The Mad Beauty and the Sick Young Lady [Transmigration Novel] - Chapter 45.1

Su Li thought to herself, The plot god told me; you have to believe it whether you like it or not. But she was genuinely exhausted, so she didn’t explain, only saying “I’m sorry” before hanging up the phone.

Her mood was extremely complicated. Overwhelmed with mixed emotions, she lay down on her bed, only to receive a video call from Jiang Zhuoye.

Su Li felt her social quota for the day was exceeded. Putting on a dismal face, she answered the video call.

On the other end of the phone, Jiang Zhuoye was wearing only a bathrobe, revealing part of her bright, fair chest. Her damp, long hair was draped over her shoulders. Her exquisitely beautiful face was stunning even without makeup.

She asked:

“How are you? Are you alright at home now?”

Su Li nodded:

“I’m really fine.”

Jiang Zhuoye showed a sweet smile:

“So, what was it you wanted to tell me today?”

A pain shot through Su Li’s heart, and she uttered one sentence:

“I think we should break up.”

Jiang Zhuoye’s smile instantly froze. She then leaned her ear closer to the phone:

“Did I mishear that?”

Since the words were out, Su Li had no choice but to continue the charade. But she dared not look into the other woman’s eyes, shifting her gaze to the side and speaking rapidly:

“Actually, us being together was a mistake from the start. I realize I still prefer Alphas, so… let’s just be friends. What you said today really scared me; I can’t bear such heavy responsibility… Can we just pretend that nothing that happened before ever occurred?”

As Su Li spoke, she blinked hard, forcing back the tears that were about to fall, unwilling to let the other woman see them.

These words were like knives stabbing Jiang Zhuoye’s heart, but they were also painful for Su Li.

Su Li felt genuine physical pain; her heart was tightly clenched. In truth, she didn’t believe a word she was saying.

She liked Jiang Zhuoye so, so much, like a flower loves the rain, yet now, she was desperately pushing the other woman away, speaking lies that she couldn’t even convince herself of.

There was a tiny, hidden hope in her heart that Jiang Zhuoye would see through her pretense and insist on staying, insisting on being with her until the very end… But no. It couldn’t happen.

“What are you saying? Am I not your… girlfriend, darling?”

Jiang Zhuoye was completely stunned, her words incoherent. She put on the same puppy-like expression she had at the restaurant, like a little dog who knew it was about to be abandoned, gazing at its owner with the most pitiful eyes.

Su Li turned her face away, refusing to look at her.

Jiang Zhuoye:

“Look at me! If you’re going to leave, you should at least look at me!”

Su Li couldn’t do it. She didn’t dare look, only risking a brief glance. Seeing Jiang Zhuoye’s expression, she felt her heart breaking too.

She hardened her resolve and said:

“There’s no need. Let’s just end this mistake.”

Without giving the other woman a chance to argue, she hung up the phone.

Su Li’s palms were sweating as she tightly gripped her phone, her heart pounding fiercely. Only after confirming the call was disconnected did she allow herself to burst into tears.

All of this was for the good of the person she loved, but why did her heart hurt so much…?

As Su Li cried, she heard Aunt Zhang knock on the door:

“Miss, someone is here to see you. Please come down and see!”

Su Li:

“Who is it? Is it Jiang Zhuoye? I won’t see her!”

Those last three words were bitten out, mixed with a bloody resolve.

She couldn’t see Jiang Zhuoye. If she saw that beautiful face, she would completely crumble, confess everything, and utterly destroy Jiang Zhuoye’s life.

She knew that a lover who leaves might be forgotten, but a lover who dies would surely never be forgotten.

She couldn’t be that deceased lover. She wanted to see Jiang Zhuoye develop her career, find a better lover, perhaps have a child, and build a beautiful family… Jiang Zhuoye had suffered so much before; in this new life, she couldn’t suffer anymore.

Aunt Zhang, however, said:

“No, it’s another lady.”

Aunt Zhang wouldn’t lie to her, so Su Li felt relieved. She put on some clothes, washed her face, and went downstairs.

Zhu Qiyu was sitting in the parlor, which indeed surprised Su Li.

It was very late, and the rest of the house was dark. Only Zhu Qiyu was in the parlor. Aunt Zhang offered to pour tea, but Zhu Qiyu politely declined.

Su Li wore a beige sweater and khaki trousers, looking very casual, but her swollen face revealed that she had just been crying.

Zhu Qiyu’s initially cold mood instantly reignited with hope.

Was Su Li crying because she rejected me? Did she reject me because of that quack doctor’s diagnosis?

That’s right, Zhu Qiyu had already mentally labeled the person who made the ‘incorrect’ diagnosis as a quack.

She stood up, guided Su Li to sit down, assuming a posture for a heart to heart talk, and asked earnestly:

“Su Li, do you genuinely not like me, or are you afraid to start a relationship because of the doctor’s prognosis?”

She asked directly, so Su Li didn’t hide anything and replied plainly:

“A bit of both.”

This statement was quite damaging. Zhu Qiyu clutched her chest and gave an awkward laugh:

“I like your honesty.”

Su Li nodded, absentmindedly staring at the teacup on the table.

Zhu Qiyu observed her expression and asked again:

“Were you crying because you rejected me just now? Your eyes look a little swollen.”

Su Li rubbed her eyes and gave a faint, bleak smile:

“It wasn’t because of you.”

The topic died there, and the atmosphere became extremely awkward. Even Zhu Qiyu, who wasn’t known for her social awareness, was awkwardly rubbing her hands.

Su Li said indifferently:

“If there’s nothing else, I’m going back upstairs.”

Zhu Qiyu quickly reached out to stop her and explained:

“I didn’t come here to make you agree to date me. I know feelings need time to develop. I can accept that you don’t have feelings for me right now and you rejected me.”

Su Li turned back:

“Then why did you come?”

Zhu Qiyu blinked:

“I just came to confirm with you why you said you can only live for one year. Which doctor told you that? Do you have the relevant test results? Can I take a look?”

Su Li:

“Ah… I’m sorry, there are no test results, and it’s not a doctor’s issue…”

She was at a loss for how to explain when she suddenly heard the front door being pushed open.

Following that was Li Zhenzhen’s shocked voice:

“What are you saying? What one year?”

Su Li quickly turned and pressed down on her mother’s arm:

“No, no, Mom, you misheard. It’s nothing like that. I was just talking nonsense…”

Li Zhenzhen, holding a plate of fruit, showed an expression of disapproval:

“How can you talk nonsense about something like this?”

She looked towards Zhu Qiyu sitting on the sofa and smiled:

“Doctor, thank you so much for your help on the cruise ship last time. But you’re visiting so late, is something the matter?”

Zhu Qiyu had already stood up and greeted Li Zhenzhen respectfully, then cautiously said:

“I just came to inquire about your daughter’s condition, whether it has worsened, or if there might be any problems within a year.”

Li Zhenzhen heard the “one year” timeframe repeated and furrowed her brow, looking at Su Li suspiciously:

“What exactly are you up to?”

Su Li was tongue-tied, not knowing what to say. She didn’t want her mother to know she only had a year left, but the situation was becoming extremely tricky.

She could only say:

“Mom, this has nothing to do with you. Please go back to sleep!”

Li Zhenzhen, instead, plumped down on the sofa:

“What is this all about? Now I definitely want to hear it.”

As Su Li struggled with the dilemma, she heard Aunt Zhang’s voice from the entrance:

“Oh, Miss Jiang, why are you coming over so late?”

Su Li: …Is this a convention now?

Jiang Zhuoye probably lived in the same neighborhood, so her return was normal. Su Li instantly regretted casually bringing up the breakup on the phone. Jiang Zhuoye was a bit volatile, and her rebound might be intense.

It was normal for her to come home, but under these circumstances… Su Li absolutely did not want Jiang Zhuoye to show up!

If Jiang Zhuoye said, “Why did you break up with me?” in front of Li Zhenzhen, Li Zhenzhen would probably collapse!

If Zhu Qiyu then added, “She only has a year to live,” Jiang Zhuoye would also collapse!

By then, Su Li would be the only one left to clean up the mess. No, please!

However, Li Zhenzhen’s face lit up when she heard Jiang Zhuoye was here:

“Little Jiang is here! Hurry, come in and sit!”

Li Zhenzhen had always had an inexplicable fondness for Jiang Zhuoye, probably due to her celebrity status.

Su Li tried to intervene:

“It’s so late. Why is Jiang Zhuoye here? We have a guest; let’s not let her come in…”

Li Zhenzhen shot her a happy glance:

“What are you talking about? Jiang Zhuoye is your best friend, which makes her half my daughter! She’s not an outsider; she can come whenever she likes. Sister Zhang, bring her over here to eat some fruit. This is Thai pineapple I just bought yesterday!”

Su Li:

“…”

She tried her best but failed to stop her. Exhausted, she slumped onto the sofa and exchanged a look with Zhu Qiyu.

Zhu Qiyu looked bewildered, not understanding how she, who had only come to follow up on a confession, had stumbled into a family drama. Half a daughter? She had seen clearly last time that Jiang Zhuoye definitely had that kind of intention toward Su Li!

And she’s calling her half a daughter? Su Li’s mother is truly something…

However, Zhu Qiyu was just a guest and couldn’t say anything at this moment, watching helplessly as Jiang Zhuoye walked in.

Even having just gone through a breakup, Jiang Zhuoye was still radiant and charming, though her eyes were a bit swollen, just like Su Li’s.

As soon as Jiang Zhuoye entered, she was warmly welcomed by Li Zhenzhen:

“Come quickly and eat some fruit. Do you celebrities work non-stop day and night? Why are you here so late? Is something the matter? Of course, Auntie means you can come even if nothing is wrong.”

Jiang Zhuoye sat on the sofa next to Li Zhenzhen, her gaze briefly sweeping over Su Li, and she smiled while talking to Li Zhenzhen.

Su Li was restless, yet also a little greedy. Her eyes kept drifting to Jiang Zhuoye, thinking that Jiang Zhuoye looked truly moist and beautiful, like a pearl, tonight.

Probably because she had been crying, Jiang Zhuoye’s eyes were wet, soft, and sparkling. All the stars in the sky combined couldn’t be as captivating as her eyes.

Zhu Qiyu found an opening to interject:

“Auntie, weren’t we discussing Li Li’s illness?”

Li Zhenzhen, having a happy conversation, didn’t forget the original topic and turned to ask:

“Who says our Li Li has a problem? Li Li, where did you hear all this?”

Su Li:

“I didn’t hear it. I just thought so myself… Never mind, Mom, don’t worry about it.”

Li Zhenzhen slapped her own thigh, the socialite instantly turning into a furious mother:

“Who dares to curse my daughter? If I find them, I’ll skin them alive!”

Su Li was puzzled. Why was her mother’s reaction so different from what she had imagined?

If she truly had little time left, how could Li Zhenzhen be so robust and curse others for jinxing her?

“Mom…”

Jiang Zhuoye looked over. Su Li met her gaze and instinctively shrank back.

Jiang Zhuoye probably understood. In just a few words, she had figured out the crux of the problem and why Su Li had suddenly wanted to break up with her.

Su Li was utterly helpless against such a perceptive person. Then she heard Li Zhenzhen continue:

“Dr. Zhu, since you’re here today, I’ll go get Li Li’s last medical report. Please take a careful look.”

Zhu Qiyu naturally nodded.

Li Zhenzhen didn’t take long to return with the items a very thick stack of medical records, which she handed over to Zhu Qiyu:

“Dr. Zhu, please start from the top. These are the most recent ones, and they all have dates.”

Zhu Qiyu looked on with a solemn expression, examining one report after another.

Su Li’s heart was pounding. She carefully observed Zhu Qiyu’s expression but couldn’t deduce anything. When her eyes met Jiang Zhuoye’s half-smiling gaze, she felt utterly distraught.

Su Li felt like an eternity had passed, but checking again, only 10 minutes had gone by. Zhu Qiyu finally spoke:

“I see.”

Su Li:

“What?”

Li Zhenzhen:

“Well?”

Zhu Qiyu showed a complicated, hard-to-describe expression:

“Su Li… why did you lie to me?”

Su Li:

“I didn’t lie!”

Zhu Qiyu spread her hands, finally breaking into a brilliant smile:

“All your physical indicators show that your underlying condition has been steadily improving! Forget about ‘one year’; at your current rate, a complete recovery is in the near future!”

Su Li was struck by lightning. Half-sinking into the sofa, she felt completely undone.

So, all that time she had spent agonizing, the result was… she was going to get better?

All her previous emotional turmoil now seemed like a joke!

She truly didn’t know what expression to make.

Li Zhenzhen was already excitedly high-fiving Zhu Qiyu:

“I knew it! The doctor said our Li Li has been in good spirits lately, the frequency of her episodes has decreased, and all her metrics are improving!”

Su Li remembered something, frowned, and questioned Li Zhenzhen:

“Mom, then that time after my check-up, I saw your eyes were red when you came into my room after talking to the doctor. I thought I was done for!”

Li Zhenzhen burst out laughing:

“I was crying tears of joy!”

Su Li:

“…”

She had truly made a huge blunder.

“So that’s it… That is to say, Su Li’s health is actually quite good?”

Jiang Zhuoye’s voice rang out slowly and methodically, like a gentle knife hanging over Su Li’s head.

Su Li: Is there a hole I can bury myself in? Asking for a friend, urgently!