After being diagnosed with a terminal illness, the fake heiress binds herself to a rough-looking man

Jiang Yu wrapped herself in the blanket.

The curtains were drawn tightly shut.

The room was dimly lit.

The air conditioner was on all afternoon, so the temperature in the blankets was a bit low, which was just right to keep me wrapped up.

The suitcase was pushed to the bottom of the wardrobe.

Two old bags were piled up outside to block the view.

I'll take it to Lin Xingran tomorrow.

Suddenly, a small, translucent ball of light, about the size of a fist, popped into my mind.

A pale blue light flickered in the darkness.

[Host, you have been lying down for four hours and seventeen minutes.]

Jiang Yu turned over and pulled the pillow over her face.

"Shut up."

[Friendly reminder: Prolonged bed rest is detrimental to maintaining bodily functions. It is recommended to increase physical activity and maintain frequent interaction with those who are helping you extend your lifespan.]

Does kissing someone through a phone screen count as interaction?

"How many days of life can it add?"

The small ball of light spun twice.

Remote contact does not count as a valid life-extending action. Physical contact must occur.

Speak like a human.

[Touch it.]

Jiang Yu gripped the pillow in her hand tightly.

"Do you think I'm a time clock? You just tap it and it beeps?"

The little ball of light fell silent and sullenly retreated into a corner of its consciousness.

The sky outside the window darkened.

Wang Ma knocked on the door twice, asking if they wanted dinner brought up.

Jiang Yu mumbled from under the covers that she wasn't hungry.

6:30.

The sound of bowls and chopsticks clattering came from downstairs.

Wang Ma was preparing dinner.

The laughter of Jiang's mother and Jiang Ruoruo could be faintly heard mixed in.

Jiang Yu gripped the corner of the blanket tightly.

It's exactly 7 o'clock.

The door lock was turned open directly from the outside.

The metallic clanging sound of the spare key rang out.

Jiang Yu threw off the covers and sat up.

Her hair was slightly messy.

Jiang Yu'an stood at the door.

A light gray lounge shirt with the cuffs rolled up to the middle of the forearm.

He was carrying the spare key in his hand.

"Come down for dinner."

I'm not hungry.

"I didn't ask if you were hungry."

Jiang Yu hugged the blanket and shrank back.

"I'm not hungry."

Jiang Yu'an didn't move.

One hand was in his pocket, and the other hand held the keys on the low cabinet by the door.

My gaze was fixed on her face.

"Jiang Yu, I'll count to three."

"..."

"one."

"...How childish."

Jiang Yu slipped her bare feet into her slippers.

I followed him downstairs.

As you reach the corner of the stairs on the first floor, warm light from the restaurant shines through the sliding doors.

Six dishes and a soup were laid out on the long, narrow rosewood dining table.

Jiang's mother sat on the left side of the main seat.

Jiang Ruoruo stood close to her mother.

Jiang Ruoruo was holding a piece of steamed fish in her hand. When she saw Jiang Yu follow Jiang Yu'an downstairs, her chopsticks paused in mid-air.

"Sister, you're here for dinner too? I thought you weren't coming down tonight."

Jiang Yu glanced at the dining table.

There were two empty chairs opposite.

One is opposite the ginger mother, and the other is diagonally opposite the ginger mother.

Given the current situation in this household, she usually sits at the farthest end.

Jiang Yu'an walked to the head seat and sat down.

He casually pulled out the chair to his right.

"Sit here."

Jiang Ruoruo's chopsticks really stopped this time.

Jiang Mu raised her eyelids.

Jiang Yu was also stunned for half a second.

That position was right next to the main seat, directly opposite Jiang's mother.

Jiang Yu'an had already let go and picked up the serving chopsticks.

Jiang Yu went over and sat down.

The chair legs scraped against the floor tiles.

Aunt Wang served her a bowl of chicken stewed with cordyceps flowers.

The mother stirred the ginger in her bowl a couple of times with her chopsticks, pursed her lips, and ultimately remained silent.

There was silence at the table for about twenty seconds.

Jiang Ruoruo spoke first.

"Mom, the tailor said my waist is one centimeter smaller than the last time I was measured."

She looked at Jiang's mother with a smile.

"Have you been able to lose weight recently?"

"You'll look better when you're thinner," Jiang's mother patted her hand. "You'll definitely look beautiful at the banquet."

Jiang Ruoruo smiled, her gaze drifting intentionally or unintentionally toward Jiang Yu.

"What dress did you buy at Hang Lung Plaza today, sister? Why don't you show it to Mom? Mom has good taste, she can help you decide."

Jiang Yu picked up a piece of pork rib and took a bite.

"The standard version. Nothing special."

"What about the color? I just hope it doesn't clash with mine. Mine is champagne gold."

"It can't be crashed."

Jiang Ruoruo wanted to ask more questions.

Jiang Yu'an put down the serving chopsticks and added a spoonful of chicken soup to Jiang Yu's bowl.

The movement was minor.

But the sound of the chopsticks being put back was crystal clear.

The dining table fell silent once more.

"Ruoruo," Jiang Yu'an said calmly, picking up his rice bowl. "Where are you in your speech rehearsals?"

Jiang Ruoruo was stunned.

"I've memorized most of it, but I'm still practicing the last part."

"Once you've practiced it, show it to me."

"Be careful with your words. Half of the guests who came that day were there because of the Jiang family."

He pointed with his chopsticks at the steamed fish on the table.

"In addition, make sure everything is arranged at home before next week."

"I don't want anything to go wrong at the banquet."

"What's wrong?" Jiang's mother asked.

Jiang Yu'an poured herself a glass of water.

"For example, someone might be pointed at for their clothing or appearance, or their seating arrangement might be the subject of gossip."

He looked at Jiang's mother.

"Or perhaps someone was warned beforehand and had a long face at the banquet, making outsiders think that there was disharmony within the Jiang family."

Jiang Mu's hand, holding the cup, froze in mid-air.

"Yu'an, I only casually gave Jiang Yu a few instructions this afternoon."

"I know."

Jiang Yu'an swallowed the food in her mouth.

"So I'm just casually giving you a piece of advice now."

She can wear whatever she wants.

"I gave her the black card; how she spends the money is her business."

"If anyone utters another word behind my back, the banquet will be canceled."

The last four words resonated deeply.

Jiang Ruoruo's smile faded.

He poked at the rice in his bowl with his chopsticks, without even looking up.

The jade bracelet on Jiang's mother's wrist struck the rim of the porcelain bowl with a crisp sound.

"Are you lecturing your mother?"

"Have a meal."

Jiang Yu'an picked up the soup bowl.

With a single stab of her chopsticks, Mother Jiang pierced the fish in the bowl from the bottom.

He didn't say another word.

Jiang Yu buried her head in her rice.

Bite down hard on your inner lip, forcibly suppressing the upward movement of your lips.

A tiny ball of light popped into my head.

[An increase in host heart rate and serotonin secretion was detected.]

Jiang Yu mentally kicked the little ball of light away.

"Shut up. Eat your data."

The end of dinner.

While Wang Ma was clearing away the dishes, Jiang Ruoruo made an excuse to go upstairs, closing the door heavily.

Jiang's mother got up, glanced at Jiang Yu, and went straight back to her bedroom.

There were only two people left in the restaurant.

Jiang Yu held the water glass.

"Thanks."

The sound was very soft.

Jiang Yu'an wiped her hands with a tissue and threw it into the trash can.

"Next Saturday, you'd better sit in that spot quietly and not embarrass yourself."

Jiang Yu'an stood up.

As he passed behind her, he didn't stop, and a hand landed on her head.

I rubbed it very lightly.

People walked out of the restaurant.

Jiang Yu touched her ruffled hair and sat in her spot for a while.

My phone vibrated in my pocket.

Huo Li.

[Come out tomorrow.]

I have something for you.

Jiang Yu stared at the screen.

She typed: 【What is it?】

I waited for almost a minute.

You'll know once you get here.

Jiang Yu clutched her phone as she went upstairs.

The electronic voice sounded again.

[It has been 72 hours since the last physical contact with the target for life extension. It is recommended to arrange an in-person meeting as soon as possible to replenish lifespan.]

Jiang Yu ignored her.

Before pushing open the bedroom door, she glanced back at the end of the corridor.

The light was on in the study on the second floor.

Jiang Yu'an's shadow peeked through the crack in the door; he was flipping through documents.

She looked away.

Enter the room and lock it from the inside.

At the very bottom of the wardrobe, the Dior suitcase lay quietly.

I'll take it to Lin Xingran's place tomorrow.

Jiang Yu lay back on the bed.

She didn't want to stay in this house for even a day longer.