American comics: I am full of martial virtues and I love to be kind to others.

"What should we do then?" Lynn asked.

George smiled and said, "Let's help her secretly. Come on, I have an idea."

Over the next few days, Lynn and George took turns pretending to "pass by" Gwen's room, always stopping to listen in on her rehearsals. Whenever Gwen needed help, Lynn offered suggestions, like tuning her guitar and even practicing harmony with her. George, on the other hand, secretly recorded her practice and edited it into short clips to share with Gwen, encouraging her on her excellent performance.

On the day of the competition, Gwen finally got over her nervousness and went to the competition venue alone. She thought her family knew nothing about it until she was standing backstage getting ready to go on stage when she heard a familiar voice.

"Gwen! Come on!" Lynn and George stood in the front row of the audience and waved at her.

Gwen was stunned, her eyes instantly red: "How...how did you know?"

George laughed and said, "You are my daughter, how could we not know what you are doing? You just need to behave well, and leave the rest to us."

Lin En patted her shoulder and said, "Go ahead, don't think too much. We are here to cheer you on, no matter what the result is."

Gwen walked onto the stage, filled with emotion and confidence. She played guitar and sang with a clear voice, and the audience applauded her performance. Lynn and George gave her the loudest applause.

After the competition, Gwen did not win first place, but her performance was highly praised by the judges. On the way home, she sat in the back seat of the car and couldn't help crying.

"Thank you, really, thank you," she said, choking back tears. "I always thought you wouldn't care, but you've always supported me."

George reached out and patted her shoulder, smiling and saying, "You're part of our family, how could I not care? Always remember, no matter what you do, we're here for you."

Lin En jokingly said, "So, next time if you have any problems, remember to tell us directly. Don't practice secretly anymore, that's stupid."

The next day.

Lynn noticed that George would leave home on time every morning, carrying an old cloth bag filled with notebooks, medicine, and some small tools. Whenever Lynn asked him what he was doing, George would simply answer: "There are still many people in the community who need help. Don't worry about me."

At first, Lynn didn't take it seriously. He felt that George, now retired, deserved more rest instead of being so busy every day. Especially when Lynn noticed that George was gradually becoming physically weak, occasionally coughing after returning home in the morning or needing to sit for a while to relax, he felt even more that his father shouldn't be tormented anymore.

"Dad, you're so old, why do you still work so hard?" Lin En expressed her confusion during a family dinner. "Community affairs can be left to younger people."

George raised his head, his expression calm, yet with a hint of persistence: "Lin En, just because you're old doesn't mean you're useless. There are many elderly people in the community who rarely even see their children. Any help I can give is better than staying at home like a useless person."

Lynn frowned slightly but said nothing more.

A few days later, Lin En was returning home early from get off work. Passing the community square, he saw a group of people gathered, seemingly agitated. Several neighbors were arguing, and two elderly people stood in the middle, their faces filled with frustration. Lin En wanted to leave, but the sight of George in the crowd stopped him.

George stood in the center of the argument, notebook in hand, and clapped his hands gently: "Okay, okay, everyone calm down and listen to me."

"Old Joe, this is none of your business!" said an emotional middle-aged man.

George smiled, his tone calm but firm: "If it's not my business, who will? You've lived together for decades. If there are any problems, can't you sit down and talk it out?"

The crowd quieted down a bit. George began to talk, flipping through his notebook. "Old Li, you think Old Wang's dog is always running into your yard, but I remember last time Old Wang's dog came to pick up your dropped mail, and you praised it. Old Wang, you said Old Li's tree blocked your sunlight, but last year when it was very hot, Old Li let you sit in the shade, right?"

His words startled the two old men, and awkward expressions appeared on their faces. George struck while the iron was hot and said with a smile, "We are neighbors. We should be considerate of each other. Are we going to spend the rest of our lives angry at each other?"

After a few words, the atmosphere eased, and the two old men began to nod and apologize to each other. The crowd gradually dispersed. George patted the two on the shoulder and told them to go to the square to play chess when they were free. As he turned to leave, he saw Lin En standing in the distance.

"Lynn?" George was obviously a little surprised, but he quickly walked over with a smile, "Why are you here?"

Lin En looked at his father, paused, and said, "I saw it. You were...very powerful just now."

George waved his hand, his tone relaxed: "Nothing, I just understand them. As I get older, I always hope that there will be more harmony between neighbors, which is better than everyone living in isolation."

Lynn was silent for a moment, suddenly realizing he'd underestimated George's persistence. He began to understand that his father's community work wasn't just about providing assistance; it was about maintaining connections and trust with those around him through sincerity and patience. This impact might be far more significant than he'd imagined.

"Dad," Lynn said, a hint of seriousness in his tone, "next time you do these things, can you take me with you? I want to try to help."

George was stunned for a moment, then smiled with relief: "Of course, the community welcomes you."

The next morning, Lin En returned to the police station on time and started his day's work. He habitually flipped through the case report on his desk when his assistant Mark knocked on his desk, holding a wanted notice.

"Inspector," Mark said casually, handing over the wanted poster. "This guy showed up again last night. He's a serial thief who specializes in striking at subway stations during rush hour. Honestly, catching him is easier than catching a cat."

Lin En picked up the wanted poster and took a look. The person in the photo was a thin, middle-aged man wearing a worn jacket, his eyes flickering. He nodded and stood up. "Then let's go take a look and stretch our legs."

Less than ten minutes later, Lynn and Mark arrived at the subway station, not far from the police station. The platform was bustling with people, and Lynn and Mark pretended to be ordinary passengers, quietly observing the surroundings. Soon, their target appeared—a thin man weaving through the crowd, glancing around from the corner of his eye, clearly searching for an opportunity to strike.

"Detective, who will he choose if we bet on him?" Mark whispered with a hint of amusement in his eyes.

"The lady with the red scarf," Lynn whispered back, "Her bag's zipper is open. She's an easy target."

Before he could finish his words, the thin man approached the woman in the red scarf. His hand reached for her bag, but before he could do so, Lynn grabbed his wrist and said in a low but authoritative voice, "Don't move, officer." The man was startled and tried to struggle, but Lynn's grip held him still. Mark quickly stepped forward to help and handcuffed him. The surrounding passengers looked at them, their faces filled with surprise and admiration, while the woman in the red scarf thanked Lynn profusely.

"This guy is just as clueless as ever," Mark quipped. "Inspector, I think the judge might keep him in jail longer this time."

"I hope so," Lynn smiled, "It saves us the trouble of catching him."

After sending the suspect back to the police station, Lin En finally had a moment of free time. He walked into the small cafe next to the police station, ordered a cup of American coffee, sat in a corner seat, and quietly looked out the window at the street scene.

The aroma of coffee lingered in his nose. He took a sip from the cup, and his tired expression relaxed slightly. Although he had only handled a small case today, the relaxation made him feel rare and comfortable.

Mark came over with a cup of cappuccino and sat down opposite him: "Detective, it's rare for you to have time to enjoy coffee. Are you in a good mood?"

Lin En looked at him, a smile on her lips: "Sometimes, small things can make work more interesting, right?"

Mark nodded in agreement. "Indeed. After all, not every case requires a shootout and a car chase. This kind of day is nice, too."

Mark took a sip of coffee, his eyes wandering, clearly troubled. He put down his cup, remained silent for a moment, and finally spoke, "Inspector, do you ever feel that… sometimes things outside of work are more troublesome than these cases?"

Lin En raised an eyebrow and put down the cup in his hand: "What do you mean?"

Mark sighed and whispered, "I've been having some problems with my girlfriend lately. She feels I'm too busy with work and don't spend enough time with her, so she's always complaining. Actually, I know she has a point, but every time I try to make amends, a case comes up and disrupts my plans."

Lin En leaned back in his chair, listening carefully without interrupting. His gaze softened, and his tone gained a hint of understanding. "She's not wrong, but you have to understand that balancing work and life does require careful consideration."

"The problem is, I don't know how to strike a balance," Mark said helplessly. "She always says I don't understand her feelings, but I don't know how to make her understand that what I do is not just work, it's also my responsibility."

Lin En nodded and sighed softly: "I understand how you feel. You know, I was in a similar situation when I was young. At that time, I also thought I could take care of both ends, but in fact... I ignored the other person's real needs."

Mark raised his head and looked at Lynn curiously: "Inspector, how did you solve it?"

"Honestly, that relationship didn't last," Lin En shrugged, her tone calm yet tinged with emotion. "But later I realized the problem wasn't the work itself, but communication. You have to try to let her know that your responsibilities and your feelings for her aren't in conflict. With a little more patience and initiative, maybe you can find a common rhythm."

Mark lowered his head, as if thinking about what Lynn had said. His fingers tapped lightly on the rim of his coffee cup. After a moment, he looked up and said, "You have a point, but what if she still thinks I haven't changed?"

Lin En patted Mark's shoulder and said encouragingly, "Then you have to ask yourself how important this relationship is to you. If you think it's worth it, then prove it to her with your actions. If it really affects your work, I can give you a few days off to deal with this matter properly. You really can't neglect one for your life and your work."

Mark was stunned for a moment, then smiled gratefully: "Inspector, you are such a good boss. If it were someone else, they would have asked me to reflect on my actions long ago."

Lin En chuckled. "I just took a few more detours than you. Believe me, finding a balance is much more important than being busy all the time."

The two smiled at each other, their silence filled with a tacit understanding. Mark nodded, seemingly determined. "Thank you, Inspector. I'll try to talk to her again. Maybe I can find the answer this time."

"It's okay. If you need any help, feel free to tell me." Lin En picked up the cup and took a sip, looking out the window, and added softly, "After all, life itself requires a little wisdom to manage, doesn't it?"

Mark smiled and nodded, "Yes, thank you, Inspector."

Lynn dragged his tired body back home, and just as he opened the door, he heard laughter coming from the living room. He looked over and saw Gwen and two friends sitting on the sofa, with snacks and drinks on the table, and George walked over with a plate of freshly baked cookies, smiling.

"You young people eat so fast! The cookies I just made aren't even cold yet!" George said, putting the plate on the table and taking a piece to taste.

Gwen looked up and saw Lynn and waved, "Brother, you're back! Come here, this is my friends Ellie and Kevin."

Lynn walked into the living room and nodded slightly: "Hello, I'm Lynn, Gwen's brother."

Ellie and Kevin stood up at the same time and greeted him, but they were obviously a little reserved. George laughed and said to them, "Don't be shy. Lynn is not a serious person. He was very naughty when he was a child. He liked to hide my car keys, which made me look for them for a long time!"

"Dad!" Lynn looked at George helplessly, "I haven't done this kind of thing for more than 20 years. Do you really have to say it?"

George waved his hand dismissively. "That's the truth. It's nothing to worry about if Gwen's friends know."

Gwen covered her mouth and laughed, and Ellie and Kevin couldn't help but laugh too. George looked at the empty drink cup and volunteered, "I'll get you some new soda, you guys continue chatting."

After a while, George came back with a glass of bubbling soda. Just as he handed it to Kevin, his hand shook accidentally and some soda spilled on Kevin's pants.

"Oh, sorry, sorry!" George quickly picked up a tissue from the table and handed it to Kevin, saying in a panic, "Don't mind it, I'm old and my hands are not very steady."

Kevin said with a smile while wiping his pants: "It's okay, Mr. Stacy, these are just small things. Thank you for your hospitality."

George scratched his head in embarrassment, while Gwen couldn't help but burst out laughing: "Dad, you're so cute!"

Lynn also smiled and patted George on the shoulder: "It's okay, Dad. Kevin won't mind, right?"

Kevin nodded and smiled, "Of course not. This is the most special soda I've ever had!" (End of this chapter)