Crab Brother, this isn't you, is it?

"It's all right, it's all right, see? I'm perfectly fine, not a single hair out of place, really, nothing at all..." He wrapped his arms around Aunt She, patting her gently as the old lady from Pingjiang sobbed uncontrollably, her curly "instant noodle" hair scratching at Li Xie's itching nerves.

"It's good that you came to check, that's all..." She Qingchun, breathless, managed half a sentence before her voice broke into sobs, continuing, "Why do you have to act so brave, you're just a child..."

She kept crying, and the mother of the little boy was about to join in as well.

"Is everyone here—?" A security guard from another workplace shouted loudly.

"Is everyone accounted for—?" Another shout echoed.

"We're all here, we're all here!!" The anxious and excited nursery caretaker finished the roll call for the children, then collapsed limply onto the ground, bursting into tears, releasing the overwhelming pressure of the sudden disaster.

She truly felt as if she had narrowly escaped death.

Firefighters from the industrial area quickly evacuated the crowd, since the septic tank behind the nursery had exploded.

After comforting She Qingchun, Li Xie was left with a lingering sense of fear. Reflecting on his earlier actions when he rushed inside, he realized that while he could have done them before, never with such ease and fluidity.

The items purchased from the "Prestige Store" in the system had made a noticeable difference, except in acting and singing skills; the other enhancements were quite obvious.

"Baby, let's hurry home, this place is too dangerous," She Qingchun immediately reported the incident in the "Mom Group," embellishing Li Xie's rescue through the flames tenfold or more.

In summary, the story she told was that Li Xie faced an unprecedented explosion and a raging inferno, yet resolutely rescued a child from the fire...

How big was the fire? Although the firefighters handled it in twenty minutes, She Qingchun described it in the "Mom Group" as "so big it could burn 'Little Red Star' clean to the ground"...

Shu Ma, Shu Xiuqin, quickly called Li Xie. In the end, Li Xie had to record a video for the "Mom Group" to prove he was truly unharmed, which finally put the mothers at ease.

Yet each one scolded Li Xie, insisting such dangerous acts should be left to adults, and that a child should never try to prove himself. She Ma was absolutely right!

Li Xie didn't argue that he was already eighteen; it would be pointless. He simply promised not to make an exception again.

The power was restored only after nine o'clock that night. The electric company worked round the clock, and by half past nine, "Nanjing South District Nursery Fire" was trending online.

Fire incident reports spread fast.

But hotter than "Nanjing South District Nursery Fire" was the "Masked Hero of the Fire," especially with two explosive videos circulating.

One clip showed the "Masked Hero" scaling from the first to the second floor in a blink, using the drainpipe with parkour-like agility that made even enthusiasts say, "Wow, that's impressive."

The second video was even more sensational: the "Masked Hero" leaped from the third floor with a child tied to him...

Third floor, second floor... thud! First floor!

A cloud of dust rose as he landed, but it was flawless!

Yet, no one knew who the "Masked Hero" was. Several comment sections had volunteers claiming it might be the son of a Pingjiang volunteer aunt, but no confirmation.

Reporters chasing the story were diligent, knowing the first interview with the "Masked Hero" would be a scoop.

However, Hu Wenjing and She Qingchun took their son to a city hotel that night, unwilling to stay another second in the "urban village" at Niutou Mountain.

The next day, "Hengqiang Charitable Kindergarten" contacted Hu Wenjing and She Qingchun, but they had already returned to Pingjiang, this time with Li Xie escorting them to the high-speed rail station.

Naturally, business class—since the previous tickets had been refunded.

"Reporters want to interview Xie, so let's tell him first," Hu Wenjing said, sending a voice message to Li Xie: "A reporter wants to interview you, asking for your contact info. Should I give it?"

"What reporter?" Li Xie replied.

"He didn't say."

"If he didn't say, ignore it. I'm someone with status now. Interviews must cost extra!"

"Don't do anything crazy, I'm really scared of you," Hu Wenjing replied.

"All right, all right, don't worry about me. You two rest well. When I earn more than two billion, we'll see if those bastards still dare to give you trouble."

"..."

Hu Wenjing didn't reply, instead settling into business class and tearing into her boxed meal.

It was free, so she meant to eat five.

Beside her, She Qingchun beamed, "Baby's a hero now, surely he'll get a 'Bravery Award'. When the certificate comes, I'll hang it in the 'Little Red Star' living room. Oh, the news photos aren't clear at all—they're all of baby wearing a mask..."

On Li Xie's "Rising Wave" social media, a fan with the handle "Sing 'Vast Sky' for Lord Guo" posted a photo of the "Masked Hero" holding the boy, alongside a standing shot of Li Xie from two years ago on a variety show, performing "Stone Breaks Chest."

"Xie, Lord Guo never begs for anything, but today I beg you—tell me... this isn't you, is it?"

"Damn!"

"Damn, even if Xie turned to ashes, I'd recognize him. This is definitely Xie!"

"I 'wow'-ed and cried. Why is it him..."

"I'm so upset..."

"Damn, Xie really almost burned to ashes!"

"Amazing, Xie, I've been a fan for ten years. His character is flawless, and what I love most is his unique charisma!"

"Who isn't a ten-year fan nowadays?!"

The comment section was a chaotic frenzy. Because the "Masked Hero" was indeed Li Xie, countless "ten-year fans" had a meltdown—how could they ever criticize him again?

"One thing at a time, Xie. The past is the past. From now on, when you do good, we'll praise you; and on normal days, we'll keep playing music and keep teasing."

The ten-year fan with the handle "Did Your Mom Force You to Sing" immediately clarified: praise when deserved, tease when needed; praise is human nature, teasing is life.

"That's the spirit, 'Force Bro,' clear-minded!"

"I get it, 'Force Bro' is absolutely right!"

"But maybe it's not Xie?"

"You know nothing, even if Xie was disfigured, I'd recognize him! Honestly though, Xie's muscles got a lot bigger—does 'Stone Breaks Chest' really help with muscle growth?"

"Xie's bound to become a 'muscle king,' must be working out like mad in the gym, all dead muscle, disgusting, wish it was on me instead."

The rowdy, lowbrow fans made a ruckus, and as a result, Li Xie's "Rising Wave" exploded with record-breaking views, the usual "ten-year iron fans" banter and mutual roasting exposed for all to see in broad daylight...