"Agree to it." An elderly voice came through Uncle Chen's Bluetooth earpiece, rich and deep as an ancient chime bell.
After hearing his master's words, Uncle Chen added one final remark to Luo Beishi, just to be safe. "Madam, please wait a moment. I'll invite a professional instructor over to assess you shortly. If you pass, the important responsibility of caring for the eldest young master will be entrusted to you."
Having gotten the result he wanted, Luo Beishi was so happy he wanted to leap out of bed!
Far away, at the Huo Family's old residence in the southern district of the city.
Old Master Huo lay in a rocking chair, slowly turning a string of golden nanmu beads in his hand.
According to the information he had received, Luo Beishi hadn't known beforehand that he would be a substitute bride for A-Xiao last night. How could he have learned these things in advance?
Besides, Luo Beishi had grown up in a wealthy family, after all. How could he endure such hardships?
The old master's slightly sagging eyelids slowly covered his deep, clouded eyes as he closed them in contemplation.
Half an hour later, a senior nursing professor emerged from Luo Beishi's room in a complete daze.
Seeing this, Uncle Chen assumed the young madam's results had been less than ideal. He stepped forward and asked worriedly, "Professor, did our young madam pass the assessment?"
The female professor gradually came back to her senses. Looking at him, she said excitedly, "Uncle Chen, your young madam not only has a thorough understanding, but can even offer unique insights of his own!
"He's truly wonderful! I can guarantee that none of my students have as solid a grounding in professional knowledge as he does!"
Rather than delighted, Uncle Chen was startled. He had thought he could let the madam through even if he barely passed, never expecting such high praise. His poor heart had quite a fright!
He remembered that the madam's file listed him as an accounting student at a college of finance and economics. How had his amateur nursing knowledge managed to crush that of professional students?
In the first-floor guest room, Luo Beishi was having a conversation with the system inside his head.
"System, my neck really hurts. Could you help get rid of the pain too?" Luo Beishi was already starting to push his luck.
"Host, once you earn money, you can pay to have that done! The skills I just transferred to you cost money too! I forgot to tell you!"
Luo Beishi: "..." He was in debt before he had even earned anything. But the system was still a baby. Could he curse it out?
"That's not my fault! You didn't say there was a fee!"
"Then, then I'll give you fifty percent off. Is fifty percent off okay?"
"How much is it after the discount, then?"
The system: "One million."
"Pfft...!"
Luo Beishi, who had been drinking water, sprayed it all over the floor.
"Then how much can I earn from massages every day? Will it be enough to pay off the skills?"
"Of course it will! I guarantee you can pay it all off in a single day!"
Hearing that, the corners of Luo Beishi's mouth instantly lifted high. Huo Cixiao was no longer his vegetative husband! He was his money tree! He had to take good care of him! Nothing could possibly be allowed to go wrong!
"Host, where are you going?"
The system watched Luo Beishi stand up quickly despite his aching neck, hurriedly put on his slippers, and head straight out.
Uncle Chen was in the living room when he saw the thin, frail Luo Beishi wearing a white neck brace and a set of black pajamas.
His gaze swept across the living room. Fortunately, there were no longer bodyguards watching him at all times. He had been locked up every day for the past week. Back then, unaware of how the plot would unfold, he had behaved exactly like cannon fodder acting out the script, with no control over his own body.
Seeing Luo Beishi reminded Uncle Chen of something. "Madam, would you like to pay a post-wedding visit to your family today?"
At that, Luo Beishi couldn't help taking several steps back, alarm bells instantly blaring in his head. Was the Huo Family trying to send him back? He would die!
"No! Apart from going to school, wherever Huo Cixiao is, that's where I'll be!" Luo Beishi's ringing voice echoed throughout the living room.
That loud declaration left Uncle Chen utterly delighted. He had never imagined the young madam would be so reluctant to leave his young master!
Although he didn't know the reason, it was something to be grateful for all the same.
"Uncle Chen, could you send a glass of orange juice up to the room? I might not come back down after going upstairs today." Looking at the butler's expression, Luo Beishi felt he had misunderstood him just now.
"Of course, Madam. Shall I have lunch and dinner sent up to you as well?"
"Oh, right, Uncle Chen, please send a few bodyguards to the Luo Family to collect my books and identification documents. Have everything else in the room removed and sent to a waste incinerator to be burned."
Luo Beishi knew the Huo Family needed him here for a luck-bringing marriage right now, so they would probably fulfill requests that weren't too difficult.
"Of course. Do you have any other instructions, Madam?" Uncle Chen wore a gentle smile, without the slightest impatience.
Luo Beishi said, "No, thank you."
He hadn't even seen his vegetative husband since last night.
"Host, you're finally going upstairs to see your husband! I can hardly wait!" The system's babyish voice was extremely excited.
Luo Beishi was beginning to wonder whether this system belonged to him or Huo Cixiao.
Still, calling it Huo Cixiao's wasn't wrong either. It was the Villain Face-Slapping Protagonist System, after all.
Luo Beishi stood outside Huo Cixiao's bedroom with his hand on the door handle. Even though he was facing someone in a vegetative state, he felt a little nervous.
Luo Beishi said, "System, as long as I treat Huo Cixiao well, he probably won't kill me like he did in the original plot, right?"
The system said, "Although Huo Cixiao is the villain in the original novel, he hasn't completely blackened yet. He just has a rather violent temperament... Go in and take a look."
After hearing that, Luo Beishi gathered his courage, pressed down the handle, and pushed the door open.
He looked up to see an interior decorated in dark gray tones, understated and elegant.
With the floor-to-ceiling curtains drawn open, the room was spacious, bright, and well ventilated, with a faint scent of bitter orange.
From a distance, Luo Beishi saw that the only festive touch was the red quilt covering Huo Cixiao.
A huge "double happiness" character was printed on it. It really did give him the sense that he was already married...
He slowly approached the bed, but the instant he saw the person lying there, Luo Beishi felt his breathing stop.
Someone this handsome was actually his husband! Wasn't he a hundred times better-looking than the protagonist gong?
Even lying down, Huo Cixiao's face still had no bad angles.
His skin was a sickly white, giving him the air of a frail noble young master. His features were sculpted and handsome, especially his high, finely shaped nose. Even asleep, his thin lips remained tightly pressed together, radiating an unapproachable air. He looked like someone not to be trifled with.
"System, with a husband this handsome, the author actually wrote me as the protagonist gong's simp! That's outrageous!"
"You're right, Host!"
Just as Luo Beishi was admiring the handsome man, a knock came at the door. Knock, knock, knock!
Luo Beishi said, "Come in!"
It was the butler, Uncle Chen, bringing up juice and an assortment of snacks.
"Young Madam, please enjoy."
Luo Beishi gave a slight nod. "Mm, thank you, Uncle Chen."
"You're too kind, Madam. Do you have any other instructions?" Uncle Chen rather hoped the young madam would make more requests.