Su Huan's delivery was not smooth. The child took a long time to be born, ultimately changing from natural delivery to a cesarean section, causing her tremendous suffering.
After birth, the child weighed only 1.64 kilograms and was immediately placed in an incubator.
The doctor told Su Huan that the child's condition wasn't optimistic. Development during pregnancy hadn't been good, and now with the premature birth...
The doctor hesitated, finally telling Su Huan to prepare herself mentally.
Su Huan lay on the hospital bed, covered in blood, the wound on her abdomen already sutured. The pain wasn't very noticeable due to the anesthesia.
She breathed slightly, covered in sweat, her damp hair clinging to her face. Her half-open, dark eyes stared at the ceiling. She remained silent, saying nothing. Due to the effects of the anesthetic, her eyelids grew heavier until she fell asleep.
A week later, Su Huan went to a postpartum care center. A maternity nurse, arranged in advance by her assistant, attended to her constantly. The pain in her abdomen and worry for her child kept her awake night after night, causing her to rapidly lose weight.
Two months passed this way. The child received several critical condition notices. Except during her postpartum period when Su Huan wasn't present, she practically lived at the hospital afterward, staying outside the incubator room every day, watching Nian'an and mumbling something.
The system deliberately amplified the sound so she could hear Su Huan's voice clearly.
"I pray to the gods, may Nian'an be safe and healthy!"
"I pray to the gods, may Nian'an be safe and healthy!"
...
Little Nian'an seemed to hear her mother's voice. When the hospital issued another critical condition notice, when everyone thought the child wouldn't make it, she pulled through.
Shen Xiaoyu also breathed a sigh of relief. She touched her chest—bodily reactions don't lie. When the child was given the critical condition notice, her heart beat unusually fast. Even though she had never raised this child, blood ties don't lie.
She was far from as calm as she thought she was.
The system seemed to sense her emotional change. The scene of maternal love suddenly shifted—Su Huan chose not to renew her contract when it expired and established her own studio.
This decision displeased the company's executives. They leaked the news of Su Huan's out-of-wedlock pregnancy, causing an internet sensation. Under Qin Miao's deliberate guidance, Su Huan's fans issued ten questions, including about "Huan-Tang."
Qin Miao found Su Huan to negotiate—as long as she didn't leave the company, even if she established her own studio, it would be acceptable. She even promised her a considerable amount of shares.
She even guaranteed that as long as Xingheng Entertainment existed, she would resolve the online issues, release the news that the child's other mother was Tang Tang, making "Huan-Tang" come true. With so many years of "groundwork," fans would accept it, CP fans would continue to fight for Su Huan, and all the current negative comments would be reversed, even elevating her career further.
Su Huan didn't agree and still chose to leave the company. Qin Miao wasn't lenient either. Under Xingheng Entertainment's deliberate suppression, Su Huan's career plummeted.
But Su Huan didn't surrender. Instead, she chose high-intensity work, using her previously established connections to frantically take on roles to accumulate initial capital. Through performance-based agreements, she acquired shares in Xingheng Entertainment. On the day it was announced that she had become a director, she exposed everything Qin Miao had done, directly sending her to face severe consequences.
Su Huan's career was very successful, but the child's development wasn't ideal. Su Huan and those around her spoiled the child, forming a pampered and willful personality that often caused headaches for everyone around.
Perhaps because Su Huan had been too busy before, the child felt too deprived of love and often sought her wooden mother's attention through various methods—being mischievous at school and repeatedly requiring parent-teacher meetings.
Out of guilt toward her daughter, Su Huan couldn't bear to scold her, letting her be, allowing her to grow increasingly wayward. Eventually, she became so spoiled that she didn't know how to communicate politely with others, turning into a thoroughly disliked troublesome child.
Shen Xiaoyu watched the scenes, her temple veins throbbing.
If earlier she had been worried about Shen Nian'an's physical condition, now she was furious at the displayed spoiled and willful behavior.
She took deep breaths, trying to stabilize her breathing.
The system sighed: [Such a good daughter raised like this. If this continues, her life will be completely ruined!]
[According to the program algorithm, if this continues, little Nian'an's future development direction will only lead to the path of a cannon fodder villain. She will become enemies with the future protagonist of this world due to jealousy, ultimately becoming cannon fodder and dying miserably.]
To prove the reliability of the algorithm, the system specifically showed the protagonist's growth line, which clearly involved Tang Tang's participation.
It turned out that after Shen Xiaoyu's death, Su Huan's heart turned to ashes. During a period of extreme despair, Tang Tang found her and told her there was a way for Su Huan to meet Shen Xiaoyu again.
Originally, Su Huan wouldn't have easily believed her, but Shen Xiaoyu's departure had left her completely desperate. She could only grasp this last straw, believing Tang Tang's words. She established a laboratory, praying to meet Shen Xiaoyu again.
Each had their own goals, maintaining a cooperative relationship through mutual checks and balances. But Su Huan overlooked her daughter's dependence on family love. Because Su Huan was busy earning money to stabilize her career at the time, Tang Tang took advantage of the situation to win the child's favor.
By the time Su Huan realized something was wrong, it was too late. Although she later intentionally reduced her daughter's interaction with Tang Tang, this planted the seeds of trouble.
If it had been before, Shen Xiaoyu could have insisted on not returning to that world. But after knowing that Tang Tang harbored ill intentions toward little Nian'an, she could no longer remain indifferent.
The system noticed Shen Xiaoyu's softening attitude and pressed while the iron was hot: [Host, little Nian'an's original life trajectory was actually quite smooth, but it was precisely the villain's corruption that caused her life to deviate. Our pursuit this time is also to correct this deviation, bringing things back on track.]
Shen Xiaoyu frowned, keenly grasping the key point in the system's words. [Villain? Isn't the villain Su Huan?]
The system's electronic voice suddenly became somewhat guilty. [It-it's just a slight deviation in the pursuit path. The original cannon fodder, Shi Qiubai, suddenly turned into a villain boss after your death, becoming a major villain who could contend with Su Huan, indirectly causing problems in all characters' storylines.]
"Shi Qiubai?" Shen Xiaoyu murmured these words, suddenly realizing the seriousness of the problem. "So, you've come to find me because you want me to pursue Shi Qiubai?"
[Yes, after all, she turned dark because of you, so you do bear some responsibility.]
As if having found a reason, the system became righteous: [After you left, Shi Qiubai, through investigation, determined that Tang Tang and Su Huan killed you, and has been obsessively wanting to avenge you. Later, after learning she had a serious illness, in her despair, she even kidnapped Nian'an, trying to force Su Huan and Tang Tang to appear so she could perish with them.]
[So, our mission this time is actually to save Shi Qiubai. Thinking about it this way, doesn't it feel much better?]
Shen Xiaoyu didn't speak, her brown eyes slightly sinking, as if thinking about something.
The system wasn't in a hurry, floating back and forth in her mind.
After leaving Shen Xiaoyu, it had followed several other hosts, learning many things while accompanying them on missions in other worlds.
In its view, Shen Xiaoyu's softening attitude meant she would definitely agree, just a matter of time.
There was a knock at the door outside. Shen Xiaoyu came back to her senses and hurried to open it. "Mom, please sit for a moment. I'll go wash up and change my clothes."
She had no time to consider the system's words, hurriedly going to the bathroom. Compared to considering whether to pursue, accompanying her mother was more important right now.
Throughout the day, Shen Xiaoyu and her mother checked in at several restaurants and took scenic travel photos. In the evening, they started a livestream at a seaside restaurant. A fulfilling day quickly passed.
And the system in her head experienced her day as well.
To be honest, if the system had a choice, it wouldn't want to give up this stable life to do missions in another world.
But it had no choice. If the villain wasn't resolved, the world would collapse.
In the evening, after showering, Shen Xiaoyu hugged a pillow and knocked on her mother's room.
"Mom, can I sleep with you tonight?"
Mrs. Shen looked at her and nodded with a smile.
Mother and daughter lay together, with Shen Xiaoyu curled up in her mother's embrace, her thoughts deep.
Mrs. Shen gently stroked her long hair, her voice warm and kind, "What's wrong, sweetheart? Tell Mom what happened."
Shen Xiaoyu shook her head, her voice muffled, "Nothing."
Since she didn't want to talk, Mrs. Shen didn't press further and changed the subject. "When I went out today, I saw a mother and daughter. That little girl was about five or six years old, clever and lively, just like you when you were little."
"I originally thought I would see you go to college, then enter society, find someone you love to have children with..." She paused. "Maybe that someone would also be a girl, then I would have two daughters."
"But a car accident made me lose four years. My daughter has grown up, different from before—mature and steady, like an adult." Mrs. Shen hugged her tightly, patting her back as if comforting a child. "But I'm not happy at all. My daughter has something on her mind. She's smiling, but crying inside."
Shen Xiaoyu's heart moved, and she looked up at her. "Mom..."
"I don't know what happened to you, but Mom wants to tell you that things hidden in your heart don't disappear. They just become a scar, causing unbearable pain when you remember them. Don't be like me, leaving regrets in life."
"Mom doesn't know what you're going to do, but Mom will wait for you to come back. Just like you waited for me to wake up." Mrs. Shen said, patting her shoulder like a friend. "Alright, I'm going to sleep now. We're going skydiving tomorrow."
Mrs. Shen held her and gradually fell asleep.
But Shen Xiaoyu had no sleepiness at all. In her mind, the system's words echoed repeatedly, the scales swinging back and forth.
After a long time, she finally made up her mind.
[System, I agree to go back.]
The system instantly jumped out. [Transmigration program initiated!!]
[Wait a moment, I still have some questions to ask you.]
The system happily watched the program initiation countdown on the interface and exclaimed, [Oh! Host, I know what you want to ask. After you transmigrate, time here will freeze and only resume flowing after the mission is completed. It won't affect your life and work.]
Shen Xiaoyu let out an "oh" sound. In that case, there was no problem.
In the final moments before the program started, the system suddenly said "oh," as if remembering something, and hurriedly said: [By the way, host, since this is your second transmigration to the same plane, according to the rules, you will lose all memories of being the previous pursuer, Shen Xiaoyu. These memories can only be unlocked under specific conditions!]
[Program startup countdown 00:00!]
[Program has started. Wishing the host an early triumphant return.]
Shen Xiaoyu's eyes widened suddenly. As the faint blue light enveloped her, a curse resounded deafeningly.
[System, I'm going to f*ck your main god!]
The next second, the blue light disappeared, and the room returned to calm.
○
When Shen Xiaoyu woke up, it was night. Everything around was pitch black, and she couldn't see anything.
She felt around for nearby objects, trying to figure out where she was, when she heard a ripping sound and felt a pain in her chest, as if something was stuck to her.
Surely this thing hadn't grown out of her body?
She wasn't turning into some kind of monster, was she? Shen Xiaoyu was startled by her own thoughts, but then consoled herself—that couldn't be. The system had said it was just a modern background mission, so there shouldn't be too many strange things.
As she was reassuring herself, she raised her hand and swept away something else, feeling mild stinging sensations throughout her body.
Before Shen Xiaoyu could cry out in pain, alarm sounds came from all around. Immediately, lights turned on overhead. The sudden brightness made her reflexively close her eyes. Only after adjusting to the light did she open them again.
She saw various instruments, with screens displaying numbers she couldn't understand. The alarming instrument was right beside her, and the things she had pulled off were scattered around—devices used to monitor vital signs in hospitals.
Shen Xiaoyu frowned. [Dog system, where have you brought me? A laboratory? Research institute? Am I a lab rat turned human?]
The system chuckled. [Host, these things are a bit complicated to explain, but trust me, I absolutely have no intention of harming you!]
The system's voice was very low. [Just a tiny unexpected incident during the transmigration. I've already explained it to you.]
Explained? When?
Just as Shen Xiaoyu was about to ask, she suddenly heard a series of hurried footsteps, followed by a door opening.
Many people rushed in from outside. Upon seeing her sitting on the edge of the bed, they froze for three seconds before suddenly letting out roof-shattering screams.
Some covered their mouths, crying silently; others embraced each other, tears in their eyes; some had hands trembling as they tried to make phone calls.
This abnormal phenomenon made the hair on Shen Xiaoyu's back stand on end. She watched the crowd vigilantly, quietly inching toward the corner, trying to hide her body behind large instruments.
She had seen online that if you encounter trouble at a hospital, hide behind expensive equipment—the more expensive, the better.
Although she wasn't studying medicine, she had spent years taking care of her mother in the hospital and learned about many instruments from nurses. She also knew the value of these devices.
Looking at what she was now clinging to...
Shen Xiaoyu examined it carefully but didn't recognize it. However, she could tell it was expensive!
This meant they definitely wouldn't dare to act recklessly.
The people at the door, after being excited for a while, turned around and found she was gone. They began to panic, hurriedly running around to find her.
Shen Xiaoyu hid in the corner, secretly watching outside. Only after everyone had left did she breathe a sigh of relief, carefully inching out.
Before understanding the current situation, she had to ensure she wasn't found. If these people were truly treating her like a lab rat for research, then being found would mean her death!
Unlike Shen Xiaoyu's fear and trepidation, the people outside were almost frantic. Just as they were about to lock the door and search for Shen Xiaoyu carefully, they suddenly received a phone call. Everyone's expressions changed, but they still followed the order and left.
Shen Xiaoyu crouched in the corner for a long time without seeing those people return. She couldn't help but breathe a sigh of relief. It seemed these people weren't so dedicated to their work.
If a lab rat had truly escaped from a laboratory, they would dig three feet underground to find it. Otherwise, who knows what trouble that lab rat might cause.
Suddenly, a "pfft" sound came out. The system was laughing so hard the entire screen was shaking.
Shen Xiaoyu frowned. [What are you laughing at? At a time like this, you should be finding a way for me to escape. If I die, you'll be punished by the main god!]
The system didn't speak, just kept laughing.
Shen Xiaoyu couldn't figure it out, so she simply ignored it. After everyone outside had disappeared, she finally emerged from behind the instruments and cautiously walked out.
The paths outside were a maze. Shen Xiaoyu didn't know the layout, so she could only wander around, trying to find another person who was being experimented on as a "lab rat."
But after wandering for a long time, she saw neither "lab rats" nor experimental personnel. All the people from before seemed to have vanished; not a single one was in sight.
Her newly awakened body was still somewhat weak. After intense movement, she could hardly bear it, leaning against the wall and panting heavily, her legs feeling as though they didn't belong to her.
Was this place really so big? She'd walked so far without finding a way out. If this continued, she wouldn't need them to chase her; she'd faint from exhaustion first.
Damn system, it couldn't even choose a better body. How could she pursue anyone with such a frail body?
Just as Shen Xiaoyu was cursing in her heart, she suddenly heard urgent footsteps rapidly approaching her.
She stopped, stiffening without daring to turn around, fearing she might see something frightening.
But there's no escaping fate. Rather than being captured and tortured to the point of preferring death, she might as well take the initiative to admit her mistake and seek leniency.
Shen Xiaoyu took a deep breath. As she turned around, before she could clearly see who was coming, she was enveloped in a soft embrace. The uniquely feminine fragrance made her heart tremble violently, her breathing involuntarily becoming rapid.
She stiffened, not moving at all, afraid of disrupting the woman's mood and causing herself to be tortured.
The woman's arms locked around her like pliers, squeezing Shen Xiaoyu so tightly she could hardly breathe. Just as she was about to suggest the other be more careful, she suddenly felt something cool on her neck. Droplets of water fell and slid along her skin, giving her goosebumps all over.
She thought the woman was administering some drug, but after waiting a while without any abnormal reactions in her body, Shen Xiaoyu belatedly realized—she seemed to be crying.
Crying?
Did they know each other?
Shen Xiaoyu struggled slightly, carefully asking, "Miss, can—can you let me go first? I'm—I'm having trouble breathing."
Her words made the person holding her pause, then release her. With reddened eyes, she stared at Shen Xiaoyu intensely, as if she might shatter at any moment.
Shen Xiaoyu leaned against the wall, taking a deep breath, then raised her head to look at the woman, instantly stunned by her appearance.
A small, palm-sized face, fair and delicate skin, exquisite features, and light makeup that made her as beautiful as a celestial being.
Shen Xiaoyu stared in amazement. There were many beautiful girls, but she had never seen someone this beautiful, not to mention her aura—cold and aloof, her slightly downcast eyes carrying a touch of aloofness.
Among the people she knew, only one other person had such a complex aura. She felt a bit tempted and tentatively asked the system, [Is this my pursuit target?]
Is it? Is it?
If she was her pursuit target, she couldn't believe how happy she would be.
[The pursuit target is not her.]
As soon as the system spoke, Shen Xiaoyu's heart sank. She was about to ask who the pursuit target was when the system suddenly went silent.
Beside her, Su Huan flashed a trace of ferocity, then lowered her eyes, concealing the gloom in their depths, before turning to look at Shen Xiaoyu with tears in her eyes.
"You don't remember me." She raised her hand, trembling as she caressed Shen Xiaoyu's face. "I am Su Huan, I am your wife. You really don't remember me?"
Shen Xiaoyu's heart jolted, her eyes widening in shock like walnuts.
She looked carefully at Su Huan's face again, her heart emitting a sharp ringing sound.
[Such a beautiful girl is my wife? How could I be so fortunate!]
[System! System! Is what this beauty saying true? Is such a gorgeous wife really not my pursuit target?]
Shen Xiaoyu bit her lip, her breathing becoming rapid. [Dog system, say something!]
But the system remained completely silent, without a sound, as if it had ceased to exist.