AWB Chapter 425 [Empire] Nightingale-like Care
Chapter 425 [Empire] Nightingale-like Care
Wearing this giant bear costume all day long truly challenged my strength and endurance. Every time I walked down a street, I felt a sense of oppression. It wasn't the weight of the costume, but the completely enclosed feeling that nearly suffocated me. The hood practically suffocated my head, and I could only see through the small holes. My neck ached from twisting and turning. Every time I lowered my head and raised my hands, the fabric of the suit swayed, as if it was against me.
Furthermore, this doll costume doesn't regulate temperature very well; I can practically hear the sweat boiling inside me. Every step is labored, and I'm practically exhausted, feeling the urge to collapse when I get tired of walking. Yet, even so, I still have to put on a "loveable, flower-blooming" front to deal with the countless photo-takers along the way. For every photo, I have to put on a huge smile, exerting all my might to act like a doll. It's truly a puppet theater; where's the heroic spirit of a mercenary?
However, the more I did this, the more I felt my body's limits. I'd just yawned a little when another group arrived, clamoring for a "special bear hug." Looking back at Lin Hao, his eyes narrowed in laughter, I couldn't help but think: If this truly were a mercenary mission, the bounty would be high. But right now, I just wanted it to be over quickly, so I could shed this "disguise" and breathe some fresh air.
I even began to lament the physical exertion of such a person, even in a different profession. As a mercenary, I've fought many difficult missions, but never experienced the pain of pushing my body to its limits in disguise. The doll costume felt like a miniature battlefield, and every movement required careful attention, fearing a fall or exposing a flaw. Thinking back to when I first started wearing this bear costume, I can't believe I've managed to stay in it for so long.
However, after a while, I gradually got used to the hassle and discomfort. When I walked into a secluded side street, I would occasionally see passersby smile at me, and even a child would come up to me and give me a "bear hug." Although I was almost breathless, seeing their happiness made me feel that it all seemed worth it.
Finally, as the mission neared its end, I shed my heavy attire with Lin Hao's help, feeling a long-lost sense of comfort wash over me. Looking around, the evening sky was warm, the streets were nearly deserted, and only a gentle breeze blew past. It was then that I realized the value of this kind of mission, not just in the physical exertion but also in the feeling of being needed and sharing. After all, not everyone has the opportunity to do something so simple yet so small to bring warmth among the crowd.
My entire body was drenched in sweat. Fresh out of my doll costume, in this winter's heat, I was practically steaming. Every hair seemed drenched in sweat, clinging to my forehead. Even the chill of my fingertips began to penetrate my heart. The clothing was already stuffy and utterly suffocating, especially in this freezing winter. The cold wind instantly made me experience the extremes of alternating heat and cold. My skin felt a sharp, agonizing sensation of ice and fire, as if I had been suddenly plunged from a closed greenhouse into a world of freezing cold.
I couldn't help but rub my soaked forehead. My throat was hoarse, and my breathing was becoming heavy. Every breath felt like it was being squeezed from the thick layer of bear suit, as if every breath was a desperate effort. I stood on the street corner, my eyes a little dazed, feeling as if all the strength had been drained from my body.
Lin Hao and a few passersby were standing nearby, looking surprised when they saw me like this. "Are you okay?" he asked, approaching me with concern. The difference between him and me—his neatly dressed appearance, in stark contrast to my disheveled state—made me feel helpless.
"I'm... fine." I shook my head vigorously and forced myself to smile, but the smile was a bit tired and embarrassed. "It's just... a little hot. Give me some time to recover."
But honestly, after taking off the doll costume, I felt an immense sense of relief. The oppressive feeling instantly vanished. I took a deep breath, and the air seemed to have become much fresher. Despite the biting cold wind outside, my body temperature continued to rise wildly, even feeling slightly hot. Perhaps it was because after being exposed to such a sealed environment for so long, my body needed some time to adjust to the temperature.
"Do you want to sit down and rest for a while?" Lin Hao pointed to the bench next to me. I was a little hesitant, but finally nodded and walked over to sit down.
"You're working too hard." Lin Hao smiled and shook his head. He was clearly a little bit incredulous at my "puppet warrior" state. Although he seemed to be teasing me, the concern in his eyes was obvious.
I relaxed my shoulders, lowered my head and smiled: "Don't say that, if I changed my profession, I could become a professional actor." This kind of physical exertion, only a doll costume like this can provide. Thinking of this, I suddenly smiled helplessly, "But at least the mission is completed, and the whole day's work was not in vain."
Lin Hao smiled: "Yes, the mission is over, you should have a good rest and stop torturing yourself like this."
I nodded, feeling relieved. The world outside the doll costume was still freezing cold, but at this moment, I could finally breathe and enjoy a moment of peace.
Coming out of the bathroom, I was unsurprisingly met with Nightingale's provocative grin. He held an unlit cigarette in his mouth, a smirk that made him want to punch him. His shirt was draped loosely over his shoulders, and he looked as casual as a lazy idiot who had just rolled out of bed. "How was it? Did you enjoy your day of aerobics? I requested this specially for you."
I glared at him almost as soon as I emerged from the bathroom, my face filled with helplessness and exhaustion. That feeling of being ripped off washed over me once again. I'd spent the whole day in that doll costume, wandering the streets like a lost toy, and Nightingale had mistaken it for aerobic exercise. It really felt like I was being "killed" by this guy.
"Aerobic training?" I couldn't help but raise an eyebrow, my voice still a little hoarse. My body was still sore from just taking a shower, and my elbows were aching from the repetitive movements. "Are you sure you're not giving me a hard time?"
He smiled even more brightly, with no intention of restraining himself at all. "Of course not, the physical exertion of wearing heavy equipment like a doll suit can be considered a 'professional-level' exercise. Don't you think it's more interesting than 'running' on a treadmill in the gym for an hour?" He brought the cigarette to his lips and took a slow, deliberate puff, seemingly completely unconcerned with the anger in my eyes.
"You're so naughty!" I pulled my wet hair. Although I wanted to curse, I knew he didn't do this just to tease me. He just liked to use this "prank" method to express his concern, although I was still not used to it.
He slowly walked around me and headed for the kitchen, continuing to joke as he walked, "It's not exactly a 'job'. After all, it's giving you some physical exercise. You have to admit, I'm really doing this for your own good. Judging by your condition these past two days, you've been under too much pressure and have too many tasks to do. If you don't do some physical exercise, you'll collapse sooner or later."
"I think you're really thoughtful." I forced a helpless laugh, pulled my towel back up, and went to the mirror to tidy up my messy hair. Although I hadn't fully recovered yet, his words seemed to give me some comfort.
Nightingale glanced at me as he prepared breakfast. "You really should get some rest, or else something might go wrong. After all, in our industry, the pressure is so high that even sleeping isn't easy." He paused and suddenly changed the subject. "By the way, have you received any system notifications recently?"
I paused, then glanced back at him with a hint of surprise. "No. You mean—?"
His eyes were deep, and he seemed to be somewhat uneasy. "That's strange. According to the interstellar calendar, you should have gone to the border star field to find Ye Qing. I guess there may be some system delay or some other problem. We need to pay attention to it."
That sentence reminded me that something I should have started preparing for long ago had been completely put on hold. This uncertainty made me a little irritated, but it also stirred a sense of unease within me. Just as I was about to say something, Nightingale approached me and handed me a cup of steaming coffee.
"Drink some of this first and calm down. There's no need to rush work." He handed over the coffee with his usual calmness, as if no matter what predicament he was in, he could always find a way to comfort himself.
I took the coffee, took a deep breath, and felt the warm air flow from my throat to my heart, slowly soothing my tense emotions.