Chapter 175 The Dust Settles

That night, Shen Jiang had a dream. The trajectory of events in the dream was completely different from reality.

In the dream, the unknown virus spread far more extensively than it did now, and it was even more utterly unexpected. There were no doctors in Nanze City, or even the entire province, who could treat this unprecedented disease. Nanze City barely had time to lock down the city, and the virus had already spread to several surrounding cities. Then, it spread to remote, sparsely populated areas. The entire country was gripped by the fear of being controlled by an unknown virus.

The final outcome is no exaggeration to say it is the end of the world.

Su Xingran's company became famous for successfully developing an antidote to save the world. Due to his superior handsome appearance and image as a successful entrepreneur, the company's stock price soared that year. He also became a savior-like figure in the eyes of the Chinese people, and his career was at its peak.

Those researchers were no exception. After developing the antidote, they became medical figures the media clamored for overnight coverage. They repeatedly shared in public the challenges of this critical period, the physical exhaustion and mental uncertainty they endured. Yet, none of this could dampen their resolve to develop the antidote and save humanity. Dr. Chen, who had suffered a seizure at the Su family mansion, spoke with gusto in various interviews, his eyes filled with the triumph of a victor.

Of course, he didn't forget to mention Su Xingran. After all, Su Xingran was their indispensable mentor and supporter. It could be said that these people were showered with applause wherever they went, truly making a name for themselves and even receiving a medal for moving outstanding figures in China.

As for the owner of the stray animal shelter, upon waking up, he learned he had caused the destruction of countless families. Overwhelmed with self-blame and guilt, he ultimately committed suicide. But this wasn't enough; netizens' fury didn't subside immediately. Whenever the virus disaster was mentioned, people still remembered the man who started it and offered their condolences to his family. After all, they believed the man's fate was his own fault; if it weren't for him, this human disaster wouldn't have happened.

Shen Jiang woke at three in the morning. Everything in her dream was so real that she had no desire to fall asleep again. She thought, this must be the end of her novel where she was just a cannon fodder. Su Xingran gained fame and fortune, becoming a true son of the plane.

And now, the story of the male protagonist Su Xingran is also coming to an end, but this time what awaits him is not the admiration of the world, but the sanctions of the law.

The next day, someone leaked the news, and the internet was abuzz with claims that Su Xingran was the mastermind behind the conspiracy. Many people laughed off this flawed revelation, believing it to be untenable.

"You're telling me that the Su Group, as a successful listed company, suddenly had the idea of ​​hiring someone to create a virus to harm the world? Hahaha, that's ridiculous! Why would they do this? What's the point?"

"Rather than that, I'm more curious about why the experts who developed the antidote did this. They easily developed an antidote for a horrific virus that forced the Nanze City government to lock down. They must be medical experts. Normally, such people would be very careful about their reputation. How could they be so foolish as to put the cart before the horse?"

However, the people on the other end clearly disagreed with this statement.

"You actually want to use common sense to infer the thoughts of such a madman."

"A medical and biological researcher has this to say: I've read the entire post, and there's not a single flaw in the details from beginning to end. While this news may seem fake, it might actually be true. Let me analyze it for you:..."

…

"Su Xingran hasn't come out to express his opinion even though Su's stock price has plummeted. Could he be feeling guilty? If this continues, I really can't trust him."

"The Su Group has officially issued a statement! I knew a company as big as them wouldn't do something this foolish!"

…

Each side held its own view, neither convincing the other. Instead, the post's popularity grew, sparking heated debate. Because of its apparent plausibility, its claims gained traction. Despite Su Group's statement, its stock price began to fluctuate, and partners began calling in droves to inquire about the situation. Company executives mobilized their networks in hopes of securing Su Xingran's release, but due to the strained connections between various parties, all they received was an official announcement.

The content of the notice was very concise and to the point, without any specious repetitions. It directly stated that the malicious poisoners Su, Gu and others had been criminally detained.

As soon as the news came out, the whole country was in an uproar.

The post, which was already very popular, was forwarded to major platforms at an explosive speed. Because of the official intervention, the scale of the discussion and the number of people involved reached an unprecedented level.

Su Xingran, the nationally famous president of the Su Group, turned out to be the culprit that caused Nanze City to fall into a biochemical crisis!

Even if someone isn't familiar with the Su Group, they've all heard of its renowned private hospital. This renowned private hospital caters specifically to the wealthy and is known for its high prices. Even a simple cold can cost patients thousands of dollars, yet many wealthy individuals still flock to it. Firstly, the medical team is comprised of highly skilled professionals recruited from across the country and abroad by Su Kang Hospital. Secondly, the high prices also reflect the exceptional care and dedication of the staff, ensuring a first-rate medical experience.

After digging deeper into Su Xingran's background, the public is even more puzzled by the motives behind his actions. Logically, even if he hadn't done this, his Su Kang Hospital would have been in tatters. But if the authorities didn't have absolute evidence, they certainly wouldn't have publicly exposed him in just a few days.

"What's going on? Why did Su Group's stock fall below the daily limit so quickly?"

When Shen Jiang heard the words "Su Group," she looked up at the man who was speaking not far away. The man's face was as distraught as a man who had lost his parents. He kept muttering, "It's over. I'm done."

Then, the man cursed fiercely in a tone that was almost like a curse: "Su Xingran, this psychopath, why doesn't he just die!"

Shen Jiang withdrew his gaze and continued with the work at hand.

Unlike the dream where people held Su Xingran high up, this time, he almost fell into the mud, looking as miserable as he could be.

There was not even the strength to fight back.

Shen Jiang waited for several days, but nothing happened. A week later, she received a notice from the Nanze City Procuratorate approving the arrest of the suspect, Su.

This completely confirmed Su Xingran's guilt, and there was no chance for him to turn things around.

Two months later.

"Man, do you want to go out and check on those weeds?"

Shen Jiang stared at the innocent-looking young man before her with a headache. His golden eyes were filled with unconcealed anticipation. Ever since the pandemic, Godwin had been asking her to make time for him almost every day. Initially, he'd just wanted her to play with him, but after realizing the constant flow of patients filling up her time, he began to find ways to get her to go out with him.

When he first came, she wasn't so busy yet. She often had time to take him to the countryside to see how the herbs were growing, to check if the magic circle was intact, or to go to the Kunyuan Herbal Medicine Factory. Although they didn't go there for fun, they still had plenty of time to spend alone together.

Two months ago, officials specifically thanked traditional Chinese medicine practitioners for their efforts in the rescue operation, and Grandma Shen Anlian and her name were prominently listed. Suddenly, the number of patients seeking treatment surged. Besides the other veteran Chinese medicine practitioners who offered one day a week, Shen Jiang and Grandma were so busy that they even hired two additional Chinese medicine practitioners to keep up.

Shen Jiang looked embarrassed: "I'm sorry, Godwin, there are a lot of patients today, I really can't leave."

After hearing what she said, Godwin did not force her to put down the patients she was working on and go out on a date with him. However, the expectant light in his eyes gradually dimmed. He said nothing, but turned back to the yard with a wronged look.

Shen Jiang looked at the lonely figure and felt a little sorry for him. Even on her days off, Shen Jiang was busy summarizing medical records and studying. Sometimes, Godwin would be chased away if he watched TV next to her.

As if possessed by some unknown force, she blurted out, "The day after tomorrow is a day off. How about I go for a walk with you that day?"

As soon as she said this, Shen Jiang regretted her impulsiveness. She had originally planned other things for that day. But when Godwin heard what she said, his eyes sparkled again when he turned around.

"Really?" Godwin's brows relaxed, and the loneliness on his face had long disappeared.

"Then I'll wait for you."

Seeing how quickly his expression changed, Shen Jiang had a vague intuition that she had fallen into a trap. But thinking that Godwin would not play tricks just to deceive her, Shen Jiang felt that she was overthinking it.

Boss is always straightforward, so why would he try to play tricks on her?

Godwin got a satisfactory answer. This time, he looked very high-spirited from behind and almost jumped up and down as he walked.

Shen Jiang smiled helplessly at his reaction, her heart instantly softening. The Black Dragon, the vampire who had always looked down on everyone, had kicked the Red Dragon and punched him. He had stayed in this world for her, working part-time as a security guard at the clinic. He was so happy just because she agreed to spend a day with him. Fortunately, she hadn't completely pushed him away.

Godwin sat in the yard, and there was a very faint fragrance of osmanthus coming from the street. It was already the end of September, and he heard that the menu next door would be updated today. He didn't care at first, but now he was looking forward to it.

The bright sunlight disappeared without a trace, and dark clouds began to cover the courtyard.

Godwin was watching the video when suddenly a thunderclap exploded in his ear.