CH 57

The next day when Bai Xianzhi saw Li Yi, there was still a subtle awkwardness, especially upon seeing the tall boy behind Li Yi.

Li Yi also felt a bit embarrassed, “Uh, Bro Bai, he wants to stay in the store for a day and leave tomorrow. Is that okay with you?”

Newly formed couples don’t want to be apart even for a moment. Thinking about this, Bai Xianzhi suddenly didn’t feel as awkward. After all, what’s the awkwardness for? Isn’t it normal to be in a romantic relationship? Even though he’s been single until now, hasn’t he seen romantic scenes on TV? There are so many affectionate moments on TV, and they don’t feel awkward while watching. Why does it feel awkward when encountering it in real life?

With his mindset adjusted and considering that the business in the store isn’t too busy, Bai Xianzhi agreed. If circumstances allow, he’s still very reasonable.

….

In front of a shop on Wutong Avenue in City S, a man with disheveled hair and wearing a red striped t-shirt was swaying his head and arms back and forth incessantly, as if he were on a dance floor at a nightclub. However, this wasn’t a nightclub; it was a street. As soon as people passing by saw him in this state, they instinctively felt something was off and hurriedly went around him.

Just as an elderly lady with a cane was about to pass by the man, he suddenly pulled out a fruit knife from the bag hanging on his chest. The metallic blade gleamed in the sunlight, sending shivers down the spine. The lady closest to him stumbled and fell to the ground, luckily, the man didn’t pay any attention to her. He raised the blade high and rushed into the crowd further away, shouting, “I’m going to kill you! I’m going to kill you!”

A man wielding a knife and attempting to kill people appeared on Wutong Avenue in City S. The police from the Wutong Street Police Station immediately responded to the call. Concerned about the safety of the civilians’ lives, they were afraid of being too slow.

When they arrived at Wutong Avenue, the police immediately spotted the man with the knife. At that moment, he was incessantly hitting the glass door of a supermarket with the fruit knife, shouting, “Come out! Come out! I’m going to kill you! Kill you!”

Inside the glass door were dozens of onlookers, all of them terrified, staring at the man at the entrance. The police quickly formed a cordon to approach the man. They understood that this man was clearly mentally unstable, so they had to be extremely cautious during the apprehension process. The man might put up fierce resistance, and in the heat of the moment, the police could easily get hurt.

However, no one expected that the man seemed to have noticed the police’s movements. Before the cordon could fully close in, he swiftly broke out of the encirclement, brandishing the knife, and rushed into a nearby alley. The police immediately gave chase, but the alley twisted and turned. In the blink of an eye, the man vanished into the narrow path.

The police from the Wutong Street Police Station immediately sealed off all exits of the alley. Meanwhile, dozens of police officers formed pairs and began a thorough search within the alley, creating a dense net in hopes of capturing the suspect.

….

Bai Xianzhi was cooking in the kitchen when he heard a sudden sharp scream from outside the door. He quickly turned off the stove and was about to run outside when he saw the girl who was working part-time for the summer and two customers rush into the kitchen in a panic.

“What’s going on?!”

The three of them were still in shock and couldn’t say anything. Bai Xianzhi took a step and crossed over them to reach the front area. With a quick glance, he took in the situation: a man wearing a red striped short-sleeved shirt was holding a fruit knife that was more than ten centimeters long, confronting Li Yi and Li Yi’s boyfriend.

“You guys go inside! I’ll close the door!”

The man was speaking while glancing around anxiously. Bai Xianzhi noticed this and walked over to Li Yi and his boyfriend, whispering, “You both go inside.”

Turning his head, the man noticed Bai Xianzhi’s stern expression. His face showed signs of madness, and the fruit knife he held in his hand trembled uncontrollably. He asked, “Who are you?!”

Bai Xianzhi raised his hands and said, “I’m the owner here. If you need something, you can tell me.”

Perhaps seeing that Bai Xianzhi wasn’t acting maliciously, the man pointed with the knife inside and then at the door, saying, “They, go inside. You, close the door!”

Bai Xianzhi turned and gave a signal to Li Yi and his boyfriend, indicating for them to go inside. The two young men hesitated, but Bai Xianzhi had to mouth the words: “I have a plan.” This convinced the two guys to finally enter the kitchen.

….

Bai Xianzhi turned around and slowly approached the man. Sensing his approach, the man grew nervous, with a mix of crazed and fearful emotions on his face. He tightened his grip on the knife and fiercely demanded, “What do you want?!”

Bai Xianzhi pointed towards the rolling curtain door, saying, “I’m closing the door.”

The man looked at the door, then at Bai Xianzhi. His other hand was frantically scratching his messy hair, and traces of blood were visible under his fingernails, as if he had scratched his scalp raw.

Perhaps the pain made the man calm down a bit. He watched Bai Xianzhi cautiously as he slowly approached the table. Bai Xianzhi, of course, couldn’t let him actually get inside. The kitchen was separated only by a curtain. If the man got inside, the safety of the three kids and the two customers inside would be compromised. Bai Xianzhi stopped and said to the man, “This door is heavy. One person can’t close it. Can you help me?”

The man in the striped shirt stopped, looking at Bai Xianzhi and the unmoving door. At this point, Bai Xianzhi was already about seventy percent certain that the man had cognitive issues. He urged, “Hurry, the police will be here soon.”

Upon hearing the word “police,” panic immediately crossed the man’s face. As expected, he walked closer. Bai Xianzhi was now sure that there were police officers searching the alley.

Calmly, he said to the approaching man, “Close the door.” So, they stood side by side in front of the curtain door. Bai Xianzhi picked up an iron hook from the side and reached up. Just as the iron hook was about to touch the door, he flipped his wrist, and the hook quickly slid to the left. With a sharp flick, the man’s pain-filled cry accompanied the sound of the fruit knife hitting the ground. Bai Xianzhi seized the opportunity and rushed forward, pinning the man against the wall, firmly restraining his movements.

Hearing the noise, Li Yi and his boyfriend ran out. They brought a rope and tied the man’s hands and feet. Once bound, Bai Xianzhi called the police, and they arrived promptly to take the man into custody.

After the police took the man away, the two customers in the store thanked Bai Xianzhi, acknowledging his courage and attentiveness. They mentioned that if not for him, the situation could have turned out differently. The three kids also expressed their gratitude. When danger came, Bai Xianzhi had shielded them, putting himself in front of them. He was more reliable than their own teacher!

After responding to everyone, Bai Xianzhi sat down in the front area, feeling still shaken by the experience. In fact, he only had the courage to act because he assumed that, similar to the store in the “Three Thousand Worlds,” any fighting in the store would immobilize the participants. However, this experience made him realize that there was no such immobilization effect here. Even while pinning the man to the wall, the man had resisted. Bai Xianzhi even got punched in the process, but the man wasn’t immobilized at all.

Sighing with relief, as there were no customers at the moment, Bai Xianzhi sent the three kids home to rest and went upstairs to hold the two little kids, trying to calm himself.

Bai Xianzhi thought this incident would be over, but he didn’t anticipate that one of the female customers in the store, fearful as she was, managed to capture the whole encounter on video. She used her phone to film Bai Xianzhi’s interaction with the man, and later, she uploaded it online.

Initially, the incident of a man wielding a knife to threaten people in broad daylight already had the nation concerned. Such a seemingly senseless act of a person pulling out a knife and threatening to kill people, then randomly chasing after pedestrians without any apparent motive, caused significant panic. Within just two hours, this incident had become a trending topic online.

Although only one person suffered minor injuries, and the man was apprehended by the police a few hours later, the online fervor around this incident remained high. This indiscriminate attack, driven by mental instability rather than personal animosity, left people worried about their safety. Bai Xianzhi’s video, showing his calm and composed demeanor, his protection of the two young men who were clearly quite young, his ingenious words when he noticed the man’s intention to enter, and his subsequent swift and decisive actions, all ignited an online frenzy. Netizens who watched the video were inspired and shared it one after another. Soon, the video spread widely across the internet, gaining more and more viewers, and its popularity gradually soared…

【Offering up my knees! This little brother is incredible!】

【Facing the thug so calmly, and protecting two students (are they students?), so cool! Even without looking at his face, I think he’s amazing!】

【Hahaha, who would’ve thought? The moment the knife was knocked away, the thug looked so bewildered. The little brother’s reaction was lightning fast! I had to watch it twice to understand!】

【Adding to that, I replayed it too. Has the little brother had training? His movements were swift and precise. I’m in awe!】

【Answering the question above, I graduated from a martial arts school. The little brother’s movements in the video were indeed crisp and precise. However, I can tell that they weren’t systematic; he was acting on instinct. Moreover, there were simpler, more efficient, and safer moves he could’ve used in some places, but he didn’t, so I’m certain he hasn’t had training.】

【Oh my, really? To achieve this level without training is truly impressive. Just watching him makes me feel amazed!】

【Sob, sob, does the little brother need a girlfriend? I really want to be the little brother’s girlfriend; he gives such a sense of security!】

【Ah, ah, ah, ah, does the little brother need a leg pendant that’s soft and cute?】

【Why do I feel like I recognize this little brother?】

【Familiar face +1】

【Familiar face +2】

【??? So many people find him familiar? Sob, sob, I thought I had a special connection with the little brother.】

【I remember now, isn’t this little brother the restaurant owner from the recent live broadcast by City S TV station? (I remember him distinctly because he’s so handsome!)】

【I checked the recorded live broadcast, and it really is him!!】

【Oh my, can this guy really cook at home and take care of his partner’s stomach, while also being able to subdue a thug and protect his partner’s safety outside? What kind of godly little brother is this? I really want him!】

【This little brother is so attractive; I can’t resist! Can someone tell me the location of the restaurant? I want to go!】

【Want to go +1, the little brother is too irresistible! Good-looking, good character, strong, and he can cook. He’s the perfect boyfriend material!】

Of course, in the online comments, some people doubted the authenticity of the video. After all, the little brother in the video was good-looking, and many good-looking people nowadays would go to great lengths for fame. This video might be fake, perhaps a self-promotion scheme!

As these doubts began to surface, more and more people started considering this possibility. Some even began to criticize Bai Xianzhi. In the ever-changing world of online opinions, people behind their screens donned the cloak of falsehood and started releasing their malicious thoughts.

The polite and courteous uncle next door and the lady upstairs, as soon as they closed the door and grabbed their keyboards, their demeanor completely changed. The negative emotions and stress that they couldn’t express face-to-face were unleashed on the internet. After all, what’s better for relieving stress than venting frustrations, even if it means spewing hurtful words and harming others?

What’s crucial is that insults, slander, and defamation from behind the screen carry no responsibility. Most of the time, these people aren’t addressing the issue at hand. Accumulated dissatisfaction and disapproval towards certain matters, both in the online and real world, turn them into ticking time bombs. It’s as if they’re sealed in a pressure cooker, ready to explode at even a slight increase in temperature.

Bai Xianzhi in the video is undoubtedly a victim of this situation. Many criticized him as shameless, accusing him of riding the hype and suggested he was just an attention-seeker. Some even claimed he was effeminate, with his every move in the video appearing affected and exaggerated. Moreover, there were suspicions that he had conspired with the thug, just to go viral. Why didn’t anyone die, and only one person got lightly injured?

Bai Xianzhi was utterly clueless about the situation online… Or not! The female customer who saw the video go viral immediately called Bai Xianzhi to apologize, saying she had initially shared it only among friends on her social media circle and hadn’t intended it to be posted on other platforms. But apparently, her friends had shared it on other platforms, leading to the current situation.

….

What more could Bai Xianzhi do? Of course, he’d say there won’t be a next time and choose to forgive! Is he going to sue the customers for violating his image rights? The key point is that they had no ill intentions. They didn’t anticipate these developments.

Sighing, Bai Xianzhi looked at his reflection in the mirror and raised his arm. Is he really effeminate? No matter how he looks at it, it doesn’t seem so. What kind of eyes do these people have!

Fortunately, the next morning, the S City police posted the video of Bai Xianzhi’s brilliant confrontation with the thug online, with the following caption:

【Sincere thanks to Mr. Bai for his heroic performance in this incident. The S City police will award Mr. Bai a small flag! //…】

As soon as the police’s message came out, the mouths of the online trolls snapped shut. What else could they say? The police came out to clarify—how could it be fake?

Now, the supporters of the video’s little brother on the internet held their heads high, while the trolls who had previously been gleeful suddenly changed their tune. They were now asking for apologies. When they insulted him, they didn’t hesitate. But now, with conclusive evidence, wouldn’t they apologize for their previous comments?!

….

Yu Xin was a fan of handsome faces. After catching a glimpse of the little brother on the live broadcast from S City TV’s debunking session, she was immediately captivated. Armed with screenshots, she scoured the internet for the little brother, and miraculously discovered that he used to be a food anchor. She eagerly watched all of Bai Xianzhi’s livestream recordings. The more she watched, the more she felt she had struck gold. He was good-looking, gentle, and the food he cooked looked incredibly delicious. She absolutely had to visit his restaurant!

After watching the recordings, Yu Xin realized how thrilling it was to chase after an idol. It was beyond exciting! Seeing her beloved little brother surprise her time and time again, from an ordinary-looking restaurant owner to a clever and brave thug-fighter who cooked fantastic food—her heart was like riding a roller coaster, almost soaring into the sky!

Thinking that such a little brother was in the same city as her, Yu Xin couldn’t sit still. The moment she got a break, she rushed to the little brother’s restaurant—Three Thousand Food House.

However, upon arriving at the door of the shop, Yu Xin was dumbfounded. The line stretched for tens of meters. This little shop, owned by the little brother, was packed! Wasn’t it said that his restaurant wasn’t doing well? Disheartened, she joined the back of the queue. It seemed she had come too late. She shouldn’t have waited until the weekend; she should have taken a leave!

…

At this moment, inside the shop, Bai Xianzhi remained unaffected by the slander on the internet. That afternoon, Wutong Street Police Station presented him with a flag, bearing the words “Acting with Courage and Integrity.” The signature read S City Wutong Street Police Station. Bai Xianzhi hung the flag on the wall facing the entrance. It was the perfect way to silence those online trolls.

Moreover, the police thoughtfully posted a photo of Bai Xianzhi with the flag on their official account. Now, Bai Xianzhi’s courageous act was firmly established, and there were no more opposing opinions online.

After this incident, he not only remained unaffected but his restaurant, Three Thousand Food House, saw a substantial increase in business. To the point where, with just three people working, they were overwhelmed. Li Yi’s mother, Aunt Wang, also came to help. Bai Xianzhi was relieved that Li Yi’s boyfriend, had already left. Otherwise, if Aunt Wang had seen how they interacted, she would definitely have noticed something amiss between the two.

Although the booming business made Bai Xianzhi extremely busy, the good news was that people finally started applying for positions. Quite a few came forward, and given the bustling atmosphere of the shop, Bai Xianzhi directly hired three waitstaff, two dishwashers, and two apprentices. This significantly reduced his workload, and Aunt Wang could return to ruling the mahjong table.

Most importantly, Three Thousand Food House in Huaguo was finally starting to turn a proper profit!

—–

Author’s Note: Yesterday, many cuties asked whether this pair is the male lead of the author’s work. Here, the author will clarify: No, they’re not~

1 TL: YSIAD “You can support me if you like my translations by leaving a comment below, or by sending me a Ko-fi. Thank you ”