Chapter 178 - 4.4

The next case started as Xu Jiaqi was being treated in a rehabilitation facility. Even getting her into the facility was a hard task.

After the series of incidents, she naturally withdrew out of the entertainment circle, which was the subject of people's distress. The loss of a great star that used to soothe millions of hearts with her works, and the disgusting case that befell upon her.

People would often question. What did she do in order to become a victim of that sort of treatment? This kind of unwarranted act, it was too inhumane.

Unfortunately, other than lamenting over her sad fate and cursing the culprit, there was not much that they could do. At most, they wanted to donate some funds to the Xu family's daughter's case so that they could prosper in their hard times, but they refused to take the donations and said that they would like some time off from the media.

It was precisely because Xu Jiaqi was in a fragile state- so fragile to the point that she would break in a single touch. She would crumble down in front of anything that triggered her heart's shadow.

Her parents didn't want to take the risk of hurting Xu Jiaqi, so they purposely wanted to hide from the rest of the world and focus solely on her. They had to endure painstaking efforts and endless coaxing for the girl to finally agree to be brought out for treatment under a strictly controlled environment catering to the girl's scars.

Whenever she waited for her parents to arrive, she would always stare off to a blank wall. Her mind would be fully distracted, and her thoughts would be blank.

That was why, that day, when her consultant came over to deliver the sad news, she couldn't comprehend what they were saying until a few minutes passed.

Then, it took her another few minutes to process the meaning behind their words. Another few to discern the situation, and the fact that she just lost the final hope in her life. Her beloved people.

Finally, she needed another few years to accept that her parents had died and there was no way she could see them caring for her again.

That day was the day her heart completely shattered. The last light she had in her light died out.

She was taken into a new family, who tried their bests to cater for her, but Xu Jiaqi's condition would only keep on deteriorating, not getting better in the slightest.

______

"Qiqi seems to be back asleep. We should go out now, so that we won't bother her and accidently wake her up." The woman spoke.

"Haa... This girl is really bothersome. Xinran, why do you act so kind towards a person like her? You should've just left her be. She's not even your family."

"Ziyi, how can you say such things? You're too cruel! Qiqi is very good." Xinran scolded the man named Ziyi. However, Xu Jiaqi was someone who could detect even the smallest hints of undertones in someone's speech.

She was able to discern the light bits of mockery inside Xinran's tone.

They didn't leave like they said in the beginning. They continued to chat over small matters, and didn't even try to lower their voices. Where was the caring lady that said they might interrupt her sleep? What is this behavior?

Xu Jiaqi listened to the sounds of them bickering meaninglessly.

Right off the bat, she was able to sense that this conversation had some dubious elements in it that made her doubt the sincerity behind each member's participation.

After some back and forth talks, the man

"Xinran, I'm really not joking. I think we should just leave her. You and Aunt Zhao has been looking after her so meticulously, but she is almost an adult, right? You should just push her away when the time comes. You've suffered so much."

"...Ziyi, I know that you don't like Qiqi, but I really can't do anything about this. You know how close my family was to the Xus.. My parents won't agree to that unless Qiqi asks for it herself."

"Then we can just make her say she wants to leave to your family! She's this stupid, she will definitely obey us if we just trick her enough."

"Ziyi, let's not talk about this right now. Please.." Xinran said in a saddened tone.

"O-okay. I'll do that for you. Please don't be sad, Xinran! Come, let's get out of this gloomy room. She will sleep for hours just like usual. If anything happens, then she can just call up a nurse. There's no need for us to be here! Aunt Zhao is just making this difficult for you.."

Their voices slowly dissipated into nothingness as they headed towards the door and left the room, leaving Xu Jiaqi alone.

"..They finally left?" Xu Jiaqi opened her eyes, sighing. Her throat was extremely dry. She reached to the side to drink some water, but found out that her body was extremely weak. Her hand trembled hard even though she was just trying to hold a glass of water.

Xu Jiaqi truly wondered. They didn't have a speck of shame as they discussed the life matters of a person like Xu Jiaqi right in front of the actual target. There was even a discussion about plans to kick her out.

How pitiful was the owner, to be treated with no regards at all?

'System, are you back?' Xu Jiaqi asked.

Ding!

The familiar mechanical sound rang. The System popped out and greeted Xu Jiaqi.

[Yes, Host! Congratulations on successfully transmigrating here~ I just got done processing our entry to this world. How are you feeling, Host? I saw that you have met the two leads of this world. It's quite unlucky, but our existence directly overlaps with the leads..]

'Zhao Xinran and Song Ziyi?'

Those two names were part of Xu Jiaqi's memory, and belonged to the couple that was just in the room a few moments ago.