The nurse, startled by the commotion, asked, "Lin Ya?"
"Yes, we're here to interview her," the newcomer replied, then eagerly peered into the hospital room.
The nurse shook her head. "Lin Ya has already been discharged."
The group, clearly intending to make a spectacle, looked surprised.
"Discharged? How could she be discharged? Weren't you told she was still in the hospital yesterday?"
Busy and exasperated, the nurse responded, "I'm not sure about the details, but she was discharged early this morning."
The individuals exchanged glances, and then one of them walked into the stairwell. He made a phone call.
"They said Lin Ya has been discharged, and Zhan Xiaojun wasn't seen at the hospital either."
A woman's voice came from the other end of the line. "Why would she be discharged today of all days? What bad timing."
"What do we do now?"
"Find a private investigator to track them down."
"Okay."
...
Zhan Xiaojun took Lin Ya and Lin Jing to a chain of budget hotels. They had originally passed by a five-star hotel, but both Lin Ya and Lin Jing had refused to stay there, no matter how she persuaded them.
Zhan Xiaojun had no doubts about her ability to earn money.
After settling in, Lin Jing went to pack up their belongings from the rented room, while Lin Ya, feeling exhausted, fell asleep on the bed. Zhan Xiaojun went out to find a real estate agent.
Time flew by, and two days later, the three of them checked out and moved into their newly rented apartment.
Lin Ya and Lin Jing were astonished when they saw the spacious living room and the three bedrooms and two bathrooms.
"Xiaojun, how much did you spend to rent this place?" Lin Jing exclaimed, his jaw dropping. Having worked in Yan City for so long, he knew from his coworkers how high housing prices were, let alone a three-bedroom, two-bathroom apartment.
"Five thousand," Zhan Xiaojun said, not intending to hide it from them.
"What?" The siblings blurted out in unison. The rent was five thousand?
Lin Jing worked two or three jobs a month, earning over ten thousand yuan, but it was still not enough for his sister's medical treatment. His own rented room only cost five hundred. And this place was five thousand!
"This... Xiaojun, how long did you rent it for? When it expires, we can find somewhere else to live. I know you're worried about Mom and want her to live comfortably, but Mom has lived in all sorts of places, it's okay," Lin Ya asked hesitantly.
Zhan Xiaojun knew what they were thinking. "I rented it for three months. Don't worry, I have enough money to cover the rent and living expenses. A clean and comfortable living environment will also be beneficial for Mom's recovery." A comfortable environment was crucial for a patient.
Lin Ya's eyes welled up. "I've been a burden to you."
"Sis, why are you saying that again? What burden? Money is not important, what's important is that you get better. I don't believe fate would be so cruel to let you stay sick like this! Zhan Zhicheng was ungrateful back then, abandoning his wife and daughter, and heaven seems to have turned a blind eye?" Lin Jing grew increasingly angry, wishing he could kill Zhan Zhicheng with his own hands. If his sister hadn't continuously supported Zhan Zhicheng and helped him leave their small village, how could Zhan Zhicheng have achieved his current status? Back then, Zhan Zhicheng had cried to his sister, making promises, and only then did his sister give up her studies, focusing on how to earn money to help Zhan Zhicheng. Yet, Zhan Zhicheng abandoned her after only two years of working in Yan City! A scumbag!
"Heaven will punish him, and it won't be long before he faces retribution. What people do, heaven sees. Uncle, he will taste the feeling of falling from a great height," Zhan Xiaojun's voice carried a natural authority, yet was cool and clear.
A flicker of pain crossed Lin Ya's eyes, devoid of anger. Perhaps after hating someone for so long, they gradually became less important. She shook her head. "It doesn't matter if he faces retribution or not. I just want you two to be well." How could someone who climbed so high fall just like that? This wasn't a TV drama or a novel.
"Sis, you've always been too kind. As the saying goes, 'the kind are bullied by others.' He took advantage of that. From my perspective, Xiaojun is right. Heaven will surely punish him; retribution is coming. Alright, alright, let's not talk about him anymore. The mere thought of him makes me want to kill someone. Xiaojun did the right thing. While five thousand yuan a month is a bit expensive, we can afford it now. I have some money, enough to cover the rent. I just noticed your complexion has improved; you must have rested well during these two days at the hotel." Lin Jing's initial outburst turned into an expression of agreement with Xiaojun's decision. He had to admit, in just a few short days, his opinion of Zhan Xiaojun had changed somewhat. She was truly different from before.
Lin Ya realized it belatedly. "Now that you mention it, I do feel it. After taking the Chinese medicine Xiaojun brought back these past few days, my body, which always felt heavy, has become much lighter. I've been sleeping better, and the pain has lessened." Zhan Xiaojun nodded with a smile. "It's only been a few days; the effects will be even better in the coming days."
"That's great! I'll have to thank your friend one day." Lin Jing, having taken care of Lin Ya for so long, understood her condition well. To see that her recovery in just a few days surpassed her lengthy hospital stay was remarkable. Traditional Chinese medicine was truly profound!
Zhan Xiaojun's eyes flashed. She responded with an "Okay" and began to unpack. The place had been cleaned days ago; they just needed to arrange their belongings. Lin Ya wanted to help but was refused by both Zhan Xiaojun and Lin Jing. She sat on the sofa, looking at the two most important people in her life, and tears welled up. She truly didn't want to be a burden to them. She hoped they would both be happy in the future. At this moment, Lin Ya felt a sense of happiness and contentment.
That evening. Zhan Xiaojun spent the day unpacking and running errands to buy necessary items. Unbeknownst to them, it was already dark. After dinner, the three of them retired to their rooms.
For the past few days, Zhan Xiaojun had been using her phone to learn more about this world. She had even started self-studying various subjects, anything the original owner lacked or that wasn't present in her previous world. Suddenly, a WeChat message popped up on her phone.
"Xiaojun, come and save me!"
"I think I've angered someone important. I'm going to die, Xiaojun, you... you shouldn't come!"
"I'm going to die, don't think of me!" Two more messages followed in quick succession. It was Yang Yizhi. Zhan Xiaojun's eyes darkened. She replied, "Where are you?"
After a moment, there was no response from WeChat, and no indication that the other person was typing. She remembered where Yang Yizhi worked. She immediately put on her clothes and went to the bar where Yang Yizhi worked. As she approached the entrance, she saw a familiar car parked outside the bar – it looked like Ning Yecheng's car from the casino entrance before.