Chapter 15

Chen He was in her studio, but she wasn't painting. She leaned back in her ergonomic chair, one hand resting her cheek on her cheek. On one of her computer screens, a live stream from a video platform was playing.

The streamer's ID is "Xixi Dad," and he has quite a few followers. The title of his livestream is: "[Xu Xixi's Anti-Vitiligo Diary] A single father accompanies his daughter in battling her illness."

In the simple background, a young man with a crew cut sat on a stool, holding a bald girl of two or three years old on his knees. The girl leaned weakly in his arms, her face pale, her eyes dull, and an oxygen tube inserted in her nose.

"Good evening to all the new family members. I'm Xixi's dad. Many of you may be here for the first time. Xixi is two and a half years old and has been diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukemia for six months. Come, Xixi, say hello to the uncles and aunts."

He held the child's limp little hand and waved it toward the camera. Bruise marks appeared on the child's exposed arm, a typical sign of leukemia.

The girl forced a smile on her face and uttered an inarticulate voice: "Hello, uncle and aunt."

With tears in his eyes, the man said to the camera:

"Xixi is feeling better today. Thank you for your family's concern."

"As long as Xixi is still smiling, the world is not too bad."

"I'm really tired, but I will persevere for Xixi."

The man said some very touching words, but after a while, he made a few "grunt" sounds like he was sniffing.

He was used to the sound and didn't notice it. Some people with more sensitive hearing didn't mind it, but those with more sensitive hearing would find it very uncomfortable. Back in the classroom, Chen He always tried to sit as far away from him as possible, even wanting to wear earplugs. He still found it dirty and disgusting when he heard it now.

The man’s live broadcast was very touching, but there was no trace of emotion in Chen He’s eyes, only disgust.

"Xu Candong, you deserve this retribution."

Her eyes shifted to a comic page on another screen nearby, showing a girl named "Chen He" fighting with "Yu Er" and "Xu San." In the comic, "Xu San" was a boy with a crew cut.

The man broadcasting live is the prototype of Xu San, Xu Candong.

There was a gentle knock on the door, and a curly-haired head popped in.

"Xiao He, are you working?"

It’s Song Zhou.

"No, I'm watching the live broadcast."

"Are you watching another man's live broadcast? Let me see which male fox it is..."

Song Zhou walked in, took in the image on the screen, fell silent for a moment, put away his joking expression, and asked, "What happened to this guy's child?"

"Leukemia." Chen He said while playing with a pen in his hand and looking at the screen.

The barrage scrolls with users' comments.

[It's so pitiful that such a young baby has this disease!]

[Oh my god, the baby is so sensible!]

[Heartache (crying)]

[Everything will be fine, baby and daddy must be strong!]

[I'm a hematologist and would like to discuss your child's condition with you. I've sent you a private message.]

"Yes, I will stay strong and help Xixi overcome the disease." The man on the screen wiped away tears, "Thank you all for the gifts."

Song Zhou stood behind her chair and watched her, his hands habitually resting on her shoulders and neck, massaging them gently. He never missed any opportunity to massage her.

"That's tragic," Song Zhou said. "Want to donate?"

"No." Chen He shook her head. "Not only will I not donate, I'm also going to use him as material for my comics, adding insult to injury and making his misery even worse."

Song Zhou paused and tilted his head to look at her.

Chen He raised her hands and rubbed his head, "Are you scared by that vicious woman, you kind little lamb?"

"How could that be? No one knows Chen Hehe better than me. You must have your reasons." Song Zhou kissed her hair, "Don't paint too late."

"I will definitely turn over my beloved concubine's card before ten o'clock." She patted his face with her backhand.

Song Zhou went out with a red face.

Chen He watched the door close, her eyes filled with the thought - how cute.

She turned back, her smile gradually fading. She closed the livestream and hovered her mouse over the comic book page on her computer screen, flipping through previous sketches to review the plot. When she reached the part where "Chen He" and "Qiu Yue" were arguing, the mouse paused.

"Qiu Yue" in the grid seemed very angry. While cursing, he smashed something at the feet of "Chen He".

The reader probably won't notice what she broke...

Chen He stood up from her ergonomic chair, reached down from the upper shelf, and carefully opened a small box. Inside, amidst a cloud of cotton, a little princess sat on a crescent moon.

It's a very ordinary and cheap little ornament made of resin. The workmanship is not delicate and there are cracks on it. It's obvious that it was broken and glued back together.

Chen He took out the ornament and carefully placed it next to the computer. After looking at it for a while, murderous intent gradually appeared in his eyes.

When she learned that Xu Candong had a daughter suffering from leukemia, she was shaken and hesitated whether to continue the plan.

However, after further understanding, it was decided to proceed with the plan as scheduled.

She adjusted her ergonomic chair, placed the hand-drawn screen on the table, and held the digital drawing pen like a sword, with the tip of the pen extending in black and white.

Xu Candong, welcome to my judgment seat.