Start with push-ups to gain experience

Chapter 228 It seems like an old friend has arrived

The man in the gray windbreaker seemed to have walked out of the fog, making him unpredictable.

His hair looked a little gray, but his posture was unusually straight and tall.

He remained silent from the moment he entered the store, quietly observing his surroundings with his eyes hidden behind his round-frame glasses.

Apart from asking about the killer's appearance before, the whole person was like a silent shadow, blending into the background with no sense of existence.

The silence was finally broken at this moment, but it made the store even quieter.

The clock on the wall was ticking.

Master Lin stared for a while, and there seemed to be some emotion surging in the depths of his eyes.

Then, he slowly adjusted his reading glasses, turned to look at Fang Cheng and others, and said:
"You guys should get off work first."

There is an unquestionable tone in the ordinary words.

Fang Cheng frowned slightly.

Although it was unclear why the man came, one could clearly sense the emotional fluctuations in Master Lin.

Wen Huiyi showed hesitation, and glanced at the other two customers left in the store, mumbling:

"But……"

She also vaguely sensed a strange atmosphere and didn't want to leave her boss alone to face possible trouble.

Master Lin seemed to see through their thoughts. He waved his hand and his tone became more gentle:

"I am enough on my own. I need to take care of some personal matters later. You can go back without worry."

Wen Huiyi nodded helplessly, tidied up the counter silently, and then took Wen Xin's hand.

Wen Xin looked confused, but she followed her mother out of the clinic obediently.

Fang Cheng understood that Master Lin must have his own considerations.

Then he took off his work clothes, cleaned his hands, and prepared to go home after get off work.

When passing the door, I brushed past the man in a gray windbreaker.

The faint smell of tobacco on the man drifted into his nose, and Fang Cheng subconsciously glanced sideways.

But he found that the other person's eyes were very different, as deep as an endless black hole, as if he could see through the human soul.

Seeing Fang Cheng staring at him, the man smiled and nodded.

Fang Cheng withdrew his gaze, took big steps, and soon walked out of the store.

After half an hour.

The night grew darker, seeming to wrap the entire street tightly.

There was still a ray of light coming out from Lin Fusheng's clinic.

In the inner room, an incandescent lamp hung overhead.

The warm glow illuminates the room, but cannot dispel the solemnity that fills the room.

The man in the gray windbreaker sat face to face with Master Lin, with a wooden table between them.

At this moment, both of them took off the glasses that blocked their vision, placed them on the table, and looked at each other frankly without reservation.

The light outlines a mixture of light and dark on each other's faces, and also reflects the dark light hidden deep in the eyes.

Lin Fusheng was the first to break the silence and said:
"Have you ever had plastic surgery?"

She looked carefully at the man's face, trying to find traces of the past in the unfamiliar outline.

"Yes."

The man in the gray windbreaker tilted his head slightly, the light shining on his profile, which looked ordinary, yet had an inexplicable temperament.

"Those hounds bit so hard. How could I stand before you safe and sound now if I didn't change my face and start over?"

His eyes were calm, like a deep lake, hiding his turbulent past.

"You know, for this new face, I spent three whole months in a dark underground clinic."

"Every surgery was like walking through the gates of hell. I endured the excruciating pain of the blade cutting my flesh and the torment after the anesthetic wore off. I just didn't want to be exposed like everyone else and get arrested and thrown in jail."

"During those three months, I felt as if I had been forgotten by the world. There was only endless darkness and pain around me. I didn't know if there was still a future. Perhaps it was the experience during this period that allowed me to complete a transformation."

The many painful memories came out of his mouth as calmly as water, as if he was just telling someone else's story.

After hearing this, Lin Fusheng remained silent for a long time, with a solemn and complicated expression on his face.

The man in the grey windbreaker straightened his collar, looking calm:

"Let me introduce myself. My nickname now is Professor."

The corners of his mouth turned up, revealing a faint smile.

It's like announcing a brand new identity and saying goodbye to my past self.

Then, his eyes swept across the old but neatly arranged medicine cabinet in the house, and the faded old almanac and photos on the wall.

Then he sighed:
"You should be the luckiest among our group."

"Lucky?"

Lin Fusheng sighed softly, his eyes looking a little distant:
"Maybe. I have been guarding this clinic for so many years. Although I haven't experienced any major storms, I have seen the ups and downs of life."

After a pause, he fixed his eyes on the old friend opposite him:
"You suddenly came to visit tonight. Are you just here to reminisce about the past?"

"of course not."

The professor's expression became serious upon hearing this, and he immediately replied:

"You should know clearly why I returned to Dongdu."

"I have been wandering around these years, avoiding pursuit while accumulating strength, all for the purpose of returning to my hometown one day, reuniting with my companions, and continuing the unfinished work. Even if it takes a lot of trouble, I have never given up."

At this point, he leaned forward and stared at Lin Fusheng:
"I came to you specially tonight just to ask you, do you still have the same ambition as before?"

As he spoke, his usually calm expression finally showed a ripple.

The light in his eyes suddenly became hot, as if it was about to ignite the heavy air in the room.

Lin Fusheng couldn't help but lower his head slightly to avoid the scorching gaze.

After a moment of silence, a wry smile appeared on his face, and he slowly spoke:
"My life is very stable now. Although the clinic is not big, I have devoted half of my life to it. I am busy seeing patients and making medicine every day. As time goes by, those lofty ambitions are like edges and corners that have been smoothed by the dull days. They have lost their sharpness."

"So, I'm afraid it will be difficult for me to go back to my old job..."

The professor's eyes were burning, as if he wanted to penetrate Lin Fusheng's eyes and find the answer deep in his heart.

After a while, he sighed slightly and said softly:

"I see, sorry to bother you tonight."

Lin Fusheng immediately looked up at the professor in surprise.

He thought the other party would continue to persuade him, or even show disappointment or anger, but he didn't expect him to be so calm.

"Everyone has their own aspirations, how can they be forced?"

The professor smiled calmly:
"What I hate most in my life are those lackeys who wantonly deprive others of their freedom. I will never do that myself. However, if you change your mind in the future, you can always come to me."

Lin Fusheng felt guilty, so he quickly stood up, made tea for the guest, and sincerely thanked him for his understanding. The atmosphere in the room eased a little, and the topic between the two became more relaxed.

The professor picked up the tea on the table, took a sip, and said casually:
"That young man who was working in the store just now looked very familiar to me."

Lin Fusheng was putting the kettle back in its place. Upon hearing this, he paused and a hint of imperceptible vigilance flashed across his eyes.

"He is Fang Shijie's son, right?"

The professor then added another sentence.

When he heard the other party say this name, Lin Fusheng's fingers trembled slightly, and he turned his head suddenly, his eyes looking a little sharp.

Looking at Lin Fusheng's reaction, the professor already understood a little bit.

"Don't be nervous. I have no ill intentions. I just feel a little emotional when I see the child of an old friend."

He put down the teacup slowly, with a faint smile on his face, but his eyes were so deep that it was hard to read:
"I didn't expect that the little kid has grown up so much. The moment I saw him, I thought it was Fang Shijie who had resurrected and was standing in front of me again."

As he spoke, the professor narrowed his eyes slightly, as if recalling something, and asked casually:

"You opened a shop here, aren't you trying to protect him secretly?"

Lin Fusheng neither denied nor admitted it, but just pursed his lips and remained silent.

The professor saw this and asked:

"You and Fang Shijie are close friends. Have you never told his son the truth about what happened?"

His eyes fell directly on the face of his former companion, and his tone was somewhat inquiring.

"What's the point of telling you?"

Hearing this, Lin Fusheng frowned, looking helpless, and finally responded:
"More than a decade has passed. We have finally escaped official surveillance and are able to live peacefully."

"Why do you want to get involved in all that danger and trouble? I hope he can live in peace, marry, have children, and live as an ordinary person."

As he spoke, his eyes suddenly became stern and his tone became tougher:

"I warn you, it's best not to disturb his life, otherwise..."

His words and actions were no longer polite and courteous as before, and there was an aura of majesty without anger, like a beast protecting its cubs.

The professor shook his head slightly, with a wry smile on his face:
"You, like those worried parents, seem to be doing it for the good of your child, but you don't necessarily know what the child is thinking. Maybe deep down in his heart, he has always longed to know the truth and seek justice for his father."

Lin Fusheng frowned and retorted:

"He is still young and has no idea of the complexity behind those things. I can't let him take risks and ruin his future..."

The two looked at each other, and a subtle tension filled the air again.

But this time, both sides felt a little more helpless.

"Ok."

After a moment of silence, the professor gave up trying to persuade her and sighed:

"I understand your concerns. Everyone has their own life to protect, but no matter what, we are all companions and should help each other."

"I hope you can live peacefully in this clinic. If you encounter any danger, you can contact me at any time."

As he spoke, he took out a business card and handed it to Lin Fusheng, then stood up and adjusted his gray windbreaker.

"Let's go. I'll come and chat with you when I have time."

The professor's voice sounded somewhat carefree, but Lin Fusheng could still hear the loneliness hidden in it.

It seemed as if the somewhat heavy conversation just now had left a deep or shallow scar in the hearts of the two.

Lin Fusheng stood up silently and saw him out.

As he watched the professor walk out of the door and his back getting farther and farther away, his lips moved, as if he wanted to say something but stopped himself.

Finally, I couldn't help but whispered:
"Zhiren, although I can't participate in the things you planned, I will always leave a place for you to stay here!"

"Thanks, good brother."

The professor did not turn around, but just raised his right hand and waved. His voice came with a bit of warmth, which seemed particularly precious in this cold night.

Lin Fusheng was slightly startled, and a mixed feeling surged in his heart.

At the other end of the street, the professor continued to walk forward. His steps seemed steady, but he unconsciously slowed down a little.

The cool evening breeze blew by, ruffling the corners of his gray windbreaker and also stirring the slight melancholy in his heart.

He looked into the distance. The night was dark and the lights of the city flickered in the distance, unable to illuminate his confused heart.

Scenes from the past involuntarily emerged before my eyes, and familiar and vivid faces flashed by one after another.

Once upon a time, these partners shared the same ideals, fought side by side, and strived for the lofty goals in their hearts.

But now times have changed. My former companions have either died or retired. Everyone has embarked on different paths and we will never get together again.

He was left alone in this cold night, carrying his ideals and walking forward.

Although Lin Fusheng's rejection was expected, he still couldn't help feeling deeply disappointed.

The professor raised his hand to adjust his collar, trying to block the chill.

As I turned my eyes, I saw a nine-story tube-shaped building with dim lights on the side of the street.

The dim and sparse lights shining through several windows are like a sign guiding people home in the dark night.

He couldn't help but stop and look up.

"quack--"

A crow perched on a telephone pole, its head slightly turned, its bright black eyes curiously gazing at the man standing in the cold night.

Under the light of the street lamp, the feathers glowed with a faint luster, forming a sharp contrast with the surrounding night sky.

The professor was attracted by the call and shifted his gaze from the tube building to the bird that was looking at him.

The moment their eyes met, a faint light flashed in the depths of his eyes.

An invisible spiritual force is quietly released, following the line of sight, and seeping into the target's consciousness bit by bit.

The crow's originally lively black eyes seemed to be shrouded in mist, like a puppet whose consciousness had been taken away, with only the body being controlled.

Then, driven by the professor's thoughts, the crow spread its wings, let out a sharp cry, broke through the silence of the night sky, and flew towards the tube building.

It circled around the building, as if confirming its target, and then landed precisely on the windowsill of an unlit room on the ninth floor.

The house was pitch black.

The crow's black pupils flickered slightly, as if it was exploring something.

Soon, a strange scene came into view.

I saw a sturdy young man sitting cross-legged on the bed.

In the dead of night when the temperature was close to zero degrees, he was wearing only a pair of shorts, with all his muscles exposed, and he did not show any sign of shivering.

It was as if there was a warm internal energy flowing through the body, resisting the invasion of severe cold from the outside.

His face was handsome but exuded an indescribable masculine temperament, his eyes were closed and his brows were slightly bright.

He seemed to be immersed in his own deep and boundless spiritual world, oblivious to the movements of the outside world.

(End of this chapter)