated ideal in official reports and the talk of every street corner.

After hanging up, Wu Ya left home.

Friendship Restaurant, Private Room One.

Tonight was a long-planned dinner hosted by Huang Silu. As he’d been following the news closely, he was the last to arrive.

"Hey, on my way here, I heard a breaking news story on the radio—our city took down a drug trafficking ring! And the mysterious informant who gave the police the tip-off even turned down a meeting with the city leaders, saying he was happy to remain anonymous. What a magnanimous spirit—something we should all admire!"

Even before stepping through the door, Wu Ya heard a voice that made his heart race without fail, in this life or the last. It carried unmistakable admiration from within the room.

"Heh, if you knew that mysterious person was your boyfriend, how would you react? Would you be so surprised your jaw dropped?" Wu Ya stood outside, feeling a surge of pride. To be so admired by a girl you like—surely this was every boy’s most fervent wish.

"Yeah, I heard it too! Not in it for fame or gain, but driven by pure passion and a sense of justice, daring to risk danger to report such heinous criminals. That, to me, is a hero."

Another voice rang out, clear and sweet as a bell. It was the voice of Qiao Ya, the very girl Huang Silu could not forget. Her words brimmed with open admiration.

They were young, untainted by the world, hearts filled with positive energy. They lived upright, reaching toward the sun. For those willing to be nameless heroes, their admiration and affection came naturally.

But not everyone was pleased.

"A hero? All he did was give the police a tip. Is that really enough to glorify someone to this extent? If he’d actually taken part in the arrest of the traffickers, that would be heroic. But just making a report from behind the scenes? Does that really qualify? Isn’t the word ‘hero’ starting to lose its value?"

It was Huang Silu. Though he genuinely admired Wu Ya’s actions, he couldn’t accept how enraptured Qiao Ya was, her admiration for Wu Ya almost written on her face. She was, after all, the girl he liked and hoped to pursue! How could he stand to see her idolize Wu Ya like this? His words, though tinged with jealousy, went unrecognized for what they were—everyone thought he was just envious of the mysterious hero.

"Come on, Huang Silu, are you just bitter because you couldn’t do it yourself?"

"Yeah, Huang Silu, easy for you to say. How many such reports have you made? Would you have the guts to report a real criminal?"

"Ha! I bet even if Huang Silu made a report, it would only be to a teacher! When it comes to criminals, he’s probably afraid of being targeted in retaliation!"

Three classmates chimed in, one after another, full of mockery. For tonight’s dinner, Huang Silu had deliberately invited several friends he got along well with—Li Jiaxiang, Han Haiyang, and Pan Dong—instead of just the four of them, so as not to create an awkward, overly intimate atmosphere.

Yet, unexpectedly, they all ended up siding against him. Wu Ya’s shining deed had relegated Huang Silu to a nobody, deepening the resentment he already felt due to Qiao Ya’s attitude. He was just about to retort and argue back when—

"Huang Silu! If you don’t know what you’re talking about, then keep quiet! Someone acting bravely for justice deserves our praise. How can you use your petty thinking to belittle a hero’s deed?"

Qiao Ya’s indignant rebuke burst out before he could speak. Her stunning face, enough to outshine a hundred flowers, was now twisted in anger, coldness radiating from her eyes—a frosty glare.

Everyone immediately fell silent. They all knew Qiao Ya’s temper well—if she didn’t like something, she wouldn’t care about the occasion; she’d call you out on the spot and leave you unable to save face. This was a perfect example.

Huang Silu, stung by her scolding, stood there with a face turning green and yellow by turns. "You! You all... I—" The words caught in his throat, stammering and unable to utter a single sentence. He stood there utterly crestfallen, like an eggplant struck by frost, all vitality drained.

To be scolded in public by the girl he liked—and all because of another boy! Even a man of iron could hardly bear such a blow.

After a long moment, the dejected Huang Silu suddenly looked up at everyone.

"Do you know? You all actually know who that mysterious person is!"

Everyone knows him?

In an instant, all eyes turned to Huang Silu.