It was actually terminal stomach cancer.
Lu Ruo held the examination report, her mind in a daze.
She had just been ordered out of the house by her family, and now she was hit with such a serious illness.
“Although it’s terminal, you’re still young. As long as you receive treatment, there’s hope for recovery. The initial costs are estimated at 300,000 yuan… Would you like to contact your family to prepare the surgery fees?”
The doctor’s words gave Lu Ruo a glimmer of hope.
That’s right—if her family knew she only had this little time left to live, would they stop fixating on those baseless accusations and be willing to pay for her treatment?
Lu Ruo took out her phone, hesitating over who to call, when her third brother Lu Ze’s incoming call appeared on the screen.
Perfect timing—she could ask her third brother if he was willing to lend her money.
Lu Ruo pressed answer.
Before she could even speak, Lu Ze’s accusations came through the line: “Lu Ruo, you actually dared to steal Yao Yao’s necklace and pawn it? I’ve already bought it back. You’d better return that 300,000 yuan immediately, or face the consequences!”
The Lu Yao mentioned in Lu Ze’s words was the Lu family’s adopted daughter. Fifteen years ago, when Lu Ruo was three years old, Lu Ze had secretly taken her out to play without bodyguards, and she was abducted by human traffickers.
The Lu family searched for her for two years without success, so they adopted Lu Yao to take her place.
Three years ago, a teacher who had gone to the countryside for volunteer teaching discovered her. Noticing that she bore a strong resemblance to the Lu family, the teacher called the police, and she was finally reunited with her family.
She had thought that returning to the Lu family meant she could live a happy life with her biological relatives, but unexpectedly, the family cared more about Lu Yao’s feelings, afraid that being too good to Lu Ruo would make Lu Yao sad.
“Third brother, I didn’t take Lu Yao’s necklace. Also, I have stomach cancer—I’m dying. Can you lend me some money for treatment? I’ll pay it back.” Lu Ruo’s voice trembled as she tried to communicate with Lu Ze.
On the other end of the line, Lu Ze’s brows furrowed tightly.
What was Lu Ruo talking about? She was dying?
This sister who grew up in the mountains was nothing but a habitual liar!
Their family had regular medical check-ups at the hospital—they’d all gone together just last month, and Lu Ruo’s examination report had shown absolutely no abnormalities!
At that thought, Lu Ze sneered: “You’re always faking illness to get the family’s attention. Today you stole Yao Yao’s necklace to pawn it, and now that I’ve caught you, you’re lying again. You never learn!”
“Lu Ruo, tell me the truth—is the disappearance of the Gu family heirloom also connected to you? I advise you to turn yourself in early. The Lu family can’t afford this shame!”
Hearing Lu Ze tell her to turn herself in, the light in Lu Ruo’s eyes completely extinguished.
Her biological brother didn’t care about her at all—he was even slinging mud at her.
The Gu family heirloom had been missing for a month now. On the day it disappeared, Lu Ze had forcibly locked her in the warehouse. How could she have had time to commit the crime?
He didn’t even remember what he himself had done. Had Lu Ze ever truly treated her as a sister?
No, it wasn’t just Lu Ze—the rest of the family had never loved her either.
What she had been longing for was something she could never obtain.
“I won’t apologize for something I didn’t do.” Lu Ruo’s voice still trembled, but this time her tone was no longer weak. “Lu Ze, since Lu Yao is your real sister, your real family, then from this moment on, we’re done.”
With that, Lu Ruo hung up directly and, in a fit of catharsis, blocked the entire Lu family.
She wiped away the tears that had fallen from her eyes without her realizing it, and smiled at the doctor: “I’m sorry for troubling you. I won’t treat this illness…”
After replying, Lu Ruo left the hospital like a walking corpse.
Cancer patients suffer greatly before death, and given her current situation, she definitely wouldn’t be approved for a loan.
So why not… end it herself.
But before she left, she needed to say a proper goodbye to her only good friend.
Lu Ruo bought a catty of cat food at a pet store, went to the alley entrance near the school, poured the cat food onto a paper bag, and called out to the stray mother cat inside to come out and eat.
Hearing the call, the calico mother cat squeezed out from a small gap in the corner of the alley wall and meowed at Lu Ruo.
Her tail stood straight up behind her like a little antenna, and her meows were sweet and clingy.
The cat was so well-behaved. Lu Ruo smiled through her tears.
She stroked the cat’s head, talking to herself: “Be good, this is the last time I’ll feed you. I, I’m about to find a place to end my life soon.”
“Thank you for being willing to come close to me.”
Lu Ruo tried to say her decision in a light tone, gently caressing the mother cat’s head.
[Detected a qualified host who loves fluffy creatures. The Fluffy System is about to bind.]
[Beginner quest: Help the mother cat fill her belly—completed. Obtained Help Points: 10. Title: Cat Whisperer!]
[To promote harmony between humans and animals, the host will receive various quests. Complete quests to earn Fluffy Help Points! Points can be exchanged for various rewards. Please select a shop category!]
The voice that sounded in her mind left Lu Ruo frozen in place.
A system? Cat Whisperer? Promoting harmony between humans and animals? What were all these?
Lu Ruo was still in a daze when the cat mother’s meowing suddenly turned into human speech: “Why does this human smell unhappy today?”
“If I gave her the treasure hidden in the trash heap, would she be happy?”
The voice sounded kind and gentle.
Lu Ruo looked down at the cat mother, whose round feline eyes were fixed on her. The cat tilted her little head, rubbed against Lu Ruo’s pant leg, and circled around her.
“Human, don’t be sad. Let me rub against you—you can pet my head!”
Lu Ruo reached out and stroked Huahua’s head. Huahua’s black-and-white little tail swayed left and right, full of joy, as she said, “The human petted me! Will she feel a little happier now?”
At this point, Lu Ruo was truly certain—she could actually understand the calico cat’s voice!
But what good did understanding her do? She was about to die anyway. Even if she had bound to a system, what use was it?
Lu Ruo was utterly dejected when the system’s voice sounded in her mind once more: [Detected that the host’s lifespan value is extremely low. Would you like to choose the Lifespan Mall?]