Accidental Hero: The Rookie Who Outshines the Force - Chapter 20

“Didn’t your precinct come to Jiangbei Community last week to do anti-fraud awareness campaigns?”

“That’s right.”

Cheng Zhijie nodded. He had led the team there himself. But the results had been abysmal residents were uncooperative, brochures were tossed straight into the trash or taken home just to prop up wobbly table legs.

Elderly folks were stubborn, a little muddle-headed, and far more willing to believe smooth-talking salesmen than the actual police.

“I’ll help the officers spread the word,” one old man volunteered, picking up a stack of brochures. “I know everyone in the community chat group.”

Chen Weimin’s eyes lit up. In Sanliqiao precinct, anti-fraud campaigns were a priority. Having locals help was the best-case scenario.

“Lu Cheng, Lin Wenbin, Guo Lei—tomorrow, you three go to Jiangbei again for another round of anti-fraud publicity.”

“Yes, sir!”

Lu Cheng and Guo Lei answered first. At last, they could escape “doing time” at the station.

Guo Lei was even happier—being partnered with Lu Cheng was the real prize. He was the rising star of Sanliqiao precinct, after all.

That evening, Lu Cheng went home. His uncle, He Cong, also came by to freeload a meal.

Knowing how hard police work was, He Xueting cooked Lu Cheng’s favorites—braised fish and sweet-and-sour ribs.

After dinner, the four of them lounged in the living room, eating watermelon.

“Officer Lu, how’s your second day on the job?” He Cong asked with a grin.

“Not bad,” Lu Cheng replied evenly.

“Oh, come on. Not what you imagined, huh?”

He Cong smirked. “You thought it’d be like the TV dramas—catching thieves and solving cases? Dream on. Grassroots cops spend their days doing donkey work. And you’re just a rookie. Starting with filing paperwork? Boring as hell.”

Not to mention the meager salary—barely two or three thousand yuan. He didn’t say that part aloud, afraid of crushing his nephew’s spirit.

“No future in it,” He Cong thought. “Better to follow your uncle into business.”

“This is Xiaocheng’s choice,” Lu Cheng’s mother cut in. “He can do whatever he wants. As long as it doesn’t delay him getting married.”

Lu Cheng: “…”

Just as He Cong was about to tease him about his blind date yesterday, his father, Lu Zhiguo, changed the TV channel.

“Brother-in-law, why switch? Animal World was good!”

But Lu Zhiguo ignored him, sipping tea as he tuned into the local news.

【This morning at approximately 9:50, traffic police at Guanghui Road and Majia Bridge intersection intercepted a drunk driver. A black Cadillac SUV refused inspection and suddenly rammed through the checkpoint, speeding down the wrong lane. At that critical moment, a brave police officer acted without hesitation, rushing forward with lightning speed…】

The report instantly caught everyone’s attention.

Before it even finished, He Cong jabbed at Lu Cheng: “Hey! If you ever make it on TV like that, then you’ll really be something!”

Lu Cheng gave him a look and deadpanned: “Uncle, that officer on TV—that’s me.”

Pfft!

He Cong burst out laughing. “Yeah, right! If you’re on TV, I’ll eat the remote!”

But the news continued.

【…This fearless officer who rescued over twenty people in a milk tea shop was none other than Sanliqiao precinct’s probationary officer—Lu Cheng.】

The room fell silent.

He Xueting’s eyes widened.
Lu Zhiguo sprayed tea everywhere.
He Cong froze, his slice of watermelon tumbling from his hands.

Lu Cheng nudged him with the remote. “Here you go, Uncle. Bon appétit.”

After the shock wore off, chaos erupted.

He Xueting was already @everyone in the family group chat: Quick, turn on the news! Xiaocheng’s on TV! This morning a drunk driver almost killed people downtown—guess who stopped him? My son, Lu Cheng!

• Aunt: That really is your boy? From Sanliqiao precinct? Amazing!
• Third brother-in-law: No way! I was eating noodles nearby. Saw a young man dive into the car—looked familiar from the back. Turns out it was Lu Cheng! Legendary!
• Cousin Qingqing: Bro, you’re my idol! I’m writing my essay about you tomorrow. Send me the details later!

Meanwhile, Lu Cheng muted the group notifications before his phone shook itself apart.

He Cong was already on the phone bragging to his friends.
Lu Zhiguo quietly shared the link on his Moments.

The man of the hour? Still eating watermelon, pretending it had nothing to do with him.

Elsewhere, Deputy Chief Zhao Han proudly pointed at the screen. “That’s my apprentice! Our rookie, Lu Cheng!”

His daughter, Zhao Duoduo, gasped. “So handsome!”

“Hubby, you’re in the shot too!”

Zhao Han chuckled. “Heh, riding on my apprentice’s coattails.”

Meanwhile, in Yulong Bay, on the west side of town—

Shen Fang was glued to the TV, a smile spreading across her face. The more she saw of Lu Cheng, the more satisfied she became.

“Tsk, tsk. Qingwu, your Aunt Gu really outdid herself. That boy she introduced? Outstanding! A hero on TV! Even you, a deputy captain in the criminal division, haven’t managed that. He’s just a rookie and already a local hero.”

“This son-in-law, I’m very satisfied. Bring him home for dinner before next Friday!”

Su Qingwu’s fox-like eyes flickered with alarm as she glanced at her mother.

She had originally planned to use Lu Cheng as a shield, dragging things out to fend off Shen Fang’s pressure. But now—her mother was already calling him “son-in-law” without even meeting him?! Terrifying!

And what rotten luck—Lu Cheng had gone viral on TV after only two days on the job!

Bring him home next week?
She needed a new plan. Fast.

The next day, at Sanliqiao precinct—

Lu Cheng was prepping anti-fraud materials with his team when officers from traffic division arrived.

The Cadillac case required his signature—yesterday Zhao Han had pulled him away to bandage his wounds, so the paperwork hadn’t been finalized.

Once he signed, the case officially closed. And with that, the system issued a reward:

New Skill Unlocked: [Clues in the Shadows Lv.1] – Host can detect subtle traces crucial to solving cases. As the skill levels up, the traces become increasingly minute: hidden bloodstains, fingerprints, hairs, etc.

Not that anti-fraud work would need such a skill.

Gathering their brochures, banners, and supplies, Lu Cheng, Lin Wenbin, and Guo Lei headed to Jiangbei Community.

This time, thanks to the old lady’s connections, everything went smoothly. She even borrowed umbrellas and tables from the property office, saving them the hassle of carrying heavy equipment.

“This here’s Officer Lu. Handsome, isn’t he? He was on the news just last night!” she bragged, as if introducing her own grandson.

The residents crowded around, taking brochures while sneaking glances at Lu Cheng.

“Officer Lu, so tall! Do you have a girlfriend?”

“You’re only in your twenties, right? My daughter’s about your age, works at a bank. Want me to introduce her?”

…

Lin Wenbin and Guo Lei exchanged horrified looks.

Was this an anti-fraud campaign… or a matchmaking fair?