Chapter 17
The air in the top-tier ward of the private sanatorium was so heavy it felt like you could wring water out of it.
The attending physician handed Jiang Minghua a stack of test reports, his brow furrowed. "Ms. Jiang, his condition is very serious. He has a persistent high fever, a severe lung infection, coupled with severe anemia and long-term malnutrition; multiple organ functions are on the verge of failure. We immediately began intravenous nutritional support and intensive anti-infection treatment, but his physical condition is too weak..."
The doctor didn't finish his sentence, implying that it was all up to fate. Jiang Minghua stood in front of his hospital bed, looking down at his faded pink hair, feeling a pang of regret. She wished she had asked him for his hair on the very first day she met him; this pink color looked awful now.
Plus sign: [So you're not planning to save the villain?]
Jiang Minghua: [What impact will his death have on the plot?]
Plus sign: [It won't have much of an impact, because it's an abandoned novel. If he dies, a second villain will appear. However, host, I want to get a promotion and a raise thanks to this abandoned novel.]
Jiang Mingjia thought that if she wanted to overthrow the boss, she had to become his right-hand woman, just like 00X. Therefore, the completion of her discontinued novel, "Bone-Deep Imprisonment: After My Death, Young Master Fu Went Mad," would be her pledge of allegiance. However, she couldn't bear to let Minghua suffer, so she preferred to keep the general plot unchanged; she could handle everything else.
Jiang Mingjia was considerate of Jiang Minghua, and Jiang Minghua was the same. When she heard that Jiahao wanted a promotion and a raise, Jiang Minghua agreed to follow the plot for Mingjia's sake, no matter how disgusting it was.
Even the mechanical voice of the plus sign conveyed disbelief: "[You can refuse; you don't need to go through this garbage, disgusting plot.]"
Jiang Minghua pouted, her tone light and cheerful: "I won't, I'm going to follow the plot."
【You're really sick!】The plus sign was unusually emotional, 【Are you determined to contradict me?】
[Hehe, mind your own business!] Jiang Minghua made a face at the air. [You dare to insult me? I'll report you!]
"Whatever." The plus sign's response sounded nonchalant, but there was a subtle hint of indulgence in its tone.
The two bickered back and forth, just like before, as if Jiang Mingjia had never left.
According to Jiang Mingjia, Xie Yan cannot die yet. Although a new villain may appear, there are unknowns, so it is better to keep everything unchanged.
So Jiang Minghua turned to the attending physician with a serious expression and told him to save his life regardless of the cost.
The nurse carefully inserted the IV needle into Xie Yan's thin, almost transparent hand, revealing its bony structure. The protruding wrist bone, like a thorn, gently pricked Jiang Minghua.
Jiang Minghua thought, "Are all the villains in this book this miserable? Sure enough, no one is born a villain; they are all forced into it by real life."
Moreover, what kind of experiments did the Xie family conduct on him?
Plus sign: [I don't know, the plot doesn't mention it, but based on the plot development, Xie Yan should eventually succeed and become powerful, which would give him the ability to become a villain.]
Jiang Minghua nodded. That's true. After all, she had never seen such a weak villain before. The only thing she could look at was his face.
After a night of emergency treatment and meticulous care, Xie Yan's high fever finally subsided at dawn. He woke up to an unfamiliar smell mixed with disinfectant and a faint fragrance, and the glaring sunlight streaming through the glass window made him squint instinctively.
Memories flooded back like a tide. He and his brother were peacefully staying in the old house when suddenly the Xie family barged in and took him to the cold, dark basement. They forced him to have his blood drawn, and this time he even heard the powerful figures say the words "heart transplant." His brother knelt down in despair and pain, begging them to save him, and then his memories abruptly ended.
The little mute boy who was accompanying his brother saw that his brother had woken up and happily rushed over to him. The movement was so big that it aggravated the IV needle in Xie Yan's arm, causing a sharp pain, but he did not show it in front of his younger brother.
"Xiao Mo, how did I get here?"
Xie Mo used sign language to tell him that it was Sister Jiang who brought them here.
Knowing that Jiang Minghua had helped him, Xie Yan's pupils contracted, and he sat up abruptly, pulling out the IV drip head without a second thought. Blood beads immediately gushed out, but the person involved seemed to feel no pain.
He doesn't deserve it. He doesn't deserve to be in this clean, bright, and warm place, doesn't deserve such top-notch treatment. He's a monster, a burden, an omen of misfortune. He can't drag her down, he can't!
"Come on, Xiao Mo, we have to get out of here! Hurry!" His voice was hoarse and urgent. He didn't even have time to put on his shoes. Barefoot, he grabbed his bewildered younger brother and staggered out of the ward.
Meanwhile, in a classroom in the Economics Department at Eaton Norland International College.
The professor was explaining a macroeconomic model. Jiang Minghua rested her chin on her hand, somewhat absentmindedly, her mind still preoccupied with the plot of the original novel: first, the tragic love story between the female lead Wen Chuqing and Fu Yanzhi, second, the male supporting character Han Yunchu falling in love with Wen Chuqing but ultimately being unable to win her heart, and third, waiting for Han Yunchu to appear so she could become his devoted admirer, ultimately achieving a balanced narrative.
"Classmates, we have a transfer student in our class today." The teacher's words interrupted her thoughts.
The classroom door was pushed open, and a boy wearing stylish ripped jeans, with striking ash-gray hair and a bright, sunny smile walked in, instantly attracting the attention of the entire class.
"Hello everyone, my name is Han Yunshen. I just returned from an exchange program abroad. Please take care of me in the future!" His voice was clear and bright, full of youthful vigor.
Jiang Minghua raised her eyes and her gaze fell on the boy with the dazzling smile on the podium.
[Han Yun Shen? Speak of the devil, and he appears! Is this the wronged second male lead that the author forcibly assigned to me in the original novel? Ha, that signature younger, puppy-dog vibe is exactly as described.]
Han Yunshen, who was introducing himself, paused almost inaudibly. His gaze swept across the audience as if by accident, and he accurately spotted Jiang Minghua's position. A hint of extreme confusion and intense curiosity flashed quickly in his beautiful peach blossom eyes.
When the bell rang, Han Yunshen, with a clear goal in mind, darted over to Jiang Minghua, who was about to leave, and walked out alongside her very naturally.
"Hello, classmate. This is my first day here, and I'm not familiar with the campus. Could you show me around?"
Jiang Minghua stopped and looked at him seriously.
[Tsk, shouldn't he have gone to Wen Chuqing? And then been attracted by Wen Chuqing's patient nature, becoming her loyal simp.]
Han Yun Shen's smile visibly froze for a moment. Wen Chu Qing? A simp? Him? A flash of displeasure crossed Han Yun Chu's eyes, but he quickly suppressed it. However, he was certain he could hear her thoughts. He was more curious about what she meant by "original work," and the thought that he was the wronged second male lead in her eyes made him somewhat resentful, yet he still clung to Jiang Ming Hua, hoping to hear more information.
"Don't be so cold. Shouldn't classmates help each other out?"
Han Yunshen said with a grin, revealing his signature canine teeth.
"Go, Pikachu, I've already created an opportunity for you. Go be Wen Chuqing's younger man's simp, and then when we meet again, I'll be your simp, achieving a 'balanced' ending." Jiang Minghua's mind was racing with gossip and complaints, but on the surface, she only glanced at him indifferently.
"Sorry, I'm busy, but you can go to Wen Chuqing in the regular class. She can show you around the campus."
Han Yun Shen was shocked. What? He was her simp, and she was his simp? Did she have to be a simp? Wasn't it better to be a human being? Watching her departing figure, Han Yun Shen's interest grew even stronger. However, instead of listening to Jiang Ming Hua's advice to go find Wen Chu Qing, he put his hands behind his head and went in the opposite direction.
Plus sign: [Host, he didn't go to see Wen Chuqing, and the way he looked at you was strange.]
Upon hearing this, Jiang Minghua paused, turned her head, and saw Han Yunshen heading in the opposite direction. Just then, Han Yunshen also suddenly turned around, and the two unexpectedly met eyes. Han Yunshen waved to her, while Jiang Minghua rolled her eyes at him.
[They're sick; they don't even seize opportunities when they're created.]
Upon hearing Jiang Minghua's merciless retort again, Han Yunshen awkwardly touched the tip of his nose. Should he go check on Wen Chuqing to see if there would be any other plot triggers? Han Yunshen was treating this like a game, and Jiang Minghua's inner thoughts were just like the NPCs who triggered plots in the game.
Seeing that Han Yunshen obediently went to find Wen Chuqing, Jiang Minghua turned around with satisfaction.
The night was as dark as ink, and a fierce wind whipped up large raindrops that pounded against the ground, enveloping the entire city in a white curtain of water.
Fu Yanzhi's black Bentley sped through the rainy night with extremely low visibility. The car's interior, heated to a high level, created a world apart from the scorching weather outside. He had just taken Wen Chuqing to dinner at an elegant restaurant, and even thoughtfully gifted her a delicate necklace. Wen Chuqing looked out at the torrential rain, but her heart was warmed by the tenderness of the person beside her.
"The rain is too heavy, drive slower." Fu Yanzhi instructed the driver, his tone carrying a hint of barely perceptible annoyance. Qin Shuyi's Instagram hadn't been updated for the past few days, and he couldn't help but overthink things.
Just then, his phone rang abruptly, breaking the silence in the car. He glanced at the caller ID—Qin Shuyi. His brow twitched almost imperceptibly, and he quickly answered the phone.
"Shuyi?" His voice changed instantly, filled with obvious urgency and concern. "What did you say? You're back in China? At the airport now? Why didn't you tell me beforehand with all this rain! Do you have a lot of luggage? Don't move, I'll come pick you up right away!"
He hung up the phone, his expression completely changed; his previous ease vanished, leaving only utter anxiety.
"Stop the car," he commanded the driver in a cold, hard voice.
The car pulled over to the side of the road in the pouring rain, its wheels splashing water everywhere.
Wen Chuqing looked at him blankly: "Yanzhi?"
Fu Yanzhi turned his head, his gaze towards her no longer warm, only impatient and hurried: "Chu Qing, I have something to do right now and need to take care of it immediately. Take a taxi home by yourself."
His tone was matter-of-fact, without even a trace of remorse.
Wen Chuqing was stunned, unable to believe her ears: "But it's raining so hard outside..."
"The rain isn't heavy, just a few steps to the roadside." Fu Yanzhi had already reached out and pushed open his car door. The icy rain and strong wind instantly rushed into the warm car, making Wen Chuqing's heart clench.
"Get off the bus quickly, don't waste time."
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