Life countdown begins, ice queen bursts into security room

At 8:10, Jiang Fan stood at the entrance of Shen Nian's apartment.

Enter the password to open the door.

Zhou Yutong was standing in the entryway changing her shoes when she saw him come in, and her movements noticeably quickened.

"Well, Brother Fan, now that you're here, I'll head back first."

"Um."

Jiang Fan changed into slippers and went inside.

Zhou Yutong slung her bag over her shoulder and darted to the door. As she opened the door, she glanced back at the living room before closing it and leaving.

Shen Nian came out of the bedroom, wearing pajamas, her hair casually gathered behind her head, and her face flushed.

Jiang Fan waited until she came up to him and then reached out and touched her forehead.

"It's not hot."

Shen Nian shrank back a little and rubbed her face with both hands.

"Why isn't it hot?"

Jiang Fan reached out and touched the side of her neck again.

The body temperature is indeed a bit high, but it's far from having a fever.

Jiang Fan walked to the sofa and sat down.

"Zhou Yutong said you practiced singing all afternoon?"

"Um."

"Didn't I tell you to rest your voice? Who told you to practice?"

Shen Nian sat down next to Jiang Fan, hugged a cushion, and curled up into a ball.

He picked at the loose thread on the cushion with his fingers.

"The show is being recorded next Thursday," she replied in a muffled voice.

Jiang Fan glanced at her.

He had roughly figured out this person's personality—he wouldn't say it, but he would bear everything in his heart like a madman.

"If you ruin your voice from practicing, you don't need to go next Thursday."

Jiang Fan went to the kitchen, poured a glass of warm water, and brought it over.

"I drank it."

Shen Nian took it and sipped it.

He paused, then said, "Starting tomorrow, you're not allowed to practice anymore."

Shen Nian raised her head, about to retort.

"This is not something I'm discussing with you."

She shut her mouth.

He was still picking at the loose thread on the cushion with his fingers, picking even harder.

-

9:30.

Jiang Fan told her to go back to her bedroom and lie down, while he tidied up in the living room.

The porridge that Zhou Yutong bought was cold on the coffee table, so he poured it into the kitchen sink and washed the bowl.

The medicine boxes on the table were gathered to one side, and the garbage bag was tied up and thrown outside the door.

After finishing all that, he sat back on the sofa and received a WeChat message on his phone.

It was sent by Su Yuyan.

"When is the theme song due? The production team urged us today. It ended with a kissing emoji."

Jiang Fan calculated the schedule.

I have to accompany Shen Nianfei to Xingcheng the day after tomorrow, so I only have time tomorrow.

He typed a reply.

Jiang Fan: It's already recorded. Are you free tomorrow?

They replied very quickly.

Su Yuyan: Okay, no problem. The usual place?

Jiang Fan: Hmm.

There was a noise coming from the bedroom.

"Jiang Fan."

"Um?"

"...Come here for a moment."

Jiang Fan got up, walked over, and pushed open the door.

Shen Nian sat on the bed, the blanket pulled up to her chest, her hair loose over her shoulders.

"What's wrong?"

She gripped the edge of the blanket with both hands.

"I'm feeling a little unwell again."

Jiang Fan stopped by the bed.

"Where do you feel unwell?"

"...I'm just feeling a little unwell."

She didn't look at him; her gaze drifted towards the corner of the wall.

Jiang Fan couldn't help but laugh.

"You don't have to find a reason every time."

Shen Nian's lips twitched downwards.

She suddenly pulled the blanket over her head, shrinking herself completely inside, leaving only a section of her hair sticking out.

"Then you can leave!"

His voice was muffled and muffled by the blanket.

Jiang Fan stood still.

"I got in here on my own merit, why should I leave?"

-

After 11 o'clock.

Shen Nian leaned on Jiang Fan's shoulder, panting heavily, and it took a long time for the rise and fall of her back to slow down.

She went limp in his arms, not wanting to move a single finger.

Jiang Fan raised his hand and touched her forehead.

"Is it still burning?"

"……have no idea."

Her voice was sticky and nasal.

Jiang Fan brushed the stray hairs from her face behind her ears. "I'll take you to the hospital tomorrow morning to get some more medicine."

"I'm not going." Shen Nian buried her face in his collarbone and rubbed against him.

Jiang Fan patted her on the back.

"Go to sleep."

Jiang Fan stared at the ceiling with his eyes open.

The person next to me was breathing steadily, occasionally moving slightly before falling silent again.

The system panel popped up.

[Deep Compatibility x2, Bonus 1000 Lifespan Points]

Current lifespan: 24300 points

[Remaining lifespan: 42 days and 13 hours]

Jiang Fan glanced at the data and closed the panel.

He turned his head and reached out to pull Shen Nian closer to him.

Shen Nian mumbled something in her sleep, nuzzled her head against his chest, and found a comfortable position.

-

Jiang Fan woke up at seven in the morning, while Shen Nian was still asleep.

He quietly got out of bed, went to the kitchen to cook porridge, and put in half of the leftover pear from last night.

Shen Nian came out at eight o'clock, still sleepy-eyed, and paused for a moment when she saw the breakfast on the table.

What time did you get up?

"It's getting late. Go back and rest after you finish eating. You're not allowed to go to the recording studio today."

Shen Nian picked up the bowl of porridge and took a sip.

She put down the bowl.

Are you busy today?

"I have something to take care of."

Shen Nian said "Oh," and lowered her head to continue drinking her porridge, stirring the porridge in the bowl several times with her spoon.

Jiang Fan glanced at her.

"I'll go with you to Flying Star City tomorrow. Remember to pack your luggage today."

Shen Nian paused for a moment while drinking her porridge.

"Um."

-

At four o'clock in the afternoon, Jiang Fan finished his work in the studio.

Li Cheng came in to report the final confirmation of the trip to Changsha—the hotel, airport pick-up, and makeup team were all in place.

Zhou Yutong's old-fashioned mobile phone had already been activated. She protested for forty minutes before finally giving in.

At 5:20, Jiang Fan took the USB drive out of the drawer, put it in his pocket, and went out.

It's still that same unsigned private restaurant on the second floor.

Su Yuyan arrived before him.

Today's outfit was a bit more subdued: a white silk shirt tucked into high-waisted trousers, and a pearl earring.

But the menu didn't shrink.

Jiang Fan sat down and glanced at the dishes on the table.

Steamed abalone with vermicelli, sizzling ox penis, sea cucumber and millet porridge, stir-fried shrimp with chives, and a dish I'd never seen before—it was all black and sprinkled with goji berries.

"What is this?"

"Deer antler stewed with pigeon." Su Yuyan picked up her wine glass, slightly raising her eyelids. "It's a new dish today."

"Su Yuyan!!"

"Um?"

"You're using me as a catalyst for your medicine."

Su Yuyan chuckled and placed a piece of bullwhip into his bowl.

"Their grilled oxtail is their signature dish; it's a must-order for every customer. Don't get the wrong idea."

Jiang Fan looked down at the thing in the bowl.

"Which customer always orders this?"

"Me?"

Su Yuyan poured Jiang Fan a glass of plum wine.

"Eat your food. Enough with the nonsense."

Jiang Fan picked up his chopsticks.

Okay, consider this a way to nourish your body.

We ate dinner at 8:40.

It's still that private suite by the Bund.

Su Yuyan kicked off her high heels and walked over barefoot.

Jiang Fan took the USB drive out of his pocket and placed it on the coffee table.

"The demo is finished. Would you like to listen to it first?"

Su Yuyan took the USB drive and twirled it twice in her hand.

"When have I ever not trusted you to handle things?"

She casually put the USB drive into her handbag.

"I'm not listening to this now."

"Are you sure you don't want to listen?"

Su Yuyan walked to the wine cabinet and opened a bottle of red wine.

She turned around, holding two glasses of wine, and walked up to Jiang Fan, handing him one of them.

"There are more important things to do now."

Jiang Fan took the wine glass.

"What is it?"

Su Yuyan took a sip of wine and slowly ran her tongue across her lower lip.

She extended a finger and touched Jiang Fan's chest.

"you guess."

Jiang Fan held his wine glass without moving.

Su Yuyan reached out and tugged at the top button of his shirt.

"You haven't finished paying back the three hundred million yet."

"Empress Su, I have to catch a flight tomorrow."

"Then you'd better hurry up tonight."

She smiled and took the wine glass from his hand, placing it on the coffee table.

The next second, the person was already sitting on his lap.

-

That dinner, which included bull penis, deer antler, and sea cucumber, did have some effect.

Su Yuyan later lay face down on the pillow, her hair scattered all over the bed, her voice hoarse from shouting.

"Jiang Fan... I won't go to that private restaurant next time..."

"Didn't Queen Su say we should hurry up? The debt can't be delayed, I'll pay you back again."

Su Yuyan turned her head from under the pillow and glared at him with the last of her strength.

A drop of sweat still clung to that beauty mark, glistening under the light.

"Wait for me..."

Before he could finish the second half of his sentence, Jiang Fan pulled him back.

"I--"