The System’s voice was cold and mechanical, responding without a hint of emotion, "Without the protection of the female lead’s halo, given her past living conditions and casual habits, her cancer was inevitable. Besides, half a year ago, she inhaled quite a bit of toxic material while trying to save Xu Jiahe."
A cold, sinister glint flashed in Xu Yan’s eyes, though the smile at the corners of her mouth grew all the more sweet. "As long as she dies, her Qi and Fortune will belong entirely to me, right? Even if I can't fully seize her Qi and Fortune, as long as she is dead, I can replace her and become the female lead of this book, can't I?"
"Yes," the System’s voice remained flat. "Her death will completely extinguish her Qi and Fortune, and you will take her place as the heroine in this story where everyone dotes on her."
Xu Yan’s smile deepened, a triumphant gleam flickering in her eyes. She closed her eyes gently, as if savoring the moment’s pleasure. Her voice was soft, yet carried a chill that sent shivers down the spine: "Wonderful... I have waited for this day for far too long."
Her fingers slowly tightened, her knuckles turning white as she struggled to suppress the wild ecstasy within her.
***
Xu Jiaming went to the car to search for Xu Yan’s protective amulet but, finding nothing, immediately ran back.
"The amulet isn’t in the car. Could you have left it at home?" Xu Jiaming asked, panting as he leaned his hands against his knees.
The amulet hadn't been lost at all, and since she had already achieved her goal, Xu Yan didn't feel the need to drag out the charade of searching for it. She played along with Xu Jiaming’s suggestion. "Then I’ll look for it when I get home later."
Seeing that Xu Yan’s mood had stabilized, Xu Jiaming breathed a slight sigh of relief. Remembering the question he hadn't gotten to ask, he added, "Did the doctor say what happened with Xu Huan?"
Xu Yan’s eyes darted about. "The doctor said my sister was suffering from pent-up anger and agitation; it's nothing serious."
Hearing that Xu Huan was fine, the worry in Xu Jiaming’s heart dissipated, only to be replaced by an inexplicable fury. He sneered, "You were the one whose work was ruined and who lost out on an honor, yet you didn't get so angry that you coughed up blood. She’s the one who did the wrong, so why is she the one collapsing from an apology?"
Xu Yan lowered her eyes. "Second Brother, maybe I should just go. My sister is your biological sister, after all. She can't stand seeing you all dote on me, which is why she acts this way. If I leave, she won't do these things anymore."
With that, Xu Yan turned to leave. Xu Jiaming grabbed her hand firmly. "You are not allowed to leave."
"Her inability to be magnanimous is her own problem. You are the sister who grew up with us; I will not allow you to leave us."
"But..." Xu Yan glanced toward the hospital room. Xu Huan was already awake and listening to the commotion outside the door.
Xu Jiaming continued, "No 'buts.' In this house, if she can accept you, she stays; if she can't, then she can get out. Regardless, I will not let you leave, and neither will Eldest Brother or our third brother."
These were words Xu Huan had heard countless times over the past year. It had taken her an entire year to go from feeling bitter and pained to the utter indifference she felt now. Closing her eyes, Xu Huan ceased paying attention to the noise outside.
***
"Yanyan says she is no longer holding a grudge against you for ruining her painting."
Xu Jiaming’s voice was cold and hard, laced with impatience and a warning. He stood before Xu Huan’s hospital bed, looking down at her with eyes full of reproach and disappointment. "But if this happens again, don't blame me for disregarding our bond as siblings and throwing you out of this house."
Xu Huan kept her eyes closed, her eyelashes trembling slightly, but she refused to open them. Her face was pale as paper, her lips chapped, and she appeared frail and exhausted. Facing Xu Jiaming’s warning, she merely turned her head slightly away.
Xu Huan’s silence acted like an invisible wall, shutting out Xu Jiaming’s fury.
"What kind of attitude is this!" Xu Jiaming’s voice suddenly rose, anger churning in his chest. He abruptly raised his hand, as if about to do something, but his movement stalled when his gaze fell upon her bloodless face. Her fragility made his heart clench, leaving him feeling as if he had punched a pile of cotton—powerless and frustrated.
In the end, he slowly lowered his hand, his tone softening slightly but remaining unyieldingly firm. "The fact that your life and Yanyan's were swapped was the nurse's negligence; it has nothing to do with Yanyan." He repeated this, as if that alone would make Xu Huan understand how unreasonable her hostility was. "Stop targeting Yanyan."
Xu Huan lay quietly on the bed, staring blankly at the ceiling. She knew that Xu Jiaming would never believe that she had never once targeted Xu Yan. In fact, she had tried countless times to build a sisterly bond with Xu Yan, but Xu Yan had never once given her the chance.
What Xu Yan wanted was the exclusive devotion of the Xu Family; she wanted everyone’s eyes focused solely on her. Xu Huan’s very existence was a threat to her.
Xu Huan couldn't be bothered to explain. She knew that for those who refused to believe her, even if she talked herself hoarse, it would be to no avail.
Xu Huan’s silence only further enraged Xu Jiaming. He threw out a cold parting shot: "Eldest Brother will be back soon. You’d better think carefully about how you’re going to explain the matter of the painting to him."
With that, he took Xu Yan’s hand and left the room without looking back. With a loud "bang," the door was slammed shut, and the room instantly fell into a deathly silence.
Xu Huan slowly opened her eyes and cast her gaze toward the window. The sunset’s glow fell upon her face, yet it could not dispel the sorrow in her eyes. Compared to the Second Brother, it was the way Eldest Brother, Xu Jiahe, protected Xu Yan that truly pained her heart.
The memories of that night a year ago remained vivid. Xu Huan, who had been molested by a drunk guest, had been rescued in her moment of despair by the passing Eldest Brother. Upon seeing her for the first time, he had been shocked by her resemblance to their mother. Driven by suspicion, he had conducted a private paternity test, finally confirming that Xu Huan was indeed his biological sister.
At that moment, Eldest Brother had found Xu Huan just as she was being forced by her foster parents to marry an old man. He had held her thin, frail hand, his tone gentle and firm: "Don't be afraid. From now on, you have your brothers; no one will ever dare to bully you again."
Having grown up in an environment starved of love, Xu Huan had long since stopped longing for family affection. But Eldest Brother’s words had been like a beam of light shining into her dark world. He promised that they would take the place of their deceased parents and make up for the love she had missed.
Xu Huan had waited with a heart full of joy for the day they would all be reunited. However, reality dealt her a heavy blow. At the homecoming banquet, the three brothers had collectively abandoned her to rush to the hospital to keep Xu Yan company after she injured her foot. Since then, whenever a conflict arose between her and Xu Yan, the brothers had always stood by Xu Yan without hesitation. They blamed her for not being tolerant enough, accusing her of being unable to make room for Xu Yan.
These past events were like sharp blades; each memory could slice her heart until it bled. She exhaled a soft breath, forcing herself to stop dwelling on things that brought her such excruciating pain. Perhaps because her life was nearing its end, she suddenly lost the obsession for her brothers' affection. She accepted her fate: she was simply not meant to be loved by her own kin.
She wiped the tears from the corners of her eyes and pulled her phone from the pouch at her waist. The soft light of the screen reflected on her pale face, making her look exceptionally lonely.
What if no one loved her? Money could make even ghosts push millstones. Since she couldn't ask for love, she would buy it. This purchased romance was only intended to last half a month, and she had traded her life-saving money for these two weeks. She didn't want to waste a single second of it.
Lighting up the screen, Xu Huan’s slender fingers tapped a message: [Are you done with work?]