Meanwhile.
With the System’s cover, Luo Li had already left the estate, found a carriage at the foot of the mountain, and hurried back to the city.
Inside the carriage, Luo Li clutched her chest, gasping for breath.
“This frail body really can’t handle much!” She felt like she was about to keel over after just running such a short distance.
“Host, open the Novice Gift Pack. There’s a Universal Pill inside. Take it, and you won’t have to worry.”
The original host’s body truly was weak.
“There’s a Novice Gift Pack?” Hearing this, Luo Li caught her breath and then saw a screen appear before her, displaying the words “Novice Gift Pack.”
Without hesitation, she tapped to open it.
[Ding! Congratulations on obtaining ten Hemostasis Pills, ten Painless Pills, ten Universal Antidote Pills, and one Qi-Nourishing and Body-Enhancing Pill.]
“???” The others all came in sets of ten, but this one only had a single pill?
“??? Why isn’t there a Universal Pill?” Little Cabbage was also puzzled. It had heard from other Systems that Novice Gift Packs always included an essential Universal Pill.
The Universal Pill, true to its name, was incredibly effective—one pill could handle anything.
Hearing this, Luo Li turned to glance at it. “You’re asking me?”
“…Never mind. Host, hurry up and take it. This should be good for your body. Once you take it, you’ll feel better. The pills in our Mall are super effective—one pill does the trick.” Little Cabbage pointed at the Qi-Nourishing and Body-Enhancing Pill.
The original host’s body had been frail since birth due to premature delivery and congenital deficiencies.
“Alright, do you have any water?” Looking at the large black pill the size of a fish ball, she couldn’t help but feel it would be hard to swallow.
“Here.” Little Cabbage was quite obedient.
Luo Li took the pill with water, though the water turned out to be unnecessary—the pill melted in her mouth and tasted rather sweet.
[…Physical Health Value restored: 50%.]
“…….”
“This… Host, I…”
Seeing Little Cabbage’s confused, bewildered, and adorably clueless expression, Luo Li couldn’t help but smile helplessly.
“A hundred points for one pill?” She glanced at the Mall display.
“Yes, 1 Favorability Value can be exchanged for 10 points.”
“…Alright.” It didn’t seem too expensive, after all.
Little Cabbage looked at its host and quietly tucked its hands away.
After hurrying along the way, they finally entered the city.
As soon as they reached the entrance of the Luo residence, Luo Li saw a middle-aged man in green robes walking out of the estate, about to board a carriage and leave.
His features bore a slight resemblance to the original host’s, making him look quite approachable.
“Uncle.” Thinking this, she immediately got out of the carriage, rushed over, and threw herself into his arms, tears falling before she could even speak.
Uncle Gu, seeing the young girl rushing toward him, hadn’t yet reacted and instinctively raised his hands to catch her in a fluster.
Hearing her soft sobs, he immediately frowned, unable to hide his concern.
“Sweetheart, why are you crying? Did something happen?”
Looking at Luo Li’s appearance and the carriage she had returned in, Uncle Gu quickly sensed something was wrong.
Hearing Uncle Gu’s words, which clearly indicated he was ready to stand up for her, Luo Li choked back a sob, her eyes reddening as tears fell like golden beans. She pitifully wiped her tears away.
“Uncle…”
Then, like pouring out beans from a bag, she recounted everything that had happened to Uncle Gu from the original host’s perspective.
Given Uncle Gu’s extensive experience and strategic insight in the business world, it wasn’t hard for him to see through the underlying complexities.
“Luckily, I managed to grab the railing at the time, but Sister Qingqing fell down. I heard her say she was going to have Father punish me, and Madam rushed over as well.””I was scared… so I hurried back.” As the little girl said this, she shrank her neck as if recalling some unpleasant memory.
“Uncle, I… I…” She then quickly shook her head, as if trying to explain, but choked with sobs and couldn’t speak at all.
Seeing this, Uncle Gu hurriedly patted Luo Li’s head gently to comfort her.
“Good child, Uncle understands. It’s not your fault, it has nothing to do with you. She brought this upon herself! Don’t be afraid, Uncle is here.”
He knew his niece best—she had the same temperament as his sister, gentle, kind, and pure-hearted.
Otherwise, years ago when he suggested taking the child back, little Luo Li wouldn’t have refused.
It was only because she wanted to stay by her father’s side longer and fulfill her filial duties.
This time, if she hadn’t suffered a great injustice, she would never have told him these things.
Scared like this, she must have endured similar grievances in the mansion before.
From what Luo Li had just said, he could imagine how malicious the women in this household were.
The thought that he had let this child live alone in such a den of wolves and tigers for so many years filled Uncle Gu with both self-blame and heartache.
The frail little girl, standing alone in the cold, didn’t even have a windproof cloak to wear.
Her fair, delicate face was flushed red from the cold, her hair slightly disheveled and messy, her eyes teary and blurred as she sobbed softly. She truly looked like a fragile, broken doll.
Fragile and delicate, evoking heartache and pity, yet too delicate to touch.
Seeing this scene, Gu Xuanjing, standing in the corner, was momentarily stunned before quickly averting his gaze.
[Ding, Favorability Value +20.]
Hearing this sound, Luo Li paused, only to be immediately covered by the cloak Uncle Gu brought over her head.
“The Luo family has truly grown arrogant. On such a cold day, they don’t even have a thick coat for you.”
“Come, let’s go inside first. You’re not in good health—don’t catch a cold.”
Seeing Luo Li in such a state, Uncle Gu secretly resented Father Luo for failing to keep his promise to take good care of the child.
Just as he was thinking this, he heard movement from behind.
The rest of the Luo family had returned.
By now, Luo Li had stepped back, standing separately from Uncle Gu. Uncle Gu stood closer to the carriage, partially obscured from a distance.
Luo Li, however, stood near the mansion gate, clearly visible.
Seeing Luo Li at the gate, Father Luo strode forward quickly and, without a word, raised his hand and slapped her hard.
“Ungrateful daughter!”
Luo Li deliberately didn’t dodge. Just before the slap landed, she turned her head aside, covering her face with her hand. The cloak she had just put on fell off, and Little Cabbage took the opportunity to create a slapping sound, making it seem real.
It happened so fast that no one had time to react. However, seeing Luo Li’s reaction, Father Luo was also taken aback and glanced at his hand.
He hadn’t actually hit her, it seemed.
But the others were unaware of this.
When Stepmother regained her composure, her eyes clearly held a hint of delight and satisfaction.
Luo Qingqing had been rescued not long ago but had already fainted from the cold. The servants were hastily carrying her into the mansion, which was why Father Luo was so furious.
Luo Li turned her head aside, covering her face. Tears fell as soon as she willed them, and she had spent 1 point to create an Illusory Vision on her face, making it look like she had been truly injured, though in reality, she was completely unharmed.
The red marks that her fingertips couldn’t conceal were visible to everyone.
She wanted everyone to see—to make this slap serve its greatest purpose!”You surnamed Luo! Do you think I’m dead?”
Uncle Gu snapped back to reality, his face darkening as he rolled up his sleeves and punched Father Luo to the ground with such force that blood immediately trickled from the corner of Father Luo’s mouth.
Unlike Uncle Gu, who had spent years traveling and gaining experience, Father Luo was a frail scholar who could be knocked over with a single push.
It was only then that the crowd noticed Uncle Gu standing beside Luo Li.
“Father!”
Seeing Father Luo fall, Luo Shaoyan rushed forward a few steps, but before he could take two more, he was blocked by a man who had been standing silently in the corner behind Luo Li and the others.
Though the man said nothing, his icy, terrifying gaze made Luo Shaoyan dare not move an inch.
Upon seeing Uncle Gu, Father Luo was stunned before his anger could even rise.
“B-big brother.”
“Hah! I don’t deserve such a title from the esteemed Lord Luo!” Uncle Gu’s tone was filled with undisguised mockery.
Father Luo choked on his words, but before he could say anything, his attention was drawn to the commotion around him.
Unbeknownst to him, the commoners who had noticed the disturbance had gathered around, now pointing and whispering about the scene in front of the Luo residence.
Father Luo, who valued his reputation above all else, immediately furrowed his brows.
“Big brother, there’s a misunderstanding here. Let’s go inside and talk, alright.”
Misunderstanding? Misunderstanding my ass!