Chapter Twelve: A New Mission

"What is this...?"

Feeling the firm texture of his abdomen, Hua Shi'er communicated with the system in his mind, inquiring about the current state of his body. The system explained that because he had been infused with the peak strength of Shaquille O'Neal, his muscle density, bone density, and cardiopulmonary function had all been enhanced to a certain degree. Otherwise, his original physical condition would have been unable to sustain O'Neal's power.

Hua Shi'er nodded, finding this quite scientific. Wasn't that exactly how Steve Rogers, Captain America, became? After the enhancement, alongside gaining strength, he also acquired well-developed muscles and a robust physique.

Looking in the mirror, he turned his body from side to side, extremely satisfied with his current appearance. His muscle density had increased, but the muscle volume was not excessive. He hadn't turned into an exaggerated, bulky figure like The Rock or Arnold Schwarzenegger; instead, he resembled someone like Eddie Peng—the type that looks lean in clothes but is muscular when shirtless, which he found quite aesthetically pleasing. This explained why, before he took off his shirt earlier, he had felt filled with strength but hadn't noticed any change in his physique.

After taking a hot shower, Hua Shi'er felt his physique was too perfect. He was almost afraid to keep looking, worried he might fall in love with himself—well, he had to admit he was being a bit narcissistic.

Once finished, he tossed the casual clothes Luo Yun had bought for him into the washing machine, pressed the start button, and then changed into a fresh, dry outfit before stepping out of the bathroom. He opened the refrigerator and took out a can of cola. Just as he was about to open it, he remembered those strongmen on TV who often performed the trick of crushing a soda can with one hand. He wondered if he could do it now. He exerted force with his right hand, and with a 'pop,' the can exploded. The cola sprayed everywhere. Well, it seemed the clothes he had just changed into needed changing again.

After changing once more and cleaning up the spilled cola, he took out another can, opened it, and took a sip. He picked up his phone and transferred two hundred thousand yuan to his parents back home.

Less than a minute later, his mother called, sounding quite anxious: "Son, I told you to go on a blind date, you didn't go and sell that poor girl, did you? Don't do anything stupid!"

His mother's words left Hua Shi'er speechless. He broke into a sweat, laughing and crying at the same time: "Mom, can't you think of something good for me? You know what kind of person your son is!"

"Then where did you get so much money?"

Hua Shi'er didn't want to make up an unreliable excuse like "winning the lottery," so he simply told her about saving someone today. Since that girl Luo Yun was at the scene, he figured the news would reach his mother sooner or later anyway. He was waiting for his mother to praise him, but instead, she burst into tears on the other end of the line, sobbing: "Son, you were hit by a car? Are you hurt? You must be hurt, otherwise why would they give you so much money?"

Hua Shi'er found it funny yet touching. It was true that no matter how old a son gets, a mother never stops worrying. He hurriedly promised her that he was fine, fearing that if he hesitated, his mother would hang up and book a flight to Shanghai immediately. He explained the situation, but she wouldn't believe him, so he hung up and sent a video call invitation.

Once the video connected, he saw his father crowding into the frame as well. The two elderly parents nervously scrutinized their son from top to bottom on the screen before finally feeling relieved. His father, confirming his son was unhurt, let out a long breath and praised: "Son, you did the right thing..."

Before he could finish, his mother slapped him on the back of the head and followed up with a kick: "Right thing? Our son got hit by a car, and you're encouraging him? If anything happens to my son, I'm not letting you off the hook!"

Hua Shi'er felt a wave of frustration and hurriedly tried to mediate. His mother had a gentle temperament and rarely threw such a fit; it was clear this incident had truly frightened her. His father rubbed the back of his head, looking aggrieved: "I wasn't finished talking yet, why are you in such a hurry..."

He turned to the camera and instructed: "Son, the action was right, but in the future, you must act according to your abilities. Only offer help when you can ensure your own safety, you hear me?"

His mother's eyes were red as she said: "Son, your father and I only have you. In the future, you must think of us before you do anything..."

Hua Shi'er felt moved and also a lingering fear. If he hadn't had the system, he would have been in grave danger. Thinking about how heartbroken his parents would have been if he had perished, he felt a bit of self-reproach, realizing he had indeed been impulsive. Of course, he didn't regret saving the person, but he realized he had to consider his parents' feelings. He promised repeatedly during the video call that he would prioritize safety, which finally appeased his mother, and then he quickly ended the call.

Less than a minute after hanging up, a text notification sounded. Hua Shi'er checked it and saw that the two hundred thousand yuan he had transferred had been sent right back to him, leaving him shaking his head in resignation.

Immediately after, his mother's voice message came through: "Your father and I don't need this money. You have many expenses over there, so keep it for yourself and don't spend it recklessly. Save it for a down payment on a house when you get married."

Hua Shi'er wanted to send it back, but reconsidered; knowing his mother's temperament, she would just send it back again unless he claimed to have two million, which would lead to an endless interrogation. He decided he would give it to them when he returned home for the New Year.

Hua Shi'er finished the cola in one gulp, but instead of feeling bloated, he felt increasingly hungry—to the point where it became unbearable. He found it incredible; he had just eaten before coming home, so how could he be this hungry? Upon reflection, he realized it must be because his body had consumed a massive amount of energy during the enhancement. That must be why his stomach had flattened out, and the hunger was simply his body signaling a need to replenish energy.

He got up to cook some instant noodles, but stopped mid-step, finding it amusing that with over two million in his account, he was still considering instant noodles. He grabbed his keys and went downstairs, finding a Northeast-style barbecue place near his apartment. He ordered fifty lamb skewers, thirty beef skewers, and ten large kidneys. He felt an urgent need for meat.

The amount he ordered would typically be enough for two or three people as a late-night snack, but Hua Shi'er hadn't had enough. He ordered another round of the same, plus a large heap of beef tendons, heart tubes, and tripe. Eventually, the owner was intimidated by his appetite: "Brother, if you love my food, that's great, but I'll set you up with a VIP membership so you get a twenty percent discount in the future. Let's call it a night; I don't want you to get sick from overeating!"

Hua Shi'er patted his stomach, feeling about eighty percent full. He ordered two more beef fried rice dishes to go before paying the bill and leaving.

Back home, he opened his computer and, while eating the fried rice, began searching for information on the person he was looking for. Just as he was eating the skewers earlier, the system had notified him of a new mission available. He had a three-day window to accept it; if he didn't, it would be considered an automatic forfeiture with no penalty.

While eating, he had reviewed the mission in his mind. The description read: "Liu Beishan hopes to make Chen Nian happy; he hopes she can live a life without worries and have the most perfect ending."