Ethan Graves lay in bed, his brow furrowed and his forehead slick with sweat. He was trapped in a nightmare, surrounded by a hail of bullets and the acrid smell of gunfire. It felt as if he were amidst ruins, surrounded by vicious criminals with twisted expressions, their guns spewing flames. Ethan darted through the chaos, his heart racing; each time he dodged a bullet felt like a close brush with death. Explosions erupted around him, the deafening roars pounding against his eardrums, the force of the blasts nearly knocking him off his feet. Yet his own gun fired back relentlessly, each bullet infused with his anger and determination.

　　"Ah!" Ethan jolted awake from the nightmare, sitting up abruptly and gasping for air. His pajamas were soaked with sweat, clinging to his back. Fear and tension lingered in his eyes, and it took him a while to collect himself and realize it was just a bad dream. He wiped the sweat from his face and took a deep breath, trying to calm himself down.

　　Morning sunlight streamed through the gaps in the curtains, casting golden rays across the room. As Ethan looked around at the familiar surroundings, his unease began to fade. He got up and walked to the window, pulling back the curtains; the warm sunlight enveloped him, making him feel a bit better. He gazed out at the small town, where pedestrians filled the streets and cars moved in an orderly fashion. Everything appeared so peaceful, a stark contrast to the scenes from his dream.

　　After getting ready, Ethan headed to the supermarket for work, but as he approached the entrance, he noticed a crowd gathering outside. Confused, he wondered what was going on.

　　"Look, that's Ethan!" someone shouted from the crowd.

　　Instantly, all eyes turned to him. Among the onlookers were elderly people, young adults, and parents with children. Their faces beamed with smiles, admiration shining in their eyes.

　　"Ethan, you're a hero!" an elderly man stepped forward, shaking Ethan's hand. The man's hand trembled slightly, but his gaze was sincere.

　　"Yes, you were so brave! Without you, those thugs could have done something terrible," a young mother said, holding her child, who stared wide-eyed at Ethan, seemingly aware of his remarkable deeds.

　　Feeling a bit shy, Ethan scratched his head and replied, "I just did what I had to do."

　　At that moment, the crowd parted, and Lily emerged. She wore a light pink dress that swayed gently with her movements, resembling a blooming flower. Her eyes sparkled with a unique light, a mix of admiration and affection.

　　"Ethan, you really are amazing," Lily said with a smile that shone like the sun, causing Ethan's heart to flutter.

　　"Thank you, Lily," Ethan replied, feeling a bit nervous. He noticed how particularly beautiful she looked today, and his heart raced a little faster.

　　"Did you know? Your story has spread throughout the entire town, and everyone is praising you," Lily's voice was bright and melodious, like a clear mountain spring.

　　"I didn't expect it to cause such a stir," Ethan said, a bit bashfully.

　　With the crowd surrounding him, Ethan entered the supermarket. His colleagues also gathered around, giving him thumbs up. Ethan felt the warmth of their enthusiasm, filling his heart with joy.

　　However, in a corner of the supermarket, a pair of cold eyes watched everything. It was a man in a black trench coat, his hat pulled low, obscuring most of his face and making it hard to read his expression. A slight smirk played at the corners of his mouth as he turned and left the supermarket.

　　Ethan began his workday. Although many people continued to praise him, he didn’t let it distract him. He focused on arranging the shelves, his movements efficient and practiced.

　　"Ethan, you're quite the celebrity now! Have you thought about what comes next?" Lily asked playfully while helping him.

　　Ethan paused, considering her question. "I haven't thought much about it. I see this as just a one-off event. I'll continue living my life."

　　Lily looked at him with admiration, saying, "You really are humble. But I believe your life will change because of this."

　　Ethan smiled and replied, "Maybe, but no matter what happens, I won’t forget who I am."

　　As they chatted, the supermarket manager approached. His demeanor was different today, wearing a broad smile as he said, "Ethan, you've truly brought glory to our supermarket. Look at all these customers coming in because of you!"

　　Ethan was taken aback, not expecting such praise from the manager. Previously, the manager had always been critical of him, but now he was so enthusiastic.

　　"Manager, it's just what I should do," Ethan said modestly.

　　"Well, if you ever need anything, just let me know," the manager said, patting Ethan on the shoulder before walking away.

　　Lily watched the manager go, scoffing, "He’s so opportunistic. He treated you poorly before, and now that you’re a hero, he suddenly changes his tune."

　　Ethan chuckled, saying, "It’s fine. I won’t let his attitude change how I view him."

　　At that moment, a group of young people entered the supermarket, radiating energy. They approached Ethan, and one of them said, "Ethan, we’re college students from the town. We really admire you. We want to form a self-defense safety group and hope you can guide us."

　　Ethan was surprised and replied, "Guide you? I don’t think I have that ability."

　　The young man quickly insisted, "You do! You were so brave and successfully subdued those thugs. You must have a lot of experience to share with us."

　　After some thought, Ethan agreed, "Alright, I can give it a try."

　　The young people cheered, surrounding Ethan and asking him numerous questions about the incident. Ethan patiently answered, hoping his experiences could help them.

　　As the afternoon wore on, the supermarket became less crowded. Taking advantage of a break, Ethan stepped into a small courtyard behind the store. He sat on a bench, closed his eyes, and enjoyed a moment of peace. The faces of those who had praised him lingered in his mind, making him feel as if it were all just a dream.

　　Suddenly, he heard soft footsteps. He opened his eyes to see Lily approaching, holding a cup of coffee. She walked up to him and handed it over.

　　"You’ve worked hard; have some coffee," Lily said.

　　Ethan accepted the coffee, feeling grateful. "Thank you, Lily."

　　Lily sat beside him, and they enjoyed the warm moment in silence. As Ethan looked at Lily, he felt an indescribable emotion growing within him. He realized he was increasingly fond of the time spent with her.

　　"Ethan, you know? Ever since the first day I met you, I felt you were different from others. You have a unique charm, a resilience and kindness that captivates me," Lily suddenly confessed, her cheeks flushing.

　　Ethan stared at her in surprise, his heart racing again. He looked into her eyes and said, "Lily, I’ve always thought you were a special girl too. Your kindness and bravery have always drawn me to you."

　　Their eyes locked, and for a moment, time seemed to stand still. The atmosphere between them shifted subtly, a sweet tension filling the air.

　　Just then, a commotion erupted inside the supermarket. Ethan and Lily quickly stood up and rushed back in. They saw a customer arguing with the cashier, claiming that the cashier had given the wrong change. Ethan stepped forward to help resolve the issue, his calmness and patience quickly diffusing the argument.

　　By evening, Ethan finished work. As he walked home, the sunset cast a warm glow around him, stretching his shadow long behind. He felt exceptionally content, the day’s events reminding him of the warmth and beauty in human connections. He didn’t know what the future held, but he knew he would cherish his current life and face the upcoming challenges with courage.

　　However, he didn’t notice that a short distance behind him, the man in the black trench coat had reappeared. The man silently followed him, his eyes revealing a mysterious aura, as if a conspiracy was quietly brewing.