Chapter 148
Chapter 148
Liu Ye swallowed every last bite on his table. Wasting food was a terrible habit.
He even carried his tray to the sink and washed it. When away from home, one should avoid creating unnecessary work for others.
“Little brother, just leave the tray there. Someone will wash it later,” the Chef told him.
“It’s no trouble. Look, I’m already done.”
As Liu Ye handed it over, he happened to glance at the Chef’s arm.
“Huh? Uncle, are you celebrating the Dragon Boat Festival too?”
“Uh… yes!”
The Chef pulled down his sleeve and smiled.
“I’m terribly sorry. Look at this mess-I splashed water all over you.”
“It’s fine. What are you cooking tomorrow?”
“What would you like? I’ll make it for you.”
“Really? Then I want sweet-and-sour crispy pork!” Liu Ye’s eyes lit up.
“Done. I’ll make it tomorrow!”
Laughing, the Chef carried the clean tray into the kitchen.
Wang Weiwei had watched the entire exchange. She did not consider herself clever, but she knew Liu Ye was an extraordinary expert. She did not understand his actions, yet copying an expert could not be wrong.
She immediately finished her food and began washing her tray.
“What are you doing? We only have ten minutes left. Hurry back!”
“It’s fine. I’ll be quick.”
Wang Weiwei had not told anyone Liu Ye’s true status, not because she wanted an advantage, but because she did not wish to inconvenience him.
The amulet he wore prevented anyone from recognizing him as the professor from Labulaxi University shown on television.
Besides, Liu Ye was famous mainly within the Fiend Investigation Bureau and the Illuminati. Ordinary players had never heard of him.
Li Wei tensed when he saw Wang Weiwei washing her tray. Liu Ye was mysterious and kept to himself. There had to be a reason for this sudden action.
He joined her without hesitation. It would hardly cost any time.
Once Li Wei began washing, everyone else followed. They already regarded him as the leader of their group.
After finishing, they hurried back toward the wards.
Another cook approached the spotless trays and frowned.
“These new caregivers are too competitive. Who washes dishes after one meal? Are they after my kitchen jobs?”
Unease seized him. He had only just hired his brother-in-law as an assistant. He could not let these people replace the man.
Returning to the kitchen, he found his brother-in-law picking his nose while playing on his phone. The sight grew more infuriating by the second.
He grabbed a rolling pin and began beating him.
Screams echoed from the kitchen.
“Why are you hitting me?”
…
Back in Ward 08, the woman had recovered somewhat. After Liu Ye left, she drank a bottle of Desire to restore her condition.
Footsteps sounded outside. She immediately stared at the door.
Liu Ye terrified her. Who knew what new disaster he might invent?
When he entered, he found her gazing sadly through the window.
He crept closer and saw children playing soccer in the park below. Sympathy filled his heart.
The bedridden woman must envy them. After so long confined by illness, of course she yearned for the activities she could no longer enjoy.
Liu Ye resolved to fulfill her wish.
“Come on, ma’am. Let’s get dressed and take a walk outside.”
She jumped. What was the brat planning now?
“The hospital forbids me from leaving.”
The doctors guarded them closely to keep the truth from escaping.
“It’ll be fine. We’re only going downstairs. Staying in one room would make a healthy person sick. Leave everything to me! The director said I can handle minor matters. If something goes wrong, he’ll take responsibility.”
His confidence tempted her. If she escaped, finding a replacement body would be easy.
She allowed Liu Ye to help her into an outer coat.
He wheeled her into the corridor, but a nurse blocked them.
“Patients are forbidden from going downstairs!”
Fear flashed in the nurse’s eyes when she looked at the woman.
“What do you mean, forbidden? The director approved it!”
Director Jia had said Liu Ye could decide minor issues for himself. Therefore, Liu Ye represented the director, and anything he approved was effectively approved by Director Jia.
Perfectly logical.
The nurse assumed they were conducting a new experiment and immediately moved aside.
Liu Ye wheeled the woman outside without further difficulty.
She had never expected to escape so easily. Breathing fresh air, she trembled with excitement. Freedom lay ahead, and a wonderful new life beckoned.
She would choose an excellent body and enjoy another lifetime of happiness.
After a quick survey, she selected the children playing soccer. Younger bodies lasted longer.
“Little Liu, let’s visit the park.”
Liu Ye blinked, then understood. She wanted to play soccer! She must have been athletic in her youth.
Naturally, he would fulfill that wish.
The woman watched him run over and speak with the children. They froze, then shook their heads vigorously.
Liu Ye said something else and pointed back at her.
She immediately gave them a kindly smile and nodded. Making a good first impression would make her plans easier.
“See? I wasn’t lying. She nodded, so there’s nothing to worry about. I’m a professional caregiver. Nothing will happen. Think of it as a good deed-you’re helping an old woman fulfill her final wish.”
The children were too young to possess strong opinions. Since Liu Ye insisted, they could only agree with stiff expressions.
The woman expected him to introduce her so she could win them over.
Instead, Liu Ye wheeled her to the center of the field. Several children took positions opposite her.
She stared around rigidly. An Italian catenaccio defense? What were they doing?
“Wait, I-”
A whistle interrupted her. The opposing team charged with the ball, and a tremendous force suddenly slammed her backward.
Two children carrying a megaphone sat beside the field.
“Welcome, everyone, to the Park Cup! I’m your commentator, A-Xiang.”
“And I’m A-Jun.”
“The match has begun. The red team takes the kickoff-but they’ve made a mistake! The old lady wins possession with a 720-degree Thomas flare and three and a half rotations through the air. What a magnificent tackle!”
“Incredible! Nearly a hundred years old, yet she moves with such speed and precision. This is truly-look! A Marseille turn! The old lady has performed a Marseille turn!”
The ball rested against the wheelchair’s footplate while the woman spun at high speed. Her opponents could find no angle to steal it.
“Mmmph! Mmmph!”
She reached desperately toward the commentators.
Good children, call the police! There is a madman here!
The boys paused, then embraced in excitement.
“Did you see that? The old lady waved to us! She even has enough energy to greet the commentators. Hello!”
The woman stared at them.
Hello, my ass!
“Number Ten on the blue team passes and surges forward!”
“Number Ten has reached the goal! The cross is coming!”
The pass traveled too far. Liu Ye seized the wheelchair and hurled it with all his strength.
It flew across the field like a hidden weapon.
“The ball reaches the near post! Goal! The old lady scores with a header!”
“Yeah!”
Liu Ye and the children piled onto the dazed woman in celebration. He hauled her upright. A large ball-shaped imprint covered her face, and her empty eyes stared at the sky.
“Liu… Liu Ye… let’s go back,” she whispered. She no longer wanted to perform any ritual. She only wanted to lie quietly in the hospital.
“Don’t feel inferior. You aren’t a burden-you scored! A header at your age must break some kind of record.”
“He’s right, Grandma. That header was incredible. It had the heroic spirit of someone risking her life and saying, ‘See you in the next one!'”
“If Xia Kingdom’s soccer team played with that spirit, we might actually qualify,” another child said sadly.
Everyone glared at him. Why mention something so ominous during a celebration?
“We scored. Can we go back now?” the woman pleaded.
“What are you talking about? We’ve only just begun. Our goal is to play the full ninety minutes. Ma’am, you’re a starter!”
“Yeah!” the children shouted, their fists raised. This was exhilarating!
The woman wept behind them.
Would no one come and stop these lunatics?