Chapter 489: Do Me a Favor

"Atonement? Sexual interests?! Gao Jian, you'd better explain yourself." Tie Ningxiang shot a sideways glance at Feng Minglong. Seeing that he wasn't eavesdropping, she breathed a sigh of relief. "You have the nerve to judge Elder Chen like that? Aren't you afraid people will curse you behind your back?"

"I'm just stating the facts. Besides, I'm only telling you. I won't broadcast it." I gave the back of Tie Ningxiang's hand a light pinch. To my surprise, she didn't resist or even pull her hand away. Only then did I relax, knowing she wasn't truly angry. "I have my reasons for mentioning atonement. Everyone has secrets buried deep in their hearts, and none of you know Teacher Chen's past. I looked up everything I could find about him online and discovered his history is a complete blank. He never mentions his parents, and there isn't a single word online about his early education or experiences. Everything seems strictly curated to frame him as a good person devoted to public welfare and rescuing children. To me, that's highly abnormal. But that's just speculation. As for his sexual interests, that's purely my own guess without any evidence."

"If this gets out, you'll never hear the end of it. Over the last two decades, Elder Chen has sponsored countless children. Just like Ye Bing, those kids view Teacher Chen as their parent and the orphanage as their home. If they hear you slandering him like this, they'll fight you to the death." Seeing that I was almost done eating, Tie Ningxiang stood up to clear the bowls and chopsticks, ready to drop the subject. "Think about it. Besides, he's not asking for much. He just wants you to keep Ye Bing company and talk about your most profound shared memories. Just give it a try."

She sighed. As far as she was concerned, Teacher Chen's constant attempts to seek me out were just the desperate actions of a man grasping at straws; he didn't hold out much hope at all.

But I was different. With the Paulownia Mulberry Talisman and the Dream Wing Gu in my possession, I genuinely had the ability to save Ye Bing.

It was just too dangerous. The risks were completely disproportionate to the rewards, which was why I hesitated.

Tie Ningxiang had to head to the Municipal Sub-bureau in the afternoon, so she left after clearing the dishes.

"Was the pork rib soup good?"

Feng Minglong stared at me with deep resentment, looking like he was on the verge of turning to the dark side. I smacked my lips. "It was alright. A bit bland. I guess my mother-in-law kept my injuries in mind and didn't dare add too much salt."

"Damn, have you no shame? I didn't even get a single bite, and here you are acting spoiled after getting a free meal." Looking like he was ready to cut all ties with me, Feng Minglong called the nurse over, scribbled a very plain vegetarian order on a slip of paper, and handed it to her.

"Purely vegetarian? Stir-fried A-choy? Not eating any meat won't help your body recover, you know?" I wasn't good at much, but I had sharp eyes.

"Stop pissing me off. Hospital food is expensive, who can afford it? If this didn't count as a work injury with the department covering the medical bills, I would've gone home ages ago. I wouldn't be stuck here bickering with you." Feng Minglong's gaze grew even more resentful. He took a deep breath, inhaling the lingering aroma of stewed pork ribs.

"Excuse me, is this special care ward 453?" a young man's voice called out from the door, interrupting Feng Minglong.

"Yes, come in," Feng Minglong shouted. The ward door swung open, and an orderly walked in carrying a food basket. "Sorry to intrude, I'm here to deliver a meal."

"That fast?" Feng Minglong was a bit surprised. "You delivered it right after I ordered? This really is a major hospital. Even the food delivery is this professional."

He pointed to his nightstand. "Just put the food right there."

"Alright." The orderly walked over to Feng Minglong's bed and began taking items out of the basket one by one. As he set them down, he introduced them, "Lotus seed and eel soup, qi and blood nourishing broth, wolfberry chicken claypot, lung-moistening five-grain porridge... Alright, your meal has been delivered. Get some good rest. Health comes first."

Watching the orderly pull out one exquisitely aromatic and beautifully plated dish after another from the basket like magic, Feng Minglong was dumbfounded, and even I cast a sideways glance.

Ceramic plates and earthenware pots filled with porridge—steam wafted out the moment they were opened, and the mouthwatering aroma rushed straight to the brain.

Feng Minglong's Adam's apple bobbed. "N-no, wait, did you deliver this to the wrong person?"

He pulled the meal slip from his hospital gown. "I just ordered stir-fried A-choy and a small portion of rice."

"This was specially sent over by our hospital director. We didn't know the situation earlier and neglected you. Please, eat at ease." The orderly was very patient and good-tempered.

"Director? Didn't know the situation? What situation?!" Feng Minglong was completely baffled by the orderly. Staring at the nightstand full of delicious food, his appetite flared, and he involuntarily picked up his chopsticks. "Does your hospital run promotional events for ordering meals? Like those lucky viewer draws on TV?"

The orderly was amused by his words and chuckled. "The director specifically ordered this nourishing set meal from an outside restaurant for you. Our hospital doesn't serve food this high-end."

Right after he spoke, the ward door was pushed open again. The special care nurse had returned, holding a distinctly layered bowl of rice and toppings.

Indeed, there was a layer of green A-choy on top and white rice on the bottom, entirely unmixed and starkly straightforward.

"Feng Minglong, your food is here. Do you need me to fetch you a thermos of hot water?" The nurse froze when she saw the orderly in the room. Holding the A-choy rice bowl, she suddenly realized there was nowhere to put it down. "What's going on? What's the situation here?"

Holding his chopsticks and staring at the A-choy rice, an ominous premonition suddenly welled up in Feng Minglong's heart. "I don't know what the situation is either..."

It was the orderly who broke the stalemate. Slapping his forehead, he pointed at Feng Minglong and asked, "Your surname is Feng? Then who is Gao Jian?"

"Gao Jian?" Feng Minglong swore that this was the absolute last name he wanted to hear in that moment. Reluctantly setting down his bowl and chopsticks, he stiffly craned his neck and looked over at me, who was already full and currently cultivating the Profound Truth Mental Method. "That one is Gao Jian."

"Oh man, my bad! I got the wrong person. Sorry, sorry." Right in front of Feng Minglong, the orderly transferred all the food from his nightstand to mine, apologizing with an awkward smile. "Look, there's been a mistake. Sorry about this, brother."

"For me?" Hearing the commotion, I raised a hand to stop the orderly. "Who told you to deliver this food?"

"Our director specifically ordered it."

"Director? I don't even know your director. Where there's abnormality, there's a monster. I can't accept this food."

I decisively refused. The orderly looked troubled, Feng Minglong audibly gulped, and the nurse holding the A-choy fried rice still didn't understand what was happening in the room.

"I can't just take it back, the food's already made." The orderly paused, his attitude becoming even more enthusiastic. "Actually, our director and Elder Chen have been good friends for years, and he deeply respects Elder Chen's character. Elder Chen's daughter's condition is worsening, so..."

"So he wants me to help him?" My eyebrow twitched. Good lord, he even mobilized the hospital director. This Teacher Chen really had a vast network. Even though he hadn't said a single word, the people around him were spontaneously stepping up to help him. This kind of subtle, silent influence—like a spring breeze and nurturing rain—was truly formidable. "Leave the food. I'll think about it."

"Don't feel any pressure. The director just wanted to help out. Alright, take your time and enjoy. Someone will come by later to collect the dishes." Smiling brightly, the orderly backed out of the ward. I looked at the table full of delicacies but didn't pick up my chopsticks. 'Should I save Ye Bing? The Deep Dream Layer is just too dangerous.'

I pondered for a dozen seconds before raising my head, only to suddenly realize that there were two other people in the room staring at me.

Feng Minglong was holding his chopsticks, the deep resentment in his eyes practically overflowing. And right at that moment, the nurse dealt him a critical blow. "A-choy fried rice, twenty-five yuan. Hurry up and pay."

"Twenty-five?! I just got a few freaking vegetable leaves, aren't you guys ripping me off?" Feng Minglong reluctantly dug out the cash and handed it to the nurse. He sat on the hospital bed, pitifully holding his rice bowl as if the entire world had abandoned him.

"Brother, do me a favor in the future, and you can eat as much of this as you want." I really couldn't stand Feng Minglong's gaze any longer and pushed the plates over to him.

"What kind of favor?"

"I haven't figured it out yet. Just eat quickly, the porridge is going to get cold." I sat cross-legged on the bed, wearing a smile on my face.

"I still haven't repaid you for saving me on the train last time, and now you're treating me to a meal. Alright, whatever favor you need in the future, just give me a shout, and I'll rush over without a second word!"

Feng Minglong patted his chest and promised. I revealed a profoundly meaningful smile. "Not at the moment, but it's hard to say about the future..."