Helian Lan was indeed sick, but she put on proper makeup every day so most people couldn't tell. Zhu Jin and she were both busy, so apart from the one time they met after she was released from prison, they had basically never met.

At that time, Zhu Jin saw that she was not in good spirits and wanted to help her, but she refused, saying that she just did not get enough rest. Therefore, no one knew about Helian Lan's illness except for the housekeeper Meng Shu who had taken care of her growing up, and the doctors Chong Haiyang and Chong Lou. Even Su Mu was unaware of it.

Since Helian Lan abolished Helian Zhen's position as princess, she has been living in seclusion. Everyone knows that she wants to choose a new princess. Although everyone cares and pays attention to it, they don't take it seriously. After all, it is not so easy to cultivate a suitable candidate for princess.

However, the actual situation was that Helian Lan did find the right person. In the tug-of-war between Helian Zhen and Lian Huier, Helian Lan, who had been keeping a low profile, got the upper hand and arranged everything in an orderly manner.

She planned to officially announce the new princess in the new year and use all her strength to support the new princess. She could not let the Helian royal family end in her hands.

At the end of December 2072 AD, Mu Linsen found Zhu Jin again. He had lost a lot of weight and looked tired. He was much more polite this time than last time.

"…I have been looking into it for a while now, but the more I look into it, the weirder it seems. It's like I am recreating a scene from one of my books."

"Books?" Zhu Jin repeated.

"It's the only horror novel I've ever published." Mu Linsen rubbed his face fiercely. "I didn't take it seriously at first, but the more I look into it, the more frightened I become. It seems like there's a force controlling it..."

"Xiaomu hasn't woken up for more than a month, and his mother is in a very bad condition now. Could you please take care of Xiaomu again?" Mu Linsen had never been so humble as to beg for mercy in his memory, but he couldn't care less at the moment.

Zhu Jin was silent for a moment, and Mu Linsen immediately continued, "I will find a way to stay in the ward where you will be doing your internship, and I won't make things difficult for you."

When Zhu Jin heard his words, she immediately remembered the rumors she had heard before. It was rumored that the hospital and ward number chosen by Park Zhenlin would be leaked in advance, which would then trigger a battle for it.

Zhu Jin was speechless. Is this what they call "scarcity makes things valuable"? When she saw patients every day, there was no competition. Now she doesn't see them anymore, and there are still so many people who want to see them despite the irresponsible title of "internship"...

"Doctor Zhu Jin?" Zhu Jin thought of this and her answer was slowed down. Mu Linsen spoke again, his voice full of anxiety that could not be concealed.

"I will follow the teacher's arrangements when the time comes." Zhu Jin said so, because he heard from Ishigami Bai that his boss, the Secretary of State for Affairs, was also trying to grab a ward number.

Chonglou was against Zhu Jin visiting Xiaomu again, "…You'd better not visit again. I feel this matter is not simple. Anyway, he didn't believe your diagnosis before. Now it's been so long, who knows what the child's condition is."

"Don't you want to see it?" Zhu Jin was hesitant. She wanted to go because it was special and unusual. Everything Chonglou had experienced before, even now, had been controlled by someone, and what the situation of this person was now was still unknown.

If you keep running away, you may be temporarily safe, but the person behind you will always remain a mystery.

If he didn't run away, maybe he would slowly find out who was behind it and know his true identity and purpose. Moreover, deep down, Zhu Jin couldn't let go of Xiao Mu for a while.

Not for anything else, just for his soul to be clear and wandering in the world.

Judging from the last time I saw him, he was still a little confused about his condition. If he could not return to his body or was always in fear, the torment would be more painful than just dying.

But the reality is that medical technology is so advanced that a vegetative person without a soul can live for decades. If Xiaomu's body lives for a few decades, then Xiaomu's soul will have to continue to wander.

This is too cruel for Xiaomu.

Others may not understand or know, but Zhu Jin knows Xiaomu's condition and knows better than anyone what it feels like to be wandering between life and death. It is difficult for her to turn a blind eye to it.

"I don't want you to go." Zhonglou could see Zhu Jin's hesitation clearly, so his attitude immediately became tougher. "Although I am also a doctor, you know that I am a selfish person. I cannot support you disregarding your own safety for a patient."

"I know the importance of this matter and I won't let myself get hurt." Zhu Jin couldn't help laughing after hearing this, "I'll think about it again."

"Still considering it. Just trust me this time and listen to me." Chonglou was helpless and a little anxious.

"Don't worry. Mu Linsen may not be able to get a ward." Zhu Jin hurriedly comforted Chonglou, "I don't disbelieve you."

"Why do you say that Mu Linsen may not be able to get a ward? Do you know who else is also competing for it?" Chonglou suppressed his anxiety and continued to ask.

Zhu Jin: "I met Ishigami Kashiwa a few days ago, and he said that the Secretary of Interstellar Affairs also wanted to grab a ward."

"Shi Shangbai?" Chonglou raised his eyebrows. "Secretary of Interstellar Affairs? They are all people in the political circle. I heard that this Secretary of Interstellar Affairs is not easy to deal with. Do you want to help him?"

"It's okay. Shi Shangbai told me to just watch it without worry. It doesn't matter whether I watch it well or not." Zhu Jin shook her head indifferently.

"So, you can see?" Chonglou's eyelids twitched when he saw Zhu Jin's expression.

"Of course I watched it. Since Shi Shangbai said it's okay to watch it, then I can watch it without worry." Zhu Jin comforted Chonglou, "Don't worry."

"You do believe him." Chonglou paused, his eyes revealing an uncontrollable look of inquiry.

"Well, it seems so." Zhu Jin didn't notice Chonglou's inquiring look. She paused and continued speaking the truth.

If Chonglou hadn't mentioned it, Zhu Jin wouldn't have paid much attention to it. But after Chonglou mentioned it, Zhu Jin thought about it and felt that it was true. Although she had only known Shi Shangbai for about two years, she had had a lot of contact with him, so she knew what kind of person Shi Shangbai was.

Because of a promise, he really raised Shi Wei as a father for more than ten years, saying that Shi Wei would always be his son.

Ishigami Bai had never mentioned in front of her the words that he could not control or fulfill. Since he told her to go and see without worry, she could naturally rest assured.

"Then you should give him a good look." Chonglou's voice was a little hoarse when he spoke. He coughed before continuing, "No matter what the outside world says, he performed well after all."

"Well, I heard a lot of people say he's good." Zhu Jin answered and finally noticed Chonglou's abnormality, "What's wrong?"

"Nothing, just a little jealous." Chonglou smiled. Even he himself didn't understand why his mentality had changed so much.

He never thought that the deeper the feelings, the more one cares.

"You really are, don't be jealous easily." Zhu Jin laughed after hearing Chonglou's words, and then advised him that although it would feel funny and sweet afterwards, the feeling of jealousy was actually very bad.

But compared to being able to feel jealous, Zhu Jin thought that not even being able to feel jealous was worse.

Zhu Jin didn't know how the Secretary of State and Mu Linsen fought over the ward later, she just made preparations.

A few days later, the New Year was coming, and Park Zhenlin happened to arrange an internship on the New Year, January 1, 3703. The principal, who knew the inside story, could not help but give Zhu Jin a few words of advice.

Sending New Year's greetings is a common practice. Zhu Jin received blessings from several people in the previous year, and this year she plans to send blessings on her own initiative.

In the early morning of January 1, Zhu Jin contacted Helian Lan immediately. Helian Lan answered the call very quickly and was extremely happy talking to Zhu Jin.

"...I will come to see you after the internship is over tomorrow." Although time is so tight that she has no time to rest during the New Year, she cannot always contact Helian Lan by phone. Video and face-to-face meetings are always different. She must go to see Helian Lan once.

"Okay, come on, I'll ask them to make your favorite snacks." Helian Lan smiled with deep wrinkles at the corners of his eyes, "If you didn't come, I would go find you after I finished my work. Look how thin you are now."

"It will be fine after this busy period." Zhu Jin has complicated feelings towards Helian Lan. Helian Lan keeps a proper distance from her, but there is no doubt that Helian Lan protects her.

Because of her status, Helian Lan is rational. She is not like Su Mu, who has too many wishes of her own. Her care comes from her perspective and is just right.

This just the right amount of care made her feel comfortable and not repulsive.

After Helian Lan cut off contact with Zhu Jin, she sat quietly for a while before she regained her spirit. She still had a lot of preparations to make.

A few hours passed quickly, and Helian Lan's side became quiet again. She returned to the room, said a few words to Su Mu who had just woken up, changed into the queen's dress, and watched Su Mu change his clothes as well, preparing to go to the carnival venue to have fun with everyone.

The location of the New Year's Carnival changes every year, rotating through various cities on the Blue Water Planet, and of course, mostly in Huadu.

This year is also in Huadu. Last year's New Year carnival was still with Helian Zhen and his wife Helian Lansumu. However, this year, it will probably be just Helian Lansumu and his wife.

This was what everyone thought, and Su Mu thought so too. Unexpectedly, when he and Helian Lan came out, they saw another person who had been waiting in front of the palace gate.

"What is this?" Su Mu's first reaction was to frown.

"Yeah." Helian Lan didn't explain much, just looked at Su Mu and nodded.

Su Mu's expression suddenly stiffened, "...Before, I didn't say anything to you..."

He actually knew nothing.

Helian Lan didn't say anything. Although she felt it was ironic, how could she tell him?

"Have you decided?" Su Mu asked after a long while.

"Well, today is a good day." Helian Lan nodded and walked towards the flying car. When he arrived in front of the flying car, the assistant suddenly approached and said, "Your Majesty, there is an email that has just been sent. It is from Prince Lian Chengze."

"Him?" Helian Lan paused, frowning slightly. At this time...

"Let me see." Helian Lan opened the email, and after just one glance, his expression changed, and he uncontrollably took a step back.

"Be careful." Su Mu, who happened to come over, hurriedly supported Helian Lan. After he said that, he found that Helian Lan's whole body was trembling slightly.

"What's wrong?" Su Mu immediately became nervous and asked while carefully holding Helian Lan.

Helian Lan gasped for breath, calmed his breathing, and closed his eyes, hiding all his shock, anger, grief, and despair.

She was just one step away, just one step away.