I'm only three years old, how could it be a world-ending catastrophe?

Inside Ward 6.

Li Zheng lay on the pure white hospital bed, his body neatly divided in two at the waist.

The cut was covered with a layer of life gel that emitted a shimmering green light, like jelly.

Countless fine filaments of light extended from the gel, connecting his two severed bodies, and were repairing his damaged nerve and muscle tissue at a speed visible to the naked eye.

Beside the bed, several oddly shaped instruments were running smoothly, with gentle curves representing vital signs moving across their screens.

When Zhao Haidong pushed the door open and came in, Li Zheng had already opened his eyes and was staring blankly at the ceiling, his eyes empty, as if he was thinking about something.

"How are you feeling?"

Zhao Haidong walked to the bedside and spoke softly.

Li Zheng slowly turned his head, his voice hoarse and weak, "Aside from a little pain, I don't feel anything special."

Zhao Haidong pulled up a chair and sat down, his tone softening as he reassured him, "With our current medical technology, you'll only be in pain for a few days at most before you fully recover. Don't worry too much."

Li Zheng smiled but didn't reply.

He is very clear.

The body may be able to recover.

But the real thing... can never be restored.

Zhao Haidong was silent for a moment before finally asking, "By the way, Li Zheng, do you remember what happened inside Mirror Abyss after Luo Yi took Lu Yao away?"

Li Zheng shook his head, his eyes filled with confusion. "I don't know. After I was cut in half, I completely lost consciousness and only just woke up. I learned about the death of the Nightmare in the Mirror from my colleagues."

Upon hearing this, the glimmer of light in Zhao Haidong's eyes dimmed.

It seems there's no way to learn more from this.

However, he didn't show his disappointment. He just patted Li Zheng on the shoulder and said, "Okay, then you get some rest. I have some things to take care of, so I need to go now."

With that, he got up to leave.

He needs to go to the Jiang family to confirm whether the calamity is indeed Jiang Hongming's.

Just as Zhao Haidong's hand touched the doorknob, Li Zheng's voice came from behind him.

"Chief."

"Um?"

Zhao Haidong immediately stopped what he was doing, turned around and looked at him, "What's wrong?"

Li Zheng's gaze fell on his cut-open body, but in his eyes, there was no fear, no despair, only a stagnant calm.

"Luo Yi... he was ultimately corrupted by the power of the calamity, and just now, he chose to end his own life, right?"

Zhao Haidong frowned, a surge of anger rising in his heart. He was about to explode in anger and rebuke whoever had been so nosy.

Li Zheng, however, seemed to have read his mind and spoke first.

"Don't worry, Chief, I know what you're thinking. I won't be like Luo Yi; I'm not that fragile."

"So many people went to such great lengths to pull me back from the brink of death; I can't let them down."

"I just want to ask you for a favor..."

His voice paused, but his eyes became incredibly sharp, like two drawn swords.

"If one day I truly lose control, and the power within me begins to backfire, before I transform into a calamity that knows only to devour and destroy..."

"I hope none of you will show any mercy."

"Please, kill me on the spot!"

He wasn't afraid of death.

He just didn't want to waste other people's kindness.

Therefore, he would not choose to be as extreme as Luo Yi.

He made what he believed to be the best choice.

If that day ever comes, he would rather be killed by his own companions than suffer in that ugly state and hurt any innocent person.

This was his last shred of dignity as the captain of the Extraordinary Bureau's Third Field Operations Team!

Zhao Haidong looked at him silently, and the air in the ward seemed to freeze.

He knew that for someone like Li Zheng, any vague comfort or empty promise was an insult.

People like them, who live on the edge of a knife, always need and believe in the worst and most direct outcome.

After a long while, Zhao Haidong spoke again, his voice hoarse, yet each word resounding.

"Okay, I will."

"I will take action myself when the time comes."

"I guarantee you won't even have a speck of ashes left."

Li Zheng smiled, a smile of relief, and a trace of color finally returned to his pale face.

"That's good."

Zhao Haidong didn't say anything more, turned around, opened the door, and quickly walked out.

But his back looked even more somber than when he arrived.

……

Chunjiang Garden.

When Chen Xue brought the three people—one adult and two children—back, Zhang Hui had already quickly reheated the food she had prepared, filling the table with a delicious aroma.

"Ms. Chen, thank you so much. Why don't you stay and have a simple meal with us?" Zhang Hui said with a smile, trying to persuade her to stay.

"No, no, I have something to do, so I won't bother you any longer. Maybe next time," Chen Xue politely declined.

Zhang Hui didn't insist any further, but still saw her into the elevator before turning around and going back inside.

"Sister-in-law, where's my brother?" Lu Yao asked, poking her head out as she helped get the dishes in the kitchen.

"He still has some things to take care of outside, so let us eat first and not worry about him," Zhang Hui replied casually, taking off her apron and hanging it up.

Lu Yao nodded and didn't ask any more questions.

At the dining table in the living room, Jiang Luo and Xu Niannian were already sitting obediently in their high chairs.

The difference was that Xu Niannian was burying her head and peeling shrimp with great effort.

One, two...

The tender white shrimp meat was peeled out intact, then she held it in her small hands and carefully brought it to Jiang Luo's mouth.

"Lolo, eat..."

Jiang Luo opened her mouth without any hesitation, took a big bite, and ate until her mouth was full of oil, but she was still somewhat dissatisfied.

"Niannian, you're a bit too slow..."

Xu Niannian nodded. "Don't worry, Luo Luo, I'll speed things up!"

Upon seeing this, Zhang Hui's anger flared up immediately. She walked over and slapped Jiang Luo on the back of the head.

"You brat, can't you have any shame? Niannian is a guest, after all. How can you treat a guest like this? Don't you have hands?"

"Aunt Huihui, please don't blame Luo Luo."

When Xu Niannian saw Jiang Luo being beaten, she immediately became anxious, "It was my own idea to peel it for Luo Luo, it has nothing to do with Luo Luo."

Jiang Luo glanced at Zhang Hui, his face full of displeasure, and said, "Did you hear that, you old geezer? Shut up, you're ruining my meal!"

Zhang Hui was so angry she laughed, and immediately rolled up her sleeves.

"You little brat, you really think you're so lawless? You think I can't handle you?"

Seeing that the mother-son war was about to break out again, Xu Niannian panicked and was about to get up and beg for mercy.

But Jiang Luo grabbed her arm. "Niannian, ignore this old geezer. I want to see what she can do!"

Lu Yao watched from the sidelines, unable to suppress her amusement, but she didn't step in to break up the fight.

But just as Zhang Hui was about to take action, the door was pushed open with a "click".

Jiang Hongming has returned.

"Brother, you're back."

Uncle Jiang.

Jiang Hongming looked at the chaotic scene inside the house, smiled and nodded, "I'll go wash my hands first."

Once he returned, Zhang Hui could no longer lash out. She could only glare fiercely at Jiang Luo before turning and going into the kitchen.

Soon, the five people sat down around the dining table.

Xu Niannian continued to diligently peel shrimp for Jiang Luo, without eating a single bite herself; all the shrimp meat she peeled went into Jiang Luo's stomach.

Zhang Hui couldn't stand it anymore. "Niannian, just leave that brat alone. Let him eat by himself. He won't starve."

"It's alright, Aunt Huihui."

Xu Niannian looked up and gave a sweet smile. "I'm happy as long as Luo Luo is enjoying her meal."

"that is!"

Jiang Luo curled her lip and said, "You old jerk, you're just jealous. You're jealous that I have people who care about me, that's why you're making such a fuss!"

"Jiang Luo!!!"

Zhang Hui slammed her chopsticks heavily on the table.

Without hesitation, Jiang Luo hid behind Xu Niannian and peeked out.

"What? I have Nian Nian protecting me, you think you can hit Nian Nian too?!"

Xu Niannian immediately puffed out her chest and opened her arms, like a little hen protecting her chicks, shielding Jiang Luo tightly.

She kept saying, "Aunt Huihui, please don't hit Luo Luo anymore. If you're unhappy, hit me instead..."

Looking at the two little rascals, Zhang Hui felt a lump in her throat, unable to swallow or spit it out.

In the end, all that could be done was to let out a helpless sigh, pick up the chopsticks, and silently put a piece of braised pork into his bowl.

Out of sight, out of mind.

Lu Yao, who was standing next to her, smiled even more broadly as she watched this scene.

She knew perfectly well what was going on in her heart.

Jiang Luo is usually mischievous, but he would never be this unreliable.

The reason he was acting so wildly today was probably... to make himself happy...

after all.

Little Luo Luo thought she was sick!

It's even a terminal illness!

This little guy...

Lu Yao picked up a piece of fish, carefully removed the bones, and then put it into Jiang Luo's bowl.

The meal was finished amidst all the noise and commotion.

Xu Niannian put down her chopsticks and jumped off the chair. "Aunt Huihui, I'm going home."

Zhang Hui, who was clearing away the dishes, turned around and looked at him with some surprise. "Aren't you going to watch TV with Luo Luo for a while longer?"

Xu Niannian shook her head, "No, Mom said I can't stay here too late."

"Then I'll take you back."

Zhang Hui immediately put down her work, wiped her hands on the apron hanging nearby, and walked over to take Xu Niannian's little hand.

Before leaving, Zhang Hui squatted down and whispered, "Niannian, when you see Mom and Dad, don't tell them what happened today, okay?"

"Your head injury, and this dress... just say you were out playing with Lolo and accidentally tripped and fell, okay?"

Xu Niannian nodded sensibly, "Okay, I won't tell them. I don't want them to worry."

Zhang Hui breathed a sigh of relief and affectionately patted her little head. "Niannian is such a good girl."

"Let's go then."

"Uh-huh."

Zhang Hui led Xu Niannian to the opposite door and rang the doorbell several times, but there was no response from inside.

She frowned slightly, preparing to go back to get her phone to call Su Jingyi.

At that moment, the door finally clicked open from the inside.

Su Jingyi was still wearing an apron, and an apologetic smile appeared on her face.

But before she could speak...

Zhang Hui apologized first, saying, "I'm sorry, Jingyi. This afternoon, my son Jiang Luo took Niannian out to play. The two children were playing around, and Niannian accidentally tripped and fell..."

"I've already taken her to the hospital. The doctor said it's nothing serious, just a minor cut. I applied some medicine..."

Su Jingyi's gaze fell on the band-aid on her daughter's forehead and the white gauze wrapped around her forearm.

And that once beautiful pink princess dress is now filthy and covered in dust.

However, there was no blame on her face. Instead, she grabbed Zhang Hui's hand, feeling very apologetic.

"Sister Hui, what are you saying? Don't I know Luo Luo well enough?"

"It must be my crazy girl Niannian who insisted on dragging Luoluo out to play. These injuries are definitely from her own mischievous falls, and have nothing to do with your Luoluo."

"You even took her to the hospital... I'll transfer the money to you how much it cost."

As he spoke, he reached for his phone.

"Hey, why are you being so polite with me?"

Zhang Hui took her hand and said with a smile, "It's inevitable for children to bump and bruise themselves, and besides, it didn't cost much."

After exchanging a few more polite words at the door, Zhang Hui went back inside.

The moment Su Jingyi closed the door, the smile on her face vanished completely, replaced by worry and exhaustion.

"Niannian, go back to your room first. Mom will run your bathwater in a bit."

Xu Niannian nodded obediently and strode back to her room with her short legs.

Su Jingyi then headed towards the kitchen.

She opened the freezer compartment and took out a black plastic bag from the very back.

The bag was opened, and inside was a pot frozen solid...

manpower!