Chapter 149 Just Let Her Listen, It’ll Drive Her Crazy! - It’s the Cyber Age—Still Playing a Traditional Villain?

Chapter 149 Just Let Her Listen, It’ll Drive Her Crazy! 147 has been slightly revised, with a small portion placed in this chapter. It feels smoother this way and more in line with the style of a scholar of aesthetics… --- The walls of a hospital hear more fervent prayers than a chapel does. Xu Shi deeply understood this saying now because Xia Wuyou, nestled in his arms, epitomized it at this moment. During the few hours while they awaited the surgery, she no longer displayed any of her prior gallant demeanor. Her body trembled involuntarily while she repeatedly whispered phrases of peace and blessing. Every once in a while, she looked up at Xu Shi and asked, "The surgery will be successful, right? Auntie will be okay, right?" "...She'll be fine, don't worry." What else could Xu Shi say? All he could do was continue to use such reassurances to comfort her. Truthfully, he was a bit nervous too—which seemed like a normal reaction. Even though Xie Qingyan had given a 95% success rate guarantee, and even if she had assured absolute success with a pat on her chest, anyone would feel uneasy in such a situation. Is anything in this world truly foolproof? Right? What if they were separated by life and death... He found himself lost in thought, only to suddenly realize how important the old aunt was to him. Or rather, none of the people close to him were unimportant—even though he was the villainous bad guy, wasn't discernment crucial when distinguishing between foes and friends? Ruthlessness and unscrupulousness were reserved for enemies, not for one's own people. Coming back to reality, he let out a self-deprecating chuckle. He lost track of the time. Finally, the light above the operating room switched from red to green. "Chairman Xie!" Seeing Xie Qingyan emerge from the room, Xia Wuyou immediately rushed over, urgently asking, "How is Auntie...?" "I'm sorry..." Xie Qingyan removed her mask, her fatigued face tinged with a hint of disappointment. ! Xia Wuyou felt as if she had been struck by lightning, her soul seemed to leave her body as she staggered backward uncontrollably. Quick-eyed and swift, Xu Shi caught her, giving Xie Qingyan an annoyed look, waiting for her to finish speaking. "I'm sorry, but you can't see her yet." Only then did the wretched woman leisurely continue her sentence, "The patient is still in the sterile treatment chamber and needs to be observed in the recovery room first." "?" Xia Wuyou, still in a daze, woodenly asked, "So the surgery...?" "Of course it was successful! Why else would she be in the recovery room?" The disappointment on Xie Qingyan's face vanished, replaced by her usual confident, semi-smiling expression, "I've told you before, trust in the capability of 'Prism.'" "…" The drastic change in her emotional state left Xia Wuyou somewhat bewildered. As she regained her composure, tears flowed freely—not from sadness, but from overwhelming joy. It was a success! Her aunt had truly... fully recovered? In an instant, she felt a mountain that had weighed on her heart for over a decade suddenly disappear—the greatest knot resolved, leading to a surreal sensation that nearly left her breathless. She felt dizzy. As for crying... she had no intention of holding back; it was a means of release. "Stop with the suspense—it could kill, you know?" Xu Shi patted her back, supporting her back into her seat, and then shot Xie Qingyan an exasperated look. In truth, he too let out a silent sigh of relief, though he hadn't truly been frightened by the stunt Xie Qingyan pulled… He understood his fiancée too well; if the surgery had truly failed, she'd likely be too ashamed to face anyone, let alone initiate conversation. Proud individuals are like that. "I just said I'm sorry; is it my fault if you all misunderstood?" Xie Qingyan retorted defiantly, but it was evident she spoke intentionally that way. The reason being that the guy had been hovering around the niece and aunt almost incessantly. Though she didn't want to admit it, she was indeed quite envious—yet, to be fair, over these past days, they'd had ample interaction, and seeing Xu Shi appear slightly uptight, she secretly felt quite amused. Nonetheless, discontent remained: frightening them was just her little revenge, what of it? "Alright, alright." Xu Shi did not argue, but instead nodded sincerely at her, "Thank you for your hard work." Now you care about me? It's exhausting performing surgery, you know… Xie Qingyan grumbled inwardly but found herself feeling satisfied by his words. However, what she actually voiced was different, "It's part of our transaction. I do uphold basic business integrity… Now, about the benefits you promised, where are those?" "…Can I explain to you later?" Xu Shi blinked, not intending to renege on the deal, but this wasn't the right place for serious discussion… A few words wouldn't clarify things, "You should get some rest first, and I'll personally visit 'Prism' to explain." "Alright." Xie Qingyan stretched a bit, "By the way, that Xia Ke'an is also an 'Advanced Individuator,' right? With such severe complications, it's fair to say it's not a complete cure—it's merely suppressing it as much as possible. Be mindful not to overuse abilities, or it might relapse; you know that, don't you?" Her tone shifted from hesitation to that of a doctor issuing a reminder. "Of course, I’ll heed your advice." Xu Shi agreed sincerely, even without Xie Qingyan's reminder. As "Advanced Individuators" often triggered complications by activating their abilities, Xia Ke'an was not an exception. These complications were notoriously challenging to eradicate, and activating her powers would inevitably provoke symptoms, especially for someone of her SS-rated capacity. Much like a high-performance car that has survived a crash—patched up it might be, but driving recklessly will still result in a breakdown… As for whether Xie Qingyan discerned any underlying issues with Xia Ke'an, Xu Shi wasn't too concerned. A medical examination would eventually reveal such details; it couldn't remain hidden. An SS-level "Advanced Individuator" in the Night Crime City was indeed rare—if she hadn't noticed something unusual, that'd be odd. Yet, it wasn't something she could leverage against him. Could she use it as an extortion tool? Quite the contrary, they were amid a honeymoon phase of cooperation—if she were wise, she'd help keep this under wraps. Having a partner with considerable power is actually advantageous. It's probable she realized Xia Ke'an wasn't ordinary and thus personally undertook the surgery—not merely to settle a debt with Zone Ten, but also as a task she needed to ensure was foolproof. A slip-up would invariably sour their collaboration. Xu Shi saw no need to lay everything bare; he didn't need to tear through that veil. So he merely offered, "Would you like a ride back, Chairman Xie?" "No need, it’s only a few steps to the office." Xie Qingyan smiled a little too gleefully, feigning generosity, "Better go comfort your adorable subordinate first. Leaving her crying there would be unkind." "A heart's a heart, you know." Xu Shi shamelessly shrugged. "Get lost." Xie Qingyan shot him a glare and turned to leave. A thought popped into her head, prompting her to tease, "Chairman Xu, you might want to pay attention to your hand." Hmm? Xu Shi lowered his gaze, discovering his right hand had become a bit bruised. That happened while Xia Wuyou was clutching it—showing just how tense she was. The grip strength was indeed significant; after hours, this was the result… Being an A-level Advanced Individuator wasn't just for show. Initially, he reacted mildly; now that it was mentioned, he did feel a bit of tingling, ouch… "It’s not a minor issue; better get it treated," Xie Qingyan advised seriously. "Here's a home remedy: get some chili oil, sesame oil, soy sauce, star anise, peppercorns, cinnamon bark, and bay leaves, simmer with water and soak it." "Oh… Hm?" It took Xu Shi a moment to catch on, "What kind of remedy is that?" "It's a recipe for braising pig's trotters." Xie Qingyan's laughter was like a blossom in full bloom. "Don't think just because the surgery was successful I won't spank you." "Feel free to try." Xie Qingyan, unfazed by his threats, walked away in high spirits. The audacity of this woman, truly treacherous! Xu Shi pulled a face at her retreating back, pursed his lips, and personally requested a medical spray. The bruising on his hand quickly subsided, but when he looked back, Xia Wuyou was still crying. Seeing her, Xu Shi suddenly found it somewhat amusing; in this scenario, the image of summer captain was utterly shattered… Yet, he could understand. Even in his own estimation, were it him in her place, he wouldn't necessarily be any stronger. "Alright, your aunt's going to be okay now." All he could do was comfort her. To be fair, her tear-streaked face was quite endearing—a rare sight to behold. This wasn't an everyday occurrence, obviously, for Xia Wuyou wasn't the kind to cry easily. "I-I'm just so happy…" Xia Wuyou stammered, burying herself in his embrace, "Thank you, Xu Shi, I…" "I honestly feel as if this is all a dream…" "Even more touched upon waking?" Xu Shi gently brushed Xia Wuyou's hair aside, with a warm smile. "Hmm…" Xia Wuyou nodded obediently, and although she didn’t say it, she was undeniably moved. She already had a fondness for Xu Shi, and after going through such an experience, it only intensified. At least now, she didn’t have to exhaust herself coming up with life-saving inhibitors, nor did she have to constantly worry about what might happen to her aunt. Xu Shi had truthfully said he could offer Xia Wuyou much more than just a simple inhibitor. "My aunt might need some more recovery time... Can you stay with me a little longer?" "Of course." Xu Shi agreed without hesitation. Spending a few more days in the hospital was no big deal, and given the current company situation, he could handle any issues from here just as easily. Besides, they hadn’t faced the biggest challenge yet. Xia Wuyou didn’t say anything else. Her actions, leaning in for a kiss, spoke volumes. ... Xia Ke'an recovered quite well. After several days of observation in the recovery room, she returned to her usual hospital room. According to Xie Qingyan, she would be discharged in a week or two. "This time, I truly owe both of you a big thank you, to you and Chairman Xie alike." Still a bit weak, the white-haired loli looked healthier than before. She was genuinely happy about this—those previous, desolate thoughts of "using powers means I'll die" seemed to have vanished to the ends of the earth. Indeed, when people could live healthily, who truly wished for death? It was simply that she hadn't expected such a day would come, and now thinking back, she felt quite moved. "By the way, Chairman Xu, do you need me to demonstrate my ability for you?" Seizing the gap when Xia Wuyou went to get food, Xia Ke'an found Xu Shi and had a private conversation, plopping herself into his lap, blinking as she asked. She hadn’t forgotten the primary reason Xu Shi helped her heal. It wasn't just about his promise to Xia Wuyou, but also related to her own abilities. "There's no rush." Xu Shi lazily played with her hair, braiding it into styles. "Based on your own feelings, how many times do you think you can use your ability in your current state?" "Hard to say?" Xia Ke'an replied uncertainly, "But three to five times should be doable, and even then, I doubt it would revert to what it was before." "Let’s save the best for when we really need it then." Xu Shi nodded, "I’ll let you know when the time comes." In his mind, he was also refining previous ideas—the ultimate goal was to have Xia Ke'an develop into a sustainably functioning seer, right? They couldn't just use her abilities a couple of times and then require another round of treatment. Aside from being bothersome, she was a living person. Such wear and tear weren’t sustainable for her either. This was why Shen Qin would be crucial—if her dual abilities could indeed be transplanted, her self-healing power was a perfect match… Luckily, Shen He’s sister had long been part of his considerations, now it was just a matter of timing. "Hehe, Brother Xu Shi is really good at cherishing beauty." Not knowing his thoughts, Xia Ke'an was pleased that he didn’t rush her to demonstrate her power. She didn’t like to be treated as a tool, after all. "Being cheeky might earn you a spanking, old aunt." Xu Shi finished braiding her hair, and he unceremoniously flipped the white-haired loli over, playfully patting her behind twice, not too hard nor too soft. "Hey, that's not fair!" Xia Ke'an was caught off guard and after a moment's delay, cried out, aggrieved, "You said only if the surgery didn’t succeed!" "Did I? I remember someone saying they'd let me spank them regardless." Xu Shi didn't mind, noting how soft and tender the little one's behind was, and it felt quite nice. "...Alright, alright, I was wrong. Is that good enough?" The white-haired loli begrudgingly relented, though—not to mention what was seen or said—Xu Shi’s carefree and borderline roguish demeanor seemed increasingly appealing to her. So. "Can I sleep with Brother Xu Shi again tonight?" "No, you can't." It wasn't Xu Shi who replied, but Xia Wuyou, who had just returned with dinner. Captain Xia teasingly plucked Xia Ke'an from Xu Shi's lap and set her aside. "Little girl, you need to start growing up and sleep on your own tonight." "Xia Wuyou! You—" Despite all her cunning, Xia Ke'an never expected her niece to stop being on her side. What had she raised this child for! Looking at the non-mainstream hairstyle Xu Shi had given her, the white-haired loli was so furious she rolled around on the bed. Watching, Xia Wuyou only felt amused. If you act like a child playing house, you can't blame us for playing along. And honestly. With her aunt interrupting so many times, she felt quite stifled herself! So, under the strong insistence of Brother Xu Shi and Sister Xia Wuyou, Xia Ke'an had no choice but to obediently sleep elsewhere. As for the two people left in the room… "I have to say, this outfit is rather cute." Seeing the pink cartoon pajamas her counterpart had changed into, Xu Shi couldn't help but laugh. He had been seeing more and more of Xia Wuyou’s little-known side, this full-on girlish cuteness was almost like watching another person altogether… "Isn't cute a more suitable description for my aunt? Not me." "Come on, a mature old aunt, indeed." Xu Shi wasn’t about to let the little brat spoil his mood, reaching over to tickle Xia Wuyou. "You’re adorable; what's wrong with admitting that?" "Oh." Xia Wuyou didn't dodge but instead leaned closer, hugging him tightly, "Whether I'm cute or not… I'm all yours now…" In truth, getting interrupted twice didn’t just irk Xu Shi; she felt the same way. There couldn’t be a third time—they had the evening to themselves. "You’ve always been mine." Xu Shi buried his head in her shoulder, breathing warmth into her ear. "Then, whatever you like…" Wuyou said breathlessly, caught up in the moment, these words were more effective than any coercion, igniting Xu Shi’s urge for conquest. The door had long been locked, preventing anyone with intentions of mischief from having a chance. "Xu Shi, you know what Auntie told me before the surgery?" "Hmm?" "She said, no matter how the surgery goes, I should find a way to keep you close..." "And yet she was still interfering with us?" Xu Shi teased as he caressed her. "I find it annoying too…" Wuyou agreed, "Let her hear it, it’ll drive her crazy… mmph…" The soundproofing of the luxurious ward was indeed impressive, but even a wall couldn’t completely block certain sounds. At least the commotion from inside was all too clear to Xia Ke'an outside. Hmm… Xia Ke'an scowled, tossing aside the book she held. So annoying! To be fair, when she inserted herself between the two earlier, she wasn’t only aiming for a bit of extra fond memory—there was definitely a hefty dose of mischief involved. While she genuinely wanted her niece to find a good anchor, the problem was that she felt similarly towards Xu Shi… Such conflicted feelings were difficult to navigate. But what she hadn’t anticipated was her niece being so petty, purposely letting her hear everything. The voices only got louder. The white-haired loli was on the brink of tears—serves herself right, really… And you, Xia Wuyou, also learned to side against me? How infuriating! Seething, the old aunt buried her head under her pillow, cocooning as best she could to block out those annoying sounds. (The End of This Chapter)