359: Chapter 359 Countdown

Su Mingyuan supported his mother's arm and slowly helped her back onto the bed.

Next, Su Mingyuan pressed the call bell at the head of the bed and spoke to the nurse.

Ten minutes later, a white insulated container was delivered to the ward.

The lid was lifted, and the aroma of rice mixed with the scent of green vegetables immediately wafted out.

White porridge, a plate of stir-fried romaine lettuce, a plate of steamed eggs, and two slices of steamed buns.

The hospital cafeteria was past mealtime, but the twelfth floor was a special care area, and logistics were available twenty-four hours a day.

Su Mingyuan pulled down the small bedside table, positioning it over his mother's knees.

He ladled out half a bowl of porridge, stirred it a few times with a spoon, and blew on it.

"It's not hot anymore, Mom, give it a try."

His mother took the bowl.

Her hands were still a bit shaky; after all, she had been lying in bed for sixty-seven hours without moving.

The bowl wobbled in her hands, and Su Mingyuan reached out to support the bottom of it.

His mother took her first sip.

It was very ordinary white rice porridge, the grains cooked until soft, with little saltiness.

But as she swallowed, her brow relaxed slightly.

She drank slowly.

One spoonful, two spoonfuls, a pause in between, and then another spoonful.

There was movement from the neighboring bed as well.

His father opened his eyes. He had woken up to the smell of porridge; his nose twitched twice before his eyelids finally lifted.

He turned his head and saw his mother sitting on the bed, holding the bowl.

He watched for a few seconds, and only after a good while did he manage to say, "You're awake."

"Yes."

His mother turned her head and smiled at him. "Your complexion looks much better too."

His father gave an "oh," but the smile on his face was impossible to hide.

Su Mingyuan stood between the two beds.

The light from the bedside lamp cast from one side, falling over his father and mother.

It was already dark outside; the ward curtains were only halfway drawn, and the glass reflected the shadows in the room.

His mother finished half the bowl of porridge.

She took two bites of the romaine lettuce, chewing very slowly.

She didn't eat the steamed eggs, saying she couldn't eat that much.

She broke off a small piece of the steamed bun and soaked it in the remaining half bowl of porridge, letting it slowly soften.

When she finished eating, she put down the spoon and looked up at Su Mingyuan.

"Mingyuan, you've lost weight."

"I haven't."

"You have. Your chin is sharper."

His father added from the other side, "Work may be demanding, but your health is just as important."

Su Mingyuan smiled. Just as he was about to reply, the countdown appeared before his eyes again.

[72:00:00]

[71:59:59]

[71:59:58]

...

Su Mingyuan's breath hitched for a beat.

It was like this every time.

No warning, no sound, it just appeared directly in front of him.

To this day, he didn't know what it was, nor could he explain it to anyone.

The first time it appeared, the portal to the Zombie World opened.

The second time, the Giant World.

The third time, the Zerg World.

The fourth time, the Yaowu World.

Four countdowns, four worlds.

Now was the fifth time.

In other words, in three days, the fifth Otherworld would arrive.

"Mingyuan?"

His mother's voice pulled him back.

"Yes," Su Mingyuan regained his focus, "I'm here."

"You spaced out for a moment just now."

"It's nothing, just thinking about work."

He spoke naturally.

His mother stared at him for a few seconds.

She didn't press further.

Since her son said she didn't need to worry, then she wouldn't.

She handed the bowl out: "I can't eat anymore."

Su Mingyuan took it and set it aside.

He sat down by the bed.

"Mom."

"Yes?"

"I have to leave today."

His mother's hand paused on the quilt.

She didn't ask why, didn't ask when he'd be back, and certainly didn't ask what his work actually entailed.

She just nodded silently and said, "Go on then, I'm fine here now."

His father added from the other side, "Work is important. I'll watch over your mother."

His mother turned her head and glared at him. "You're a patient yourself, who are you watching?"

His father didn't reply, but the smile at the corners of his mouth was unmistakable.

Su Mingyuan stood up, pulled the thin quilt covering his mother up a bit, and tucked it in at her shoulder.

He also refilled the cup of water at his father's bedside.

"I'm going out to make a call."

He turned and walked to the door.

Before pushing the door open, he paused and looked back.

His mother was leaning over saying something to his father, and his father was tilting his head to listen.

The shade of the small bedside lamp was covered with a thin cloth; the light falling on the two of them was warm in color.

Su Mingyuan watched for about two seconds.

Then he left the ward.

In the corridor.

Sun Liang was leaning against the wall, leisurely drinking tea from his cup.

Security Chief Zhao Ming was standing by the elevator, talking to two plainclothes bodyguards.

Su Mingyuan walked toward the window at the end of the corridor.

Outside the window was the hospital's backyard, with a row of tall camphor trees whose leaves' colors were indistinguishable in the night; as the wind passed, they rustled softly.

He pulled out his encrypted communicator and opened the chat box with Tao Zhe.

"The countdown has appeared again, 72 hours remaining."

Tao Zhe replied instantly.

"Received. Full combat readiness. I'll wait for you at the Command Center."

Su Mingyuan put the communicator back in his pocket.

He turned and beckoned to Security Chief Zhao Ming.

Security Chief Zhao Ming came over immediately.

"Arrange the return trip," Su Mingyuan said, "we're leaving tonight."

"Understood." Security Chief Zhao Ming didn't ask questions and turned to handle the dispatching.

Sun Liang walked over.

"Group Leader Su."

"Master Sun."

"Something's up?"

Su Mingyuan glanced at him.

He couldn't explain, and there was no need to.

"There's a situation at the base, I have to go back," he said. "I'll have to trouble you to stay with my parents for a while longer."

"What are you saying?" Sun Liang waved his hand. "The Medicinal Pill has been given, and I've checked on them. I'm not leaving until I see your father and mother completely stabilized."

"Thanks."

"Don't mention it."

Su Mingyuan reached into his pocket for the encrypted communicator, then thought better of it and switched to an ordinary cell phone.

He looked up the number for the attending physician, Zheng Zhen, and dialed.

Zheng Zhen picked up quickly.

"Mr. Su."

"Dr. Zheng, sorry for calling at this hour," Su Mingyuan said. "I have an urgent matter and need to be away for a while starting tonight. I'll have to trouble you to look after my parents."

"Don't you worry," Zheng Zhen said without hesitation. "Regarding your father and mother's condition, I will personally come and check on them every two hours now. I've also briefed the department."

"That's good. Also—" Su Mingyuan paused, "Master Sun will be staying. If there's anything you don't understand, you can communicate with him."

There was a half-second silence on the other end of the line.

"Understood."

Su Mingyuan hung up the phone.

He glanced at the time. 8:42 PM.

The row of numbers in his consciousness was still ticking.

[71:11:08]

[71:11:07]

[71:11:06]

He turned and walked back toward the ward.

"Dad, Mom, I have to go."

His mother looked up: "Now?"

"Yes, now."

"So sudden."

"Yes."

His mother looked at him for a moment, then nodded.

"Go ahead."

She said it again.

"Take care of yourself."

Su Mingyuan stood by the bed, wanting to say something.

In the end, he only said one thing.

"Mom, Dad, take care. I'll come see you again in a few days."