Counterfeit Hero

When Tian Xingjian woke up with a splitting headache from his hangover, he found himself lying in a small room of about five square meters. "Damn it, who put me in the confinement room?" Fatty shouted at the top of his lungs. Apart from a sliver of light coming from under the door crack, the confinement room had no lamps or windows.

He sat on the ground, trying hard to recall what happened yesterday. Drinking, and before the drinking? He paused for a moment and shook his head. The meeting between Ann Lei and Milan inevitably surfaced in his mind again. Fatty now genuinely wished that this was just a dream or that time could rewind.

After being lost in thought for a while, Tian Xingjian suddenly felt a sense of clarity post-hangover. Living a lifetime, everyone has the right to pursue their happiness; Ann Lei has it, Milan has it, and he also has it. People can live without each other; the situation couldn’t be reversed. His indecision ruined him. Even if time could go back, he still wouldn’t be able to refuse Ann Lei after meeting Milan. He would still go through the same ordeal. He slowly lay down on the ground, trying hard to cheer himself up—no need to worry anymore, he got his release. A somewhat bittersweet release, but ultimately, it felt like a burden lifted.

He didn’t know how much time had passed when the confinement room door suddenly opened, and a Constitutional Soldier Major walked in, saying to Tian Xingjian, "Get up, follow me!" Fatty scrambled up and asked, "Why did you lock me up? I just drank a bit, I’m not even a soldier in a combat-ready unit."

The Constitutional Soldier Major couldn’t help but laugh; apparently, this foolish Fatty couldn’t remember anything. He shoved Fatty out of the confinement room, shouting, "You think it’s just about drinking a bit? You severely violated military regulations by fighting, causing varying degrees of injuries to thirty-two people, including twelve policemen and nine special forces officers. More egregiously, you even spat publicly at Admiral Mihailovich. You tell me why you’re locked up!"

Fatty incredulously pointed at his nose and said, "Are you sure? Are you talking about me? I must tell you, I’m naturally timid, I can’t handle scares!" The Constitutional Soldier Major was amused yet annoyed by this statement. Such a daring rogue calmly claiming to be timid! He didn’t bother arguing with such a person and ordered, "Go quickly! The Enforcement Officer is waiting for you!"

Fatty, startled by the words "Enforcement Officer," stubbornly pursued, "Are you sure I did all that? It can’t be. I’ve always been honest and kind, nicknamed ’Honest Cute Little Gentleman,’ never engaging in fights. You must be mistaken... I spat at the General?"

The Constitutional Soldier Major really wanted to throw this Fatty back into the confinement room—Honest Cute Little Gentleman, my ass, is there such a fat little gentleman?