Accidental Hero: The Rookie Who Outshines the Force - Chapter 19

Lu Cheng registered for a new police uniform at logistics, then headed to the yard to wipe down one of the newly assigned patrol cars.

To be honest, not being allowed out on duty was suffocating. His personality just wasn’t suited for sitting in an office.

Meanwhile, rookie officer Guo Lei was practically glued to the phone, case calls coming in nonstop. By mid-afternoon, the seven or eight patrol officers had already rotated through their shifts three or four times.

Lu Cheng tried several times to squeeze in, asking, “What’s the situation? Need me to help?”

He figured he could at least run errands.

But no one paid him any mind. Chen Weimin had given a strict order: three days without fieldwork—heal up, and take care of the car.

Zhao Han nearly wanted to kick him again. A cushy assignment others would kill for, yet this kid kept itching to charge out.

“You think every time you walk out the door, a thief’s just waiting for you to arrest?”

“Sit tight!”

Zhao Han adjusted his cap, then glanced at the new patrol car in the courtyard with a grin.

“Car’s polished? Battery charged?”

“Mm.” Lu Cheng nodded.

“Good. Your master’s taking it for a spin—need to head to Baolong Plaza, there’s a disturbance call over there.”

“Go ahead, Master. Duty first.” Lu Cheng tossed him the keys.

Zhao Han snatched them midair. What a good disciple.

As he was about to get in, he saw Cheng Zhijie and Wang Guodong heading out with their apprentices—on electric scooters.

Their gazes crossed. Zhao Han couldn’t help smirking. “Now this is comfort. Right, Xiao Lin?”

“Of course! Acceleration’s smooth, too.” Lin Wenbin hurried to echo.

Damn it!

Cheng Zhijie and Wang Guodong nearly fumed on the spot. Zhao Han was shamelessly showing off, but it was all thanks to having Lu Cheng as a disciple. With Lu Cheng sidelined for three days, Zhao Han would definitely get to use that car often.

All afternoon, Lu Cheng busied himself with filing, answering calls, and writing reports. It wasn’t exactly idle, but compared to the patrol officers sweating outside, it was far more comfortable.

“Water! Quick, my throat’s about to go up in smoke after this whole afternoon!”

“I can’t believe it—some parents actually called the police because their kid couldn’t do homework. Outrageous!”

Trainees Yuan Jie and Chen Zelong were getting their first true taste of how hard life was for grassroots officers.

They turned and looked at Lu Cheng in the office, envy written all over their faces.

“Lu Cheng, you’ve got it easy—no sunburn for you.”

Lu Cheng only smiled. Office work wasn’t exactly light either.

By four-thirty, the patrols were back, settling in with tea.

That’s when a uniformed officer rushed in, calling to Chen Weimin:

“Chief! Yuhua Comprehensive TV Station is here for an interview!”

The words made everyone whip their heads around.

An interview?!

Sanliqiao Police Station had always been small and forgotten, barely making ripples. Now a TV crew was here? That called for firecrackers.

“Quick, tidy up your uniforms!”

Chen Weimin gave the order, then glanced straight at Lu Cheng.

No need to guess—the interview was clearly about him.

“Lu Cheng, don’t say anything wrong on camera. Just tell the truth, keep it simple. Think it over now, draft something in your head.”

He didn’t say much more. Lu Cheng was sharp; he’d know what to say. Honestly, Chen himself had never been interviewed before either.

Out in the courtyard stood a beautiful young reporter, with a cameraman lugging gear behind her.

The microphone bore the Yuhua District station logo.

Sure, it was just a local channel, maybe not with many viewers—but these days, news spread faster online than on TV anyway.

Old hands like Zhao Han and Cheng Zhijie hung back, keeping a low profile, while the rookies kept trying to sneak into the frame.

“The camera’s not even rolling yet, what are you crowding for?!”

Chen Weimin shoved Yuan Jie and the others to the back, then pushed Lu Cheng forward.

The reporter had asked for him by name.

And the moment she saw his face, her eyes lit up.

This rookie cop was seriously that handsome?

Zhao Han leaned toward Chen Weimin, whispering, “Chief, Lu Cheng’s basically our precinct’s poster boy. Look—she’s blushing.”

“Mm. Kid could make a living off his looks alone,” Chen agreed.

The interview centered on the morning’s Cadillac drunk-driving case—Lu Cheng’s daring leap into the vehicle, stopping it from crashing into a teahouse, saving dozens of lives. A real people’s hero.

One question after another, Lu Cheng answered calmly, modestly. His tone was easy on the ears, without arrogance.

He never hogged the credit, always highlighting Sanliqiao Police Station, emphasizing their eight-character motto: “Serve the people wholeheartedly, press forward with determination.”

Chen Weimin was practically glowing, and Instructor Song Chengfeng secretly gave Lu Cheng a big thumbs-up.

Outstanding. Humble in merit, articulate in speech.

Even Zhao Han got namedropped. Lu Cheng credited him as a mentor who had taught him much, leaving Zhao a little embarrassed.

The camera even lingered on Zhao Han for a couple of seconds, making Cheng Zhijie and Wang Guodong seethe with envy.

Lucky bastard of a master—riding his disciple’s coattails.

The interview wrapped up. The reporter hurried to leave, eager to draft her piece.

But just as she stepped out, a group of migrant workers rushed in.

At the front was Wu Sanmao—the man who’d lost his wife’s surgery money to a pickpocket yesterday. In his hands was a bright red banner.

Everyone at Sanliqiao recognized it instantly: a thank-you banner for Lu Cheng.

And the TV crew hadn’t even left yet!

“Officer Lu!! Thank you! You saved my wife’s life!”

Wu Sanmao bowed deeply, presenting the banner.

The young reporter froze—so Officer Lu had other heroic deeds, too? She held off leaving; maybe this story just got richer.

Not only did Wu Sanmao bring the banner, he came bearing bags of local produce: dried sweet potatoes, dates, peanuts.

“Uncle Wu, I can’t accept these. Please take them back.”

Lu Cheng accepted the banner, but not the gifts. With reporters here, any hint of impropriety could stir trouble.

Wu Sanmao was clever. He said it wasn’t for Lu Cheng personally, but for Sanliqiao Police Station.

The gifts were shoved over regardless.

Chen Weimin peeked inside—just produce, nothing of real monetary value. Fine, they could accept them.

After all, Lu Cheng hadn’t just caught a thief—he’d saved the man’s wife. Refusing might only make him feel worse.

So Chen made the call, and Wu Sanmao finally relaxed.

His fellow workers chimed in, praising Sanliqiao’s officers to the skies.

The reporter suggested a group photo of Lu Cheng with Wu Sanmao and the workers, banner and all. Great material.

A few young officers tried to sidle in for camera time.

But the banner’s inscription read clearly: “Thanks to Officer Lu Cheng of Sanliqiao Police Station.”

No room for extras. Sheepishly, they backed off, forced to watch enviously from the sidelines.

Wu Sanmao soon left—his wife still needed care at the hospital.

It was nearly quitting time at the precinct. But before anyone could clock out, another visitor appeared—this time for Lu Cheng and Lin Wenbin both.

It was the old granny who’d reported her “son” missing that morning.

She came tugging her “son” along… a mutt on a brand-new leash.

Everyone blinked—so that was it.

The granny shook the leash proudly. “Young man, you thought I didn’t notice? I saw you hang this up. You bought it for me.”

Her children had long since stopped visiting, but this small kindness from a young officer had touched her deeply.

It was a tiny act, but it revealed a softer side to Lu Cheng—a warm heart beneath the uniform.

The reporter stared at him with starry eyes now. Handsome, heroic, humble, and kind?

This man was just a bit too perfect.