Book Description

Xiao Shiong led a mediocre existence, studying for a degree he hated. One day, his violent junkie father was released from prison but immediately returned to his old ways, beating his wife for not properly welcoming him back. When Xiao Shiong confronted him outside, his father attempted to kill him, stabbing himself in the process. After his father's death, Xiao Shiong read countless online news comments praising the one that killed his addict father. Enlivened by the support, Xiao Shiong took on the superhero identity of Red Puma. Dian Nao, a university friend who does projects for the government surveillance system pieced together the identity of Red Puma. He offered to help Xiao Shiong track criminals down through the nationwide network. Xiao Shiong couldn't deny the good vibes he felt when people on his online feed congratulated him for his deeds. One day, Xiao Shiong managed to access Dian Nao's unattended laptop. There, he discovered Dian Nao was earning revenue from Xiao Shiong's exploits by mining online user accounts. Xiao Shiong discovered most of the user comments online were actually negative, with Dian Nao manipulating them to keep Xiao Shiong motivated. Tired of being betrayed by those he’d trusted, Xiao Shiong ended his partnership with Dian Nao. Shortly after, he received a call from Red Lion. An ex-commando turned fitness-blogger, Red Lion took up his own superhero identity to play copycat to Xiao Shiong's popularity online and offline. Enraged that his cop brother got killed, Red Lion warned Xiao Shiong that if he didn't show up to a televised one-on-one fight on a national landmark, Dian Nao whom he recently kidnapped, would die in a live-internet streaming broadcast. Xiao Shiong has to decide whether to risk his life and freedom in trying to save the friend who’d betrayed him. It was a difficult choice that all heroes eventually face; to protect oneself, or others who depend on them. Validation explores the inadequacy felt when we are unable to live up to the expectations of society. It also explores the phenomenon of people turning to the internet for instant gratification and validation for their actions, getting virtual shares and likes that ultimately mean nothing.