Chapter 86: Understanding. Racing in a wheelchair was definitely a first in his life.

When He Guan awoke, his hand was gripping a corner of the blanket, its soft weight resting on his face.

The blinding sunlight hit his eyes as he opened them, causing him to shield them. Beside him, a voice inquired, "Awake?"

He Guan didn't respond and kept his eyes closed, adjusting to the brightness.

"Want some water?"

Still, He Guan remained silent.

He rolled his eyes beneath his closed lids, attempting to shake off his morning moodiness. However, his throat felt sore, and he didn't want to speak.

Yet, seemingly oblivious, the other persisted, "I..."

With his eyes still shut, He Guan tried to cover the other's mouth with his hand but mistakenly knocked a book from his grasp.

"Alright, alright," the man picked up the book, placing it back on the bedside table, speaking placatingly, "I won't ask anymore."

This man seemed to be in a good mood, whereas He Guan's disposition differed. He waited for the man to move away before sitting up.

He Guan's gaze settled on the soft blanket, and after staring for a while, he felt a sting in his eyes, causing him to blankly look upwards towards the skylight.

Last night, through the pristine window, he had gazed at the stars embedded in the night sky, glittering like tiny diamonds.

If, by chance, that man noticed him being distracted, he'd have no choice but to return his gaze, immediately ensnared once again in the torrid, sticky vortex.

The sky was crystal clear, occasionally punctuated by the chirping of birds. Due to its island location, this place was remarkably peaceful.

The window directly facing the bed had been slightly ajar, allowing a rush of fresh air.

As morning broke, a lucid sunlight streamed through the window, draping him like a blanket of light. It touched his tousled hair, tousled from sleep, and reflected in his deep-set eyes.

On normal days, He Guan's hair wouldn't stick up this much. But he slept so late last night, and during the shower, he could only muster enough strength to embrace someone, unaware of when his hair was blow-dried.

Freshly blow-dried hair tends to hold its shape easily, standing on end after a night's rest.

Realizing only afterward, he raised his hand to touch his hair's ends, drawing his gaze away from the sky.

Just then, that person returned.

He Guan's eyes shifted to the rectangular tray in his hand, catching the sweet scent of bananas and apples.

He rubbed his growling stomach. At first, he thought he was hungry, but his mind wandered, recalling how Lou Dongzang had touched this spot the night before.

He Guan slapped his own cheek, creating a sharp sound.

"Better not ask why," He Guan said before Lou Dongzang could.

Lou Dongzang sat next to him, placing the tray by the bed, and obediently didn't ask.

But He Guan could tell he seemed particularly at ease.

It could be the subtle curve of his lips, or his slightly drooping eyelashes, or even the gesture of pulling the blanket for him.

Knowing someone this intimately was a new experience for He Guan. He wasn't exactly mad, but he couldn't soften his expression immediately. Lou Dongzang always tended to push boundaries.

"I'm thinking of wandering around outside today," He Guan said, finishing the banana milk and peeling the roasted apple. "Are you still grounded?"

Lou Dongzang looked at him for a moment before replying, "Can you walk properly?"

He Guan stopped peeling the apple, "Can we not touch on the sore points?"

"I was just—"

He Guan stuffed the half-peeled apple into his mouth to cut him off.

Lou Dongzang held his wrist, preventing him from moving away, took a bite of the apple, and then released him.

He said nothing, just kept looking at him.

After finishing, He Guan took the wet tissue Lou Dongzang handed over and got off the bed.

He overestimated himself, thinking he could walk smoothly. But his leg weakened, and he almost knelt on the floor.

With quick reflexes, Lou Dongzang caught him, pulling him into his embrace.

Annoyed, He Guan buried his face in Lou Dongzang's chest, saying nothing.

Lou Dongzang gently stroked his back, whispering after a while, "Don't be mad at me."

"I'm not," mumbled He Guan, "It's just different from what I imagined."

After he spoke, the person beneath him chuckled again.

"What were you expecting?"

He Guan hesitated briefly, struggling to sit up from his embrace, "Definitely not this... not me being unable to walk!"

Little did he know that his flushed rebuttal was a sight to behold.

Lou Dongzang gently rubbed his ear, "Want a massage?"

"No need," He Guan evaded his hand, "Give me some time to adjust. I want to go out alone today."

He emphasized "alone."

"Can't I come with you?" Lou Dongzang said with a hint of disappointment, "Ever since my eyes got better, I haven't really had a chance to gaze at you for long..."

He Guan shot him a warning look, "You saw plenty yesterday."

"But..."

Anticipating that Lou Dongzang would say it wasn't enough, He Guan took the initiative. He leaned down, kissed him, and gently licked his lips.

He even preemptively located the clothes Lou Dongzang had set out for him. Grabbing them after the kiss, he made a swift exit, smoothly executing the series of actions without lingering.

By the time Lou Dongzang snapped out of his daze, He Guan had vanished.

Downstairs, there was a slight noise followed by a suppressed intake of breath.

By the sound of it, someone with a sore back had been careless and bumped into something near the staircase.

It took Lou Dongzang a while to get up from the bed, searching with an amused look for the Yunnan Baiyao (a traditional Chinese medicine).

*

Awkwardly, He Guan changed into his sportswear, feeling as if his legs and waist were uncooperative. He experienced the full brunt of a strained back, taking at least half a minute to steady himself against the door frame before leaving.

Seeing that the other man hadn't followed, he exhaled and proceeded toward the stairs.

From below, someone asked, "Heading out?"

It was Yan Fengqing.

He Guan raised an eyebrow, noting the electric wheelchair Yan Fengqing was pushing — an upgraded model with cushioning, accompanied by a professional smile.

"What's this about?" He Guan gestured towards the wheelchair.

"Here's the thing," Yan Fengqing explained, "Mr. Lou wanted you to experience a day in the life of a person with disabilities, so he suggests you use this for your outings today."

Grateful, He Guan swiftly descended the stairs and settled himself into the wheelchair.

"Then, my job here is done," Yan Fengqing checked his watch, "Goodbye."

He Guan bid him farewell and began exploring the wheelchair beneath him.

To the left was a transparent acrylic cover. Beneath it were a joystick, a pop-out trigger, and a series of raised control buttons. He Guan manipulated the joystick, amazed at its sensitivity as it carried him in various directions.

He playfully pressed forward on the joystick as if engrossed in a game, while also studying the panel's buttons.

When He Guan pressed a button bearing a black bell against a red backdrop, a sharp alarm sounded. He hastily pressed it again, unintentionally amplifying the noise. As he traveled along the sidewalk, surrounded by residential areas, windows were flung open with shouts of, "The alarm's gone off!"

Patrol officers, appearing as security guards equipped with emergency gear, hurried over. Some nearby residents made calls. He Guan was quickly encircled, bombarded with inquiries about his well-being.

Shocked, He Guan repeatedly assured them he was fine, gesturing his ignorance about the button's functions, admitting he had pressed it accidentally.

"As long as you're alright, that's what matters," the security officer, noticing his genuine mistake, wasn't angered nor did she reprimand him for wasting her time. She dispersed the gathering crowd, restoring order to the street and then asked him to wait.

Pivoting the wheelchair, He Guan said, "I can accompany you."

"That would be wonderful," she replied with a smile. "Come along then; I'll get you a manual."

As they journeyed, He Guan chatted with her, learning that she had lived on the island her entire life, just graduating and joining the workforce.

She was young but physically impressive. For women, due to lower testosterone levels than men, achieving such a robust physique requires much more effort.

"You've managed to maintain such a fit physique despite being a recent graduate?" He Guan asked, curious.

"Are you from the outside?" she inquired, surprised.

Spotting her accurate guess, He Guan seemed puzzled, "Is it that obvious?"

"Absolutely," she chuckled, "Because here, students always have time for physical training."

After saying this, she realized potential misinterpretation and clarified, "I don't mean to compare. We just have fewer students here. We have more teachers than students, allowing each student to have a personalized learning plan. Physical fitness is as crucial as academics. There's no fixed curriculum; students pursue what interests them. However, they must take technical courses."

He Guan, intrigued, asked, "Technical courses?"

"Yes, hands-on courses. In elementary school, they learn basic tasks like cleaning and organizing. In middle school, they study how to fix ceiling lights, retrofitting washing machine pipelines with robotic vacuums, crafting cabinets, soldering circuit boards, assembling a computer, repairing their wheelchairs, and making hearing aids. By high school, they delve deeper into their chosen subjects. With an abundance of teachers, they can select any expertise."

As she explained, her stride remained brisk, guiding him towards the heart of this community.

The place indeed felt like a unique microcosm.

He Guan found himself in the central square, characterized by its unique, gently sloping staircase with both steps and ramps. At the square's heart, a fountain's tranquil water murmured, with ample space surrounding it.

Behind the Central Plaza stands the tallest building, known as the Administrative Hall.

He Guan retrieved a map of the area and a manual for the wheelchairs from the magazine rack in the hall.

Yesterday, He Guan stayed in the western part of this area, which is a residential district. The east has various daily necessity shops, predominantly commercial establishments. The north isn't marked on the map and remains a vast blank space, while the south is an entertainment hub, housing karaoke bars and cinemas.

He Guan asked, "About how many people live on the island?"

"Over four thousand?" The officer pondered uncertainly. "You might want to ask Mr. Lou. He would know for sure."

"Thank you for your time. Sorry for taking up so much of it."

The officer waved it off, "No worries. When I leave my post, someone else fills in. I've actually finished my shift for the day."

"What do you mean?"

"Well, due to some unforeseen circumstances," the officer chuckled, glancing at He Guan.

"You folks have a nice job here," He Guan remarked.

As the officer was leading He Guan out of the hall, an old man on a speeding wheelchair made a sharp stop in front of the Administrative Hall, the tire screeching loudly against the ground.

She couldn't ignore He Guan and hastily approached the old man, scolding, "When did you bypass the speed limiter again? You were going over 140 just now! There's a speed limit around the Administrative Hall!"

"Ah," the old man, with thinning hair and yellowed teeth, sat in his wheelchair, casually replying, "Hacking this wheelchair system is a piece of cake for me. Xiao Wei, don’t you think my driving skills have improved?"

"Grandpa! Do this again, and I'll complain to Grandma!"

"Oh, you little troublemaker! I'm not buying you chocolates anymore!"

He Guan looked at the joystick in the old man's hand, thinking.

So that's how it works.

Racing in a wheelchair was indeed a first for him.

He wanted to give it a try too.