After My Death, I Became a Heartless Madman - Chapter 35.1
The cold wave receded, and these past few days, the Inner City had been unusually warm. Pedestrians on the streets shed their tired woolen coats in favor of fresh, lightweight spring outfits, finally aligning with Song Shizhou’s impression of the city as a dazzling pleasure paradise.
Li Ningzhi seemed somewhat embarrassed and turned to Song Shizhou, saying,
“Miss Song, I’d like to apologize for my recklessness yesterday.”
She knew what Li Ningzhi was referring to, Li Ningzhi had assumed she was there to cause trouble, only to realize she not only knew how to dress wounds but also remembered the exact dosage of anesthesia Bai Ruowei needed.
Song Shizhou replied indifferently,
“There’s no need to apologize. I didn’t take it to heart.”
The stock of backup medicine at Snow Pavilion was running low. To avoid arousing Mr. Bai’s suspicion, Song Shizhou decided to use the pretext of a gland checkup to purchase some antibiotics.
The car came to a smooth stop in front of the Inner City’s First Private Hospital. Song Shizhou and Qingluan got out, leaving Li Ningzhi to wait in the car.
It was a weekday, and the outpatient department wasn’t particularly crowded. The elevator reeked of disinfectant, a smell Song Shizhou didn’t mind as she stepped further inside.
A few people nearby whispered cautiously likely family members visiting a patient. The elevator was cramped, and newcomers inevitably exchanged glances with those already inside. Song Shizhou kept her head down, avoiding eye contact, but she couldn’t help eavesdropping on their conversation.
It was a habit she’d developed in her past life. Back then, when Madam Song had brought her back from the Thirteenth District under the guise of being a distant relative, she’d endured countless whispers. Some called her a poor girl leeching off the Song family, while others speculated she was actually Song Lanyi’s biological daughter only now, the imposter had gained too much influence, leaving her to live in awkward limbo.
The murmurs had haunted her relentlessly, even driving her to the brink of a nervous breakdown at one point. Just hearing hushed conversations in public made her certain they were talking about her.
She took a deep breath, forcing herself to smile at her reflection in the elevator mirror.
Her short twenty years in her past life felt more like an extended episode of bullying, one where she barely survived. Whether she had truly overcome it, she didn’t know, but the rumors and mistreatment had undoubtedly left indelible scars on her heart.
The elevator dinged, and Song Shizhou stepped out.
She walked to the familiar department and pushed the door open.
Malnourished throughout her childhood, though it hadn’t stunted her growth, it had disrupted her secondary differentiation. Emigna was mysterious and delicate Song Shizhou had won the genetic lottery, but her body couldn’t keep up.
Years of malnutrition destined her to become an incomplete Emigna.
Because of this, she had to undergo regular checkups.
“Miss Song, it’s been quite a while since your last visit. Please, have a seat.While staying at Snow Pavilion, the private physician there had handled her gland examinations, so it had indeed been a long time since she’d come here.
The doctor overseeing her gland checkups was surnamed Lin, a gentle male beta.
With practiced ease, Doctor Lin examined her gland condition.
“Miss Song, you’re recovering very well. Although the damage to your gland is irreversible, after this period of rehabilitation treatment, your pheromone levels have now stabilized to match those of a normal Alpha.”
Song Shizhou smiled,
“Thank you, Doctor.”
Doctor Lin looked somewhat troubled,
“However, you need to be cautious when marking a partner. If your significant other is an Alpha and your pheromone compatibility is below ninety percent, there’s a risk of marking failure, which could cause significant harm to the other Alpha’s body.”
“So, if your partner is an Alpha, I wouldn’t recommend attempting to mark them.”
“After all, finding a partner with over ninety percent compatibility is extremely rare.”
Song Shizhou nodded,
“I understand, Doctor.”
These were words Doctor Lin hadn’t told her in her previous life.
Because before he could give these warnings, Song Shizhou had already found an Alpha lover with over ninety-five percent compatibility.
Seeing her response, Doctor Lin didn’t repeat himself and administered a rehabilitation injection as usual.
“Miss Song, have you been seeing anyone recently?”
Bai Ruowei had kissed her not long ago. Though it was just a fleeting moment, their pheromones had undeniably mingled something that couldn’t escape Doctor Lin’s notice.
“Not yet,”
Song Shizhou admitted frankly,
“But perhaps, there will be soon.”
…
Leaving the consultation room, she walked down the long corridor. Song Shizhou took the prescription from Doctor Lin to purchase medication. She bought a large quantity of antibiotics, which the nurse on duty found odd but said nothing about.
After securing the medicine Bai Ruowei needed, she prepared to leave but accidentally bumped into someone.
“I’m sorry, it wasn’t intentional.”
“Not intentional?”
Madam Song Lanyi’s expression darkened.
“Shizhou, it’s Mom.”
Song Shizhou froze.
Madam Song was as imposing as ever, dressed in a fitted short fur coat, her face meticulously made up as usual, not looking a day over fifty.
Well-maintained without a single wrinkle, her expression was grim as she blocked the way imperiously.
“Song Shizhou, what exactly are you trying to do? You’ve been back in the Inner City for so many days, why haven’t you come home?”
“Feng Yu said she visited you. If you’ve seen her, why won’t you come home? Are you defying me?”
Madam Song had spoken quite a few words in one breath.
Song Shizhou smiled self-deprecatingly.
Back when she was properly by her side in the Song household, Madam Song had never had this much to say to her.
Song Lanyi slowly advanced toward her, her movements betraying a hint of discomposure.
“Mom…”
Song Shizhou uttered the word slowly, finding it utterly foreign.
She took a deep breath.
“Madam Song.”
“I already told you last time, I’m severing ties with you.”
“So from now on, please don’t use that word to guilt-trip me.”
Song Lanyi was taken aback.
Song Shizhou spoke of being guilt-tripped, of cutting ties with her.
“What did you say?”
Madam Song was furious.
“Do you even know what you’re saying?”
Her voice was just loud enough for those nearby to hear clearly. Struggling to contain her anger, Madam Song said,
“Let’s go to a nearby café. We shouldn’t talk here.”
Shizhou withdrew her hand, leaving Song Lanyi stunned as she watched her take a step back, creating distance between them.
“No need.”
Madam Song was furious. Disbelieving, she reached out to grab Song Shizhou.
“If you’re angry that I treat Feng Yu better than you, just say so! Why bring up cutting ties? There’s no need for this icy attitude.”
Several bodyguards stepped forward from behind Madam Song.
“Go home!”
Madam Song always acted as if everything was her right. The burly bodyguards surrounded Song Shizhou, drawing unavoidable attention in the hospital.
She roughly seized Shizhou’s hand.
“Come with me.”
Song Shizhou slapped her hand away.
“Don’t touch me!”
Song Lanyi was startled, staring in disbelief at her reddened hand, tears glistening in her eyes.
“What did you say? Do you even know what you’re saying?”
“You’re my daughter, how can I not touch you? I gave birth to you!”
Amid the standoff, a woman approached.
Qingluan said coolly, “This lady, Miss Song has made it very clear, she doesn’t want to go with you.”
“Then tie her up and drag her back! She’s my daughter!”
“So what if she’s your daughter? She’s an adult. What right do you have to force her?”
One of the bodyguards stepped forward, shoving Qingluan aggressively.
“Who the hell are you? Who gave you the right to speak here?”
Qingluan paused, saying nothing. The next second, she kicked the bodyguard square in the stomach. The hulking man staggered, caught off guard, and crashed into the people behind him.
Madam Song Lanyi’s shriek echoed from behind as Qingluan swiftly pulled Song Shizhou away from the scene.
They sprinted all the way, finally reaching the parked car. Exchanging a glance, they burst into laughter simultaneously.
Li Ningzhi rolled down the car window curiously, asking what they were laughing about.
Song Shizhou handed her the medicine, smiling at Qingluan.
“Thank you for earlier, Qingluan.”
Qingluan froze momentarily but didn’t respond.
As the car started moving, Qingluan usually silent and rarely initiating conversation surprisingly spoke up, perhaps because of that rare “thank you.”
“Was that woman just now, your mother?”
She wasn’t one to pry, but maybe the traffic jam loosened her tongue.
Song Shizhou replied calmly,
“She used to be. Not anymore.”
Qingluan nodded.
“Fair enough.”
“That woman seemed pretty fierce.”
Fierce? That was an understatement.
Madam Song Lanyi was not only fierce but also controlling. She wanted Song Shizhou to live every stage of her life exactly as she dictated, never caring about what Shizhou truly wanted or needed.
How many people disguised their own desires as control, then packaged it in the shell of “love,” shamelessly claiming it was for her own good? Song Shizhou was all too familiar with this routine. Having lived two lifetimes over twenty years, she had faced these hysterical lunatics almost every moment.
Yet, when she first returned to the Song family, it hadn’t been like this.
Song Lanyi had said she was her mother, that she would take care of her, protect her…
Perhaps, by now, Song Lanyi had long forgotten those words.
Perhaps due to her strong self-healing ability, Miss Bai’s high fever lasted an entire night before miraculously subsiding by the afternoon.
At first, she could still utter coherent words, but as the fever worsened, she became completely delirious. Lying in bed, she soon tangled the sheets into disarray, her skin flushed pink from the heat as if she were enduring torture. Beads of sweat covered her forehead, and Song Shizhou wiped them away, though she couldn’t help but think how beautiful Miss Bai looked even like this.
Unable to resist, she bit her lightly, then listened silently as Miss Bai babbled incoherently repeating the same messy words over and over. It was all about how she had never been engaged to Zhao Yiqing, how much she adored the paintings Song Shizhou had given her and never threw them away, when she would finally write her a letter, whether their little tree had died (accompanied by sobs), and why Song Shizhou hadn’t taken proper care of it.
Li Ningzhi had initially stayed by her side, concerned, but as the words grew increasingly blush-inducing, she fled with reddened cheeks the moment Mia returned from the Council.
Song Shizhou paid no attention to the other two, thinking Bai Ruowei now resembled Xiao Bao, a little dog that could only bark angrily when upset, werwerwer-ing nonstop, practically a carbon copy. So why had Bai Ruowei sent another version of herself? Was one not chaotic enough?
She pressed a finger to Bai Ruowei’s lips, motionless, and Miss Bai obediently parted her lips, swallowing it gently.
For a little dog, licking its owner’s hand was a reward but Song Shizhou wasn’t inclined to give her too much. She withdrew her hand, trailing it down Bai Ruowei’s waist instead.
A few light pats, then a squeeze at the nape of her neck.
How could a pheromone-deprived gland withstand such pressure? Miss Bai immediately let out a muffled whimper. But Song Shizhou wanted to press anyway, the fragile soft flesh was nothing more than a toy in her hands. With just a few idle pinches, the unconscious woman emitted sweet, helpless sounds.
She could stand to make a few more.
Bai Ruowei woke briefly around dawn, seeming to regain a sliver of awareness as if she wanted to say something. Song Shizhou tucked her in properly and lay down beside her to sleep.
Miss Bai drifted off again.
The next morning, Mia knocked on the door. After three unanswered raps, she pushed it open without waiting.
Bai Ruowei was still asleep in bed, a bowl of water resting on the tea table.
Just as Mia stepped forward, a voice suddenly sounded behind her.
“Good morning.”
Song Shizhou had appeared out of nowhere, holding a tray with medical supplies and tools for changing dressings. Mia startled.
“Good morning, Miss Song.”
Song Shizhou smiled.
“This is Ink Residence, not Snow Couch. Before entering someone else’s room, you should first ask for the owner’s permission.”
Her tone was gentle, as if merely discussing something politely, yet it carried an unspoken authority that made disobedience unthinkable.
Mia straightened her expression.
“My apologies, Miss Song. I was too hasty.”
Song Shizhou replied indifferently,
“Miss Bai developed a high fever last night. I just checked her temperature again, it’s gone down now.”
Mia expressed her gratitude.
“Thank you for your efforts, Miss Song.”
In truth, Miss Bai’s illness shouldn’t have been left to Song Shizhou’s care, nor should it have been handled by Mia and Li Ningzhi. A professional doctor should have examined Miss Bai properly, rather than hastily bandaging her wounds and administering a few antibiotic injections like this.
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