Chapter 44 – The End-of-the-world Post

Early the next morning, Jiang Yushi and Cheng Xiaomei saw Third People’s Hospital on the morning news.

On the screen, a female reporter was desperately trying to push her way forward. Around her were crowds of citizens and media from every outlet, while the police had pulled up cordons to keep everyone outside.

“Excuse me, last night there was a car accident where a vehicle crashed through the perimeter wall, but why did the hospital building catch fire right afterward? Are the two incidents connected? Was it arson?”

“Could this have been a case of medical violence?”

“We’ve heard the fire caused heavy casualties. Can you disclose the exact number? Are there any survivors? Why haven’t we heard of any other hospitals taking in the injured?”

“Aside from this case, Ningnan has seen many homicide cases recently. We’ve heard the number of unnatural deaths has reached its highest point in decades. What countermeasures do the police have? Will there be a new round of crime crackdowns to restore harmony to society?”

“Everyone is on edge right now. Can the police give the public some confidence? How long will it take to catch the perpetrators behind the recent murders and this arson case?”

“Please answer us!”

A middle-aged man who looked like a bureau chief stepped forward and said, “I’m sorry, the cause of the incident is still under investigation. You may speculate, but we will not be answering. That is all. Please do not interfere with our work. There are still many hazards at the fire scene, so for safety reasons, the entire hospital will remain sealed off and closed. Please do not film. Thank you for your cooperation.”

The female reporter turned back toward the camera and said solemnly, “That is the footage we have brought you from the scene at Third People’s Hospital. This station will continue to closely follow further developments.”

Click.

Jiang Yushi picked up the remote and turned off the TV, then turned to look at Cheng Xiaomei with concern.

As their eyes met, each saw the same suspicion in the other’s gaze.

The incident at Third People’s Hospital had happened last night, and it had started with a car on fire. Maybe this had something to do with Su Lifeng…

“Um, the car is ready. Let’s go.” After two or three seconds of silence, Jiang Yushi picked up her bag and changed the subject.

Cheng Xiaomei immediately came back to herself and nodded. “Mm, right. Let’s go, let’s go.”

But in her heart, she was thinking that if this really did have something to do with Su Lifeng, then he had been right not to tell her about it.

Just looking at the scene, she didn’t even dare imagine what Su Lifeng had gone through last night. And Jiang Yushi was still an ordinary person, yet she seemed much calmer than Cheng Xiaomei.

“If Jiang Yushi had been the one turned into a Mutant back then, maybe she could have helped Lifeng… No, isn’t she already helping now? The lab, the house, the money… What about me?” At that thought, panic suddenly rose in Cheng Xiaomei’s chest. Keeping accounts? With Jiangnan Biomedical Group behind them, there were plenty of professional accountants. Helping buy supplies? No, Su Lifeng no longer needed that.

Cheng Xiaomei abruptly realized that if she went on being this timid, she might soon become a burden to Su Lifeng. Although Su Lifeng seemed like a cold person on the surface, as long as following him did not endanger him, he did not mind helping in passing, just like those classmates on the island. If they had obediently followed him back then, there was a very good chance they could have survived. But she did not want to become like that…

“Even if I get protection that way, he won’t value me, right?” Cheng Xiaomei thought as she followed Jiang Yushi downstairs, not noticing when Jiang Yushi suddenly stopped. She nearly ran into her.

She poked her head out from behind Jiang Yushi and saw several people sitting in the living room. One of them was an elegant middle-aged beauty whom she had already met last night-Jiang Yushi’s mother. But Jiang Yushi’s father, the chairman of Jiangnan Biomedical Group, was not among them.

Of the other two, one looked somewhat similar to Jiang Yushi around the brows and eyes, but did not seem nearly as gentle as Jiang Yushi, nor was she as refined. With her heavy makeup and all the luxurious jewelry draped over her, she looked even more gaudy. The other was a young man in a suit with a wandering gaze. There was also another man who seemed refined and courteous, and was fairly handsome: Liang Junyu, whom Cheng Xiaomei had also met last night.

“Yushi.” As soon as the middle-aged beauty saw Jiang Yushi, she immediately walked over. “Are you really going to make things so tense with your father over that laboratory? You said you were moving out, and he went to the company first thing this morning. I know your father is angry. He just has never liked saying these things out loud. You have to know, your father dotes on you the most…”

“Second Uncle isn’t angry because of that. He’s angry because he knows Sister Yushi isn’t really moving out for that laboratory, but for that man. No wonder my mom says grown daughters can’t be kept at home. If you ask me, I actually understand Second Uncle. He’s just afraid Sister Yushi will be deceived…” The moment the girl opened her mouth, Cheng Xiaomei instantly frowned and almost couldn’t stop herself from retorting.

Even someone as good-tempered as Jiang Yushi looked at her with displeasure and said, “Jiang Qianqian, I am speaking with your second aunt.”

Mrs. Jiang was a little displeased as well. “What do you mean, ‘for that man’? Qianqian, is that how your mother taught you to run your mouth? Why can’t you ever keep that tongue of yours in check?”

“Tch…” Jiang Qianqian rolled her eyes and said irritably, “I’m just telling the truth because nobody wants to hear it. Even if Sister Yushi really is only trying to repay a debt, she shouldn’t be using the company’s money to do it, right? Forget it, forget it. I won’t talk about that anymore. My dad and Second Uncle said that since the laboratory has already been established, we might as well run it properly and minimize the losses as much as possible. Brother Junyu volunteered himself to serve as the laboratory’s manager on top of his current duties. And my cousin Zhu Hao will be the deputy manager.”

The man with the shifty eyes immediately stood up with a grin and nodded at Jiang Yushi. “Sister Yushi, I’ll be counting on your guidance from now on.”

Liang Junyu also spoke up. “Yushi, don’t worry. I’m doing this for your sake and the company’s.”

“You people…” Cheng Xiaomei finally couldn’t hold it in anymore. All these smiling faces, weren’t they really just here to monitor Su Lifeng and suppress Jiang Yushi?

Jiang Yushi’s expression darkened too. She swept her gaze over them, but in the end, she forced her anger back down.

When things truly developed in the direction Su Lifeng had hinted at, would these people’s petty schemes still mean anything?

At that thought, Jiang Yushi’s mood actually lightened again, and she even revealed a faint smile.

“Huh?” Jiang Qianqian, who had been lifting her chin and waiting for Jiang Yushi to fly into a humiliated rage, was instantly stunned. Then she bit her lip in irritation. “She actually ignored me… Hmph, keep pretending!”

Liang Junyu’s gaze darkened as well. He hadn’t expected Jiang Yushi to disregard him so completely. Under these circumstances, he was the only helping hand she could grab onto. Yet she was actually smiling? Did she really think that brat could still save her?

“Mom, remember what I told you. I’m doing this for you and Dad. I told you to always bring bodyguards when you go out and not to go anywhere crowded. Did you remember all that?” Jiang Yushi held Mrs. Jiang’s hand and spoke with great sincerity.

“I remember.” Mrs. Jiang looked at Jiang Yushi worriedly and stroked her hair. “You were simply frightened by the shipwreck. You even told me the world might fall into chaos… Your father and I have been everywhere. We’ve even been to countries at war. Don’t worry.”

The two of them kept their voices low. Clearly, Mrs. Jiang also felt that what her daughter was saying was far too unreliable.

“I don’t care about any of that. It doesn’t matter if you don’t believe me, but you have to listen to me. Otherwise… otherwise, if I end up in the hospital again, it’ll be your fault. You should know that I’m emotionally unstable right now. I could have a mental breakdown at any moment.” Jiang Yushi felt somewhat ashamed. From childhood to adulthood, she had rarely lied, let alone acted shamelessly like this. She had never expected that, after growing up, she would resort to such childish tactics. But this was already the best outcome she could achieve through her own efforts. In the best-case scenario she had imagined, her parents would move with her to Su Lifeng’s place, or Su Lifeng would move into their home.

But she didn’t even need to think to know that such a proposal would definitely be labeled “nonsense.” The likely result would be that she wouldn’t even be allowed to leave the house.

Thinking of this, Jiang Yushi felt a little powerless. Never mind the people around her-even her parents didn’t believe her. She felt as if she could now understand how Su Lifeng had felt back then. At that time on the Cruise Ship, facing all those doubtful and mocking gazes, perhaps he had felt the same way she did now.

“I’m leaving. Remember what I said. No matter what happens, you must call me. Also, Su Lifeng really isn’t the kind of person you’re worried he is.” Jiang Yushi let go of Mrs. Jiang’s hand and spoke in a very firm tone.

Jiang Qianqian watched her walk past and couldn’t help curling her lip. “Acting all mysterious.”

Only after Mrs. Jiang, who looked reluctant to see Jiang Yushi go, glared at her did Jiang Qianqian pretend nothing had happened and look away.

At the same time, Su Lifeng, who had already returned home, turned off the television.

After last night, he had not risked going near the scene again. Judging from the live news footage, after the police arrived, Ren Xiaoying had set the hospital on fire.

As for the specific details, whether the Xenospecies and the police had clashed, only the two sides involved would know. But there was no need to think too hard about it. Ren Xiaoying had definitely already left.

“But after drawing the government’s attention, it should be much harder for her to establish a Nest in a public place like that again, right?” Su Lifeng thought as he opened his laptop.

Sure enough, a large number of Xenospecies Spatial Gate-related posts had appeared on the forum again. But without exception, none of the regions where these Spatial Gate incidents had occurred had released any official reports.

At that moment, his mouse suddenly paused, and he clicked open a newly posted thread in some surprise.

“The apocalypse is coming, and this time it’s not fake! I guarantee it with my life! Monsters have appeared on Earth. For the safety of you and your family and friends, spread this as far as possible!”

Scrolling farther down, Su Lifeng saw the poster’s information.

Common login IP address: Huaxia, Ningnan City.