The light in the room was very weak, and one could only vaguely see Jiang Ran’s youthful face buried in the snow-white sheets.
At this moment, Jiang Ran’s mouth was slightly open, her body rose and fell slowly, and her breathing was extremely steady.
She had fallen completely into a sound sleep.
Gu Ge’s finger tentatively reached toward Jiang Ran’s nose.
Only after confirming she was still breathing did her furrowed brows slightly relax.
The dominance on her face softened considerably.
She noticed the pillow pressed against her feet; its shape looked like the one Jiang Ran used to have at home.
No, it was the exact same pillow from Jiang Ran’s house.
Gu Ge’s eyes dimmed slightly as she realized Xiao Ran had specifically brought it from home.
A surge of warmth rose in her heart.
Originally, she thought Jiang Ran would simply leave her be, just like when they were younger…
Back then, the people around her would scream at her, calling her a monster, putting dead rats in her desk, making jokes about her friends, and isolating her in small circles behind her back.
It was truly unexpected…
That now, there was someone willing to trust her, someone who kept no defenses against her at all.
Gu Ge’s expression gradually softened.
She took off her coat and draped it over Jiang Ran.
Then, she got off the bed and carefully carried Jiang Ran onto it, tucking her in with the quilt.
She herself sat on the edge of the bed without a care, admiring Jiang Ran’s sleeping face.
She took out her phone and noticed several familiar contacts on the glowing white screen.
Clicking on one of them, a familiar voice came through the receiver.
“President Gu, quite a few people have been showing up at the base of our company building lately. Whenever our employees pass by, they jump out to scare them. Many employees are now too frightened to come to work. We reported it to Public Security, but they said it’s a difficult matter to handle, though they promised to increase patrols in the area.”
Gu Ge tapped the screen for a while before replying.
“Wait for me to return and handle it.”
Gu Ge searched the chat history of another account and saw a message from someone named Aunt.
“Gu Ge, that company you are relying on is unreliable after all. You should properly apologize to the family in the future. Otherwise, even we won’t be able to protect you.”
“Don’t trouble yourself. Your younger son should still be attending Second Middle School, right?”
The reply came almost instantly.
“You lunatic! What… what do you want to do? I didn’t go to your company to scare people!”
“Oh, so you admit it was you scaring them?”
“I did no such thing! Stop making false accusations!”
“Is that so? Then there is nothing left to talk about.”
Gu Ge closed her phone.
After finishing the messages, she stood up and looked out the window.
She pulled the curtains open, not minding the somewhat stinging light from outside at all.
Gu Ge took a piece of chocolate from her bag.
A long time ago, doctors advised her against eating so much chocolate, but she bit into it as if she didn’t care in the slightest.
If she didn’t have these bad habits, she probably would have been dead in name and fact long ago.
She originally thought she would remain a lunatic forever.
She never expected that a little girl would actually be willing to cook for her, or even send her to the hospital…
Gu Ge felt a bit melancholy and murmured to herself, “Xiao Ran, how wonderful would it be if you were my family.”
Gu Ge’s fingernail brushed against Jiang Ran’s cheek and slid down toward the corner of her mouth.
She had every opportunity now to claim the girl’s most precious things.
If this were the past, she definitely would not have missed this chance.
But now… why…
Gu Ge didn’t know what was happening with the throbbing conscience in her heart.
She had clearly built up a mental wall long ago, deciding she would not easily trust others.
Now, she was violating that original agreement.
Gu Ge’s gaze was complex.
Eventually, the shadow falling over Jiang Ran’s face slowly dissipated.
Gu Ge went downstairs to settle the bill, only to be told that Jiang Ran had already paid for her expenses for the next few days.
Where did Xiao Ran get so much money…
Gu Ge thought back to Jiang Ran’s words at the dinner table, and her expression became terrifyingly dark.
‘Did she give me all her medical expenses?’
Returning to the hospital ward, Gu Ge saw Jiang Ran, who had already woken up and was staring numbly out the window.
The moment she saw Gu Ge, a peaceful smile appeared on Jiang Ran’s face.
She murmured, “Sister Gu Ge, aren’t you going to rest a bit longer?”
“Xiao Ran, why are you awake?”
“I had a nightmare. I dreamed that I died, and I’m a bit dizzy now.”
“Dizzy? Why would you be dizzy? Is your heart feeling uncomfortable too? Should I call a doctor for you?”
Gu Ge knew that after overexertion, her own illness would manifest as similar discomfort.
Jiang Ran shook her head.
“I’m fine, Sister Gu Ge. How much money do I still owe you? I’ll pay it back. But I really want to be alone to calm down for a while. Is that okay?”
The moonlight shone on Jiang Ran’s fair face, making the contrast between light and shadow distinct.
The part facing the light looked somewhat haggard.
Jiang Ran used her Muscle Control talent to maintain her already exhausted body.
Her Attribute Points were far too low; she had no strength at all right now.
“Xiao Ran…”
Gu Ge squeezed her hand, but her expression quickly became composed.
“Then I’ll make a bet with you.”
“What bet?”
Jiang Ran’s mind cleared slightly, and her expression changed as she looked at Gu Ge.
“I bet that once you have seen the outside world, you will come back to find me of your own accord.”
Jiang Ran opened her eyes wide in a daze.
After thinking of something, she lowered her head again.
“I won’t bet. I’ve already troubled you for so long. If I came back to bother you again, wouldn’t that be too much?”
“How could it be? Xiao Ran, since you know what kind of illness I have,” Gu Ge pointed to Jiang Ran’s heart, “then I understand you better than you understand yourself. When you are completely disappointed by the people outside, you will still come to find me.”
Jiang Ran bit her lip, deducing this possibility in her mind, and then she fell silent.
‘Will I really reach a point of such despair that I seek her out? And why her?’
“More than that, I’m curious about what happened to you. I saw the diagnostic report in your desk back in your room. Your illness is even more serious than mine.”
“Oh, that. I did think I would die on the operating table back then. Even my family nearly thought I was going to die. But I survived, and I’m even living quite well.”
“Did you help me before because of your own illness?”
Jiang Ran spoke tentatively.
She wanted to figure out exactly what Gu Ge wanted from her.
“Not entirely.”
“Then there was some part of it. You saved my life. I can agree to some things as long as they aren’t too much. If they are excessive, then forget it.”
Gu Ge’s beautiful eyes blinked slightly.
She gazed at Jiang Ran and said slowly, “I have only one requirement. I hope that Xiao Ran… you…”
Her finger brushed across Jiang Ran’s lips, and Gu Ge spoke softly, “Please do not give up on your life at any time. When you were talking in your sleep earlier, you said you wanted to die. You really scared me.”
“I said that?”
Jiang Ran pointed at herself.
She had no recollection of saying such a thing.
‘I could it have been the words I said when she was under hypnosis?’
“I promise you. But… Sister Gu Ge, you should know about my family, right? If you get too deeply involved with me, it will only make things harder for you.”
Under Jiang Ran’s shocked gaze, Gu Ge sat down and took her hand.
“Then Xiao Ran, would you like to try changing families? For instance, stop calling me ‘Sister’ and try a different nickname?”