Chapter 14: Number One in the World

Nian Zhi’an let out a breath. Her face was a bit pale, but overall, she still seemed spirited.

【You went too far. It’s just a fever; feeding her some fever medicine would have sufficed.】 The System wiped the nonexistent sweat from its forehead.

“Not just to reduce the fever—it was also a good chance to cure her other chronic ailments.”

Is that the key point?

The System sighed. Fine, go ahead and pamper her.

It had completely figured out this host!

The fever on Mu Yixuan’s forehead had subsided, but her nightmare continued. She kept mumbling Song Qi’an’s name in her sleep.

“What did I do to scare you like this?” Nian Zhi’an sighed. Then she sat on the edge of her bed and softly hummed the only lullaby she knew.

In the quiet night, only the gentle singing persisted, dispelling all the bloodshed and gloom in her dream. It wove together a sweet dreamland once more.

The dark sky, the broken corpses, and the hellish scenes vanished. In their place appeared a beach and the ocean. Waves lapped at her toes, the sunlight was blinding yet warm, and Song Qi’an in a white dress led her young sister by the hand, calling out to her from ahead.

Song… Song Qi’an!

Mu Yixuan abruptly opened her eyes. That figure suddenly vanished. She stared blankly at the ceiling for a long while before she came back to herself.

It was just a dream. She wiped the corner of her eye—it was wet.

Though it was a dream, it felt extraordinarily real. The warmth of that person’s body seemed to linger by her side.

“Cough cough cough…”

Mu Yixuan sat up. She felt her throat was very dry, and her body seemed to have no strength. She picked up her phone and glanced at the time—it was already past 8 o’clock.

A flood of messages popped up, most of them work-related. Only one stood out. Mu Yixuan stared at it silently for a moment before opening it.

“President Mu, you saved my whole family’s lives. These years, I’ve never found a chance to repay you. Just say the word—if you want that beast surnamed Long butchered, us brothers guarantee we’ll handle it clean as a whistle, with zero blowback on you.”

She wanted to kill Long Chendong. There was no doubt about that.

If she hadn’t fainted from dizziness when she stood up and gotten rushed to the hospital with her hands full of glass shards, Long Chendong probably wouldn’t have seen today’s sunrise.

Now that she had calmed down, she still had her sick sister and young niece to care for. No matter what, she couldn’t act rashly.

So she sent back a message telling them to wait a bit longer.

She wouldn’t let Long Chendong live easily, nor would she let him die simply. She would make his life a living hell.

A faint stinging pain came from her left hand wrapped in bandages—it seemed she had accidentally torn open the wound just now. A bit of blood had seeped through the gauze.

If she went out like this… that nagging, temperamental little girl would probably get mad. Better change it.

Mu Yixuan pulled open the curtains. Bright sunlight flooded in at once, chasing away the gloom in the room. She fetched the medicine box from the room. With some awkwardness using only one hand, she applied ointment and changed the bandages. The knot she tied in the end looked ugly, but that was fine—practicality mattered.

After tending to her wound, she changed clothes, washed up, and stepped out of the room. The moment she did, the aroma of food wafted over.

Nian Zhi’an took a bowl of porridge she’d just heated in the microwave from the appliance and called Mu Yixuan over to drink it.

“You really look like a virtuous little wife.” With the porridge and side dishes neatly placed before her, Mu Yixuan smiled faintly.

“Clang clang clatter splash…” An exaggerated racket came from the kitchen. Mu Yixuan immediately set down her spoon and rushed over. She discovered that Nian Zhi’an had accidentally knocked over a stainless-steel basin full of water, soaking herself in the process.

Nian Zhi’an stood there, her face flushed red.

What little wife?! Was she too nice to her?! Did she look like a little wife?!

Even eating couldn’t shut her mouth!

“Your clothes are soaked—go change quickly before you catch a chill.” Mu Yixuan was about to pull her out when the other reacted even faster. She darted away like a startled rabbit.

“Your hand’s injured! Don’t touch me—I’m all wet!” Nian Zhi’an raised her hands to keep her at bay.

“Alright, I won’t touch you. Hurry up and get out of there.” Mu Yixuan took a step back.

Only then did Nian Zhi’an scramble out of the kitchen. Even as Mu Yixuan urged her to change, she turned back to forbid her from cleaning up the kitchen. Her ordinary human physique wasn’t like Nian Zhi’an’s—if the wound got infected, that would be real trouble!

After getting repeated assurances, Nian Zhi’an finally slipped back to the guest room to change.

Her, huh…

Mu Yixuan watched Nian Zhi’an’s retreating back, her expression turning somewhat pensive.

No matter how much a person’s personality changed, they couldn’t shed their true nature so quickly. Yet right after the car accident, the first thing she said upon seeing her was that teasing remark. In the past, even if a knife were held to Guo Yuzhen’s neck, she wouldn’t have said it. If she did, it would come out amid sobs, one word at a tear. That was the real Guo Yuzhen. But now… she was like someone with a new soul, full of secrets.

So who are you?

An absurd thought surfaced in Mu Yixuan’s mind, but she didn’t dare ask or voice it. She feared that spelling it out would shatter the dream.

Nian Zhi’an changed into some slightly thicker clothes. No helping it—the original host had been frugal, with pitifully few clothes. She herself was too lazy to go out and buy more. It had rained the past few days, too, so the laundry wasn’t dry yet.

Should pick up a few online? Perhaps because she’d spent most of her life rushing about, Nian Zhi’an now preferred staying home. No need to go far—best to get delivery for clothes.

“I’m off today. I’ll take you shopping for some clothes.” Mu Yixuan took her hand—it was her less injured right hand, but it still had a few cuts. Nian Zhi’an didn’t dare struggle and could only glare at her dryly. After a tug-of-war, she lost.

The mall Mu Yixuan took her to was the new one opened by the Liu Family. The sales assistant recognized this honored guest the eldest young lady had brought before and hurried over to ask what she needed.

Mu Yixuan pushed Nian Zhi’an forward. “Clothes that suit her. All four seasons.”

“That’s too many! No need to spend so much!” Most importantly, she didn’t want to turn into a dress-up doll! Nian Zhi’an refused desperately.

Unfortunately, if she could have struggled free, she wouldn’t be in this mall now.

Ten minutes later, the sales assistant—beaming inside—hung a whole row of clothes outside the fitting room for Nian Zhi’an to choose from. Nian Zhi’an was forced to become Mu Yixuan’s dress-up doll, changing from one outfit to the next. The sparkle gradually faded from her eyes.

The sales assistant had great taste—every piece suited Nian Zhi’an perfectly. Each time she stepped out in one, Mu Yixuan nodded, and the sales assistant understandingly packed it up.

【Host, the male lead and the antagonist have run into each other.】 In the fitting room, the System suddenly issued an alert.

“Tch…” Displeasure crossed Nian Zhi’an’s face.

What rotten luck.

“No need to notify me until Mu Yixuan kills him.”

【But, but the male lead looks like he’s about to make a move on the antagonist…】

“With that useless sack of shit?” Nian Zhi’an scoffed.

Three seconds later.

“Dammit! Forgot Mu Yixuan’s still a patient right now!” Nian Zhi’an bolted out immediately.

Sure enough.

【Sigh…】 The System sighed in feigned maturity. It had finally figured out how to communicate with its host.

By sheer coincidence, after getting out of prison, Long Chendong had closed his first deal and made a little money. He’d brought his girlfriend shopping for clothes and happened to spot Mu Yixuan.

When enemies met, their eyes burned with special hatred. Back then, Song Qi’an and Mu Yixuan had ruined him. He’d already killed Song Qi’an—Mu Yixuan was all that remained.

“Chendong… let’s, let’s go to another store?” The female lead had always been especially afraid of Mu Yixuan. She knew this woman was the biggest obstacle to her boyfriend’s comeback. A real man didn’t fight lost battles—there was no need to clash head-on.

Long Chendong held his girlfriend tight and refused to budge half a step. After all, he valued face more than his life.

Mu Yixuan shifted her gaze from the magazine. Her icy stare fixed on Long Chendong.

Only upon truly facing this killer again did Mu Yixuan realize her rationality and forbearance weren’t as strong as she’d imagined.

She tugged the corner of her mouth slightly and uttered a string of numbers.

That was Long Chendong’s prison ID number. The moment Mu Yixuan spoke it, he instantly felt like he was back in jail.

Deliberately using the number instead of his name—her intent was crystal clear. To him, it was the ultimate insult! Veins bulged on Long Chendong’s forehead. He looked like a rabid dog, brimming with aggression.

The female lead still had some sense left and yanked at him desperately. But someone else was faster.

A girl dressed all pink and cute blocked Long Chendong’s path. The dainty, adorable young woman posed no threat at all, yet she made the man—who’d been like a mad dog moments ago—stiffen all over. The female lead shrieked and hid behind her boyfriend, trembling as she pointed at the girl. “M-Miss Song?”