I suggest you investigate; this person doesn't seem to be a first-time reborn individual.

On July 13, with the help of photos provided by Lin Ran, a criminal with a scar on his face was arrested. His facial features matched those of the man in Lin Ran's photo perfectly. He also quickly confessed to having two other accomplices.

On July 14, two other criminals were also arrested. All three confessed to the crime and were part of a local criminal gang with prior convictions. The case was classified as attempted robbery and intentional assault.

That afternoon, the police formally nominated Lin Ran as a "district-level advanced individual for bravery and righteousness," and the certificate and bonus were subsequently issued.

Police representatives from the district government visited the hospital, presented Lin Ran with a fruit basket and a monetary gift, and promised on the spot that the district government would cover all of Lin Ran's medical expenses.

July 16th, with about half a month left before the demolition notice is issued.

Inside a single-occupancy hospital room.

Wang Meiling was looking for the air conditioner remote, but after searching every corner of the ward, she couldn't find it. Finally, her eyes fell on Lin Ran's pillow.

Lin Ran tried to stop him, but it was too late.

Wang Meiling pulled a pack of cigarettes out from under her pillow.

She raised an eyebrow and looked at Lin Ran.

"Lin Er, what is this?"

Lin Ran glanced at Wang Meiling and said indifferently, "Take it yourself if you want."

Wang Meiling was taken aback by Lin Ran's answer, then let out a cold laugh.

"It seems you're recovering too quickly. Mom will go ask the doctor if they can prescribe some nicotine for you to have infused intravenously."

"No, no, no!" Lin Ran instantly cowered. "Dear Ms. Wang, please deal with me later, the interview team will be here soon..."

"We'll talk about it after you're discharged!" Wang Meiling glared at Lin Ran fiercely, just as she heard someone knocking on the door. She then left with Lin Ran's cigarettes in her pocket.

-----------------

Lin Ran felt a bit parched after watching the last group of officials leave.

"Lanlan, I want some water!"

Lin Ran pointed to the partition in the middle of the ward and said that there was a small bed behind the partition, and Li Futing had been sleeping on that small bed for the past two days.

"Okay."

Li Futing, hiding behind the curtain, responded softly, her voice tinged with shyness.

After spending the last two days together, she has gradually accepted that Lin Ran calls her Lanlan.

First, the crisp sound of warm water being poured into a glass came from behind the curtain. Then, a pretty face peeked out from beside the curtain. Li Futing blinked her beautiful amber eyes and whispered to confirm:

"Have they all left?"

Many people have come to visit Lin Ran in the past two days: relatives, police officers from the local police station, street officials, teachers, and even reporters.

Whenever someone came, she would quietly hide behind the curtain.

Aside from taking care of Lin Ran, she is still not used to facing strangers.

"They've all left, come out now." Lin Ran smiled as he looked at her cautious manner.

As Li Futing handed Lin Ran water, she couldn't help but ask again in a low voice:

"Lin Ran, how do you know so much about me?"

"They know which school I applied to, what I like..."

"There's also the nickname 'Lanlan,' which is a nickname only my deceased parents knew."

Lin Ran gulped down a large glass of water, put the glass down, and then spoke, once again pulling out the excuse he had used countless times over the past two days:

"Didn't I tell you? I have a friend who's a hacker. He can find out everything about you in no time."

"hacker?"

"Yes, hackers, the really shady kind, I guarantee you can tell at a glance."

Lin Ran lied without batting an eye: "So don't even think about running away. You'd better stay by my side and be my caregiver."

Li Futing was somewhat skeptical of what Lin Ran said. She had never posted her nickname online, so how could a hacker possibly find it?

As she made the bed, habitually adjusting the pillows to Lin Ran's preferred angle, she muttered to herself:

"...bad guy."

However, seeing him lying weakly yet self-righteously in the hospital bed, she felt a strange sense of security and being cared for.

No one has ever gone to such lengths to understand her.

In the afternoon, the ward was quiet, with only the faint sound of the air conditioner blowing air.

Lin Ran leaned against the headboard, browsing the web on his phone, his expression focused and composed.

On the other side of the ward, Li Futing sat at a small table.

She lay an old sketchbook open on her lap, holding a worn-out pencil in her hand, quietly drawing something.

This is her most relaxed moment. When she focuses on painting, the timid feeling disappears, replaced by a serene radiance.

This is basically how the two of them interacted during the few days they took care of Lin Ran.

Lin Ran would look at his phone or flip through a book in bed, while Li Futing would draw on the other side of the ward during her free time.

Lin Ran would occasionally make small requests, such as "Pour me a glass of water," interrupting her creative process. She would simply hum in response, put down her pen, and go to pour the water, her actions natural.

Lin Ran would occasionally glance up from his phone screen and quietly watch her for a while.

With her neck lowered, her eyelashes trembling slightly, and her amber eyes filled with focus, Lin Ran's gaze softened, and her thoughts drifted back to the scene of the two of them together 10 years later.

"What are you drawing?"

Lin Ran saw that she had stopped writing, seemingly having completed the painting.

Li Futing shyly covered her easel, shook her head, and whispered, "It's nothing."

Lin Ran's gaze fell on the canvas that wasn't completely obscured, and he gleaned the answer from a small portion of it.

"A robin?"

"You...you know him?"

Li Futing was somewhat surprised, as this bird was a little-known species in 2010 when the internet was not as developed.

Lin Ran smiled, didn't continue the conversation, leaned back on the bed, and gave her instructions:

"Lanlan, I have a package delivered. Could you come downstairs and pick it up for me?"

Li Futing glanced at his legs, which were wrapped in gauze, and without asking any questions, obediently nodded and softly hummed in agreement.

For her, running errands is part of a caregiver's job.

When he returned, he was carrying a heavy cardboard box that almost blocked his view.

"Open it." Lin Ran gestured with his lips.

Li Futing responded again.

She was stunned when she saw the brand-new high-end easel and a set of professional painting tools that she had only ever seen in art studio windows.

Her eyes were wide open, and her fingers groped helplessly at the smooth edge of the canvas.

Before she could ask, Lin Ran said in a casual tone:

"Oh, this. A friend of mine, who's got too much money to burn, heard I was in the hospital and insisted on bringing me this, saying it would help me cultivate my mind."

"I'm a rough guy, how would I know how to use this thing? I can't exactly lie in bed and draw on the ceiling, can I?"

He looked up at Li Futing.

"You're good at drawing, aren't you? The old ones are all worn out, so here you go, they won't take up any space."

Li Futing touched the drawing board, looked at the nonchalant Lin Ran, felt a little helpless, and hurriedly shook her head.

"This is too valuable..."

"Just take it! You're not even listening to the boss anymore?" Lin Ran said fiercely, his face contorted with rage.

Li Futing's fingers gently glided across the smooth canvas surface, the touch cool and real.

She had secretly admired this set of tools many times in front of the art studio's display window, but never imagined she could own it.

She raised her head, looking directly at Lin Ran with her amber eyes—a rare occurrence for her—and shook her head firmly.

"I can't accept this for free," she said, clutching the easel as if it were a shield. "This is really too precious."

"Who said I was going to give it to you for free?"

Lin Ran seemed to have been prepared, and found a more comfortable position on the bed. "This is called investment."

"Investment?" Li Futing was somewhat puzzled.

"Yes," Lin Ran nodded. "I've always had a good eye for talent. I think the pen in your hand will be able to create something even more valuable in the future."

"So I need you to promise me one thing." She paused, her tone softening.

"If I ever get a sudden urge and need you to design a logo for me, or simply get a painting to hang on the wall, you have to prioritize doing it for me, and you can't ask for an exorbitant price, okay?"

This time, Li Futing understood. It was the first time in her life that someone had used "investment" to describe her.

People either ignored her, or those who occasionally caught a glimpse of her face cast strange glances at her. This was the first time someone had taken such a serious gamble on the potential value Lin Ran might create in the future.

This feeling was both intense and unfamiliar.

"……Um."

After a long silence, she finally uttered a syllable with a heavy nasal tone, then raised her moist, amber eyes and looked earnestly at Lin Ran:

"I will draw it, draw a lot... a lot of what I feel."

"You sensed it?" Lin Ran paused, feeling that the sentence was a bit strange, as if it revealed some secret.

He wanted to press for answers, but just then, a discordant voice rang out.

"Brother Ran! I've come to pay my respects to the hero who acted bravely and righteously!"

It was Wang Zihao who spoke, carrying a large pile of things, and rushed in without knocking.

"Wow, this private room is quite spacious!"

The first thing he saw when he came in was Li Futing, who was holding a drawing board and had red eyes.

He froze for a moment, his eyes widened, and he stared at her in a daze, feeling utterly astonished.