Chapter 93 –Awake
Grandpa Fu was the first to react. Seeing the tense atmosphere and the uneasy glances exchanged in the hallway, he lightly cleared his throat. With a subtle wave of his hand, he signaled Bai Sung to follow him. The two men quietly stepped into the resting room beside the corridor, closing the door behind them to speak in private.
—
Bai Xia woke to the soft sound of someone sobbing.
She did not immediately sit up or alert anyone that she was awake. Instead, she opened her eyes slowly, allowing them to adjust to the gentle lamplight filling her VIP hospital room. The décor was elegant and old-fashioned—cream-colored wallpaper, polished wooden cabinets, thick curtains drawn halfway to keep the light warm and calm. A single vase with fresh lilies sat on the bedside table, filling the room with a faint sweet scent.
She turned her head toward the source of the sobbing.
Madam Fu was sitting on a small sofa, her face buried in Chu Sun's shoulder. Tears streamed freely down her cheeks.
"What if he doesn't wake up?" Madam Fu cried, her voice trembling. "The doctor said it was a heavy hit… What if he never opens his eyes again?"
Chu Sun held her gently. "Please have faith, Madam Fu. He will wake up. Jian'er is strong."
"But the doctor said it could take months… maybe even years!" Madam Fu's voice cracked. "Why couldn't it have been me? My son—my only son—how can he lie there like that?"
"Don't say that," Chu Sun whispered, patting her back. "If Xia'er heard you, she would be crushed. She already feels guilty."
Both women instinctively turned toward the bed.
Seeing Bai Xia with her eyes closed, they assumed she was still asleep. Wiping away their tears, they quietly stood up and left the room, shutting the door softly behind them.
—
But Bai Xia was not asleep.
Her mind felt like it had been emptied and filled with cold water. Her thoughts were frozen.
Fu Jian isn't going to wake up…
The words echoed endlessly. She lay staring at the ceiling for a long, heavy moment, listening to her heartbeat hammer painfully in her ears.
Then a realization suddenly struck her.
"Yes… I have a system. I have a space. How did I forget that?" she whispered.
She pushed herself up from the bed. Her body was weak, but urgency fueled her movements. She slipped to the door, cracked it open a little, and peeked into the hallway. Seeing that no one was nearby, she quickly closed the door again.
She sat back on the bed, exhaled, and allowed her consciousness to slip into her space.
—
Within her space, the crystal-clear river shimmered under soft, unreal light.
"System," she asked anxiously, "can the water remove a blood clot in the brain?"
"Yes, host, it can also—"
"That's all I need to know," she cut in, already moving toward the river.
The system went silent for a second before speaking again in a slightly offended tone.
"Host, I'd like to say something."
She paused. "What is it?"
"As the name suggests—host and system—means I exist through you. Yesterday, you almost died from a panic attack. Just because you can memorize things easily doesn't mean you should neglect your intelligence upgrades. You focus only on combat skills, not thinking skills. Please consider this when you choose your next upgrade."
Bai Xia froze.
That… was true.
She had been so obsessed with not being weak, not being bullied, not being taken advantage of, that she poured everything into fighting abilities. She hadn't thought about anything else.
For the first time, she felt touched by the system's concern.
"Thank you, system," she whispered. "I'll remember."
"It's good you heard me, because—"
"Enough!" she interrupted quickly. "I have things to do."
She didn't have time for another lecture.
Grabbing a porcelain cup she had brought from the hospital room, she bent down and filled it with the glowing river water. She resisted the urge to heal herself—if she miraculously recovered from a head injury, it would raise suspicion.
With the cup secured, she exited the space and returned to her hospital room.
Once again, she peeked into the hall. Empty.
Without wasting a breath, she slipped out silently and headed straight for Fu Jian's room.
—
Meanwhile, inside the resting room…
"What?" Bai Sung's voice trembled slightly. "Grandpa Fu… are you serious?"
Grandpa Fu nodded with calm firmness. "Our Jian likes Xia Xia very much. And from what I've seen, that girl cares for him deeply as well. You witnessed their reaction today. Their affection carries weight. So please, consider it seriously."
Bai Sung pinched the bridge of his nose.
Of course he knew his daughter liked the boy—anyone who saw the way she looked at him would know. And Fu Jian had risked his life to save her… but was that enough reason to discuss marriage? Young feelings were fickle. Feelings blossomed quickly, and with equal speed faded.
"I'm not sure whether Xia'er wants that," he admitted honestly. "She's still young…"
"Then talk to her first," Grandpa Fu suggested. "My Jian has already told me—and his mother—that he hopes to marry her in the future. There is no rush. But…" He sighed deeply. "With the doctor's tone… I don't think he will wake up soon."
A pang of guilt struck Bai Sung's chest.
Fu Jian had taken the hit meant for his daughter. If Bai Xia had been the one hit… she would have died. That was what he believed, unaware that Bai Xia's system would have intervened.
He hesitated before asking, "Grandpa Fu… what does Jian do for a living?"
He didn't care about wealth—he only wanted to know if the boy could take care of Xia'er.
Grandpa Fu smiled faintly. "Jian does many things. I can't even count all our assets and industries anymore. Don't worry—my grandson will never let your daughter suffer."
Bai Sung stiffened.
Many things? Assets? Industries?
He had noticed the old man didn't carry the aura of an ordinary person, but—
Suddenly, everything clicked.
Fu Jian.
Grandpa Fu.
The Fu family… from the capital?
His eyes widened. "Grandpa Fu… which Fu is your family?"
"The one you're thinking about," the old man said casually.
Bai Sung's mind nearly exploded.
He had done business with Fu Jian of the Fu family before… he just never connected that powerful, influential name with the quiet young man his daughter liked. The Fu family in the capital was the third richest family in the entire region. And if Fu Jian ever brought his personal ventures into the family's name, they would easily take the number-one spot.
Had Fu Jian given him those contracts because of Bai Xia?
If so… then he had nothing to worry about regarding her future.
But still… how did his fragile, quiet daughter manage to win the heart of someone like that?
"I'll speak to my daughter later," Bai Sung finally said. "But I'm not making promises."
"I understand," Grandpa Fu replied. "I will wait for your good news. But any decision should wait until Jian wakes."
"Of course," Bai Sung agreed.
"By the way, what about—"
Grandpa Fu didn't finish his sentence.
The door burst open.
Bai Xuan stood there, breathless. "Dad—Fu Jian is awake!"
Grandpa Fu and Bai Sung both shot to their feet instantly.
"What?!" Bai Sung blurted.
"…"
Grandpa Fu couldn't even speak—his eyes were already filled with stunned emotion.