American comics: Only I know the plot

Chapter 152 The Wound During Lunch Break

He looked up, and the light swept across everything in the laboratory again. The cold instruments, the dense data, and the flashing red monitoring lights made him feel suffocated.

Everything here was like a giant cage, trapping Banner and himself.

He knew he couldn't give up; he had to calm down as soon as possible and find that one and only breakthrough.

He took a deep breath, forced himself to calm down again, and sorted out the chaotic thoughts in his mind little by little.

He tried to piece together those fragmented memories and find a way to subtly remind Banner.

Perhaps he could use the pretext of delivering medical supplies to get closer to Banner's desk.

Pretend to casually mention the "importance of radiation protection," or casually point out experimental parameters that seem somewhat abnormal.

But is this really feasible? Won't Banner notice anything amiss?

Won't people think that a medical assistant shouldn't know these experimental parameters? Won't this make people suspicious of him?

Countless questions swirled in his mind, making him increasingly conflicted.

He knew this was a gamble on the edge of a knife; one wrong step could lead to total defeat, not only failing to save Banner but also dragging himself down with him.

But he had no way out; he could either remain silent and watch Banner fall into the abyss.

We must either muster our courage and take the risk, even if there is only a sliver of hope, to try our best to prevent this tragedy.

Li Wei slowly raised his head, his gaze fixed firmly on Banner deep within the laboratory, the confusion and anxiety in his eyes gradually replaced by determination.

He gripped the list of medical supplies tightly in his hand, the trembling in his fingertips gradually subsided, and the white on his knuckles slowly faded.

He knew he had made his choice. No matter how difficult the road ahead, no matter how great the risks, he was going to give it a try.

The humming in the lab continued, and the red lights on the surveillance cameras continued to flash.

Time ticked by, and the three-day countdown had quietly begun. With each passing second, the world moved one step closer to that deadly disaster.

Li Wei put down the list in his hand, gently patted his cheeks to clear his mind.

He straightened his lab coat, straightened his back, and put on a calm and natural expression, as if the person who had just been struggling and anxious was not him.

He strode toward the other side of the workbench, where some medical equipment that needed to be organized was piled up, and it was also the closest place to Banner's desk.

He planned to pretend to tidy up the equipment first, observe Banner's state, and find a suitable opportunity to subtly remind him.

His steps were still light, but each step was taken with exceptional determination.

He knew that the next three days would be the most difficult and agonizing of his life, as he would be in this secret base filled with surveillance and guards.

Carefully searching for that faint glimmer of hope, to fight for a different future for Banner, and for themselves.

As he passed the radiation detector, he glanced at the numbers on the screen.

The green numbers remained stable, yet they seemed to be silently mocking his insignificance and powerlessness.

But Li Wei did not back down. His resolve remained firm, and his belief grew stronger. He was determined to do it, he was determined to stop this disaster.

He walked to the corner where medical equipment was piled up, picked up a pair of tweezers, and pretended to carefully tidy up the scattered needles and test tubes.

Out of the corner of his eye, however, he kept an eye on Banner not far away.

He looked at Banner's focused profile and noticed the occasional furrow in his brow.

Looking at the dense formulas he wrote in his notebook, his determination grew stronger.

He knew this was just the beginning, and the road ahead would be even more difficult and full of unknown risks, but he would not give up.

He would look for opportunities little by little, trying to remind Banner in the most tactful and safest way.

To avert this deadly disaster, so that the gentle and persistent PhD could continue his scientific research dreams and have a peaceful and stable life.

The air conditioning in the laboratory was still biting cold, and the hum of the instruments was still monotonous, but a faint hope ignited in Li Wei's heart.

He knew that as long as he didn't give up and as long as he did his best, he would definitely have a chance to change the outcome and prevent the inevitable tragedy.

Three days passed in the blink of an eye, and he had to race against time to find that one and only breakthrough within the limited time available.

He took a deep breath, lowered his head again, and pretended to be focused on organizing the equipment in his hands, but in his mind, he was rapidly calculating the next step of the plan.

He rehearsed what he was about to say repeatedly, making sure that every word and every expression would not reveal his abnormality.

He knew that he could not be negligent or careless in the slightest, and that every action had to be carefully considered.

Every word he uttered could determine Banner's fate, and also his own.

This silent game has already begun, and he must win it, no matter the cost.

The base's lunch break bell rang faintly through the thick soundproof walls and reached the laboratory area.

The low, beeping notification echoed in the empty space for a few seconds before being drowned out by the hum of the operating equipment.

According to the base's regulations, all non-core duty personnel have a 40-minute rest period during this time each day.

After a busy morning, the researchers and their assistants took off their lab coats, which still smelled faintly of disinfectant, and headed towards the restaurant in groups.

The sounds of footsteps, conversations, and chairs being dragged mingled together, giving the usually quiet and almost oppressive laboratory a rare touch of liveliness.

Within minutes, the once crowded main experimental area was mostly empty, with only a few instruments still running tirelessly.

The green radiation level remained stable, and the red dot on the surveillance camera continued to flash regularly.

The entire space was filled with only a monotonous and continuous low-frequency sound, as if silently witnessing everything that was happening here.

Li Wei stood in front of the water dispenser, his fingertips pressing the cold metal switch.

The clear water flowed into the disposable cup, making a soft, rustling sound as it hit the bottom.

He lowered his head slightly, looking at the gently swaying reflection on the water's surface, his mind still swirling with the struggle from not long ago.

Three days, only three days left.

This number is like a fine needle, pricking his nerves from time to time, leaving him no peace for even a moment.

It not only helps you avoid crowds, but also allows your fast-paced brain to slow down a bit.

Li Wei, holding a water glass, turned and walked towards the rest area attached to the laboratory.

The area contains a few simple benches, a few folding tables, and a vending machine.

This place is usually bustling with people, but it seems unusually empty right now.

Only two or three people sat in the farthest seats, looking down at their personal terminals, not disturbing each other.

Li Wei glanced around casually, preparing to choose the innermost, least conspicuous seat.

But just as his gaze swept over the bench in the middle, he suddenly stopped in his tracks.

My breath hitched for a moment.

My heart skipped a beat without warning.

Bruce Banner was leaning back on the bench, his body slightly tilted back, his back not completely pressed against the backrest.

He maintained a vigilant posture, as if he could wake up at any moment, his brows furrowed deeply.

His eyes were tightly closed, and there were very obvious dark circles under his eyes.

Those are the marks left by long-term sleep deprivation and high mental stress.

Sunlight streamed in through the small window of the rest area, falling on his face and making his pale complexion appear even more pronounced.

His originally gentle and refined demeanor was now overshadowed by a deep weariness, leaving only an undeniable sense of exhaustion.

Li Wei's gaze involuntarily shifted downwards, landing on Banner's hands, which were draped over his lap.

The next second, his pupils contracted slightly.

Banner's right index and middle fingertips were noticeably red.

The skin was slightly raised, showing clear burn blister marks.

Near the fingertip, there is a small patch of skin that is broken.

The edges were an unnatural pale white, and a small amount of clear tissue fluid slowly seeped out, which was particularly glaring in the sunlight.

Li Wei recognized it immediately; this was no ordinary high-temperature burn.

This is a mild radiation burn from gamma rays.

These wounds are not deep, but they are more difficult to heal than ordinary burns.

Long-term, repeated exposure will slowly erode nerves and damage cell activity.

Li Wei's heart clenched suddenly.

He knew better than anyone that Banner had been spending almost all his time in the lab lately.

In order to calibrate parameters, to check equipment, and to improve experimental procedures.

He repeatedly approached the not-fully-sealed radiation area and repeatedly adjusted the instrument interface by hand.

Even wearing protective clothing cannot prevent the continuous accumulation of trace amounts of radiation.

These seemingly insignificant small wounds are the subtlest and most easily overlooked warnings before disaster strikes.

Banner himself was so focused on the experiment that he didn't even notice his own injury.

Even with his injury, he forced himself to rest for a short while on a bench during his lunch break.

An indescribable bitterness and heartache instantly surged into Li Wei's heart.

He was clearly trying his best to restrain the urge to get closer, and he was clearly reminding himself not to attract attention.

But the moment I saw that wound, all my worries were temporarily put aside.

This is a great opportunity.

A natural, reasonable, and completely unquestionable opportunity.

As a medical assistant, I treat minor wounds caused by occupational exposure for laboratory personnel.

That's perfectly normal.

There were no abrupt warnings, no strange prophecies, and no actions that exceeded his/her authority.

It was just an ordinary medical visit.

Li Wei hardly hesitated.

The shackles that had been weighing on my heart for so long quietly loosened a crack at this moment.

He carried his water glass and walked naturally toward the bench.

His pace was neither too fast nor too slow, his posture relaxed, without any deliberate effort or haste.

As he passed the vending machine, he deliberately slowed down for a moment, as if he was hesitating whether to buy a hot drink.

This small gesture perfectly concealed his true purpose in heading straight for Banner.

Li Wei stopped gently as he approached.

He didn't speak immediately, but stood quietly to the side, giving the other person some breathing room.

Banner kept his eyes closed, his breathing shallow and light.

Exhaustion caused him to fall into a light sleep, but he remained constantly alert to his surroundings.

Li Wei could clearly see that the furrowing of his brows was even more pronounced than before.

Insomnia, anxiety, and nervous tension.

These are the most typical reactions to the long-term effects of gamma radiation.

All of this will be pushed to its extreme in three days, by an out-of-control experiment.

Li Wei took a deep breath, suppressing the surging emotions in his heart.

He cannot expose himself, cannot panic, and cannot overstep the boundaries.

He can only be a competent, gentle, and professional medical assistant.

Having thought all this through, Li Wei took a small step forward.

He placed the water glass in his hand on the simple table next to the bench, his movements so light they were almost silent.

Then, he reached into the inside pocket of his white coat.

Inside was his mini first-aid kit, which he always carried with him.

This is the standard configuration for a medical assistant.

It contains saline-soaked cotton pads, medical gloves, burn ointment, sterile gauze, and breathable tape.

Everything about him was befitting his status.

Every action was within reasonable limits.

Li Wei gently placed the dark blue first-aid kit on the table, just within Banner's sight.

He did not reach out to touch the other person directly, maintaining a polite and safe distance.

Once everything was ready, Li Wei leaned down slightly and spoke softly in a gentle, calm, and undisturbing tone.

"Dr. Banner, your finger is burned and needs to be treated."

The voice wasn't loud, but it was clear enough.

As soon as he finished speaking, Banner, who had been resting in his chair, suddenly opened his eyes.

For a moment, his eyes held a hint of confusion, as if he had just been forcibly pulled from his sleep.

Pupils dilated slightly, vision briefly lost focus.

I was still in a daze from deep exhaustion.

A few seconds later, the confusion gradually faded, and reason regained its advantage.

Banner's gaze slowly focused, landing on Li Wei in front of him.

He was taken aback for a moment, clearly not recognizing the young medical assistant in front of him.

The vast base is densely populated with a clear hierarchy.

Banner interacts daily with core project members, military officials, and senior researchers.

He didn't have much of an impression of Li Wei, the new assistant in charge of basic medical support.

A fleeting look of surprise and a barely perceptible hint of wariness flashed across his eyes.

He is not used to strangers suddenly approaching him, and he is even less used to being seen by someone when he is most tired and vulnerable.

Banner instinctively tried to hide his injured right hand behind his back.

Li Wei accurately captured that subtle movement.

He neither pointed it out nor pressed for details.

Simply maintain a gentle expression, stand quietly in place, and give the other person enough sense of security.

"I am Li Wei, an assistant in the base's medical department, responsible for the daily medical care in the laboratory."

Li Wei spoke calmly, his tone conveying only professionalism and devoid of any extraneous emotions.

"When I passed by just now, I noticed that you had radiation burns on your fingertips. If you don't treat them promptly, they can easily become infected and worsen your discomfort."

.

He explained his purpose simply, reasonably, and without any flaws.

Looking at his calm and natural expression, Banner's tense body relaxed slightly.

He knew that it was common for laboratory personnel to suffer minor radiation burns.

The medical assistant stepped forward to handle the situation, which was entirely in accordance with procedure.

There was nothing unusual about the young man in front of them.

Banner nodded slightly, which was taken as tacit approval.

He didn't speak, his voice still hoarse and tired from just waking up.

Seeing this, Li Wei did not stop.