"How is that possible?" Qiao Xia sat up abruptly.
The system's electronic voice carried a faint sense of death: "After deducting handling fees, the villa still owes three hundred million."
"What about the remaining 20 million?"
"How should I know?!" The system was utterly bewildered.
Previous hosts would start with five million and slowly exhaust their brain cells to spend the money, but with this family, the speed at which it gave them money couldn't keep up with their spending speed.
It even started to worry that the family would go bankrupt. After all, it's a super-rich system! Won't it be laughed to death by its competitors if word gets out?
Qiao Xia heard its thoughts and stroked her chin. "I don't think it's fair. Did you only bind to one host before?"
"Yes."
Qiao Xia coaxed, "But now that you're linked to our whole family, shouldn't the funds you provide be tripled?"
“That makes sense.” The naive system, having opened the door to a new world, exclaimed excitedly, “I’ll go and submit a report right now.”
Qiao Xia nodded in satisfaction. Even though she was currently penniless and heavily in debt, she remained completely calm in front of Jiang Xiaomian. "How much does it cost to treat your mother's illness?"
Jiang Xiaomian raised her eyes, a hint of hope hidden in her doubt, "Three hundred thousand, the sooner the surgery, the better."
Qiao Xia checked the time. "Tomorrow morning at eight o'clock, wait for me at the hospital entrance. From now on, focus on your studies. I will cover all your expenses from now until you go to university."
Jiang Xiaomian moved her lips slightly, but ultimately said nothing more. She simply bowed deeply to her and turned to leave.
The next morning, Jiang Xiaomian waited outside the hospital early, but as the appointed time drew closer, the familiar figure still did not appear.
Jiang Xiaomian forced a bitter smile. "So, I was tricked after all?"
"Hey! What are you standing here for? You're freezing." Qiao Xia patted his shoulder from behind and yawned, "Sorry, the KTV was too noisy. I didn't sleep well last night and came a little late."
Jiang Xiaomian quickly shook her head and handed the crab roe buns she had queued up early to buy to her, saying, "I don't know if you can get used to them."
Qiao Xia raised an eyebrow, thinking that this kid was quite worldly-wise. Just as she was about to reach out to take it, Jiang Xiaomian suddenly pulled her hand back.
Qiao Xia complained, "Hey, I'm all here, I definitely wouldn't lie to you. You can't even afford to give me a steamed bun? Are you that stingy?"
Jiang Xiaomian stammered, "It's cold...it's cold. I'll go buy you a new one."
Qiao Xia forcefully snatched the steamed bun from his hand and stuffed it into her mouth. "Alright, your mother's surgery is the priority."
When Qiao Xia caught sight of Jiang Xiaomian following with her small, quick steps, she unconsciously curled the corners of her lips into a smile.
Six months ago, she certainly wouldn't have given a basket of crab roe buns a second thought. But after six months of hardship, she clearly understands how unattainable things she once took for granted are for many ordinary people.
If he didn't run into a big customer, Jiang Xiaomian would have to spend the whole day dancing in a karaoke bar to buy this basket of crab roe buns. He wasn't sure if she would even come, but he still bought them anyway.
This is enough to prove that Qiao Xia was right about Jiang Xiaomian; she is a grateful and kind child.
As soon as she entered the hospital, the nurse at the cashier saw Jiang Xiaomian and immediately said anxiously, "Xiaomian, you have to go see her quickly, something has happened to your mother."
Jiang Xiaomian froze for a second, then took off running. The elevator was taking a long time to arrive, and he couldn't wait, so he quickly ran upstairs.
Qiao Xia ran a few steps behind him, but twisted her ankle because of her high heels, so she had to turn back and ask the nurse, "Which floor is her mother on?"
11.
Thanks.
Jiang Xiaomian climbed to the eleventh floor and immediately saw her family members from her hometown blocking the doorway of the ward, while security guards and nurses stood around, hesitant to approach.
In the ward, his mother's oxygen tube was removed, and she fell to the ground, panting heavily. She tried to grab the oxygen tube several times, but was kicked away each time.
"Mom—" Jiang Xiaomian's eyes were bloodshot as she ran forward desperately, but was pushed to the ground by the person squatting at the door.
Jiang Xiaomian got up again and rushed inside, but was pushed to the ground again. To prevent him from struggling, the person pressed his head to the ground and kicked him repeatedly.
"Let me go! You're killing me!" Jiang Xiaomian roared angrily.
The person on top of her didn't seem to care at all. "Xiao Mian, you can't say that. We didn't touch your mother with a single hair. She's sick and she'll die sooner or later."
He pressed down on his foot. "As for whether you'll die? No, right? Listen to your uncle, sign the agreement. Your uncle isn't completely disregarding family ties. You're also a descendant of the Jiang family. I'll give you 100,000 per person, okay?"
"You're dreaming!" Jiang Xiaomian struggled fiercely.
Jiang Tianci said dismissively, "Then you just watch, watch your mother die—"
A size 37 high heel hit Jiang Tianci in the face. Qiao Xia limped in, but people around her unconsciously made way for her.
Jiang Tianci scrambled to his feet, clutching his head, and cursed, "Who's the meddlesome one who doesn't know their place?"
Qiao Xia walked past him and helped Jiang Xiaomian up from the ground. "Are you alright?"
Jiang Xiaomian pulled her hand out of his palm and shrank back, looking at Jiang Tianci with resentment.
"Alright, alright, so you're this kid's lover."
"Slap—" A crisp slap echoed in the hallway. Qiao Xia warned, "Watch your mouth."
Jiang Tianci raised his hand to slap back, but Qiao Xia leaned forward and said, "Come on, hit me. If you dare touch a hair on my head, I guarantee you won't get a single penny."
Jiang Tianci froze on the spot. Judging from the girl's clothes, he knew she was someone he couldn't afford to offend. However, he couldn't bring himself to do it in front of so many people, so he could only awkwardly try to salvage the situation by saying, "If it weren't for the fact that you're a woman..."
Qiao Xia scoffed, ignoring him and looking at the others guarding the hospital entrance. "If you don't move aside, someone might actually die, and you'll all have to go inside."
The group exchanged glances, hesitated for a moment, and then finally made way for each other.
The nurse who had been on standby rushed in to give Jiang's mother first aid.
"Ms. Jiang needs to have surgery immediately, and the surgery fee..." The nurse was speaking to Jiang Xiaomian, but her eyes were fixed on Qiao Xia.
Qiao Xia handed the card to the nurse. "I have some things to take care of. Could you please pay the bill for me?"
The nurse hesitated for a moment, but still took the card. Logically speaking, as a medical worker, she shouldn't get involved in such matters, lest she get entangled in something unpleasant in the future.
During this time, they watched as Jiang Xiaomian was harassed by people from her hometown and had to run between the hospital and the school, and they always treated her with great politeness.
Everyone on their floor felt sorry for him. They couldn't help him financially, but they could bear the risk. Besides, Miss Qiao didn't seem like the type to go back on her word.
"Speak, what is it all about?" Qiao Xia crossed her arms and glanced at the Jiang family members.
Jiang Jiye: "This is a matter for our Jiang family. You're letting this brat..."
Qiao Xia looked at Jiang Xiaomian and said, "You tell me."
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