No Longer Ordinary

Push-Ups Lv0 (67/100)

After finishing his workout, Fang Cheng looked at the experience value that had increased on the panel.

Fang Cheng picked up the thermos and disposable paper cup from the bedside table.

He poured himself a cup of warm water and gulped it all down in one go.

Turning his head, he saw that his maternal grandfather was sleeping peacefully, and the monitoring equipment showed no abnormalities.

So he replaced the urine basin beneath the bed, which was nearly full, with a fresh one.

Then he carried the plastic basin filled with yellow urine, preparing to dump it in the restroom.

The moment he pushed open the ward door, Fang Cheng noticed eager gazes drifting over from the nurses' station.

Several young, lively nurses were gathered together, covering their mouths as they whispered.

They pretended to turn their heads casually, secretly glancing over from the corners of their eyes.

Those looks were like they were watching some long-legged oppa from an idol group.

Fang Cheng was rather speechless. After emptying the urine basin, he walked to the laundry area to get some air.

The sun had already begun to set, and a smear of orange-red gradually spread across the horizon.

Looking out at the endless Western Mountains, where light and shadow intertwined, they seemed deep and mysterious.

"The Push-Ups skill is about to level up too."

"Once it does, I'll first break through ten points in Strength and Agility. My physical quality will be enough to surpass most ordinary people..."

Fang Cheng narrowed his eyes as the evening breeze continuously stirred the loose strands of hair on his forehead.

"Then..."

"I'll focus on improving my Physique Attribute. Only then can the Iron Fist effect reach its maximum potential."

"And..."

Fang Cheng looked up in thought, a sharp glint flashing through his pupils.

"The higher my Physique Attribute, the tougher my body, the faster I recover, and the more efficient my training becomes."

"That will make skills level up faster, earn me more attribute points, and let me further improve my physical quality."

"That way, it'll form a positive cycle."

"Maybe I can even rely purely on physical training to raise Strength and Agility to heights ordinary people can hardly imagine..."

Looking at the pale blue light screen obscuring the setting sun, a faint smile appeared on Fang Cheng's lips.

Standing before the window, his figure seemed to be cloaked in a mysterious, brilliant halo as well.

With a proper plan in place, his fighting spirit toward the challenge ignited at once.

"Then I'll aim to unlock the Leg Raises skill in three days and raise Push-Ups to Level 1!"

It was past seven in the evening.

Fang Cheng pulled up the hood of his hoodie and tightened the collar.

Then, carrying his satchel on his back, he walked alone out of the hospital Service Hall into the biting cold wind.

He had just shared a simple meal in the ward with his mother and uncle.

They microwaved the leftovers from noon, then packed two meat dishes and one vegetable dish from the cafeteria. The meal was fairly substantial.

But everyone had worries on their minds and little appetite.

The plight of the couple they had seen that afternoon especially left them feeling distressed.

His mother brought up the medical expenses, saying she planned to ask her supervisor for an advance on her wages.

His uncle, meanwhile, confidently guaranteed that Fang Cheng and his mother need not worry.

His mother asked whether he had borrowed from loan sharks like other people.

His uncle flatly denied it, wearing a mysterious expression as he claimed he would absolutely not do something so stupid.

Fang Cheng was not clear what his uncle had planned.

He only made up his mind to earn as much money as possible and help ease his family's financial pressure.

"Mom, I'm hungry..."

As he pondered, a somewhat familiar childish voice suddenly drifted into his ears on the cold wind.

Fang Cheng could not help turning his head and looking toward the sound.

It was the young couple, holding their child as they sat in a corner outside the hall.

Because they had failed to pay their hospital fees for several days, and because the hospital feared further harassment, they had been driven out of the ward that afternoon.

He had not expected them to still be here.

The night was deep now, and the chill was heavy.

With nowhere to go, they could only huddle beside a concrete pillar to shelter from the wind, wrapping themselves tightly in a Military Green Cotton Coat to minimize contact with the cold air outside.

Fang Cheng paused and glanced over.

Then he withdrew his gaze and continued walking toward the hospital exit.

Seeing her child say he was hungry, the young mother rummaged through the Canvas Bag beside her and pulled out a cold mantou wrapped in a Plastic Bag.

Then, using the Free Hot Water she had brought from the hall, she soaked the mantou until it was soft and slightly warm, broke it into small pieces, and fed them to the child.

Watching the child swallow with difficulty, the young mother gently coaxed him.

"Be good. In a few days, when Daddy earns some money and gets your illness treated, we'll go eat fried chicken, cake, and lots and lots of delicious food."

"Really?"

"Of course. When has Mom ever lied to you?"

Xiao Bao was very well-behaved and obedient.

After quietly finishing the mantou, he did not say another word.

He poked his shaved bald head out from the military coat and looked eagerly in one direction.

Through the bright glass doors of the hall, he could see a little girl sitting on a chair, gnawing on a chicken drumstick while drinking milk tea.

Xiao Bao tried desperately not to swallow his saliva, but it felt as if a spring were secreting inside his mouth. It gathered more and more until he could not hold it in.

In the end, he could only secretly swallow it several times, trying not to make any sound.

He was afraid of disturbing his father and mother, who had already fallen asleep from exhaustion.

Only those round, bright black eyes revealed an unmistakable longing.

Who knew how much time passed.

Suddenly, a set of footsteps gradually approached.

Xiao Bao curiously looked up.

He saw a tall, slender big brother, as handsome as a celebrity, appear before him.

The other person carried a bag of bento boxes in his hand, and the tempting scent of grilled fish and chicken nuggets faintly wafted from it.

The big brother gently placed the bento boxes on the ground.

Then he handed him a warm cup of milk with a straw already inserted, patting his bald head.

"When you grow up, remember to be good to your parents."

After saying that, he swiftly turned and left at a quick pace before Xiao Bao could react.

The child's delighted cry quickly woke the sleeping young couple.

The husband and wife looked around, wanting to find the benefactor who had brought the food.

But they only vaguely saw a somewhat familiar figure quickly disappear into the passing crowd.

They lowered their heads and gratefully held up the bento boxes.

At the very bottom of the bag, they found two bright red hundred-yuan bills tucked underneath.

Vroooom—

The sound wave of a high-displacement Twin-Turbo Engine rapidly drew near from afar.

Fang Cheng moved closer to the roadside.

Watching a red convertible sports car roar past and smelling the pungent exhaust fumes, he frowned slightly.

It was eight o'clock at night.

Some people were still rushing about, struggling to make a living, while others' extravagant nightlife had only just begun.

He had already missed the last bus.

Fang Cheng could only walk two kilometers before transferring to the subway home.

With both hands in his pockets, he slowly walked down the sparsely populated street.

He was still thinking about what had happened earlier.

Bringing food to the child had only been a small act of help within his means. It was not something worth thanking him for.

He had done it more to seek peace of mind.

Everyone who came into this world was a lonely traveler.

Cities built from steel and concrete were filled everywhere with indifference, injustice, and fierce competition.

Only the feelings through which people comforted one another were truly precious.

But.

Some things ultimately had to be fought for oneself. Other people's help was limited.

Fang Cheng stared at the darkness and lights before him.

The panel emanating an azure light slowly emerged.

A person originally destined to become one of the masses had suddenly gained an opportunity to become no longer ordinary.

Then he had to seize it tightly, grip tightly the throat of fate, and absolutely not allow any tragedy to appear before his eyes!

"Grandpa has a two-month Surgical Preparation Period. There's still enough time."

"I'll first improve my physical quality as quickly as possible, then apply to become a sparring partner. With salary and allowances, I should be able to take home around ten or twenty thousand."

"If I get the chance, I can also fight in a few amateur matches. The prize money isn't bad either..."

As Fang Cheng made his plans, he quickened his pace.

This new book has a congenital deficiency and urgently needs follow-up reading support from everyone who has added it to their library. Please nurture this little seedling as it grows.