Chapter 258: Chapter 255 [Find Him!] (10,000-word Mega Chapter Explosion! Vote for Monthly Tickets!)
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Chapter Two Hundred and Fifty-Five [Find Him!]
Inside the emergency ward of the hospital.
Chen Nuo lay on the hospital bed, his youthful face as pale as paper, his breathing slightly rapid, and although he seemed to be sleeping deeply, there was an indefinable sense of frailty about him.
Next to the emergency ward bed, the curtain had been drawn, and Lu Xixi and the others looked on with somber expressions as a doctor with a grave face approached.
"Please proceed with the admission procedures."
The emergency doctor frowned at the sight of the family members in front of him; he appeared surprised when he saw Lu Xixi, Sun Keke, and other girls, and then astonished when he noticed Vanel.
After hesitating for a moment, he still spoke up, "Who is the patient’s family member?"
"I am!"
"It’s me!"
"Me!"
Including Xicheng Xun, who had hobbled along, four women spoke up almost simultaneously.
The doctor was slightly taken aback, but then shook his head and said, "The examination results are not very promising. It would be best to arrange for hospitalization. Tomorrow we can organize a consultation with experts from oncology and neurosurgery."
Just as Lu Xixi was about to ask a question, the doctor had already RUSTLED out a CT scan that had just been produced.
"The patient’s condition is not looking good. The CT scan shows multifocal lymphoma on the left frontal lobe, with high-density spiculated shadows..."
Lu Xixi and the others wore expressions of disbelief.
Still frowning, Lu Xixi questioned, "Doctor, can you confirm the diagnosis?"
Hearing Lu Xixi’s voice, which still seemed to carry a hint of doubt, the doctor instinctively felt some displeasure.
However, facing such a beautiful woman, the doctor took a deep breath and still managed to speak patiently, "For a definitive diagnosis, we certainly cannot rely on just one CT scan. To diagnose central nervous system lymphoma, many other tests need to be conducted. However... based on the current situation and my experience, the likelihood is quite high."
Doctors in Huaxia habitually keep their conclusions somewhat reserved. Even when they can make a definite diagnosis, they generally won’t lay it out unequivocally, often saying the likelihood is "quite high."
Lu Xixi was dumbfounded.
Her first reaction was... How could this be possible?!!!
Chen Nuo had been perfectly healthy when he was examined in Brazil!
Just the day before yesterday, when Chen Nuo’s original soul mentioned this "central nervous system lymphoma," Lu Xixi and the others were alarmed.
Until the day before yesterday, they had forcibly taken the young man to the largest top-tier hospital in Jinling District for a thorough examination, including an MRI, which showed that everything was normal!
But... why, just over a day later, did the scans show that there was a tumor now?!
Could a tumor grow in just one day?!
Wu Daodao also had a puzzled look on her face, but she just glanced at Lu Xixi and did not dare to speak out.
Lu Xixi took a deep breath, forcing herself to calm down, "Doctor, I want to know... is it possible that this tumor grew in just one day?"
"... Of course not." The doctor looked at the beautiful woman in front of him with wide eyes.
What a pity... she’s so attractive, yet her brain doesn’t seem to work quite right.
He still answered, "No tumor can grow in just one day. Even a malignant tumor that grows quickly needs time to develop. It’s not possible for it to suddenly appear out of nowhere in one day."
After a pause, the doctor shook his head and said, "However, judging by the current scan, the tumor inside the patient’s skull is still relatively small; it seems it was discovered quite early."
Relatively small? That’s still not right!
Lu Xixi clenched her teeth, "But... the patient had a check-up at a Jinling hospital yesterday, and the report showed that everything was normal."
"That’s absolutely impossible." The doctor, after a moment of surprise, said decisively as he shook his head, "Tumors cannot grow in one day. Even if the tumor in this patient is currently small, it’s impossible that it grew from nothing to this size in a day’s time."
After another pause, seeming to have misunderstood something, he shook his head and said, "I can understand the feelings of family members. When faced with such an illness, it’s hard to accept the reality immediately. However... medical science is advancing every day. Early detection, early treatment... There is still hope."
"Li Yingwan!" Lu Xixi called out in a low voice.
The long-legged girl immediately understood, nodding her head, "I’ll have someone immediately bring over the scans and medical reports from the examination in the Jinling City hospital yesterday!"
The emergency doctor heard this and simply shook his head without saying a word.
He had seen this sort of reaction before... Families of patients being told of a serious illness and not being able to accept it right away, clinging to a stroke of luck. It’s only human.
After Lu Xixi and a few others whispered amongst themselves for a while, the doctor glanced at his watch before slowly asking, "Are you going to proceed with the hospital admission? Our hospital’s oncology and neurosurgery departments are very good. For this kind of disease, it’s best not to go to other smaller hospitals."
Lu Xixi waved her hand to stop the doctor’s words and turned to look at the people beside her.
Her gaze skipped over Sun Keke first—Lu Xixi was very familiar with the family background from which Sun Keke came.
Then there was the mysterious Xicheng Xun, whom Lu Xixi also bypassed—judging from the girl’s attire, she seemed to be a young lady from an ordinary family.
What remained were Li Yingwan and Niveer.
"Do any of you have any influential contacts you can reach out to?" Lu Xixi frowned and said, "With the situation now being so complicated, even if it is for hospital treatment, we can’t just have Chen Nuo stay in a regular ward, can we? It’s also inconvenient with so many of us here. Moreover, we must find the most top-tier experts."
Although Li Yingwan was eager to try, being a smart girl, she frowned upon hearing this and said, "My family has investments and factories in Jinling. If this were Jinling, maybe I could find a way to arrange something... but this is Shanghai City... Otherwise, shall we take Chen Nuo back to Jinling City for treatment?"
Lu Xixi shook her head, "That won’t do. Although Jinling City is also a major city, Shanghai City definitely has better medical facilities! And..."
The doctor also chimed in appropriately: "I suggest not to let the patient undergo too much. Cranial tumors are best not agitated further; in case the tumor ruptures... it could complicate the situation even more."
Niveer quietly listened to the conversation... with her current level of Chinese, she could only understand about sixty percent of what Lu Xixi and the others were discussing. However, she roughly grasped the situation at hand.
"I’ll make a call," Niveer said, looking anxious. "Just give me a moment."
As she spoke, the blonde girl took out her mobile phone and started dialing a number while quickly walking outside.
A moment later, Niveer walked back in and said gravely, "I called an uncle I know, a friend of my father before he passed away. He said he would try to contact someone."
"Mm," Lu Xixi nodded her head.
For the Empress, in Huaxia, there were no especially reliable and influential friends left. In Japan, she still had a person akin to a Gold Digger at her disposal, a major figure she could call upon. But in Huaxia, due to its particular national conditions, it has always been an area where the underworld forces of the world rarely extend their reach.
Seeing that the patient’s family was still discussing, the emergency doctor left after giving some instructions. Before leaving, he also gave a few instructions to the on-duty nurse.
·
After about an anxious hour of waiting, an elderly man in a white coat, with neatly combed hair, suddenly walked through the hospital corridor. Two slightly younger doctors followed behind him.
When the old man entered the emergency ward, the nurses behind the counter immediately stood up, and the head nurse quickly came out to greet him.
"Director Chen... What brings you here?" After a moment of surprise, she quickly nodded to greet the two other doctors accompanying Director Chen, "Ah, Director Luo, Director Zhao... "
Director Chen gestured with his hand, "Who’s on duty tonight?"
No sooner had his words fallen than the on-duty doctor had already come out of the office, along with several doctors who were on duty that night.
"Director Chen..."
"Hmm. I happened to be at the hospital tonight for something and decided to take a look," Director Chen said with restrained politeness, his tone very casual.
The on-duty doctor hurriedly said, "You’re here because..."
Director Chen’s gaze surveyed the ward and upon seeing Lu Xixi and the others not far away, he felt a stir in his heart and walked over.
"Which one of you is Miss Devonshire?"
Niveer immediately stepped forward two paces, "That’s me. May I know who you are... "
"This is our hospital’s Chief of Major Surgery, Director Chen," the emergency doctor quickly introduced.
The Chief of Major Surgery at a big hospital usually ranks among the top bosses of the hospital! Hospitals have various surgical departments, such as orthopedics, general surgery, neurosurgery, thoracic surgery, and so on. The Chief of Major Surgery is the leader of all these surgical departments! Typically, the role is held by the person with the highest prestige and academic status in the hospital’s surgical field. If we’re talking about actual power in the hospital, this position is probably more effective than that of an ordinary vice president. Moreover, in Shanghai City’s top-tier tertiary hospitals, someone who can serve as the Chief of Major Surgery is at least an expert who enjoys national special allowances—a top medical guru qualifies for such a position!
·
Since Niveer spoke, Director Chen first took a good look at her and got the measure of her.
Switching to English, he said to Niveer, "Miss Devonshire? Professor Morris has spoken to me over the phone. Please rest assured, your relative will receive the best treatment in our hospital. Professor Morris and I have been old friends... Well, let me first learn about the patient’s condition."
Director Chen became much more cordial towards Niveer, smiling as he finished speaking before turning to look at the emergency doctor.
The emergency doctor got the hint and quickly brought over the CT scans and pathology report.
Director Chen picked up the CT scan, held it up to the ceiling light for a better look, and started to frown deeply as he examined it. After putting it down, he shook his head and said, "Let’s go to the office to look at it under a view box light; it’ll be clearer."
Watching Director Chen take the lead towards the doctors’ office, Lu Xixi and others followed behind.
Lu Xixi took the opportunity to pull Niveer aside and asked, "Who did you contact? Is the connection strong enough?"
"It should be sufficient," Niveer replied, "Professor Morris is a senior professor at the Royal Medical Academy and a lord of the realm, a friend of my father’s before his death. Yes, he is also a senior manuscript reviewer for The Lancet."
The last sentence made Lu Xixi understand immediately.
No matter how impressive a professor from the Royal Medical Academy of Britain might be, it wouldn’t cause too much excitement for the director of this major hospital in Shanghai City, Huaxia. But a senior manuscript reviewer for The Lancet, that’s a different story! The Lancet is the world’s top medical academic journal, bar none! In the global medical community, whether one can publish papers in The Lancet, and how many, is the measure of a medical expert’s academic status! This is even more true in Huaxia Country, where publishing academic papers in the world’s top core journals is closely linked with the prestige, future prospects, and even the titles of medical experts!
A senior manuscript reviewer for The Lancet would certainly make people fawn over him. However, in circumstances that are not of great importance, making an acquaintance and forming a good connection is more than sufficient.
·
In the office, Director Chen read the films very carefully, then turned to look at the other two doctors beside him.
"Director Luo, you are an expert in neurosurgery, take a look as well."
Actually, Director Luo had already looked at them from the side, but since Director Chen spoke up, he still leaned in closer and took another look before he spoke.
"The films show a very typical case, with multiple occurrences on the left frontal lobe... hmm, central nervous system lymphoma cannot be ruled out. I think it’s highly likely. However, it would be best to perform some more relevant tests."
Director Chen nodded, then looked at Lu Xixi and the others, mainly at Niveer: "Ms. Devonshire, our opinion is that the patient should be hospitalized immediately, and then undergo a series of related examinations."
As he spoke, as if afraid that Niveer was a young lady who wouldn’t understand, he hesitated for a moment and then added:
"The patient’s condition is quite serious, so my advice is that he needs to receive treatment as soon as possible. Of course, the final decision still needs to be made by you."
Director Chen’s English, although accented, was still very fluent. A top medical expert needs to maintain communication with the international medical academic community and read the latest academic papers, so a solid foundation in English is essential.
"There’s no need to consider; we’ll proceed with the hospitalization immediately," Lu Xixi spoke first.
Director Chen looked at Lu Xixi, squinted his eyes slightly, but still looked back at Niveer.
"Hmm, my opinion is the same, let’s go ahead with the hospitalization," Niveer thought for a moment. "Thank you very much, Director Chen..."
"There’s no need to thank me; Professor Morris and I are old friends," he replied.
Having grown up in a noble family, Niveer immediately picked up on the implication in his words, so she nodded, and said with sincerity, "I will surely tell Uncle Morris about the help you’ve provided! I also express thanks on behalf of Uncle Morris for your friendship!"
Director Chen gave a shallow smile.
Then, the big shot glanced at his watch and said: "Alright, Director Luo, arrange for someone to help them with the hospitalization procedures. I have other matters to attend to; I’ll be heading back to my office now."
With this top hospital authority speaking out, naturally, everything was not a problem.
However, just before Director Chen left, Lu Xixi spoke up again: "Director Chen."
"Hmm? Is there something else, Madam...?"
Director Chen looked at Lu Xixi with a smile in his eyes.
Lu Xixi slowly said: "There is another matter regarding the patient’s condition that I think is necessary to explain to you."
After a pause, Lu Xixi quickly related how Chen Nuo had undergone an examination in Jinling the day before and how everything appeared normal at that time.
Upon hearing this, Director Chen’s brow furrowed: "Jinling? Which hospital?"
Lu Xixi named a famous tertiary hospital in Jinling.
Hearing this, Director Chen’s face grew solemn: "That shouldn’t result in a misdiagnosis... Are you sure, after the MRI, the doctor read the films and said everything was normal?"
"Yes, it was their chief of radiology who personally read the films and made the diagnosis."
Director Chen looked puzzled: "That’s... really bizarre."
The differentiation of central nervous system lymphoma from imaging films is not something to be claimed as overly complex or obscure. To put it this way, although the disease is severe, whether it’s MRI or CT, in general terms, the films should clearly show it. This kind of difference is not something even an ordinary doctor would misinterpret. Furthermore, as Jinling City is the provincial capital, the chief of radiology at a top-tier tertiary hospital surely wouldn’t lack standards! How could a mistaken judgment be made?
"The films and reports have been sent for and should arrive later," Lu Xixi added.
"Good! Once the films arrive, bring them to me immediately!" Director Chen was also intrigued.
·
Chen Nuo’s hospitalization was arranged in the neurosurgery ward, and he was given a single room. The best conditions.
In domestic public hospitals, such single rooms are not open to the general public—even ordinary rich people are denied access. There used to be another name for these rooms; they were called "VIP wards."
In 2001, the policy was slightly relaxed, allowing some top-tier wealthy individuals to enjoy such treatment.
Of course, for ordinary small affluent families with just a few houses and assets in the millions, it was still very difficult.
·
The conditions in the single-patient room were very good.
There was a separate bathroom and a shower room.
The room had a dining table, a coffee table, and a sofa.
There was also a TV cabinet and a wardrobe.
Of course, the bed was still one of those small hospital beds.
This point is different from what many people think—single-patient rooms aren’t fitted with luxurious double beds for patients to sleep on; that’s impossible!
Any somewhat professional hospital, no matter how indulgent, would still provide a medical bed for patients to sleep in! It’s not about comfort but about being prepared for emergencies, making it easier for rescue and treatment!
·
"Director Chen, what’s the background of those people? To have you personally deal with them even late at night?" In Director Chen’s office, Director Luo asked with a smile, "They look like just a bunch of young girls."
"Professor Morris from the Royal College of Medicine in Britain called me. He said they were friends of his... and it seems they might even be some sort of relatives," Director Chen replied as he picked up his teacup and took a sip.
He then let out a sigh, "Morris is a senior peer reviewer for The Lancet. It’s better to have good relations with him. At my age, I’m not in need of core journal papers anymore... but our hospital’s many experts always need to publish."
"You’re also looking out for everyone," Director Luo sighed as well.
Director Chen’s tone suddenly shifted, "But that girl named Devonshire shouldn’t be underestimated either. I know that fellow Morris. He’s a stuffy and overly proud individual... The arrogance of the British is in their bones. And he himself is a noble. If he went out of his way to make a call on her behalf, that girl might have an extraordinary identity. She might be from a major noble family."
Director Luo was taken aback and, furrowing his brows, spoke cautiously, "A major British noble... then... should we notify the Foreign Affairs Office to get involved?"
"There’s no need for now. The patient’s information shows the patient is Chinese, so there’s no need to involve Foreign Affairs," Director Chen said.
After a pause and with a frown, Director Chen continued, "However, I am curious about what the patient’s family said earlier... It’s unlikely for the head of the radiology department at a top-tier tertiary hospital in Jinling City to make such a basic mistake..."
·
「Several hours later.」
Lu Xixi personally carried the documents into Director Chen’s office.
Li Yingwan’s driver from Jinling had driven overnight to deliver them, speeding along the Shanghai-Nanjing Expressway, and it took less than four hours to get to the hospital.
A few minutes later, staring at the MRI scan from Jinling City Hospital on the film reader, Director Chen’s mouth opened wide as if he was too surprised to utter a word!
Turning his head, he took off his glasses and frowningly asked Lu Xixi, "Are you sure this is the patient’s film? Taken yesterday???"
"Mhm," Lu Xixi nodded her head.
"That’s absolutely impossible!" Director Chen’s tone was nearly identical to that of the emergency room doctor earlier in the evening. "It’s impossible for such significant changes to occur within one day in the same person’s brain. Organic lesions can’t possibly..."
Director Chen rubbed his brow and once more turned to look at the scan.
In the corner of the film was a machine-generated timestamp.
After checking it again, Director Chen shook his head and said, "Then there are only two possibilities! Either the MRI machine at that hospital in Jinling City is broken and malfunctioned! Or, you’ve picked up someone else’s film by mistake!"
Lu Xixi listened silently and nodded, "So... such a condition couldn’t possibly occur in medical science?"
"Nothing in science is absolute," Director Chen said with a wry smile. "But at least according to my decades of expertise, it’s impossible."
Lu Xixi’s eyes flickered, and she nodded, then rose from her chair, "Alright, I understand."
"We’ll perform a thorough examination of the patient this morning. Once the results from the other tests are out, everything will be clear. Please trust in science. One CT can be faulty, but a series of diagnostic bases forming a diagnostic chain of gold standard is unlikely to be incorrect."
Lu Xixi said her polite goodbyes and left.
Yet Director Chen couldn’t help but turn his head to look at the scan on the film reader, rubbed his brow, and leaned in for another look. "Impossible... It must be a machine malfunction... Alas."
·
Chen Nuo remained unconscious throughout the series of tests that morning.
However, after the nurse had drawn the last vial of blood, Chen Nuo lying on the hospital bed slowly came to.
Upon awakening, Chen Nuo immediately saw several women sitting on the sofa by the bed.
Lu Xixi was seated on a single-seater sofa, while Sun Keke, Li Yingwan, Niveer, and Xicheng Xun were lined up on the long couch.
Vanel and Selina weren’t there; they had gone out on an errand.
But Wu Daodao was present.
Chen Nuo heard the sound of flushing from the bathroom and then saw Wu Daodao pushing the toilet door open, walking out with a roll of newspaper in hand.
"Eh, has Junior Brother woken up?" Wu Daodao greeted with a merry smile.
Chen Nuo’s expression darkened.
"I... why am I..."
"You fainted, and we brought you to the hospital."
Lu Xixi had already approached the hospital bed, and with a serious tone, she said, "Don’t panic just yet; wait until I’ve finished speaking, then you can say whatever you want."
"...Okay, go ahead."
"You’re sick," Lu Xixi spoke slowly, trying to sound as gentle as possible. "This is Shanghai City’s XX Hospital, a major tertiary hospital. When you were unconscious, we brought in the best experts here to examine you, and they’ve had a consultation. So, the situation is now quite clear."
"What illness do I have?"
"...It’s what we discussed before, central nervous system lymphoma." Lu Xixi finished speaking and scrutinized the young man before her.
Upon hearing this, Chen Nuo’s face remained eerily calm, neither joyful nor sorrowful, and he then lowered his head and fell silent for a while.
A moment later, the young man slowly lifted his head, and his face unexpectedly revealed a smile that seemed almost self-mocking.
"Hmm, I understand," he said with a bitter smile. "I was wondering how I could be so lucky. A terminal illness, just gone like that? So... yesterday you dragged me to Jinling City’s hospital for an examination—that diagnosis was wrong, right? I actually am still sick?"
"...That’s one way to understand it," Lu Xixi nodded.
"So now... what about me now?" Chen Nuo furrowed his brow and asked, "Me being here..."
"You’re here for treatment; we’ve arranged everything, and you will have the best medical care."
The young man seemed about to say something, shifted slightly, and then realized his body felt weak and powerless; he frowned at his hand, where an IV needle was still inserted.
"Where are my things?" Chen Nuo asked.
Sun Keke immediately stood up, walked over, and handed Chen Nuo a shoulder bag.
Chen Nuo took it and fished out his grandmother’s portrait from inside, sighing in relief.
Holding the portrait in his arms, he went silent again and turned to look out the window.
His expression still showed no joy or sorrow.
Lu Xixi quietly watched the young man, noting a lack of the youthful vigour one would expect of someone his age in his face and eyes.
Even upon learning of his terminal illness, he seemed to maintain an indifferent expression.
Lu Xixi took a deep breath and said, "You..."
"I’m not struggling anymore, whatever happens, happens. Do whatever you want with me," Chen Nuo lifted his eyelids and glanced at everyone in the room. "After all... I’m going to die from that terminal illness, aren’t I? Since I’m going to die anyway, whatever happens doesn’t really matter anymore, does it?"
Lu Xixi suddenly found herself at a loss for words, unsure of what to say to the unfamiliar yet familiar-looking young man before her.
After pondering for a moment, Lu Xixi glanced at Wu Daodao, "Senior Brother Wu, come outside with me for a moment; I have something to say to you."
·
In the garden beneath the VIP ward building.
Lu Xixi and Wu Daodao stood under a large tree.
"While he was asleep, I probed his Consciousness Space," Lu Xixi said slowly, "to confirm some things."
"What things?"
"What you mentioned, about the theories of living souls and fragmented souls." Lu Xixi spoke quickly, "Right now, the spiritual power in Chen Nuo’s mental Consciousness Space is extremely weak. Hmm, it has weakened a lot more since the time I first searched him when he woke up. To be more precise, it has declined by about 30%."
Wu Daodao’s eyes lit up!
"You mean... could it be that yesterday, at the Oriental Pearl Tower... um... he completed his heart’s obsession, and so the power of his soul began to dissipate faster! Then, once his soul disperses, doesn’t that mean that my junior brother might come back?"
Lu Xixi, however, looked very grave, "That’s what I initially thought. But now we’re facing a new problem... his terminal illness! In one day, a perfectly fine person suddenly has a terminal illness again! In such a situation, even if his soul dissipates and my husband’s soul returns... plagued with a terminal illness, my husband would still be doomed even if he awakens! Moreover, this whole situation is too bizarre. How did this terminal illness suddenly reappear within a day..."
Wu Daodao opened his mouth but couldn’t articulate a clear explanation.
Lu Xixi sighed, "I’m not particularly clever, but fortunately, I’ve already sought someone to analyze this matter for me. The girls in the ward upstairs are ordinary people, so I’m going to have someone analyze this issue and explain it to both you and me. When necessary, Senior Brother Wu, waking up my husband will still depend on your spells."
Saying this, Lu Xixi picked up the phone and quickly dialed a number.
After waiting for a while, the call connected.
"Little Candy, have you looked through all the information and the account of events I sent you?"
Lu Xixi’s tone actually softened a bit, carrying a hint of pleading and hope, "I’m completely out of ideas now, so I’m relying on you to analyze this messy situation for me..."
Lu Xixi’s call was on speakerphone.
Wu Daodao immediately heard a crisp and childish cough coming from the other end of the phone.
"...Cough... um... Lu Xixi, actually, this matter is quite simple... you and that..."
"Enough, don’t talk about anything else, hurry up and analyze it for me," Lu Xixi sighed.
"...Alright!" From the other end of the phone, Little Candy laughed with a maturity beyond his years. "Actually, the logic is quite complete. Although it sounds a bit unbelievable, but... the logic can still be worked out."
After a pause, Little Candy began to narrate rapidly in his childish, milky voice:
"Listen carefully to the logic I’ve figured out! First, in November 2000, Chen Nuo was diagnosed with a terminal illness, right? Since you’ve now confirmed it again at a Shanghai City hospital, it proves that the diagnosis of Chen Nuo’s original self last year was correct—he really had a terminal illness! Then, on December 23, 2000, the Chen Nuo you later got to know took over the body, essentially performing a Body Seizing!
"From then on, an ordinary youth became a powerful Ability User! And according to what you’ve told me, this guy’s power has already reached that of a Controller. A Controller, no less!!! Lu Xixi, you’re already the top genius among all the Ability Users I know! But even for you, it’s impossible to evolve from an ordinary person to a Controller in just half a year, right? What does this mean? It means, your husband, that is, the post-Body Seizing Chen Nuo, is someone with some magical powers we don’t know of! Moreover, after the Body Seizing, he remained healthy for most of the year! The terminal illness of the original body disappeared completely after he took over! Well, maybe not disappeared, but was suppressed by some kind of magical power we don’t know about!
"Then, time moved forward to about ten days ago this month. The later Chen Nuo was seriously injured and possibly dying after the adventure with you in the Amazon rainforest. Then, his soul disappeared—maybe it was too weak or excessively drained. Then, the soul of the original owner, ah, you call it a remnant soul, right? The remnant soul took the opportunity to come back and occupy this body. But this time, the remnant soul of the initial owner became an ordinary person! What does this mean? It means the magical powers your husband had were also taken away with the disappearance of his soul! Not only did the amazing power of a Controller disappear, but the terminal illness that had been suppressed for more than half the year re-emerged! Did you understand? Do you see the problem now, Lu Xixi?"
Lu Xixi hesitated for a moment, "Where’s the problem?"
"The problem is with the magical abilities of the later Chen Nuo?" Wu Daodao’s eyes lit up as he blurted out.
"Huh? You do have someone with barely functioning IQ by your side," Little Candy said brashly through the phone, then his voice became muffled, as if he was CRUNCHING on something.
Wu Daodao quickly said:
"You mean, the later Chen Nuo had magical abilities! While his soul was present, it could suppress the terminal illness! Once his soul left, the terminal illness reappeared! So, the issue now is, as long as we bring his soul back, this terminal illness..."
"This terminal illness should be suppressed again! I don’t know the exact mechanism. But logically, the conclusion is just that."
Little Candy said hurriedly in an indistinct voice and then asked, "Lu Xixi, you haven’t told me when you got a husband! Didn’t you always tell me that men are the most annoying creatures? Also, when are you coming home? I..."
CLICK!
The call was ended by Lu Xixi.
·
"..."
The white-haired Lolita held an apple in one hand and her phone in the other, staring dumbfounded at the disconnected call, frozen for two seconds.
"Lu Xixi! You’ve become quite daring, hanging up on me! Ahhhhhhhh! Is it true that once you have a man, you no longer need your disciple!!!"
·
"..." Lu Xixi silently put away her phone before she looked up at Wu Daodao, "So, according to her theory... Now, as long as I can awaken my husband’s soul to return... then all problems will be solved! Even the terminal illness could be suppressed! Senior Brother Wu, do you have a way to awaken my husband’s soul right now? That Summoning Soul Technique you mentioned..."
Wu Daodao’s expression changed!
"This... But, the person in the upstairs ward, he hasn’t died yet! His soul has not yet dispersed... to forcefully summon his soul at this moment... would be the equivalent of harming an innocent person! It goes against the heavens!!"
Lu Xixi took a deep breath, "I don’t want to do this either... Senior Brother Wu! But you saw it! His soul is here; in one day, the terminal illness has progressed so rapidly! I don’t know when his soul’s power will disperse. How long do we have to wait for him to ’die naturally’? If we delay too long... I’m afraid that before my husband’s soul returns, the terminal illness will have already killed his physical body! By then, it will be too late!"
Saying this, Lu Xixi frowned and turned around.
Sun Keke was standing not far away, watching both of them silently.
"You’ve heard everything, Sun Keke."
Sun Keke pursed her lips, "You... knew I was here?"
"If I couldn’t detect someone like you, an ordinary person, approaching within ten meters of me, I might as well be dead already," Lu Xixi shook her head. "Since I didn’t stop you, I’m not afraid of you hearing."
"Are you... discussing how to kill him?" Sun Keke, after all, could not bear it.
"You heard what I said! If he does not die soon, the terminal illness will kill him! Once his body dies, the Chen Nuo we knew, I’m afraid, will never be able to return! Body Seizing, Body Seizing, if the vessel is no more, what’s left to seize!"
"But..." Sun Keke, being of a kind nature, whispered softly, "This isn’t right... Yesterday on top of the Oriental Pearl Tower, when he hugged the portrait and took photos, you all saw it too. He... he’s actually an innocent, pitiable person."
Suddenly, Wu Daodao’s eyes lit up, interrupting, "Sister Lu... are you sure that earlier, when he was unconscious, you checked? His spiritual power has indeed weakened by as much as 30%?"
Lu Xixi glanced at Wu Daodao, didn’t object to the address ’Sister Lu,’ and nodded, "Yes."
"Then... it’s possible that he completed an obsession yesterday! That’s why part of his soul power has dispersed! If it hasn’t completely dissipated yet, there’s certainly some obsession left unfinished! If we can just find that obsession and help him complete it... maybe it could dissipate on its own! In that case... we wouldn’t have to commit that sinful deed!"
Still has an obsession? Lu Xixi pondered...
"I can give it a try," Sun Keke mustered her courage. "Among us... he actually only knows me! To him, you all are strangers, but I’m not... I, I can talk with him, have a chat, see if there are any unfinished wishes or obsessions he still has!"
·
In the hospital room, Chen Nuo was still hugging the picture frame and staring blankly.
He didn’t notice that after Lu Xixi and the others returned and had a brief conversation, people gradually left the room.
Even that Japanese girl glanced at him a few times before leaving reluctantly.
Finally, only Sun Keke remained in the room.
Sun Keke first went to close the door, then dragged a chair over to the bedside.
The girl hesitated for a moment before speaking softly to Chen Nuo:
"Um... Chen Nuo, can we... can we talk?"
Chen Nuo slowly lifted his head, looking straight at Sun Keke.
·
Half an hour later, Sun Keke walked out of the ward and came to the end of the corridor, where everyone was seated on a bench.
"What did he say?" Lu Xixi stood up first, while Li Yingwan and the others also got to their feet, looking at Sun Keke.
Feeling the gaze of a group of "love rivals," School Belle Sun first tensed up, then nodded her head and shook it as well.
Without waiting for Lu Xixi to ask, Sun Keke went ahead and spoke.
"I talked with him for a while. He said... In this world, the person he cared about the most has already died, so he doesn’t really have much attachment to this world. He is very calm about death, not worried or afraid. He just wants to wait quietly for death."
Lu Xixi frowned upon hearing this.
"...However, he also mentioned that, if possible, he really wanted to meet someone before he died."
"Who does he want to meet? Tell us quickly!!" Several girls immediately perked up.
Lu Xixi frowned. "Is it... his mother? Or his sister? Well, it’s easy if he wants to see his sister... just call Hong Kong and have Teacher Jiang bring his sister back right away. To see his mother..."
Lu Xixi raised an eyebrow: "I..."
"Don’t even think about it! Big Sister! Breaking someone out of jail is against the law!!" Wu Daodao turned pale with fear.
Lu Xixi frowned and said, "What are you talking about! I mean we can take him to visit the prison."
Sun Keke shook her head: "That’s not it, you’re all wrong. He didn’t say he wanted to see Xiao Yezi... Chen Nuo adopted Xiao Yezi after the Body Seizing! So, the current Chen Nuo hasn’t actually met Xiao Yezi, and therefore has no feelings or obsessions. As for his mother, he said he doesn’t want to see her either. He feels neither love nor hatred toward his mother."
"Then he..."
"He wants to see his father," Sun Keke said softly. "His biological father! The man who divorced his mother back then and then disappeared, abandoning him and his mother."
Everyone: "..."
Sun Keke’s expression became somewhat strange as she took a deep breath: "His exact words were..."
The girl’s face looked somewhat dazed, remembering the moment in the ward when the boy had said these words, the distortion and hatred that showed on his usually calm and indifferent face!
·
"I want to see him once to ask him a question.
"It’s not about why he divorced my mother back then. I also don’t want to ask him why he abandoned me and didn’t care for so many years—I don’t want to ask any of that.
"I just want to ask him why, throughout the long illness of my grandmother, when she lay dying in bed, gasping for air, calling his name, just wanting to see him once, to take one last look at her own son... But he never came back, never showed up! My grandmother was his own mother!
"I could ignore him abandoning his wife and child without hate! But his own mother, that he could neglect completely...
"I just want to see him, then ask him to his face: Did a dog eat your conscience?! Did my grandmother give birth to you and raise you just to become a beast?!"
·
After a few seconds of silence...
Lu Xixi suddenly swung her arm forcefully.
"Find him!! Find this person! Find Chen Nuo’s father!! Bring this man out!!"
·