At that moment, I felt like my heart had come to a stop. Trembling, I called out Xinran’s name urgently, “Xinran… Are you awake, Xinran!?”
Nearly everyone had turned around at the same time. They also saw Xinran clutching my hand tightly.
……
“Close the blinds now! Her eyes can’t stand too much sunlight since this’ll be the first time she opens her eyes!” Xu Ning shouted. Two employees immediately did as they were told, causing the lighting in the room to dim considerably.
Xinran’s tears were still flowing beneath the lamplight. She said in a small voice, “Big bro… I don’t want you to go, big bro, I…”
I hurriedly knelt beside the bed and wrapped another hand around her small palm. “Don’t worry, Xinran. I will always be here. Are… are you really awake? If you are, why don’t you open your eyes and look at me? Please?”
Xinran continued to shut her eyes as she shook her head fearfully, “I’m scared, big brother… I’m scared I won’t see you if I open my eyes, and I won’t ever be able to return to the world where you exist anymore…”
Still holding her hand tightly with my left hand, I cupped her cheek with my right hand and said, “Can you feel my touch, Xinran? I’m right next to you. You have nothing to worry about, so open your eyes!”
“Big brother…”
Finally, Xinran slowly opened her eyes and revealed a pair of pupils that looked like black diamonds. I could see my own reflection in them. I looked so happy that it was almost uncanny. I blurted, “You can see me right, Xinran? Can you see me?”
For a while, Xinran simply stared at me blankly. Then, she raised an arm and touched my face with a cool finger, asking, “Why are you dressed like this, big brother? Where… where is your Scarlet Dragon Armor? Isn’t it your pride and honor?”
I slapped my shirt once with a silly grin on my face. “In the real world, we all wear Meibang!”
Xinran: “…”
Xu Ning laughed heartily as he wrapped an arm around my shoulders from behind. “Hahaha, well done, Lu Chen! Finally… finally, I have fulfilled my promise to Master Dong Ren! Finally, I’ve lived up to everyone’s expectations, hahahaha! Anyway, nice to meet you, big miss! It’s me, Xu Ning—er, now that I think about it, you don’t know me…”
Xinran watched the dancing Xu Ning and asked me, “Who is this uncle, big brother? Is he a bard? If he is, his dance is not worthy of his profession…”
I nearly turned into stone when I heard that. Everyone was laughing with joy.
……
It wasn’t long before Xinran’s eyes adapted to the lighting, and the blinds could be drawn open once more. However, her body and especially her bones were still a ways from recovery. Although she had received various nutrients to increase her bone density, the lack of stress and weight meant that she still couldn’t walk in her real body. As a result, even the act of raising herself to a sitting position took a considerable amount of energy.
Not to mention that Xinran knew practically nothing about the real world.
“What is that little metal object called, big brother?”
“It’s called a cellphone…”
“What is a Meibang, big brother?”
“It’s the equivalent of a Divine Armament for a loser…”
“Why do I feel like I’ve seen that big sis called Lin Yixin before, big brother?”
“She’s called Wind Fantasy. She’s one of the adventurers of Sky City.”
“What is that food you’re eating, big brother?”
“It’s an apple…”
“I want to eat it…”
“You will in a couple of days. For now, you should drink your porridge…”
……
The idle moment continued until noon when a couple of beautiful nurses pushed a wheelchair into a room. It was so that they could move Xinran around until she could walk on her own. However, when the nurses tried to change Xinran’s clothes, she struggled mightily and curled up into a ball at the bedhead. She said panickedly and fearfully, “Don’t come closer! Don’t touch me. Big brother…”
Xu Ning sighed when he saw her holding my hand in a vice grip. “Big miss, you…”
Xinran said, “I want big brother to stay with me…”
Left with no choice, Xu Ning said to the nurses. “It’s fine, Lu Chen can change Xinran’s clothes for her. By the way, a banquet has already been set up at the main hall, Lu Chen. Come down with Xinran before noon, will you?”
I wasn’t expecting this, but what else could I do but accept? “Got it. I’ll ask Eve and Yiyi to help her.”
“Mn. See you later…”
After the door clicked shut, Xinran said again in my arms, “I want you to help me change, big brother…”
Me: “…”
Both Lin Yixin and He Yi laughed at my awkward expression. They rose to their feet and said, “We’ll punch you if you get a nosebleed, understand?”
……
Left with no choice, I closed the blinds and carefully held up the dress the nurses had picked up for her. I said, “Take off your patient clothes first, Xinran. I’ll put on this pretty dress for you when you’re done.”
Xinran nodded and tried to pull off her clothes, but her arms were weak, and her movements unnatural.
Knowing that I would have to do this myself, I steeled my resolve and helped her to take off her clothes. I tried to minimize skin-to-skin contact for obvious reasons, but there were still some accidental bumps from time to time. All I could say was that no woman in the world could ever have skin as flawless as Xinran’s. She had literally grown up in a vat of nutrients fluid after all.
Taking off her clothes was just the first part. It wasn’t even the difficult part. For a long time, I studied the pink bra I was supposed to help Xinran put on until I finally figured out how to do so. Despite my careful maneuvering, I still caught an accidental glimpse of her amazing 34Cs and nearly suffocated on the spot. By the time I was done putting on a pair of white stockings on Xinran’s legs, I felt like I was on the verge of death.
After Xinran was fully dressed, Lin Yixin looked at her and smiled brightly. “You’re so pretty, Xinran!”
The girl nodded obediently. “Thank you, Sister Lin Yixin…”
He Yi said, “Let’s put you in your wheelchair. It’s time to head to the main hall and have lunch…”
Xinran immediately extended her arms toward me and said with overflowing cuteness, “Carry me, big brother…”
I never imagined that I would gain a younger sister like this, not that I was complaining at all. I carefully put her on the wheelchair before pushing her out of the room. I hid a sigh of relief. Finally, I could declare that my main mission had been completed successfully.
……
A table large enough to fit 18 people was set down in the main hall. Xu Ning was paying, and everyone was smiling from ear to ear. It was because Xinran’s awakening was a boon to everyone present…
I pushed Xinran up to the table and sat down beside her. Lin Yixin and He Yi kept a protective eye over her as well. They probably thought of Xinran as her younger sister, and they wouldn’t be wrong. After all, she was only 17 years old and 155 centimeters tall.
Xu Ning held up a glass and started, “This is a toast to our big miss! She still has no idea who this prattling old man is, but it’s fine. She’ll know me in time…”
I nodded. “Don’t worry, CEO Xu. Xinran will accept this very quickly.”
“Yeah. Thank you again, Lu Chen. None of this would’ve happened without you!”
“You’re welcome!”
Zhang Chun echoed in agreement, “Lu Chen really is a blessing to all of us. He had helped us to conquer Purple Grape City and Hot Sand City, defeat the Northern Alliance and Cyan Earth City multiple times in the Nation Wars, and now he’s even awakened the most priceless girl in China. Raise your glass, Mr. Blessing. You and I are having a drink!”
I rose to my feet and said humbly, “You praise me too much, Uncle Zhang Chun. I’m just a boy who’s doing his best to earn some gold…”
Xu Ning set down his glass and said seriously, “Don’t put yourself down, Lu Chen. I was watching the incident with Tang Long, and I knew of all of the pains you had suffered in the hands of that corrupt politician. Even so, you still created Protective Umbrella and defended the honor of your country. How many people can say that they are as strong and devoted as you are? I may be a businessman, but I respect you nonetheless. You are a hero, Lu Chen!”
Shusheng also raised his glass and toasted to me, “Let’s go, hero!”
After we all drank our wine, Ling Xue asked, “Zhang Chun, you’re the chief of the CGL committee, right? Is the CGL Hall of Fame going to be reordered again? Shusheng is still number one on the ranking, but he’s going to be surpassed soon, isn’t he? Can you tell us anything at all?”
Zhang Chun chuckled. “Normally I would say no, but I am in the presence of the CEO of the Eternal Moon Corporation China branch, its 25% shareholder, the southern branch president, the guild leader of Snowy Cathaya and Ancient Sword Dreaming Souls right now. How can I possibly say no?”
Lin Yixin chuckled. “Stop stalling and tell us already, uncle. Will our Little Cheat be climbing to the number one spot?”
Zhang Chun let out a cough before revealing the answer, “As you are aware, the CGL ranking is determined by a point system that isn’t revealed to the public. Shusheng was ranked at number one with a hidden score of 1.97 million, Lin Fan at number two with 1.91 million, and Lu Chen at number three with 1.88 million. That was the score during the previous ranking. Now though, after everything Lu Chen achieved during the March of Chaos event and his 8-day journey in the Purgatory, I can tell you with absolute certainty that he is now the indisputable number one player of the CGL Hall of Fame…”
I put down my glass and asked, “Do I get a reward for the achievement?”
“I can ask someone to make you a trophy if you want it…”
Me: “…”
Lin Yixin held my hand and smiled sweetly. “Congratulations, Little Cheat. You’re number one the next time the CGL ranking is refreshed…”
I nodded. “I thank my country and my organization for my achievements…”
Zhang Chun guffawed. “The hell you’re talking about? It’s all the result of your own efforts!”
……
Ling Xueshang shot Shusheng a glance and said, “You see now? I told you you should’ve completed your seventh class promotion, but no, you just had to drag it out for whatever reason. Now your precious throne is lost to that boy, Lu Chen. What do you even want me to say?”
Shusheng declared with determination, “Alright, I’ll complete my seventh class promotion when we return to Shanghai tomorrow! Before that though, can you collect a couple lifesteal items for me, Little Xue? Immortal-grade is fine. My current equipment is pretty shit…”
Ling Xue: “…”
……
After we were done eating, a beautiful female employee appeared in the room with a thick stack of documents in her hands. She said respectfully to Xu Ning, “The documents are ready, president. The big miss only needs to jot down her signature to confirm it.”
“Mn.”
Xu Ning accepted the document and went through it once before saying, “Everything seems to be in place.”
He then rose to his feet, walked up to Xinran and said respectfully, “Big miss, this is the will your father, Mr. Dong Ren, established before he passed away. To put it simply, his inheritances are yours to inherit if you were to awake before you were 17. Although the total shares you were supposed to inherit have decreased from 41% to 25%, the total value of assets is also several times bigger than before. All you need is to sign this, and you will become the biggest shareholder of Eternal Moon Corporation!”
Xinran blinked once and asked, “What is this, Uncle Ning?”
Xu Ning fell silent. It was as if he just realized that Xinran didn’t understand what he had said at all.
I explained, “It’s like this. Your father left behind a huge cake for you before he passed away, and you need to sign this thing to accept it…”
However, Xinran shook her head and said, “I don’t want anything. All I want is to be together with big brother…”
This time, no one could say a word.
Suddenly, Xinran added, “Uncle Ning, what’s mine is big brother’s. I want you to give this cake to big brother!”
……
Xu Ning jolted back to reality like he had been struck by lightning. “T-this is too careless, big miss! I know we’re describing it as a cake, but it’s not actually a cake, you know? It’s a sum of wealth so huge that it can dwarf countries! Y-you can’t just give it all away like it’s nothing!”
