Early the next morning, Churan jolted awake to urgent knocking at his door. He dragged himself out of bed, feeling a slight numbness all over.

Knock knock knock...

The knocking persisted. Churan called out, "Come in."

A doctor in a white coat entered, greeting him with a muffled "Good morning, sir" behind his mask. He frowned slightly at a medical chart in his hands.

"Any discomfort today?" the doctor asked, his voice low. Churan tested his arms and sighed. "Yeah... I feel weak all over."

"Weak all over... I see?" the doctor pressed.

"Mm." Churan hoped this wasn’t a bad sign.

"I’d like to run a full-body checkup again. It won’t be cheap—what do you think?" The doctor had suggested this when Churan first arrived, but Churan, overwhelmed then, had refused anything beyond basic tests. Those hadn’t revealed much. Yet as a healer, the doctor vowed to fight for every patient. Churan’s symptoms were unusual, hinting at hidden dangers. But where there’s life, there’s hope.

Churan covered his face with one hand, thinking long and hard. Finally, he sighed. "Alright. Schedule it. I’ll trouble you with this."

"Understood." The doctor’s eyes brightened. He’d feared Churan might give up—but this meant he’d choose to live for tomorrow.

After the doctor left, Churan glanced at the closed door and smiled faintly.

Truth was, every penny spent on treatment pained him. Money flowed like water here, with no guarantee of results. Worse, it wasn’t his own—it belonged to his aunt and uncle. If it were his, he’d shrug it off. But...

What had shifted his bleak outlook?

When he’d first been admitted, Churan felt he’d lost everything. He’d planned to invest nothing more in himself—just survive as long as possible, grind in-game to leave his aunt and uncle some savings.

But now?

His aunt and uncle cherished him. Song Qian had rushed across continents to care for him. In-game, Lengjiang cracked jokes to lift his spirits. Reliable Xiaoye worried over his gaming future. Even goofy Moonshadow...

And his cousin... Cousin?

Wait—cousin?!

Cold sweat broke across Churan’s forehead. He grabbed his charging phone.

Silent mode...

67 missed calls...

...

Churan swallowed hard, wiping his brow. His hand trembled as he dialed back.

*Beep...*

*Beep...*

"Tch. Hmph. Bad cousin! You never answered—I was scared sick!"

"Ge, how are you? Resting well?" A sweet voice chirped from the other end. Churan’s hand shook violently. He cleared his throat, forcing calm. "I’m... fine."

"Oh, *fine*?" The voice turned icy. "Churan. Explain why you ignored two hundred calls." It sounded like she wanted to tear him apart. Churan’s mind raced. "I slept most of yesterday. Phone died. Didn’t notice..."

Would this excuse fool his cousin? When she got fierce... she was terrifying.

Silence stretched for seconds. Then: "And that bastard Song Qian? He couldn’t have missed them all!"

"He..." Churan hesitated. Lives hung in the balance.

"He was too glued to games to notice." Churan sold Song Qian out without flinching. Survival first—and it was true, anyway.

"... ..." Dead air. Churan instinctively held the phone away from his ear.

"Churan. When I get back..."

"Mm?"

"I’ll rip *him* apart." Surprisingly, no shout came. Churan guessed she was in public.

"Ahem, Yuxuan... Song Qian did his best..."

"Oh? Protecting him now?"

"...No. Do as you please. Forget I spoke." Churan chuckled nervously.

"By the way, Yuxuan—when are you back?" Pushing her anger further might get Song Qian killed the night she returned. Time to change topics.

"Me? Probably another year." Su Yuxuan’s tone softened slightly.

"Listen well, Churan. Cooperate with the doctors. Rest properly. Understood?" Her voice now carried a firm command.

"Okay, okay. Got it." Churan sighed with a wry smile. His younger cousin acted more responsible than he ever did.

"Mm. Stop making me worry. You’ve always been like this. Hmph!"

"... ..."

"Class is starting. I’ll call later."

"Mm."

"Oh—and Churan?" She paused. He froze.

"If you ever ignore my calls again..."

"I won’t! Never! I dare not..." Churan checked his battery. Staying "healthy" was non-negotiable now—or he was doomed.

"Good." Su Yuxuan sighed softly. She’d always fretted over this unreliable cousin.

"Anything else? I’ll hang up."

"Mm. Study hard."

Churan ended the call and sighed again. When would this illness end? If this checkup found nothing again...

Worrying achieved nothing. But the dread lingered.

...

"Sister, I’m heading out today. No gaming for you—guests might visit. Understood?" At the dining table, Shallow Peace dabbed her lips with a napkin, addressing Xin Qian across from her.

"Mm, got it! Geez, you said that yesterday. My memory’s not *that* bad, you know." Xin Qian pouted playfully.

"Mm." Shallow Peace set down her napkin, hesitating before rising.

Xin Qian noticed her sister’s strained expression. "What’s wrong, Jiejie?"

"Nothing." Shallow Peace smiled. The elderly butler frowned but stayed silent.

"Time to go." Shallow Peace checked her watch.

"Mm! Safe trip, Jiejie~~" Xin Qian chirped. Shallow Peace shot her a reproachful look, shook her head, and left the mansion. The butler followed.

"Miss," two suited, sunglasses-wearing guards at the gate saluted as she approached.

"Mm. Watch my sister. Don’t let her return to her room before I’m back. I fear our parents might call, and no one would answer." The guards opened the car door. Shallow Peace turned to the butler. "Ensure she stays downstairs."

"Yes. I’ll care for Miss Xin Qian well." The butler bowed slightly.

"Mm." Shallow Peace slid into the car, expressionless. The guards took the front seats.

"Miss Shallow Peace—" The butler called as the engine started.

"Hm?" She turned.

"Why not tell Miss Xin Qian directly? To ask for..." The butler looked anxious—he stood with them.

"I’ve said it. This can’t be rushed. Too many uncertainties. It’s not that simple." Shallow Peace explained patiently.

"Mm... Forgive my intrusion." The butler bowed deeply again.

"Just do your duty. I’ll handle the rest. If she asks about messages, come to me—not her. I’ll ask." Shallow Peace knew Xin Qian’s moods well. Even chatting required reading her emotional state first.

"Understood. Safe travels, Miss." The butler waved and retreated inside.

Xin Qian, finishing breakfast, tiptoed toward the stairs—only to collide with the butler.

"I... just need something..." she stammered, caught red-handed.

"No. Miss Shallow Peace forbade you from going upstairs today." The butler’s usual warmth vanished. Softness wouldn’t work—Xin Qian would just stick out her tongue and lock herself in her room.

"Tch..." Xin Qian pouted but trudged downstairs, plopping onto the sofa.

"Please endure it, Miss Xin Qian. Miss Shallow Peace is away." The butler knew why she worried about missed calls. Her parents’ company was collapsing. If Xin Qian didn’t play along with this charade, they might return early—ruining Shallow Peace’s plans.

But explaining would shatter Xin Qian’s fragile heart.

...

"Miss, we’ve arrived." A guard opened the car door. Shallow Peace stepped out, staring at the towering skyscraper ahead. Her brow furrowed.

*Sigh.* She knew this trip would likely yield little. Yet she had to come—to gauge exactly how far to push before both sides suffered irreparable harm.

"Let’s go." Shallow Peace swept her hair back, striding toward the building with icy resolve.

"Yes!" The guards hurried after her.