Eric Bennett's face was just as pale. He gripped his gun with both hands, breathing rapidly. "Please let her go, okay?" Eric Bennett was extremely unstable, his heart pounding in his throat, overwhelmed by tension, fear, and anger—his body ruled by a storm of emotions!

The criminal's pupils were dilating, gradually losing their luster.

Eric Bennett swallowed anxiously and gasped, "I know you're about to die, but before that, please don't move. Thank you."

Scarlet liquid kept gushing from the man's chest. Slowly, the criminal's right hand, which was gripping the knife, lost its last bit of strength. As the dagger fell, his body collapsed to the ground.

Eric Bennett dragged the pistol, still maintaining the same posture. He was probably so nervous that he didn't even have the strength to move.

Silence!

A deathly silence!

"Well done!"

A few seconds later, enthusiastic applause echoed through the hall. Everyone sincerely cheered for this high school student!

Lauren Clark let out a long sigh of relief and wiped the cold sweat from her forehead. "Kid, you really scared Auntie to death." She gave a wry, lingering smile, still shaken—she had truly thought Eric Bennett was going to shoot her.

Chapter 3 Deputy Director of the Education Bureau

Reporters swarmed the entrance, blocking the doorway. Cameras clicked away, capturing the scene in the bank lobby.

Having had his gun taken by the police, Eric Bennett finally came back to his senses. He looked around, then instinctively twisted his body and hid behind Lauren Clark. "Miss, could you lend me your blazer for a moment?"

Although it was a bit odd, faced with a request from her savior, Lauren Clark didn't refuse. She suspiciously took off her blazer and handed it to him. "What do you need it for?"

Eric Bennett covered his head with the black jacket before following the police out the door. "What if the criminal has accomplices? If they see the reporters' photos, won't they come after me for revenge?" After all, Eric Bennett had lived for twenty-five years—he was thorough and cautious in his thinking.

Lauren Clark glanced at him in mild surprise, then chuckled approvingly. "You're quite careful." She followed him out as well.

Since they needed to give statements, Eric Bennett and the beautiful woman got into a police car waiting by the roadside.

"Director Clark, sorry you were frightened. When we get back, we'll definitely discipline that sniper and give you an explanation." Sitting in the front passenger seat was Director Parker. He nodded apologetically to Lauren Clark. "And thank you for your assistance this time. I'll make sure to mention it in my report to the higher-ups."

Eric Bennett was startled. Director Clark? She was actually an official?

A charming, alluring smile appeared on Lauren Clark's beautiful face. "If you're going to thank someone, thank this young man. If it weren't for him, I don't know if I'd live to see tomorrow's sun." No longer looking at Director Parker's slightly awkward expression, she turned to fix her gaze on Eric Bennett, her smile enchanting. "Thank you for saving me. What's your name, and which school are you from?"

People are like that.

Once you know you won't die, you lose the courage you had in the face of death. Eric Bennett avoided the beautiful woman's direct gaze, forcing a smile. "My name is Eric Bennett, I'm sixteen, and in a few days I'll be attending the High School Affiliated to Normal University."

After saying this, Eric Bennett couldn't help but blush. From a certain perspective, at twenty-five, he did feel a bit like he was pretending to be younger.

Lauren Clark was a little surprised. "Oh, the same age as my daughter?"

Eric Bennett coughed and nodded. He was a bit afraid to talk to the beautiful woman, mainly due to his lack of experience with women in his previous life.

Lauren Clark seemed to sense Eric Bennett's thoughts and didn't say anything more. Instead, Director Parker clicked his tongue in amazement. "Young man, I saw through the binoculars—when the gun slid in front of you, you picked it up immediately and fired at the criminal. That reaction speed, that courage and composure—among your peers, you're definitely outstanding. Haha, truly a hero among youth." Director Parker was speaking from the heart. In such a critical moment, even he would have struggled to do what Eric Bennett did, let alone a sixteen-year-old high school student.

A trace of bitterness flickered between Eric Bennett's brows. "You're too kind. Actually, my legs were so weak with fear at the time, I can barely remember what I did afterward. Haha, I'm ashamed, really." With men, Eric Bennett was much more at ease.

"Unfazed by praise or humiliation—good!" Director Parker nodded approvingly, though his eyes kept glancing at Director Clark's reaction. "How did you know the knife-wielding criminal wasn't dead? Haha, we all thought you were going to harm Director Clark."

Eric Bennett casually made up a lie. "I saw his hand move, so I just guessed." He couldn't exactly say he'd experienced this before, could he?

By the time they finished giving their statements, it was already four in the afternoon.

Leaving the Xuanwu police station, Eric Bennett saw a black Audi parked at the entrance. The beautiful Lauren Clark rolled down the window and waved him over, signaling for him to get in.

To be honest, if possible, Eric Bennett never wanted to see Lauren Clark again.

How embarrassing!

After hesitating for quite a while, Eric Bennett finally wiped his sweat and got into the Audi. "Hello, Director Clark."

Lauren Clark looked at the averted Eric Bennett with great interest, a smile curving on her mature face. "Lauren Clark, just call me Aunt Lauren."

"Uh, Aunt Lauren." Eric Bennett felt more nervous than ever before. After all, when he was reborn, he had actually grabbed her chest—my god, isn't this going to kill me?