Lin Muci returned home late at night in a Maserati. Her mother, Ms. Lin Cuiping, had already prepared slow-cooked nourishing soup for her.
The affectionate woman looked at her, calling out repeatedly.
"Our little Ci worked so hard, boo hoo hoo! I watched the show, and those scoundrels, how could they let my precious little Ci take such a tumble!"
Lin Muci looked at her original body's mother, who was teary-eyed again, and could only patiently explain.
"No, I requested it myself. This way, it's easier to stand out on the show."
Lin Cuiping's eyes were still misty.
"But won't this make little Ci too tired?"
Lin Muci said,
"If I want to win, I can't be afraid of hardship."
She said this with seriousness.
Lin Cuiping, across from her, mumbled,
"But our little Ci should be doted on, held in the palm of someone's hand."
Lin Muci shook her head and said earnestly,
"There's no 'should' or 'should not.' Mom, those who want to win shouldn't be concerned about the price they pay."
"How is Grandpa doing?"
Upon mentioning this, Lin Cuiping's expression became agitated.
"Your Grandpa's condition has improved greatly! His friends who visited him say it's incredible. Little Ci, where did that old Chinese doctor you mentioned, who taught you acupuncture, come from? He's truly amazing. Your Daddy has been trying to find him."
"You also know your paternal grandparents aren't well. Your Daddy really wants to know the whereabouts of that old acupuncturist! He also said we should go back to the countryside to see the elders. He said I haven't shown filial piety for so many years, and as a daughter-in-law, I should understand human relationships and go serve them for a while."
Lin Muci heard Lin Cuiping say this but scoffed inwardly.
"Not well" was just an excuse. In the original host's memories, when she was sent to the countryside as a child, those two old folks were perfectly healthy. They could lean on the doorframe and curse, their foul language audible from a mile away. They called her a "money-losing good-for-nothing," fit only to shovel pig manure and eat chicken feed. The original host, a young lady, was tormented into depression! And now they wanted Lin Cuiping to go back?
What, Lu Yuanhang was all smiles when he married into the family. Now he wants to show filial piety? It's nothing more than finding an excuse to send Lin Cuiping far away and keep her from controlling the Lin family!
However, since Lu Yuanhang claimed his parents weren't well, Lin Muci had an idea. Her eyelashes fluttered slightly, and then Lin Muci said,
"Mom, since Daddy's parents are not well, doesn't that mean someone needs to serve them? I think Zhao Jingjing is quite suitable."
She acted on her thoughts immediately, calling Lu Yuanhang. When the man answered, he was a bit pretentious upon hearing it was Lin Muci.
"Little Ci? What's wrong, have you remembered the address of that old acupuncturist? Your grandparents are ill..."
Lu Yuanhang was about to blather on! Lin Muci's lips curved into a faint, almost imperceptible smile as she spoke.
"Daddy. Since Grandpa and Grandma are ill, someone should serve them. Grandpa is sick, and Mom needs to be the manager and handle the business, so she definitely can't go. I think Aunt Zhao is quite suitable. What do you think, Daddy?"
Lu Yuanhang was taken aback. The delicate face of Zhao Jingjing flashed in his mind, and he blurted out subconsciously,
"How can that be? Your Aunt Zhao is so delicate, how can she go to the countryside to do rough work?"
As soon as he said it, he realized it was not good and could only clear his throat, forcefully covering his embarrassment.
"Your Aunt Zhao isn't suitable."
Lin Muci, however, said,
"Then, does my Mom, a proper young lady, have to go to the countryside to feed chickens, pick vegetables, and shovel pig manure? Moreover, I could go to the countryside to experience life back then, so why can't Aunt Zhao and her daughter Lin Miaoyu?"
Lin Cuiping was stunned.
"Little Ci, did you suffer a lot in the countryside?"
"He said he would treat you well, and that the villagers would all spoil you and treat you like a little princess."
She hadn't gone to the countryside with Little Ci back then because Lu Yuanhang had fooled her, fearing Little Ci was too pampered to gain experience. But Little Ci suffered in the countryside? Her head buzzed!
"Lin Yuanhang! You said you wouldn't mistreat my daughter!"
The man's voice on the other end became stuttered.
"I... I never mistreated Little Ci! I just..."
Lin Muci lowered her gaze.
"Forget it, it's all in the past. However, this good opportunity to gain experience should rightfully go to Lin Miaoyu and Aunt Zhao."
"Daddy, don't you think so?"
Lu Yuanhang hastily hung up the phone.
Lin Cuiping hugged Lin Muci, her tears salty, her eyes swollen like walnuts from crying.
"I really didn't know you suffered so much, Little Ci."
Lin Muci had wanted to scold her a few times, sometimes feeling that this woman was truly disappointing. But hearing her sobbing, even her iron-strong heart seemed to crack open instantly. She softened.
Lin Muci sighed and could only comfort her in a low voice.
"Alright, alright. Stop crying."
Lin Cuiping was still sobbing.
"Little Ci, will you blame Mom?"
Lin Muci gently patted her shoulder.
"Why would I blame you? It's all in the past. Mom, aren't you protecting me from today onwards, and isn't that enough?"
Lin Cuiping nodded furiously! She was determined to protect her daughter, Little Ci!
Lin Muci said,
"If you truly want to protect me, then hold onto the shares tightly and become the general manager of the Lin family."
Lin Cuiping was flustered.
"But I really don't know anything..."
Lin Muci smiled and said,
"That's alright. If you don't know, you can learn, or you can hire reliable managers."
She was thinking of ideas when she heard the system remind her.
"Lin Cuiping actually has a childhood sweetheart. That person has secretly admired her for many years and is still unmarried. He is alone overseas and currently works as a fund manager, earning millions a year. Host, you can poach him."
Lin Muci's eyes lit up.
"That's a good idea."
She hooked her lips and then said,
"Mom, your good days are still ahead."
That evening, Lin Muci lay in bed, feeling pleased. From her show becoming a huge hit to Lu Yuanhang hurting himself by picking up a stone, and seeing his beloved wife and daughter about to be sent to the countryside, Lin Muci felt her actions were swift, precise, and ruthless.
With her mind at ease, she could ask Ling Qianhe what he was doing.
"Where is he?"
"Haven't seen him in days."
The system stammered its reply.
"In... in the hospital."
Lin Muci was startled.
"Huh? What's he doing in the hospital?"
The system said,
"Aren't you going to save him? His life value is really less than ten percent!"
Lin Muci fell silent. She said,
"Doctors will save him. I'm not a doctor."
The system sighed.
"Doctors can't save him; only you can. Host, be merciful and consider giving him some hope to live!"
"If he continues to believe Lin Muci will never appear again, the entire world will end with him! Can't you give him a little hope to motivate him to survive?"
The system pleaded pitifully. Lin Muci was silent for a moment, then asked the system,
"Fine. Tell me, which hospital is he in?"