"What's wrong with her? Did she get infected by me?" Li Xi looked at Yuan Chu lying on the bed, his expression dark and serious.
During dinner today, Yuan Chu suddenly had difficulty breathing, clutching her chest and almost going into shock, which scared him into rushing her to the hospital.
"It shouldn't be," Replied the middle-aged doctor.
"Her symptoms seem more like exposure to some highly irritant substance, such as the recent popular drug 'A powder', certain types of strong-smelling cigarettes, or residues from such substances. These things are commonly found in crowded places like bars, KTVs, and entertainment venues. They typically don't affect ordinary people much, but for you two, they can easily lead to respiratory infections or other complications."
"Bars, KTVs?" Li Xi frowned slightly, looking at the nearby bodyguard. "Where did Chu Chu go today?"
"After Miss Yuan finished school, she went to the mall to buy some things, and then I took her home," The bodyguard answered truthfully.
"Nothing unusual happened?" Yuan Chu's school was strict and disciplined; it was impossible for drugs or cigarettes to be there.
Even if they were, she would have avoided any harmful people or substances with her intelligence and caution.
The bodyguard hesitated for a moment before replying, "Miss Yuan met your aunt, Ms. Li Wenhong, when she came out of the mall."
"My aunt?" Li Hong didn't immediately connect Yuan Chu's illness with her.
The bodyguard continued, "Ms. Li Wenhong seemed drunk at the time, emitting a strong smell of smoke and alcohol. She also said some... inappropriate things to Miss Yuan Chu."
Li Xi's eyes darkened. "What did she say?"
The bodyguard recounted what Li Wenhong had said, such as 'Don't fantasize about things that don't belong to you' and 'You're just an orphan under someone else's care, nothing more.'
"Good." Li Xi's voice remained calm, but the fury in his eyes could incinerate anyone.
"You mentioned she smelled of smoke and alcohol?" He couldn't imagine how hurt Chu Chu must have felt hearing those words.
"Yes," Confirmed the bodyguard.
Li Xi didn't ask further. He took out his phone and dialed a number. "Find out where Li Wenhong has been and what she's been up to these past few days."
An hour later, a text message arrived on Li Xi's phone. He opened it and let out a cold laugh.
Tracking Li Wenhong was easy; her spending records made everything clear. She attended at least one or two dinners every day, dressed up elaborately at night, hopping from one entertainment venue to another, smoking, drinking, and indulging in drugs, living a libertine lifestyle.
Whatever she liked to do was her business, but she had absolutely no right to approach Yuan Chu, let alone infect her with all those germs! How filthy must she be to carry such pathogens?
Li Xi felt a surge of uncontrollable disgust at the thought of meeting her tomorrow, a promise he regretted making.
*Cough.* A slight cough interrupted Li Xi's thoughts.
"Chu Chu, you're awake. How are you feeling?" Li Xi leaned down slightly, checking on her condition.
Yuan Chu stared at him carefully for a moment, then smiled. "I'm fine."
"Is this what 'fine' looks like?" Li Xi was both angry and worried, trying to keep his tone calm.
"I'm really worried. You can't be without me by your side."
Yuan Chu smiled and remained silent, unsure who really couldn't do without whom.
"In the future, if you see my aunt, stay away. Don't let her get within 10 meters of you!" Li Xi solemnly warned.
"Why?" Asked Yuan Chu.
"She's dirty!"
"And what about you..."
"Don't worry," Li Xi said coldly. "I won't let her get near me either."
Yuan Chu felt reassured and comfortably lay back on the hospital bed, accepting Li Xi's assistance with drinking water.
The Li family's three siblings would continue to pester Li Xi, with Li Wenhong starting it all and causing the most trouble for him.
If he could use this opportunity to keep Li Xi guarded against them, to stay away from them, it would prevent a lot of harm in advance.
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After establishing contact with Li Xi, minor illnesses and discomforts for Yuan Chu were just temporary inconveniences, nothing critical. As long as the chosen one was alive, she wouldn't leave this world.
"Chu Chu..."
"Yes?"
Li Xi said seriously, "You will always be the most important family to me."
He advised her not to take to heart the nonsense of outsiders.
Yuan Chu smiled. "I know."
Her gaze was clear, full of trust, without a trace of resentment.
Li Xi smiled too. Yes, his Chu Chu had always been the little angel who pulled him back from the hands of death with her strength and insight, fearless and clear-minded.
The next day, Yuan Chu was discharged from the hospital.
Compared to the hospital, home was a more suitable place for recuperation. Li Xi took a week off for her, allowing her to rest peacefully at home.
As for Li Wenhong's invitation, Li Xi decisively declined. Joking aside, with her as a carrier of bacteria, he was lucky not to have sent her for disinfection.
Meeting was out of the question. He informed his grandfather and increased security to ensure she didn't set foot in the villa.
"Why did you suddenly cancel our appointment?" Li Wenhong complained over the phone. "Did someone say something to you?"
"Who do you think would say something to me?" Li Xi played with the pen in his hand, expressionless.
"Who else could it be? That little maid of yours," She said disdainfully, with no attempt to hide her tone.
Li Xi stopped playing with the pen, his eyes cold. "She is part of our family."
"Heh, our family doesn't have anyone surnamed 'Yuan'. You can keep her if you like, just don't take it too seriously."
"Aunt, don't let me hear you demeaning her again," Li Xi warned, his words chilling to the bone.
The "our family" he spoke of didn't include Li Wenhong and other relatives who were self-serving and forgetful of kindness.
Only Yuan Chu and Grandfather Li were his acknowledged family. This aunt, born into wealth but fallen into degradation, had long been excluded by him.
"Tsk tsk, fine, I get it. Anyway, she's yours, you call the shots," Li Wenhong sneered inwardly, thinking young people were emotional and easily stirred up.
When he reached his twenties or thirties and experienced the world's complexities, he probably wouldn't care much about an ordinary maid.
Li Xi didn't care what she was thinking. He changed the subject, "I know why you've come to see me, but I can't free up much capital here. However, I can introduce you to some powerful investors."
Li Wenhong prided herself on her ability to navigate all circles of society, but she forgot the importance of identity and reputation.
Social butterflies and socialites were entirely different realms. She blurred these boundaries and had long been excluded from elite circles, though she remained oblivious.
This woman not only spoke ill of Yuan Chu, causing her illness, but also sowed discord in their relationship. How could Li Xi easily let her off?
Dealing with someone so arrogant and short-sighted, he had plenty of tricks up his sleeve.
Although Li Wenhong was displeased with Li Xi's evasion, she was quite satisfied with the investors he introduced.
Since he took the initiative to offer her connections, why would she refuse? Compared to the dull Li Xi, she preferred playing by the unwritten rules with mature business people.
Humming a tune, Li Wenhong prepared for the upcoming adult games.
Little did she know she would never again have the chance to step into Grandfather Li's mansion, nor enter Li Xi and Yuan Chu's circle of life.
After seeing off Li Wenhong, Li Xi went to the kitchen and brought back a plate of fruits, then headed to the flower hall.
Yuan Chu sat by a curved glass wall, leaning against a soft pillow with a novel in her hands, quietly reading.
She wore a mask over her face, revealing only a pair of bright eyes. Her shoulder-length hair fell gently, and loose home clothes draped her petite frame like a kitten.
The lingering sunset spilled into the room, where there was one person, one book, one table, one chair, and a cup of clear tea—warm, gentle, serene.
Li Xi gently placed the fruit plate on the table and casually sat on the carpet beside her.
The surging fate momentarily pulled Yuan Chu's attention from the book. She looked up quietly at the young man beside her.
"It's time to rest," Li Xi said softly, taking the book from her hands, removing her mask, and offering her a piece of fruit to bite.
Yuan Chu took a bite and then put her mask back on.
"No need to be so cautious," Li Xi ruffled her hair.
"I won't get infected by you."
"People with a cold aren't qualified to say such things."
Yuan Chu knew Li Xi's cold would take at least five or six more days to recover from, during which they absolutely needed to avoid cross-infection.
Li Xi casually picked up a piece of fruit to put in his mouth.
Yuan Chu grabbed his wrist, took away his fork, exchanged it for another one, and placed it back in his hand.
"Don't share utensils," She said seriously, looking at him to remind him about personal hygiene.
Li Xi looked aggrieved. "...You're disgusted with me."
Despite his protest, he didn't argue back, as he was also concerned about potentially infecting her with his cold.
After nibbling on a few pieces of fruit, Li Xi suddenly spoke up, "Chuchu, why don't you skip a grade?"
Yuan Chu: "Hm?"
"I think it's better for you to stay by my side. I feel more at ease that way."
Considering their age difference—him about to graduate from college while she was still in high school—if she were bullied, he wouldn't know.
Yuan Chu asked, "Skip how many grades?"
"Of course, straight into university," Li Xi said confidently. "I believe in your abilities."
Yuan Chu paused. From freshman year directly into university? Wouldn't that be too ostentatious?
Seeing through her thoughts, Li Xi persuaded her earnestly, "Look, two years ago, there was a child named Zhang who entered university at the age of 10. Five years ago, Yang became the youngest Ph.D. in the country at 13. Every year, there are many gifted children who skip grades across the country. You'll be 12 next year, so going to university is entirely feasible."
Yuan Chu: Sounds reasonable.
"At 12 years old, for a gifted child, it's considered relatively mature."
Yuan Chu: "..."
"Chuchu, hurry and come to Qing University. I'll be waiting for you." Li Xi looked at her intensely, with his aura surging and overflowing.
Unable to resist the overwhelming aura of the Child of Luck, Yuan Chu finally agreed.
"Nonsense." WhenGrandpa Li heard about this, he immediately scolded Li Xi.
Even though Yuan Chu was very intelligent, enabling her to advance from junior high to university within a year would require considerable effort.
Her health was already fragile, and making her work so hard—didn't his grandson's conscience hurt?
Li Xi patiently said, "Grandpa, trust me, Chuchu can do it."
Grandpa Li didn't believe it at all. With Yuan Chu's current grades, she couldn't possibly reach the university entrance level in such a short time, let alone aiming for a top university in the country.
"Let Chuchu proceed at her own pace. Don't disrupt her," He warned.
"Grandpa, let's make a bet," Li Xi smiled. "If Chuchu ranks first in her age group this semester and maintains it till the end, you agree to let her skip a grade."
Grandpa Li snorted coldly. "We can make this bet, but you must ensure you won't pressure Chuchu from behind and let her perform freely."
"I promise," Li Xi held up two fingers.
He didn't really need to go this far because he knew that once Yuan Chu agreed to something, she would follow through.
Under Grandpa Li's watchful gaze, Yuan Chu began this semester with a remarkable change from her usual low-profile demeanor.
Her grades soared continuously, achieving the top position for the first time and astonishing teachers and students alike who were unaware of her true abilities.
Grandpa Li remarked, "First place is first place. I don't understand the world of top students."
A year later, with Grandpa Li's consent, Yuan Chu applied for and passed the entrance exams for both high school and university, ranking tenth province-wide, and successfully skipped a grade to enter Qing University, officially becoming Li Xi's junior.
During this year, Li Xi was 20 years old, and Yuan Chu was 13.
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