Accidental Hero: The Rookie Who Outshines the Force - Chapter 3

Yang Zheng, director of the Yuhua District Public Security Sub-Bureau, stepped out of his car. After welcoming the new recruits, he gave the standard words of encouragement.

Before he could leave, Chen Weimin hurriedly hooked an arm around him with a beaming smile.

“Come, come, Director Yang, let’s sit in my office. I’ve got some fine Jin Junmei tea saved just for you!”

Yang Zheng smoothly shook him off. Of course he knew this old fox’s tricks. Drink his tea, and next thing you knew he’d be grinning as he begged for men, cars, gear, money—anything to squeeze out of you.

“No need. I’ve got other precincts to visit, time’s tight.”

He had only taken two steps when he stopped and turned back, frowning slightly at the three rookie officers lined up.

“Wasn’t Sanliqiao Precinct assigned four rookie officers? Where’s the last one?”

Song Chengfeng quickly explained, “He should be on his way. Probably stuck in traffic—his home’s a bit far.”

Yang Zheng’s brow creased. “Far? Then he should’ve left earlier. First day on duty and he’s late? That’s unacceptable.”

“What’s his name?”

Chen Weimin’s face darkened; he hadn’t answered because he was already annoyed. This rookie was making him lose face.

“Seems his name’s Lu Cheng,” Song Chengfeng supplied.

Yang Zheng glanced at his watch. 9:50. Already twenty minutes late.

He cleared his throat, eyes stern on the three standing rookies. “The police force runs on discipline. If you can’t even manage punctuality, how are you supposed to be a competent officer?”

The warning bell had to be rung early—rookies went bad easier than they went good.

Lu Cheng.

Yang Zheng etched the name into memory.

The three rookies exchanged hushed whispers.

“It’s over. That Lu Cheng’s already blacklisted in the director’s book.”

“Even the chief looks pissed. Once he shows up, he’s dead meat.”

“Guy’s got guts though, first day reporting and he dares to be late!”

Chen Weimin’s smile had long vanished. He ordered Song Chengfeng to make a call and find out what was going on.

Just then, a duty officer came running in.

“Report! Someone just called in. They said a fugitive was caught at the Seagull Café—an escaped suspect from Lushui County named Liu Juan!”

The tension in the room instantly shifted.

A fugitive? Caught?

Chen Weimin’s spirits lifted at once. “The Seagull Café on Jianshe Road? Who caught her?”

“Yes, Chief, that one.” The reporting officer was excited. “It was one of our men!”

Song Chengfeng blinked. “Our men? But… they’re all here!”

The officer shook his head. “It’s the rookie scheduled to report today—Lu Cheng!”

“What?”

Both Chen Weimin and Yang Zheng raised their brows.

The entire room buzzed with disbelief.

“He also said we need to send a car immediately to bring the suspect back. The sub-bureau’s already sending people too, but he insisted the fugitive was caught by our precinct, and since we’re closer, we should get there first. Let the sub-bureau come to us if they want custody.”

The implications weren’t lost on anyone. If the fugitive was brought to Sanliqiao Precinct first, the first merit would be firmly theirs.

Not bad. The kid had a head on his shoulders.

The reporting officer belatedly realized Director Yang was standing right there. His face paled and he shut his mouth fast.

Chen Weimin, though, was practically glowing. A fugitive wasn’t just some pickpocket—it was weighty enough to earn an official commendation. Sanliqiao Precinct hadn’t had a real win in ages. This would be a huge boost to morale.

The three rookies—Yuan Jie, Chen Zelong, and Guo Lei—were all stunned.

So Lu Cheng wasn’t late. He was out catching a fugitive?!

Hadn’t even reported for duty yet and he already pulled off something this big.

This Lu Cheng… was kind of a monster.

Chen Weimin didn’t care that the sub-bureau director was standing right there. He barked orders without hesitation:

“Old Zhao, Xiao Lin! Get moving! Bring her back to the station. And listen carefully—don’t you dare let the sub-bureau take her away on the spot! If they want her, they can come fetch her from us.”

The order was issued right in front of Yang Zheng. Every face turned a little awkward.

Chen Weimin didn’t care—he was already calculating what kind of car or gear he could demand as payoff. Merit was meant to be cashed in.

“Yes, sir!”

Two officers dashed off, sirens blaring as they sped toward the café.

Yang Zheng, meanwhile, was recalling the name Liu Juan. He remembered.

“Half a year ago, the gold shop robbery in Lushui County—Liu Juan was one of the suspects. She handled lookout and moving the stolen goods.”

She had fled out of province back then. The Jianghai police chased her for a full month with no luck.

And now, she had wandered back into Jianghai—only to be caught by a rookie.

Back then, Yang Zheng himself had overseen that investigation.

His expression shifted.

A rookie cop… Lu Cheng…

Was he truly this capable, or just a blind cat who’d stumbled onto a dead mouse?

Either way, the name Lu Cheng was now carved into Yang Zheng’s mind.

…

…

Meanwhile, back at the Seagull Café, Lu Cheng finished his call and crouched down again, taking the fugitive off Su Qingwu’s high heel.

“Officer Su, let me handle the grunt work. No need to tire yourself.”

The credit’s mine—you’re not stealing it.

Su Qingwu’s phoenix eyes narrowed slightly. “That was your call to Sanliqiao, wasn’t it? You made sure your precinct gets here first.”

Sanliqiao was only 1.8 kilometers away. The sub-bureau, 3.5. With calls placed back-to-back, there was no doubt his precinct would arrive first.

This rookie had a sharp head on his shoulders.

Lu Cheng didn’t bother denying it. After all, he was the one who caught her. No problem bringing her back to his precinct.

Su Qingwu didn’t mind. A catch was a catch, and this case was finally closed. She phoned her own colleagues to head directly to Sanliqiao instead.

Five minutes later, two Sanliqiao officers burst into the café. Their eyes widened at the fugitive pinned under Lu Cheng.

“Lu Cheng? Not bad! First day on the job and you’ve already bagged a fugitive!”

They clapped him on the shoulder, envy written all over their faces. Lucky bastard.

Then their eyes landed on Su Qingwu—and lit up instantly.

“This is Officer Su from the sub-bureau’s Third Criminal Division. She happened to be here as well.”

Lu Cheng made the introduction.

Su Qingwu gave only the faintest nod, her expression cool and aloof.

Sub-bureau? And that gorgeous?!

The two officers wanted to gawk longer but had no time. Each grabbed one of Liu Juan’s arms and hauled her up.

The onlookers outside broke into applause.

“Well done, officers!”

“Nice catch!”

When word spread that the fugitive had been caught by a rookie officer, the crowd buzzed with amazement. Were rookies really this fierce these days?

“Lu, hop in front,” one officer called.

“Got it.”

Lu Cheng nodded to Su Qingwu before slipping into the police car.

Moments later, the sub-bureau’s cars arrived too, and Su Qingwu joined her colleagues heading for Sanliqiao Precinct.