Jiang Nian looked completely stunned.
She pointed at herself like a meme and asked, “Ah? Me?”
Then she turned to System 999 for help.
【Three-Nine Teacher, who is this person?】
Jiang Nian’s soul had been placed into this world, and the system had secured her a beginner benefit: she could appear using her original appearance to enhance immersion.
The original Supporting Female Character’s face was about 70% similar to hers, so the Main System had approved the arrangement.
However, the original character’s memories and past actions were not fully uploaded in detail. Otherwise, one soul carrying two sets of memories plus the novel’s plot would overwhelm the mind.
That was exactly why systems existed—not only to supervise Hosts, but also to provide support when unknown events occurred.
System 999 was a rookie system and had not expected to be checking files so soon after logging in. It got a little excited.
【Wait, wait! I’ll check!】
Very quickly, it found the identity of the “fish.”
【Niannian, this is a Male Supporting Character named Lin Xiangyu. He came from the same Welfare Institute as the Supporting Female Character.】
With that reminder, Jiang Nian faintly recalled something.
Although he was a male supporting character, he did not actually have much emotional involvement with the Female Lead. He mainly appeared later in the story when the Male Lead began to rise in the business world. They once competed over the same project, and later the Lin family invested in the Male Lead’s project. The person in charge of the connection was Lin Xiangyu.
Jiang Nian asked again:
【Is the original host on bad terms with him?】
System 999 replied:
【It’s a bit complicated. When Jiang Nian was four, and Lin Xiangyu was eight, both of them were selected by the Lin family. At that time, the original host still wanted to wait for her biological parents and did not leave with them. Lin Xiangyu accepted the adoption instead, so the original host felt he had abandoned her.】
【Later, after Lin Xiangyu integrated into the Lin family, the Lin family began sponsoring the Welfare Institute. So all of the original host’s tuition and living expenses over the years were essentially funded through Lin Xiangyu.】
【A couple of months ago, the original host learned about this from Grandma Director and felt it was charity or pity, so she cut off contact with everyone from the Welfare Institute.】
That explained why the original character had almost no savings.
So… should she reply?
After some hesitation, Jiang Nian decided to pay attention in class first. Otherwise, the professor’s kindly gaze would turn into something far less gentle.
After class ended, Jiang Nian took out her phone and saw another message from Lin Xiangyu.
[Fish: Grandma hurt her waist while working. Are you really still going to stay angry?]
In her original world, Jiang Nian had also been raised by her grandmother. Her parents had died in a car accident when she was young, leaving only her sickly self behind.
In this world, the original host had been raised by Grandma Director. She was very grateful to her, so she could not ignore this message.
Jiang Nian quickly typed.
[Disguised Potato: Where is Grandma? I just finished class. I can go see her this afternoon.]
Lin Xiangyu sent her a location afterward.
[Hope you keep your word.]
At 1 p.m., Jiang Nian arrived at Jing City First People’s Hospital carrying a fruit basket.
After asking at the nurses’ station, a young nurse led her to a VIP ward on another floor.
When she pushed open the door, she sweetly called out, “Grandma~”
A soft chuckle came from the side.
Only then did she notice a man standing by the window. He looked refined and composed, his features clean and gentle. He wore a light-colored shirt, sleeves casually rolled up to his forearms, revealing a wristwatch that clearly looked expensive.
Used to the Male Lead’s restrained and indifferent gaze, this was the first time she faced such a sharp look. She froze in place.
After a moment of thought, she raised a small hand and greeted, “Hi.”
If the relationship was average, then she would say less—but politeness was still necessary.
Lin Xiangyu seemed to still be on a call. He only glanced at her briefly before continuing, “Go on.”
Then he stepped out of the room.
“It’s Xiao Nian, right? Why did you come? I already told Xiao Zhou not to tell you… but it’s good that you came.” Grandma Director waved her over. “Come, sit here and talk to me.”
Jiang Nian obediently walked forward, placing the fruit basket on the small table before sitting down.
Grandma Director smiled warmly. “I’ve been calling you but you never picked up. Have you been doing well lately? Do you have enough money? Grandma can give you more.”
Hearing that familiar tone—just like her own grandmother’s—warmth spread through Jiang Nian’s chest, and her eyes even turned slightly red.
“I’ve just been busy lately. I have enough money. I’m already nineteen—I should learn to be independent. But Grandma, how did you hurt your waist?”
“There was a fruit tree in the courtyard. I was worried the fruit would fall and hit the children, and also afraid they’d climb up themselves, so I went to pick it. I didn’t expect to strain my back coming down the ladder.”
Grandma Director, Ji Chunlan, had founded the Welfare Institute herself. She had lived frugally her entire life, so staying in a VIP ward for such a minor injury still felt unfamiliar to her.
Ji Chunlan patted Jiang Nian’s hand. “Xiao Nian, you’re here just in time. The doctor said I just need rest. Nothing serious. Can you tell Xiao Zhou I don’t need to stay in the hospital?”
Jiang Nian shook her head. “At your age, you need to be careful. I think it’s better to stay and observe for a while.”
Seeing her firm attitude, Ji Chunlan dropped the idea and instead asked about her recent life.
While answering, Jiang Nian also peeled an orange and fed it to her.
When Lin Xiangyu returned, that was the scene he saw.
He raised a brow. This warm and harmonious picture was unexpected.
In his memory, Jiang Nian was still the child who used to cry and be willful, and only Grandma Ji’s patience and kindness had raised her.
He had assumed she would come storming in angrily—or simply not show up at all.
After finishing the orange, Jiang Nian was showing Ji Chunlan a draft on her phone when she suddenly smelled a faint sandalwood scent.
She turned around.
Lin Xiangyu was standing right beside her, looking down at her screen.
With interest, he commented, “Good color composition, but compared to your theme, you’re trying to express too much.”
It was a statement, and even Jiang Nian had to admit he was right.
She had only been piling up ideas for now and would revise it later. But she could not agree out loud—otherwise it would not fit her “cut ties” persona.
So she huffed, “I’m showing this to Grandma. People who don’t appreciate art shouldn’t look.”
Then she locked her phone in protest.
Lin Xiangyu stepped back and shrugged. “Suit yourselves. I’ll go ask the doctor about precautions.”
He really was not a child anymore—so childish.
After consulting the doctor, Lin Xiangyu walked back toward the ward and ran into Jiang Nian in the hallway.
He glanced at her bag. “Why are you leaving so soon?”
“I still have two classes this afternoon. I’ll come back on the weekend.” Then she added, “There are people taking care of Grandma, right? And the Welfare Institute kids too?”
Lin Xiangyu found this slightly amusing. “Don’t worry. I hired a caregiver. Your uncles and aunts are also on their way by plane. As for the Welfare Institute, Aunt Zhao and Xiao Cai are there.”
“When did you start caring so much about the Welfare Institute people?” He paused. “For money?”
He had seen her stubborn refusal to leave the Welfare Institute, and also her later attempts to erase that background.
Now acting well-behaved in front of Grandma—was she just hoping to benefit from what she once called charity?
Hearing this, Jiang Nian gave a faint smile full of sarcasm, disdain, and helplessness.
“I’m an adult. I can earn my own money.”
Lin Xiangyu snorted lightly. “With your temperament that can’t even endure hardship? Even if you earn money, it won’t be enough for you.”
He remembered her past messages—calling the Lin family’s sponsorship charity for beggars, saying she did not need his compensation.
Jiang Nian choked for a moment, about to defend herself, when he interrupted again.
“If you want money, don’t bother Grandma Ji.” He loosened his tie, smiling faintly. “Call me Xiaozhou Older Brother? I’ll give you pocket money.”