I Am a Year Older Than Your Mother!

Xu Shi's luck was good today; everyone he wanted to see was in this hospital.

As the ward door opened, Xia Wuyou was by Xia Ke'an's side, the two chatting and laughing.

Beside her, there was also a plate of freshly cut watermelon.

It was evident that without having to worry about hospitalization fees anymore, her quality of life seemed to have improved significantly—after all, in Night Sin City, fresh produce was a luxury.

The "Rust Fog" had a terrifying impact on the livestock and agricultural industries. It obscured the sun and moon, affecting the growth environment of crops, while the corrosive rain and snow it brought were also deadly... This phenomenon had only appeared for less than a year, and the original agricultural and livestock industries had already withered.

To this day, only the six major conglomerates had the resources to build simulated breeding environments. The barren land, rendered useless by the "Rust Fog," was acquired by them at low prices and repurposed for commercial use.

This watermelon probably cost more than a month's salary for an ordinary worker, and very few people would actually spend the money—at most, they'd buy a slice or two occasionally to satisfy a craving, with their nutritional deficiencies compensated by various affordable supplements.

Even more people couldn't afford the supplements. According to surveys, from District 12 downwards, at least 65% of residents' main food source was protein blocks made from cockroaches.

Those things only served the most basic purpose of keeping people alive.

"...Chairman Xu."

Hearing the movement and seeing the visitor, Xia Wuyou quickly stood up and greeted him respectfully, even proactively bringing him a stool. "Please, have a seat."

"Just stopping by to visit. Team Leader Xia, you don't need to be so nervous."

Xu Shi sat down with a smile, speaking half-jokingly, "It looks like Miss Ke'an is recovering very well... I'm not interrupting, am I?"

The white-haired loli was much more spirited now than when he first met her—her face had a healthy flush, and she no longer gasped for breath after every few words. It was clear she was receiving excellent care.

Compared to the pale porcelain doll she used to be, she looked much more like a real person now.

"Not at all, Chairman Xu. It's all thanks to you."

She was even more enthusiastic than her niece. Smiling, she answered while offering the fruit plate. "This watermelon is very sweet. Would you like a slice?"

"Sure."

Xu Shi didn't stand on ceremony, picking up a slice and putting it in his mouth. "...Mmm, it really is sweet. Where did you buy it?"

"A fruit shop near the company."

Xia Wuyou replied, her words filled with emotion.

She couldn't remember the last time she had eaten fresh fruit, and this was the first month she hadn't immediately sent her salary to the hospital.

When visiting, she passed by the shop. After much hesitation, the girl finally had the confidence to walk in and even bought a whole watermelon quite generously.

"If you like it, I can have someone deliver some every day."

Xu Shi was quite satisfied with her performance. It was clear she had taken Xia Ke'an's advice to heart.

Or perhaps it was because her own circumstances were constantly improving, leading to her growing less resistant towards him... Who knew?

Although he could still detect a hint of resentment in the depths of the girl's eyes, her gradual surrender was undeniable.

"That won't be necessary. How can I trouble Chairman Xu with everything?"

Xia Ke'an clasped her hands together. "You've already helped us so much... Wuyou, could you step out for a moment? I have some words of thanks I'd like to say to Chairman Xu privately."

"Ah... Oh, okay."

Xia Wuyou's reaction was still a bit slow. Snapping back to reality, she quickly agreed.

Actually, she was rather reluctant. How could she let her aunt and Xu Shi be alone together... She felt uneasy about it, no matter what.

But she didn't dare disobey Xia Ke'an's words, so she hesitantly left the room with Su Lin.

With only Xu Shi and the two of them left in the ward, it was much more convenient to talk. "What did Miss Ke'an want to say?"

"I really didn't expect things to turn out this way."

Xia Ke'an leaned back, sitting up straighter. Although she was still smiling, her tone carried a hint of complaint. "Making Wuyou a wanted criminal... was that your plan all along, Chairman Xu?"

Even though Xia Wuyou never told her these things, with her abilities, she could still piece together everything she wanted to know from the veiled fragments.

"What I mean to say is, choices are always present throughout life," Xu Shi replied, not directly answering her question. "When Team Leader Xia made her choice, she should have known what she would have to pay for it."

"...Yes, that's why I won't, and I don't have the ability to stop it."

Xia Ke'an didn't commit to an answer. How could she not understand this logic?

However, as an elder, even though she knew such a thing was inevitable, seeing her niece appear on the news as a wanted criminal still left the white-haired loli feeling a bit uneasy.

So, she still wanted to try. "But if possible, I still hope you can treat her a little better, Chairman Xu... even just a little."

"Compared to what she once intended to do to me, I think I've been quite lenient, haven't I?" Xu Shi became serious. "At least I'm still willing to give her a chance to prove her worth."

"And an S-class wanted criminal whose identity cannot be verified is safer than the 'Xia Wuyou' in plain sight, right?"

"Perhaps."

Xia Ke'an didn't deny it, and she understood the meaning behind Xu Shi's actions.

The more such things happened, the more firmly he could grasp Xia Wuyou.

Coupled with what her niece had recently told her—that her workload had decreased while her salary had increased—it was clear he intended to groom her into his personal asset, like Su Lin, rather than "Team Leader Xia of the 'Serpent Coil' Field Operations Team."

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