Chapter Forty: Selecting Candidates

Jiang Hu watched helplessly as Mo Nian disappeared before his eyes, powerless to stop it.

His sister had abandoned him completely.

How cruel she was, wishing that his future disappointments would become utter despair.

She had given him new life, only to thrust him mercilessly into hell.

She’d promised to stay by his side, promised never to leave him alone.

Yet, he still couldn’t bring himself to hate her.

He closed his eyes, letting the blood drain away. If there was a next life, he still wanted to meet her again.

Sister, I really, really like you.

[Stop.]

The system was silent for two seconds. [Channel closed, transmission failed.]

Mo Nian appeared out of thin air.

Jiang Hu heard the commotion, opened his eyes, and in that instant, immense joy burst forth. He feared it was only a hallucination. He lunged forward, clinging desperately to Mo Nian.

Even if he died, he wanted to die in her arms.

“Sister, don’t go, please,” he pleaded, his voice weak and humble, clutching her sleeve with the last of his strength.

Mo Nian was thoroughly irritated. “Alright, I haven’t left.”

She tore off a piece of cloth and pressed it to his wound, staggering as she helped him to his feet.

Whatever drug this wretch had given her, her strength was barely a tenth of what it once was. Carrying him was a real struggle.

Jiang Hu leaned close to her, mumbling, “This is nice.”

Then, with all the strength he could muster, he bit down hard on Mo Nian’s neck.

Mo Nian hissed from the pain, nearly dropping him to the floor.

Ah! Was she insane? Why had she come back to save this bastard?

The mission was accomplished; whether he lived or died had nothing to do with her.

And he’d treated her so badly before.

“Let go of me already!” Mo Nian shouted, hopping in pain.

Suddenly, Jiang Hu collapsed, weighing her down so heavily she nearly fell to her knees.

[Is it still possible to go to the next little world? I regret this.] Mo Nian looked at the system earnestly.

[Sorry, you can’t~ Host, you’ll just have to wait for your natural end now~]

Mo Nian: Smile/JPG

Wonderful, so I’ve dug my own grave?

She wished she could crack open her skull and see just how vast an ocean had flooded her mind in that instant.

—

Jiang Hu’s assault was merciless; he clearly had no intention of living. Mo Nian had to rush him to the hospital three times for emergency treatment.

Several critical condition notices had been issued.

Yet this scourge stubbornly survived.

Mo Nian paid the bills and quietly slipped away.

But within two days, she received a call from the hospital.

“Hello, is this Miss Mo? The gentleman surnamed Jiang you brought in is in very poor condition. We need a family member to sign a critical care notice. Please come as soon as possible.”

“Sorry, you’ve called the wrong number. I don’t know anyone surnamed Jiang.”

Mo Nian hung up, expressionless.

Someone surnamed Jiang? She didn’t know him.

[Host, you’ve already saved him. Why not see it through? If he dies now, you’ll lose out.]

[I don’t know him, he’s a stranger. Besides, what am I losing? If that bastard died, I’d set off fireworks all day to celebrate.]

The system sighed. [The male lead is truly pitiful. No family, suffering so much, and now this fate.]

[To be fair, he hasn’t really done anything wrong—just fell for someone he shouldn’t have, and now he’s nearly lost his life.]

Mo Nian smiled coldly, “No matter what you say, I’ll never see that bastard again!”

She never wanted to see Jiang Hu in this life, truly.

Even if he begged on his knees, promising never to repeat his mistakes, she would never go back!

Three hours later, Mo Nian stood at the hospital entrance.

The system silently replayed her earlier vows again and again.

Hahaha, it laughed uproariously.

Hahahahahaha!

Mo Nian gave it a mute package with a smile.

Fuming, she stormed into the hospital. Was this place even reliable? Seven critical notices in three days.

Jiang Hu was alone in the intensive care unit, hooked up to countless machines. Mo Nian stared for a long time, unable to tell if he was alive or dead.

She stopped a passing nurse. “Excuse me, how is the patient in here?”

The nurse looked her up and down. “Are you his family?”

“Sort of...”

The nurse’s disdain was obvious, as if she were looking at someone who abandoned her gravely ill husband to enjoy life outside.

“Go in yourself, but don’t say I didn’t warn you—his condition is very bad.”

With that, the nurse turned and left, icy and aloof.

Mo Nian hesitated, weighing whether to go in. Two seconds later, she gritted her teeth and stomped her foot. She refused to believe she couldn’t handle a nearly dead Jiang Hu.

—

She stepped carefully into the room, seeing Jiang Hu’s current state more clearly.

His neck was wrapped in thick gauze, his face as pale as the sheet. Machines surrounded him.

For a moment, Mo Nian wasn’t sure if he was still alive.

Jiang Hu lay weakly on the bed, frail to the extreme.

Mo Nian approached slowly, expressionless.

This bastard—serves him right.

But, she was too kind. Even like this, he still needed treatment.

Suddenly, he reached out, grasping her with uncanny precision. He opened his eyes, malice deep within them. “Sister, I’ve caught you.”

Like a vengeful ghost come for her soul.

Mo Nian nearly stopped breathing in fright, eyes wide as she struggled to break free.

Damn this bastard! She should never have softened!

No! She should never have stayed!

Jiang Hu ignored his injuries, holding her tight, obsession and darkness filling his gaze. This time, he would never let her leave.

Not even in death.

Blood began to seep from his neck again, the machines blaring alarms.

Doctors and nurses rushed in as chaos erupted.

Jiang Hu refused to release Mo Nian’s hand, even as he was dying.

The medical staff could do nothing but turn and scold Mo Nian.

“What kind of family member are you? Don’t you know the patient can’t be agitated? He just came back from the brink of death and you treat him like this?”

The doctor pointed at Mo Nian’s nose and berated her, insisting she calm Jiang Hu, that she mustn’t let his condition worsen.

Mo Nian: Me???!!!

Jiang Hu stared stubbornly at Mo Nian, his grip so tight her wrist turned white.

Mo Nian truly wanted to drop everything and leave.

The doctor, increasingly annoyed at the idle Mo Nian, pushed her. “Go comfort him, help him relax, don’t let him be anxious.”

He gave her a shove. “Go on!”

Jiang Hu, emboldened, wrapped his arms around Mo Nian’s waist, refusing to let go.