Chapter 124: Awakening

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“He’s awake! He’s awake!”

Someone shouted, and immediately the crowd outside erupted, all pressing forward to get inside.

“He’s awake!”

Zhang Mingyang clenched his fist, quietly thrilled.

“Everyone, please don’t come in yet.”

Peng Dongli pushed back those who had entered. He shouted to the crowd, “President Nie just woke up and needs rest. President Nie has asked everyone to return to their posts quickly. This is a critical time when we need everyone.”

Hearing this, the crowd quickly dispersed, respecting President Nie’s wishes to rest.

One person leaving prompted everyone else to scatter, and soon only Tian Wenyuan and Zhang Mingyang remained outside the door.

“Come in.”

Peng Dongli waved them inside.

They entered the room, and the doctors and nurses also stepped out.

Now, only four remained in the room. Nie Zihao was reclining on the hospital bed, drinking water in large gulps. From his appearance, it seemed he was not seriously injured.

“President Nie, this is my junior brother Zhang Mingyang and colleague Tian Wenyuan. You’ve met them before.”

Nie Zihao finished drinking and pushed himself up on the bed. Looking at Zhang Mingyang’s right arm, his face showed pain. He motioned for Zhang Mingyang to come closer. “Come, sit here.”

Zhang Mingyang glanced at Peng Dongli then sat down.

Nie Zihao gently touched the mechanical arm and asked, “Does it still hurt?”

Zhang Mingyang shook his head and replied, “President Nie, the pain is gone now. In a few days, the injury will be fully healed.”

Nie Zihao gritted his teeth, nodding, “This is our failure. I’m the one who caused this.”

Zhang Mingyang was surprised by Nie Zihao’s words and looked anxious. “President Nie, before entering the base, I was prepared. Since I’m part of this cause, I must be ready to make sacrifices.”

“Good!”

Nie Zihao looked at the three, patting Zhang Mingyang’s shoulder. “The future belongs to you all. The country needs you. Perhaps humanity will need you too!”

Zhang Mingyang looked at President Nie and asked, “President Nie, is your health alright?”

Nie Zihao smiled, replying, “I’m old now. This body isn’t what it used to be. But before the Energy Project is completed, I don’t think I’ll die.”

At Nie Zihao’s words, the three laughed.

Peng Dongli said, “President Nie, even after the Energy Project is finished, the later research tasks will still need you. The group also needs you to lead us onward.”

Nie Zihao waved his hand, “I’m planning to retire this year. I’m tired. My body isn’t what it was in youth.”

“Really? You want to retire?”

Peng Dongli was about to ask more, but Zhang Mingyang stopped him, shaking his head as if to say, let President Nie rest first.

Still wanting to ask, Peng Dongli was quickly intercepted by Zhang Mingyang. “President Nie, please rest. We’ll wait outside. Call us if you need anything.”

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Nie Zihao nodded and also urged Zhang Mingyang to rest, reminding him his injury was not healed yet.

Zhang Mingyang dragged Peng Dongli out of the room.

“Junior brother, why did you stop me?”

Peng Dongli shook off his hand vigorously, still wanting to rush back in.

“Senior brother, calm down. After what President Nie just went through, let him rest first. You can ask him in a few days.”

Tian Wenyuan agreed, “Junior brother is right.”

Zhang Mingyang pulled him aside to a nearby room. The three sat down while Zhang Mingyang removed his mechanical arm and stretched a bit.

“Whoa! Junior brother, your wound is bleeding!”

Tian Wenyuan grabbed his arm and saw the blood. He hurried out to find a nurse.

Zhang Mingyang looked at his wound but seemed unconcerned. “It’s nothing. I’ll just get it treated soon.”

Peng Dongli looked at the wound and realized it might have gotten worse when he impulsively shook off Zhang Mingyang’s arm earlier.

“Junior brother, I…”

Peng Dongli felt deeply guilty.

Zhang Mingyang smiled, “It’s alright, senior brother. I heard from Senior Tian about your bond with President Nie. If I were you, I’d feel the same.”

“Ah…”

Peng Dongli lowered his head, unsure what to do. If President Nie really left the group, it would be even more dangerous. The Black Hole Organization, his rivals—these people all want President Nie dead.

Soon, Tian Wenyuan returned with a nurse.

The nurse looked at Zhang Mingyang’s wound and asked, “You should be in your ward. Why are you here? This bleeding is serious!”

Zhang Mingyang smiled, “I just came out for a walk. I’ll return soon. I only bumped into the door earlier. It’s nothing serious.”

“Do you understand, or do I?” the nurse scolded. “Don’t move. I’ll dress it for you.” She took out her medical kit and treated the wound again.

Peng Dongli urged Zhang Mingyang to go back to rest. If Director Wang found out, they would both get scolded.

After the nurse finished dressing the wound, she wrapped it up neatly. “Go back to your ward quickly, or I’ll call a doctor to drag you back.”

“Ah! No, no!”

Zhang Mingyang reattached his mechanical arm. “I’m going now.”

Before leaving, he asked Tian Wenyuan to keep an eye on Peng Dongli and prevent him from rushing in to disturb President Nie’s rest.

Tian Wenyuan nodded. “Don’t worry, I’ll watch here.”

Leaving the reception room, Zhang Mingyang took the elevator back to his ward.

He opened the door and peeked inside. Seeing no one, he stepped in.

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Lying on the bed, Zhang Mingyang picked up the book *Resource Game* and started reading again.

After a while, he suddenly remembered something.

“Damn!”

He had almost forgotten that Jin Yaowen said in the video that this book was given to him, yet his grandfather said it was from Old Liu next door.

He opened the cover and indeed saw Liu Mingqian’s name—the name of Old Liu next door.

What was going on?

Could it be that Liu Mingqian was actually Jin Yaowen?

At that thought, his mind was blown. He quickly grabbed the phone beside him and called home.

“Beep beep...!”

No one answered.

He then called his grandfather’s phone.

“Beep beep...!” Still no answer.

He tried his grandmother’s phone.

“Beep beep...!” Again, no answer.

Zhang Mingyang was stunned. The two elders always carried their phones; it was impossible they wouldn’t answer.

He tried several more times with the same result and felt increasingly uneasy.

Thinking further, he called Old Qiu downstairs.

“Beep beep...!”

“Hello? Who’s this?”

The call connected, and it was Old Qiu’s voice.

“Old Qiu, this is Zhang Mingyang.”

“Oh! Mingyang, what’s up?”

Zhang Mingyang hurriedly asked, “Old Qiu, have Grandpa and Grandma been home?”

Old Qiu replied, “I haven’t seen them lately. I haven’t seen Old Zhang for several days. Didn’t he come to your place?”

“Come to find me? Grandpa doesn’t even know my address. How could he come?”

Zhang Mingyang said, “No, my grandparents haven’t been here.”

“That’s strange. Have you tried calling your grandfather’s phone?”

“I did, but no one answered.”

Old Qiu thought for a moment. “Maybe they went on a trip. I think I heard Old Zhang mention it a while ago.”

“On a trip?”