Ge Ming opened his eyes slowly. He saw light and above him was a familiar face. The face was against the light source, it was somewhat blurry, yet it felt so familiar and intimate. He opened his mouth, making a weak voice, “You…”

“Please don’t tell me you don’t recognize me anymore?” Ning Tao said as he attended to Ge Ming’s wounds.

Ge Ming had suffered some torture but was not fatally injured, thus he did not require treatment from the clinic. Ning Tao was able to treat Ge Ming himself. This was the most fortunate outcome of all the misfortunes which had happened. He had already lost his younger sister Su Ya. If his childhood friend Ge Ming were to forget him, he would not be able to accept it.

“Tao, why am I here?” Ge Ming had fully regained his consciousness. He struggled to get up and when he moved, his wounds would be pulled, so he lied back down, panting heavily in pain.

Ning Tao injected a Sacred Needle into Ge Ming’s chest. His chest had been forcefully punched. Two of his ribs were fractured and his internal organs were injured. Injected with this Sacred Needle, special spiritual power would immediately treat Ge Ming internally and his pain would be significantly alleviated.

Ge Ming seemed to be in a trance. “Those people…”

“Those were bad people.” Ning Tao hesitated to tell Ge Ming the truth to all these. Would he able to accept it if he told him?

Ge Ming suddenly recalled something. “Where’s Su Ya? Is she okay? Where is she now?”

Ning Tao said, “She’s alright, she’s still at Sunshine Orphanage now.”

Ge Ming released a sigh of relief. “I’m glad she’s alright. I was so worried.”

Ning Tao observed his reaction and smilingly said, “Chopper, do you like Su Ya?”

Ge Ming was slightly taken aback, then said flusteredly, “If I said it, will you…beat me up?”

Ning Tao slapped Ge Ming’s head. “I’ll beat you if you don’t tell me the truth.”

Ge Ming smiled sheepishly and nodded. “I like her, but…but she said I was fat, she didn’t like me.”

After staying silent for a while, Ning Tao said “Being fat is not an issue. I can help you slim down. What I want to know is, are your feelings for her serious?”

“Of course I am… Hey, what’s up with you today?” Ge Ming looked at Ning Tao with a doubtful gaze. “You clearly know that Su Ya likes you, are you trying to test me?”

Ning Tao said, “She’s still young, she doesn’t know who is suitable for her. I’ve always seen her as a younger sister. As an older brother, I would definitely wish that she finds the best partner. Promise me, take care of her, never mistreat her. Otherwise, I’ll never forgive you.”

Su Ya no longer recognized him as her older brother, and probably would never remember him for the rest of her life, but he would remember her. As an older brother, he naturally wanted to protect her and make her happy. It did not matter whether she remembered him or not. As long as she is happy and leads a good life, he would be contented.

“Tao, you’re so strange today. Of course I want to be with her but she also has to like me. You’re the one she likes. You’re so outstanding. For me to be compared to you…” Ge Ming paused to think, then came up with a comparison. “It’s like you’re Eddie Peng while I’m Yue Yunpeng. How do I compare?”

Ning Tao said with a smile, “Not all girls like handsome men. Many girls like humble men who are down to earth. As long as you’re true to her and would be good to her for the rest of your life, I will help you.”

Ge Ming got excited instantly. He endured the pain to raise his hand. “I swear, I’ll be good to Su Ya forever! If I don’t, or if I have a change of heart, you can come beat me to death, I won’t retaliate!”

Ning Tao felt a sense of comfort and also some sadness. He was comforted because Ge Ming was a kind and gentle man. If Su Ya and Ge Ming got together, Ge Ming would definitely take good care of her and dote on her endlessly. What made him sad was not Su Ya “marrying” Ge Ming, but rather, him, no longer being in her memory.

However, Ning Tao quickly reeled himself back from his thoughts. He said, “Chopper, with your words, I’m assured. I believe you can take good care of Su Ya. Next, I’ll help you slim down and give you five million to start up a business. Once you’ve achieved success in your career, Su Ya will naturally like you.”

“Wait…” Ge Ming stared at Ning Tao. “How much did you just say you’ll give me to start a business?”

Ning Tao said, “Five million. I’m afraid you’ll be too full of yourself if I gave you more. Take this five million first to test the waters. If it’s not enough, I’ll give you more in the future. If you squander it away, then you’ll go back to the kitchen to continue being a cook and I won’t help you again.”

“You… Have you gone through something bad?” Ge Ming then shook his head, looking confused. “Or perhaps, am I dreaming?”

With his finger, Ning Tao poked into a wound on Ge Ming’s thigh.

“Aiyo!” Ge Ming yelled in pain.

Ning Tao began treating Ge Ming’s wounds with adeptness.

“Tao, oh right, how did Lin Qinghua become this evil? My injuries were inflicted by his people at his command. He had even beaten me up personally, right on my leg.” Ge Ming had finally focused his attention back on “serious business”.

“Lin Qinghua is…dead,” Ning Tao said. However, he was unsure about that. That helicopter had been shot down by Jiang Hao but he did not see Lin Qinghua’s body.

“Dead?”

“Dead,” Ning Tao said. He did not want Ge Ming to recall about that person.

“What exactly happened? Those people suddenly came in and kidnapped me, taking me away. I’m just a cook, I don’t even have enough money for them to buy bullets…” Ge Ming rambled on indignantly.

Ning Tao said, “Chopper, it’s better knowing as little as possible. I’m not telling you anything in order to protect you. You better just take it that this did not happen. Go back and think of a business to start up, and take good care of Su Ya and the children, alright?”

After a moment of silence, Ge Ming said, “Alright, to have such a brother like you, I’ve already lived a life worthwhile. I’ll believe anything you say, I’ll do anything you want me to do.”

“Really?”

“Oh you, do you want me to swear?” Ge Ming was about to raise his hand again.

Ning Tao pushed his arm down and smiled saying, “Don’t swear so casually, otherwise it will lose its value. Also, promise me one last thing.”

“What is it?”

“Don’t mention to Su Ya about me. If she asks you where you got the money from, just say you struck the lottery, alright?”

Ge Ming was instantly stunned. “You…this…”

“Do you still want the startup capital?”

“Of course!”

“Then promise me,” Ning Tao said.

Ge Ming nodded. “Alright, I promise. But if Su Ya mentions you, then it would not be my problem.”

Ning Tao was sure that Su Ya would never mention about him again.

However that was not important. What was most important was that she would be safe and happy.

Ning Tao then picked up a Sacred Needle. “I’ll let you sleep for a while and you’ll be alright once you wake up.”

Ge Ming said, “I don’t want to sleep. I can endure this degree of injury. Also, you haven’t told me where this place is…”

With the injection by Ning Tao, spiritual power shocked through, and Ge Ming’s eyes were closed.

Ning Tao adeptly treated Ge Ming. After completing, he fed Ge Ming a Fine Primary Elixir. Even though it was treatment from the clinic, the Fine Primary Elixir had the effect of improving one’s constitution, and was beneficial to one’s health. If he were to make better elixirs in the future, he would also let Ge Ming and Su Ya consume them. He could not let Ge Ming and Su Ya turn into new demons, nor make them into practitioners, but he could make them live a long and healthy life free of ailments.

Lastly, Ning Tao pasted an authentic plucking talisman on Ge Ming’s abdomen. With an activation of spiritual power, he made a pulling action…

In the morning when the sky was getting brighter, Ge Ming was lying in his own bedroom. He had become significantly skinnier. After slimming down, his appearance was somewhat refreshing and sculpted. This was probably what people meant when they said fat people are unpolished diamonds.

Ning Tao patted Ge Ming’s face and whispered, “Chopper, take good care of Su Ya. I’m leaving.”

Ge Ming did not respond at all. Neither was he aware that the five million “startup capital” had already been transferred to his account.

Suddenly there were sounds of footsteps from outside the door, followed by a familiar voice, “Fatty Ge! The sun is already up yet you’re still sleeping! It’s time to prepare food for the kids! You lazy pig!”

Ning Tao burst out laughing. She was still the same, as fierce as always to anyone. Li Xiaoyu was the only person in the orphanage who could argue with her. Even so, Li Xiaoyu was often spanked on the thigh by her.

Knock knock knock!

The door had been knocked on loudly. Ge Ming who was lying in bed, slowly opened his eyes.

Ning Tao opened the closet and hid inside.

“Fatty Ge? If you’re still not getting out of bed, I’ll be kicking the door open!” Su Ya said.

“Who is it?” Ge Ming got out of his bed in a daze and went to open the door without even wearing his slippers.

Two pair of eyes exchanged glances.

“Ah!” Su Ya screamed. “Where…where did your fats go?”

“My…fats?” Ge Ming seemed to have recalled something. He hurriedly looked down, and in that instance, his pants suddenly slid down.

It was said that men would have unexpected changes after they have successfully slimmed down. This seemed to be proven by Ge Ming’s case.

Ge Ming was shocked. “Tao…”

Before he finished his words, Su Ya sent a slap right across his face.

A loud slap.

“Pervert!” Su Ya turned and ran away after slapping him.

“Su Ya, wait, let me explain to you…” Ge Ming turned around, pulled up his pants and chased after her.

“Go away! Don’t come near me! I’m calling for help!” It was Su Ya’s voice.

“Su Ya, wait for me, let me explain…” Ge Ming’s voice went further away.

Ning Tao opened the closet and stepped out from it. A smile appeared on his face as he stood at the door watching Ge Ming chase after Su Ya. He said gently, “Chopper, sister, I wish you happiness.”

A convenient door was opened and Ning Tao disappeared into it.

With this, it was unknown when they would ever meet again.