In the station chief’s office, Wang Zhenkang waved a hand as Xiong He kept trying to persuade him.
“All right, I get it.”
“You’re just too softhearted!”
“Kindness doesn’t make a good commander, and righteousness doesn’t make a good businessman!”
“This is a police station, not a charity!”
“Being strict with them is what’s really good for them!”
That was what he said, but Wang Zhenkang turned to look at Chu Jiang, who was sweating profusely as he ran around the track.
That kid really could run!
He was close to thirty laps by now, wasn’t he?
And he still hadn’t stopped?
How long could he keep it up, though?
……
Minute by minute, time passed. Chu Jiang ran around the track like a tireless machine, his legs moving mechanically.
His breathing grew labored, and his chest heaved violently.
But he showed no sign of stopping, his gaze fixed determinedly ahead.
Thirty-one laps……
Thirty-two laps……
Thirty-three laps……
Chu Jiang’s steps grew heavier as he ran around the track.
Sweat ran down his cheeks and dripped onto the scorching plastic track, making a sizzling sound.
Each step felt as heavy as if his legs were filled with lead.
Still, he gritted his teeth and kept running, putting one foot in front of the other.
He knew he couldn’t stop.
Because he was a police officer!
Because he had once been a soldier!
Because he was Chu Jiang!
Wang Zhenkang and Xiong He stood by the window, their eyes fixed on the figure running around the track.
“Old Wang, that’s thirty-five laps already. Aren’t you going to call a stop?”
Worry filled Xiong He’s voice, and beads of sweat had already appeared on his forehead.
“That kid’s got way too much stamina, doesn’t he?”
Wang Zhenkang had thought Chu Jiang would be ready to collapse after twenty or thirty laps. He hadn’t expected the kid to keep going.
“Let’s wait a little longer. I want to see how long he can keep this up!”
He refused to believe the kid could actually finish all fifty laps.
“But…”
Xiong He tried to say more, but Wang Zhenkang cut him off.
“Old Xiong, enough. I know what I’m doing!”
Wang Zhenkang never took his eyes off Chu Jiang.
“With stamina like that, this kid will be a natural at chasing down criminals!”
Wang Zhenkang thought to himself.
With that kind of endurance, most criminals probably couldn’t outrun him.
At the thought, the corners of Wang Zhenkang’s mouth began to rise.
Seeing Chu Jiang still running around the track, Xiong He couldn’t sit still any longer.
He sprang to his feet and hurried toward the door.
“Old Xiong, where are you going?”
Wang Zhenkang grabbed him.
“To call a stop! Chu Jiang’s run enough!”
Xiong He turned back, his face anxious.
“If he keeps going, he could die!”
Wang Zhenkang’s brows knitted together, but his gaze remained on Chu Jiang.
“Let him run!”
“I want to see how long he can keep it up!”
Xiong He was frantic.
“Old Wang, have you lost your mind?”
“He’ll ruin his body!”
“Stay out of it!”
Wang Zhenkang’s tone was hard.
“I know what I’m doing!”
All Xiong He could do was silently pray that Chu Jiang could hold on.
Wang Zhenkang stared fixedly at Chu Jiang, his expression conflicted.
Could the kid really finish all fifty laps?
He wanted to see where Chu Jiang’s limit was!
Minute by minute, time passed.
Chu Jiang’s breathing grew more and more labored.
Thirty-six laps……
Thirty-seven laps……
Thirty-eight laps……
Chu Jiang’s steps grew heavier and his pace slowed.
“Old Wang, we can’t wait any longer!”
Xiong He’s voice trembled.
“That’s forty laps! If he keeps running, someone really could die!”
Wang Zhenkang’s expression turned grave too.
“Just a little longer!”
Wang Zhenkang gritted his teeth.
“I want to see how long he can keep going!”
Xiong He paced back and forth across the office like an ant on a hot pan.
“Old Wang, you’re gambling!”
“If anything happens to Chu Jiang, neither of us can bear the responsibility!”
Wang Zhenkang said nothing. He only stared fixedly at the figure running around the track.
Forty-one laps……
Forty-two laps……
Forty-three laps……
“Old Wang, please, call a stop!”
Xiong He’s voice broke.
“If he keeps going, something really will happen to Chu Jiang!”
Wang Zhenkang’s lips pressed into a thin line.
He was torn inside.
On the one hand, he wanted to see where Chu Jiang’s limit was.
On the other, he was afraid something would happen to him.
The conflict left him in agony.
Forty-seven laps……
Forty-eight laps……
Forty-nine laps……
Chu Jiang’s body had begun to sway. He was running entirely on instinct.
Fifty laps!
Chu Jiang had finally completed all fifty laps!
Wang Zhenkang and Xiong He were both dumbfounded.
The kid had really finished all fifty laps!
Was he some kind of monster?
They were completely stunned!
“He really finished all fifty laps?”
Wang Zhenkang snapped out of it and rushed out of the office, shouting toward Chu Jiang on the track:
“Chu Jiang! Come here!”
His voice echoed across the empty track.
By then, Chu Jiang had collapsed onto the ground, gasping for breath. When he heard Wang Zhenkang call, he struggled to get up, only to find his legs wouldn’t support him.
“Damn it, I’m still not strong enough!”
Chu Jiang cursed silently. He had thought that having twice the physical ability would let him run this long without even looking winded.
But he’d forgotten that he had sprinted all the way to the police station, and that rescuing Wang Shiqi had taken a great deal of effort too.
He had already used up a lot of his strength.
Now he could barely even stand.
But out of instinct—and because, as a former soldier, he was used to treating obedience as his highest duty—he finally managed to get to his feet.
At that moment, Wang Zhenkang, standing by the window of the station chief’s office, could see that Chu Jiang was nearly completely spent. He began to panic.
“Old Xiong, go check on him!”
“I’m not going. Go yourself! Damn it, you’re as stubborn as an ox. I tried everything to talk you out of it, and you wouldn’t listen. Now you’re worried about him? Where was that concern before?”
The Political Instructor had a temper too. He and Wang Zhenkang were more or less equals, so he wasn’t afraid of Wang Zhenkang making things difficult for him.
Wang Zhenkang saw that Xiong He wasn’t budging and was at a loss for words.
But worried that something might happen to Chu Jiang, he could only glare at Xiong He before hurrying over to Chu Jiang himself.
Looking at Chu Jiang’s sorry state, Wang Zhenkang felt a jumble of emotions.
“All right, don’t salute!”
When Wang Zhenkang saw Chu Jiang about to salute, he quickly waved him off.
“Can you walk?”
Chu Jiang nodded and managed to force a smile.
“Station Chief, I… I finished the run.”
“Mm. Good job.”
Wang Zhenkang patted Chu Jiang on the shoulder.
“Come on. Back to the office with me.”
When they returned to the office, Xiong He hurried over and asked with concern:
“Chu Jiang, how are you? Do you feel unwell anywhere?”
Chu Jiang shook his head.
“I’m all right. Just a little worn out.”
“You nearly scared me to death, you kid!”
Xiong He let out a long breath, the worry he’d been holding finally easing.
Wang Zhenkang looked at Chu Jiang and said solemnly:
“Chu Jiang, get some rest. I have something important to announce in a little while.”
“Yes, Station Chief!”
Chu Jiang replied and sat down in a chair.