Chapter 52
Inside the ward.
As soon as Yu Miaomiao left, Hu Li pulled her chair to the furthest place from the hospital bed and sat down.
If it weren't for waiting for Yu Miaomiao, she wouldn't want to share a room with Jiang Cheng at all.
Jiang Chengyi spoke first: "Are you a demon too?"
Hu Li stood up warily, quickly glanced outside the door to make sure no one was there, and then closed the door.
He then frowned and looked at Jiang Chengyi, saying bluntly, "Don't talk about this kind of thing outside. If you want to be punished, don't drag me into it."
"I'm sorry," Jiang Chengyi said, "I just wanted to check on Miaomiao's condition."
Hu Li didn't want to respond, but the other party's tone was very sincere, and the concern in their voice didn't seem fake.
Her tone softened slightly, "Confirm what?"
Jiang Chengyi pondered for a moment and said, "Miaomiao's physical condition is not as simple as she said, is it?"
"Without your support, she could barely stand up, and her complexion was very poor."
Hu Li's breathing suddenly dropped, and her voice was muffled, "That's right."
“Miaomiao’s condition is very bad, extremely bad, exceptionally bad.”
"Is it... because you saved me?" Jiang Chengyi's voice was hoarse.
He recalled Yu Miaomiao's almost transparent pale face and swaying figure when she performed first aid on him.
"At best, it's just a trigger."
Although Hu Li disliked Jiang Chengyi, she still spoke the truth: "Miao Miao has never taken good care of her body. She has overdrawn her demon power several times. Even if there hadn't been this outburst, there would have been another one. It was bound to happen sooner or later."
Jiang Cheng asked, "May I see her medical report?"
She took the medical report out of her bag and handed it to Jiang Chengyi.
"You're not a monster, so you probably won't understand those test results. Just look at the conclusions."
Jiang Cheng turned to a page and began to read it carefully.
Although I don't understand what terms like "bloodline compatibility" and "cell heterogeneity rate" mean.
But the fact that almost every single data point was outside the standard range still deeply stung his eyes.
Some exceeded the standard by more than ten times, while others exceeded it by less than one-tenth of the standard value.
Turn to the last page, and the conclusion is clear.
[This demon's foundation is damaged and cannot be repaired with an inner core. Its lifespan is expected to be affected. There is no treatment plan available; discharge from the hospital and home recuperation are recommended.]
Jiang Chengyi keenly noticed the keywords inside.
What does "affect lifespan" mean?
Hu Li said, "Monsters need demonic power to maintain their human form. Miao Miao has no inner core and very little demonic power. She will turn back into her original form after one or two spells."
"This time, she must have used too much demonic power because of something that prevented her from turning back into her original form, which damaged her foundation."
"Although she looks very bad right now, she will recover quickly as long as she has spiritual energy."
"What is truly affected by the damage to the foundation is Yu Miaomiao's lifespan."
As she spoke, Hu Li's eyes reddened again. "According to the data in the examination report, Miao Miao's lifespan may now be less than half of what it used to be."
Jiang Cheng's pupils contracted, and his voice was hoarse, "How much of her lifespan is left?"
“It used to be between three and four hundred years, but now I estimate it will be less than a hundred years.”
"To a monster, it's just a blink of an eye."
She wiped her eyes, chuckled, and looked at Jiang Chengyi, "Human, are you very happy?"
“Miaomiao’s lifespan is about the same as yours, so you don’t need to worry about her living while you die.”
Jiang Chengyi, however, seemed not to hear, and stared intently at the test report in his hand.
His face was expressionless and he appeared calm, but his fingers pressed deep wrinkles into the medical report.
"Is there any way?" His voice was hoarse.
"What?"
Jiang Cheng suddenly raised his head, and his eyes were bloodshot.
"Is there any way to repair Miaomiao's foundation?"
"As long as there is an inner core, everything is fine."
Hu Li murmured, "But how easy is it to obtain an inner core..."
Suddenly, her expression hardened, and she quickly stuffed the report into her bag.
She whispered quickly, "Miaomiao forbade me to tell you, so you absolutely must not tell her."
A dozen seconds later, distant footsteps could be heard outside the door.
Then, the door opened, and sure enough, it was Yu Miaomiao.
Hu Li smiled and asked, "Miaomiao, what did that person want with you?"
"Regarding the confidentiality agreement."
Yu Miaomiao handed a document to Jiang Chengyi, with the words "Monster Information Confidentiality Commitment" written in large characters at the top.
Hu Li had almost expected this outcome, but she was still a little unhappy.
"This is the first time she's revealed her identity to an ordinary human. Aren't you very proud of yourself?"
Jiang Chengyi was slightly taken aback and looked at Yu Miaomiao, "I... am the first one?"
"I guess so," Yu Miaomiao said awkwardly.
Jiang Cheng took the document and scanned the densely packed clauses on it.
It is extremely strict, virtually eliminating the possibility for signatories to find loopholes from any angle.
"I have a question," he said after reading it.
"If you don't want to sign, that's fine too."
Yu Miaomiao spoke, but instead of looking at Jiang Chengyi, she stared at a floor tile.
"The Demon Department will give you a bottle of forgetfulness potion to make you forget everything that happened these past few days. Don't worry, it's safe and harmless, and it won't affect your nerves."
Jiang Cheng asked, "If I sign it, will it affect you?"
Yu Miaomiao looked up and stared at Jiang Chengyi.
“No,” she said calmly. “It has no effect.”
Jiang Chengyi stared at Yu Miaomiao for a long time before finally lowering his head and signing his name.
Yu Miaomiao took the document back, walked out of the ward, and stacked it together with her own copy.
A "Confidentiality Commitment Letter for Monster Information" and a "Joint Liability Letter for Confidentiality".
Two names, Jiang Chengyi and Yu Miaomiao, were signed in the same place.
The black ink seeps through the thin printing paper, overlapping each other like intertwined black vines, inseparable.
She stared at it for a moment, then handed it to Wei Wenzheng, who was waiting at the bottom of the stairs.
-
Yu Miaomiao was discharged from the hospital that same day.
Her condition is not treatable; she just needs to take her medication on time every day.
As soon as she got home, Wu An brought Xiao Bai over.
Wu An said solemnly, "Miss Yu, we'll have to trouble you until Xiao Bai's parents are found."
As soon as the little white cat in the cage saw Yu Miaomiao, it excitedly jumped onto her shoulder, wrapped its fluffy long tail around its neck, and howled.
Because of the medication, it had only been awake for a short time; for it, it was just a very long nap.
The only psychological trauma this incident left on it was a reluctance to look in the mirror anymore.
Yu Miaomiao pulled Xiaobai's head out of her collar and stuffed its wet tongue back into its mouth.
Helplessly, I began the miserable days of raising my child alone.
During this period, Li Zhi visited her twice.
She touched the girl's pale face, looking her over from left to right, and said with heartache, "What is this illness? How did it get so serious?"
"A cold developed into pneumonia."
Yu Miaomiao said it casually.
"I haven't seen you have any cold symptoms, have I?"
After a moment of thought, Li Zhi suddenly realized, "Is it because you and Jiang Cheng went out in the rain that day that you developed this illness?"
The more she thought about it, the more she realized it made sense. "What's your constitution like? What's Jiang Chengyi's constitution like? He gets fine after getting caught in the rain and taking a hot shower, but you, with your fragile constitution, just catch a cold or pneumonia. Why are you running around with him?"
Yu Miaomiao was speechless: "What nonsense are you thinking?"
"The incubation period for a cold can't be that long."
"That's right."
Li Zhi gave an awkward smile, then, as if remembering something, looked intently at Yu Miaomiao, "You still haven't told me what you and Jiang Cheng did that day!"
“You change the subject every time I bring this up, but this time you won’t escape.”
"I didn't do anything, just walked around."
"You're lying! Didn't you consider Jiang Chengyi your rival? Who walks in the rain for this long with their rival? And you're even wearing his coat! Something's definitely not right!"
The girl pounced on the bed, pinning Yu Miaomiao down, shouting, "Tell me, tell me!"
Yu Miaomiao explained helplessly, "The pedestrian street was too crowded, so we took a detour. It rained during that time, so he gave me his jacket."
"Really?" Li Zhi stared at Yu Miaomiao.
Yu Miaomiao said frankly, "Really, I'm not lying to you."
She thought that she hadn't lied, but had simply concealed part of the truth.
"Okay, I believe you."
Li Zhi sat back down and noticed another suspicious point.
"That's not right." She stroked her chin, analyzing carefully, "Someone like Jiang Chengyi wouldn't just give his coat to someone else, could it be—"
Her eyes widened. "He likes you!"
"I just felt there was something wrong with the way he looked at you!"
"How could that be?"
Yu Miaomiao stiffly looked away.
Seemingly to change the subject, she asked, "What does it feel like to like someone?"
"Like it? That's easy."
Li Zhi said with great interest, "I want to know everything about him. I think about him in everything I do. I want to see him when we don't meet, and I'm very happy when we do meet. I don't want to see him sad or upset."
"Most importantly, my heart races when I make eye contact with him!"
"I see..."
Yu Miaomiao nodded, wrote down everything Li Zhi said, and asked suspiciously, "You've never been in a relationship, how do you know so much?"
Li Zhi raised an eyebrow, "I didn't read all those comics for nothing."
-
A week later, Jiang Cheng was discharged from the hospital.
Given the severity of his wounds, he shouldn't have been discharged from the hospital so soon.
But the law enforcement department gave him some medicine suitable for humans, and his wounds healed very quickly, much to the amazement of his attending physician.
Jiang Cheng got home at noon.
Yu Miaomiao and Xiaobai are eating.
Little White ate the cub meal she made. After she finished cooking, she took a bite and then immediately spat it out.
It's amazing that Xiaobai isn't picky about food and ate with such relish.
She was eating cat food mixed with a lot of medicine, which made it taste bitter.
The familiar sound of a door opening came from downstairs, followed by footsteps and the sound of lights being turned on.
Oh, Jiang Chengyi is back.
She thought.
Jiang Chengyi is back!
Her movements suddenly stopped.
Then he threw down the spoon and ran downstairs.
The distance of one floor was still a bit strenuous for Yu Miaomiao, who had not yet recovered.
When she reached Jiang Chengyi's door, she was panting and her hands and feet were trembling.
She took the key out of her pocket and hesitated just before inserting it into the lock.
Jiang Chengyi just got back. Is it really okay for him to go in without saying a word?
She put away her keys, placed her palm on the door, and tried to knock.
Before she could come up with a suitable reason, the door suddenly opened.
Jiang Cheng stood at the doorway, the light slanting down from behind him, making his silhouette seem to glow.
His face was still somewhat pale, but he was in good spirits, and his eyes were dark and deep.
"Why didn't you just come in? Did you forget your keys?"
Yu Miaomiao hesitated for a moment, then nodded and admitted it.
"Come in." Jiang Cheng stepped aside.
The interior furnishings remained the same, only covered with a thin layer of dust due to the lack of habitation.
She slowly walked into Jiang Chengyi's house, feeling a sense of loss for some reason.
Why?
Shouldn't she be happy to see Jiang Chengyi recovering so well?
Suddenly, hurried footsteps came from behind, and Jiang Chengyi's light aura quickly approached.
She instinctively turned around, and then was enveloped in a warm embrace.
"I'm sorry, but I just couldn't help it."
Jiang Chengyi's breathing was long and heavy, tinged with restrained trembling and polite apology.
His hands were holding Yu Miaomiao very firmly, showing no intention of letting go.
"Miaomiao, I miss you so much," Jiang Cheng said.
As they spoke, the hot breath hit Yu Miaomiao's bare neck, raising goosebumps.
After a long time, Yu Miaomiao hugged Jiang Chengyi back, closed her eyes, and let herself be immersed in his embrace and scent.
She had to admit that there was no real reason for her to see Jiang Chengyi.
If I had to give a reason, it would be simply that I "want to see him."
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