Chapter 592
Chapter 592
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>Translator: Ryuma
>Chapter: 592
>Chapter Title: Surfacing
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Li Huowang opened his eyes again, and it was already the next morning. Although Sun Xiaoqin insisted on coming into the bathroom to help him, he still pushed her out and handled his washing up himself.
Although his body was extremely weak, Li Huowang dawdled for a good while and barely managed to finish. As soon as he came out, Sun Xiaoqin was already waiting for him with breakfast.
Li Huowang raised his trembling hands to pick up the chopsticks and laboriously shoved a xiaolongbao into his mouth.
“Son, eat more. Only by eating more will you grow strong. How about after you finish, we do some rehab training?”
“Mm.” Li Huowang nodded with his cheeks puffed out. His body was truly too weak right now—he had to recover as quickly as possible. Forget anything else; at the very least, he needed to be able to walk on his own.
The way he was now, the heart elemental Li Huowang could probably crush him to death with a single finger.
After breakfast, the rehab training began. Li Huowang gripped an aluminum tall stool without a base and arduously shuffled forward step by step.
This slow movement might be nothing to a normal person, but it was a huge burden for Li Huowang. Very soon, sweat beaded on his forehead, and the muscles all over his body began to ache fiercely.
It was tough, but this bit of ordeal was as simple as eating or drinking for Li Huowang, who had endured a hundred hardships.
After a brief set of exercises, Li Huowang lay back down on the bed, panting heavily.
He could feel his hands and feet twitching uncontrollably from time to time. That was a sign his strength was returning.
The spirited Sun Xiaoqin skillfully massaged the muscles all over Li Huowang’s body to prevent lactic acid buildup and soreness the next day.
She was extremely practiced at this sort of thing. Back when Li Huowang’s illness hadn’t improved yet, she’d often press his muscles and work his joints like this.
“Son, keep it up! We’ll both work hard together. Once your condition’s mostly better, we can transfer hospitals and get out of this place that’s called a hospital but is really just a prison.”
“We still have to transfer? Can’t we just go straight home?” Li Huowang frowned slightly.
“It won’t be that fast. Don’t worry—as long as your condition stabilizes completely, and the doctors confirm through tests that you’re really better, then you can truly go home.”
“That’s such a hassle.”
“Hee hee hee~” The delighted Sun Xiaoqin didn’t think it was a hassle at all. Her son’s illness getting better was worth more than anything.
These days at least didn’t stretch endlessly into the distance anymore. She could see him improving day by day.
Before, she’d truly been afraid her son would muddle through like this, going crazy his whole life.
She’d scrimped and saved just to leave more money for her son, terrified that after she and his dad were gone, with no one to care for Li Huowang, he’d end up scavenging trash on the streets and freezing to death alone in some winter.
Now that her son’s illness was better, she didn’t need to save so stringently anymore. She could keep the money for his wedding.
Though girls these days were pretty materialistic, so she’d need to save even more. Luckily, her son was still young, and there was plenty of time.
“Mom, you’re massaging my neck.”
Li Huowang’s words pulled the wandering Sun Xiaoqin back to reality. She gently patted both sides of his face.
“Good son, rest for a bit. I’ll go to the boiler room to fetch some water and wipe your sweat.”
Time passed day by day. As the rehab training continued, although Li Huowang’s body still looked gaunt as a rail, at least he could walk without support now, and he didn’t need two hands to hold an empty bowl anymore.
Li Huowang’s good behavior was noticed by the others too, and the vigilance toward him in the ward gradually relaxed.
It had started with four escorts, but that quickly became three, then two. After all, with so many people in the whole secure ward, they couldn’t all revolve around Li Huowang.
One noon, the handcuffed Li Huowang sat on a bench with two guards, watching TV.
There still weren’t many people near him, leaving a big empty space. Li Huowang had no intention of making friends, but unfortunately, the last time he’d gotten close to someone, he’d scared them straight to tears.
Li Huowang tilted his head back, staring at the TV drama full of romance, which made his teeth ache. “What kind of crap is this? Do they have nothing better to do all day? Can you make money just by dating nonstop?”
The guard named Xiao Liu spoke up beside him. “You brat, you should watch more of this stuff. Learn a few tricks from the dramas, and it’ll come in handy when you’re dating someday.”
Li Huowang wasn’t a criminal, after all, so there was no need to keep up the intimidation toward him. Plus, Sun Xiaoqin made food for them every few days, so after all the constant contact, their relationship was pretty decent.
“You learn that stuff from TV dramas? No wonder you can’t find a girlfriend. Got a phone? Lend it to me for a bit.”
“Phone? You’ll find one in your dreams. Secure ward rules—no phones, not even dumb ones.” Xiao Liu tilted his head back and kept watching the drama.
Li Huowang sighed and stood up, heading toward the corridor on the left.
“Where you going?” The two guards immediately stood up as well.
“What else? Toilet.”
“We’ll come with.”
Under the guards’ accompaniment, Li Huowang walked down that corridor and into the public restroom.
This wasn’t the first time. The guards stood outside waiting while Li Huowang silently relieved himself, waiting for something.
“Xiao Li, your kidneys aren’t doing so hot, huh? Takes you forever in the toilet every day.”
“Worry about yourself. Oh, and by the way—I had a girlfriend before my episode landed me here.”
“.”
As he went to wash his hands, through the glass, Li Huowang spotted an old man wearing a hat and mask, carrying a broom and trash bag, walking in.
Li Huowang was just about to leave when that sensation suddenly surged up again! His body instantly went rigid as he looked toward the restroom cleaner via the glass reflection.
Sensing Li Huowang’s gaze, the old man looked up. Their eyes met through the glass for an instant before he quickly lowered his head again.
Though he’d only seen a pair of eyes, Li Huowang instantly recognized the man’s identity. This was Wang Wei in disguise!
“You guys wait a sec. I’ve got a big one coming.”
“Hey, hurry it up. You got paper?” Seeing Li Huowang so clear-headed, Xiao Liu and the other didn’t suspect a thing.
After all, according to Dr. Yi, the precursor to Li Huowang’s episodes was incoherent rambling, which was easy to spot.
Li Huowang glanced far toward the restroom door and slowly approached Wang Wei. Keeping his voice to the lowest whisper, he asked: “What the hell are you here for!”
Wang Wei had been his previous attending physician. Li Huowang still remembered their last encounter—he’d gone mad.
Waiting for Li Huowang to draw near, Wang Wei suddenly shot out his right hand and clamped down hard on Li Huowang’s wrist. With his voice at the lowest pitch and brimming with agitation, he said: “I know! I know that side is real!!”
Wang Wei’s pupils trembled, his eyes filled with excitement and frenzy, just like those manic patients mid-episode.