The Female Lead of the Abusive Novel Can Hear My Heart's Voice - Chapter 6

It was three days later when she woke up again. During this time, her adoptive parents had visited countless times, calling in the city’s best private doctor and using the most expensive medication.

Xia Chi had been by her side the entire time, only moving to deal with food, drink, and daily necessities.

The hand with the IV drip was held, her hand constantly stroked lightly by Xia Chi’s fingertips. It was like this when she woke up, and the action had likely been going on for a long time. 🙂

A voice as gentle and warm as a spring breeze sounded in her ear, “You’re awake.”

The atmosphere was a little strange, probably because the hand holding Xia Mu Cai’s hadn’t been released yet.

【I haven’t been asleep for a long time, have I? Has the heroine been guarding me like this the whole time?】 If so, how embarrassing.

Upon hearing her thoughts, Xia Chi wanted to nod, but realizing that doing so would expose her ability to hear her sister’s thoughts, she chose to say nothing.

Xia Mu Cai said weakly, “How long have I been asleep?”

Her face was pale and haggard. Xia Chi took a pillow and placed it behind her back so she could lean against the headboard comfortably.

“Three days.”

“Ah.” Xia Mu Cai was a little surprised. 【Why are my injuries getting more and more serious?】

She immediately used her non-IV hand to hold her forehead. She felt dizzy and on the verge of death.

“The doctor said you have some malnutrition,” Xia Chi seized the opportunity to say with some trepidation.

A rich person who eats meat and fish at every meal being malnourished how picky must this person be?

“Hiss,” hearing this, Xia Mu Cai gasped, as if she had found the reason for her three day coma. It must be her picky taste that ate away the original host’s healthy body until it was malnourished.

However, normally, as she progresses through the missions, her injuries should heal gradually due to the merit she accumulates.

Never mind, what’s the use of thinking about all this? It must be that the plot has just begun, and the merit for healing is negligible, having no noticeable effect. Plus, it’s normal to suffer a backlash after just having done something that violates the plot.

During her moment of distraction, Xia Chi got up and left briefly. When she returned, she was holding a bowl of seafood congee.

Xia Mu Cai smelled the seafood aroma, and her wandering consciousness instantly returned to her body, her mouth filling with saliva.

“Slurp,” she swallowed the excessive saliva in her mouth. “Sister, try the seafood congee I made.”

She was waiting for those very words.

Xia Chi sat on a small stool by the bed, holding a porcelain spoon with her slender, fair hand, scooping up the congee with shrimp and scraping off the excess rice water at the rim of the blue and white porcelain bowl. Every movement was deliberate, so elegant and natural.

But Xia Mu Cai couldn’t wait any longer. Nothing excited her more than being able to eat fresh seafood and fish!

She was a cat, not an omnivorous human.

“Ah, open your mouth.” Xia Mu Cai opened her mouth like a baby, listening to ‘Mama Xia Chi’.

The fresh and delicious seafood congee entered her mouth. The first thing she tasted was the flavor of the shrimp. She closed her eyes in satisfaction, chewing contentedly, reluctantly swallowing it.

When she opened her eyes, the second spoonful was already waiting at her lips, immediately soothing her reluctant mood.

Xia Mu Cai ate happily, finishing a plain bowl of seafood congee as if it were a feast. If a phone were set up and a live stream was running, this would surely attract countless fans and earn a fortune.

The bowl was quickly emptied, and Xia Mu Cai felt like she could eat another one!

With pitiful little eyes, she pleaded, as if saying, “Mama Xia Chi, I can eat more.”

However, since she had just woken up, eating too much would be bad for her stomach. No matter how pitiful she looked, Xia Chi had to steel her heart and ignore it.

“Be a good patient and recover. Tell me if you need anything.”

Xia Mu Cai nodded, her eyes full of grievance as she watched Xia Chi carry the bowl out.

She was left alone in the large room. She smacked her lips, the aroma of seafood still lingering in her mouth, a fragrance remaining between her lips and teeth.

【If I could eat fish and shrimp for every meal from now on, I’d do anything.】 Xia Mu Cai thought to herself. But what human would eat fish and shrimp every day?

“Sigh,” she sighed.

Xia Chi, who had just left the room and hadn’t walked far, heard the ethereal thoughts reverberating in her ears.

This couldn’t help but make her exclaim, “Xia Mu Cai really loves to eat fish and fresh shrimp.”

Soon, Father Xia and Mother Xia learned the news of Xia Mu Cai waking up. They canceled a company meeting and drove back specifically to see their adopted daughter.

For a child who wasn’t their biological daughter, this was a great honor. But Xia Mu Cai didn’t have the original host’s memories or feelings toward her adoptive parents, so she was truly heartless.

She even wanted to complain. 【Uncle and Aunt, look at your biological daughter. Your own daughter is about to become utterly miserable.】

Lying in bed, she repeatedly heard the distressed woman say, “It’s good that you’ve woken up, it’s good that you’ve woken up…”

The woman had worried about her for three days and nights without sleep. Her face was haggard, making her look ten years older in a trance.

Father Xia stood by the bed, silent, yet his internal worry and heartache for his child were palpable.

The lingering emotions of the original host in her body affected her. Xia Mu Cai felt a sudden pang in her chest. She clutched her heart and looked deeply at the couple.

“What’s wrong, Cai Cai?” The rich madam asked worriedly. She was anxious while simultaneously directing Father Xia, who stood by, “Darling, quickly call the doctor to come and see.”

The man also panicked and was about to agree, but Xia Mu Cai stopped him.

“I’m fine, Mom and Dad,” Xia Mu Cai said with a trembling voice.

She just didn’t understand. If they could love the original host so much, why couldn’t they love the heroine the same way?

Was it just because the heroine’s life trajectory was written as miserable, and she wasn’t worthy?

Taking a breath, the sourness in her chest brought on by the original host eased a little, and she spoke.

“Mom and Dad, Xia Chi has been taking care of me for three days and nights without rest. She also needs your concern.”

The adoptive parents turned their heads towards Xia Chi. If Xia Mu Cai hadn’t reminded them, they would have forgotten that they had a biological daughter here.

Xia Chi quickly tried to decline. Subconsciously, she felt that since her sister was sick, she should take good care of her. She had taken care of the younger children the same way when they were sick at the orphanage.

Everyone was used to it, and so was she.

But when her seemingly-sweet mother released Xia Mu Cai’s hand and came up to her, her finely maintained hands showed no sign of being those of a woman in her forties. Those hands held hers, and she was wrapped in the warm palm.

This was something she had never experienced. Even the old headmistress hadn’t held her like the woman in front of her.

“Xiao Chi, you’ve worked hard taking care of your sister. You are the family’s greatest hero. Should Mama buy you a piece of clothing or a handbag as a reward?”

【Heroine, quickly agree! Don’t refuse what’s being offered. This is what you deserve. There’s no such thing as selfless devotion; you’re not some great saint.】

It was Xia Mu Cai’s thoughts that roused her. Her expression was hesitant, unsure whether to accept or not.

Her expression seemed to be clearly visible to Xia Mu Cai, who anxiously urged her in her mind.

【Hurry up and agree! This is what you should get. There’s no need for selfless devotion, you’re not some great saint.】

Her tone changed, and the words of refusal that were about to leave her lips were swallowed. “Thank you, Mama.”

The mother holding her hand was constantly smiling, although how much sincerity was in that smile was unknown.

Following her sister’s lead, indeed, there was no harm in it.

A sense of admiration for Xia Mu Cai couldn’t help but arise in Xia Chi’s heart.

During her recovery, the morning weather was sunny and bright. As Xia Mu Cai came down the spiral staircase from the second floor, she noticed a lavish breakfast spread on the table. It included her favorite fish and shrimp.

Her gaze shifted to Xia Chi, who was meticulously arranging the table nearby. No need to guess  Xia Chi’s contribution was undeniable. She must have taken over the grocery shopping, as there were few vegetables and a lot of meat on the table.

This perfectly suited her, a carnivorous cat’s, palate.

If she had claws, at this moment, she would surely be extending them, her amber eyes turning into vertical pupils with excitement, and then saying menacingly, “I’m going to dig in.”

“Sister, time for breakfast.” Her gaze was noticed by Xia Chi. The latter looked up and met her eyes. Watching her approach with a friendly smile, gently taking her hand and leading her to her seat. “I specially prepared it for you, Sister.”

Xia Mu Cai sat down, her eyes gleaming, and picked up her chopsticks.

The adoptive mother at the head of the table spoke, and the light in Xia Mu Cai’s eyes instantly dimmed. “Cai Cai, you need to put some effort into company matters, after all, the company will be handed over to you in the future.”

Xia Mu Cai retracted the chopsticks she was about to use to pick up food, not knowing where to look, like a poor student being asked about their grades.

She wanted to say, 【Madam, do you think your adopted daughter is the right material for this?】

That’s what she thought, but the words that came out of her mouth were hypocritical.

“I know, I will definitely make the company thrive!”

【As if. Even I don’t believe it.】 Xia Mu Cai mentally complained.

She really didn’t know where her adoptive parents got their confidence. Hearing Xia Mu Cai’s words, they were all smiles and full of faith.

The rich madam said, “Good, good. Let’s eat. Managing a company is tiring, eat more and take care of yourself.”

Xia Mu Cai pouted. A wonderful breakfast was thus interrupted and ruined. She picked up her chopsticks listlessly and began to eat buried in her food.

What she didn’t know was that not only did her adoptive parents believe she had the ability, but even the silent Xia Chi believed her.

“I’m full.” Xia Mu Cai put down her bowl and chopsticks, took a napkin, and wiped her mouth. Xia Chi also stopped eating at the same time. “I’m full too.”

“Mom and Dad, I’m going to the company.” With tacit understanding, Xia Chi also stood up with Xia Mu Cai, bowing respectfully. “I’m going to the Teng family.”

Xia Mu Cai: ???

【No, shouldn’t the heroine say, ‘I’ll go with my sister.’】

She hadn’t misheard. Xia Chi was going to the Teng family, which was an arrangement made by Father Xia and Mother Xia.

Xia Mu Cai was caught off guard by the statement. She hurriedly grabbed Xia Chi’s hand, “Aren’t you coming to the company with me?”

Her gesture was met with a warning from her adoptive mother at the head of the table. “Cai Cai.”

Xia Chi gently peeled her fingers away, one by one, maintaining her smile the whole time.

“Cai Cai, your sister is engaged to Teng Jingsi. She will be a member of the Teng family in the future. Don’t you want to see your sister happy?” Her adoptive mother continued to press.

She wasn’t listening to that; she wanted to hear Xia Chi’s explanation in person.

“What do you think?” Xia Mu Cai’s separated fingers clenched again. She was like a bothersome water plant and a persistent pest.

Having no choice, Mother Xia gave Xia Chi a meaningful look. Xia Chi felt heartbroken, a sour feeling spreading through her throat and nasal cavity. She felt like crying but couldn’t.

She held back her tears, hid her inner grievance, and smiled as she coaxed her clingy sister.

“Mom is right. I’m engaged to Teng Jingsi, and now I need to cultivate our relationship. You can go to the company by yourself, can’t you?”

However, she was bitter inside.

Xia Chi: Let go.

“Do you really think so?”

“Yes,” Xia Chi nodded with a smile.

【Alright, I shouldn’t disrupt the male and female leads falling in love.】 Xia Mu Cai slowly released the hand holding Xia Chi’s wrist, reminding herself. 【You are only here to complete a mission.】