Back at his office, Doctor Chu sank into his chair and finally let out a long sigh of relief.
It had truly been a rough day—running back and forth. trying not to offend that terrifying young lady had worn him out completely.
Just as he was lost in thought, the shrill ring of the office phone snapped him back to reality.
He immediately answered.
"Okay, just wait. Hand the phone to the guard. Yes, yes! Let them in—they're the patient's family. Alright, return to your post."
Sigh...
Doctor Chu let out another weary breath.
His luck was truly rotten. Just when he thought he could rest after that mentally draining ordeal, he still had to escort the demoness's family to see her.
What a terrible day, he thought bitterly as he stood from his seat and walked out of the office.
---
Private Ward Room 6
Zhou Xue lay quietly on the hospital bed, enjoying the cool breeze that drifted in from the slightly open window. The atmosphere was peaceful, almost serene.
Ah...
Though she had the leisure to investigate what really happened to Xue Mei—her missing best friend—she felt too lazy to bother.
There's no need to rush. Zhou Mu will deliver herself to me sooner or later. Cross-checking her memories won't be a problem then.
She rolled her eyes lazily.
When are those imbeciles going to show up already?
As if summoned by her thoughts, the door burst open with a loud bang, slamming against the wall.
Zhou Xue frowned, her irritation rising, but before she could speak, a sharp, venomous voice pierced the room.
"You bitch! Zhou Xue! You actually had the audacity to wake up?! Why won't you just die!?"
Oh? The mentally deficient circus has arrived, Zhou Xue mused with a wicked grin.
Perfect. I can finally put my plan into action.
The one who had just yelled was Zhou Peng, head of the Zhou family's side branch.
The tall, slender woman in a blinding red gown adorned with excessive jewelry was Yang Jue—Zhou Xue's adoptive mother and Zhou Mu's biological mother.
And finally, there stood the oh-so-innocent, pale-lipped girl with glossy black hair: Zhou Mu herself. The manipulative green tea demon who had been acting like an angel since she was brought back into the Zhou family.
Even though Zhou Xue hadn't moved or spoken a word, the drama had already begun.
What a family. Their acting skills are perfectly matched.
Yang Jue, quiet until now, suddenly grew furious at Zhou Xue's indifference.
"You wicked brat!" she screamed, eyes wild. "After all I did to raise you, this is how you repay us? You nearly pushed your sister down the stairs! How could you be so cruel?! If I had known you'd turn out this way, I would have strangled you at birth!"
Doctor Chu, standing nearby, froze in shock.
What…?
Aren't they supposed to be family?
Zhou Xue frowned deeply.
Such disgusting words... and her voice—she sounds like a banshee.
Zhou Peng opened his mouth to hurl more abuse at her, but Doctor Chu raised his hand and barked:
"Shut up!"
His face was flushed with anger.
"How can a parent speak to their child that way? You disgrace the very idea of parenthood!"
Zhou Xue looked at Doctor Chu and smiled faintly.
"Doctor Chu," she said calmly, "I thought the hospital policy was to avoid loud noises for the sake of the patient's recovery. But it seems that's no longer being enforced."
Oh no!
Doctor Chu panicked inwardly. These lunatics are going to get me in trouble!
He turned to the stunned family of three and scolded them harshly.
"One more outburst that disturbs the patient, and I will have you all escorted out—family or not!"
Zhou Xue let out a soft chuckle.
"Doctor Chu," she said sweetly, "there's something you seem to have misunderstood."
Everyone turned to her, surprised.
"They broke ties with me a week ago," she continued with a smile. "So... we're not family anymore."
Gasp!
Everyone in the room froze.
"Zhou Xue!" Yang Jue shrieked. "If we hadn't brought you to the hospital, you'd be dead! Is this how you repay our kindness?!"
Zhou Mu, who had been quiet until now, stepped forward. Her expression was full of sadness and injustice.
She had prepared well for this moment—ready to humiliate Zhou Xue thoroughly.
---
30 Minutes Earlier
Elsewhere, in a luxurious apartment across the city, Zhou Mu lounged in silk pajamas, sipping red wine. Her phone buzzed as she scrolled through social media, giggling at comments from classmates.
She hadn't visited the hospital. What was the point?
Zhou Xue was supposed to be in a vegetative state. Her problem had solved itself.
Or so she believed.
A notification dinged.
She tapped lazily... then froze.
An emergency alert.
Her eyes scanned the screen, and her fingers trembled.
The wine glass slipped from her grasp and shattered on the marble floor.
"No… Impossible…"
Zhou Xue was alive.
Her blood ran cold.
She had planned every detail so carefully—ensuring that Zhou Xue would never wake again.
If I had known she'd survive, I'd have finished her off with a truck.
But now it was too late.
Wait… no. There's still a way.
Even if Zhou Xue claimed she had been pushed, no one would believe her.
The mall's surveillance footage had already been wiped clean.
Smirking, she composed herself and sent a quick message.
She alerted the class forum: "Zhou Xue's awake—she needs comfort and support!"
Perfect.
By the time she arrived with her parents, the classmates would be waiting.
Her plan was flawless.
Today, she would put Zhou Xue in her place once and for all.
She laughed maliciously as hateful comments began pouring in from their classmates. Before long, the entire No. 1 High School had caught wind of it.
---
Back to the Present
Outside Zhou Xue's ward, several classmates had already gathered, fuming with self-righteous indignation.
"Sister," Zhou Mu said in a soft voice, eyes shining with unshed tears, "how could you say such things to Mum and Dad? They love you. Look—they rushed you to the hospital and paid all your bills!"
The other students looked touched by Zhou Mu's bravery and kindness.
In their minds, Zhou Xue had become nothing short of a villain.
They were about to storm into the room when Zhou Xue cut in coldly.
"Oh? If you hadn't pushed me down the stairs, would I even be in the hospital? Shouldn't you be the one paying for my treatment?"
Zhou Mu choked, stunned speechless.
"Sister! How could you—how could you accuse me like this?" she sobbed. Tears ran down her cheeks, and she clutched her chest as if she'd been wronged beyond belief.
"Zhou Mu!"
Yang Jue and Zhou Peng rushed to comfort their beloved daughter.
Even the classmates poured in to console her, glaring at Zhou Xue as though she were a monster.
The head teacher, who had arrived with the students, looked at Zhou Xue in disgust.
"Zhou Xue," she said coldly, "you disappoint me. How dare you falsely accuse Zhou Mu? You were the one who tried to push her—karma simply caught up with you."
Lin Shihan, the most admired boy in No. 1 High School, stepped forward.
"Zhou Xue," he said, his voice filled with scorn, "Zhou Mu has been too kind to you. She forgave your cruelty, yet you dare to slander her? We're not blind—we can see your wickedness."
Oh? Really?
Zhou Xue raised a brow.
"Well," she said calmly, "I didn't expect a pack of blind mice to see clearly anyway. Doesn't matter though—I've already reported everything to the police. They'll be arriving soon."
She lay back down on the bed casually.
The room fell into stunned silence.
Lin Shihan was dumbfounded.
Zhou Mu was speechless.
The classmates stared at her in shock.
Only Doctor Chu stood sweating bullets in a corner.
He was doomed.
Who the hell invited all these people!?