Chapter 22: A Bath Today

"Heh heh, you really are something! Who gave you such confidence? You will never see that day come."

Never before had a girl dared provoke him so brazenly.

He was a man of steel, indomitable and proud, yet she dared to dream that he would one day beg her to stay, tears streaming down his face.

Dream on—anything can happen in dreams!

"Commander, have you ever thought that your injury is simply beyond our current means to heal? If you gave medical science in our country just a little more time, perhaps we could soon conquer this technical challenge. Why not wait patiently?" Qian Lai twisted around and sat on Gu Hanchuan's sickbed, gazing at him with an innocent expression.

How naïve this girl was!

So many experts had already pronounced a death sentence; only someone as ignorant as she could still cling to hope.

"Commander, even if you are never able to stand again, must you always be upright? Who says a person in a wheelchair can’t contribute to the country?"

Qian Lai picked up an orange from the table and began peeling it. "There is a world-renowned physicist abroad. At twenty-one, he was diagnosed with ALS, his body paralyzed, unable even to speak. Yet, relying on the few fingers he could still move, he communicated through a speech synthesizer. In the end, not only did he become a university professor, he also won world-class awards and made tremendous contributions to physics. Do you know what prognosis the doctors gave him back then?"

She broke off a segment of orange and popped it into her mouth. "So sweet," she said, smiling at Gu Hanchuan as she deliberately chewed, making the fruit seem even juicier.

Gu Hanchuan, who hadn’t had a drop of water in three days, instinctively swallowed as he watched her.

Realizing her ploy, he quickly turned his face away.

Qian Lai paid him no mind and continued casually, "At the time, he was twenty-one when diagnosed, and the doctors predicted he had only two years left. But guess what happened?"

She broke off another segment and brought it to his lips. He dodged; she pursued.

Regardless of his resistance, she pressed the orange against his cracked lips and squeezed, letting a few drops of juice slide into his mouth.

Her actions startled Gu Hanchuan, but she only smiled and said, "Moisten your lips. I heard you haven’t drunk water in three days. Isn’t it sweet? I didn’t lie to you!"

The girl flashed him a dazzling smile, revealing a hidden dimple.

Without waiting for his reply, she continued, "In the end, he lived until seventy-six and made immense contributions to science."

She fixed her gaze on his eyes, and noticing a fleeting trace of doubt, she pressed on, "So, as this case shows, a doctor’s words are not always set in stone. There are always exceptions. You must believe that your fate belongs to you, not to the heavens!

"And another thing—I’ve heard you’re the army’s foremost electromagnetic pulse expert. Tell me, do you think the army would be the same without you? Or would your death bring a tremendous loss?"

Of course, Qian Lai knew Gu Hanchuan was a rare talent in the field of electromagnetic pulses, cultivated by the military academy. In these times, cutting-edge electromagnetic research had strategic significance. To train an expert of his caliber required five to ten years at least.

"This world keeps turning, no matter who is gone," Gu Hanchuan insisted stubbornly.

But Qian Lai could see through him. His confidence had collapsed, and he desperately needed external validation.

"Indeed, the world won’t stop turning if you’re gone. But it would set back our nation’s communication and nuclear research. After all, there are very few experts like you in the country right now.

"Comrade Gu Hanchuan, when your legs could move, you fought on the battlefield. Now that they can’t, why not use your knowledge and intellect to fight in a different way? You know better than I do how much our country needs you in electromagnetic research.

"Are you afraid your reputation will fade, or are you just shirking responsibility? Think it over.

"I’m not trying to bind you with moral principles. I’m not you, and I can’t truly experience your difficulty. But, on behalf of the nation’s medical community, I ask you—give us more time. And for the sake of our electromagnetic research, I beg you, stay in this world a little longer. Even if you only stay long enough to train a successor, you’ll have no regrets when you leave."

Her words were calm, gradually soothing his turbulent heart.

Looking at the lively, spirited life before him, Gu Hanchuan’s thoughts wandered.

He was like the withered tree outside the window, lifeless and drained of vitality.

And she was the squirrel still willing to make that tree her home.

In the eyes of the squirrel, the tree was her lifeblood.

And for the withered tree, was the squirrel not the very spark that might bring it back to life?

My fate is mine to shape, not Heaven’s.

The seemingly delicate girl before him had uttered such resolute words.

Her resolve rekindled the spirit he once had on the battlefield.

Looking at this vibrant, lively presence before him, he couldn’t help but think of so many things, all at once.

"Heh, what’s the point of talking about lofty ideals to someone who can’t even control his own bodily functions?"

Indeed, before reigniting his will to live, she first needed to help him overcome the embarrassment of his physical condition, to improve his quality of life—that was the only way to truly change his outlook.

"Before I came, I did a lot of research. First, the timing of urination and defecation can be trained. For instance, with a period of training, you can develop the habit of going in the morning or after meals, reducing awkward incidents. The same applies to urination. Over time, most situations can be anticipated and avoided.

"Moreover, Commander, have you ever heard of ‘adult diapers’?"

"Adult diapers?" Gu Hanchuan had never heard the term.

"Yes, they’re similar to baby diapers, but made with fluffy fibers, cotton, plastic film, and nonwoven fabric. I’ve already managed to make some. They’re specially designed for you. I’ll bring them tomorrow. With these, you can manage your needs without worrying about embarrassing accidents."

A glimmer of curiosity flickered in Gu Hanchuan’s eyes, though he remained skeptical.

"You see, Commander, everyday difficulties can always be resolved, right? You can devote yourself entirely to research, keep yourself busy, and wait for medical advances. Who knows? This time next year, you might stand again!"

Hope sparkled in Qian Lai’s eyes. Gu Hanchuan, half-believing, felt a faint longing for life.

"Come, have some water. You should soothe your throat. Don’t worry about accidents—I brought a waterproof pad to place under you. Tomorrow, with the adult diapers, you’ll be a tiger again!"

Qian Lai leaned in, sincerely waiting for his answer, hoping her words had moved him, even just a little.

Their eyes met, and after a moment, Gu Hanchuan suddenly shifted his gaze upward. "Is your head injury serious?"

Only then did Qian Lai remember she’d had Dr. Tan wrap her entire head to soften his heart.

"Yes, it’s quite serious. Who knows, maybe I’ll be disfigured forever. If that happens, you can’t die—you’ll have to take responsibility for me for the rest of your life."

As soon as the words left her mouth, she realized the ambiguity and quickly added, "Oh, but I trust the doctors. I’m sure it won’t come to that."

She only made it more awkward.

"By the way, Commander, shall we take a bath today?"