Chapter 383: He Also Wants to Be a Despicable Person

Fu Cheng couldn’t help but chuckle softly.

’Who was the more scared one, really?’

"Don’t worry. Getting a prosthetic isn’t a complicated surgery. The doctors at the Military Hospital have done similar operations thousands, if not tens of thousands, of times."

Countless soldiers who couldn’t be treated on the front lines were sent to the Military Hospital every day. There were plenty of people with missing arms and legs, and even some with half their skulls bitten off.

Here, they would have their limbs reattached and their skulls repaired, ready to continue serving the military.

"I’m not worried about the surgery," Shen Lu muttered. She just wasn’t used to the thought of Fu Cheng being gone for a while.

Something stirred in Fu Cheng’s heart. He seemed to understand.

A unique light slowly began to gleam in his dark eyes.

"If you miss me, you can message me anytime. Video calls are fine too. As long as I’m awake, I’ll definitely answer."

Shen Lu pouted. "I won’t. Hmph."

Just as expected, the wind died down a little. At the same time, the vehicle from the military arrived to pick up Fu Cheng.

Shen Lu boarded the vehicle, carrying the bag she had packed for Fu Cheng. Inside, two soldiers and a nurse sat in their respective seats, their expressions stern.

It gave one the mistaken impression of a prisoner transport.

The vehicle drove at a steady pace, arriving at the Military Hospital just as the wind began to pick up again.

Fu Cheng was given a private room. It was quite large, with not only a companion bed but also a small sitting area.

Shen Lu sorted and put away the things she had brought, pointing each one out to Fu Cheng.

"The wind’s getting stronger," Fu Cheng said, glancing out the window, his voice calm. "I’m not comfortable with you going back alone. Why don’t you stay here for the night?"

"So what if the wind is even stronger tomorrow? Am I just supposed to stay in the hospital forever? What about the shop’s business?"

"You have plenty of employees. They’re not getting paid for nothing."

"Er..."

Shen Lu checked her weekly mission. ’Holy cow, it’s already complete!’

However, because the week wasn’t over yet, the system’s reward hadn’t been credited.

’I wonder what the system will reward me with this time.’

’The first week was 5,000 reputation value, the second was 6,000... It can’t be 7,000 for the third week, can it?’

’She sincerely hoped for something different. Reputation value was great and all, but wouldn’t it be even better if she got a prosthetic limb or something?’

’When I checked earlier, I was still short by about twenty. Did those Hawkeye mercenaries go back and give that many people a taste?’

But since the weekly mission was complete, Shen Lu really didn’t need to hurry back.

"Alright, I’ll stay for one night then." Shen Lu pressed on the small companion bed. "It’s not very soft."

"The hospital bed should be better. You can sleep on it tonight."

"How could I? You’re the one having surgery, not me."

"It’s fine. It’s not like it’s happened yet, right?"

Shen Lu hesitated for a moment, then went to press on the hospital bed. It was indeed much softer.

"Fine."

The two of them ate the hospital’s patient meal together.

Shen Lu was sorely disappointed by the selection of dishes.

A bowl of radish soup, a dish of blanched lettuce, a piece of steamed fish, and a small half-bowl of rice.

It looked completely unappetizing. Her appetite vanished instantly.

Moreover, the taste was unremarkable; it seemed they’d only added a bit of salt.

"Patient meals are supposed to be light, but they don’t have to be this bland," Shen Lu couldn’t help but say as she pulled out the braised meat she had made. The moment she opened the container, an intoxicating aroma filled the entire hospital room.

Shen Lu picked up a large piece of beef with her chopsticks and placed it in Fu Cheng’s bowl. "Hurry and eat. If someone else smells this, they’ll definitely come over and ask for some."

Seeing her acting like a thief, Fu Cheng smiled. "They won’t. If I don’t agree, no one can take what you prepared for me."

He wouldn’t share this with anyone—except Shen Lu.

After they finished dinner, the aroma in the room had mostly dissipated.

Shen Lu called Cai Su to ask about how things were at the shop. She specifically told Cai Su to keep a close eye on Deng Ying.

"Boss, are you coming back tomorrow then?" Cai Su asked.

"We’ll see."

Shen Lu hadn’t made up her mind either.

Nights in the hospital were boring. Shen Lu curled up on the sofa and watched TV for a while, ate some snacks, and when she saw it was getting late, she went to brush her teeth and wash her face, preparing for bed.

Fu Cheng had already washed up before her and had dutifully sat down on the companion bed.

The soft light shone on the man in his blue-and-white striped patient uniform. Outside, the night sky was an eerie dark red, creating a strangely warm atmosphere inside.

Shen Lu didn’t repeat her offer for him to take the hospital bed. She plopped down and looked at Fu Cheng seriously. "Are you sure the surgery will be okay?"

Fu Cheng smiled faintly. "So concerned about me?"

"Of course. You’re the one I..." Shen Lu paused. "You’re the one I saved, bit by bit."

Fu Cheng sighed softly. ’How did I never realize how stubborn she could be?’

"It’ll be fine. Afterward, I’ll be able to walk, run, and jump like a normal person."

"Didn’t you say you’re going to hunt mutant beasts in the spring? Isn’t that dangerous?"

"Opportunity always comes with risk."

"I don’t get it. You can get a prosthetic without coming to the Military Hospital, can’t you? Why did you agree to their offer?"

Even if she couldn’t redeem a prosthetic limb or eyeball from the Mysterious Mall right now, regular hospitals also offered prosthetics. Their performance and quality just couldn’t compare to those from the Military Hospital.

Fu Cheng fell silent.

Of course, he had his own reasons.

’Originally, I thought it would be fine to just stay by Shen Lu’s side for the rest of my life. But recent events made me change my mind. Shen Lu started selling food with special properties, which is bound to attract a lot of unwanted attention. Even though Shen Lu told me not to worry, how could I not? And then there’s Fu Haiting and his people. They’re a real nuisance. The only way to solve these problems is to become stronger. With strength comes the right to speak. Based on past experience, there was no way for me to recover to my previous level. But now, with advances in medical technology and Shen Lu’s miraculous ingredients, I have the confidence to give it a try. If I don’t try, I’ll be a useless cripple in a wheelchair forever. If I do, there’s a chance things could get better.’

"Okay, okay, I won’t ask anymore." Seeing his prolonged silence, Shen Lu decided to drop it.

Fu Cheng wasn’t a child; he didn’t need her to remind him over and over.

They each lay down but neither closed their eyes.

Shen Lu tossed and turned, unable to find a comfortable position to fall asleep.

Fu Cheng silently watched Shen Lu. Seeing the young woman tossing and turning, he started to regret persuading her to stay.

’But it had been so, so long since they had slept in the same room.’

Fu Cheng vaguely recalled the time when they lived together in that tiny rental apartment.

’Life was hard, but the memories were unforgettable. He still remembered the sense of peace he felt with Shen Lu lying right next to him, and how he’d use little tricks every night just to hold her soft hand...’

Perhaps Shen Lu was just tired, because she eventually fell asleep despite her discomfort, though her brow was unconsciously furrowed.

Fu Cheng silently moved to the bedside. He gazed down at her, then suddenly reached out and gently rubbed the space between her eyebrows.

Her furrowed brow relaxed.

Fu Cheng leaned down and brushed an extremely gentle kiss against Shen Lu’s forehead.

’Sometimes, he wanted to be a scoundrel, too.’