Transmigrated as the Cannon Fodder Spouse of the Disabled Beauty - Chapter 22

When the doctor arrived in a hurry, Xu Luo was feasting on specialty fruits from Green Island under Song Yunran’s service. It was technically post-meal fruit time, though the volume Xu Luo was frantically inhaling was quite different from a normal person’s intake it was far too much.

The doctor had never seen such a high-spirited patient in his life. He gave her an extra look and asked where she felt unwell.

“I have a fever, and my body feels weak,” Xu Luo replied, not letting the explanation delay her eating.

The doctor paused for a moment and said, “Let’s take your temperature first then.”

Xu Luo nodded. “I’m definitely burning at forty degrees ($40^{circ}text{C}$).”

A minute later, the results came back: normal.

Xu Luo: “…”

She raised her hand to touch her own forehead; it didn’t feel hot. Refusing to believe it, she took Song Yunran’s hand and pressed it against her forehead, asking, “Does it feel hot?”

Song Yunran said, “It seems you’ve recovered.”

Xu Luo: “…”

This fever of hers left way too fast!

“…You said your body feels weak?” the doctor asked.

Xu Luo nodded. “I feel like a piece of overcooked noodle.”

The doctor said, “Can you try to stand up for a moment?”

Xu Luo said, “I can’t stand up.”

Despite saying that, she followed the doctor’s instructions and tried to stand. As it turned out, she stood perfectly steady.

Xu Luo: “…”

Ah, so she was all better.

Dazed, she stuffed another piece of fruit into her mouth.

Song Yunran said, “Doctor, can we have a chat aside?”

The doctor pushed up the glasses on the bridge of his nose and followed Song Yunran to the side. Keeping away from Xu Luo, Song Yunran detailed all of Xu Luo’s abnormalities over the past few days. Once finished, she asked, “Doctor, have you seen a case like this before?”

“Is it truly like that?” The doctor shook his head. “I have never seen this in my life.”

He suggested sending Xu Luo to a large hospital for a full-body checkup.

But Song Yunran had already done that; she had even consulted the psychiatric department, and no cause could be found.

Song Yunran’s gaze darkened by two shades. She remained silent for a long time, eventually saying nothing more other than requesting the doctor stay at the villa in case Xu Luo’s fever symptoms recurred.

After talking with the doctor, Song Yunran returned to find Xu Luo had fallen asleep huddled in a chair, still clutching a piece of fruit in her hand.

Excessive sleepiness was also one of the recent symptoms of the girl before her.

Song Yunran took the piece of fruit away, placed it back in the fruit bowl, then raised her hand to rub the sleeping girl’s lips. She inserted a finger into the other’s mouth and, before the girl could bite her, retrieved a small, unswallowed piece of fruit.

Tossing the tiny morsel into the trash, she pulled out a tissue to wipe her fingers while observing the soundly sleeping person.

A strange fragrance emanated from the person before her faint and elusive. The scent was very peculiar; if she had to describe it, it was somewhat like the sea breeze being confined within this person, yet distinct from the sea breeze, carrying a hint of seductive sweetness.

Song Yunran’s eyes flickered. She leaned in close to sniff, trying to discern if it was some kind of perfume.

As she leaned closer, her long hair slid down, falling onto the sleeping girl’s neck. The latter probably felt the itch, as she let out a mumble and cracked her eyes open slightly.

“Did the doctor say I’m beyond medical help?” Xu Luo murmured.

Song Yunran flicked her forehead and said, “Don’t talk nonsense. He said you’re fine.”

Subconsciously, Xu Luo wasn’t worried about her health. Even though her recent symptoms were strange enough to be hauled off for study by an interested medical institution, she just felt like nothing was really wrong with her.

She let out a yawn, her lips curving into a smile, and said, “I also feel like I have the face of someone who will live to be a hundred.”

She perked up a bit and grabbed Song Yunran’s long hair that had fallen on her neck, giving it a gentle tug. “Why are you leaning so close to me?”

Song Yunran took the opportunity to sniff her neck again and said, “There’s a scent.”

Xu Luo: “…Did I go sour?!”

She woke up completely, unable to tolerate the idea of herself turning “sour.” “I’m going to take a shower!”

With that, she hurriedly ran off to bathe.

Song Yunran: “…”

She watched her run off in a whirlwind. Once the other’s silhouette disappeared from view, she slowly raised her own wrist to sniff it, as if she could still smell a trace of that strange fragrance.

On the first night at Green Island, following the doctor’s suggestion, Xu Luo and Song Yunran slept in the same room. Before lying down, Xu Luo was so sleepy her eyelids were fighting each other, but the moment she hit the bed, she became too energized to sleep.

Song Yunran had a habit of reading before bed, and tonight was no different. She held a book, leaning against the headboard to read. Xu Luo wasn’t as quiet; an inexplicable excitement kept her from settling down, and she tossed and turned back and forth on the bed.

Song Yunran remained unaffected, the frequency of her page-turning not changing a bit, until one of Xu Luo’s rolls resulted in her bumping into Song Yunran’s leg.

Regarding her legs, Song Yunran had always been extremely sensitive and loathed anyone touching them but the current Xu Luo was an exception.

Noticing the person who had been happily rolling around had stopped against her leg, Song Yunran put down her book. She lifted the girl’s head to rest it on her lap, stroked her hair, and asked, “Tired of playing?”

Xu Luo didn’t want someone messing with her hair. She pulled the hand down from her head, gripped it in her own, and said lazily, “I wasn’t playing.”

“Then what were you doing?” Song Yunran asked with a smile.

Xu Luo said, “Exercising.” She added, “I have a premonition that I’m going to get fat.”

She looked genuinely gloomy as she said this, which made Song Yunran laugh. Song Yunran said, “Being a bit fatter is good; it’s cute.”

Xu Luo clicked her tongue. “Then why don’t you go become ‘cute’ yourself?”

Song Yunran humored her, saying, “How about this: if Luo Luo really gets fat, I’ll join Luo Luo in getting fat.”

Xu Luo: “!!!”

What a touching statement!

Xu Luo was moved by this bizarre point of sentiment.

She grabbed Song Yunran’s hand with deep affection and said, “Friend, you love me so much!”

Hearing the word “love,” a look of contemplation appeared in Song Yunran’s eyes, making her light-colored pupils seem somewhat deep. She smiled and said, “Yes.”

Satisfied, Xu Luo pushed Song Yunran’s book aside and said excitedly, “Friend, stop reading. Reading is boring. Let’s have a late-night heart-to-heart!”

“Talk about what?”

“Just anything!”

“Alright.”

As it turned out, the person who wanted to talk fell asleep within two minutes.

Song Yunran: “…”

She gave a silent smile and turned off the room lights.

The night passed without incident; Xu Luo did not have a fever.

When she woke up, Song Yunran was already up, drawing her eyebrows at the vanity mirror. Xu Luo lay motionless in bed, letting the sunlight from outside bask over her. She watched Song Yunran apply makeup without blinking. Noticing this, Song Yunran turned around: “Awake?”

Xu Luo mimicked her: “Awake.”

Song Yunran asked, “Not getting up?”

Xu Luo didn’t even move a finger, making her first request of the morning: “Could you please flip me over? I feel like I’m getting scorched on one side.”

Song Yunran chuckled and, ever-obliging, went over to help flip her.

When the sun hit her other side, Xu Luo let out a sigh of comfort.

Song Yunran sat back down at the vanity.

After basking for a while, Xu Luo got up. She came up behind Song Yunran and leaned over the back of her wheelchair. “Why are you putting on makeup today?”

Song Yunran only wore makeup when going to work or attending banquets; she was usually bare-faced at home. Xu Luo didn’t expect her to wear makeup on a trip. “Are you going to the beach to seduce someone?”

Song Yunran picked out a lipstick, twisted off the cap, and looked at Xu Luo through the mirror, asking, “Is Luo Luo worried?”

Xu Luo said, “Luo Luo is not worried.”

Song Yunran asked, “Then is Luo Luo jealous?”

“Luo Luo is not jealous.” Xu Luo took the lipstick from Song Yunran and helped her apply it. Once finished, she admired the made-up Song Yunran in the mirror, her tone casual, “Song Yunran, Luo Luo hopes you are happy.”

It was casual, yet one could somehow sense her sincerity.

Song Yunran turned her head, her gaze lifting slightly to look at Xu Luo. The two stared at each other for two seconds.

The sea breeze drifted through, blowing the window curtains in the room.

Xu Luo only learned the reason for Song Yunran’s makeup when Song Yunran was preparing to head out.

“The Li family is a prominent clan on Green Island. I sent a formal visit request before arriving. They have time now, so I’m going to pay a visit.”  This was the reason.

Xu Luo knew of the Green Island Li family; it was hard not to, as the family had built an “Oriental Palace of Versailles” in the best location on the island, such that its magnificent silhouette could be seen from anywhere.

Xu Luo had a bit of longing and curiosity regarding that estate. Hearing that Song Yunran was going there, she quickly seized the chance to ask, “Can I go with you?”

“Luo Luo wants to go?” Song Yunran asked.

Xu Luo nodded. “I do!”

Song Yunran didn’t agree immediately, her face showing contemplation.

Seeing this, Xu Luo immediately demonstrated her value: “If I go, I can help push your wheelchair. It’s not very convenient for you alone, right!”

Song Yunran looked at her.

Xu Luo blinked her eyes.

“Then I’ll have to thank Luo Luo.” Song Yunran finally relented. She wasn’t actually thinking about Xu Luo’s “utility”; she was simply defeated by the expectation in the other’s eyes.

Xu Luo cheered.

The villa butler arranged a car for them, and they drove to the Li residence.

Green Island looked small, but in reality, it was much larger than it appeared to the eye. The two sat in the car for nearly half an hour before arriving at the Li estate. The Li residence was entirely in the style of a Western garden, with white walls and gold-tiled villas resembling a Western royal palace. The landscaped gardens were much larger than a standard football field.

As they passed through the garden, Xu Luo was in constant awe.

However, despite the massive estate, there weren’t many people living there.

Song Yunran explained that the Green Island Li family was currently headed by the forty-five-year-old Mr. Li. The previous head, Old Mrs. Li, had retired years ago and rarely appeared in public now.

Mr. Li promoted frugality and didn’t employ many people at home. He had even suggested moving out because maintaining such a massive estate was a huge drain on resources, but he hadn’t been able to leave for certain reasons.

Because they had sent a visit request in advance, Xu Luo and Song Yunran were received by the Li family butler upon arrival. They followed the butler through the garden and into the villa.

“Please wait a moment, the two of you. I shall go inform the Head.”

The Li butler settled Xu and Song in the drawing room, served hot tea and snacks, and politely took his leave.

Xu Luo watched the butler leave. The overly empty space made her instinctively move closer to Song Yunran. She whispered, “I think this Li family is weird.”

Song Yunran took a sip of tea and asked with a smile, “What’s weird?”

Xu Luo said, “The garden landscaping outside is so lively, but the inside of the villa is so desolate.”

Xu Luo’s description of the outside as “lively” was accurate. The Li family’s garden used shrubs to prune out shapes of deer, tigers, elephants, and other animals, divided into savanna, ocean, and forest zones. All kinds of animals were gathered there, making it look whimsical and cute.

But in contrast to the joy radiating from the garden, the interior of the Li villa seemed neglected. The once-magnificent decorations were peeling and fading, giving off a scent of decaying silence.

“It’s just because the Li family’s financial situation is not what it used to be,” Song Yunran explained.

“I can tell…” Xu Luo said. “What I find strange is, if they’re out of money, why is the outside landscaping still maintained so well?”

A vanity project?

It didn’t seem like it. If it were just for show, they would have at least renovated the drawing room, otherwise, they’d be exposed the moment they hosted guests.

Xu Luo’s gaze fixed on a painting on the drawing room wall. To the side, Song Yunran put down her teacup and drove her wheelchair toward the center of the room.

“Where are you going?” Xu Luo asked, withdrawing her gaze.

As she spoke, she saw Song Yunran stop, lean over, and reach out to pick up something on the floor.

Xu Luo looked closely and discovered it was a jade pendant very familiar, shaped like a bean sprout.

Xu Luo’s eyes widened. She rushed forward, hugged Song Yunran from behind, locked her arms, and pulled her back toward herself.

Even as steady as Song Yunran was, she hadn’t expected to be treated this way. She was stunned for two seconds.

“Don’t move,” Xu Luo said in her ear.

Song Yunran: “…”

She slowly turned her head, her eyes asking Xu Luo: What are you doing?

Xu Luo didn’t answer. At that moment, a set of footsteps approached from afar. A slender figure walked into the drawing room. The newcomer saw the jade pendant on the floor and leaned down to pick it up.

Seeing this, Xu Luo breathed a sigh of relief.

“Ah, it’s my jade pendant.” Another figure entered the drawing room. The newcomer had a beautiful appearance but a somewhat dull expression.

It was Song Zhenzhen.

The person who picked up the jade pendant was Shao Anze.

Shao Anze and Song Zhenzhen had arrived at the Li residence a step ahead of Xu and Song. The two had stayed in the drawing room for a while and then went to the backyard. Song Zhenzhen’s jade pendant had fallen off when they left the drawing room.

In the original novel, Song Zhenzhen had lost her jade pendant elsewhere, and it was picked up by the male lead, Shao Anze, which kicked off their destiny.

Xu Luo had once mentioned that this jade pendant involved a plot point, and this was it. This jade pendant wasn’t a single item; it had another half. The other half was with Shao Anze.

The Song family ancestors and the Shao family had some history. They had once discussed a marriage alliance, so in the year Shao Anze was born, the Song family ancestor sent one of the pair of jade pendants to the Shao family.

Right now, Shao Anze looked at the jade pendant he had picked up, then at Song Zhenzhen who was walking toward him to reclaim her lost property. His cool expression showed a crack.

His expression was complicated.

On the other side, Xu Luo watched this scene and revealed a smile of relief.

She was still hugging Song Yunran and forgot to let go. Song Yunran stared at her with a scrutinizing look.

“What is Luo Luo doing?” she asked directly.

Hearing this, Xu Luo realized what she had done. She coughed. “I just… suddenly wanted to hug you.”

“Is that so?”

“Of course!”

To prove her words weren’t a lie, Xu Luo tightened the hug and said, “I’m really not used to being here. Once you move away, I feel so insecure. I couldn’t help but hug you!”

Friend, you have no idea what you almost did just now.

You almost touched the plot of the original work!

Xu Luo screamed in her heart.

Since these were Xu Luo’s inner thoughts, Song Yunran naturally couldn’t hear them. She looked at Xu Luo for a good while, eventually withdrawing her scrutiny and saying with a smile, “Is Luo Luo really this timid?”

“Uh…”

Xu Luo begrudgingly accepted this inaccurate evaluation.

Support