Chapter 116: The Mechanical Arm

Peng Dongli replied, "Director Wang says there is a high-ranking official within our ranks who is a spy!"

"No way!"

If a high-ranking official is a spy, how did they pass the previous background checks?

Peng Dongli replied, "Spies aren't necessarily spies from the start. Look at those corrupt officials; most of them started out as honest ones, but as their status climbed, their appetites grew. Perhaps it's the same for the person within our ranks."

"Are there any leads?"

Peng Dongli shook his head. "Director Wang says it's not yet certain who it is. You know, ever since he heard you were injured and lost an arm, he's been absolutely furious! He even threatened his superiors that he would resign on the spot if the mole isn't found!"

"Huh?"

Zhang Mingyang hadn't expected Grandpa Wang to offend his superiors on his behalf.

"Let's put that aside for now. Old Tian will bring something over for you in a bit."

"Bring what? It's already kind enough of you all to bring me food."

"Oh, shut up!"

The two of them laughed.

"Oh, by the way! Didn't Bai Muqing come today?"

"Bai Muqing?" Zhang Mingyang hadn't seen her. "Senior Brother Peng, has Bai Muqing been here?"

"You don't know?" Peng Dongli looked at him in surprise. "She was the one by your side taking care of you throughout the five days you were in a coma."

"Huh?" Zhang Mingyang truly hadn't known. "Senior Brother, she was the one looking after me while I was unconscious?"

"What? You're not happy about that?"

"No...!" Zhang Mingyang waved his hands. "It's not that I'm not happy, I just didn't expect her to come."

Peng Dongli glanced outside the door to ensure no one was eavesdropping and whispered, "Junior Brother, you really have good taste. As soon as Bai Muqing heard about your accident, she took a flight over that very night. She looked after you for five days straight without sleep. Once, I even saw her leaning over you, crying in secret! If you ask me, you should just marry her; the girl clearly doesn't mind your condition."

Listening to his senior brother, Zhang Mingyang pictured Bai Muqing crying by his side. "To be honest, she is beautiful, though her temper is a bit explosive. But if you're looking for other flaws, you really can't find any. If she really did become my wife, well, it might actually be a perfect fit."

As he thought about it, Zhang Mingyang began to smile.

Peng Dongli saw Zhang Mingyang’s silly grin and nodded. "Alright! It's practically a done deal between you two."

"Marry who?"

Tian Wenyuan walked in carrying a large box.

Zhang Mingyang stammered, "Who's marrying who! Senior Brother Peng and I were just talking about base matters."

Peng Dongli chimed in, "You've got sharp ears, kid. We were talking about the base, and you heard it as 'marrying who'."

Tian Wenyuan looked at Zhang Mingyang with a smile. "Alright, everyone understands men's business. First, try this out." He handed over the item in his hands.

"Senior Brother Tian, what is this?"

Peng Dongli unwrapped the packaging, revealing a mechanical arm. "Junior Brother, this was custom-made for you by Old Sun's granddaughter, Sun Wenwen."

"Sun Wenwen?"

"Oh!" Zhang Mingyang remembered. Old Sun's granddaughter from the Monan Base. How did she know he had lost his arm?

"Don't overthink it," Peng Dongli replied. "The entire project team knew about the convoy accident. Once Sun Wenwen learned of your situation, she specially crafted a bio-arm for you. She asked me to give it to you so you could try it out; if it doesn't work, she'll make adjustments."

With that, Peng Dongli attached the mechanical arm to Zhang Mingyang's right side and activated it. A sharp sting passed through, then vanished instantly.

"Hey!"

Zhang Mingyang waved his right arm and clenched his fist. The mechanical arm followed his thoughts perfectly—clench when he wanted to clench, make a peace sign when he wanted to make a peace sign.

"Senior Brother, this really works! The arm actually listens to me!"

Peng Dongli replied, "According to the doctors, you should wait until your right arm is fully healed before attaching it, but Sun Wenwen modified it. She added a bio-repair system to the part connected to your stump to help your limb heal faster. Even after you recover, there's no need to replace the system; it will automatically maintain your limb. The mechanical arm is rechargeable, and one charge lasts a week."

Zhang Mingyang waved his arm happily, but soon he felt a wave of sadness. No matter how well this mechanical arm worked, it would never be his original one.

Zhang Mingyang asked, "Senior Brother, was my severed arm ever found?"

"This..." Tian Wenyuan stammered. "Your severed arm was found, but... it had been blown to pieces. The doctors said it couldn't be repaired."

Hearing his senior brother, Zhang Mingyang nodded. "It's fine. Actually, this one is quite good. Look, I can eat with it without any trouble."

As he spoke, Zhang Mingyang used the mechanical arm to pick up a fork and eat his lunch.

The two of them watched him with deep regret. If only they had found him sooner, he wouldn't be in this state.

*Knock, knock!*

There was a knock at the door.

"Come in!"

A pretty nurse walked in. "Oh! You've got the arm on?"

Zhang Mingyang smiled and waved his arm. "Look, it works quite well! Just like a real hand!"

The nurse walked over to check the instrument data. "Everything looks fine. Make sure to get plenty of rest. No matter how good this thing is, it's not as good as natural recovery."

Tian Wenyuan nodded and replied, "Don't worry, we'll keep an eye on him; there won't be any problems."

After she left, Tian Wenyuan followed the nurse out. "What's your name? How old are you this year? Do you have contact information so we can stay in touch..."

Watching Tian Wenyuan walk out of the ward, Peng Dongli shook his head. "This guy is even trying to pick up girls at the hospital."

Zhang Mingyang laughed and said, "Senior Brother Tian isn't getting any younger, so it's normal! It's normal!"

After teasing Tian Wenyuan, Zhang Mingyang asked, "Senior Brother Peng, what about your work at the base since you're both here?"

Peng Dongli replied, "We were given special approval by the Director; our work at the base has been temporarily handed over to others."

"Oh." Zhang Mingyang looked at his condition and wondered how long it would be before he could recover and return to his post.

Peng Dongli saw his thoughts. "Your job now is to focus on healing. Don't think about anything else. Once you're better, we'll go back to work without any worries."

Zhang Mingyang nodded. That was all he could do for now.

"Oh, right!" Peng Dongli took a package of spiced beef from his backpack and handed it to Zhang Mingyang. "This is from your teacher, Lin Guangming. He said eating beef will speed up the healing of your wounds, so eat up. Once you finish it, he'll send you more."

Taking the beef, Zhang Mingyang smelled the familiar scent—the teacher's wife's spiced beef. He felt touched by his teacher's care.

After chatting for a while longer, Peng Dongli was shooed away by the nurse.

Now, only Zhang Mingyang was left in the room. He lay on the bed, looking at himself, wondering how he would ever explain this to his grandparents.

*Knock, knock!*

Another knock at the door.

"Come in!"

Bai Muqing walked in, carrying a food container.