Chapter 8: Special Treatment
Tang Yu’an drifted in and out of consciousness, enveloped by a warm sensation.
He seemed to be walking through a vast wilderness, distant, fragmented voices reaching him.
“…You went crazy in the middle of the night and dragged him out too…”
“…Accident…”
“…So sick, you…”
Tang Yu’an couldn’t grasp the voices. He was too tired, sinking into a hazy void.
When he woke up, an IV was attached to his hand. He immediately saw Wei Langxing sitting by the bed, who rushed forward as he opened his eyes: “How do you feel? Any discomfort?”
Tang Yu’an felt weak all over, his voice raspy when he spoke.
“I’m alright.”
A straw was brought to his lips. He took a sip; it was sweet.
Wei Langxing, remembering the therapist’s instructions, said: “Drink slowly, don’t have too much at once.”
With Wei Langxing’s help, Tang Yu’an sat up, a soft pillow placed behind him.
“What happened?”
Wei Langxing looked away, his expression unreadable: “Your body was already weak after waking up from the coma. The exhaustion and the rain made you seriously ill.”
He recalled the therapist’s words, that Tang Yu’an had been feeling unwell for several days, and he hadn’t even noticed, even dragging him to training.
He really was…
If Tang Yu’an had heard him, he would have retorted that he had simply exchanged health points. But he couldn’t read minds, assuming the discomfort in Wei Langxing’s tone was due to him being a burden, slowing down their training progress.
“I’m really fine. I’ll be fully recovered in a couple of days… By the way, where’s Zuo Tinghan?”
The mere mention of his name irritated Wei Langxing. Not only had he caused Tang Yu’an to fall ill, but he had also disappeared without a trace.
“Gone,” he placed the cup on the table with a thud, his displeasure evident. “Went for treatment.”
“Treatment?!” Tang Yu’an immediately thought of the bleeding wound. Had his medicine not worked?
“Is he seriously injured?”
Seeing him about to get out of bed to check, Wei Langxing pushed him back down: “He’s fine. Just some flesh wounds… He went to the headquarters’ medical center to try and completely remove the effects of the brainwashing.”
In his view, Zuo Tinghan should have done this sooner. But perhaps he had been resistant due to the required stimulation therapy and the uncertain outcome. He seemed more proactive now.
But perhaps it was just an excuse. He was probably feeling guilty and didn’t dare face Tang Yu’an after what happened.
Wei Langxing despised people who avoided their problems.
[Detected Protagonist Number One, Wei Langxing, favorability towards Protagonist Number Two, Zuo Tinghan, -10. Current favorability: -50.]
Tang Yu’an: “?”
What was going on? He had just slept, and the favorability he had painstakingly raised was decreasing again!
There must be a misunderstanding. Zuo Tinghan was clearly the victim in this incident…
No, he had to explain.
“I… I woke up in the middle of the night and saw Zuo Tinghan go out alone. I felt something was wrong, so I followed him. Then a man in black appeared and suddenly attacked him…”
After speaking so much at once, Tang Yu’an started coughing, his eyes reddening.
Wei Langxing patted his back, handing him the water cup.
“We already know all that. After you fainted, Zuo Tinghan carried you back and ran into our assault team.”
Tang Yu’an was surprised. What a coincidence. Did the assault team conduct night patrols?
“We received an anonymous alert about a Bureau member being attacked by a masked assassin. The higher-ups sent us to investigate… Do you remember what happened?”
Tang Yu’an’s mind went blank. How had he suddenly become an assassin…?
And who sent the alert? It couldn’t have been Zuo Tinghan, so it must have been the third person at the scene.
So, the person who attacked Zuo Tinghan probably didn’t intend to kill him. Otherwise, he wouldn’t have called for help after leaving.
But that attack had been ruthless. If it weren’t for him, Zuo Tinghan might have died there…
Perhaps that person was conflicted about Zuo Tinghan, blaming him for his sister’s death, yet knowing he shouldn’t.
But with the alert, Tang Yu’an didn’t know how to explain the situation.
Telling the truth would reveal the man in black’s identity. Making up a story… he could do that, but without coordinating with Zuo Tinghan beforehand, he didn’t dare.
After careful consideration, he decided to stall—
He leaned back against the pillow, frowning: “I’m sorry, my head hurts, my memory is a little fuzzy. I can’t remember.”
It was a poor performance, but the audience bought it completely.
Wei Langxing’s breath hitched, a look of guilt crossing his face: “I’m sorry. You’re sick, and I’m bothering you with questions…”
Tang Yu’an hadn’t intended to turn the tables so completely. He decided to test the waters: “What did Zuo Tinghan say?”
“He told me you encountered a powerful masked stranger, possibly a member of the ‘Shadow’ organization, judging by their attire. They injured him and left. Not killing him might be a form of intimidation. I’ve already reported it. And I suspect the alert was either sent by a passing member on a secret mission or an undercover agent who knew about the operation in advance. Anyway, thanks to that person, the rescue was relatively timely.”
He couldn’t bear to think what might have happened if it had dragged on, with Tang Yu’an so ill.
“The ‘Shadow’ organization?”
“The secret underground organization that captured Zuo Tinghan before. They’re involved in many illegal activities. We’ve been trying to track them down, but it’s been difficult.”
It seemed Zuo Tinghan had found the perfect scapegoat. Any unexplained incidents could be blamed on this mysterious organization.
Who knew how many of those crimes were real and how many were fabricated.
Tang Yu’an agreed: “That must be it…”
As he expected, Zuo Tinghan hadn’t revealed the man in black’s identity, probably still feeling responsible for his sister’s death.
But since he was willing to receive treatment, it meant his mindset had changed. That was a good sign.
Curious about his experiences, Tang Yu’an wanted to ask Wei Langxing for more information about the “Shadow” organization, but the other man said he shouldn’t strain himself, ordering him to rest and discuss it later.
He even wanted to stay and take care of him, but Tang Yu’an didn’t want the protagonist acting as his guard. He was fine; his health points had risen to sixty. There was no need to waste the protagonist’s time.
“I’m sure you have important work to do. Go ahead.”
Wei Langxing looked incredulous: “What work is more important than you…”
Realizing he had misspoken, he stammered: “I mean, we’re teammates. Taking care of you is my duty.”
If he felt responsible for his teammates, why did he treat Zuo Tinghan differently?
Tang Yu’an voiced his question: “Zuo Tinghan is injured too. Why aren’t you taking care of him?”
“Are you kidding? How can he compare to you?”
Wei Langxing involuntarily imagined himself bringing tea and water to Zuo Tinghan in bed, a shiver running down his spine.
He’d be lucky if he didn’t pour water over his head.
These words made Tang Yu’an feel like the world had turned upside down.
Having traveled through countless worlds, he had gone from initial discomfort to acceptance and certainty.
A tool-man was a tool-man. His mission was to serve the protagonist. The protagonist was the pillar of the world, and the tool-man’s role was to be a useful object, stepping up when needed, and quietly stepping aside when discarded.
But now, Wei Langxing was saying a protagonist wasn’t as important as a tool. He couldn’t understand.
However, he had seen protagonists turn from enemies to close friends. It often took just one catalyst.
“I think you’re prejudiced against him. If you get to know him better, you’ll find he’s a good person.”
The fact that he hadn’t revealed the truth showed he wasn’t as cold as he appeared.
[Detected Protagonist Number One, Wei Langxing, favorability towards Protagonist Number Two, Zuo Tinghan, -10. Current favorability: -60.]
…Forget it, he wouldn’t persuade him further. He didn’t want them to become mortal enemies.
Tang Yu’an had realized that whenever he intervened in their relationship, it worsened. If he left them alone, they would gradually reconcile.
So he was the troublemaker?
Not wanting to say anything wrong, Tang Yu’an excused himself, saying he was tired, and sent Wei Langxing away. Before leaving, Wei Langxing repeatedly told him to call if he needed anything; he would be there immediately.
Finally alone, Tang Yu’an noticed several fruit baskets and two boxes of chocolates by the wall.
He had forgotten to ask earlier, who sent him these get-well gifts?
He took out his phone to check his messages.
Since joining the Bureau, he had a new phone and number, but he kept the old one, just in case.
He opened the old phone; it was still empty except for spam messages.
He should have a family. According to the therapist, he had parents and a younger brother. But they hadn’t contacted him; perhaps they didn’t even know he had woken up.
Probably just unimportant background details, no need to be distracted.
Tang Yu’an checked his new phone. Pang Jin had sent a message wishing him a speedy recovery, asking if he liked the fruit, followed by three rose emojis.
So it was from him. Typical of the old man.
Scrolling further, he saw a friend request. “I’m Zuo Tinghan,” accompanied by a lonely moon profile picture, immediately bringing to mind his impassive face.
Tang Yu’an accepted the request, about to ask what he wanted, but still unfamiliar with the upgraded phone, he accidentally sent a selfie.
Just as he was about to retract it, a message arrived.
Zuo Tinghan: “Hard”
Tang Yu’an: “?”
Zuo Tinghan retracted a message.
Zuo Tinghan: “Awake?”
Tang Yu’an watched the “typing…” indicator for almost a minute before another message arrived.
“Sorry, my input method malfunctioned.”
