Captain Liu of the criminal police stuck his head in the door and looked at his son earnestly doing problems. He didn’t make a sound, but Junjun somehow felt his dad’s presence. He put down his pen and looked out the door. Seeing Captain Liu, he immediately stood up and opened his little arms. “Dad!” 

“Hey, son!” Captain Liu had to dash into the room and pick up the small, skinny Junjun. “Are you doing your homework?” 

“No,” Junjun said, shaking his head, “I’ve already finished my homework. I’m doing the assignment Yu Hua-ge-shu gave me.” 

“Director Yu from Xiao Ha’s studio?” Captain Liu looked at Junjun’s exercise book and was dazzled by the symbols in it. 

Captain Liu had learned about the existence of the Protectors under unexpected circumstances, but he didn’t have the authority to know Yu Hua’s identity, and he wasn’t entirely aware what sort of people they were at the studio next door. More than that, he didn’t know that the husky his son played with was also a special ability user. All he knew was that his originally completely ordinary son had played with Xiao Ha over the summer vacation, that he went to the studio to do his homework every day by the Protection Organization’s arrangement, and when school started, Junjun, whose grades had been below average in his class, had tested first in his grade on the end of semester exams. 

The teacher had arranged for his son to take part in the math olympiad contest. Junjun had returned with first prize. Lately the teacher had been discussing letting Junjun skip a grade and go to a gifted class, saying that it was a waste to keep Junjun in an ordinary class. 

Captain Liu’s wife had been dreadfully worried about the question of her child’s education. She didn’t want her child to be a millionaire. She only wanted Junjun to have a healthy, happy childhood. But too much talent would make Junjun not fit in with his contemporaries. On the other hand, if he went to the gifted class and couldn’t follow along, then there would be a tragedy. 

Neither option looked good. Captain Liu’s wife was fretting to death. 

In front of his wife, Captain Liu put on the appearance of being a stalwart husband who could be depended on for everything, but in reality, he was secretly even more worried than she was. 

His wife only knew that the child had suddenly become a prodigy. Captain Li also knew that Junjun had become a special ability user, and that on that night of wind and thunder, he had taken part in an action to save the world. 

The Protection Organization had quietly gone to Captain Liu and issued a third class merit medal for Junjun, along with a money reward and 80 square meter lodgings. Out of consideration for Junjun still being underage, the money was given to his guardian Captain Liu for now. The organization declared that whether this money was invested or put in a bank for a fixed period, both the capital and any profit or interest would have to go to Junjun himself in the future. Captain Liu wasn’t permitted to privately dip into the little hero Liu Junjun’s reward. 

How did it feel to have a huge sum of money in one’s account? 

Worrying. Extremely worrying. 

He couldn’t tell his wife, and because of the limitations of the confidentiality policy, he couldn’t question his son too closely. He wanted to have a heart-to-heart talk with his son, but he couldn’t help with the problems if his son asked. Captain Liu, having lost the pleasure of easy success at elementary school math problems, was exceedingly gloomy. 

The Protection Organization had also said that from now on there would be no more special ability users. The Protection Organization was being incorporated into the country’s security department. If Junjun wanted to join the security department in the future, the doors of all the major schools would be open to him. If Junjun wanted to be an ordinary person, the organization would also respect his choice. 

“Son, what do you want to be in the future?” Captain Liu asked, his feelings extremely complicated. 

“Well…” Junjun tilted his head and thought for a while. “I want to be Xiao Ha’s friend.” 

“Oh, all right, you’re still young, you can take your time thinking it over. You can keep playing with Xiao Ha.” Captain Liu stroked the child’s head, thinking that at least his son was still a normal child. 

Little did he imagine that this Xiao Ha of Junjun’s was the Protection Organization’s special grade dog. Wanting to be friends with Director Ha, he would have to become an officer in the military. 

Junjun had already made his choice about his future path. 

Entirely unaware, Captain Liu arrived at work considering that secret stash of money he couldn’t tell his wife about. Today was the day You Zhengping’s whole squad was being transferred. He had to be at the meeting to welcome the new arrivals and confer ranks upon the squad members. 

At the police bureau, he saw Cen Xiao and You Zhengping huddled together. Captain Liu remembered the Protection Organization telling him that these two weren’t special ability users anymore. He didn’t know whether to feel regret or be happy for them. 

The regret was for the superhuman abilities, the happiness was for the world finally being at peace—the two young men no longer needed to face those ruthless, fearful enemies. 

Captain Liu passed by the two of them and heard Cen Xiao saying to You Zhengping, “When is your so-and-so going back to work? Zhen Li wanted me to ask.” 

“He handed in his resignation,” You Zhengping said. “I said I was going to support him from now on, so he’s happily staying home being a full-time househusband.” 

“You’re supporting him…” Cen Xiao said blankly. “With your salary? You have to rely on me for support. How are you going to support anyone?” 

“I hand over all my salary every month, and he spends it however he likes. He just gives me some spending money,” You Zhengping said. 

“How much do you make every month?” said Cen Xiao. 

“Adding in all the bonuses and so on, something like five thousand?” said You Zhengping. 

“How much spending money does he give you?” said Cen Xiao. 

“I don’t know,” said You Zhengping. “I haven’t counted. If I’m short on money, he gives me some.” 

Cen Xiao took You Zhengping’s phone and scrolled through his transfer records. Pointing to You Zhengping, he said, “In just this last half a month, he’s given you twenty thousand yuan in spending money. Are you still going to tell me you’re supporting him?” 

“Wow!” You Zhengping counted up the sums. “So much money! Where did Yu Hua get so much money?” 

“It’s the studio, of course!” Cen Xiao said. “When ‘Idol’s Light’ aired, Yuan Luori was a big hit at once, and then he got eliminated in the second public performance. Since then, the studio’s had so many fans it’s unbelievable. The livestreams are packed. It’s just to get a look at their Luori-gege. The CaoYuanLuoRi fans privately found out the studio’s location, and they’ve been squatting outside the office building every day. Feng Kui is so gentle, he can’t be severe on the girls at all. Quite a few girls got injured during their star-chasing and were saved by Feng Kui, so they’ve given up on being Yuan Luori’s fans. Now they’re Feng Kui’s shadows. Huan Zixu was so mad he came to blows with the fans waiting at the studio’s elevator.” 

“What a mess,” You Zhengping said in surprise. “I remember the studio used to be orderly.” 

“Well, that’s because Yu Hua was there before, isn’t it?” Cen Xiao said. “Zhen Li says someone touched his face this morning. He really can’t stand it anymore. He wants Yu Hua to come back and take over as soon as possible. He’ll hand over the remainder of the stock if he has to.” 

“What about Lian Yufan? He’s so rational. He should be able to do something about it. And he’s the public relations director. It’s his duty. He ought to handle emergencies,” You Zhengping said. 

“He resigned!” Cen Xiao said. 

As they spoke, a familiar person walked into the conference room. He was wearing the same uniform as Cen Xiao and You Zhengping, though his had the emblem of the police dog unit. 

“Hello, everyone, I’m the new member of the police dog unit, Lian Yufan.” Lian Yufan, who had had his teardrop mole removed, extended his hand to them. Without the teardrop mole, he no longer looked like a sorrowful and cultured young person. He looked youthful and sunny. 

“What are you doing here?” Cen Xiao and You Zhengping said simultaneously. 

“My undercover assignment ended. Why would I stick around stewing in ships at the studio?” Lian Yufan said. “All this CaoYuanLuoRiLiMingYuZhou nonsense. They can play by themselves. I’m not going to join in.” 

“But you weren’t with the Xuyang District before, were you?” You Zhengping asked. 

“It's not like before, when there needed to be a captain in every district. I can go wherever I want to now,” Lian Yufan said. 

The district he had requested to stay in before was where his mother had moved after remarrying. Lian Yufan had wanted to be as close to his mother as possible. 

As for now, he liked the atmosphere in the Xuyang District better. He had decided to come work here. 

There were more familiar people here. While he worked, he could also meet his former comrades and enemies to drink and remember old times. 

Luo Huai had stayed in the Xuyang District to work as an urban management officer. Each day he dealt with the elderly men and women at the vegetable market. He liked to hear people saying “that young fellow looks very handsome” about him. Perhaps one day, Lian Yufan would be willing to have a drink with Luo Huai, make peace in drunkenness. 

Laying down the past, walking towards the future—this was the most rational choice for Lian Yufan to make. 

“You’ve quit, Yu Hua’s turned in a letter of resignation, and now the studio…” You Zhengping imagined it and instantly felt dizzy. 

Lian Yufan said, “I don’t know how the studio is doing now, but I’ve spoken to Huan Zixu. He says he can’t take it anymore. Since Yu Hua left, he’s found that he’s only suited to being a pioneering general, not to managing the overall situation. I think he wants Yu Hua to come back to work, but he doesn’t feel comfortable saying so.” 

“But…” You Zhengping thought of how, since using his three million to pay off the mortgage, Yu Hua had been hanging around the house looking like he didn’t want to do any work. He didn’t know how he could persuade Yu Hua. 

After the battle ended, everyone had lost their special abilities. Yu Hua had told everyone that there would be no more Destroyers and no more System now. The Protection Organization had been a mess for a while. 

Such a massive structure—how to make arrangements for all the workers and military force was a big problem. The Protectors who had completely lost their powers needed to undergo psychological counseling, and they had to be demobilized now that they no longer had special abilities. 

Director Xiao had brought Yu Hua along to discuss with his superiors. You Zhengping didn’t clearly know the contents of the discussion, but when he came back, Yu Hua had said that the studio would continue to operate as usual. If the employees want to change jobs, the organization could also make arrangements.

As for Yu Hua himself, as long as he was willing to be monitored by the Protector You Zhengping for the rest of his life, he could live an ordinary life. 

In Yu Hua’s own words, this decision was the government putting its seal of approval on his and Xiao You’s relationship. He seemed quite happy about it. 

But now that he had paid off the mortgage and lost his fighting power, Yu Hua had absolutely no thought of returning to the studio. He only wanted to quietly arrange their little home. 

“I’ll go try to persuade him,” You Zhengping said. “We have to respect his wishes.” 

When he got home in the evening, You Zhengping talked to Yu Hua about going back to take charge of the general situation. Yu Hua vaguely said that he would consider it, then took You Zhengping to exercise. 

After exercising, You Zhengping dozed. He suddenly felt Yu Hua get up and leave the bedroom to go into the study. He turned on the desk lamp and wrote something on the desk calendar. 

You Zhengping tiptoed up behind Yu Hua and read what he was writing in his diary—

—XX/XX/XX, The weather has been cooling down these last few days. Another winter is coming.

I bought some insulated and flexible material. I’ve decided to personally make kneepads for Xiao You. He’s a patrol officer. He still has to ride his motor scooter in winter and go on patrol outside. He’ll definitely need insulation to keep from getting rheumatism in the future. 

Today I received news of the slaves (crossed out) studio employees. Each one is requesting that I return to work. I think my temper really is amazingly good. Who gave these slaves (crossed out) studio employees the courage to make them dare to contact me directly? 

Though in fact our current apartment is a little small. Only four rooms, two living rooms, two bathrooms. Soon I’ll run out of room for flowers. I’d kind of like to move to a house with a yard. We can have a dog in the yard (apart from Director Ha), have a little garden, occasionally look after the plants. That would be pretty interesting.

Unfortunately, all of the hundred million went into the studio. If I want to move, I have to earn money. 

Perhaps I will go to work tomorrow. After all, the studio’s income is pretty good. 

Anyway, staying home all day doesn’t burn many calories. It’s easy to get out of shape. Xiao You gets plenty of activity every day, and I’m several thousand (crossed out) two years older than Xiao You to start with. If I keep going like this, I’ll definitely lose my bloom young. I won’t be able to maintain that love at first sight appearance. 

Since the slaves are willing to bow to me, I can return and take care of the trifles. 

However much you don’t like work, that’s still a part of life. 

I’ve written so much without noticing. I need to change to a bigger diary. After all, there are so many things worth recording every day. 

Today has been another trifling, mediocre, peaceful day. 

-MAIN NOVEL END-

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Author's Note

Yu Hua: I hope every day in the future will be as peaceful as today.