Chapter 31: A Moment of Truth

Hao Yang strained her eyes, trying to see the screen more clearly. Though she could make out the likes, the content on the phone remained blurry. Suddenly, the screen went black. She didn’t even need to guess; Wang Jian must have turned off the screen. She turned to look at him, her eyes filled with curiosity.

Wang Jian felt uncomfortable under her gaze and spoke up.

“Children shouldn’t be on phones. Officer Uncle is doing this for your own good.” His excuse sounded feeble, even to himself.

Hao Yang narrowed her eyes, her gaze fixed on Wang Jian, making him squirm. “Don’t you trust what Officer Uncle says? We’re here to help you. Can’t you just behave?” Wang Jian tried to sound more authoritative, not wanting to show her the video.

Hao Yang glanced at him once more, then turned away, plopping down on the sofa. She rested her chin on her hand, pouted, and deliberately averted her gaze, refusing to look at him.

Wang Jian noticed her sullen expression and realized she didn’t believe him, sensing a hint of childish stubbornness.

Unaware of her own actions, Hao Yang behaved like a typical child—immature yet endearing. Wang Jian found this amusing, and his earlier tension eased.

Looking at Hao Yang’s pouty cheeks, he was tempted to pinch them. Since they had nothing better to do, Wang Jian decided to tease her.

“What’s wrong? Are you sulking because of me?” he asked, gently pinching her cheek.

Hao Yang turned her head even more, refusing to speak.

“Oh, you’re really upset with me, aren’t you? Can you tell me why you’re angry? Because I didn’t let you see the phone?” Wang Jian used a playful tone, finding it easier to tease her this way.

“No,” Hao Yang finally spoke, slowly turning back but keeping her head down, her eyes focused on her fingers.

“Then can you tell me why you’re upset with me?” Wang Jian continued.

“Yesterday, you left me waiting outside. I bought some snacks, but you were already gone. Why didn’t you wait for me?” Hao Yang asked softly, lifting her head to look at Wang Jian.

Wang Jian’s smile faded. “I… I was just too busy with work. I forgot,” he started, but Hao Yang interrupted him.

“I know. I believe you, Officer Uncle. Just don’t forget me again, okay?” Hao Yang trusted him completely, believing that he wouldn’t abandon her.

Wang Jian was taken aback by her trust, unsure of how to respond.

“Okay,” he finally said.

Hao Yang smiled, her face lighting up with innocence. Seeing her smile, Wang Jian felt a pang of guilt. His conscience began to chastise him.

“Say one thing and do another? Are you even a man?”

“You’re a people’s police officer, your duty is to help citizens. But your actions are a disgrace to the uniform. Even a child this small deserves better than this.”

His conscience berated him, increasing his inner turmoil. Another voice echoed in his mind.

“That kid is none of your business. Why should you care?”

“Even if that child died outside, it’s not your problem. Why bother?”

Two voices battled in his mind, causing him to feel restless. Hao Yang, sitting next to him, noticed his strange behavior and remained quiet, just observing.

To distract himself from these thoughts, Wang Jian decided to watch some short videos. He opened his phone, browsed through various apps, and finally chose Bilibili, a platform he often used during his school days. He randomly selected a video and started watching.

A pleasant whistle played, followed by an AI male voice.

“Even when facing adversity, he ensures the bananas on the back of his bike remain intact.”

The video’s description was intriguing, and Wang Jian found himself momentarily distracted from his worries. Hao Yang, curious, stood up to watch the video with him.

As the story unfolded, it was about a black man from an unknown African country. To support his large family, he rode a “flying pigeon” bicycle, a Chinese model, over 100 km to sell hundreds of pounds of bananas.

The video depicted him in a precarious situation, struggling to balance the heavy load. The job was not only exhausting but also dangerous, as a single mistake could lead to an accident, potentially causing both the bicycle and the rider to be destroyed. Despite the risks, he continued this dangerous work to support his family.