Chapter 11: A Friend Worth Keeping

Until he saw Han Wei being pushed into the ambulance, Wu Bei remained calm and left without a trace.

As the former top fighter of the team, Wu Bei was quite confident in his own abilities.

If nothing unexpected happened, that bastard would be undergoing rehabilitation in the hospital for the next month.

Walking back along the same path, a cloud of worry once again settled over Wu Bei’s heart. The harassment from Aoxue Group was temporarily resolved, but how should he handle the old man’s serious medical expenses?

Whatever could be borrowed, loaned, or sold—he had tried it all. The elderly man's daily expenses of over a thousand yuan felt like an invisible mountain pressing down on him, suffocating.

He had to find a way to make money, and it had to be a high-yield, quick-return venture with low investment.

But what could he do? The skills he learned in the military were hardly needed in the civilian world. He certainly couldn’t take to the streets performing tricks.

Without exaggeration, the most valuable thing on him at that moment was the phone in his pocket.

The phone? Damn! Where was the phone?

Wu Bei patted his pockets and suddenly realized his phone was missing.

Sweat broke out on his forehead. The loan he had just secured yesterday hadn’t even been withdrawn yet, and several housekeeping jobs he had contacted were still awaiting replies. If something happened to the old man and they couldn’t reach him, how anxious would that be!

"Damn it!"

He turned his pockets inside out, but found nothing. Frustrated, Wu Bei swung a few punches at the empty air.

This was an era where you needed money the moment you opened your eyes, but not one where money could be easily earned just by waking up.

Before his father fell ill, Wu Bei, like all young men his age, believed: My fate is mine, not heaven’s.

But after hitting dead ends everywhere and facing countless setbacks, he realized: If heaven meant to destroy you, all your struggles would be in vain.

Over an hour later, Wu Bei dragged his weary legs to the hospital.

---

“Hahaha, Xiao Bei has always followed me since childhood—quiet and steady!”

From inside the ward came the old man’s hearty laughter.

Hearing voices inside, Wu Bei pushed open the door, puzzled.

In the past year, almost no one had come to visit the old man of their own accord. Could the sun really be rising from the west today? Who could it be?

When he saw the figure beside the bed, Wu Bei was a bit stunned. He never would have guessed it was Wang Shun, the taciturn young man he had met just a few hours ago.

Some fruit and gift boxes were placed on the bedside table.

Wang Shun sat beside the bed, the old man leaned against the headboard, sitting cross-legged.

The two were chatting animatedly. Remarkably, the old man’s face was flushed with health, looking even more vigorous than usual.

“Shun… Shunzi?”

Wu Bei’s eyes widened immediately.

Wang Shun gave a goofy smile and waved casually. “All done here, Brother Wu.”

“You’re really careless—how could you leave your phone in the work vehicle? Luckily, Shun found it in time.”

The old man took a phone from under the pillow and handed it to Wu Bei, chiding him without much warmth, “Pay more attention to your things. You’re not a kid anymore; I can’t always follow you around to remind you.”

“Yeah,” Wu Bei responded hastily, taking the phone, still suspiciously looking at Wang Shun.

“Bed 9, please settle the hospital bill!”

At that moment, the door opened and a nurse came in.

“That can’t be right. I just paid. Why is there another charge?”

---

Wang Shun stood up immediately, his expression displeased as he asked.

The nurse looked down and flipped through her ledger.

“Forty minutes ago, I scanned and paid. If you don’t believe me, there’s a record right here.”

Wang Shun hurried over, anxiously explaining.

Watching Wang Shun closely, Wu Bei suddenly understood everything. He must have accidentally left his phone in the vehicle when he got off, and Wang Shun just happened to find it.

Then, when the hospital called about the bill, Wang Shun answered on his behalf, learning everything about Wu Bei’s situation.

Though Wu Bei wasn’t sure what Wang Shun’s intentions were in coming to the hospital, he believed the young man had no ill will.

“You’ve got a good friend there.”

As Wu Bei was pondering, Wu Shihao looked up and lowered his voice to his son.

“Heh, just so-so.”

Wu Bei replied casually.

Wu Shihao continued, “Son, there are countless friends who bring glory in good times, but true brothers who offer help in hardship are rare. Someone like that is worth keeping for a lifetime.”

Looking at the honest-looking, thick-browed young man, Wu Bei bit his lip and nodded firmly.

“Knock knock knock…”

Suddenly, someone rapped loudly on the door. Nurse Su Qing peeked her head in, first greeting Wu Shihao politely, then giving Wu Bei a complicated look as she waved him over.

“Mr. Wu, there’s something I need to discuss with you. Is this a good time?”