Chapter 56: Visit

Luo Shaotian felt as though he were slowly rising from a warm sea.

A muffled voice echoed in his ears—low, deliberate, and indistinct.

He couldn’t make out what was being said.
It was all just noise.

After a long while, he finally summoned enough strength to pry open his heavy eyelids.

What entered his vision was a white ceiling.
The air carried a faint, refreshing scent—something between fresh fruit and flowers.

(…What’s going on? Where am I?)

Luo Shaotian’s mind was still stuck in that flash of pink light.
He vaguely remembered shielding Lin Yu’s retreat, then being struck by that ghost-like red-haired girl’s taser.
After that… nothing.

(What happened? What the hell happened?)

He struggled to turn his stiff neck, trying to get a sense of his surroundings.

“This is… a hospital?”

He lifted his wrist with effort and saw a patient ID band.
The words “Xinhai First People’s Hospital” were printed on it.

“I’m… in a hospital?”

Just then, the door to the ward opened with a soft creak.
A young nurse wearing a mask stepped inside.
She seemed to be doing her rounds, but when her gaze fell on Luo Shaotian, she froze—then her eyes widened with surprise and delight.

“Oh! You’re awake!”

Her voice brimmed with excitement as she hurried to his bedside.
Skillfully, she checked his pupils’ light response, then glanced at the vital monitor.
Her expression shifted from joy to utter shock.

“That’s amazing! Hold on—don’t move!”

She pressed the emergency call button and spoke rapidly into the communicator:

“Paging attending physician! Paging attending physician! Patient’s vitals stable—conscious and responsive! Immediate confirmation requested!”

Luo Shaotian stared at her exaggerated reaction as confusion deepened within him.

“Nurse…” he asked weakly, “Have I been unconscious for a long time?”

“Not exactly,” she said, her voice lively and fast, clearly a chatterbox by nature.

“You were only out for one night. But, Officer Luo, you have no idea how bad you looked when you came in! Severe blunt trauma, penetrating wounds, electrical burns, mild concussion—you name it! Normally, someone in your condition would be in the ICU for at least ten days, maybe two weeks. But guess what?”

She leaned closer, lowering her voice conspiratorially.

“You were in intensive care for less than eight hours before your vitals stabilized! By this morning, you were moved to a regular ward—and now you’re awake! The department head said in all his thirty years of practice, he’s never seen a recovery this fast!”

(…A strong recovery rate?)

Luo Shaotian’s heart sank.
Instinctively, he clenched his fist.
There was no pain—only a surge of strength thrumming beneath his skin, like power coiling quietly in his muscles.

Soon, hurried footsteps approached.
The attending doctor and head nurse arrived, conducting a thorough check.
After a while, the grey-haired doctor looked at him as though examining a medical miracle and gave his conclusion:

“Officer Luo, congratulations. Your body is in excellent condition. We’ll be reporting your recovery to the bureau leadership immediately.”

A few hours later, when Luo Shaotian could finally sit upright against the headboard, the ward door opened again.
But this time, it wasn’t doctors or nurses who entered.

Leading the group was a man Luo had only ever seen from a distance at commendation ceremonies—Director Zhang of the Xinhai City Public Security Bureau.

Today, Zhang wasn’t wearing his imposing police uniform but a light-blue short-sleeved shirt that made him look more approachable.
A warm smile spread across his face.

Flanking him on either side were two young staff members, badges reading “Publicity Department,” cameras in hand.
Further back stood Luo’s attending physician and the solemn-faced head nurse—clearly present to receive the visiting officials.

(…Director Zhang? Why would he come in person? And… publicity staff? They’re filming this?)

Luo Shaotian’s brain froze.
He felt less like a recovering patient and more like an actor pushed onto stage without a script.

He opened his mouth, wanting to ask what was going on—

“Comrade Xiao Luo! You’re awake!”

Director Zhang strode up first, grasping Luo’s hand warmly in both of his.
“I’m here on behalf of the city bureau to visit you!”

His voice was steady and resonant, each word full of authority and compassion—loud enough to echo clearly in the ward and be perfectly captured by the recording equipment.

“You went alone into enemy territory, facing the vicious criminal organization known as the Akagi Gang. You fought bravely, risking your life to destroy their E-District stronghold and protect the lives and property of our citizens! You are the pride of the Xinhai police force—the model all young officers should learn from!”

(…Destroyed? Me?)

Luo Shaotian’s mind reeled.

(I was knocked out cold… wasn’t I?
What’s going on? Did something happen after I blacked out?)

He wanted to protest, to ask for an explanation.
But his body hadn’t fully recovered; the lingering weakness from the electric shock made his head spin.

“Uh… yes… I…”

He could only nod stiffly, playing the part of the “speechless hero overcome by emotion.”

One of the female publicity officers stepped forward gracefully, fixing his sheets and dabbing away nonexistent sweat with a tissue—ensuring that every frame of the camera captured the perfect image of a “wounded yet valiant young hero.”

“Doctor, could you tell us about Officer Luo’s condition?”

The male officer smoothly passed the cue.

The old physician adjusted his glasses and replied in a calm, professional tone:
“His recovery is nothing short of a miracle. Most serious injuries have already healed. Aside from minor electrical trauma and superficial wounds, Officer Luo is nearly fully recovered. We at the hospital are deeply impressed by the physical resilience of our police officers. I expect he’ll be discharged very soon.”

Director Zhang nodded approvingly.
Then he turned toward the publicity officers, speaking in a firm yet benevolent tone.

“The part about him being discharged soon—leave that out of the report. We don’t promote working while injured.”

He paused, his gaze softening as he addressed Luo again.

“Xiao Luo, your body doesn’t just belong to you—it belongs to the Party and the people.
We all admire your dedication, but there’s something I must remind you…”

He smiled, fatherly and composed.

“Health is the foundation of revolution. Some things can’t be rushed. Rest well—take at least a month off. That’s an order.”

Every word was carefully chosen, perfectly polished.

Luo Shaotian’s brain had long since given up on processing any of it.
He just nodded mechanically.

But…in his mind, fragments began piecing themselves together.

(…I remember… going into the factory…)
(…and then… there was a flash…)
(…Was that… a flashbang? The Akagi Gang’s?)
(Did I really destroy their base? Alone? How…?)

Ten minutes later, the visit concluded.
The entourage left, the door closed softly behind them.

The room fell silent again.
Only Luo Shaotian remained, staring blankly at the sunlight spilling through the window—so bright, it almost felt unreal.

He exhaled slowly, confusion and bewilderment clouding his gaze.