A sharp pain shot through A-Lai's arm as he moved it, and he couldn't help but groan, "If it weren't for this trick, my arm would be done for tonight. That guy hit way too hard."
Li Fang, her mind filled with suspicion, asked, "Why did you even think of strapping iron plates to your arm? Were you expecting a fight?"
"Sigh," A-Lai responded, "If it weren't for your earlier warning, suggesting that Hu San might try something, I wouldn't have thought of using this trick. Turns out you were right."
"So it was all just a trick? How long are you going to keep lying to me?" Li Fang said, her frustration mounting. Without waiting for an answer, she dragged A-Lai into a well-lit area. Noticing his pale face, she realized something was wrong. Without further questions, she immediately sought out a doctor. After being taken for a CT scan, the results came back: A-Lai's right arm was indeed broken.
That same night, Li Fang arranged for A-Lai to undergo surgery, where a titanium alloy plate was inserted into his arm. He was transferred from the burn unit to orthopedics—truly a strange turn of events.
Meanwhile, Hu San lay in his hospital bed, replaying the events of the restaurant brawl in his mind. He thought to himself, *The little monk has such impressive skills; why didn't he use his "Three Heavenly Strikes" to end it quickly? Now I'm the one left beaten up—this is so frustrating.*
Hu San's wife entered the room, noticing the bruises on his arm and leg. Seeing him staring blankly, she asked what had happened.
Hu San, with a pained expression, explained that he had performed a heroic deed, something a man of honor would do in repayment of kindness.
But his wife wasn't buying it. *This guy is still the same—he's just like a dog that can't stop eating its own filth. How could he change? He's always taking his frustrations out on me, beating me senseless, and then forcing me to smile and pretend everything is fine. He's a complete psychopath. There's no way he suddenly turned over a new leaf. He's definitely up to something,* she thought. Worried, she hurried to A-Lai's room to find out what was going on.
On the other side, A-Lai was in a miserable state.
Li Fang was completely puzzled. *Why didn't A-Lai use his "Heart Questioning Palm" immediately? What was he thinking? If I hadn't pushed him out of the way, he could have had his head smashed in, and who knows, he might be lying in the ICU as a vegetable right now.*
If A-Lai really had hidden martial arts skills, why would he need to strap iron plates to his arm? The more she thought about it, the more it seemed like A-Lai was just using magic tricks. He seemed to be addicted to these stunts, enjoying them far too much, rather than possessing any real martial arts prowess.
The more she thought about it, the more frightened she became.
With these thoughts swirling in her head, Li Fang, filled with anger, stormed into A-Lai's room to confront him...
A-Lai, noticing that no one else was around, saw an opportunity. With a pained smile, he asked, "Do you really want me to tell you the truth?"
Li Fang replied, "Of course. I want to know what you were thinking at the time."
A-Lai leaned in and whispered mysteriously, "Come closer."
Li Fang leaned in, pressing her ear close.
A-Lai quietly said, "When that stutterer was making a move on you, I was... thinking of doing the same. It was because of that special fragrance on you..."
As he spoke, he used his left hand to brush against her.
Li Fang's face and neck flushed with heat as she quickly pulled away from A-Lai's embrace.
"Ow... ow, ow..." A-Lai groaned, "My hand... you've made it worse." Sweat beaded on his forehead from the pain.
Realizing that she had accidentally hurt his already broken arm, Li Fang felt no sympathy. Instead, she grew even angrier.
In a fit of frustration, she scolded him, "I told you not to get involved with Hu San, told you not to go, but you didn't listen! Now look at you, with a broken arm—you deserve it! I warned you not to play these stupid tricks, but you just couldn't stop yourself!"
A-Lai pleaded, "Alright, alright, scold me all you want. But please, just make sure Hu San doesn't find out the truth about me."
Li Fang, exasperated, shot back, "You're just too proud for your own good! I don't even want to deal with you anymore!" And with that, she stormed out, fuming.
A-Lai sighed to himself, *I really deserve this! There's no way to explain it—like eating bitter herbs in silence. Who would've thought a simple meal could cause so much trouble?*
*Maybe Hu San really is a two-faced snake. Acting all sincere while plotting behind my back. If that's the case, then I've definitely underestimated him. When the time comes, I'll turn the tables on him and set a trap to deal with this pig-headed fool.*
*Hosting a banquet in a graveyard—ghosts having fun. I know full well that the "Heart Questioning Palm" doesn't always work on command. I might have knocked Hu San out, but even I don't fully understand how it works. This so-called "Three Heavenly Strikes" has now landed me in hot water.*
*I was supposed to be discharged, but now I can't leave. These past few days have been nerve-wracking. How am I going to explain this to Grandpa when he comes? He's raised me single-handedly, treating me like his most precious treasure. He's my only family, and we've depended on each other all these years.*
*Even though I was mischievous as a child and became even more troublesome as I grew older, I've always hated seeing Grandpa upset. Whenever I noticed him feeling down, I'd do everything I could to cheer him up. This mess I've made—I can't let him find out! But it seems like my worst fears are coming true.*
Sure enough, Grandpa Lei arrived, carrying a change of clothes for A-Lai, along with some mountain peaches and red dates from the village. He looked travel-worn as he walked into the hospital.
At the nurse's station, he asked about A-Lai, only to be told that his grandson had been moved to orthopedics. Feeling confused, Grandpa Lei hurried to the new room, wondering if A-Lai's condition had worsened since he last visited.
He rushed down the hall, looking around until he spotted Li Fang, busy with an IV drip.
Li Fang noticed Grandpa Lei searching the hallway and quickly explained the situation to another nurse before leading him to A-Lai's bed.
Seeing A-Lai's arm wrapped in bandages, Grandpa Lei immediately understood that his arm was broken. He set down his bundle and sternly asked, "Was it another broken water faucet in the bathroom? Did you fall again?"
A-Lai couldn't meet his grandfather's eyes, mumbling incoherently.
Grandpa Lei continued, "If that's the case, I'm going to speak to the hospital leadership."
A-Lai stood there silently, looking like a student caught without homework, being punished in the corner of the classroom.
Li Fang, also taken aback, waited until Grandpa Lei's anger subsided a bit before tearfully admitting, "Grandpa Lei, this is all my fault. A-Lai got hurt protecting me. I'm sorry, Grandpa. I couldn't keep him safe, and instead, he ended up protecting me." She then tearfully explained what had happened.
Hearing this, Grandpa Lei's eyes filled with tears as he grasped A-Lai's hand, saying, "You don't know how much you've made Grandpa worry!"
"This time, you were struck by lightning, and it was a miracle you survived. That's already more than enough. You've always been a diligent student, but you're not particularly gifted. If you can't get into college, so be it—I won't blame you. All I want is for you to be healthy, clear-headed, and safe."
A-Lai nodded repeatedly as he listened to his grandfather's words, using his left hand to wipe away Grandpa Lei's tears with a tissue.
"Sigh." Grandpa Lei sighed deeply and continued, "If you end up with a permanent injury, even if I reach the Western Paradise, Buddha himself would blame me. Remember, it takes a hundred days to heal from a broken bone. You must be more careful from now on. Take it slow, and you'll recover. I won't leave your side again."
Hearing this, Li Fang felt even more guilty and quickly brewed tea for Grandpa Lei.
Grandpa Lei turned to her and said kindly, "Li Fang, I don't blame you. It's not your fault. A-Lai did the right thing by protecting you—it's his duty as a man. He's my pride."
Grandpa Lei, after all, was a reasonable man—the founder and former principal of Lei Family Elementary School. And Li Fang had practically grown up in his classroom from the age of five or six.
…
One day, Li Fang entered A-Lai's room, accompanied by a middle-aged woman carrying several bags of nutritional supplements.