Citrus and True Identity

Citrus and True Identity

In the afternoon,

Chen Sheng walked in from the intersection, medicinal herbs in his left hand and some health supplements in his right.

Xu Ziwen had given him quite a few things two days ago, and Chen Sheng had been thinking about returning the favor.

He happened to pass by a pharmacy today. Thinking that Xu Ziwen taught during the day, tutored in the afternoon, and still had to sweep graves at night, he bought some health supplements to help him nourish his body.

As he walked, Chen Sheng summoned his panel.

After training all afternoon, his attributes had increased once again.

Strength increased by 0.12. Agility increased by 0.6. Constitution had increased the most, by a full 0.24. By Chen Sheng's estimate, to break through to Dark Force, his Strength and Constitution needed to reach 3. At this rate, he would successfully break through to Dark Force in two days at most.

At that thought,

Chen Sheng's mood immediately improved considerably.

When he reached his door, he was about to deliver the health supplements to Xu Ziwen when he spotted a basket of fruit outside.

Chen Sheng stepped forward to inspect it.

It was a basket of citrus fruit, with a little dirt clinging to the peels. They looked very fresh.

There was also a card in the basket.

Little Brother Chen, I saw you weren't home, so I left the citrus outside your door.

We picked these during today's Agritainment activity organized by the school. They're very sweet, so have a taste.

A smiley face was drawn beneath the message.

The signature at the end was Xu Ziwen.

Chen Sheng scratched his head.

Teacher Xu really was... During his years of work, he had met far too many indifferent people.

Someone like Xu Ziwen was truly rare.

But since the other man had sent them over, Chen Sheng could hardly refuse.

He looked toward Xu Ziwen's Wooden House.

The man did not seem to be home. Presumably, he had not returned from school yet.

Just as Chen Sheng was about to go home first and visit him later that night,

his ears suddenly twitched.

A crisp sound came from inside Xu Ziwen's house.

It was extremely faint.

If Chen Sheng's Agility attribute had not been high enough, he might not have heard it at all.

Could Xu Ziwen be home? Looking at the tightly shut door, Chen Sheng showed a trace of puzzlement.

Carrying the health supplements, he walked to the Wooden House door.

Knock, knock.

"Teacher Xu, are you home?"

"I bought something for you."

No one answered.

Chen Sheng cocked his ear and listened.

This time, however, he heard nothing at all.

"Could it be a mouse?"

Chen Sheng muttered.

With that thought in mind, he knocked on the door a few more times.

After confirming that no one was home, Chen Sheng could only return to his own house first.

Bang! After taking off his Weighted Gear, Chen Sheng immediately felt his body relax.

He picked up a citrus fruit and began peeling it.

He tossed a segment into his mouth and bit down lightly.

Fresh, sweet juice immediately burst across his mouth.

"Sure enough, it's sweet."

In just five minutes, Chen Sheng had devoured three oranges.

Afterward,

he took out a packet of medicinal herbs and tossed them into the pot, then showered and prepared to take a nap.

The sun gradually sank westward,

and the sky grew darker.

When Chen Sheng was awakened by his phone ringing, the room was pitch-black.

After switching on the light, Chen Sheng got up and headed to the kitchen.

An hour later.

After cleaning up the remains of dinner, Chen Sheng put on his Weighted Gear again.

Now, whenever he trained without any weight on him, he always felt something was off.

Only when the familiar heaviness returned to his body did Chen Sheng nod in satisfaction.

He went out onto the balcony.

Just as he was about to begin practicing, Chen Sheng caught sight of a figure slowly walking down the path.

It was Xu Ziwen, carrying two bags of citrus fruit.

At that moment, Xu Ziwen happened to see him as well.

"Teacher Xu, getting off work so late today?"

Chen Sheng greeted him warmly.

"Couldn't be helped. The school held an evening party today, and it only just ended."

Xu Ziwen spoke weakly.

His body swayed slightly as he walked, and he looked exhausted.

"Then get some rest early, Teacher Xu. I won't disturb you."

Seeing that the other man seemed tired, Chen Sheng did not mention the health supplements and decided to give them to him tomorrow instead.

After exchanging a few more pleasantries, Chen Sheng was about to look away when he suddenly recalled the sound he had heard inside the Wooden House that afternoon.

For some reason,

he felt that something was wrong.

"Teacher Xu, today—"

Chen Sheng looked at Xu Ziwen again, intending to ask him to wait.

But at that moment, thud!

Xu Ziwen suddenly collapsed in front of the Wooden House. The citrus fruit in his hands scattered all over the ground.

"Teacher Xu, are you okay?!"

Chen Sheng was startled and hurriedly called out from afar.

But Xu Ziwen did not respond.

Seeing this,

Chen Sheng hurried downstairs.

He reached the front of the Wooden House.

Xu Ziwen's eyes were half-closed, his face deathly pale, and his chest rose and fell continuously.

Chen Sheng knew nothing about medicine, so he took out his phone and prepared to call an ambulance.

But Xu Ziwen raised a hand to stop him.

"N-No ambulance."

Gripping Chen Sheng's wrist, he spoke in an almost pleading tone.

"I've run out of chocolate. Do you have any?"

At that,

Chen Sheng froze.

Chocolate? Could it be low blood sugar? Just as Chen Sheng was wondering,

Xu Ziwen shakily pulled out his phone.

He turned the screen toward Chen Sheng.

There was only one word on it.

RUN! Chen Sheng's pupils contracted.

He opened his mouth, about to say something, but his expression suddenly changed.

Chen Sheng discreetly glanced inside the Wooden House, as though he had noticed something.

"I have some at home. I'll take you there."

Instead of fleeing as Xu Ziwen had told him to, he hoisted the man onto his shoulder and sprinted toward his own home.

Very soon,

he reached the third floor.

"Give me water... and chocolate."

The moment they entered the living room, Xu Ziwen spoke again from Chen Sheng's back.

His weakness did not seem to be an act.

Chen Sheng did not ask any questions.

He placed him directly on the sofa, handed him the chocolate, and immediately ran to get hot water.

By the time Chen Sheng brought over the hot water,

Xu Ziwen had already finished more than half of a box of twenty-four chocolates.

After taking a large gulp of hot water, he continued stuffing chocolate into his mouth as though he were starving.

"Phew—"

Only after the chocolate had rapidly gone down did Xu Ziwen let out a long breath and lie back on the sofa.

"Sorry, Little Brother Chen. I scared you."

"It's a hereditary illness in our family. I can't really say what it's called."

"My digestive ability has been extremely poor since I was young. Most of what I eat is difficult to convert into energy."

"Because of that, I've had to rely on Qi and Blood Tonic or high-calorie foods like broth all year round to replenish myself."

"Maybe I used up too much energy during the event today and failed to replenish it in time. That's why this happened."

Xu Ziwen explained his abnormal condition to Chen Sheng, wearing an apologetic smile.

He did not mention what had happened earlier, as if unwilling to tell Chen Sheng too much.

However, Chen Sheng did not answer.

He simply sat on the sofa beside him, his eyes fixed on his phone screen.

His fingers kept scrolling.

Seeing this,

the smile on Xu Ziwen's face slowly faded.

"Little Brother Chen, I never intended to drag you into this."

His body gradually tensed, as though he were ready to snatch Chen Sheng's phone at any moment.

"Don't worry. I haven't called the police yet."

"And I know you don't mean me any harm. Otherwise, you wouldn't have told me to run just now."

Chen Sheng seemed to have anticipated this.

"Can I ask who the person hiding in your room is?"

"Teacher Xu... no. I should call you—"

"Shen Ziming, right?"

Chen Sheng held his phone up toward Shen Ziming.

Displayed on the screen was a wanted notice bearing a face that bore a three-tenths resemblance to Xu Ziwen.

Shen Ziming caused the deaths of seven people and seriously injured many others in a bar brawl involving weapons. He is extremely vicious and is currently at large.

Members of the public are urged to report any sightings. Do not put yourselves in danger.