Chapter 48: The Ruse of Self-Sacrifice

“Damn it!” Yang Changfeng shouted, startling Chen Aijia so much that she had no time to worry about the group of women wildly flailing their long-nailed fingers toward her. She hurriedly jumped onto a stool to look, only to see that one of Yang Changfeng’s eyes was covered in blood, the skin torn open.

Chen Aijia was terrified. She had to reveal her identity; no matter what, she couldn’t let him suffer such injustice.

But just as she was about to call out, someone squeezed her behind.

What on earth? Was someone courting disaster?

She hesitated for a split second before realizing—was he pretending?

But how could he be, with so much blood around his eye?

“My eye!” Yang Changfeng roared, swinging his large palms wildly and striking out left and right, knocking down seven or eight people in quick succession, men and women alike. Once he was finished, he covered his eye with one hand and shouted, “Officers, this is already a case of intentional injury, isn’t it?”

The deputy bank manager was stunned, whipping his head around to see a group of uniformed police officers in the corridor, two of them carrying video cameras. A well-known female host from Jiangzhou’s legal affairs channel was speaking in front of the camera.

When did they get here?

Chen Aijia was also surprised. No wonder, when she’d jumped on the stool, she’d thought she’d seen a dark mass of people approaching.

But there was no time to dwell on that now.

Chen Aijia leapt down, hurried to Yang Changfeng’s side, and pulled away his hand for a closer look. Instantly, anger flared within her.

The skin at the corner of his eye had been ripped off, leaving a bloody mess with the brow bone exposed.

How could things go so far?

She was about to take matters into her own hands again.

Yang Changfeng, helpless, feigned exhaustion and collapsed onto Chen Aijia’s shoulder.

He swore he had no ulterior motive.

“Are you alright? How do you feel? Hold on, I’ll…” Chen Aijia cried out anxiously.

“Stop shouting. I’m planning to use this to pin them down. I’m fine, really,” Yang Changfeng whispered hurriedly in her ear. What was a scratch on the brow compared to the injuries he’d had on the battlefield? If you’re going to pull off a ruse, you have to make it convincing; otherwise, what’s the point?

“Stop filming! Who are you people with? I want to speak to your station chief!” the deputy bank manager shouted, rushing to block the cameras, only to be coldly restrained by several officers. Undeterred, he yelled even louder.

The female host, elegant and in her forties, was now visibly agitated.

“Dear viewers, as you can see, this young man, who courageously rescued more than a dozen people from criminals at gunpoint in a bank, has now been beaten to this state by the so-called relatives of an injured elderly person… Sir, if you lay another hand on me, I’ll ask the officers to arrest you for harassment. Do not interfere with our work,” her voice suddenly sharpened mid-sentence.

The deputy manager froze; was she trying to destroy him?

The host sneered inwardly—yes, that was precisely her intention. Both the publicity department and the police leadership had made it clear: this fraudulent extortion incident was extremely damaging and had to be traced to its roots to cleanse society of such practices.

With two vice-ministers issuing orders, what more needed to be said? It was time to take action.

The veins stood out on the deputy manager’s neck as he shouted, “Don’t spout nonsense! I know nothing about any heroic deeds—all I see is my mother beaten into serious injury, unable to even get out of bed! Which station are you from? Why haven’t you arrested the criminal? I’ll file a complaint against you for dereliction of duty!”

He still hadn’t realized the gravity of the situation.

Before the host or the officers could respond, the hospital’s deputy director decisively took a stand.

“Sir, stop making baseless accusations. When was your mother ever bedridden?” he retorted.

What? Even acquaintances were turning against him?

The deputy manager looked around in confusion. Apart from the so-called victims’ relatives, everyone in the room was eyeing him with hostility.

Two officers discreetly seized his arms, restraining him and dragging him aside.

The host straightened her clothes and, facing the camera, declared indignantly, “Some leaders with a little power act recklessly, lacking both character and any sense of the law. We must be relentless in standing up to such officials!”

With the officers’ protection, she then led the cameraman to Chen Aijia’s side, her tone full of concern. “Comrade, is your injury serious?”

Chen Aijia snapped, “Serious? His eyeball is nearly gouged out!”

Yang Changfeng suddenly lifted his head, prompting the host to gasp and the camera to zoom in. Half his face was bloodied, with his pale brow bone exposed—a wound severe enough to be classified as a second-degree injury.

“How could anyone be so vicious? Are they even human?” the host exclaimed, now empowered to fully expose the villains. She called out, “Doctor! Where’s the doctor? Treat him, quickly!”

The deputy director immediately summoned the doctors. Yang Changfeng waved them off with a grim smile. “It’s probably nothing serious—my vision is just a bit blurry. By the way, have the masked criminals been caught?”

Tears welled up in everyone’s eyes. What a good man—risking his life against criminals, being falsely accused, and still worrying about catching the perpetrators. How could such a person be subjected to extortion?

Outraged by the extortionists, the deputy police chief, leading the team, vowed with deep emotion, “This can’t be allowed to happen! Heroes must not bleed and weep. We’ll make sure this comrade receives justice! Pull up the surveillance footage. Whoever was involved, directly or as an accomplice, everyone on camera—detain them all. Not only are they ungrateful, but they treat their savior this way? Have they no conscience?”

This would undoubtedly make the news. The deputy chief had no problem playing the part of a tough leader.

Besides, Yang Changfeng looked truly miserable.

The doctor, his expression grave, examined him and immediately concluded, “Given the situation, if he’s lucky, he’ll have temporary blurred vision; if not, his sight could be permanently impaired. This is a lifelong issue. I recommend a comprehensive examination before deciding on a treatment plan.”

Chen Aijia knew Yang Changfeng was putting on an act, but now she couldn’t tell if he’d gotten lost in the role. Hearing the doctor, she became convinced he was genuinely injured and only holding on by sheer willpower.

Wiping away tears, Chen Aijia called out, “Attorney Zhang, bring your legal team to the People’s Hospital immediately. If you’re not here within half an hour, pick up your paycheck from accounting and leave!”

Who was this impressive woman?