23 Chapter 23
Something's wrong. There's nothing right about this amount of food.
If you live a good life on weekdays and just happen to be hungry for two or three days due to an emergency, then it is understandable to eat as much food as Nakajima Atsushi at one time.
But just looking at Nakajima Atsushi's current physical condition, one can easily see that he is thin, which is definitely not caused by starvation for just one or two days.
In addition, the conversations in the orphanage revealed that the other party had suffered abuse and was forced to go on hunger strike in the past, which had long been commonplace for him.
In this physical condition, even if Nakajima Atsushi wanted to, his body would not allow him to eat so much food at one time.
People who have suffered from long-term hunger can only eat small amounts and frequently even when there is plenty of food.
If Nakajima was not lying, then after eating so much tea-soaked rice, side effects such as abdominal pain and bloating would definitely occur.
It can be seen that now, the other party not only does not show any physical discomfort, but even becomes more energetic the more he eats.
This abnormal phenomenon made Bailibian's face more solemn. Could it be that he was deceived?
"I'm so sorry, sir!" Nakajima Atsushi was starving and had a rare chance to eat a full meal. He subconsciously ate quickly, and it took him a while to notice that Bailibian's expression was not right. "I'll find a way to compensate you!"
When he found that he had eaten ten bowls of rice porridge in tea, Nakajima Atsushi realized that he had to take remedial measures immediately. Although children from orphanages were rarely adopted, he had heard stories when he was a child about children who were originally adopted but were returned because the cost of raising them was too high.
But there is no way a child of his age can be adopted.
Although the gentleman in front of me didn't say much to me, I could tell from his demeanor that he was a good person. He was very kind to take me, a troublemaker, out of the orphanage, but I was greedy and ate so much tea and rice, which must have annoyed him.
Before Bailibian could say anything, Nakajima Atsushi had already made up his mind. No matter what, he couldn't let this kind-hearted gentleman pay for the meal. Although he was useless, he could still do a job like washing dishes!
After washing the dishes, he should go back to the orphanage. If he escaped with this gentleman without saying a word, the director would definitely be very angry. It would be terrible if the kind gentleman was implicated.
"Don't be nervous. I told you I'd treat you to dinner." Bailibian waved his hand, motioning for Nakajima Atsushi to sit down. He smiled and said, "It's just that this is my first time here, and I had no idea their chazuke was so delicious. Seeing how relishing you're eating it, I kind of regret not ordering a bowl."
Although Baili Bian has not yet figured out the secret hidden in Nakajima Atsushi, for now, the other party has not done anything out of the ordinary except eating a few more bowls of rice than he expected.
What's more, maybe he really is gifted!
It would be a bit arbitrary to label someone as a bad kid just because his behavior goes against common sense.
The original nervousness gradually disappeared under Bailibian's kind smile. Nakajima Atsushi tentatively sat down slowly, and under Bailibian's encouraging gaze, he picked up the bowl of rice - although it was a bit rude, he was really hungry.
"What's wrong? Are you full?" Noticing that Nakajima Atsushi had stopped eating, Bailibian pointed curiously at the remaining bowl of rice chazuke. "There's still one bowl left. Why don't you eat it all together? Or are you tired of it?"
"No, no, no, chazuke is delicious. I haven't touched this bowl yet, but I thought, maybe, sir, you could try it." Nakajima Atsushi blushed, and the last sentence sounded like a mosquito's murmur.
Baili Bian was stunned by Nakajima Atsushi's invitation. He had never expected that his words of help would be taken so seriously.
Realizing Bailibian's embarrassment, Nakajima Atsushi lowered his head even deeper. What on earth was he doing? The kind-hearted gentleman had actually treated him to so many bowls of tea-soaked rice, so why would he care about the one he left behind? Damn it, this time the gentleman was embarrassed!
Bailibian was amused by the big red head. He smiled and said, "Thank you. I didn't expect that Dunjun would be willing to save a bowl for me. This is obviously Dunjun's favorite. It's a pity that I'm already full. Even if I try hard, I'm afraid I can only eat half a bowl. It's better not to waste food."
Under Bailibian's encouragement, Nakajima Atsushi finally swallowed the last bowl of tea rice.
After the meal, it was time to consider more pressing issues, such as where should Nakajima Atsushi be sent?
Although Bailibian saved the contact information of most people in the Armed Detective Agency, it was late at night and Dr. Yosano, who was in charge of medical care, must have left work early. Mr. Kunikida was already very tired from helping Hisashi with his homework, so it seemed inappropriate to disturb him further.
But putting Nakajima Atsushi in the hotel seems inhumane.
"Shall we go to the hospital first?" After thinking for a long time, Bailibian suddenly remembered that the young man in front of him was not a person with super powers. Since he was not a person with super powers, there was no need to go to the Armed Detective Agency for treatment. An ordinary hospital would be enough.
This proposal made the teenager, who had been relaxing, even more panicked. Nakajima Atsushi waved his hands repeatedly and said in a panic, "That's too much trouble for you! I'm not sick, and there's nothing serious wrong with me. There's no need to spend so much money!"
While the orphanage's conditions weren't bad, Nakajima Atsushi knew that medical care was expensive. He didn't have any serious illnesses, and he'd already been consuming so much food, which was already a huge burden for this kind man. How could he afford to burden him with more money?
Watching Nakajima Atsushi's clumsy movements, Bailibian's doubts were gradually dispelled. He patted the boy's shoulder soothingly, looked him in the eye sincerely, and asked, "Are you just worried about the money?"
Nakajima Atsushi shook his head in panic, then nodded, "I, I'm just worried about causing you trouble."
What a good kid.
No lies at all.
Bailibian took Nakajima Atsushi's hand without question and walked towards the hospital. "Money doesn't matter. I'm very rich."
But when he arrived at the hospital, Bailibian was dumbfounded.
The scar that was there at noon was gone!
According to the medical report, although Nakajima Atsushi was thin, he had no unusual conditions other than malnutrition and long-term irregular diet. Apart from these, he was even healthier than many people.
Baili Bian remained calm as he took Nakajima Atsushi out of the hospital. On the way, he questioned Nakajima Atsushi about everything in a roundabout way.
"Then let's live in this room." Bailibian arranged Nakajima Atsushi in the guest room opposite his bedroom.
It was called a guest bedroom, but there was nothing inside except a bed. In fact, this room was originally prepared for cats.
However, because the cat had not yet arrived, the room remained empty. Over time, Bailibian added a single bed. Combined with the blank walls and ceiling, it was perfect for projecting.
Wearing the pajamas that Bailibian bought from a street shop, Nakajima Atsushi didn't suspect anything. He said good night obediently and went into the house to sleep.
Baili Bian stayed quietly in the bedroom, reviewing his conversation with Nakajima Atsushi.
Judging from the information he has obtained so far, Nakajima Atsushi is most likely also a person with special abilities, but his special abilities probably only affect himself and can speed up the repair of his body.
This ability reminded him of Ms. Bai, who promoted the development of medical technology in the world in his hometown.
This lady had a very ordinary youth. She fell in love with a man, and for his white moonlight, she lost her liver, kidneys, and uterus. After she finally recognized the true face of the scumbag man, she got drunk in a bar and had a one-night stand. But after leaving her hometown, she was surprised to find that she was pregnant!
However, as a doctor in biomedicine, she did not attribute it to a gift from God. Instead, she began to study the differences between her body and others, thus promoting the innovation of biological sciences around the world.
Although he knew it was unlikely, Bailibian was desperately hoping that Dazai Osamu would appear before him. If there was a possibility that Nakajima Atsushi's condition wasn't due to supernatural powers, but rather to genetic factors like Ms. Bai, then perhaps the world could be transformed!
Just as Bailibian's thoughts were wandering, a strange noise seemed to come from the room opposite.
Baili Bian immediately got out of bed, approached the door cautiously, and carefully opened it a crack - there was no one in the corridor.
I tentatively stretched out a foot, but the corridor was still silent.
Baili Bian walked out of his bedroom and approached slowly.
The closer we got to Nakajima Atsushi's door, the clearer the sound became.
The sound at this time was not the kind of animal sound that Bailibian heard at first, but more like the sound of claws rubbing against wooden boards.
What on earth is it?
Baili Bian clearly remembered that there was nothing in this bedroom except the bed.
But the exposed bed boards have all been treated, and even if they are scratched, they will never make such a simple wooden sound.
It can't be that he put his hand under the bed.
As he was guessing this, Bailibian quietly opened the door.
There was no one on the bed.
But the sound continued.
Out of respect for horror movies, Bailibian first checked the ceiling.
Nothing.
Then, it can only be...
Baili Bian bent down and looked under the bed in the moonlight that entered the room from the corridor.
The pure white hair sparkled with silver light in the dim light, appearing particularly dazzling in the dim world.
This is……
Baili Bian couldn't believe what he saw.
But just by relying on that claw moving back and forth, he recognized it—
That's a huge cat!
【Author’s words】
The room prepared for cats, of course, only cats can live in it!
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