Translator: Dragon Boat Translation Editor: Dragon Boat Translation
Old Wangâs face was etched with an expression even uglier than tears.
Not for money, not for body parts.
Furthermore, love wasnât even a factor in this proposal.
So, what was it for?
Chen Yuâs expression shifted slightly as he faced the barrage of questions from his chat.
âOld Wang,â he asked, âhow did you break your leg? Would you be comfortable sharing that with everyone?â
Old Wang was momentarily stunned. He looked down at his prosthetic right leg.
âThis leg,â he said after a few seconds, âwas accidentally broken during a mission I was on a long time ago.â
The viewers in the livestream couldnât help but reassess Old Wang upon hearing the words âmission.â
Many began to speculate that his life before opening the barbecue restaurant had been quite extraordinary.
âWait!â Old Wang exclaimed, his voice sharp.
âCould this have something to do with that little girl?!â
He froze in sudden realization.
âSheâs definitely connected to that incident,â Chen Yu confirmed with a subtle smile.
âOh my god!â Old Wang blurted.
âShe was only four or five years old at the time! How could you take a childâs words seriously?â
Old Wang, never in his wildest dreams, thought the truth would be this way.
Chen Yu was right. The girlâs proposal indeed had ulterior motives, driven not by love but by a desire to repay a debt.
In an instant, Old Wangâs mind was flooded with memories from 20 years ago.
As he went silent, comments flooded the chat, demanding answers.
What was the girl he was referring to?
What did Old Wang do before opening the restaurant?
Consumed by his memories, Old Wang paid no heed to the barrage of questions.
The chat turned their attention back to Chen Yu, bombarding him with questions.
âThat greasy middle-aged uncle youâre all so curious about,â Chen Yu began, âused to be a dog trainer.â
âTwenty years ago, his unit was deployed to an earthquake relief effort. During this operation, Old Wang and his rescue dog saved over 20 lives.â
âOn the sixth day of the rescue mission, an aftershock struck the area where Old Wang was working. A falling rock caused a serious injury to his leg.â
âIt was also during this time that the rescue dogs located other survivors. Fearing further aftershocks, Old Wang called for backup while dragging his injured leg to reach the trapped individuals.â
After hours of effort, a family of three was successfully pulled from the wreckage. However, this came at a great cost to Old Wangâhis leg.
Chen Yu recounted the events vividly, painting a picture as if he had witnessed them firsthand.
Although Old Wangâs injury was severe, timely medical attention could have facilitated a full recovery.
Unfortunately, his desire to expedite the evacuation of the victims led him to endure the excruciating pain, pretending to be fine as he continued with the rescue efforts.
Ultimately, the family of three was rescued, but the missed window for proper treatment and the continuous pressure on his injured leg resulted in its eventual necrosis.
Upon learning the truth behind Old Wangâs broken leg, the entire online audience fell silent, a heavy silence filled with newfound respect.
The livestream chat exploded with comments soon after.
âThereâs no wind, yet my eyes are filled with tears.â
âSuch a kind hero!â
âAfter learning the truth, I feel immense admiration and a deep sense of respect.â
âMay the greatest blessings be upon you.â
âHis youth is dedicated to the mountains and rivers of our homeland.â
Countless viewers were moved to tears.
Who could have imagined that the ordinary-looking uncle was once a selfless hero who risked his life to save others?
Old Wangâs previous response seemed incredibly casual, as if it were a trivial matter, starkly contrasted with Chen Yuâs detailed account.
A true hero never boasts about their heroism.
Looking at the praise flooding the screen, Old Wang offered a humble smile. âEveryone, please stop praising me. Iâm not as extraordinary as you think.â
âIn that moment, my only thought was to save as many people as possible, even if it meant getting injured myself.â
âHonestly, nothing else crossed my mind. And if I could go back, I might not have the same courage.â
Old Wang lowered his head, wiping his eyes.
Then, he looked up and continued, âThat little girl⦠I was the one who pulled her from the wreckage back then.â
âShe was just four or five years old at the time. In her childlike innocence, she promised to marry me when she grew up.â
âI thought it was just a childish whim. Who knew she would actually come looking for me?â
Twenty years had passed, and even Old Wangâs memories of those events had faded considerably.
After his injury, he declined his superiorsâ offer to stay on the team and opted for retirement instead.
He returned to his hometown with various compensations and opened this barbecue restaurant.
âWhat a kind soul,â Old Wang said with a chuckle. âShe felt compelled to marry me solely to repay a debt of gratitude.â
âLiving a good life and staying out of trouble is the best way she can repay me.â
A bittersweet smile played on his lips. Seeing the young girl he saved grow into a healthy, beautiful woman filled him with contentment.
Marriage, however, was out of the question.
As a disabled man, he wouldnât want to burden her.
Additionally, her feelings stemmed solely from gratitude, not love.
âDr. Chen, thank you for revealing the truth. Could I trouble you for some advice?â Old Wang requested.
âHow can I gently discourage her from marrying me?â
He recalled his youth and knew how easily someone young could act rashly.
However, once the initial excitement subsided, reality often set in, and things rarely unfolded as planned.
While she declared she wouldnât marry anyone else, it was because her emotions were intense at the moment.
Living together for a few years would significantly alter perspectives.
Chen Yuâs expression was contemplative as he spoke. âAre you truly prepared to reject her, considering the immense sacrifice she made to see you again?â âImmense sacrifice? What sacrifice?â Old Wangâs brow furrowed in confusion.
Chen Yu pondered for a moment before replying, âThe price she paid to reunite with you is comparable to the sacrifice the elven princess, Lucien, made for her human love, Bayion, in the novel âElven Diamondâ.â
âLucien and Bayion?â Old Wang asked, placing a hand on his forehead.
Their names indicated they were from a foreign story. He had no idea what had transpired between them. n/ô/vel/b//in dot c//om
Noticing his confusion, some viewers chimed in to explain.
âPrincess Lucien and Bayion are characters from the novel âElven Diamond,'â a viewer clarified. âTo be with her human lover, Bayion, the immortal elven princess, Lucien, gave up her eternal life.â
âShe endured countless hardships and ultimately chose to become a mortal with a limited lifespan, just to be with Bayion. She would become the only elf to truly die.â
Even after hearing the story of Lucien and Bayion, Old Wang remained perplexed. He couldnât comprehend the connection Chen Yu was trying to establish.
âDo you still remember Lina?â Chen Yu inquired.
âOf course I remember,â Old Wang responded. âEven on my deathbed, I wouldnât forget the comrades I served withâ¦â
His voice trailed off as his eyes widened in sudden realization..