Chapter 13: World One

“Crunch crunch… Do you have feelings for Mu Yixuan? No need to be shy about it, crunch crunch…” While munching on his potato chips, Doctor He said to Nian Zhi’an, “She’s been widowed for so many years, and this is the first time I’ve seen her bring an outsider home… Cough cough cough!”

Doctor He met Nian Zhi’an’s gaze and choked on his potato chips in fright.

“What does ‘widowed’ mean… exactly?” Nian Zhi’an tried hard to make her expression look natural, though her smile was even scarier than no smile at all.

“You… you don’t know?” Doctor He picked up his teacup and took a sip to calm his nerves.

Nian Zhi’an narrowed her eyes slightly. “I’ve heard about it, but I was afraid of touching on President Mu’s sore spot, so I never dared to ask in detail. Could you tell me?”

Doctor He sensed an intensely dangerous aura. Did he dare say no?

And so Nian Zhi’an heard the love story between herself and Mu Yixuan from someone else’s mouth. Doctor He was an excellent storyteller, recounting how they had been childhood sweethearts, then playful rivals, before their families turned them into something like enemies and allies. In the midst of brutal business struggles, they sparred without mercy, locked in a deadly dance of love and rivalry, until the loser plummeted from a building to her death. The winner, though victorious, was no different from utter ruin.

When he reached the emotional climax, even Doctor He couldn’t help wiping away tears. As one of the people involved, Nian Zhi’an’s mouth twitched slightly. How had she seen her and Mu Yixuan as a couple? They had been at each other’s throats back then—could people really ship that kind of sugar? Didn’t it scratch like sandpaper? She had to find out who spread that rumor about the dead! Otherwise, she’d make sure they learned that making up stories about the deceased would bring ghosts knocking!

Mu Yixuan… did have someone she liked, but it wasn’t her, okay?! Nian Zhi’an’s mood wasn’t great at all. Yet Doctor He kept encouraging her. “But the person’s been dead for years now, after all. As her friends, we all hope Mu Yixuan can move on. I think you’re pretty great—caring and attentive. If you want to pursue her, I’d raise both hands in approval!”

Nian Zhi’an had a breath stuck awkwardly in her chest.

“Stop saying all that nonsense in front of the kid.” Mu Yixuan had arrived without anyone noticing—no footsteps at all. She pushed open the door, pulled Nian Zhi’an behind her, and shot a disdainful look at the unprofessional doctor who wouldn’t act his age.

Doctor He was very sensitive about his age and immediately got anxious. “I’m only in my thirties—still young! Don’t badmouth me in front of the little lady!”

“…I have that photo from the class reunion last time, when you were drunk and lifted your hair.” As Mu Yixuan spoke, she pulled out her phone as if she were really going to look for it.

“I was wrong, sis! I won’t gossip recklessly next time!” Doctor He turned cowardly in a second, practically begging for mercy while hugging Mu Yixuan’s leg.

“Huh? Is Doctor He already bald?” Nian Zhi’an let out a small gasp from behind Mu Yixuan.

Doctor He shot her a resentful look. You’re the bald one—your whole family is bald! This was a symbol of his prowess!

“Alright, get serious.” Mu Yixuan put away her phone, sparing Doctor He. “She has an exam this afternoon. I need to take her to school.”

“No way! You can go, but leave the photo!” Doctor He guarded the office door. To avoid making Nian Zhi’an late for her exam, Mu Yixuan had no choice but to pull out her phone and delete the photo.

But deleting it did no good—plenty of old classmates had saved it back then. Eldest Miss Liu was the one who had sent it to her.

Oblivious to the malice of his old classmates, Doctor He cheerfully opened the door for them. And when Mu Yixuan left the sanatorium, he kindly sent a message on the sly.

Mu Yixuan felt her phone vibrate. She took it out and saw Doctor He’s warm reminder: “That little lady of yours might have some mental stress. Pay more attention to her usually—don’t keep hounding her for debts, okay.”

Debts?

Mu Yixuan glanced at Nian Zhi’an. She had never mentioned the matter herself, and the compensation she planned to give her far exceeded that debt. Yet… was her psychological pressure still that heavy?

Nian Zhi’an usually seemed cheerful and happy, never down in the dumps. But Mu Yixuan was wary now—who knew if that smile hid another form of stubbornness.

Nian Zhi’an had no idea that her psycho tendencies had already been spotted. She was busy prodding the System to dig up that photo from Mu Yixuan’s phone, oblivious to the pitying look Mu Yixuan was giving her.

“No need to be nervous about the exam. Your final exams aren’t that tough.” Mu Yixuan comforted her.

“Not nervous at all. I’ve prepared fully.” Let the System handle the test—perfect!

System: 【…Are you being polite?】

“I’ll pick you up after the exam.”

“Okay.” Was Mu Yixuan that idle lately? Nian Zhi’an closed the car door and waved to her.

Mu Yixuan’s phone was vibrating. She waited until Nian Zhi’an had entered the school before tapping to answer.

“President Mu, we’ve found that security guard.” A low male voice came from the other end.

“And?”

“He said that on the day Miss Song committed suicide, besides you and her, there was someone else in that building.”

“Who?” Unaware, Mu Yixuan had dug her nails into her palm until it bled.

“Someone you know well: Long Chendong.”

It really was… an answer that surprised no one.

~~~

An hour after the exam started, Nian Zhi’an turned in her paper. This was her last class; next semester, only the thesis defense remained. After that, she could truly slack off—assuming this world lasted until her graduation.

It was strange, really. So far, Mu Yixuan seemed perfectly normal, with no signs of going off the deep end. So what stimulus would set her off later?

Unthinkingly, Nian Zhi’an reached the school gate. She saw Mu Yixuan’s car, but the one who came wasn’t her—it was the driver.

“President Mu had some urgent business, so she sent me to pick you up.” Driver Uncle explained with a big smile as soon as he saw her.

As expected, becoming a domineering CEO meant dying from overwork. Better to be a laid-back slacker.

Nian Zhi’an thought handing the company to Mu Yixuan had been a smart move!

When kindergarten was about to let out, she headed out early and dragged the little rascal who had transferred to a nearby kindergarten back home.

Until 11:30 at night, just when Nian Zhi’an thought Mu Yixuan would crash at the company again, the sound of the door unlocking came from the entrance.

She was back—and so was the secretary.

“Mind your wound. Don’t let it get wet for the next few days.”

Hearing the secretary say that, Nian Zhi’an dashed over in her slippers. Then she saw Mu Yixuan’s left hand wrapped in bandages.

“What happened?” Nian Zhi’an’s aura darkened instantly, scaring the System into hiding off to the side.

She thought of that foolish male lead’s suicide in the past.

“Nothing—just nicked it on some broken glass.” Mu Yixuan used her other hand—which wasn’t badly hurt—to pinch Nian Zhi’an’s serious little face. “No need to worry.”

No arguing with the patient… Nian Zhi’an huffed inwardly several times but didn’t pull away. She was a grown adult—how did she manage to fall onto glass?!

“I haven’t had dinner yet. Should I grab something takeout for you?” Seeing that someone at the boss’s home could look after her, the secretary didn’t come inside.

“No need. It’s so late—you go rest.” Mu Yixuan was a considerate boss. But after the secretary left, she caught a somewhat “resentful” look from someone.

“What’s wrong?” Mu Yixuan was exhausted but forced herself to chat with Nian Zhi’an.

“Let me cook you a bowl of noodles. It’ll be quick.”

“Skipping dinner at night is bad for your stomach.”

“You lectured Tiantian last time that sick people need to eat properly. You should set the example.”

“Otherwise, if Tiantian finds out tomorrow, you won’t have any authority left.” In Mu Yixuan’s eyes, Nian Zhi’an looked like a sulky little wife.

The soft threat finally coaxed a reluctant smile from Mu Yixuan.

“Alright, I’ll have a bit.”

Only then did Nian Zhi’an nod in satisfaction. “The taste is so-so—just make do.”

Soon, a half-bowl of perfectly aromatic minced pork noodles was placed before Mu Yixuan. She hadn’t felt hungry at all before, but the smell made her stomach rumble.

If this was average, most restaurants out there could shut down. As Nian Zhi’an cleaned up in the kitchen, Mu Yixuan picked up her chopsticks and took a bite. Her eyes instantly reddened.

It was exactly the same as the longevity noodles from her deepest memories—the ones she could only have on birthdays.

Tears plopped into the bowl, blurring her vision.

Only now did she finally learn the truth of Song Qi’an’s death. There had never been a suicide—only murder.

The reopened wound in her palm soaked through the bandage, but compared to that heart-piercing agony, the pain of flesh and blood was negligible.

~~~

In the middle of the night, while the System was in half-alert, half-dormant mode, Nian Zhi’an suddenly sat up.

【…Host, why are you awake?】 The System drifted up lazily. Alert mode let it boot up at any disturbance nearby.

“Mu Yixuan seems off.” Nian Zhi’an and Mu Yixuan’s rooms were separated by just a wall.

【How do you know?】 The System hadn’t noticed! Had its host even been sleeping?!

Nian Zhi’an slipped on her slippers and went next door. After murmuring “sorry” to herself, she opened the door and fished the person out from under the covers. Only then did she realize Mu Yixuan’s forehead was frighteningly hot.

Not only did she have a fever, but she also seemed to have had a nightmare. She kept mumbling something in her sleep, and her tears had already soaked the pillow.

Nian Zhi’an had never seen a sight like this before. She was completely stunned, her lips trembling for what felt like ages before she gently shook the unconscious woman as if cradling a fragile porcelain doll. “President Mu? Mu Yixuan? Wake up. Take a fever reducer first, then get some rest!”

“System! What are you standing around for? Check if her wound’s infected!”

【Oh, oh, oh! Coming right up!】 The System immediately stepped forward and performed a full-body scan on Mu Yixuan. 【Her wound isn’t infected.】

“Qi An…”

This time, Nian Zhi’an heard it clearly. Mu Yixuan was calling her name.

“What’s the use in calling out to a dead woman? Might as well yell for help to the neighbors next door.” Nian Zhi’an let out a soft huff, muttering under her breath about how this woman had no idea how to take care of herself and no clue how she’d managed to grow up at all. Then she lowered her head and pressed it against Mu Yixuan’s burning forehead.

White specks of light began to emerge from Nian Zhi’an’s body, twinkling in the dark room like fireflies. Little by little, they seeped into Mu Yixuan’s body.

【Host! Stop it! It’s just a fever—no need for this! It’s putting way too much strain on your soul!】