The program ended, but the audience was still immersed in an indescribable emotion. No one had expected that this hero would be so great yet so pathetic. His parents had died in a car accident, and as their son, he could only watch them die, powerless.
This explained everything. It explained why he carried firefighting equipment in his car, and why he was so brave and fearless in the face of fire. It turned out he did it to prevent the tragedy of his parents from happening again.
At this moment, Huang He won the hearts of people across the country and solidified his title as a hero.
The only regret the audience had was that CCTV did not reveal his identity. No one could figure out who this hero was.
—————
“Brother-in-law, is it really you? I was so scared when I saw you on TV!” As soon as the program showed Huang He’s face, Leng Zhiruo’s phone call came urgently. She, too, had only learned about Huang He’s heroic deeds from the news.
“It’s nothing major. I have to cooperate with the investigation and interviews these few days, so I didn’t want to worry you,” Huang He said cheerfully. “Don’t worry, I’ll finish things up here soon and go home after today.”
“No need. I’ve already booked a flight to Beijing and am about to board. I’ll be there tonight!” Leng Zhiruo said quickly and hung up the phone.
Before Huang He could enjoy a few seconds of peace, another call came in.
“Wow, brother-in-law! Is it really you? You don’t know, when my subordinate told me that our company’s chairman was that firefighting hero, I was so shocked that I immediately typed ‘gg,’ quit the game, and called you.” Leng Zhimeng said excitedly.
“It’s me!” Huang He said with a wry smile. “Your sister already called to confirm with me once.”
“Then, brother-in-law, can I brag to others that you’re my brother-in-law?” Leng Zhimeng asked excitedly.
“Suit yourself. My identity will probably be known nationwide tomorrow, so it doesn’t matter if you say it or not!” Huang He shrugged.
“Alright, brother-in-law, when you get back, you must tell me all about that day… Oh, right, brother-in-law, you said our OO should cooperate with you for publicity and let all netizens know that the firefighting hero is the boss of our OO!” Leng Zhimeng asked again.
“Absolutely not!” Huang He said urgently, his tone very stern. “Without my explicit permission, no enterprise, unit, or individual under Jiangnan Group is allowed to conduct any related publicity externally. Not even the fact that I, Huang He, am the chairman of Jiangnan Group is allowed to be disclosed. If any media want to interview, they are to be rejected as well.”
“You can only admit that Huang He is the chairman of Jiangnan Group. Other than that, no information is to be leaked. The entire company should also keep a low profile during this period. Anyone who dares to be high-profile at this time will be kicked out by me!”
“Why, brother-in-law!!” Leng Zhimeng asked, puzzled. “This is such a great publicity opportunity! Many companies can’t even get such a chance for promotion, yet you’re pushing it away like a hot potato.”
“Besides, this hero title was earned with your life, so why can’t we use it!”
“Zhimeng, don’t you understand the principle of too much of a good thing?” Huang He sighed. “Right now, this matter is receiving national attention, and all eyes are on me. Any word, action, or move I make will cause a huge stir.”
“You see everyone calling me a hero now, but if I show any flaw, even if I spit on the street, I’ll instantly go from hero to zero.”
“Even if I don’t make mistakes, if someone in the company makes a mistake, the blame might fall on me.”
“Also, if we promote too ostentatiously, it will give people the impression that our company is exploiting a disaster for marketing. This might even make people suspect that I started the fire myself?”
“So, what we need to do at this time is keep a low profile, an absolute low profile. All employees throughout the company need to be warned. During this time, I don’t ask them to innovate or change, I only ask them to be steady, to do everything steadily, so steady that no flaws are left for anyone to find, until this matter is over. Do you understand?”
“Yes! I’ll go arrange it now, issue the order overnight… You don’t know, the planning department has already started drafting publicity strategies. I need to stop them!” Leng Zhimeng stuck out her tongue and hung up.
Before Huang He could catch his breath, a third call came in.
“Is it Zihwen’s turn now?” Huang He muttered, then looked down. It was his mother-in-law.
And this phone call went on endlessly. His mother-in-law cried and lectured Huang He for one to two hours on the phone, scolding him for taking such risks to save people. She said if he also died, their large family would fall apart, and the family business his parents had worked so hard to build would be gone.
She felt she had let down her in-laws for their past kindness.
In short, his mother-in-law cried and berated Huang He for over an hour. Huang He could only respond meekly. Finally, his mother-in-law asked him to return quickly to let her see if he had lost any limbs, before hanging up.
In less than a few seconds, Leng Zihwen’s call came through.
“Were you on the phone with your sister just now?” Leng Zihwen said coldly into the phone. “You were on the phone for a full hour and 42 minutes. Brother-in-law and sister are truly deeply in love, aren’t they?”
“It wasn’t your sister, it was your mother!” Huang He said irritably.
“What, you did that to my mother too…”
“Can you please sew your mouth shut? Your mother lectured me for over an hour on the phone. Do you know how painful that was for me!” Huang He said dejectedly.
“I couldn’t care less. Just live your own life, and don’t die!” Leng Zihwen said, and then, very decisively, hung up the phone.
Good heavens, the combined phone time of the three daughters was less than a fraction of his mother-in-law’s call.
Huang He thought he would have some peace after Leng Zihwen’s call, but a few minutes later, another call came in. He looked down and saw it was his mother-in-law again.
“Mother, haven’t you finished scolding me yet?” Huang He answered the phone, full of helplessness.
“Heh heh, Zhiyuan, listen! Brother-in-law is calling us mother now. We’re brother-in-law’s mothers!” A mischievous voice said in the phone, followed by the joyful laughter of a little girl. Huang He then remembered that he actually had two younger sisters-in-law.
“Brother-in-law, we all saw you on TV. You’re so amazing! I’m definitely going to tell all my classmates tomorrow that the super hero who saved people is my brother-in-law!” Leng Zhiting said in a childish voice, full of pride.
“Can you not say it?” Huang He asked tentatively.
“No!” Leng Zhiting replied immediately. Even if Leng Zhiting had said yes, Huang He wouldn’t have believed it. Could you expect a child’s mouth to be sealed so tightly? It was impossible, let alone Leng Zhiting, who was a chatterbox. It was unrealistic.
However, considering that his identity couldn’t be hidden once he showed his face, Huang He could only give up in resignation.
Afterward, Huang He talked with the two childish younger sisters-in-law for over ten minutes. He promised them he would bring them Beijing roast duck from Beijing before Leng Zhiting reluctantly hung up the phone under her mother’s urging.
“I’m exhausted!” Huang He stretched out on the bed and glanced at his other phone… this was Huang He’s work phone, but he didn’t dare to turn it on. Once it was on, there would probably be dozens or hundreds of calls, as work numbers were printed directly on business cards. It was impossible not to spread.
“I really need a stable secretary, otherwise I won’t even have someone to answer work calls for me!” Huang He muttered.
Normally, the work phone would be managed by a secretary, who would answer calls, thus saving Huang He a lot of trouble. However, since Huang He didn’t have a trusted secretary, all this was nonexistent.
In a daze, Huang He fell asleep, exhausted, until past one in the morning when a hurried knocking at the door woke him. Huang He sleepily opened the door and saw Leng Zhiruo standing at the entrance, looking travel-worn.
“You really came!” A smile appeared on Huang He’s face, and then Leng Zhiruo rushed into his arms.
The two of them stayed up until around three in the morning before finally lying in bed, holding each other quietly.
“It’s so good that you’re alright, my great hero!” Leng Zhiruo mumbled.
“It’ll be fine, I know what I’m doing,” Huang He said with a smile, and then relayed to Leng Zhiruo everything he had previously instructed Leng Zhimeng.
After all, Jiangnan Commercial was the company with the most employees and the closest external contact. They had to ensure they didn’t cause any trouble for him.
“I’ve already given verbal instructions overnight when I set out, and ordered all branch managers to email me their replies by 10 AM tomorrow!” Leng Zhiruo said.
“Amazing, truly my darling!” Huang He said with a smile, praising her while indulging himself on the two great treasures on his sides.
“Brother-in-law, I know you are a hero, the greatest hero in the world. But I also beg you to think. This heroism isn’t just about you alone. You have us behind you, you have our family, and you have the vast Jiangnan Group. They all depend on your leadership. If anything were to happen to you, then none of us would be able to live.” As Leng Zhiruo spoke, tears involuntarily streamed down her face.
“You don’t know, with over twenty lives, and the entire Chinese gaming industry at stake, I can’t help but fight!” Huang He sighed inwardly.