The Past Can Also Be the Future

Thinking of the original novel, this section of the plot really did only describe the original host's life in the Su family and at school. Huo Jiu's face turned livid. He could probably infer that, before the original plot advanced to the point where it needed to expand the map, he would not be able to leave this instance.

So the question was, why had Huo Jiu returned directly to the point when Su Shiyuan brought up the bone marrow transplant again? Why not return to the locker room, or some other point in time?

—Was it because the original novel only described Su Shiyuan making the bone marrow transplant request to Huo Jiu again? The part afterward, where Huo Jiu demanded money from Su Shiyuan and ran around the city with bodyguards, improvising freely, was not part of the original plot?

Then why had Huo Jiu been able to improvise freely for several days without being forcibly reloaded by the plot?

Huo Jiu thought it over carefully. Perhaps it was because the original novel unfolded from Su Zhuo's perspective. It skimmed over Huo Jiu's experiences after agreeing to the bone marrow transplant, focusing only on Huo Jiu going to the hospital for the transplant surgery, then on Su Zhuo entering the rejection phase after the successful operation, enduring the torment of illness while doing his best to cooperate with rehabilitation treatment.

During that glossed-over stretch of time, Huo Jiu could act freely.

So once Huo Jiu failed to follow the plot's development and the plot reloaded again, it had to land on the previous plot point—the part where Su Shiyuan once again proposed the bone marrow transplant.

In other words, as long as Huo Jiu could figure out the rules behind the plot's repeated reloads, he would still have room to act freely even under the plot's restrictions.

The Past Can Also Be the Future

If someone had an infinite amount of time that could be recycled in loops, what would they do with it?

"...Of course, buy lottery tickets and earn some startup capital." Sitting in front of the computer, Huo Jiu carefully wrote down all the winning lottery numbers and drawing dates from the past week, making sure to cover every type of lottery.

Lu Manzhen entered after knocking, carrying a mug of hot milk. Seeing what Huo Jiu was doing, she could not help frowning as she scolded, "I really don't know what you're thinking."

As long as he pleased the chairman, why would he have to worry about lacking money in the future? Instead of working diligently with his feet on the ground, this boy had actually pinned his hopes of becoming rich and powerful on the slim chance of winning the lottery.

"What lofty ambitions and misplaced priorities." Lu Manzhen shook her head, becoming even more convinced that Huo Jiu had a problem with his mindset.

"Even if you win the lottery jackpot, you can only get fifty million at most. After deducting ten million in taxes, you'll only have around forty million in hand. Instead of spending your time and energy on this, you might as well take care of your health and donate bone marrow to Su Zhuo. The chairman has only one son, Su Zhuo, and spoils him like a precious treasure. If you agree to the transplant, you'll be Su Zhuo's lifesaver. The chairman definitely won't treat you unfairly."

"Thanks, but I don't want to sell myself." Huo Jiu lowered his head and continued memorizing the winning numbers.

After a reload, every trace left behind during the period when the plot had deviated would cease to exist. Huo Jiu had no other choice but to rely on rote memorization, doing his best to remember every clue he needed. Fortunately, he had a good memory. Even these completely irregular numbers could be memorized after a few more repetitions.

Lu Manzhen shook her head helplessly and set down the milk in disappointment. How could her son be this stupid? He had a ready-made benefactor right in front of him, yet he would not take advantage of it. He did not even know how to do someone a small favor. When it came to reading people and handling social relationships, he was nothing like her.

"I advise you not to be so stubborn. You're still young. There are things you simply don't understand. This world isn't something you can make go however you want. I know you feel upset. You think I brought you back just to treat Su Zhuo's illness. You think I'm using you. But being useful in this way is already an incredibly fortunate thing. So many people would love the chance to curry favor with the chairman."

If Su Zhuo's blood type had not been so rare that ordinary people's bone marrow could not match it, Huo Jiu might not have had this opportunity.

Lu Manzhen felt that Huo Jiu did not appreciate his blessings. He could trade one bone marrow transplant for Chairman Su's gratitude and an opportunity to enter a wealthy family. What was there to be dissatisfied about?

He insisted on being melodramatic over such trivial nonsense, obsessing over why she had brought him back. Sure enough, he was still just a child.

"Listen to my advice. I'm your biological mother. Would I harm you? Stop hesitating over the bone marrow transplant and agree to it quickly." To say something Huo Jiu would not like to hear, even if he refused now, he would agree in the end.

As Su Shiyuan's woman, Lu Manzhen understood this man's temperament and methods very well. She knew that Su Shiyuan would do anything for his precious son, Su Zhuo. Now that Su Zhuo's condition had worsened and only Huo Jiu's bone marrow could save him, Su Shiyuan would make Huo Jiu lie on that operating table for Su Zhuo's sake.

Since the outcome would not change, why be so stubborn? It would be better to agree sooner and earn some goodwill in front of Su Shiyuan. Some things could not be dragged out for too long, or even gratitude would change its flavor.

"A bone marrow transplant won't harm your body in any way. Don't be afraid." Lu Manzhen patted the back of Huo Jiu's hand and encouraged him patiently. "Mom will stay by your side the whole time."

Huo Jiu pulled back his hand and dug at his ear. That was one bad thing about reloading. He had heard some lines so many times that his ears were practically growing calluses.

"You really are..." Seeing Huo Jiu's unmoved expression, Lu Manzhen became furious. How had this child grown such a cold, hard heart, impervious to oil and water? He truly would not respond to either soft or hard tactics. She did not know who he took after.

Lu Manzhen left Huo Jiu's room with a livid face. When she returned to the master bedroom, she saw Su Shiyuan leaning against the headboard and reading the newspaper. "How did the discussion between you mother and son go?"

Lu Manzhen's expression shifted, then she smiled. "How about taking Huo Jiu to the hospital to see Xiao Zhuo?"

"Oh?" Su Shiyuan put down the newspaper and looked calmly at Lu Manzhen. "Do you think that would work?"

Lu Manzhen's heart sank. She knew Su Shiyuan was running out of patience. Yet she showed none of it on her face and instead said eagerly, "It'll definitely work. Xiao Zhuo is such a lovable child. He and Huo Jiu are close in age, so they should have plenty in common. I believe that once Huo Jiu sees Xiao Zhuo, he'll definitely like him. Once the two children spend enough time together, Huo Jiu will certainly agree."