Li Chen spent the rest of the night pondering the profound implications of his own death, grappling with the fear it instilled in him. He felt an urgent need to talk to his mother and gain a deeper understanding of how the mysterious drug truly worked.

The following day, he was roused from his thoughts by the voices of Sun Lixia and Xu Zhonhao. Sun Lixia, sounding determined, said to Xu Zhonhao, "Someone wants us dead. I need you to protect him."

Xu Zhonhao, equally determined, replied, "I understand, ma’am, but he is not that weak."

Sun Lixia emphasized, "You were sent here to protect him. If anything happens to him, you know the consequences."

Respectfully bowing, Xu Zhonhao affirmed, "I understand, ma’am. I will protect him with my life."

Concerned, Sun Lixia inquired about the attackers at the house, asking, "Who are they?"

Xu Zhonhao admitted, "I don’t know, ma’am, but they were too strong for me. Their fighting skills, I have never seen anything like it before."

Acknowledging the severity of the situation, Sun Lixia said, "The coming days won’t be easy. We have an agent of the First 20 coming for our heads."

Xu Zhonhao asked about her safety, to which Sun Lixia reassured him, "Ren Zirui will be on my side."

"Okay," Xu Zhonhao responded, understanding the gravity of the situation.

As they concluded their conversation, Li Chen cleared his throat, drawing their attention. "So that’s who you are, Xu Zhonhao," he remarked. Both Sun Lixia and Xu Zhonhao turned around, surprise evident on their faces.

Sun Lixia, caught off guard, greeted her son, "Hey, how long have you been awake?"

Li Chen replied, "Long enough to know that you sent Xu Zhonhao by my side." Xu Zhonhao, feeling a bit embarrassed, scratched his head and hastily left the room, leaving Li Chen staring at Sun Lixia.

Curious, Li Chen asked, "So, Mom, who is he?"

Sun Lixia explained, "He works for your aunt."

Perplexed, Li Chen questioned, "Why is he here?"

Sun Lixia reassured him, "Your aunt just wanted to protect you. Please don’t hate her."

Intrigued and concerned, Li Chen pressed on, "What exactly am I being protected against? I feel like there is just too much you are not telling me, Mom."

Sun Lixia sighed, "I know, but don’t worry. I will tell you everything when you get better."

Li Chen then inquired, "Is his real name Xu Zhonhao?"

Sun Lixia chuckled and replied, "Yes."

Li Chen, concerned about the danger surrounding them, pressed Sun Lixia for more information. "I heard you mention someone wants to kill us," he remarked. Sun Lixia sighed and reassured him, "Don’t worry, nothing will happen to you as long as I am still alive."

Li Chen, feeling the need to assert himself, stated, "Mom, I am not a child, and I am sure you know I can also protect myself. Just tell me everything, okay? I need to know what and who I am dealing with here."

Sun Lixia hesitated but then relented, "I am sorry... Okay, fine, I will tell you. Someone hired an assassin to kill you and me."

Li Chen clenched his fists and demanded, "Who?"

Sun Lixia admitted, "I don’t know. Ren Zirui is still investigating, but the person paid enough for the organization to deploy one of the agents of the First 20."

Li Chen questioned, "What is the First 20?"

Sun Lixia explained, "The First 20 are the first agents created by the NeuroNex drug. Kids who were injected at birth, just like you. However, these kids were then raised by the organization, making them stone-cold monsters."

Li Chen, absorbing the gravity of the situation, remarked, "So, we have a hungry wolf on our tail. Just great."

Sun Lixia nodded and said, "I will give you all my investigation reports when you get discharged, so you can understand the drug and the organization."

Li Chen, reflecting on his experience with the drug, remarked, "Back there, the drug..."

Sun Lixia finished his sentence, "It fought to control you, didn’t it?"

Li Chen admitted, "It wasn’t the first time I felt like that."

Concerned, Sun Lixia asked, "What was the trigger last and this time?"

Li Chen explained, "Anger."

Sun Lixia deduced, "So that means if you can control your anger, we can stop it from spreading to all your brain cells."

Li Chen questioned, "What happens once it does?"

Sun Lixia gravely answered, "You will be a monster like the First 20."

Li Chen, alarmed, asked, "The First 20? Does that mean there are more?" 𝙛𝓻𝒆𝒆𝒘𝙚𝓫𝙣𝙤𝒗𝙚𝓵.𝙘𝙤𝙢

Sun Lixia hesitated before replying, "I don’t really know how long they managed to continue creating this drug without..." She trailed off, and Li Chen pressed, "Without what, Mom?"

Sun Lixia sighed, "It doesn’t matter now. What matters is that I will find a way to make sure you don’t become like them."

They were interrupted by a knock on the door, and Zhang Mei and Tang Ziyi entered, their faces etched with worry. Zhang rushed forward and exclaimed, "Li Chen, you finally woke up!"

Li Chen smiled and teased, "Did you think I would die?" Zhang Mei punched his chest and retorted, "Hey, don’t speak about death like that. We were worried, okay?" Tang Ziyi joined in, expressing relief, "You really got us there, Brother Chen."

Li Chen reassured them, "Don’t worry, guys, I’m here. I still have to witness the launch of the game. How can I die so early?" Sun Lixia excused herself, saying, "I will be outside if you need me."

Zhang Mei told her, "You can relax for some time, Madame Lixia. We will take care of Li Chen." Sun Lixia replied, "Please, you kids can call me Aunt Lixia." She left the room, leaving Zhang Mei and Tang Ziyi curious about the incident. Tang Ziyi couldn’t contain his curiosity and asked, "Who were those people, Brother Chen?"

Li Chen replied, "I don’t know. They mistook me for someone else." Sensing that Li Chen didn’t want to talk about it, Zhang Mei and Tang Ziyi respected his choice and didn’t press further.

The trio continued talking about other things, and Zhang Mei updated Li Chen on how her mother was doing. They chatted and laughed, creating a light atmosphere in the room. However, amidst the casual conversation, Li Chen’s mind was occupied with thoughts of the challenges he now faced.

He realized that his life had become far more complicated than when he was staying with the Gu family. Different factions were targeting him – the mysterious organization, transmigrators seeking the manual – making everything more complex. Despite the overwhelming circumstances, Li Chen was determined to face it all head-on. Inwardly, he vowed to protect his friends and family at all costs, accepting the responsibility that came with his newfound knowledge and abilities.

Meanwhile, Sun Lixia stood outside the hospital room, awaiting updates from Ren Zirui. The corridors were quiet, and the faint hum of the hospital machinery provided a backdrop to her thoughts. Ren Zirui approached, a serious expression on his face.

Ren Zirui said, "Ma’am, the investigation is ongoing. We’re trying to trace the origins of the threat. It seems like a powerful enemy is involved."

Sun Lixia nodded, her mind processing the information. The weight of the situation was evident in her eyes. She said, "Continue with the investigation, and ensure Li Chen’s safety. We can’t afford any mistakes."

Ren Zirui assured her, "I will do my best. We’re also preparing for the arrival of the First 20 agent. I’ve contacted additional security personnel to reinforce our defenses."

Sun Lixia replied, "Good. Keep me updated on any developments. We need to be one step ahead of our adversaries."

As Ren Zirui nodded and went back to his duties, Sun Lixia gazed into the distance, her thoughts a mix of determination and concern for the challenges that lay ahead.

Sun Lixia stood in the hospital corridor, her mind a whirlwind of thoughts. The recent attack at Pinnacle Estate had left her with more questions than answers. As she pondered over the assailants’ identity, a cascade of possibilities and suspicions flooded her consciousness.

"Who could they be?" she mused, her eyes narrowing in contemplation. The unknown adversaries had displayed a level of skill and precision that unsettled her.

The unsettling feeling of being watched lingered in her thoughts. The shadows of the past, the mysterious organization, and the looming threat of the First 20 agent converged into a complex puzzle. Sun Lixia knew she needed to decipher the clues to unravel the motives behind the attack.

"I won’t let them harm my son," she whispered to herself, her resolve firm. The echoes of her determination reverberated through the sterile hospital corridor. Each step forward in the investigation was a step toward protecting Li Chen and unveiling the elusive puppet master orchestrating the chaos.

The weight of responsibility pressed on Sun Lixia’s shoulders, but she stood tall, ready to face the storm. The hospital corridor, a silent witness to her inner turmoil, held the promise of answers yet to be discovered.

Inside Li Chen’s room, the atmosphere lightened as laughter and camaraderie filled the air. Li Chen, now awake and engaged with his friends, found solace in the bonds he had formed. Little did they know, a storm was brewing, and their unity would be crucial in navigating the turbulent waters ahead. The hospital corridor stood witness to this juxtaposition of normalcy and impending danger, a silent stage for the unfolding drama in the lives of Sun Lixia and her son.