"Host, what is this for?"
The morning after Jiang Chongyan disappeared, Zhuo Xi came to the shop and custom-made a uniquely shaped bracelet, or… a collar, it could be said.
Due to its unique design, Zhuo Xi could easily expand or shrink it. At its smallest, it could become a ring, and at its largest, it was a collar that could be worn around the neck.
"For restraining people."
Hearing her sinister voice, the system lit a candle in its heart for the target of the mission.
Why would she do anything else? She had to run away and write those high-sounding things. Her host was someone even the Heavenly Dao feared by three points, so why would she care about the separation between humans and ghosts?
Now, it was fine. He hadn't blacked out, but the host had started to become twisted.
He'd better take care of himself.
Zhuo Xi walked back with the item, thinking of something, and asked, "I need to go back to my original world for something. The next world will be paused, and tell the person behind you that I will see him soon."
Did these words sound like she was going to take revenge?
The system cautiously replied, "Then I'll report it to the main system first."
It would be best to prepare for it.
"Mm."
The person behind him could accurately detect the world where Chongyan's incomplete soul was located, which meant his body was in the world where they were.
Zhuo Xi really wanted to look at that person again.
Back then, she didn't know what Rong Jin had done, and she had forgotten everything. For ten thousand years, her past memories had faded even more. If it weren't for the obsession in her heart, she would have given up long ago.
So, what exactly happened back then?
Who killed those who died at the peak of the gods?
"Mu Chongwen's granddaughter, Mu Tingting, drove drunk and hit someone, then fled the scene, causing the victim to die on the spot. Recently, the police apprehended Mu Tingting, who was hiding at the Qin family's residence. The case has entered the preliminary review stage. Will this matter affect Elder Mu's retirement ceremony…"
Zhuo Xi looked up. On the display screen where the city broadcasted advertisements, news of Mu Tingting's hit-and-run was being broadcasted. Such things were usually only reported on the radio, but Mu Chongwen's influence was too great, and he had offended many people in his life. Now, there were many who wanted to see him make a fool of himself.
With the push of public opinion, this matter would only escalate.
They had two choices: one was to act righteously, hand over Mu Tingting's confession, and repent in front of the media to seek the public's understanding. Although they had lost the initiative, they could at least save some face.
The second was to be stubborn and try to save Mu Tingting. The final outcome would likely be that the Mu family would move abroad and not return for two generations, waiting until everyone forgot about this matter.
On one side were power and reputation, and on the other was her granddaughter's future. What would they choose?
As she pondered, she walked back to the hospital. As she neared the hospital, her phone rang.
It was from an unknown number.
Zhuo Xi answered, and Zhou Qingbie's urgent question came through, "Miss Yan, where is your boyfriend now?"
"I don't know."
Zhuo Xi hung up, feeling extremely annoyed.
Where was he? She wanted to know too.
Not only did she want to know, but she also planned to find him, put the item in her hand on him, and then lock him up somewhere so he could never get out!
A moment later, the phone rang again.
Zhuo Xi simply ignored it.
Then it kept ringing all the way to outside the ward. Zhuo Xi put it on silent, letting it continue to ring.
Yan's mother's injuries had improved slightly, and she could barely sit up to eat by herself. However, her face was extremely pale, and she couldn't get out of bed. She needed someone to attend to her eating, drinking, and hygiene.
The person attending to her most of the time was Father Qiao.
He had taken leave from his company and was accompanying Yan's mother around the clock. After a few days, he had visibly lost weight and didn't seem in good spirits.
Seeing her arrive, Yan's mother said, "Ah Xi is here. You should go and rest for a while."
Zhuo Xi agreed.
Father Qiao rubbed his eyes, the corners of his eyes a little red. "Then I'll go back for a bit. I'll bring you food later. Don't eat anything random. Remember the doctor's instructions. If anything happens, press the bell to ask the nurse for help. Your bones haven't healed yet, so don't get out of bed. Ah Xi, keep an eye on your mother and don't let her trouble herself again…"
"Oh my, aren't you annoying? My ears are about to get calluses from you. I'm not a three-year-old child who can't understand anything."
Father Qiao said helplessly, "I think even a three-year-old child is more obedient than you. Ah Xi, keep an eye on your mother!"
"Mm, I'll keep an eye on her."
Only then did Father Qiao leave with peace of mind.
It was only during this hospitalization that Yan's mother truly felt his goodness.
When she chose to marry him, it was actually just to avoid the gossip from those around her and to find a father for Yan Xi.
But for some reason, Yan Xi's relationship with him had always been bad. She had even openly mocked Father Qiao as a kept man several times and was always displeased with Qiao Bai Lian, feeling that these two had stolen her mother.
Yan's mother, caught in the middle, had a difficult time.
Especially when Yan Xi grew up, she didn't go to school, didn't study properly, and mingled with a group of people who called themselves brothers and sisters, becoming a social failure.
In desperation, Yan's mother sent her to that academy.
But she didn't expect to be sending a lamb to the wolf.
If it weren't for Zhuo Xi, Yan Xi's fate would have been similar to that of others there: betrayed, framed, photographed in compromising positions, constantly manipulated, bullied, and tormented, eventually driven to suicide by unbearable suffering.
It was only then that Yan's mother woke up and wanted to avenge her.
But she couldn't afford to provoke the forces behind them. After struggling for a while, she almost got herself killed.
Father Qiao couldn't bear to watch and helped her send the person who killed Yan Xi to prison, but he couldn't contend with the people behind them. They had a rift because of this, and later separated. Father Qiao went far away, and Yan's mother died of grief.
"Where is Xiao Yan? I haven't seen him for the past two days."
Zhuo Xi glanced at her, then lowered her eyes. "Something came up at his hometown, so he went back. He'll be back in a couple of days."
Yan's mother "oh"ed, seemingly not finding anything unusual.
But Zhuo Xi's expression for the past two days clearly showed "I am unhappy" on her face at any moment.
After a moment of silence, she asked again, "Are you really determined about him? Although I don't demand a perfect match, his background isn't very suitable for you."
Mainly, she was afraid that Jiang Chongyan would be too indecisive and be completely dominated by her daughter.
She knew her own daughter best. She liked to have fun, but she was very persistent about what she decided on. For example, when she went to learn Taekwondo, getting injured and bleeding was common, but she persisted for more than ten years.
Persistence was a good thing, but if this persistence was forced upon loving someone, it would be tiring for both of them.
"There's no such thing as suitable or not suitable. As long as it's him, that's enough."
Yan's mother: "..."
"I have no complaints about him, but Xiao Xi, matters of the heart require mutual understanding. He has his own difficulties. I hope that when conflicts arise between you, you can think of him more. I know your personality best, and I'm not afraid of you being at a disadvantage, but I don't want you to be too assertive and drive him away, only to regret it later."