Since the "accidental" use of his ability to "pause time for 3 seconds" to help resolve a crisis, A Zhai’s confidence in his superpower seemed to grow considerably. He became more enthusiastic about trying to utilize his brief time-stopping ability, hoping to fulfill his dream of becoming a "community hero."
However, as is often the case with idealistic ambitions, reality was a bit more cruel. A Zhai’s "hero’s journey" was still filled with all sorts of unexpected "three-second disasters."
One day, while at the community park, A Zhai noticed an elderly lady’s wheelchair was stuck between some stones at the side of the path. The elderly lady was anxiously calling for help. A Zhai saw this as the perfect opportunity to be the hero he had always dreamed of.
He quietly activated his "pause time for 3 seconds," then dashed toward the wheelchair, intending to push it free. However, 3 seconds is just too short! By the time he bent down, his hands hadn’t even touched the wheelchair before time resumed. As a result, his body was propelled forward by inertia, and he crashed right into the wheelchair, making it more crooked instead of helping to get it unstuck!
The elderly lady looked at A Zhai, who had suddenly emerged and crashed into the wheelchair, her face full of confusion.
A Zhai awkwardly laughed and quickly explained, "Sorry! Granny! I just... wanted to help you!"
The elderly lady gave him a skeptical glance, but eventually, a kind passerby helped push the wheelchair out. A Zhai’s "heroic dream" had once again ended in a farcical mess.
But he wasn’t discouraged. He firmly believed that as long as he practiced more, he would eventually master this "3-second pause time" skill and become a true hero.
To practice, A Zhai started using his superpower frequently in daily life.
He tried to use the 3 seconds to grab the last discounted item at the supermarket, only to find that each time he paused time, he collided with the shelves because he couldn’t see clearly, and ended up with bruises rather than the item.
He also tried using the 3 seconds to dodge oncoming bicycles, but more often than not, by the time he paused time, the bicycle was already so close that, when time resumed, he could only helplessly watch himself get knocked over.
The most ridiculous time was when he saw a kitten stuck high up in a tree and decided to use his superpower to climb up and rescue it. Unfortunately, the 3 seconds were only enough for him to climb halfway up the tree, and when time resumed, he fell from the tree. Fortunately, the ground was soft grass, so he wasn’t hurt. The kitten, however, ended up climbing down on its own shortly after A Zhai's fall.
Lin Xiaoqiang and Wang Meili watched A Zhai's daily "three-second disasters" with a mix of laughter and frustration.
"A Zhai, I think you should give up on using your superpower to be a hero! If you keep going like this, you’ll end up in the hospital!" Wang Meili couldn’t help but advise.
But A Zhai shook his head, his gaze firm. "No! I can’t give up! My superpower might only last 3 seconds, but if used properly, it can have a huge impact! I want to become a... three-second real man!"
Determined to prove his resolve, A Zhai began researching all the "heroic acts that can be completed in 3 seconds."
He tried to pick up items for strangers within 3 seconds, only to have them blown away by the wind just as he grabbed them.
He tried to stop a thief within 3 seconds, but every time he shouted "Stop!", the time resumed, and the thief escaped.
Despite all the failures, A Zhai remained undeterred. Every day, he was on the lookout for his next "three-second hero" opportunity, and though the results were often laughable, his sincere desire to help others was clear.
Lin Xiaoqiang and Wang Meili couldn’t help but want to poke fun at him, but deep down, they both silently hoped that one day, A Zhai would truly become the "three-second real man" of his dreams.16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡf0yzg4N80f
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