Join a Dating Reality Show with the Aloof, Fishing-Style Richest Man - Chapter 44.1

Even at night, the hospital remained noisy. Despite the bustle, Lu Zhao could clearly hear Xiao Xia’s whispering.

“What nonsense are you talking about?” Lu Zhao’s brow furrowed slightly, her tone unusually stern toward Xiao Xia.

Xiao Xia’s eyes widened, wanting to argue that they really did look alike, but seeing Lu Zhao’s expression, she obediently shut her mouth. Why did Lu Zhao look so terrifying right now?

Sister Li pulled at Xiao Xia, signaling her to say less. Especially given the current circumstances, bringing up irrelevant things was inappropriate.

Lu Zhao didn’t look at Xiao Xia again. She watched Ji Zhaoxi running back and forth for her mother, and a strange feeling grew in her heart.

After Ji Zhaoxi had arranged everything, she didn’t stay long. The next step was for Dr. Will and his team to conduct examinations and discuss a treatment plan. Given the critical state of Lu Zhao’s mother, it was unlikely they would reach a conclusion immediately.

Furthermore, Lu Zhao needed to think carefully about whether to proceed with the surgery.

Without the surgery, her mother would remain in a coma, and there was no telling if she would survive the next emergency resuscitation. However, if they proceeded, Lu Zhao had to be mentally prepared for the surgical risks.

Lu Zhao watched as Ji Zhaoxi arrived like a whirlwind to handle everything and then left just as swiftly, impossible to grasp.

Due to her mother’s condition, all of Lu Zhao’s work had been pushed back. Fans began to speculate about her status, and photos of her entering the hospital were uploaded online, sparking a wave of public discourse.

Lu Zhao had no mental energy to follow the internet drama; she only learned a bit about it from Xu Miaomiao during a concerned phone call.

“Don’t worry about the internet; the company will protect you,” Sister Li comforted her. At a time like this, they couldn’t expect her to deal with online matters. Those trying to stir up trouble would likely receive warnings soon.

With Sister Li’s assurance, Lu Zhao ignored the noise and stayed at the hospital, silently praying for her mother.

Finally, Dr. Will reached a conclusion: if they performed the surgery, the failure rate would be as high as 70%. If they didn’t, the condition could be maintained as it was, provided it didn’t worsen.

However, the chances of her waking up were slim, and the risk of the tumor deteriorating was high.

The doctors gave Lu Zhao three days to consider. During this time, they could stabilize her mother’s body to meet the standards required for surgery.

Lu Zhao was stunned by the doctor’s words. There was a chance for a cure, but the probability of success was too low.

Lu Zhao looked up at her lifeless mother in the ward. Compared to letting her lie there indefinitely, her mother would likely prefer to take the gamble. If they won, everyone would be happy; if they lost, she would be set free.

“No need to consider further. I agree to the surgery,” Lu Zhao said, her voice dry.

If she hadn’t experienced yesterday’s emergency rescue, she might have hesitated. But after waiting hours outside without knowing the outcome, she realized one thing deeply.

If things continued like this, her mother could leave her at any moment.

And it wasn’t just her own pain in waiting—wasn’t her mother suffering too? Perhaps even more so.

The doctors didn’t have much of a reaction to her decision and immediately began making arrangements to prep the patient’s body for surgery.

After everyone left, Lu Zhao slid down the wall and leaned against it, her eyes hollow.

Sometimes she couldn’t understand why heaven treated her this way. Was it because she was too happy before the age of six, so she had to endure hardship to balance it out?

Or had she used up a lifetime’s worth of luck in those first six years? Why else was her subsequent life so bitter?

So bitter it was hard to swallow.

Lu Zhao looked down to check her various bank account balances. Although she had earned a lot after becoming famous, it felt like a drop in the bucket compared to her mother’s situation.

Dr. Will’s treatment would be an enormous expense. Combined with post-operative care costs, the total would be substantial, and the money in her account was clearly not enough.

Lu Zhao stared at her phone screen, hesitating between the chat boxes of Ji Zhaoxi and Xu Miaomiao. Among the people she knew, only these two had the ability to lend her money; others were either strangers or lacked the funds.

After a long hesitation, she finally sent a message to Xu Miaomiao.

True, she already owed Ji Zhaoxi enough and wouldn’t mind owing a bit more, but for some reason, she didn’t want to increase that debt. Every bit more she owed felt like another weight on her heart.

By comparison, owing Xu Miaomiao felt easier than owing Ji Zhaoxi.

She didn’t know why she felt this way, given that it was a debt either way.

Xu Miaomiao replied quickly and agreed decisively, telling Lu Zhao to just say how much she needed.

Xu Miaomiao: “Don’t worry, sis! I’m great at making money! As long as you aren’t asking for a ‘small goal’ [100 million] right off the bat, I can handle it!”

Xu Miaomiao: “For you, I’m willing to work 365 days a year! I’ll give you the experience of being a ‘kept woman’!”

Xu Miaomiao: [Drooling emoji] [Heart emoji]

Lu Zhao couldn’t help but chuckle at the reply. She knew Xu Miaomiao was trying to cheer her up and didn’t want to reject her kindness.

Lu Zhao: “I don’t mind, but I’m afraid you won’t be able to stand the loneliness and will run back to your sister.”

Xu Miaomiao: “Oh stop it! Don’t say it out loud! I’m still a shy maiden~”

Xu Miaomiao: “But does that mean I can have one on each arm then?”

Easily amused by her, Lu Zhao’s mood improved significantly. After chatting a bit more, she put her phone away, feeling a renewed sense of hope for the future.

The surgery would definitely be a success; her mother would get better!

Her mother loved her so much; how could she bear to leave her alone?

She needed to adjust her state of mind so that when her mother woke up, she could see that her daughter had taken good care of herself all these years.

She was grown up now—grown enough to take care of her mother.

The surgery was scheduled for half a month later. During this time, doctors monitored her mother’s vital signs, and Lu Zhao stayed at the hospital constantly, except for a few unavoidable work commitments.

During this period, Ji Zhaoxi rarely visited. When she did, she just checked on Lu Zhao and her mother, then coordinated with the hospital to ensure Lu Zhao had the best support possible.

Lu Zhao saw all of this and kept it in her heart, but it created an unshakeable pressure that made it hard to breathe.

The gap between them was too large—so large that she often felt like a parasitic vine clinging to her.

On the day of the surgery, Ji Zhaoxi appeared at the hospital.

Ji Zhaoxi didn’t say much throughout the process; she just stayed by Lu Zhao’s side, quietly watching as her mother was wheeled into the operating room.

They waited outside. In all these years, today was the only day that offered real hope.

Not long after they began waiting, Secretary Xu suddenly arrived carrying an aviation crate. Inside was Tangyuan, whom Lu Zhao hadn’t seen in a long time.

Lu Zhao’s eyes flickered when she saw Tangyuan.

Secretary Xu opened the crate, and Tangyuan scurried over to Lu Zhao, rubbing against her legs and meowing coquettishly.

Lu Zhao’s expression softened. She leaned down to scoop Tangyuan into her arms, stroking the soft fur and burying her face in it.

“Tangyuan, did you miss your auntie?” Lu Zhao asked softly, pleasantly surprised the cat still remembered her.

Tangyuan nuzzled her face, acting very clingy and affectionate.

After playing with Tangyuan for a while, Lu Zhao’s tense nerves relaxed slightly. She turned to Ji Zhaoxi and whispered a “thank you.”

Tangyuan’s presence was likely because Ji Zhaoxi was worried she was too nervous and brought the cat to accompany her.

Ji Zhaoxi reached out and rubbed Tangyuan’s head; she hadn’t seen the cat in a while either.

The two waited outside. From 8:00 AM until 10:00 PM, Lu Zhao waited without eating or drinking. It was grueling for them, and even more physically exhausting for the medical staff inside who were under high tension.

Finally, the light above the operating room went out, and Dr. Will walked out looking exhausted.

“The surgery was successful. Remember to let her rest and recover well.”

Lu Zhao held Tangyuan and stared blankly at the doctor, as if she hadn’t processed the words, her whole body frozen.

Seeing this, Ji Zhaoxi took it upon herself to coordinate the next steps.

Even though the surgery was successful, Lu Zhao’s mother was moved to the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) to strictly monitor her vitals and prevent complications.

Later, Lu Zhao seemed to snap out of it. She handed Tangyuan to Secretary Xu and busied herself running up and down the halls. Once everything was handled, she looked at her mother in the hospital bed and wept for joy.

She knew it! She knew her mother wouldn’t leave her alone!

With the surgery a success, the initial joy was followed by profound exhaustion. She hadn’t rested well in days. Now that the weight was lifted, Lu Zhao nearly collapsed.

“Go get some rest. Sister Li and the others are here,” Ji Zhaoxi said, looking at Lu Zhao. She had originally wanted to say “I am here,” but changed it to “Sister Li” at the last second.

Lu Zhao looked up and saw the dark circles under Ji Zhaoxi’s eyes. Clearly, she hadn’t rested well either.

“You should go back and rest too. Even makeup can’t hide those dark circles,” Lu Zhao said softly.

“Shall we go back together?” Ji Zhaoxi asked.

Lu Zhao glanced at her mother in the ward.

“There are people watching here. They’ll call us immediately if anything happens,” Ji Zhaoxi said, knowing her concerns.

Ultimately, Lu Zhao left the hospital with Ji Zhaoxi. Holding Tangyuan, she sat in the passenger seat as Ji Zhaoxi drove them to a large villa.

The villa was huge, with plenty of room for Tangyuan to run around.

“The room at the far end of the right side on the second floor is where I sleep. You can pick any other room you like.”

Lu Zhao nodded and didn’t hesitate; she chose a room on the first floor. It was fully furnished with clean bedding.

“Someone will bring a change of clothes later. You can shower and get a good night’s sleep,” Ji Zhaoxi said.

“Okay,” Lu Zhao nodded, feeling momentarily dazed.

She had shared a bed with Ji Zhaoxi for quite some time, and now that they were in the same house but sleeping apart, it felt strangely unfamiliar.

At the hospital, she hadn’t had the luxury to think about it, but now that it was just the two of them, that sense of awkwardness surfaced.

Ever since what she said to Ji Zhaoxi on the dating show, the distance between them had grown.

They were polite and formal, as if they were just ordinary friends.

Not long after, Ji Zhaoxi’s assistant arrived with the clothes. Lu Zhao took them and went into her room to bathe, leaving Ji Zhaoxi alone in the living room holding Tangyuan and dazing out.

She sighed, unwilling to think further. Given Lu Zhao’s current state, she likely didn’t have the heart to consider anything else.

Tangyuan looked up and meowed at her, seemingly complaining about how long they had been gone.

Ji Zhaoxi curled her lips and glanced at Lu Zhao’s closed door. Then, almost like a thief, she mimicked Lu Zhao’s habit and gave Tangyuan a quick kiss on the head.

Tangyuan was stunned for a moment, then leaned its head against Ji Zhaoxi’s neck, becoming even more affectionate.

By the time Lu Zhao finished her shower, it was 1:00 AM.

Ji Zhaoxi looked over. “Want Tangyuan to sleep with you tonight?”

Lu Zhao looked at the cat in her arms and nodded. “Okay.”

Ji Zhaoxi put Tangyuan on the floor, and the cat immediately ran to Lu Zhao’s legs, asking to be picked up.

Lu Zhao discovered that Tangyuan was incredibly clingy, not at all like a cold, aloof cat—more like a spoiled princess.

Seeing that Lu Zhao looked okay, Ji Zhaoxi felt relieved and went upstairs to her room, leaving them to catch up.

Lu Zhao carried Tangyuan to her room and placed it on the bed. She was exhausted and had no energy to play, so she lay down and fell asleep almost instantly.

She slept very deeply. When she woke up, it was broad daylight. She stretched, instinctively turning to see if the person beside her was awake, only to find the spot empty.

Lu Zhao froze, then realized with a start that Ji Zhaoxi was no longer sleeping with her.

Not only was Ji Zhaoxi not there, but Tangyuan was missing too. The bedroom door was half-open, and she was completely baffled.

She scanned the room and couldn’t see the cat. The answer was obvious: Tangyuan had opened the door and run out…

When did Tangyuan learn that skill?

Lu Zhao felt numb as she got up to wash her face. When she opened the door and walked out, she saw Ji Zhaoxi lying on the sofa reading a book, with Tangyuan curled up in her arms, its tail flicking lazily.

Seeing Lu Zhao, Tangyuan jumped down from Ji Zhaoxi’s lap and ran over to be held.

“Did you sleep well?” Ji Zhaoxi looked over.

Lu Zhao nodded, then looked down at Tangyuan in her arms, frowning. “It can open doors now.”

What if it opened the front door and ran out?

Ji Zhaoxi glanced at Tangyuan’s innocent face. “I’ll have someone install child-proof locks for the pets later.”

Lu Zhao nodded and felt Tangyuan’s little belly; it was clearly full.

“There’s breakfast on the table. See if there’s anything else you’d like to eat,” Ji Zhaoxi said.

Lu Zhao looked over at several breakfast items already laid out. “No need, this is plenty.”

Ji Zhaoxi didn’t speak further, quietly returning to her book.

“Have you eaten?” Lu Zhao asked while eating.

“I have.”

Lu Zhao nodded and didn’t say more. After breakfast, she went back to her room to change. When she came out to go to the hospital, she saw Ji Zhaoxi standing up with a set of car keys in her hand.

“I’ll drive you,” Ji Zhaoxi said.

Lu Zhao paused. “There’s no need. If you’re busy, you should do your work. I can just call a taxi.”

“I happen to have business at the hospital too. I have a follow-up exam scheduled,” Ji Zhaoxi said flatly.

“A follow-up? Are you feeling unwell?” Lu Zhao rushed to Ji Zhaoxi’s side, reaching out to check on her.

Lu Zhao’s face grew tight with tension. Since she wasn’t a doctor, she obviously couldn’t tell what was wrong with Ji Zhaoxi. She couldn’t help but urge, “Just tell me! Is it serious?”

Looking at her anxious and worried expression, the corners of Ji Zhaoxi’s lips twitched in a subtle, hidden arc. Then, with a calm face, she said, “It’s nothing major. Just a bit of a fast heartbeat.”

“A fast heartbeat?” Lu Zhao frowned. “Did the doctor give a general reason why?”

“Probably… because I haven’t rested well.”

Lu Zhao’s frown deepened. She thought to herself that she must supervise Ji Zhaoxi’s rest more strictly in the future. Combined with such a busy schedule, she was truly afraid Ji Zhaoxi might collapse from exhaustion or suffer sudden cardiac death one day.

Ji Zhaoxi didn’t know what was going through Lu Zhao’s mind; if she did, she would likely be gnashing her teeth in frustration.

Ultimately, Ji Zhaoxi drove Lu Zhao to the hospital. Lu Zhao first checked on her mother in the ward. Seeing her still lying there in a coma, she pulled Ji Zhaoxi along to her follow-up appointment, insisting on staying by her side.

Ji Zhaoxi frowned. “I can handle this alone. You should stay and accompany your mother.”

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