Li Chen, freshly discharged from the hospital, was undeterred by his recent ordeal. Instead of rest, he plunged into an intense training regimen at home. Morning sun witnessed a relentless pursuit of physical fitness — push-ups, sprinting, and martial arts practice that pushed the boundaries of what his recently healed body could endure.

Sun Lixia, his concerned mother, watched from a distance. She pleaded with him to reconsider, emphasizing the fragility of his post-hospital state, but Li Chen’s determination overshadowed any cautionary words.

Li Chen’s training intensified on the second day, defying the need for recovery. Exhaustive combat simulations and strength training sessions took a toll on his body. Sun Lixia’s concern deepened as she noticed signs of fatigue and strain. She consulted Ren Zirui, seeking advice on how to convince Li Chen to prioritize his health.

While Li Chen pushed his physical limits, Agent 17, in a different part of the city, began his meticulous routine. The shadows became his ally as he surveilled his targets, gathering every piece of information to exploit their vulnerabilities. The city became his chessboard, and every move was a step closer to his lethal objective.

On the third day, Li Chen’s body, protesting against the relentless training, finally reached its breaking point. Collapsing from exhaustion, he acknowledged the toll his stubborn pursuit had taken. Sun Lixia rushed to his side, torn between worry and understanding. The doctor, alarmed by this reckless behavior, insisted on a thorough examination.

Simultaneously, Agent 17, armed with comprehensive knowledge about his targets, prepared to execute his mission. Every piece of information collected during the surveillance became a weapon in his arsenal, a testament to his commitment to precision and efficiency.

**Chapter 4: Fragile Resolve**

Li Chen’s return to the hospital bed marked a temporary surrender to his body’s limitations. The annoyance and frustration he felt were palpable, overshadowing the room with a sense of unrest. Sun Lixia, observing her son’s predicament, couldn’t help but feel a pang of sympathy.

"You can’t carry on like this, son," Sun Lixia expressed her concern, her words echoing with maternal worry. However, Li Chen remained distant, lost in the weight of his thoughts.

The doctor’s return brought a verdict – discharge was granted, but with a stern warning about the fragility of Li Chen’s body. The doctor’s cautionary advice fell on ears preoccupied with a singular determination to get stronger.

Ignoring the plea of his mother and the advice of the medical professional, Li Chen, with a quiet resolve, continued to stare into space. His mind, a battlefield of conflicting emotions and the burdens he carried.

In the quiet exchange of words, Li Chen, clad in his own clothes, emerged from the bathroom, shedding the reminder of his momentary defeat – the hospital gown. Sun Lixia’s heartache was evident in her sigh as she watched her son, stubborn as ever.

"You are not going to listen, are you?" Sun Lixia’s resigned words hung in the air, met with Li Chen’s somber acknowledgment. His stubbornness, a trait inherited from a father he never knew, stood as a barrier to the pleas of his concerned mother.

As Sun Lixia prepared to leave the hospital, the fragility of Li Chen’s resolve lingered in the room, a stark contrast to the strength he sought in the face of an uncertain destiny.

My apologies for the confusion. Let’s revise the scene:

Sun Lixia says, "Wait here; I will get us something to eat before we head home."

Li Chen nods and watches her walk away. As he stands by the hospital exit, he hears approaching footsteps and familiar voices. Turning around, he sees Gu Liang, Hu Yunxuan, and Jiang Xiaofeng.

Hu Yunxuan teases, "Hmm, what brings you here? Hoping to find a job?" Jiang Xiaofeng chimes in, "Hey, loser, my girlfriend is talking to you. You better respond."

Gu Liang joins in, mocking, "Look at you, Li Chen, still struggling to stand on your own. Maybe you’re not cut out for the real world."

The trio laughs, and Li Chen’s jaw clenches in response. Gu Liang shoots a derisive look at Li Chen before turning to her friends.

Gu Liang says, "Come on, let’s go. No need to bother him."

Before they walk away, Hu Yunxuan says, "Liang, you should invite him to your engagement so he can see a real man that suits you." Gu Liang stops in her tracks, walking back to Li Chen, and says, "So glad we could get divorced early; you almost stood in the way of me getting my soulmate."

Li Chen, quite irritated, responds as Jiang Xiaofeng chimes in, "Don’t you know you should respond when someone is talking to you." Li Chen, keeping his composure, says, "Congratulations on your engagement." Gu Liang says, "Pity I don’t have the invite with me, but you can come to my home. The banquet will be held there this Saturday at 8 PM. Don’t be late." Li Chen nods and replies, "Sure."

As Hu Yunxuan attempts to interject, Ren Zirui pulls up in front of Li Chen, hopping out of the car and carefully opening the backseat for him. Li Chen adds, "Let’s wait a bit." Ren Zirui then stands on the side, waiting for Li Chen’s signal.

Jiang Xiaofeng, noticing that the car was custom-made, smirks and says, "Hmm, I see you’ve found a new family to leech on." Gu Liang adds, "You are disgusting! What type of man are you? I still don’t understand why Grandma made me marry you." Hu Yunxuan chimes in, "Who knows what a leech like him did to make your grandma favor him."

Ren Zirui opens his mouth to speak, but Li Chen merely glances at him, silently indicating that he has the situation under control. Ren Zirui clenches his fists in anger but respects Li Chen’s decision.

Sun Lixia returned with takeaways, not paying attention to the trio. Jiang Xiaofeng turned around and laughed loudly, saying, "Wow, Li Chen, you actually found a sugar mama."

Gu Liang chimed in, "A sugar mama, Li Chen? You’re really something else."

Hu Yunxuan turned to Sun Lixia and warned, "Ma’am, I advise you to stay away from this man. He will milk you dry and leave."

Sun Lixia, noticing the mistaken assumption, clarified, "I would be happy if he took all my money, but I don’t think he wants to."

She then turned to Li Chen and asked, "How would you feel if I signed all my assets to you, Li Chen?"

Li Chen smiled and replied, "Let’s go."

Jiang Xiaofeng muttered, "You are a disgrace to me, Li Chen."

Gu Liang added, "Let’s go, guys. I still need to pick my dress for the engagement."

Sun Lixia, deciding to have her fun, asked, "And who might you be? Are you Li Chen’s old friends?"

Hu Yunxuan replied, "He was married to my friend here, Gu Liang."

Sun Lixia gazed at Gu Liang and commented, "You’re getting engaged so soon."

Gu Liang confidently stated, "I couldn’t wait to divorce. Found someone 100 times better than him."

Sun Lixia nodded understandingly, saying, "I see. Well, congratulations then."

Gu Liang extended an invitation, "You should both come to my engagement."

She turned to Li Chen and teasingly added, "Li Chen, don’t leave your sugar mama behind."

Ren Zirui chuckled softly and shook his head, finding it amusing that Sun Lixia was playing along with the assumptions the trio had made.

Li Chen, wanting to leave, said, "Let’s go, I need some rest."

Sun Lixia agreed, "Sure, anything for my baby," and then laughed as she got in the car, with Li Chen following. The car drove away, leaving the trio standing there looking at it as it disappeared from their sight.

As the trio walked their own way, Jiang Xiaofeng remarked, "Li Chen is really something else."

Hu Yunxuan added, "He was used to living at the Gu villa that he had to find a sugar mama."

Gu Liang chimed in, "I guess that 6 million he received has run out."

Jiang Xiaofeng speculated, "Soon that old lady will drop, and he will be back on the streets like the rest of the orphans."

Hu Yunxuan suggested, "Maybe he will just find another. Who knows, poor people do anything to get a taste of the good life."

The trio laughed, and Jiang Xiaofeng asked Gu Liang, "So, Liang, did you really mean to invite him?"

Gu Liang smirked, "You wait and see. I have a surprise for him that day."

The car carrying Li Chen and Sun Lixia sped through the streets, leaving behind the trio’s mocking laughter. Inside, Li Chen was overwhelmed by exhaustion, trying to ignore the comments. Sun Lixia couldn’t hide her concern; the encounter had disturbed her, but she played along to shield Li Chen from unnecessary drama.

Arriving home, Li Chen went straight to his room, feeling drained but determined. Sun Lixia watched over him, worried about the toll of his training. She wished she could shelter him from the harsh realities closing in.

Li Chen, despite the fatigue, lay down, his mind buzzing with the chaos of recent days. The insults and the cruelty echoed, but he remained resolute. He was more determined than ever to protect those he cared for, even if it meant enduring hardships.

Sun Lixia lingered by his side, her heart heavy with the worries for her son’s safety. As Li Chen fell asleep, she stayed vigilant, contemplating the coming challenges and her role in safeguarding her family.

Outside, the night enveloped the house in silence, as uncertainty and anticipation loomed over the impending engagement, and Li Chen’s destiny remained shrouded in enigmatic threads.