Over the next few days, Luca continued helping Shanks take care of the volunteer.
With Luke by her side, she felt much more at ease and was no longer as anxious.
A week later, Shanks performed a basic neurological test on the volunteer.
The man who had previously shown no response in his calves and feet began to feel sensations of itching and pain.
When Luca saw the volunteer's toes twitch slightly, she could not help but feel excited.
“I can feel it! It’s ticklish, so ticklish!” the volunteer exclaimed loudly.
At that moment, Shanks was tickling the volunteer's foot.
When he heard the volunteer’s words, his furrowed brows relaxed slightly, and he pinched the volunteer’s calf.
Since the volunteer’s nerves were still healing, he had little sensation of pain, so Shanks pinched hard.
“Do you feel it?” asked Shanks.
“It hurts... a little!” replied the volunteer, his tone full of excitement.
This was a positive sign for him.
The volunteer, unable to walk yet, felt the urge to jump for joy.
“My legs have been numb for five years! I haven't been able to feel anything for five years, and now, I actually feel something! I’m not dreaming, am I?” As he spoke, tears filled his eyes.
His legs were healing, and that meant his eyesight could recover too. The thought made the volunteer even more joyful. He would not only be able to walk again but also see again.
“You’re not dreaming.” Aside from discussing medical matters during treatment, Shanks was usually unwilling to engage in casual conversation. However, he responded to the volunteer’s question this time.
Luca could sense that despite Shanks’ calm exterior, he was thrilled on the inside.
Shanks continued with a few more tests, asking the volunteer to perform some simple movements. Some were possible, others were not.
He was not fully satisfied with the progress and told Luca, “We’ll increase the dosage from today onward. The dose will go up to ten milliliters.”
“Okay.”
After Shanks left, Luca put on her medical gloves and administered the injection to the volunteer.
She followed Shanks’ instructions and increased the dosage. As soon as the needle pierced the skin, the volunteer reacted with excitement again.
“I can feel it again! I feel the needle!”
“Does it hurt?” asked Luca.
“A little, but it’s okay,” answered the volunteer. “It’s been five years. Finally, I can feel something again. Do you know how happy I am?”
“I can tell,” Luca said with a faint smile on her face.
After the injection, she instructed the volunteer to rest properly, then grabbed the used medical supplies and left the room.
Luke was standing nearby, leaning against the wall, seemingly waiting for her.
“How did it go?” asked Luke. “I heard a lot of excitement from inside.”
“Why are you so concerned?” Luca deliberately put on a displeased expression, then quietly added, “He can feel pain now.”
Luke was surprised and responded loudly, “I was just asking. What, can’t I ask?”
Luca ignored him and directly walked into the lab.
Shanks was sitting in a chair, looking at the experimental data.
After disposing of the medical waste, Luca reported, “The injection had an effect on him. I gave him a few shots, and the response was most noticeable around the knee.”
“Okay.” Shanks nodded, not saying anything further.
“Mr. Shanks, can we determine the maximum dosage for a single injection now?” asked Luca. It had been a couple of days, yet they still had not figured out the maximum dosage, which had become a difficult research problem.
Luke’s longing for her had always been intense.
It was also probably because Luca had been avoiding letting him get too close for the past few days. He must have been holding back.
“I can't hold back anymore,” replied Luke, “How about this weekend, we find an afternoon and go to the villa for a bit of alone time?”
His words were both an invitation and a seduction. As he spoke, he unbuttoned his shirt, revealing his well-toned chest.
“Isn't your mask supposed to stay on?” Luca pinched his face. Her breath was a little quick.
The texture of his skin felt real, as if it were his own.
Luke rubbed against her hand. “I can use a special solution to take it off, and I've already had a new mask prepared. I can put the new one on.”
“You're just gonna take off this mask that someone else worked hard to make without caring about what they think?” Luca withdrew her hand. The feel of the skin was so real that if she did not know better, she might think someone else was pretending to be him.
“That won’t be a problem,” Luke said straightforwardly. “Besides, I haven’t washed my face in days. If I don’t change the mask soon, it’ll start to smell. It’s stifling here too. Come with me. I have some things I need to take care of.”
Luca smiled and nodded, “Alright, alright. I’ll try.”
“You have to promise me,” said Luke, suddenly acting like a child who had not gotten his candy.
“Okay, I promise.” Luca pinched his face. “Why are you acting like a child?”
“I change my ways just for you. That way, you won’t get bored.” Luke justified his childishness with a smile.
Luca thought there was no way to argue with that.
“I like you however you are,” replied Luca. She pointed at the bed. “So, dear Mr. Crawford, can I rest now?”
“We’ll rest together.” Luke carried her and laid her on the bed.
Luca turned off the light, and she soon heard him sigh deeply. A wave of heat pressed against her back. It was hotter than the midday sun.
“Luca,” he called out her name in a hoarse voice.
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