The Sickly Fake Daughter, But a Beloved Darling of All - Chapter 14

Xu Chengjin clutched desperately at Si Yu’s collar. She was being held tightly in someone’s arms, most of her body shielded from view. The shock had left her ears ringing, her heart pounding so fast she thought more than once that she might actually die.

Would she die?

She forced her head up, straining her eyes to make out who was there. After a long moment, she realized it was Xu Jing and Wu Buran.

Her lips moved, but her throat felt as if it were being crushed under heavy weight. That suffocating, drowning sensation rolled over her in waves, making it hard to breathe.

“You two…”

Wu Buran stopped herself mid-sentence. Her gaze fell on Xu Chengjin and she immediately noticed something was wrong. She quickly stepped aside.
“Hospital. Now!”

Si Yu didn’t need the reminder. She had already noticed the fever radiating from Xu Chengjin’s body. Gritting her teeth, she scooped her up and pushed her way out, leaving no time to care about the other two.

That night—

The weather, which should have been calm, turned violent. Fierce winds howled, rain lashed harder and harder against the car windows. Thunder split the skies wide open with a roar, as though the heavens themselves were mourning the only awakened “cannon fodder” in this world.

Xu Chengjin had been frail since birth, a weak baby from the womb. Even after being raised as a Xu family daughter, under constant care, she was often plagued with fevers and coughs, and her heart was defective. She had undergone surgery at ten—not enough to cut her life short, but enough to leave her body permanently weakened.

For years, the Xu family had guarded her carefully, shielding her from emotional strain and pressure. And yet, just one banquet had landed her in the hospital.

After awakening, she believed this body was designed by the story itself: the cannon fodder had to be sufficiently tragic, sufficiently pitiful.

“Cough, cough—”

Her chest seized as if crushed, and she broke into a violent coughing fit, each hack threatening to tear her organs out. She jolted awake, vision hazy, staring up at a blank expanse of white. Only then did she realize she was in a hospital.

How did I get here?

Her memories of earlier were fuzzy. She moved her hand slightly and turned her head—only to see Si Yu at her bedside, working on her laptop.

“Si…”

At just a single syllable, Si Yu snapped to attention. She shut the computer and rushed over, frowning.
“Are you okay?”

“Mm.”

Xu Chengjin had long grown used to this kind of thing. She forced a faint smile, her hand still hooked up to an IV.
“Why are you still in the same outfit? I wanted to ask at the banquet—why not wear an evening gown? Is this because a power suit is part of the CEO starter pack?”

Si Yu relaxed a little at her teasing, even letting out a soft laugh.
“Because someone locked me in the changing room. I almost got caught, too.”

“My fault, huh.”

Xu Chengjin arched her brows, then coughed lightly.
“How long was I out?”

“One day.”

Si Yu pressed the call button, gently touched Xu Chengjin’s forehead, and finally let out a silent breath when the temperature felt normal.
“The doctor will be here any moment.”

Xu Chengjin was too drained to say much more. Soon, a group of people flooded in, circling her bed. Her sister was among them—and whether by intent or instinct, Xu Jing pushed Si Yu aside.

“You—” Si Yu started, but seeing the doctors at work, she bit back her words.

“No major issues. Just rest.”

The doctor spoke like an NPC delivering lines, then left, leaving the three of them alone.

“Jie…”

“Xu Chengjin!”

The door burst open, and a sweating Wu Buran rushed in.

Great. Now four people.

“Wu Buran, why are you—”

“Xiao Jin!”

Jin Xi hurried in right behind her, worry etched all over her face.
“Are you okay?”

Yeah, I’m fine.

Xu Chengjin gave her a weak smile. Perfect. Now there were five.

Four women encircled her, like they were about to interrogate her.

“She’s fine,” Si Yu finally managed to cut in. She sat back down by Xu Chengjin’s bedside, crossed her legs, and locked eyes with Xu Jing.
“Before, when she was unconscious, I let it go. But now? Let’s talk about the banquet. How could you leave her alone like that? You know better than anyone how fragile she is.”

Xu Jing sneered.
“Since when is our family’s business yours to meddle in? Besides, I left someone to accompany her.”

Everyone’s gaze shifted to Wu Buran. Xu Chengjin wanted to say something but wilted under her sister’s look, shutting her mouth.

Inwardly, she screamed: Don’t fight!

“Yes, I’m at fault—but a person has to use the bathroom sometime, doesn’t she?”

Wu Buran folded her arms, face dark.
“I think it’s that bastard who deserves to die.”

Jin Xi, who had stayed quiet, finally spoke, her voice soft.
“Maybe… it’s better if you stop going to banquets. You got hurt this time.”

She had rushed over the moment she heard from classmates that Xu Chengjin was sick. That night, when she got no message back, she’d thought it was something she said. Now it was clear others had failed to protect her.

“What’s that supposed to mean?” Wu Buran’s lips pressed tight, her voice shaking.
“You can talk about attending high-class banquets when you’re even invited to one.”

“Maybe I don’t have money like you, but at least I’d never leave her side.”

Her words struck hard. Xu Jing clicked her tongue, cutting in before the argument escalated.
“You’re the ‘friend’ my sister mentioned, aren’t you? How long have you known each other, to sound so earnest?”

“Not long,” Jin Xi admitted softly, her gaze never straying from Xu Chengjin.
“But I believe we’ll become very, very good friends.”

“Keep dreaming. Don’t fool yourself into thinking that’s reality.” Wu Buran snapped. She had been restless with guilt ever since Xu Chengjin was hospitalized. Now, Jin Xi’s words felt like a direct hit, souring her mood further.

And in the middle of it all, the person in question couldn’t get a single word in. Xu Chengjin grew anxious—Wu Buran and Jin Xi were destined to be a pair, to fall in love, and Xu Jing was Jin Xi’s sister. Why did it feel like this was turning into a prelude to disaster?

“Stop. My head hurts.”

Xu Chengjin lifted her hand. At once, Si Yu stepped forward to steady her. She was just about to whisper “thank you” when their wristbands brushed together.

The next instant, a loud buzz rang out.

“Ah—”

Xu Chengjin froze, trembling, her mind wiped blank.

It felt like… she was doomed.