Chapter 644: Call Me Dad?
"Qiaoqiao, did you see the video content I sent you?"
"Yes, I just watched it."
Through the video, Nan Qiao saw an old man come to find Nan Shan, and the two even exchanged blows.
Not only that, but Nan Shan's response and expression were no different from a normal person.
Zheng Qinnian: "Nan Shan didn't tell me about Professor Zhong coming to see him. I only learned about it from the surveillance recorded by the pinhole cameras in the garden."
The name Professor Zhong was also gathered from the surveillance information.
Nan Qiao: "This Professor Zhong has certainly been monitoring your every move all along. No, he must have discovered you through me, then monitored you all separately, thus spotting Nan Shan."
Zheng Qinnian: "There's another possibility. The lab's shadowy boss knows about Nan Shan's existence and called over Professor Zhong, which is why he's so knowledgeable about our matters."
Nan Qiao: "I'm going to find Nan Shan to ask what's going on and see what he plans to do."
Nan Qiao was too curious. If Nan Shan could recover and be a normal person, why didn't he tell her? Why keep it secret?
What exactly was a person as intelligent as Nan Shan planning?
Zheng Qinnian: "I'll go with you. In case Nan Shan has an episode, I can protect you."
Nan Qiao: "No need, you go on with your own business. I'll bring Uncle Qin and Uncle Dao with me. The two of them together, Nan Shan won't be able to overpower."
More reasonable since Uncle Qin and Uncle Dao have firearms.
Of course, Nan Qiao wouldn't let the two use weapons lightly to avoid hurting innocents.
...
Nan Shan was watering flowers in the garden, feeling at ease.
With his back towards the entrance, Nan Shan heard footsteps before happily turning around and calling out, "Master!"
The tall, well-built man beamed with an innocent smile, as delighted as a three-year-old child.
"Nan Shan, I brought you pizza; let's go sit over there and eat."
"Thank you, Master."
Nan Shan eagerly followed Nan Qiao, while Uncle Qin and Uncle Dao carried the pizza and sodas, also bringing some fried snacks.
Nan Qiao gave them a look, and Uncle Qin and Uncle Dao retreated a bit but didn't go far.
Nan Shan happily ate, and Nan Qiao spoke only after he had mostly finished eating.
"Nan Shan, you've recovered. Why didn't you tell me?" Nan Qiao was eager to know the reason.
Nan Shan put down the pizza in his hand and took off his gloves.
Wanting to face Nan Qiao with a silly grin, he found he couldn't smile anymore.
"Master, I've not always been clear-headed. Sometimes I can be just like before." Nan Shan spoke to Nan Qiao in a normal tone.
Nan Qiao: "So now you're lucid more often, is that right?"
"I suppose." Nan Shan lowered his head.
"No matter what, it's good that you're clear-minded, and I'm also happy for you."
Who wants to live in a muddled daze, anyway?
For questions Nan Shan didn't want to answer, Nan Qiao didn't continue probing.
If he didn't want to answer, then let it be.
Nan Qiao wanted to shift the topic, but Nan Shan voluntarily confessed: "Master, I'm afraid if I told you, you wouldn't come to see me anymore."
Nan Qiao smiled helplessly: "Nan Shan, why would you think that?"
"Master, you're good to me because I'm so pitiable. If I'm not pitiable anymore, will you still be good to me? Will you leave me at Qing Shan and not see me again? I don't want to stay at Qing Shan; I want to be with you, Master."
Seeing his sorrowful expression, Nan Qiao gently comforted him: "You're overthinking it. You're my apprentice. How could I not take care of you? As the saying goes, 'Once a teacher, always a father.' I could never leave you be. I cherished you like my child before, and I will continue to love you like an elder from now on, don't worry."
Uncle Qin & Uncle Dao: "..."
Does the young lady want to be Nan Shan's father?
Nan Shan's face turned red from the phrase "once a teacher, always a father."
Even though he knew Nan Qiao was just using a metaphor, he still felt a bit embarrassed.
Noticing Nan Shan's awkward expression, Nan Qiao coughed lightly to cover her own discomfort.
"I'm just using it as a metaphor, not actually wanting to be your father."
Nan Shan: "..."
It wouldn't be this awkward if it wasn't mentioned aloud.
"Do you still have frequent episodes?"
Nan Shan: "It's much better. Sometimes I can control myself. Yesterday, Professor Zhong came, and I have a very deep impression of him. So many years have passed, yet I can still clearly remember the feeling of him injecting the serum into my skin with a syringe."
Nan Qiao had never seen this Professor Zhong and didn't like being monitored while in the open. It's an uncomfortable feeling.
"Describe Professor Zhong's appearance to me, and I'll find him." Only by finding him can they properly deal with him.
"I'm not sure if the person I saw is what he truly looks like. I'm afraid he would disguise himself before coming to see me."
Nan Qiao took out paper and pen from her bag, preparing to draw Professor Zhong's appearance based on Nan Shan's description.
Nan Qiao had seen Professor Zhong's appearance in the surveillance video, but she couldn't mention Zheng Qinnian installing pinhole cameras in the garden in front of Nan Shan, so this was the best tactic.
This way, she could openly ascertain Professor Zhong's appearance.
"Master, let me draw it."
Nan Qiao was quite surprised, not expecting that Nan Shan could also draw.
How many hidden skills does he have?
Professor Zhong came back looking for Nan Shan, clearly valuing something in him.
Nan Shan's worth stems more from the various experiments he underwent.
These people won't let Nan Shan go easily.
While Nan Qiao was pondering, Nan Shan already handed her the portrait of Professor Zhong.
Nan Qiao took it, stunned and shocked.
Nan Shan's drawing skills were excellent. Without formal training, being able to draw like this wasn't just attainable through talent.
No wonder Professor Zhong and those people wouldn't give up on Nan Shan!
Nan Shan is valuable for research, and he's also a deadly weapon!
...
After separating from Nan Shan, Nan Qiao went to the lab.
Zheng Qinnian was wearing a white coat, with gold-rimmed glasses, cultured and refined.
"What did Nan Shan say? Did he have an episode? Are you alright?" Zheng Qinnian asked with concern.
"He's fine, I'm fine, and he didn't have an episode. Nan Shan's condition is very optimistic. It's much better than before, and he should fully recover."
Upon hearing this conclusion, Zheng Qinnian couldn't help but feel happy for Nan Qiao.
Nan Shan's illness was a burden on Nan Qiao's mind. Now that he could recover, the weight in Nan Qiao's heart could finally lift.
"Professor Zhong might come again. I plan to let Nan Shan stay at Li Yehan's place. It's heavily guarded there, with a higher level of security, ensuring Nan Shan's safety better."
Zheng Qinnian didn't want to agree but had no choice, after all, what Nan Qiao said was true.
"Alright, I'll follow your arrangements." Respecting Nan Qiao's decision.
"Thank you for taking care of Nan Shan during this time. Let's find a time, and I'll treat you and Houzi to a meal, and call Si Yu as well. It's been a while since the last gathering."
Zheng Qinnian's lips curled into a smile, responding positively with a "hmm."
Just then, Chen Man rushed out of the lab, looking flustered as if being chased.