Chapter 26: Chapter 26: The Cliché Hero Saves the Beauty

Wang Pandi was wearing a white round-neck shirt with pale yellow stripes and a cinched waist, paired with black pants and black flats.

Two long braided pigtails hung in front of her chest, and she carried a small olive-green canvas bag over one shoulder.

The seventeen-year-old girl walked energetically on the road to the town, brimming with youthful energy.

After helping Wang Miaomiao alter her clothes last time, she took Wang Miaomiao’s advice and altered her own few clothes and pants.

Just a few subtle changes make the clothes fit better and look prettier, making her feel more confident while walking.

She hadn’t been to town for a long time; the last time was during the New Year to shop for holiday goods. No girl doesn’t love shopping, even if she can’t afford it, just looking around is nice.

Wang Pandi couldn’t help but touch her small bag, which held money and vouchers, besides buying meat, Liu Yulan also asked her to buy some household supplies. Today, she could leisurely shop at the supply and marketing cooperative.

Upon reaching Red Star Town, she headed straight for the meat stall at the cooperative, and seeing the long queue that had extended onto the street made her anxious. With such a long line, she wasn’t sure if there would still be any meat left by the time it was her turn; even if there was, it would probably be what others had left behind, likely no good meat left…

Alas, if only she hadn’t dressed up and left earlier.

Indeed, because this was a rare outing, she spent a long time choosing clothes, trying on several outfits, and deliberated for quite a while before finally settling on the one she wore.

Wang Pandi tiptoed, anxiously looking at the front of the line, her fingers inadvertently twisting the strap of her bag. Suddenly, she felt the strap stop twisting, a resistance pulling it down.

Looking down, she saw a hand coming out of her bag, holding her floral small purse, “Ah… thief…”

Wang Pandi let out a sharp scream.

The man was startled, pushed her hastily, and then ran away.

Wang Pandi was shoved to the ground, her hands supporting her fall, gravel on the ground bruised her palms, making her inhale sharply from the pain.

Seeing the thief already running to the corner about to turn out of sight, with no one stepping forward to stop him, Wang Pandi’s eyes reddened with anxiety, but an unwillingness in her heart made her push past the pain, quickly climb to her feet, and stumble in pursuit, “Catch the thief… don’t run, return my wallet…”

“Catch the thief…”

Wang Pandi ran through several turns, unable to catch her breath, yet she did not give up, but she simply could not outrun the man, only able to watch helplessly as his figure disappeared around another turn; the man was quite familiar with the town’s paths and kept darting through the alleys.

“Ring… screech…” A bicycle suddenly stopped beside her, and a deep voice sounded in Wang Pandi’s ear, “Take a rest, I’ll go chase.”

With that, the person didn’t wait for her reply and took off on the bike.

Wang Pandi smiled through tears, clutching her wildly pounding heart, shouting towards the cyclist’s back, “The thief has a two-finger-wide scar on the back of his hand, my wallet is floral…”

Before she could say more, he had turned the corner and disappeared, only the sound of a “ring” seemed to respond to her…

Wang Pandi really couldn’t run anymore, leaning against the wall of a house in the alley. She panted heavily, her face, neck, and back soaking with sweat, wanting to take out a handkerchief from her bag to wipe off the sweat, only to realize her hand hurt terribly, involuntarily shaking.

Upon looking at her bag, she saw it was cut open with a sharp object, damaged…

Wang Pandi looked at her bag with distress, wondering if it could be repaired, when suddenly an idea popped into her head… She anxiously ran towards the direction the thief fled, regardless of her exhaustion, hoping to be faster, faster…

Turning, and turning again, she heard the sounds of a scuffle at the corner of a left alley, running while shouting anxiously, “Be careful, he has a knife, he has a knife…”

“Ah…” Following a scream, Wang Pandi was frightened to the point her heart nearly stopped, stumbling forward with prayers in her heart… please be safe, please be safe.

Around the next turn, she saw a man in an olive-green vest tying up the thief with his shirt.

The thief had a bruised and swollen face and was covered in dust, likely from rolling on the ground; a small knife and her wallet were lying on the ground beside them.

“Are you, are you alright…” Wang Pandi looked at the man, feeling embarrassed and awkward… really, oh my, he looked so competent, his solid arms, the vest clung to his strong chest and abs, she didn’t dare keep looking…

“I’m fine, thank you for the warning, I almost let the man slip away…” The man smiled at her, fastening the thief onto the bike’s back bar. He tied the knot in a special way, not fearing the thief escaping.

The man picked up the knife and wallet, the knife was evidence, he folded it and pocketed it. He dusted off the slightly dirty floral purse and said to her, “Comrade, I need to trouble you to come to the military office to make a record, the wallet is evidence, it will be returned after documentation.”

“Oh, okay… okay…” Hearing about going to the military office slightly scared Wang Pandi, but she nodded quickly in agreement.

“Let’s go then…” The man saw the obedient girl, feeling quite pleased. Her performance left a good impression on him.

She persistently followed the chase, anxiously coming to warn him about the knife, noticing the scar on the thief’s hand… she was observant…

After several turns, they soon arrived at the town’s military office service center.

“Captain Yang, you’re back, oh, what’s this?” The gatekeeper warmly greeted.

“Yes, caught a thief, coming back to make a record.” Yang Zhigang smiled slightly, appearing composed.

While parking, a young man ran over, “Captain Yang, you’re back, what’s this?”

“Xiao Liu, fetch a pair of handcuffs, I forgot to bring any today, ruined a piece of clothing.” Yang Zhigang said while untying the knots with a hint of disdain.

“I’ve got one.” Liu Qiang swiftly approached, assisting in cuffing the person.

“Alright, take him to the interrogation room to make a record, I’ll come later.” Yang Zhigang instructed Liu Qiang and then said to Wang Pandi, “You follow me.”

Wang Pandi softly agreed, tailing his steps closely, people came and went at the service center, occasionally loud voices echoed from rooms, spooking her like a startled deer, feeling the safest beside him.

Yang Zhigang took her to a second-floor office, inside was a desk by the window, a cabinet beside it, a set of wooden sofas and a coffee table to the left upon entering.

“Sit down…” Yang Zhigang gestured to the sofa.

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep