Chapter 36: The Stubborn Man

Chapter 36: Chapter 36: The Stubborn Man

"Hungry? I’ve made you chicken soup. It should be cool enough now." Fu Xiaoxiao smiled, walking to the bedside and poured out the hours-long simmered chicken soup with a layer of golden oil on top, proving it had cooked long enough to be tender.

Lu Feng swallowed, having already caught the faint aroma, ready to take the bowl from Fu Xiaoxiao, but she moved the bowl away.

Hmm? Wasn’t the soup for him?

So close yet unable to drink, Lu Feng looked at Fu Xiaoxiao. "What’s wrong?"

"Don’t move, I’ll feed you." Fu Xiaoxiao pointed to his arm, having just bandaged the wound, knowing how serious it was and not wanting him to move and reopen it.

"It’s nothing, just a surface wound." Lu Feng shook his head, not considering his injury a big deal.

To him, it was just a simple scratch.

He planned to get out of bed once he woke up, but the doctor refused to let him.

Fu Xiaoxiao refused with a frown, "No way, you need to properly recuperate when you’re injured."

Lu Feng sighed helplessly, leaning back as Fu Xiaoxiao reached for the bowl. The temperature had cooled enough; it was the perfect time.

Fu Xiaoxiao scooped up a spoonful and brought it to Lu Feng’s mouth.

Lu Feng avoided eye contact, not daring to look at Fu Xiaoxiao. One fed while the other drank. Initially, Lu Feng restrained himself, but once the chicken soup hit his mouth, he couldn’t hold back anymore. Fu Xiaoxiao’s feeding pace was too slow.

Fu Xiaoxiao noticed this, seeing how hungry he was, and handed the soup to his other non-injured hand. Lu Feng’s eyes lit up, gulping it down in one go.

"Is there more?" Lu Feng looked at Fu Xiaoxiao, full of longing.

He had never tasted such delicious chicken soup before; it was so flavorful.

"Yes, this entire pot is yours." Fu Xiaoxiao nodded, pouring him another bowl.

Lu Feng downed three bowls, but still wanted more as Fu Xiaoxiao eyed the remaining chicken at the bottom, handing him the prepared chopsticks.

"Eat the chicken too."

Lu Feng had expected only soup, discovering meat at the bottom was a pleasant surprise.

Fu Xiaoxiao sat by the bed, watching Lu Feng devour the entire chicken alone, genuinely impressed.

"How are Xiao Lin and Xiao Chen?" Satisfied after eating and drinking, Lu Feng leaned back against the bed with a smile and asked.

"They’re fine. I enrolled Xiao Lin in Upper River Village’s elementary school today. Xiao Chen heard about your injury when he got back and was worried sick. They waited up until ten, but the two little ones couldn’t keep awake and finally went to sleep." Fu Xiaoxiao recounted the past two days’ happenings with a smile.

"You’ve done well, thank you." Lu Feng looked at Fu Xiaoxiao with gratitude. Fu Xiaoxiao fulfilled her promise, allowing him to focus entirely on his mission.

Before, after missions, Aunt Li would always complain, and though he knew Aunt Li’s words were unreliable, she cared for the children, so he didn’t hold it against her.

If not for Fu Xiaoxiao pointing out the problems, he would still be deceived by Aunt Li, believing Xiao Lin and Xiao Chen were troublemakers.

From Fu Xiaoxiao, he learned Aunt Li had taken quite a lot from his home. Lu Feng was abashed; he never checked what was missing—just bought new things.

"No need to thank me, I promised I’d do it." Fu Xiaoxiao smiled slightly. With a high salary of forty yuan, she was determined to do well and keep the job.

The boss was generous, the children were easy to get along with, and Fu Xiaoxiao had no reason to let such a good job slip away.

"Do you have other injuries besides these two?" Fu Xiaoxiao looked at the side of Lu Feng’s injuries, mostly abrasions. Since the doctor hadn’t discharged him despite waking up, it indicated other issues.

"They said I have a mild concussion, and should rest for three days, but I feel nothing’s wrong." Lu Feng felt helpless as he didn’t think anything was wrong, but the doctor and the commander refused to let him leave.

After speaking, Lu Feng tried to get up from the bed to prove himself right, but as soon as he stood, he was suddenly dizzy.

Fu Xiaoxiao quickly reached to hold him, preventing him from falling.

"Concussions shouldn’t be taken lightly, rest for a few days!" Fu Xiaoxiao hugged Lu Feng tightly, not daring to let go.

Amidst the daze, Lu Feng caught a faint fragrance, clearing his dizziness slightly.

Seeing Fu Xiaoxiao struggle to hold him up, Lu Feng sat back, dropping into bed.

"Sorry, I acted tough." Lu Feng apologized.

"I know you’re tough, but don’t act tough; everything is fine at home now. What you most need is to recover. There must be a reason the doctor won’t discharge you; follow medical advice." Fu Xiaoxiao quickly persuaded Lu Feng to abandon the idea of discharge. If she hadn’t held him just now, he would have collapsed, worsening his injuries.

"Besides, the two kids are very worried about you." Fu Xiaoxiao said earnestly.

"Hmm." Lu Feng nodded at Fu Xiaoxiao’s reprimand.

Fu Xiaoxiao wanted to say more when someone knocked on the ward door.

Both looked at the door, and Liu Hongjun spoke first.

"Sorry to interrupt!" Liu Hongjun looked at Lu Feng and Fu Xiaoxiao with interest.

Lu Feng, usually defiant before him, just got a lecture without even a hint of dissatisfaction.

Liu Hongjun looked seriously at Fu Xiaoxiao, believing Lu Feng indeed had luck on his side, to casually meet such a good woman during matchmaking like Fu Xiaoxiao.

"Commander."

"Uncle Liu."

Lu Feng and Fu Xiaoxiao turned to Liu Hongjun, nodding.

"Don’t think about discharging. Your condition is more severe than you think. Doctor Wu just informed me; you need to rest in bed for seven days with no getting up." Liu Hongjun smiled kindly at Fu Xiaoxiao, then turned sternly to Lu Feng.

"Seven days? Wasn’t it three days?" Lu Feng found three days long already, yet Liu Hongjun said seven.

"You’re truly reckless, so close to the explosion range! If you didn’t die, count yourself lucky! How dare you downplay it?" Liu Hongjun grew angrier with each word. "Xiao Xiao, scold him well for me; it’s outrageous."

"Did this operation not earn you any glory? Did I not execute it beautifully?" Facing Liu Hongjun, Lu Feng’s gentle and well-behaved demeanor vanished, leaving nothing but rebellion.

"You!" Liu Hongjun was so furious he was about to hit him.

"Your order was to ensure the hostage’s safety and safely escort them with no mistakes." Lu Feng acted entirely per instructions, who knew the enemy would cunningly place a bomb right beside the hostage.

Needing to ensure hostage safety, Lu Feng had to carry the hostage and hurriedly dash away, still getting caught by the explosion range.

"You!" Liu Hongjun was livid, venting to Fu Xiaoxiao. "Look at this brat, Xiao Xiao, scold him quickly."