I Am Her Secret Beauty - Chapter 42

What, does the Wu family’s company also need bodyguards?

Mu Xi ignored the remark from behind and stepped into Guan Yan’s hospital room first.

Seeing Wu Quan follow them in, Guan Yan sat up straight and greeted her warmly. Wu Quan exchanged pleasantries with him before taking a seat and immediately striking up a conversation with Nan Zhiya.

Since Guan Yan wasn’t seriously injured, the hospital room had effectively turned into a social gathering. The Nan and Wu families had always been on decent terms, so it was natural for them to chat a little longer now that they’d run into each other.

Nan Zhiya smiled at Wu Quan. “It’s been a while since I last saw you, Xiao Wu.”

“The last time I saw Madam Nan was probably at the company,” Wu Quan replied with a smile. “After that, I’ve been holed up in the lab. I only came to the hospital today to pick up some things.”

So, the white lab coat she was wearing wasn’t from the hospital but from the laboratory.

Mu Xi stood behind Nan Zhiya, avoiding any interaction with Wu Quan, though she could feel the latter’s gaze lingering on her several times.

“The lab? I thought your focus had already shifted to the company.”

Wu Quan smiled faintly, a hint of pride in her expression. “Compared to business, I’d rather achieve more in the lab. Science is the most noble pursuit.”

Nan Zhiya, the entrepreneur who had just been unintentionally slighted, wasn’t the least bit offended. Instead, she nodded approvingly and glanced at Nan Xi, who had remained silent the whole time. “Nan Xi also loves science. If there’s a chance, the two of you should talk.”

Nan Xi looked up and smiled but didn’t say anything, unaware that Nan Zhiya had once considered setting her up with Wu Quan.

“I know Nan Xi is an outstanding researcher,” Wu Quan praised, though her eyes didn’t meet Nan Xi’s. “After returning to the country, she’ll surely achieve even greater things. It’s just a shame our fields don’t overlap much.”

The compliment was purely perfunctory, and everyone in the room could tell Wu Quan had no real interest in Nan Xi. Nan Zhiya didn’t press the matter further.

Mu Xi had heard Nan Zhiya and Guan Yan discuss it before, compared to Nan Xi, who had once been passionately in love five years ago, Wu Quan was a true iron maiden wholly devoted to research. Slightly older than Nan Xi, she had never been linked to any romantic rumors, only a continuous stream of medical breakthroughs.

After exchanging a few more words, Wu Quan stood up to leave.

But just as she took a few steps, she suddenly turned back as if remembering something. “By the way, hasn’t Nan Lian come to the hospital yet?”

Nan Xi and Nan Nan exchanged glances, silently agreeing that Wu Quan had touched on a sore subject.

Nan Zhiya remained composed. “She’s on her way and should be here soon.”

“What a pity. I really must leave now,” Wu Quan said, shaking her head. “Please pass along my regards to her, Madam Nan.”

After Wu Quan left the room, it took a while before Nan Nan scratched his head and spoke up. “She didn’t even glance at me the entire time.”

He muttered in complaint. Rumors said the Wu family’s only daughter was aloof, but he hadn’t expected her to be so indifferent to people.

Still, Nan Nan only dared to grumble quietly before letting it go. After all, her capabilities spoke for themselves, and if he said any more, he’d earn a scolding from Nan Zhiya.

He thought no one would pay attention to his complaint, but Nan Xi snorted coldly upon hearing it. “It’s not that she wasn’t looking at you. Didn’t you notice? Her attention was only on the alphas.”

Nan Nan perked up.

Sure, he might be a bit useless, but his little sister was smart and their mother’s favorite!

“That seems to be the case, but why? Isn’t she an alpha herself…?”

“You don’t know what kind of research the Wu family is conducting now, do you?” Nan Xi said. “This decade, their primary focus has been on helping humans evolve spontaneously, from omega to alpha, from B-grade to S-grade. So, in her eyes, we’re just insignificant lower-class people.”

Mu Xi’s expression shifted slightly, while Nan Nan was so shocked she could have fit an egg in her mouth.

“No way, this… this… can that really be achieved?”

Nan Xi curled her lips mockingly and lowered her head to look at her phone again: “Who knows. But anyone who’d engage in such research can’t be anything good.”

…Mu Xi thought she was absolutely right.

No wonder Wu Quan had almost exclusively spoken with Nan Zhiya earlier, because Nan Zhiya was an alpha, while Mu Xi herself was merely a butler who couldn’t easily join the conversation.

But then, what had Wu Quan meant by that question before entering the ward? Even if it was about so-called human spontaneous evolution, she was already an alpha. Did Wu Quan still find that insufficient?

Nan Nan started bickering with Nan Xi, one insisting Wu Quan’s research was pure fantasy, the other arguing that both Nan Nan and Wu Quan were out of their minds, though purely from a technical standpoint, it might actually be possible.

They argued for a while until Nan Zhiya, who had remained silent until then, finally spoke: “Nan Xi is right. Over the past decade, the Wu family’s R&D investments have primarily gone into this project, and the sums are staggering. They seem to have immense confidence in it, to the point of going all-in.”

“Couldn’t it just be Wu Quan’s personal pursuit? We’ve all seen what scientific fanatics are like,” Nan Nan retorted, shooting a glance at Nan Xi.

“Nan Nan, I regret to remind you that funding within the company requires the support of shareholders and the board. Wu Quan alone doesn’t have the final say.”

Nan Zhiya’s tone was indifferent.

Hearing her speak like that, Nan Nan deflated, silently cursing herself for forgetting such basic facts.

Finally free from the noise, Nan Xi seized the rare moment of quiet to get to the heart of the matter: “So, if they’ve been able to keep investing, does that mean Wu Quan and her team must have achieved something tangible?”

“Most likely. In fact, the industry holds the Wu family’s life sciences research in high regard. Once their technology is unveiled, they’ll secure endless investments,” Nan Zhiya told her. “And clients, of course. Many prominent families dissatisfied with their ranks are ready to pour money into the Wu family’s coffers.”

Nan Xi began to sneer, dismissing the so-called prominent families Nan Zhiya mentioned:

“They’re all lunatics.”

Even though Nan Zhiya had said as much, everyone understood that, given societal order and ethical constraints, such technology wouldn’t easily pass official approval. Otherwise, news of it wouldn’t have remained under wraps for over a decade.

As for whether it would become a secret channel for a privileged few… who cared? Mu Xi certainly couldn’t afford to shell out a fortune just to add an S to her rank.

The cold liquid dripped steadily into Guan Yan’s veins. By the time the bottle was nearly half-empty, Nan Lian finally arrived at the hospital.

The moment Mu Xi saw her expression, she knew things were bad. But the deed was done, there was no turning back now.

Yet Guan Yan was putting on an exceptionally convincing act. The moment Nan Xi received Nan Lian’s call ten minutes ago, he had immediately flopped weakly onto the bed, squinting his eyes and kicking his legs feebly, the picture of frailty. His flawless performance left Nan Xi clicking her tongue in admiration, so much so that she nearly let Nan Lian hear it over the phone.

After hanging up, Nan Xi walked to the bedside and said to Guan Yan, “Dad, are you really going through with this? It’s not too late to back out now.”

Guan Yan didn’t respond, still lying on the bed with his eyes half-closed. It seemed Nan Xi’s words had fallen on deaf ears.

With a sigh, Nan Xi sat down beside Mu Xi, ready to watch the show unfold.

Nan Lian arrived, her face icy as she strode into the ward, completely bypassing Nan Zhiya and heading straight for Guan Yan without any intention of sitting down.

She glanced at the intimidating medical equipment beside Guan Yan’s bed and the IV drip connected to his hand before asking, “How is Dad doing?”

Guan Yan weakly opened his eyes and feebly grasped Nan Lian’s wrist with his unneedled hand. “The doctor said there’s something wrong with my heart.”

“What’s the next step? If you need me, I’ll put my company affairs on hold and come take care of you.”

Guan Yan looked deeply moved, tears welling up in his eyes in an instant. Mu Xi almost believed he was sincere.

“Daughter… now I have no choice but to undergo surgery. You know how afraid of pain I am. I’m terrified.”

Nan Lian tightened her grip on his hand, her expression compassionate.

But Mu Xi couldn’t shake the feeling that her smile was laced with mockery.

“Is there anything weighing on your mind, Dad? I can help settle it for you.”

Guan Yan’s eyes instantly brightened.

He clutched Nan Lian’s hand tightly, his gaze hopeful. “Is there still some misunderstanding between you and your mother? If it could be resolved before I go into surgery, I’d have nothing left to worry about…”

“So that’s what this is about…”

Nan Lian smiled, slowly pushing his hand away under his watchful gaze.

Her tone abruptly turned cold. “Dad, you call a matter of life and death a ‘misunderstanding’?”

“Ah, I-”

The phrase “life and death” sent Guan Yan into a panic. He had no idea which incident Nan Lian was referring to and could only cast a pitiful glance at Nan Zhiya for help.

Nan Zhiya had remained silent since Nan Lian entered.

Mu Xi was debating whether, as the butler, she should step in and say something in this situation. But if she spoke without fully understanding the circumstances, wouldn’t she just end up as awkward as Guan Yan right now? Or should she just speak up regardless?

Just then, warmth suddenly spread over the back of her hand, Nan Xi had gently placed her palm over Mu Xi’s and shook her head silently when their eyes met.

Perhaps it was better to let the family resolve their own affairs.

“Once I finish all my current work, I’ll make time to visit Z City and uncover the truth myself,” Nan Lian declared, her back turned to Nan Zhiya. “Until then, I’d like some time alone to think. Don’t try to trick me into coming home with these kinds of stunts again.”

At least she still considered the Nan family her “home.”

Guan Yan sheepishly withdrew his hand, lying back on the bed in a futile attempt to at least conceal the fact that he wasn’t actually sick, hoping not to pour more fuel on the fire.

But before leaving, Nan Lian made sure to point it out. “If you’re going to fake an illness, at least have the nurse remove the ‘glucose’ label from the IV bottle first.”

Nan Lian left only this one sentence, which filled Guan Yan with shame. He pulled the needle from the back of his hand and sat up on the bed, but by the time he did, Nan Lian was already gone.

He sat there in a daze, wondering how Nan Lian had left so quickly. He had even prepared a whole speech to play the victim.

One second.

Two seconds.

Nan Xi’s uncontrollable laughter suddenly rang out cheerfully in the hospital room, starkly contrasting with her parents’ frozen expressions.

Mu Xi quickly waved a hand in front of her, signaling her to stop, but once Nan Xi started laughing, she couldn’t seem to stop. There was no time left to spare Guan Yan’s dignity.

Everyone could only wait quietly for Nan Xi to finish laughing. After a while, she finally stopped, picked up her bag, and stood up.

“Well, I’m off to work too. Next time, let’s discuss plans like this with everyone first, okay, Dad? Butler Mu, could you please take me to the lab? Goodbye, everyone.”