Chapter 2: Becoming a Contractor

Silence, as profound as the most distant black hole in the cosmos, swallowing all sound…

【Cleaner Qualification Test, countdown: one hour remaining.】

This emotionless voice echoed through Su Hao’s hollow thoughts like a cold blade, slicing through his already fragile nerves.

His eyes, like stars that had lost their focus, stared blankly ahead—a void that seemed to carry his endless fear and doubt about the future.

“How can I, a disabled person missing six limbs, possibly survive this test, let alone pass it?”

He sighed inwardly; each word struck his fragile heart like a heavy hammer, sending ripples of pain through him.

Time slipped away silently, more merciless than the finest sand in an hourglass.

An hour and a half felt like countless centuries to Su Hao.

His gaze fixed on the virtual interface before him, where the blood-red numbers mercilessly flickered, now showing 0:26—only twenty-six minutes left, the countdown relentlessly ticking.

【Countdown: fifteen minutes remaining.】

“What will I gain if I pass this test?” Su Hao asked himself silently, his emotions a mix of resentment and yearning.

His eyes remained locked on the flashing crimson digits, as if they were the only straw to grasp.

【You will receive complete restoration of your body, beginning at the cellular level, gradually progressing toward health and strength, until you can assist with, or even independently undertake, the noble and arduous task of cosmic cleaner.】

The cold voice now sounded unusually patient, each word crafted like a finely polished work of art, clear and powerful as it entered Su Hao’s ears.

“But what if I fail?” His voice trembled slightly—a mixture of fear of the unknown and clinging to life.

【Immediate eradication, leaving no trace.】

The frigid reply was brief and absolute, like an icy blade freezing all of Su Hao’s hopes and dreams in an instant.

“My God! First, you paint a grand blueprint of hope, then in the blink of an eye, you hang a sword of despair above my head.

If I vanish silently like this, how can I accept it? How can I…”

His heart roiled with complex emotions, like waves crashing wildly in a stormy sea, vast and turbulent but with nowhere to settle.

Outside the hospital room, a doctor anxiously questioned the nurse, “Why is this child so abnormal? His eyes are vacant, his body rigid.”

Worry filled the doctor’s voice, yet Su Hao remained unaware, consumed by the whirlpool of his fate, awaiting the final judgment.

“It’s been two whole hours; I’ve never seen him like this…”

The nurse shook her head helplessly.

Wang Fang, seeing the doctor approach Su Hao’s bedside, hurriedly explained the situation.

She had noticed Su Hao’s abnormal condition long ago but had endured over an hour before pressing the call button for the doctor.

After a brief inquiry, the doctor began examining Su Hao’s body.

“Don’t touch me, I have less than a minute left. I don’t want to die here. I want to pass the test. I want to live and be healthy.”

Su Hao screamed silently.

But no one heard his voice. At that moment, the blood-red numbers before his eyes hit zero.

【Transmission commencing…】

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Su Hao’s parents, Su Ming and Wang Fang, had their lives thrust into fast-forward the moment their son was born—leaping suddenly from ordinary days into a grand adventure fraught with challenges and the unknown.

Economic pressure? With Su Hao’s grandfather, a mysterious billionaire, supporting them, that was child's play compared to the mental torment they endured.

Every time they saw Su Hao’s face twisted in pain, their hearts felt as if pierced by a thousand arrows, aching silently. The couple’s anguish was heart-wrenching beyond words.

Yet, like superheroes, they gritted their teeth and clung tightly to hope’s tail.

Su Ming, a man as silent and steadfast as a mountain, worked tirelessly in a factory by day, sweating as if he were an unflagging machine.

At night, he transformed into Su Hao’s personal “story king,” sitting by his bedside, using his deep, magnetic voice to paint vivid pictures of the wondrous world beyond.

From brave lions to clever foxes, from the vast starry sky to the deep ocean, every tale carried the power of courage and perseverance.

Through his actions, he told Su Hao:

“Son, remember this! No matter how rough the road ahead, never lose hope, for you are our family’s shining star!”

Wang Fang, gentle as water and strong as steel, had resolutely quit her job after Su Hao’s birth to devote herself entirely to the “great cause” of caring for her son.

She was like a master healer skilled in countless arts, providing Su Hao with meticulous, tender care.

Whenever Su Hao was overwhelmed by despair from his illness, she would embrace him like a gentle spring breeze and whisper loving words in his ear:

“Hao’er, you are the best! Mommy believes in you, just as she trusts the sun will rise tomorrow! You will defeat this disease and become our family’s pride!”

Su Hao’s love for his family was unwavering. He knew he was a “little burden” who had placed great strain on his parents.

Yet, whenever he saw their eyes filled with expectation and encouragement, his heart brimmed with strength.

He vowed silently, “I will get better! For my parents, for this family, I will become the superhero who conquers this disease!”

At night, in the stillness, he would pray like a little monk reciting sutras:

“Dear heavens, please let me recover soon! Then I can take my parents around the world and give them the happiest life!”

Then a sweet voice would ring in his mind:

“Class is starting!”

But to Su Hao, this voice sounded like the devil’s whisper—he knew the dreaded moment of knowledge download was about to begin.

Sharp headaches swept over him, pain so intense he could not even scream.

He wished he could give up living; the agony was unbearable.

All the knowledge was forcibly uploaded into his brain, covering every subject imaginable, encompassing everything.

Within this small hospital room, Su Hao and his family endured countless days and nights.

Their love and persistence shone like an unquenchable beacon, lighting Su Hao’s path forward.

Moreover, Su Hao often let his imagination run wild, dreaming of someday gaining superpowers—instant healing, time freezing, and the like.

Then, not only would he defeat the petty villain of disease, but he would become a superhero saving the world!

Who said life bedridden couldn’t be filled with joy and hope?

Between Su Hao and his “superparents” Su Ming and Wang Fang existed an invisible bond—not merely blood ties but profound trust and endless encouragement.

---

They formed an unbreakable team, facing life’s storms together.

At night’s quietest hour, Su Ming would sit beside Su Hao’s bed, his rough but powerful hand gently holding Su Hao’s tiny hand, which was little more than a small tumor.

His eyes shone with determination and hope, as if to say:

“Hao’er, Dad knows this road is tough, but you must believe we will walk it together, until we see the dawn.”

He told Su Hao stories of historical heroes, how they faced hardships, held onto faith, and ultimately triumphed.

These tales were more than stories—they were Su Ming’s hopes and encouragement, teaching Su Hao that with willpower, nothing is impossible.

Wang Fang was the warm lighthouse in Su Hao’s heart.

Whenever illness dragged him down, she would tenderly hold him and whisper firmly in his ear:

“Hao’er, you are Mommy’s bravest little warrior. Look at that tree outside the window—it has weathered countless storms but still stands tall.

You must be like it, no matter the hardships, keep going. Mommy believes in you—you will conquer this disease and become the brightest star.”

Though young, Su Hao had an unyielding spirit.

He knew his illness burdened his family, but he also saw their love and perseverance.

Several times, Su Ming noticed fear in his son’s eyes as he told stories.

He confided to his wife:

“I see our baby is incredibly smart. His eyes are full of wisdom. When he sleeps, that fearful expression returns.”

“That can’t be; he must be dreaming,” Wang Fang replied skeptically, having observed him even more closely.

“If it’s a dream, why does he wake with that same fearful look?”

When Su Ming came home from work today and saw the doctor busy at the bedside, he asked about the situation and pondered aloud:

“The tutor we hired for him arrives tomorrow, but why is he like this today?

Could it be he doesn’t want a tutor?

Every time I mention it, that fearful look appears.”

“Indeed, today I saw that fear in his eyes—I didn’t believe you before,” Wang Fang said, glancing at the sweating doctor, then at her husband.

“How many times have I told you, and you never believed me? Now you see—our baby is incredibly smart.”

Su Ming clenched his fists, feeling immense pride in his son.

“My son!”

Wang Fang’s tears fell freely as she watched the doctors continue their frantic rescue.

“Wang Fang, don’t worry. I have faith in our son,” Su Ming said firmly, tightly grasping her hand—both reassuring himself and comforting his beloved wife.