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

Friday.

The last day before the banquet.

The entire villa was busy from the morning.

The floristry team made three trips carrying fresh flowers on the first floor, the public relations staff were constantly carrying documents in and out, and there was a constant clanging and banging noise from the kitchen all morning.

Jiang Yu was holed up in her room on the third floor, scrolling through her phone listlessly.

I got so bored while scrolling through the internet that I went downstairs for a drink of water.

A full-length mirror was temporarily erected in the center of the living room, with Jiang Ruoruo's champagne gold dress hanging next to it.

The fabric shimmered in the sunlight, exuding an air of luxury.

Jiang Ruoruo stood in front of the mirror, and a tailor was squatting down to help her fasten her skirt.

Jiang's mother sat beside her, giving instructions.

"Slim down her waist a little more. Ruoruo has lost weight, and her previous size is too loose."

"Yes, ma'am."

Jiang Ruoruo looked at herself in the mirror from left to right, turned to the side, turned around, lifted her skirt with her fingers, and twirled around a little.

Her movements were light and graceful, and her expression revealed an irrepressible excitement.

Jiang Yu walked past her and went to the restaurant to pour herself a glass of water.

Jiang Ruoruo saw her in the mirror and smiled sweetly.

"Sister, what do you think of my dress?"

Jiang Yu bit the rim of her cup and drank some water: "It's fine."

"Really?" Jiang Ruoruo tilted her head. "I always feel like the color might be too light and not be able to command attention."

Jiang Yu: "Don't you still have a whole table full of diamond necklaces? Hang them around your neck, and you'll look more than presentable, even just strolling down the street."

Jiang Ruoruo's smile froze for a moment, but quickly returned to normal.

"My sister's words are really interesting."

Jiang Yu carried her water glass back to the living room and sat down on the furthest single chair.

Jiang Ruoruo did not let her off the hook.

"By the way, sister, what are you going to wear tomorrow? I saw brother keeping the light on in his study late last night, was he picking out clothes for you?"

Jiang Yu rolled her eyes: "He's working overtime. It has nothing to do with my clothes."

"Oh." Jiang Ruoruo drawled, "I thought my brother was particularly attentive to your clothes."

The tailor squatted on the ground with his needle and thread, not daring to lift his head.

Jiang's mother chimed in, "Jiang Yu, what are you going to wear tomorrow? Tell me in advance, so you don't run into Ruoruo wearing the same thing."

"I won't crash." Jiang Yu took a sip of water. "I'm wearing black."

Mother Jiang nodded: "Black is the safest choice. Nothing too flashy."

Jiang Ruoruo blinked: "Black is good, it's understated. My sister always knows how to match the occasion."

That's a well-said statement.

The translation is: You should just be the background.

Jiang Yu didn't respond.

After the tailor finished, Jiang Ruoruo took off her formal dress and changed back into casual clothes.

The gold dress was carefully hung on a hanger and covered with a dust bag.

Jiang Ruoruo curled up on the sofa with her phone, swiping the screen with her legs up.

"Sister, I've seen the guest list for tomorrow, and there are a lot of people from our circle."

Jiang Yu did not respond.

"The youngest son of the Zhao family is here too. He's the one who chased after you for your WeChat at the golf course last time."

Jiang Ruoruo smiled meaningfully, "But he seems more interested in me now. He sent me three messages the day before yesterday."

Jiang Yu glanced at her.

"Congratulations! When he's pursuing you, remember not to run too fast, he has short legs."

Jiang Ruoruo's smug expression faded.

But it didn't last long.

She sat up abruptly, her voice sickeningly sweet: "Sister, actually I feel really sorry for you."

Jiang Yu stopped holding the cup.

"There will be so many people tomorrow, and everyone will know about the real and fake heiresses. Won't you feel uncomfortable sitting there?"

She tilted her head to look at Jiang Yu.

"If you really don't want to go, just tell your brother. I won't mind."

The tone was innocent, and the words were sincere.

If you ignored the sparkle in her eyes, she really did seem like a caring younger sister.

Jiang Yu placed the water glass on the coffee table, and the bottom of the glass made a crisp sound when it was tapped.

"Jiang Ruoruo".

Jiang Ruoruo looked up.

"Have you been this happy all day?"

Jiang Yu tilted her head to look at her, "From morning till now, trying on dresses, comparing necklaces, reciting the guest list like it's a menu. Your smile is practically reaching your ears, do you even realize that?"

Jiang Ruoruo's expression froze for a moment.

Jiang Yu stood up and placed the cup on the low cabinet next to her.

"You can be happy, that's your place. But don't hang around in front of me, and don't try to drag me into this."

She took two steps and stopped in front of Jiang Ruoruo.

Bow down.

"Tomorrow is your family reunion banquet. You've memorized your speech, made your dress, and chosen your jewelry. Everything is ready."

"But if you still want to swagger around in front of me now, and use me as a target for your verbal sparring..."

Jiang Yu bent down slightly to look her in the eye.

"I guarantee that everyone present tomorrow will remember something else, not your prepared speech."

Jiang Ruoruo's smile completely crumbled.

She clutched her phone, shrinking back two inches into the sofa.

"Sister, what do you mean?"

"It doesn't mean anything." Jiang Yu straightened up and clapped her hands.

"I'm giving you a round of applause. You did a fantastic job today. Keep it up!"

She turned and went upstairs.

Behind her, Jiang Ruoruo bit her lip and waited until Jiang Yu reached the corner of the stairs before speaking.

"mom--"

Her voice was trembling with tears.

Jiang Yu did not turn around.

Upon reaching the second floor, a tiny ball of light popped out of her head and bounced around it.

[Host, your social combat skills are online. The opponent's attacks are ineffective; you reflect damage throughout.]

Jiang Yu rolled her eyes inwardly: "Are you a system or a game commentator?"

[A versatile player.]

Jiang Yu continued upstairs.

[Just a reminder, you haven't had contact with your life-extending target for 72 hours during tomorrow's banquet. If you delay any longer, your lifespan decay rate will accelerate.]

Jiang Yu slowed her pace a beat: "How can we speed things up?"

[Based on the current decay coefficient, an additional 0.5 days will be deducted daily starting after 48 hours. It's not much, but it adds up to a significant loss.]

Why didn't you say so sooner?

[You were tied up by your brother's storyline the other day, and even if I told you, you couldn't get out. Why don't we wait until the banquet tomorrow and make up for it all at once?]

"You're quite good at keeping accounts."

This system includes a built-in actuary module.

Jiang Yu returned to her room and closed the door.

He lay face down on the bed.

I went over tomorrow's plans in my mind.

The banquet will begin at five o'clock.

The process takes about two hours.

Jiang Yu'an asked her to sit next to him.

Jiang Ruoruo took the stage to speak.

She needed at least ten minutes to slip out through the side door and run to the third camphor tree to find Huo Li.

Touch it.

Even a slight touch.

Extend life.

Then they turned back before Jiang Yu'an noticed.

This is quite difficult.

[Additional information: The straight-line distance from the side gate to the third camphor tree is approximately 35 meters. It would take the host about 40 seconds to run the entire distance in high heels.]

Jiang Yu: "Who said I was wearing high heels?"

She pulled her phone out from under her pillow and scrolled to her chat with Huo Li.

I hesitated for five seconds.

Typing: [Tomorrow I'll wear flats so I can run faster.]

Almost two minutes later, the other side replied.

No need to run. I'll come pick you up.

Jiang Yu held her phone face down.

My ears are burning.

A small ball of light peeked out from the side, its eerie blue light flashing intermittently.

The host's ear temperature rose by 1.2 degrees Celsius.

"If you report this again, I'll really format your computer."

[Mute.]

The faint sound of Jiang Ruoruo crying could be heard from downstairs.

He was probably complaining to his mother.

Jiang Yu turned over and pulled the blanket up to cover her head.

Go tell them if you want.

My phone vibrated again.

Huo Li: [Wear something nice tomorrow.]

She stared at those five words, unable to stop herself from smiling.

Reply: [Who is this for?]

There was silence on the other end for about ten seconds.

Huo Li: [Give it to me.]

Jiang Yu stuffed her phone under her pillow and huddled under the covers.

My breathing is a little erratic.

She touched the red string on her wrist; the character "砺" on the small metal tag pressed against her palm, warm to the touch.

tomorrow.

She had to wear that burgundy velvet dress.

She had to slip out the side door right under Jiang Yu'an's nose.

She had to meet the man under the camphor tree 35 meters away.

Then touch him.

No, hug him.

Extend life.

It's not entirely about prolonging life.

When this thought popped into her head, Jiang Yu pulled the blanket up over her head again.

There was another knock on the door.

Wang Ma: "Miss, the young master wants you to come down for dinner."

Jiang Yu responded with a muffled sound from under the covers.

Before getting up, she glanced at her phone one last time.

Huo Li's profile picture remained lit up quietly, with the last message "Give me" still displayed on the screen.

She locked her screen.

He stood up and patted his face.

Open the door and go downstairs.

The study door was half-open at the corner on the second floor.

Jiang Yu'an was sitting behind the desk, making a phone call while looking at the computer screen.

The voice was very low, and she only caught the last part of it.

"...Security will be tripled tomorrow. We'll also station personnel at the side gate."

Jiang Yu paused for a moment.

Side door.

He even arranged for a side door.

A small ball of light popped into her mind.

[Host, the difficulty of tomorrow's operation will be increased.]

Jiang Yu gritted her teeth.

"……knew."