The scent of disinfectant hung heavy in the air as doctors and nurses hurried through the hallway, weaving past patients and their families.
Shen Qiu had chosen this private hospital himself, deliberately avoiding the one where Yang Wenlun worked. He didn’t want to worry his mentor and his mentor’s student with unnecessary trouble.
The screen displayed Shen Qiu’s brain CT scan. The image was crystal clear: the tumor was growing, soon to compress his nerves. A cascade of side effects would soon follow.
After reviewing the CT scan, the specialist sighed heavily, feeling powerless against his wealthy patient. “Mr. Shen, if you continue like this, the tumor will likely become malignant. You need surgery.”
“No. I choose conservative treatment,” Shen Qiu replied, giving himself no time to reconsider. He refused the operation.
“Sigh, Mr. Shen, there are some things in this world that money simply cannot buy—like health and happiness.” The doctor knew the man before him was the heir to the Shen Group, a frequent face on financial news channels.
“Try to think about what brings you happiness. We must always maintain an optimistic and positive attitude. Giving up on life is wrong.”
“But given my condition, my fate is sealed: I’m destined to die from the tumor’s deterioration.”
In the original novel, he had undergone surgery, but it failed to change the outcome. The tumor continued to worsen, and he eventually died of cancer. His business empire was then swallowed up by a scumbag, who went on to become the richest man in the world.
The mere thought of it nauseated Shen Qiu.
A faint smile lingered in the depths of Shen Qiu’s eyes. “I know. I’ve always known. Thank you, Doctor. I’ll be in your care from here on.”
Seeing that his persuasion had failed, the doctor could only abandon his hopes of saving the patient’s life.
“Very well,” the doctor said, writing a prescription. “Just remember to follow the dietary restrictions.”
“If you maintain your health well, you might live another three or four years.”
Watching President Shen get into the car from the rearview mirror, Lin Yi spoke up with concern. “President Shen, should we still—?”
Shen Qiu leaned back against the headrest, closed his eyes, and rubbed his temples. “It’s fine, Lin Yi. We still have a lot to do.”
I won’t let Shen Zhang succeed. Everything he wants, everything he dares to covet—I will destroy.
Shen Qiu felt fortunate that the System had bound itself to him. Only then did he realize he was a mere cannon fodder supporting character in the novel, whose business was easily seized by the scumbag before he died an early death from cancer. It wasn’t too late. He could use his remaining time to complete his mission and achieve his goals.
As for Meng Xinghui, I’d initially seen him as just another target for my mission. But gradually, he’d started to seem so pitiful—always on the verge of tears, pining for his scumbag ex-boyfriend. He reminded me of his mother, who his grandfather once told him had eventually given up and accepted her own helplessness.
Shen Qiu had left the house this morning, and Meng Xinghui hadn’t seen him at the office all day. Where the hell was he messing around? Meng Xinghui couldn’t understand.
Frustrated, Meng Xinghui waved down a taxi that was pulling around the corner.
“Where to?” the driver asked.
“Beishan Mansion.” Meng Xinghui opened the door and set down a heavy bag filled with groceries and household supplies—all things Shen Qiu regularly used. Meng Xinghui had bought them all without even looking at the prices.
Shen Qiu is so rich. I’m so jealous.
Lin Xiu, wearing sunglasses and the same dress she’d worn to the office the day before yesterday, disappeared around a street corner.
That’s Actress Lin. What is she doing out here alone without a bodyguard? If anti-fans spot her, she’ll get beaten to a pulp.
Meng Xinghui had studied Qingxiang’s company handbook inside and out. This was a major taboo for celebrities; if paparazzi caught a bad photo, it would spark another firestorm on Weibo in minutes.
Whether Shen Qiu wanted to terminate his contract with Actress Lin or not, she was still one of Qingxiang’s artists for now. Meng Xinghui had to protect Shen Qiu’s golden goose.
Meng Xinghui’s mind raced. “Sorry, Lin-jie, I have something to take care of.” He shut the car door, grabbed the bag, and followed her.
Actress Lin walked with familiar ease into a KTV tucked away in a deep alley. The KTV’s entrance was simply decorated, with only a single, brightly colored sign.
Actress Lin smiled, her red lips curving. “We’ll take a private room.”
“I have a friend coming later. You can just give them my room number.”
“Sure,” the server replied.
Meng Xinghui followed closely behind, but he was still a step too slow. What was he supposed to do? Why did they have to come to a KTV? Was he expected to search every room?
The server spoke up. “Sir, the room your friend just booked is 009.”
“Ah.”
Meng Xinghui froze for a moment, then a wave of awkwardness washed over him. When Actress Lin noticed, he stammered, “Right, right, right. Thank you.”
The door to the private room swung open. Actress Lin had already uncorked all the bottles—a colorful array with varying alcohol contents.
“You’re here. Come, sit.” Actress Lin waved Meng Xinghui over to the seat beside her.
Meng Xinghui sat on the sofa to her left.
“Why are you sitting so far away?” Lin Xiu patted the spot next to her. Meng Xinghui had no choice but to move closer.
“What are you afraid of? Afraid President Shen will get angry? Don’t worry, I’m straight.” When this stunningly beautiful actress spoke, her words were as surprising as they were unexpected, making Meng Xinghui want to leave immediately.
“President Shen and I are just a regular superior and subordinate. Anyway, my relationship with him is complicated—it’s just a matter of paying off a debt,” Meng Xinghui said truthfully.
Lin Xiu took a sip from a wine bottle and gave a casual “Oh.” She had only asked out of curiosity.
“Come on, drink up. Let me tell you, alcohol is a wonderful thing. Once you’ve had enough, all your worries will vanish.”
Meng Xinghui waved his hand in refusal and pushed away the wine bottle Actress Lin offered him. “I can’t drink much. I’m a one-glass lightweight. You should be the one drinking, Actress Lin.”
In less than half an hour, Actress Lin had finished all the wine on the table. She stood up unsteadily. “I’ll go order more. You stay here.”
Meng Xinghui had never met a woman who could drink so much. Even Head Chef Liu, whom he knew from before, could only drink half as much. Lin Xiu had forced herself to finish everything and could still stand up.
“I’ll go instead,” Meng Xinghui suggested.
Lin Xiu placed a finger on her red lips. “No, I’ll go. I want to drink until I’m happy today.”
Meng Xinghui watched Lin Xiu leave. The rotating lights in the private room were blinding, but his worry drove him to get up and go after Actress Lin.
Actress Lin was smashing a wine bottle over someone’s head. “Bastard! What do you think you’re doing? How dare you try to take advantage of me! I’ve lost my patience!” Shards of broken glass scattered across the plush, nauseatingly soft carpet.
The man’s colleagues rushed in to intervene.
Startled by the scene, Meng Xinghui’s instincts kicked in. He stepped forward to help Actress Lin, who, seeing him join the fray, struck even harder.
Meng Xinghui found himself trying to both restrain Actress Lin and fend off the men. In the chaos, he ended up taking a punch from one of them.
A fist slammed into his face, and the skin instantly bruised a mottled red and blue.
Actress Lin flew into a rage, gritting her teeth. “Fuck—! What are you doing? How dare you bully my boss’s mistress! You’re looking for a beating!” She began tearing and striking at them.
Her tied-back long hair fell loose as the men cried out in pain.
“I’m not a mistress,” he explained weakly, his voice swallowed by the roar of Actress Lin’s rampage.
Meng Xinghui bore witness to the transformation of a woman known on screen for her elegance and poise. Now, like a prize fighter in a boxing ring, Actress Lin clenched her fists and aimed her punches at the most vulnerable spots.
“Hello, how can I help you?”
Meng Xinghui kept an eye on the fight. Actress Lin was winning decisively. The waiter and the owner had come out to break it up, and three or four customers were watching.
“My friend was molested, and they got into a fight.”
“Understood. We’ll do our best to control the situation. Our police car will arrive as soon as possible.”
The police car arrived, and the sound of its siren echoed. The men who had been beaten finally breathed a sigh of relief. Wait, why is this woman so strong? All I did was touch her back.
What a hypocrite, acting all innocent and pure while wearing a backless dress.
Actress Lin had fought her fill and was now completely sober. “Scum! How dare you touch your grandmother!”
The three men lay prone on the ground, too afraid to get up, begging for mercy.
Meng Xinghui handed her a face mask and said softly, “Sister, we should put these on. After all, you are a public figure.”
Lin Xiu remembered her celebrity image and took the mask, slipping it on.
The police officer looked grim and began his usual lecture. “You two, next time you encounter a situation like this, you must learn to call the police. If you can’t beat these people, you can’t just beat them up like you did today. The correct answer is to escape and call the police immediately.”
“Lesson learned.”
This was Meng Xinghui’s first time in police custody. He kept his head down in embarrassment, listening obediently. “We won’t do it again, Officer. We promise.”
Lin Xiu nodded in agreement.
“Alright, the people here to bail you out have arrived. Lin Mingxing, you’re a public figure. Watch your image—don’t set a bad example.”
Lin Xiu’s eyes darkened. The mention of her fans seemed to deflate her instantly. “I know. It won’t happen again.”
Shen Qiu looked over, his gaze deep and inscrutable. He stood under the stark white lights, the door to the black car behind him open.
The night mist hung in the air, and Meng Xinghui felt a chill. In the blink of an eye, a warm jacket was draped over his shoulders—Shen Qiu’s blazer. It carried his scent, not perfume.
“I’m sorry,” Meng Xinghui apologized. “I made you come pick us up tonight.”
I’m the one who got into trouble, yet I’m making Shen Qiu come get me. This is so embarrassing—my first time in jail.
The next moment, Shen Qiu pinched the flesh on Meng Xinghui’s cheek. “Meng Xinghui, you don’t need to apologize to me. If you do it again next time, I’ll punish you.”
“Oh, by the way, your math teacher is furious. His blood pressure shot up because you stood him up.”
Meng Xinghui’s dimples vanished. “I forgot. I was planning to tell the teacher at eight o’clock.” He pulled out his phone, but the screen showed it had no battery.
“Use mine.” Shen Qiu placed his phone in Meng Xinghui’s hand.
Meng Xinghui walked a short distance away to make the call and explain the situation to his teacher.
Lin Xiu let out a yawn. “I’m safe now. I’ve been keeping your little secret.” She looked at her boss.
Shen Qiu frowned. “You still have a few days. Can’t you behave yourself? Aren’t you afraid your fans will be heartbroken?”
“Fans?” Lin Xiu’s brow furrowed, a bitter smile touching her lips. “They must be so disappointed. I’m just a packaged product.”
“It’s all going to end soon.”
“I’m a failed idol. It’s better if they start hating me early. Right, Xiu Tuanzi?”