193: Chapter 194 A common man is innocent, but possessing a treasure is a crime.

At the end of the bluestone path in Jiangcheng's old city district, the wooden sign of "Fuji Restaurant" was soaked warm by the twilight, its corner copper nails polished to a smooth patina. When the door was pushed open, the copper bell on the lintel gave a "ding-ling" chime, which, mixed with the aroma of soy sauce wafting from the back kitchen, instantly dissipated the tension after the trial.

Zhang Fan chose an inner square table. The edges of the white porcelain bowls on the table bore slight chipping marks, a sign of the lived-in atmosphere found only in old establishments.

He smiled as he poured rice wine for Li Yong. "Uncle Li, you said before that you don't like the ostentation of big hotels, so I specifically asked around for this place. The owner has been stir-frying for thirty years. Let's have a simple meal and a chat."

In fact, he himself preferred such places—back when he and Gu Jingshen used to huddle in small restaurants, drinking beer over a plate of peanuts and chatting about the trivialities of starting a business; those were the most grounding times.

"Good, a good place." Li Yong touched the blue and white checkered pattern on the tablecloth, his eyes full of relaxation. "It's much more comfortable than those dazzlingly bright big hotels."

The dishes were served quickly: sweet and sour pork ribs coated in amber sauce, and stir-fried seasonal vegetables still carrying the 'wok hei'.

Zhang Fan picked up a rib and handed it over. Suddenly remembering something, he laughed. "I should have called Old Gu; he craves these sweet and sour ribs the most. But this morning he said he had to meet with Qin Xue's family to discuss the wedding date—you remember him, right? The one who went to your clinic, he's my best friend."

Saying this, Zhang Fan sighed. "Old Gu and his girlfriend are both from single-parent families. Their mothers hit it off immediately. Apparently, they've even decided on the pattern for the wedding banquet tablecloths. I reckon we'll be drinking at their wedding feast in a while."

His tone carried a bit of a smile, but also hid a slight regret for not having invited his friend.

Listening to this, Li Yong couldn't help but nod. "It's not easy for young people to come together; it's better this way, knowing each other's backgrounds well." As he spoke, he picked up the white liquor glass in front of him, his fingers lightly stroking the rim, his eyes growing slightly warm.

The liquid swayed, reflecting the white hair at his temples and the table full of home-cooked dishes—if not for the young man before him, he would likely still be in the detention center right now, unable to sit here eating a hot meal.

"Xiao Zhang," Li Yong's voice was slightly hoarse from the alcohol but exceptionally solemn. He tilted his glass toward Zhang Fan. "If not for you, these old bones of mine would likely have been buried in prison without even a chance to see the light of day. Great kindness transcends words of thanks; I will remember this debt for a lifetime."

A few days ago, he was still in the detention center, staring at the cold iron bars and worrying about his innocence and the safety of his formula. Now, he could sit in a warm little restaurant, eating with the person who truly helped him.

He picked up the white liquor glass in front of him and tilted his head back to drain it in one gulp. The spicy liquid slid down his throat, yet it warmed his heart.

Zhang Fan also raised his glass and took a small sip. "Uncle Li, those words are too formal. You've saved so many people; you shouldn't have ended up being framed. I only did what I should have done; it's not worth calling a great kindness."

After three rounds of drinks, the dishes on the table were nearly finished, and the neighbors gradually dispersed, leaving only the two of them in the small restaurant.

Li Yong set down his glass, and his expression suddenly became incredibly solemn. He reached up to unbutton his collar and took out a palm-sized black USB drive from an inner pocket close to his skin. The USB's casing was made of matte metal with fine patterns engraved on the edges; it clearly wasn't an ordinary model.

"This is..." Zhang Fan was stunned.

Li Yong gently pushed the USB drive toward Zhang Fan, his fingertips stroking it as if touching a rare treasure. "This USB is specially made, waterproof and fireproof. It contains the complete data for the anti-cancer formula—not just the ratios for the herbal combinations, but also my clinical records from several decades, details on the heat levels for processing the medicinal materials, and even how to reduce side effects and adjust dosages based on the patient's constitution. It's all written clearly."

He looked up, his eyes carrying a hint of exhaustion but even more relief. "Only after this incident did I understand that an innocent man bears guilt by keeping a jade. This formula is a healing remedy for saving people, but in the eyes of those people from Tianming Group and the Wang family, it's a life-ending demon. All I know in this life is how to treat illnesses and save people; I don't know how to fight those monsters. I can no longer protect it."

Zhang Fan looked at the USB drive on the table and suddenly understood Li Yong's meaning. His heart felt heavy—this wasn't just a simple USB drive; it was a healer's lifelong blood and sweat, the hope of countless cancer patients.

"My dream was never to leave a name in history, nor was it to make a lot of money." Li Yong's voice became exceptionally soft, yet every word carried immense weight. "I just want those who get cancer to not have to wait for death because they have no money for treatment, and not to fall into despair because they can't find good medicine. Xiao Zhang, you have the ability and the sense of responsibility, and you have so many people helping you. This second half of the journey can only be walked by you—turn the formula into life-saving medicine, and let the world be free of cancer."

Zhang Fan reached out. The moment his fingertips touched the USB drive, he could feel the slight coolness of the metal casing and, even more so, the weight of that heavy trust. He looked up, meeting Li Yong's gaze, and promised word for word, "Divine Doctor Li, I promise you that within a year, an anti-cancer drug named after 'Li Yong' will definitely pass all approvals. It will not only be launched in China but will also go worldwide. I will definitely help you realize your dream."

Li Yong looked at Zhang Fan's determined eyes and suddenly smiled—it was a heartfelt smile of relief from shedding all burdens. The wrinkles at the corners of his eyes smoothed out, as if he could already see the scene of countless cancer patients recovering and a future where the world was free of cancer.

He picked up his glass again, poured himself another full glass, and drained it. "Good! Good! I believe you! When that day comes, even if I close my eyes for the last time, I'll be able to face the formula passed down by my great-grandfather and the patients who trusted me!"

Zhang Fan also smiled and took the USB drive, carefully placing it into his inner pocket—this was not just a formula, but a responsibility and a legacy. The lighting in the small restaurant was soft, and the aroma of stewed meat still permeated the air. The two chatted about the past again, about the patients who had been cured; the atmosphere was so warm it made one forget the crises lurking outside.

Just then, a sharp system notification sound suddenly rang in Zhang Fan's mind, more urgent than any time before—the originally light blue system interface turned into a piercing blood-red without any warning. A line of bold warning text flashed frantically, yet without any further explanation:

[Emergency Red Alert! Source of Threat: Wang Haoyu! Target: Li Yong!]

[Threat Level: SSS+ (Fatal)!]

The smile on Zhang Fan's face froze instantly. The wine glass in his hand hit the edge of the table with a "clatter," and a few drops of yellow wine splashed out onto his pants, yet he was completely oblivious.

He jerked his head up and looked left and right—there were only three tables of customers in the restaurant, all neighbors chatting after their meal, with no strange faces. Looking through the window into the alley outside, there were only occasional passersby under the streetlights, no suspicious figures.

But the system was never wrong, especially with a fatal threat of SSS+ level; it was definitely not groundless.

Wang Haoyu... what on earth did he want to do? Where was he? Was he already lurking nearby, or was he planning some even more terrifying attack?

Li Yong noticed his abnormality, set down his glass, and asked in confusion, "Xiao Zhang, what's wrong? Your face looks so terrible. Has something happened?"

Zhang Fan gripped the USB drive in his hand, took a deep breath, and forced himself to calm down—he couldn't let Li Yong worry, and he certainly couldn't lose his composure at this time. He managed a smile, hiding the gravity in his eyes. "It's nothing. Maybe I just drank the wine too fast and feel a bit dizzy. Uncle Li, it's getting late. Let me take you back to your place. You've had a tiring day; get some rest early."

In his heart, however, it felt as if a giant boulder was pressing down, making it heavy and hard to breathe.