Chapter Ch67.1 - I’ve got this Undercover Agent’s back (6)
Chapter 67: I’ve got this Undercover Agent’s Back (6)
“We–”
Liang Xia inexplicably felt that his teacher’s attitude toward him seemed to little bit disdainful. Shamefaced, he followed after Gu Pingming. “Afterwards, I just couldn’t help but worry so I came back to have a look. I then ran into Dr. Lu. He caught some bastard who’d been hanging around outside and asked where you went. I just happened to also be on duty over there…”
Under Gu Pingming’s scrutiny, Liang Xia couldn’t help feeling very guilty and his voice became smaller and smaller.
Gu Pingming placed down the things he was carrying and his eyes fell on him. “And then you took Dr. Lu there?”
Liang Xia’s face was burning hot and he nodded.
Lu Baiyu was not a policeman. His physical fitness was average and he wasn’t carrying any real weapons on hand. And yet, he was actually taken to a scene where a fight could have broken out at any time.
At that time, Liang Xia hadn’t thought much of it but now that they were mentioning it, he realized how dangerous his action had been.
Gu Pingming did not speak. He simply walked over to the bed and sat down.
“Brother Gu, you have no idea. At the time, Dr. Lu really frightened me—like, really badly! I hadn’t even come to my senses yet but he already figured out what was going on and what needed to be done. That little hooligan was scared shitless by him. Now, I know why you’re so willing to listen to him…”
Gu Pingming was scariest when he refused to say a word like this. Liang Xia mustered his courage and approached him. He squatted by his bedside and kept persistently singing Dr. Lu’s praises.
“He told me to pretend to be checking for drunk driving outside. I was not to go in unless he sent me the signal. He said that it might just cause trouble for you instead. We made arrangements. If things inside didn’t finish, we would immediately pretend like we were doing our daily rounds and no matter what, I was to pretend that I didn’t recognize you…”
At that time, the young doctor was too imposing. Passing like thunder and moving like the wind, he asked Gu Pingming’s whereabouts and finalized a plan to help him out of trouble, leaving Liang Xia little room for objection.
When Liang Xia recovered, Lu Baiyu had already entered the bar, scalpel in hand.
Although it felt unbelievable looking back on it now, Liang Xia at that time was really won over by Lu Baiyu’s aura and it was not until this morning that he felt there was something not quite right about that whole thing.
Hearing his endless praise of Lu Baiyu and that there were still police officers outside at the time, Gu Pingming’s expression improved slightly. His eyes on Liang Xia though were still as heavy as before. “There won’t be a next time.”
Han Rong came rushing to stir up trouble. No matter what, Lu Baiyu shouldn’t have taken on such danger to himself by coming in during such a situation where a the littlest spark would could cause outright war.
“There won’t. There absolutely won’t. Next time I won’t take Dr. Lu to such a dangerous place no matter what.”
Seeing his attitude soften, Liang Xia finally let out a sigh of relief. Repeatedly nodding his head, he took the initiative to help him pick up his cane and set it by his bed. Carefully, he asked, “Brother Gu, just what exactly happened to you last night… Are they bothering you?”
“I have some disputes with them. It’s all going to be resolved soon.”
Gu Pingming didn’t plan to discuss with him in detail and threw out a few words in response. After a bit of hesitation, he changed the subject, “Don’t worry about this, just handle your own matters and — remember to bring me an electric pot, the kind for making rice porridge when you have time.”
Doctors were busy and their schedules were uncertain. Nine out of ten have stomach problems. Lu Baiyu’s body was not very good to begin with. At the least, he should eat some rice porridge and try his best to take care of his stomach.
The topic turned around so quickly that Liang Xia was taken aback. After confirming that he hadn’t heard wrong, he nodded and questioned him closely about his requirements for the electric pot. He was about to stand up to sensibly take his leave when he was stopped by Gu Pingming raising his hand. “Wait a minute.”
Liang Xia quickly turned around, and Gu Pingming glanced at him, nodding slightly.
“Sit down, I’m going to teach you a little bit more today and next time, you’ll have an exam.”
Having some casual interactions with a new policeman fresh out of the police academy should not have been reason enough for those people to immediately doubt his reasons. At best it could only be regarded as an indirect confirmation method. For his identity to suddenly be under suspicion meant that something must have gone wrong with the higher ups.
The situation was getting less and less optimistic and maybe it result in disputes at some point. He alone was not enough. In order to absolutely guarantee Lu Baiyu’s safety, he must at least have a reliable helper for when he’s stuck in a situation he can’t get away from.
“Lessons are good! But exams—there’s no need for exams, Brother Gu…”
It hasn’t been long since Liang Xia has gotten free from the clutches exams. His excitement from hearing the first sentence was completely dissipated by the second. He haggled with his heart in his mouth, “I swear that I will study diligently. I will learn everything that you say. Can I not take the exam?”
This junior had the talent and was clever enough but he was lazy by nature and always lacked that bit of drive. If you don’t force him, he would always remain as a bottle that was not quite full.
Gu Pingming swept his eyes over him, remaining unmoved. He took out a book and spread it out. “If you get less than eighty points even once, you better not come looking for me anymore.”
…
Liang Xia immediately shut his mouth. He sat up straight and listened intently to the lesson.
The police academy’s best graduate at the time had been undercover in a crisis-ridden world for seven years. Even if Gu Pingming’s knowledge and experience had been somewhat squandered away, it was far more thorough and detailed than the lessons of the police academy professor.
Liang Xia listened intently for a while, all worries about the exam were driven from his mind. He instinctively reached out for paper and pen to take notes, but Gu Pingming raised his hand to stop him.
“Brother Gu——”
Liang Xia was a bit startled and looked up at him. Gu Pingming’s eyes surged for a moment. He then he withdrew his hand and nodded slightly. “Keep everything in your head. If you can’t remember, ask me again.”
Whether it was out of confidentiality rules or for self-protection to avoid danger, he has become too accustomed to not leaving any traces of himself anywhere.
Liang Xia has walked close by him for some time and he’s made progress. He now knew to not do something he was clumsy at. Once someone sees what he’d written on the paper, it might just be used to link up with Gu Pingming’s true identity.
At this point, they couldn’t afford the consequences of his carelessness.
Liang Xia was not stupid and has already guessed Gu Pingming’s identity. Hearing this sentence, the light in the bottom of his eyes shrank and he couldn’t help but say, “Brother Gu——”
There was a soft knock on the door.
“We’ll stop here today. Go back and master it. You’ll take the exam tomorrow.”
Hearing the knock on the door, Gu Pingming’s originally dark expression almost instantly turned warm. He waved his hand at random and quickly walked over and opened the door. “You’re so early. Aren’t you busy today?”
A gentle voice came from the door, carrying with it a brisk warmth. Liang Xia couldn’t help craning his neck to have a look. It really was that Doctor Lu who came back to check on his patient.
It was just yesterday that he had taken the good doctor to a danger-laden scene. Liang Xia was feeling quite guilty. Hearing the young doctor and Gu Pingming mention things like “rehabilitation plan”, “start” and other such words, he immediately took the opportunity to take his leave and hurriedly walked out of the patient’s room.
The protagonist fled in defeat. As soon as Lu Baiyu’s gaze fell curiously at his back, his line of sight was subtly blocked by Gu Pingming’s figure. He raised his hand and ushered the person into his room. “Are you feeling any discomfort today? Yesterday, you slept so little. Rest here for a while. I’ll lock the door…”
Before he could finish speaking, he was taken into the warm embrace of the person in front of him.
Lu Baiyu extended his arms and hugged him; until the tense aura around his body from having his past come back gradually eased. He then raised his head from his shoulder, his black eyes dyed with a warm and peaceful smile. “I’m fine. I’m here to take you to your rehabilitation.”
His chest and shoulders were warm. His heartbeat was steady against his chest, briefly dragging him away from the dark deep wind.
Gu Pingming dropped his gaze and plunged into his clear and warm black eyes. The countless storms beneath his eyes were quietly calmed into a gentle breeze and quiet scenery.
His little doctor…
Gu Pingming tightened his arms. He lowered his head and smiled at him. With a soft and low tone of voice, “This—is this also part of the rehabilitation process?”
“There is a charge for the rehabilitation program. This is counted as a bonus. One each morning.”
Lu Baiyu’s eyes curved. He let go and straightened up. He took out from his pocket a timetable that he’d written up earlier and placed it on the table for him. “You have to do it carefully and you can’t miss even a single item. I will check regularly.”
One each morning was simply too little.
Feeling it was a great pity, Gu Pingming lowered his head and looked at the detailed schedule, trying to figure out whether he could apply for any more rewards.
Although he had not voiced these thoughts out, his thoughts were not the least bit disguised. It was clear and plain to see in the eyes of the young doctor.
Lu Baiyu raised his head to look at him. With a soft smile in his eyes, he pressed a quit-smoking candy in his hand and tapped his palm with his fingers. “If you do your rehabilitation program well and you pass your medical examination. You can apply for an evening discharge and you can just come back to the center by nine tomorrow morning.”
His eyes brightened quickly. Gu Pingming found warm and sincere confirmation in those black eyes. His eyebrows rose up and the corners of his lips couldn’t help but raise up as well. “I’ll start on it right now. Would you like to supervise, Dr. Lu?”