Chapter 11: The Delivery Boy Favored by Li Xiguang

Just as Li Xiguang was waiting to see the drama unfold, he suddenly noticed that the trending topics were dominated by videos released on the official Armed Police account.

#A Song from a Delivery Rider Saved Over a Hundred Young Women
#“The Lone Brave”—Dedicated to All Unsung Lone Braves
#Delivery Rider and Armed Police Team Up—Unstoppable Together

A cascade of such headlines erupted across every platform—Douyin, Mankou, Zhihu, Little Black Book, Weibo—all topping the trending lists.

Li Xiguang cursed his luck under his breath, but there was nothing he could do. He knew that whenever the authorities pushed a stream like this, it was bound to trend. All the other entertainment and gossip accounts could only step aside.

Curious, he clicked open one of the videos—only to be stunned when he realized that all the trending videos stemmed from the same source.

The official Armed Police platform had released a stream to promote a delivery rider? Who was this person, that he commanded such influence?

Li Xiguang muttered to himself, “Another delivery rider? Why is it always a delivery rider these days? Seems like every trending topic lately is thanks to one.”

Suddenly, an idea struck him: Could it be the same person each time?

He shook his head with a self-deprecating chuckle. Impossible, he thought.

He pressed play.

The video began with a preface: Congratulations to our police force for cracking a major human trafficking case involving the XX Group, where a certain internet celebrity in Northern Wa was involved. In total, 168 of our citizens and hundreds more from other countries were rescued. But before we go further, let us mourn the three officers who sacrificed their lives while undercover within the XX Group. The state has decided to honor them as “Revolutionary Martyrs.” At the same time, we express our gratitude to the delivery rider below—it was his song that gave strength to our only remaining undercover officer, helping solve the case.

Even this brief monologue ignited Li Xiguang’s curiosity. What kind of song could possibly settle and strengthen the wavering heart of an undercover officer—a person whose mental fortitude is legendary? It had to be the loss of the three comrades, just as mentioned at the beginning.

“Your heart is unsettled. Let me sing you a song,” the delivery rider’s voice said. “It’s called ‘The Lone Brave’.”

“All are brave—
The wound upon your brow, your uniqueness, your mistakes,
All need not be hidden.
Your threadbare toys, your masks, your self.

“They say you must shine a light to tame each monster,
They say your wounds must be stitched, for no one loves a clown.
But why should solitude not be glorious?
Only imperfection in humanity deserves praise.
Who says those covered in mud are not heroes?”

Just the first half of the verse left Li Xiguang awestruck. There was a profound strength in the singer’s somber voice—a force that inspired, inexplicably uplifting.

“Love you walking alone through dark alleys,
Love your unyielding stance,
Love how you’ve faced down despair,
Refusing to shed a single tear.
Love your tattered clothes,
Yet still daring to challenge fate’s gun,
Love that you and I are so alike,
With the same scars.

Will you go? Are you worthy? This ragged cape—
Will you fight? Fight! With the humblest of dreams,
For the sobs and roars in the night.
Who says only those standing in the light can be called heroes?”

By now, Li Xiguang felt a tingling along his scalp. It was so stirring, so full of fire. Even if the delivery rider’s face was hidden, his presence felt towering to Li Xiguang—such was the power this song bestowed.

Now, Li Xiguang began to understand how a single song from this delivery rider could calm the heart of an undercover officer.

A thought flashed through his mind: If Song Liang could get a delivery rider to sing “Dragon Scale of Heaven and Earth,” then perhaps he too could find a delivery rider to sing “The Lone Brave.”

Though “Dragon Scale of Heaven and Earth” was highly regarded, “The Lone Brave” was no less impressive. And right now, the delivery rider who sang “Dragon Scale of Heaven and Earth” was drowning in bad reviews, but this delivery rider was the very embodiment of positive energy.

Li Xiguang realized that with such a sought-after singer, if he hesitated even a moment, someone else might snatch him away.

No time to finish the video—he put down his phone and hurried out.

“Xia, contact the singer of ‘The Lone Brave’ as quickly as possible. Offer him an A-level contract!” he ordered.

Assistant Xia’s eyes widened in disbelief. An A-level contract for a delivery rider—a delivery rider no one had ever heard of before?

This was the standard for second-tier singers, just one step below the very top stars. For someone who had only sung a single song and had no previous works, an A-level contract seemed unthinkable. Yet, though astonished, Assistant Xia carried out his orders.

Li Xiguang knew exactly what that look in Assistant Xia’s eyes meant. But he wasn’t one to make a losing investment. Regardless of the delivery rider’s singing ability, just the fact that the official Armed Police had promoted him was worth the price. With this foundation, a little packaging would ensure an explosive rise in popularity. Even if it only lasted a short while, it would be enough to earn back ten, a hundred times the investment.

Li Xiguang had that much foresight. Since he had decided to outmaneuver Song Liang, he might as well go for the kill—put a definitive end to their years-long rivalry.

He went off to make arrangements, leaving his phone on the desk.

In just over half an hour since the video’s release, there were already over fifty thousand comments and eighty thousand likes.

“Salute to our nation’s police! Salute to all the lone braves who walk the night!”
“Love you walking alone through dark alleys, love your unyielding stance—these lyrics are amazing!”
“Our country is mighty and awe-inspiring!”
“Has anyone else noticed? The delivery rider singing ‘The Lone Brave’ looks just like the one who sang ‘Dragon Scale of Heaven and Earth’!”

This comment set off an explosion below.

“Damn, I didn’t realize until you mentioned it!”
“They’re completely different vocal styles, though. That can’t be right!”
“He handles both styles so well, and both are original songs—could they really be the same person?”
“All those who slandered my idol Su Bai, show yourselves now!”
“Didn’t you say my idol Su Bai was just a fame seeker? If you’re not, then try helping the police crack a major case yourself!”
“A man with such integrity would never need to pull strings or conspire for attention. Maybe it’s all a misunderstanding?”
“Su Bai, shouldn’t you clarify in person? We all believe in you!”

While Li Xiguang hadn’t finished watching the video, Assistant Xia had watched every second—and even browsed the comments.

When she saw that the delivery rider who sang “The Lone Brave” was actually Su Bai, the creator of “Dragon Scale of Heaven and Earth” who’d been trending recently, she finally understood Li Xiguang’s strategic vision.

To extend an olive branch when someone was at their lowest—offering warmth in the cold—was the surest way to win a singer’s gratitude. With two hit songs as a foundation, Su Bai was certainly worth the price.

Realizing this, Assistant Xia couldn’t help but feel a new respect for Li Xiguang.