With the deaths of the Ruan family and Hortes, the artificial reality supported by the “world consciousness” of this story began to crumble.
Since Lin Zhiyu and Xie Youzhou had already altered much of the original plot, the world consciousness had been on the verge of collapse. Now, with several major characters dead, including the male protagonist, the world consciousness could no longer sustain a complete plot or maintain the primary heroine’s “halo” and the behavioral logic that governed many characters within it.
Marceau and Wright were momentarily stunned. They exchanged blank, slightly awkward looks as if a part of their passionate devotion had suddenly lost its intensity.
“Master, shall we go recover Miss Ruan Jiaojiao immediately? I’ll send everyone down right away!” Marceau’s subordinate, unaware of the change in his master’s mood, spoke anxiously, assuming that Marceau’s silence was due to overwhelming heartbreak.
Marceau’s expression remained stiff, his mind reeling with the events of the past year, tangled and confusing. He was still accustomed to Ruan Jiaojiao’s presence and, more importantly, wanted to understand what had caused him to be nearly bewitched, madly obsessed with her for almost a year.
Finally, he spoke, “Yes… let’s go down and look for Jiaojiao.”
As soon as Marceau gave the order, his team sprang into action, while Wright narrowed his eyes thoughtfully. Wright’s own emotions were no less bewildered than Marceau’s, though he’d already begun pondering a different issue.
Who had shot Hortes?
He and Marceau had given clear orders to ensure Ruan Jiaojiao’s safety and avoid shooting Hortes at all costs. So who had disobeyed?
Wright was unaware that Old Wright’s men had secretly infiltrated their team, and that all their actions had been monitored and reported to Old Wright by the hacker FL.
Though Old Marceau had somewhat tolerated Ruan Jiaojiao’s influence on his son, Ruan Jiaojiao’s halo had drawn him to her to some degree. He was not strongly opposed to her joining the Marceau family. But Old Wright felt differently. Perhaps because he had never been a central character in the original plot and had no close ties to Ruan Jiaojiao, Old Wright held no “bond” toward her.
Not only did Old Wright lack any goodwill toward Ruan Jiaojiao, but he also wanted her quickly out of the way. Further, Old Wright wanted to bring down the Hortes organization completely.
So, when Old Wright received information from FL regarding Marceau’s and Wright’s plans to rescue Ruan Jiaojiao, he seized the opportunity to accomplish his own goals, even while harboring some suspicions about FL’s motives.
What Marceau and Wright could never have imagined was that FL, the hacker—Xie Youzhou—had managed to collect two payments for the same information, one from them and another, totaling nearly as much, from Old Wright.
The situation unfolded exactly as Xie Youzhou had predicted and planned. When the opportunity arose to kill Hortes, Marceau and Wright hesitated, fearing for Ruan Jiaojiao’s safety. But Old Wright would not let the chance slip by.
As expected, Hortes was killed instantly, and Ruan Jiaojiao lost her greatest protector.
What no one could have anticipated was that the death of Hortes would cause so many people to “wake up.”
…
Marceau and Wright sent search teams down the cliff, and they soon located Ruan Jiaojiao. It must be said that, as the protagonist of this world, Ruan Jiaojiao was indeed extraordinarily fortunate.
She had been shot in the thigh, lost a significant amount of blood, fallen off a cliff, and was still alive.
The unconscious Ruan Jiaojiao was immediately taken to a nearby hospital where the bullet was removed and her wounds treated. However, due to the limited medical resources, she could not undergo a comprehensive physical examination, so they drove for four more hours to reach the most advanced hospital within several hundred kilometers.
Upon arrival, Ruan Jiaojiao was diagnosed with spinal damage and was advised to undergo immediate spinal surgery. Success was uncertain, and failure could result in high-level paraplegia.
The hospital staff, familiar with online gossip and the faces of their prominent patients, were privately shocked but outwardly composed. They respectfully asked Marceau and Wright if they should proceed with the surgery, emphasizing the risk of permanent paralysis if unsuccessful.
The staff suggested either an immediate airlift to Country M for surgery under Professor Kingston, a renowned spinal expert, or proceeding with the operation, which would carry a significant risk.
They were certain Marceau and Wright would choose the first option, so much so that they were taken aback when Marceau chose to proceed with the surgery locally.
“What’s going on?!” murmured one doctor, surprised and uneasy. They had no desire to be held responsible if Ruan Jiaojiao were paralyzed due to the operation’s risks.
“Are they concerned about time? Afraid she won’t make it if they wait?” another asked.
“Either way, let’s get ready,” the surgeon in charge, Dr. Maya, ordered, wiping her brow. “Prepare for surgery now!”
The operation lasted seven hours. Marceau and Wright did not wait by the operating room but sat silently in their limousine outside the hospital.
Both looked troubled—not out of concern for Ruan Jiaojiao’s condition, but from a growing sense of disgust and regret. They barely cared about the outcome of her surgery. Instead, they felt only bitterness over the time, money, and energy wasted on Ruan Jiaojiao.
They paid FL the final installment of his fee for this “rescue plan” with barely concealed resentment, wondering how they could have spent such exorbitant amounts for a woman they now hardly cared about.
At that moment, FL—Xie Youzhou—was equally unsettled as he received the payment notification. He’d succeeded; Hortes was dead, and justice had finally caught up with the Ruan family. But before he could share the news with Lin Zhiyu, an unexpected call nearly made him drop his phone.
His father and elder brother, who hadn’t returned home for the New Year, were waiting in the living room.
And his father’s voice over the line was exasperated: “I hear you’re seeing… a man? And you’re in a relationship?!”
