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Chapter 70: Let Me Give You Two Slaps

Shi Chen declared in a stirring voice:

“Yesterday two suspects carried a bomb and a handgun, and the public’s safety was seconds away from disaster, yet our SWAT team sniper still had not taken position, so we could only wait in silence.”

“At that critical moment, student Lu Li ignored his own safety, charged into danger, subdued both suspects, and resolved the crisis!”

“Here, I wish to offer an apology to student Lu Li.”

“I know that if we had waited for the sniper to get in place before acting, those vicious criminals might have detonated the bomb long ago and caused irreparable damage.”

“Yet afterward, in order to cover up the sniper’s mistake, I shifted the blame onto student Lu Li, so he not only missed the reward he deserved but was even criticized.”

“I now offer a sincere self-criticism of my mistake and extend my heartfelt apology to student Lu Li.”

“Let me reiterate that student Lu Li absolutely did not jeopardize public safety; on the contrary, he helped the police tremendously… he is a hero to our Public Security Bureau and to the people!”

“On behalf of the Public Security Bureau, I hereby reinstate student Lu Li’s Yongan City ‘Outstanding Youth Award’ and the ¥20,000 Courageous Act bonus.”

“Student Lu Li, please come up and receive your award!”

“…”

As Shi Chen finished speaking, the field grew quiet one last time, and Class 4’s students moved aside in unison, revealing a bewildered Lu Li.

Shi Chen was apologizing? My award and bonus were reinstated?

And a full 20,000 yuan?

Lu Li stood there dazed for a long while, unable to figure out what had happened… had he misheard?

Only when Tang Yang tugged at his sleeve and asked in confusion, “Old Lu, what are you spacing out for? Hurry up and get on stage!” did he react.

Seeing Lu Li still standing motionless, Shi Chen thought the kid was snubbing him and reluctantly added:

“Let’s give him a warm round of applause!”

“Clap, clap, clap!”

Amid the thunderous applause, Lu Li stepped out of Class 4’s ranks in a daze and slowly walked onto the rostrum…

Zhang Heng stared at Lu Li’s back so hard his teeth almost cut through his own lip.

“Damn it! What’s going on? How did a reprimand suddenly turn into praise? What are these cops doing, changing orders on the fly… could they be serious for once!”

“And that ‘Courageous Act bonus’ is a whole 20,000 yuan! If I’d known this would happen, I’d have strolled down the pedestrian street yesterday too!”

Shen Tan was just as furious; he had known it… he had known Lu Li would turn things around!

He must have been blind and brain-dead to scheme with Zhang Heng like this!

Now it was over… totally over!

Ever since he had nearly gotten Mr. Liu suspended last time, he had been quietly ostracized in Class 4.

And now, after pulling this stunt, there was no place left for him in Class 4!

Feeling the surrounding classmates roll their eyes at him, he wished he could crawl into a hole.

“Outstanding Youth Award…” He watched Lu Li mount the stage, his heart aching with envy. “If only I could win that, I’d be showered with praise instead…”

On the rostrum, Shi Chen watched Lu Li approach, and the smile he had been wearing froze instantly.

Of course he had not apologized to Lu Li sincerely earlier, but the higher-ups had forced him to come and he had had no choice.

Sigh, orders were orders…

“Count yourself lucky, kid,” Shi Chen muttered under his breath.

Seeing Shi Chen’s forced grin, Lu Li tilted his head, pondered for a moment, and asked in puzzlement, “You’re in such a good mood… has your period ended again?”

Shi Chen: “…”

This brat… so infuriating!

Shi Chen did not dare explode; with an ugly expression he handed Lu Li the bonus and certificate, then forced a smile for the photo with him.

Then he picked up the microphone again and called Chu Zining up to receive her award.

Chu Zining’s award was the same as Lu Li’s, but her bonus was only 10,000 yuan.

Holding her bonus and certificate, she walked timidly to Lu Li’s side for their joint photo.

Lu Li tilted his head and glanced at her; her silky hair was neatly combed, her fair cheeks were tinged with a light blush, and her dewy peach-blossom eyes looked both fragile and steadfast, making one want to tease her.

“Not listening to me… such a naughty girl,” Lu Li murmured in a muffled voice, tilting his head and leaning toward her ear.

Chu Zining stiffened, lowered her head, and stammered, “I… I…”

Seeing her flustered, Lu Li exhaled and said softly, “Come to the infirmary at noon for lunch… I made a portion for you.”

Startled, Chu Zining looked up at his profile and whispered, “W-why?”

Still asking why… Lu Li clicked his tongue. “Because you’re an idiot!”

With an irritable air, Lu Li ruffled her neatly arranged hair.

Feeling that mischievous hand, Chu Zining was not annoyed; instead a small delight bloomed in her heart.

Good, he isn’t mad at me… Chu Zining let out a huge sigh of relief, thinking he would be angry at her for speaking out of turn.

I’ll have to redo my hair again… what a bad boy… Chu Zining gently bit her lip.

After the awards, Lu Li and Chu Zining returned to their classes, and Shi Chen and Ma Xiong each delivered lengthy speeches about the Courageous Act bonus.

The gist was nothing more than that the Courageous Act bonus was admirable and worth emulating, but everyone should act within their abilities.

Not everyone was Lu Li, and not every criminal could be subdued so easily.

One had to strengthen self-protection awareness, blah blah blah…

Lu Li carried the 20,000-yuan check and certificate back to class, only to be greeted by two jealous sore-eyes…

Zhang Heng and Shen Tan stared fixedly at his hands, one at the money and the other at the award.

The desire in their eyes almost took physical form, sticking to Lu Li’s arm like a glob of snot.

Lu Li tilted his head and clicked his tongue. “Want it?”

“Who wants it!” Shen Tan snorted, his nose in the air.

With his arms crossed, Zhang Heng sneered, “You make it sound like you’d hand it over if we did!”

“Who says I wouldn’t?” Lu Li nodded earnestly. “Tell you what, let each of you take two slaps from me and I’ll give it to you.”

“No way!” Shen Tan stamped his foot in anger; the award already bore Lu Li’s name, so what good would it do him?

It wasn’t as if changing the name would make it his!

Zhang Heng, however, was tempted… 20,000 yuan was no small sum and would fund his fun for quite a while.

His eyes darted around. “If I let you hit me, you’ll really give it to me?”

Lu Li said sincerely, “A man’s word is his bond; once spoken it cannot be taken back. If I lie to you, may I die a nasty death!”

Zhang Heng gritted his teeth and said, “Fine, I’ll trust you this once. Hit me!”

He closed his eyes and offered up his face.

“Smack.”

Lu Li showed no mercy, delivering a thunderous slap.

Once done, he lifted his foot and walked away.

Covering his rapidly swelling cheek with one hand and extending the other, Zhang Heng shouted, “Give me the money! You said you’d die horribly if you lied!”

Lu Li chuckled, flashing the bright smile of a sunny teenager. “Yes, I did say that, but I also said I’d only pay after two slaps, didn’t I?”

“You… !” Zhang Heng’s mouth twitched; the world spun, his heart cramped with pain, and a mouthful of blood surged up his throat…

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