He didn’t like being the center of attention, preferring a low profile. But the "task" the mysterious girl assigned to Cheng Ming was destined to draw plenty of eyes. Thinking about this, Cheng Ming couldn’t help but sigh.
"Mr. Cheng, what’s wrong?" asked the little nurse, hearing his sigh. "Are you thinking of something unpleasant?"
"Nothing, just feeling a lot of pressure," Cheng Ming casually replied. "Since Dubhe Tower offered such a high bounty, the target creature must be quite troublesome."
"No matter how troublesome the creature is, with so many Mysterious Creature Hunters involved, a successful hunt is certain!" the little nurse said with a smile. "I’ve heard that Mr. Cheng is quite an excellent Hunter, so this operation shouldn’t be any stress for you, right?"
"It’s okay to feel pressure, you just need to release it," suddenly said another nurse, her voice deep. She glanced back at the security personnel by the door, who then sensibly exited the ward and thoughtfully closed the door behind him.
"Mr. Cheng, you can do whatever you want," the alluring nurse whispered into Cheng Ming’s ear, her breath grazing his eardrum, teasing both his hearing and his heart.
To say he wasn’t tempted would be untrue. Both nurses were stunning and had figures rarely seen, the kind that was unlikely to appear in his social circle whether he was Cheng Ming the programmer or Cheng Ming the Hunter, let alone something more happening.
Although Cheng Ming wasn’t single since birth, his romantic experience was notably sparse. Apart from a brief fling in college, he hardly interacted with women after starting work.
Since graduating, the woman Cheng Ming spoke to the most, besides his mother, was probably just the secretary scared out of her wits in the company.
"Don’t worry, there are no surveillance cameras in the ward," continued the alluring nurse, while the sweet-looking little nurse put down the tray and obediently ran to the bed to draw the curtains.
The alluring nurse unbuttoned the second button below her collar, her entire upper body almost pressing against Cheng Ming’s shoulder.
"Uh, can I get out of bed?" Cheng Ming suddenly asked.
"Out of bed?" The alluring nurse was momentarily stunned but quickly caught on, "Of course, you can. Mr. Cheng, whatever posture you like, just tell us, we can..."
"I’d like to take a walk outside," Cheng Ming said, "It’s too stuffy in the ward."
"Ah? Oh... alright, okay." The alluring nurse’s expression stiffened slightly, but her excellent professionalism quickly transformed it into a gentle smile. She discreetly buttoned up and walked over to get the wheelchair.
"I think I could walk myself," Cheng Ming said.
The fractures in his body were concentrated in the upper body, his legs and feet being the least injured.
Guided by two nurses, Cheng Ming got out of bed.
He initially tried taking a couple of steps forward, and when he realized his body felt absolutely fine, he signaled for the nurses to stop supporting him and walked directly to the ward door.
Cheng Ming opened the door, stepping out under the curious and confused gaze of the security personnel.
He had barely taken a few steps when a doctor hurried over and asked with concern, "Mr. Cheng, are you planning to be discharged? Although your injuries are mostly healed, it’d be best to stay for observation tonight. We can arrange for your discharge tomorrow morning!"
"I’m just going for a stroll," Cheng Ming said.
"Is that so... Would you like me to find someone to accompany you?" The doctor glanced at the two nurses and security personnel following Cheng Ming at a distance, and cautiously asked.
"No need."
"Then please be sure to stay safe," the doctor urged. "There’s a garden downstairs, the environment is quite nice, you could sit there."
"Can I go outside the hospital?" Cheng Ming looked at the doctor, asking seriously.
He wanted to confirm one thing—the Bai Group’s attentive "care," whether it was being disguised as a form of "house arrest."
"Of course, we never restricted your freedom," the doctor immediately replied. "Just do not venture far while your injuries aren’t fully healed. You know, Dragon City is currently flooded with various people, impacting the city’s safety. If you leave the hospital, I suggest you take someone with you."
"I’ll just roam around the hospital vicinity," Cheng Ming said.
"That’s fine."
After dealing with the doctor, Cheng Ming took the elevator down to the first floor.
He walked straight through the garden the doctor mentioned, without lingering—at the end of the garden lay one of the hospital’s side exits, opening onto a shopping street. But Cheng Ming noted that many shops on the street bore the Bai Group’s emblem.
In other words, this whole street might be the Bai Group’s property.
"One of Dragon City’s three biggest families... No wonder Lee Ming was desperate to join the Bai Group," Cheng Ming murmured, then turned to glance back twice.
No one followed him.
Of course, that’s only on the surface; Cheng Ming was convinced someone was secretly tailing him. What’s more, it’s likely someone was using the city’s surveillance system to track his movements... even the drones occasionally flying overhead might be operatives of the Bai Group.
Cheng Ming wasn’t a novice Hunter anymore. He understood the severity of the earlier G09 incident—he even briefly wondered if he’d be silenced, but now it seemed the Bai Group didn’t have quite that nerve—or rather, their influence in Dragon City hadn’t reached an omnipotent level.
Cheng Ming casually picked a water bar to sit down. Maybe because the bar was right next to the hospital, none of the patrons or staff gave him a second glance despite his patient attire.
"Hello sir, would you like something to drink?" A staff member at the bar counter looked up from polishing glasses and asked.
"Orange juice, I suppose," Cheng Ming glanced at the menu on the wall, "By the way... why aren’t the drinks priced on the menu?"
Cheng Ming thought, it’s just a glass of orange juice. Even if the bar ripped him off, surely he could afford it... especially after the Bai Group had just deposited a substantial amount into his personal account.
"All our drinks are complimentary," the staff member replied with a smile, "It’s a Bai Group employee benefit."
Employee benefit?
Only now did Cheng Ming notice that nearly everyone in the bar wore the Bai Group insignia. Although he didn’t have the badge, his hospital gown indicated his identity—anyone residing in the Bai Group’s hospital must be a client here.
"Does this bar... serve outsiders?" Cheng Ming asked, "I mean, those not employed by the Bai Group."
"In general, outsiders don’t come to this street," the staff said, offering a fresh cup of orange juice, "And even if not Bai Group employees, those who come to this street are our clientele."
Cheng Ming realized immediately.
No wonder the doctor let him out so easily; the entire street was under the Bai Group’s control.
Cheng Ming felt like a monkey confined under Buddha’s Five Finger Mountain.
As he sipped his orange juice, his phone suddenly chimed with a message notification.
The message was from an unknown number: "Hello Mr. Cheng Ming, do you have a moment? I’d like to meet with you to discuss some matters."