263: Chu Ling was shocked when her inner voice was overheard.

Huh? Who's talking???

On the hospital bed, the girl looked up blankly, surveying her surroundings.

Just now, she seemed to have heard a complaint?!

The voice was faint, as if from the sky, yet also seemingly close at hand... But when she listened carefully, the voice suddenly disappeared, and she heard nothing...

"Alas, it seems my condition has worsened; I'm starting to have auditory hallucinations."

"Perhaps this is my fate..."

Chu Ling smiled tragically, having already given up the struggle in her heart, with no intention of seeking treatment.

From the years her parents had beaten and scolded her, even abusing her for fun when they were in a bad mood, her heart had died a little more each day.

Now that she had stomach cancer, it might be a relief if she could just die like this...

"What kind of person is this? Is this how a father acts?!"

"His own daughter is in the prime of her life, and there's a possibility of her getting better. Not only does he not try to raise money for her treatment, but he's also rushing to take her away?"

"Confusing behavior! This is cancer! What if it's delayed further, and the cancer cells metastasize, turning into late-stage? Then it would truly be beyond help?!"

"Child, is that man really your biological father? This is not a joke; you cannot be discharged!"

"Yes, yes, yes! Where's your mother? Call her. Your father isn't thinking clearly, but your mother should at least be reasonable, right?"

"Also, what's this about your father saying 'carrying pigs to pay debts'? You're so seriously ill, and he still wants you to work?"

"You just turned eighteen! At this age, normal girls should still be pampered like princesses by their parents! But your father's attitude just now, why was it like he was treating an enemy?"

"..."

A group of doctors and nurses anxiously questioned her, their words full of concern and sympathy for Chu Ling, and indignation at her father's selfish behavior.

Doctors are benevolent!

Within their capabilities, they genuinely wanted to help this poor girl.

Given her current condition, if they allowed her to be discharged like this, wouldn't it be like watching her life come to an end right before their eyes?!

"Thank you all for your concern. But my parents..."

Facing the unfamiliar kindness that enveloped her, Chu Ling was immensely grateful, yet at the same time felt increasingly wronged, and her eyes reddened unconsciously.

She didn't understand why even these brothers and sisters she had just met could be so kind to her.

But why did her biological parents detest her so much?!

As Chu Ling recounted her story, everyone learned that she had lived a very difficult life since childhood, unloved by her father and mother, waking up earlier than chickens, sleeping later than dogs, eating worse than pigs, and working harder than oxen every day...

Her parents always said, "A woman without talent is virtuous," and never allowed her to attend school for a single day.

Since Chu Ling could remember, she had an endless amount of housework and chores every day...

Because her home was in a remote mountain village, transportation was extremely inconvenient, and the cost of transporting pigs raised by each household to the city for sale was very high.

Five years ago, to earn money, Chu Ling's parents took on the entire village's transportation tasks at a low labor cost.

From then on, as soon as the rooster crowed in the village, before dawn... she had to follow her parents' assigned transportation tasks, carrying a pig to the city to sell, sometimes several times a day.

To save time, she often missed meals, and every day she had to pray that there was leftover food at home.

Long-term hunger and fatigue made Chu Ling's body grow thinner day by day.

A few days ago, she coughed repeatedly, even coughing up blood. Realizing something was wrong, Chu Xiong, amidst the neighbors' accusations, reluctantly brought his daughter to the city hospital for treatment...

"Oh my goodness! This is too pitiful! Such a young child, you, you, you... sigh, your parents are truly beasts!"

"This already counts as child abuse, doesn't it? Savages! I can't bear for my daughter to suffer even a little, but you... how can you have such cruel parents!"

"How heavy is a pig! I, an adult, can't even carry one; how can you, a little girl, carry it? How much hardship must you have endured?"

"Oh, it breaks my heart just listening to it~~ Everything else can be tolerated, but not letting you eat, what kind of operation is that? This is practically treating a person like a machine!"

"What can be done about this? With such wicked parents, what will become of you, child? Your illness... cannot be delayed, if it continues like this... sigh..."

"..."

After hearing Chu Ling's life experiences over the years, everyone present was deeply moved.

They looked at the thin face before them, unable to imagine how she had endured all these years???

As if sensing the sympathetic gazes of the doctors and nurses, Chu Ling forced a smile on her pale cheeks.

"It's okay, thank you for your concern."

"My parents can't possibly spend that much money to treat me, and I've already come to terms with it. Whatever happens, happens!"

"Maybe tomorrow when I wake up, a miracle will happen, and my illness will suddenly be cured?! Brothers and sisters, you don't have to worry about me."

"..."

Chu Ling smiled, her eyes curving like crescent moons.

Facing this carefree smile, the hospital room fell even more silent. Everyone knew that the girl was comforting herself, and had even become disheartened, giving up on herself.

After all, waking up and suddenly being cured of an illness???

Such miracles only happen in movies, and reality... is usually very stark...

To discharge her now would essentially be watching her die right before their eyes!!!

How could this not move everyone's hearts?!

But they were also helpless... It's not like they, a group of wage earners, could pay for Chu Ling's exorbitant medical expenses, could they?!

Just as an atmosphere of sadness filled the hospital room, suddenly—

"If you need it, I can help you."

A gentle voice came from the hospital room door.

Everyone, including Chu Ling herself, was startled, then turned their heads to see a handsome young man walking towards them with a smile.

"Hello, let me introduce myself first. My name is Lin Xuan!"

"You, you... hello, I, I... am Chu Ling."

Who is this person? He's so handsome!

And his demeanor is extraordinary, as if he's a handsome man who walked out of a comic book...

Chu Ling stared blankly at the man in front of her, responding somewhat stutteringly.

At the same time, her heart was full of fantasies.

The appearance of the person before her perfectly matched the Prince Charming of her dreams...

Because her daily life was so depressing, to escape reality and gain temporary mental satisfaction and happiness, Chu Ling often browsed various online novels in her spare time, with romance and Overbearing CEO stories being the most numerous...

Whenever she saw Cinderella being bullied and humiliated, and an Overbearing CEO descending from the heavens to save the damsel in distress...

Chu Ling's heart would fill with longing and anticipation.

Unable to escape the quagmire, she always fantasized that one day... her Prince Charming would also, like in the novel, wear golden armor and ride on colorful auspicious clouds to marry her, and from then on live a happy [redacted] life every day...

Finally, my peerless hero... is finally going to appear now...

On the other side.

As soon as Lin Xuan stood by the hospital bed, a system prompt sounded in his mind.

[Ding! Supporting character Chu Ling has entered the Tie Tie Magnetic Field range! Gained 1 point / 200 seconds.]

[Ding! Supporting character Chu Ling's favorability has increased, gained 1 point / 180 seconds.]

[Ding! Supporting character Chu Ling's favorability has increased, gained 1 point / 150 seconds.]

[Ding! Supporting character Chu Ling's favorability has increased, gained 1 point / 120 seconds.]

...Huh? What's going on???

I just got close, and I haven't done anything yet?

Why is the favorability already increasing so crazily?!

Lin Xuan was incredibly surprised, unconsciously touching his handsome face, and finally realized.

Alright, it turns out I'm just too handsome...

Having understood the whole story, Lin Xuan refocused his gaze on his Cousin on the hospital bed.

"You're Chu Ling, right? When I passed by the hospital room door just now, I heard about your situation. If you need help, I can give you a hand."

"You, you... why do you want to help me? We don't even know each other?"

Chu Ling blinked, asking somewhat nervously.

Although she longed for the plot of "Overbearing CEO falls in love with me."

She also knew how small the probability of such a plot actually happening in reality was...

In stark contrast to her confusion, from the moment Lin Xuan appeared, his identity was recognized by the doctors and nurses present.

Because of Su Shengtian's hospitalization, Lin Xuan had been running to the hospital frequently these past few days, with the dean personally accompanying him.

Over time, he naturally became familiar to the medical staff...

"Xiao Ling, this is Young Master Lin! The Su Corporation, currently making waves in Modu, belongs to him!"

"You don't have to worry about Young Master Lin having any designs on you! Young Master Lin is the most devoted man in Modu; he loves his wife so much, a 100% perfect husband!"

"Yes! Xiao Ling, hurry and thank Young Master Lin! He must feel sorry for you, and out of sympathy, he's willing to extend a helping hand! Your illness is saved now!"

"After all, for Young Master Lin, a few hundred thousand is just pocket change! He's just doing a good deed casually, little sister, you must always remember this kindness!"

"..."

The doctors and nurses all stared at Lin Xuan with admiration, showering him with praise.

Among them, several young female nurses were practically drooling, having already succumbed to Lin Xuan's stunning good looks.

After everyone's explanation, Chu Ling, though still only half-understanding.

She knew that Lin Xuan was a big shot, a being from a completely different social class than her.

But the most crucial thing was... this man was already married and had a wife. Upon learning this, the light in Chu Ling's eyes immediately dimmed.

Sure enough~~~

Fairy tales are all lies; he can't be my prince~~~

...[Why is my tragically fated Cousin looking at me like that?]

[Could it be that she's already been conquered by my looks and has completely fallen in love with me?!]

[Oh no! We're relatives by blood~~~]

[Sigh, my irresistible charm~~~]

[Never mind, I should focus on the main task...]

[I need to find a way to let her know the fact that her current parents actually have nothing to do with her...]

...Huh? Who???

Who's talking???

Am I having auditory hallucinations again?!

Chu Ling was completely dumbfounded. The previous voice reappeared in her ear, and this time she heard it more clearly, as if it were right next to her.

But she didn't see anyone open their mouth to speak, so she looked up blankly, her eyes filled with confusion and shock...

[No way? Could my ill-fated Cousin really have fallen in love with me?]

[German incest plot? No way~~~ I already have a wife! As a perfect modern man, I only desire one heart, to grow old together and never part.]

[I remember Cousin Chu Ling, to escape reality, often secretly read some melodramatic Overbearing CEO romance novels, fantasizing about plots where Overbearing CEOs fall in love with Cinderellas...]

[Originally, Huo Qichen would have forcefully brought Mu Xiaowan to the hospital for a prenatal check-up during this time.]

[He would coincidentally meet Chu Ling, who had been diagnosed with stomach cancer and was disheartened, at the hospital.]

[Seeing that her appearance was exactly like my aunt's when she was young, he immediately took an interest, staging a scene where the Overbearing CEO cornered Cinderella against a wall...]

["Woman, you have successfully caught my attention.", "Woman, I command you! You must get your illness cured!"]

[After a string of Overbearing CEO lines, my already imaginative Cousin immediately fell for him.]

[However, due to various butterfly effects, it seems Huo Qichen won't be coming to the hospital now, so I've replaced him... becoming the Overbearing CEO in my Cousin's eyes?!]

[Tsk tsk tsk... such melodrama, it's really too melodramatic~~~]

...Lin Xuan kept complaining in his mind.

However, he did not give up the idea of recruiting Chu Ling to work for him.

He wanted to use his Cousin to cause trouble for the Huo Family, and also use her to mend his relationship with the Tang Family, thereby further strengthening his own influence.

As the saying goes:

It's easy to add flowers to brocade, but difficult to provide charcoal in the snow.

The other party was currently at their most desperate and confused moment...

Only by extending a helping hand at this time could he move her beyond measure.

Just as Lin Xuan was muttering to himself!

He didn't notice that Chu Ling was constantly stealing glances at him, her beautiful eyes filled with horror!!!