If you had to choose an identity to go undercover, you'd choose a gynecologist.

With Xiao Ai's guidance, Chen Qing's anxiety subsided considerably, and she trailed far behind Chen He.

Chen He walked out of the Shikumen gate of Pinganli and went straight to the tram stop at the street corner. Soon after, he boarded the tram bound for Hongkou.

Chen Qing immediately flagged down a rickshaw and instructed the driver, "Follow the route of the number 13 rickshaw ahead."

The rickshaw driver responded and quickly followed.

The tram stopped and started along the way. Chen He sat in the back of the tram, watching the scenery outside the window as it traveled from the small villas in the French Concession to the low-rise Japanese-style bungalows in Hongkou District.

The tram stopped at a station in Hongkou District. After Chen He got off, he turned into two narrow alleys and finally stopped in front of a building called Qingshan Orphanage.

Chen He pushed open the creaking wooden door of the orphanage, and the staff inside rushed over to greet him.

"You must be Chen Xia's older brother. She's been talking about you ever since she came here the day before yesterday."

After saying that, she immediately led him to the small house on the west side. Before long, he was standing in front of a girl.

The girl had simple braids, but her eyes were lifeless; she was blind.

Hearing footsteps, Chen Xia turned her head slightly, both surprised and delighted: "Big Brother?"

"Chen Xia, are you alright?" Chen He's voice was extremely gentle, his eyes brimming with unconcealed guilt. He reached out to touch her hair, but then gently withdrew his hand.

"I've been doing very well, big brother. I have food and lodging here, and sometimes the headmistress even takes me to the street to sell flowers. I keep all the money I save in a little tin box. The headmistress says that once I've saved enough, I can go get my eyes treated."

The director sighed and stepped forward to Chen He, whispering, "Mr. Chen, Chen Xia's eyes have been damaged for two years. I went to the Japanese hospital in Hongkou a few days ago to ask about it. The doctor said that a corneal transplant is needed to cure it, but the cost of that treatment is really expensive. Our small orphanage simply cannot afford it."

Just as the dean finished speaking, footsteps came from the courtyard gate, and a man carrying breakfast walked in.

The man's eyebrows, eyes, and figure were exactly the same as Xiao Zhengguo's, without any difference. He must be Chen He's younger brother, Chen Shan!

Upon seeing Chen He, the man's gentle expression vanished instantly, replaced by overwhelming rage. He slammed the breakfast down on the table, his voice as cold as ice: "Chen He, how dare you come back?"

Chen He stiffened, pursed his lips, and remained silent.

Chen Shan's chest heaved violently: "Back then, you insisted on joining the army, saying you wanted to protect your country and wouldn't listen to anyone who tried to stop you. I ask you, where were you when our parents died? When Chen Xia and I were homeless and starving and freezing to death, we couldn't find you. When Chen Xia had a fever for three days and three nights, which damaged her eyes, I carried her all over the streets looking for a doctor. When we had no money and were kicked out, when we were desperate and no one answered our cries for help, you were still nowhere to be found!"

"All these years, the home you protected has been destroyed, and the country you defended has been ravaged. Why have you come back? All these years, I've thought you were dead. Now that we've finally settled down and don't need you anymore, why have you come back?"

"I'm sorry." Chen He's voice was terribly hoarse.

This was Japanese-occupied territory, and there were Japanese and puppet regime spies all around. He absolutely could not say that he was fighting the Japanese on the front lines back then, nor could he reveal his identity as someone from Chongqing. He could only grit his teeth and say, "I... I've been away from home all this time and couldn't come back."

"Get lost." Chen Shan turned his face away, his tone full of disgust. "We don't need your pity."

Chen He grew anxious, his eyes filled with guilt: "I'm not pitying you. I will definitely find a way to earn money to cure Chen Xia's eyes, don't worry."

Chen Shan scoffed, "Cure? The surgery costs 20,000 yuan. Do you have that much? If you can't, then get lost."

"I can." Chen He blurted out. He reached out and patted his body, taking out the few hundred yuan he had in his pocket and stuffing it into Chen Shan's hand. "This is what I can take out right now. I will definitely get the rest as soon as possible. I will definitely be able to get 20,000 yuan."

But he himself was not sure. In Shanghai today, 20,000 yuan was an astronomical figure. Where could he get it from?

Chen Shan didn't even glance at the money. He waved his hand, scattering several hundred yuan in Chinese currency on the ground, the banknotes fluttering in the wind. "I told you, I don't need your pity. Colonel Araki said that as long as I do things for him, he'll treat Chen Xia's illness for free. I don't need your fake kindness."

Upon hearing this, Chen He's face turned deathly pale, and he stood there stunned, as if all his strength had been drained away.

Chen Xia cried and grabbed Chen He's hand, "Big brother, don't go! Second brother, please stop arguing!"

Chen Qing had already reached a distance from the orphanage. He paid a silver dollar and waited for the rickshaw driver to leave, expressing his deepest gratitude.

He stood outside the wall, listening to the argument inside.

In fact, Xiao Ai had already heard it and relayed it to him simultaneously, so he had a general understanding of the situation inside.

"Colonel Araki? What do those Japanese devils need a small-time hoodlum like Chen Shan for? Is he even worth 20,000 yuan?"

He dared not speak, silently calling out in his mind, "Xiao Ai, scan Chen Xia's eye condition."

"Received, scanning target's eye tissue..."

Xiao Ai's voice echoed in my mind.

A moment later, the system panel clearly appeared in his mind: Target: Chen Xia's eye diagnosis results: large-area necrosis of corneal epithelial cells, disordered arrangement of stromal fibers, complete loss of endothelial cell function, which is irreversible corneal damage. Conventional drug treatment is ineffective, and clinical cure requires corneal transplantation surgery.

Chen Qing's heart sank, and she hurriedly asked, "Xiao Ai, do you have any way to repair her cornea? Without replacing it with someone else's."

"Yes, I can initiate the 'Stem Cell Targeted Regeneration and Repair Program.' First, healthy dormant stem cells are extracted from Chen Xia's own limbal stem cell bank. After being activated by the system's energy, they are directionally induced to differentiate into corneal epithelial cells, stromal cells, and endothelial cells. Then, a three-dimensional corneal structure is built using a nanoscale biological scaffold, and the differentiated cells are precisely implanted into the damaged area. At the same time, growth factors are released to promote cell fusion and angiogenesis. The entire process does not rely on corneal donations from others and will not cause rejection."

Chen Qing's eyes lit up, and she quickly asked, "How long will this process take?"

Xiao Ai explained, "The repair process will take about 48 hours. The first 12 hours are for cell activation and cultivation, and the next 36 hours are for cell transplantation and fusion. The whole process is painless and non-invasive. Chen Xia will only feel a slight warmth in her eyes, and it won't affect her normal life. After the repair is complete, her corneal transparency and visual function will be restored to a healthy level!"

Chen Qing considered his options. He could help her treat her eye condition, but he needed to find out exactly what Chen Shan was doing for this Colonel Araki.

He asked Xiao Ai, "Can you enter Chen Xia's body now and treat her eyes?"

"No, I am your son. I will die if I leave your body."

Chen Qing was somewhat helpless. He had originally planned to leave Xiao Ai inside Chen Xia's body and retrieve her after her eyes were healed, but who knew that Xiao Ai couldn't leave his body.

Then the only option is to steal Chen Xia away.