This time, Mama Rong finished the entire event quickly, concluding, “Thankfully, Cheng Leyan was there, and reacted fast, smashing the control room door, closing the mall entrance, buying time to find Zhuozhuo.

“Wangzhi, really, if not for Cheng Leyan, if today Cheng Leyan had hesitated or reacted slowly, Zhuozhuo would have been kidnapped. Who knows what would have happened afterward, none of us.”

The dangerous scene from the day replayed in front of Rong Wangzhi’s eyes through Mama Rong’s words.

Mama Rong: “Also… Wangzhi, the one conspiring with the kidnappers might be, Aunt Zhang.”

With a deep breath, Mama Rong slowly continued, “She raised you. I trusted her too much, sent her to care for Zhuozhuo after your accident. But she… she abused Zhuozhuo, hit, cursed, and threatened him. Zhuozhuo grew thinner, lost his speech, and became increasingly fearful and anxious, all because of Aunt Zhang.”

“Wangzhi, I’m sorry to Zhuozhuo; I’m sorry to you.”

Rong Wangzhi felt as if his heart was suddenly grasped tightly by an invisible giant hand.

The Aunt Zhang in his impression was still the gentle aunt who cooked sweet soup for him.

How could this be!?

Mama Rong wiped her tears, continuing, “The police are investigating, and I’ll update you as news develops. It was Cheng Leyan who raised doubts about Aunt Zhang. Without him, I don’t know how long I would’ve been deceived by her, making Zhuozhuo suffer. 

“Today, Zhuozhuo was frightened, clinging to him, and he just held Zhuozhuo without any impatience. I saw it all. Wangzhi, on this matter, I will forever be grateful to him.”

Mama Rong’s words resonated within Rong Wangzhi.

Regarding Cheng Leyan, his extremely poor initial impression stemmed mainly from his assumptions, which now seemed misguided.

In such a short time, he had the sense to think of closing the door from the control room and executed without hesitation, showing smarts, courage, and nerve.

Is this the real Cheng Leyan?

The real him might not be as despicable as I thought?

Just then, Mama Rong abruptly changed the subject, “But, Wangzhi, Cheng Leyan is still weird. I suspect he’s sick or something? You know what he used to smash the control room’s glass door today? It was that… just that…”

After a few tries, she finally, with difficulty, said, “Just a super big, fake something. He even carries that around! He later used it to whack two criminals into the hospital. They’re still unconscious now.

“He’s like a psycho. If you wake up and find out Mom got you a psycho spouse, will you scold Mom?”

Rong Wangzhi was full of question marks. “Fake what?” What was mom talking about, when suddenly, a “ding” rang in his mind. In response, System 250 exclaimed joyfully.

System: “It’s completed! Host! The task ‘Your lover used a giant flying Dingding to trigger special effects’ is complete!!! Wow, the fact that you managed this task is extraordinary! Also, your spouse is truly your lucky star, Host! You just have to stay put and earn points!”

The system seemed to reach an epiphany: “Huh, lying around to earn points, is this actually how the R18 team is meant to work?”

Rong Wangzhi:…

Retract the preface! The true Cheng Leyan is even more despicable than imagined!!

Why does he carry something like that around?!

Why!?

It can’t possibly be because he likes it!?

And what’s with this cursed task—how does the system eventually leave my brain!?

The system continued, “The rewards include points and a buff, where… where… never mind, don’t focus on the reward part, hehe.”

Rong Wangzhi: “Speak.”

System: “Um, alright, the reward is ‘You will have heaven-defying perfect eyelashes, making your lover inexorably feel affection,’ lasting 24 hours.”

Rong Wangzhi:…

Mom, are you sure that’s my lucky star? I think it’s more of a calamity!

Now, he just hopes his mom leaves soon and he loses consciousness quickly, eyes unseen, heart unbothered.

Yes, exactly that.

Fittingly, at that moment, Mama Rong’s assistant knocked, saying there was an important call.

Mama Rong temporarily left. However, contrary to Rong Wangzhi’s hope for her departure, she returned to the ward a few minutes later.

Then she saw on the bed, her son’s face…

Mama Rong’s eyes widened, pupils quivering: What, is, this???

These long, curved, dense, are, what?

Rendered speechless by shock, Mama Rong couldn’t help but tug on her son’s long, curved, dense eyelashes.

No give.

It seemed almost soldered onto his eyelids.

Mama Rong’s mouth twitched in spasms, even doubting if she was hallucinating, finally rushing to add Cheng Leyan on WeChat—for the first time, a strong urge to talk to him.

Cheng Leyan’s WeChat avatar was a money-counting cat with sunglasses, named “food liuyou.” After adding him, she sent a money-splashing cat sticker with “Prosperity for the viewer.”

Mama Rong hurriedly snapped a photo of her son’s face and sent it: [Look at his eyelashes! What’s going on? Were his lashes like this yesterday!?]

Cheng Leyan was shocked too: [No way! These aren’t eyelashes at all! They’re like having two giant fans glued to his eyes!

[Mom, what’s going on at the hospital? Are they also providing eyelash extensions for him? Why did they glue lashes on him like that?

[Nuts! First, a lipstick at the sanatorium; now eye extensions. What’s this about! Is this tradition to beautify vegetative patients here?]

Mama Rong: [No such tradition! I’m going to check the surveillance. Want to come?]

Cheng Leyan: [Give me half an hour, I’ll drive right over.]

Mama Rong: [What drive, I’m sending a helicopter for you!]

Ten minutes later, Cheng Leyan and Mama Rong were gathered around Rong Wangzhi, observing his eyelashes with amazement.

Cheng Leyan even called Zhuozhuo over to take a look.

Ah… so the three of them were gathered around Rong Wangzhi, observing his eyelashes with amazement.

Rong Wangzhi took a deep breath and spoke in his mind: [System.]

[Let’s discuss how you can be persuaded to leave my body?]

Leaving? That’s impossible.

250 shrank its neck, silently hugging its chubby self in Rong Wangzhi’s brain.

After various fingers and points at the eyelashes, Mama Rong expressed, “Yet I just checked the surveillance, and there’s a break of about ten seconds. When the signal resumed, Wangzhi’s eyelashes were already like this.”

Cheng Leyan replied, “Ten seconds isn’t enough even for eyelashes extensions, Mom! Could it be—has Mr. Rong suddenly been possessed by a fairy?”

Mama Rong: “… by what?”

Cheng Leyan: “A fairy with magical eyelashes.”

Mama Rong half felt “Does your brain have a pit?” yet simultaneously thought, “With a lucky star ritual happening, maybe a magical eyelash fairy isn’t that bizarre?”

Eventually deciding to give Master Liu a call today.

But internally, Cheng Leyan felt an incredibly odd sensation: [System Father, is it my imagination, or do these eyelashes seem strange? It’s like… I’m looking at money.]

419: [Host, I feel the same way! These eyelashes look so familiar! Buffs generate this effect; a previous host triggered it. His partners went crazy upon seeing it…]

Cheng Leyan: [Huh? I know what’s CP, but why is there a “their partners”?]

419: […. Don’t mind those details. It’s just so odd. Could this person have an R18 colleague attached?]

Yet assessing Rong Wangzhi’s 188-centimeter stature and his spirited face, the system silently shook its head. The R18 systems typically attach to the receiving side, and no one would irrationally attach to a strong attacker, especially a vegetative state. Definitely not happening.

Could be attached to his host’s kind of warm, rosy lips.

Mama Rong this time checked the time. Her overwhelming guilt for Aunt Zhang’s matter had been somewhat interrupted and alleviated by the distraction of Rong Wangzhi’s ultra-long eyelashes.

She asked, “Cheng Leyan, have you and Zhuozhuo eaten?”

Cheng Leyan responded, “Nope, as soon as you called, we rushed over. Our little Zhuozhuo might be getting hungry. Let’s check if Zhuozhuo’s tummy is grumbling. Oh~ It’s not!”

Mama Rong: “…No, Cheng Leyan, I have a request. Can you stop using that pitch? It’s giving me goosebumps.”

Cheng Leyan laughed, “Mom, I definitely won’t use it with you. How about dining together? Mom, I discovered a place Zhuozhuo absolutely loves! Super great, super awesome, you’ve probably never tried it. Want to join us?”

While Rong Wangzhi, unconscious, heard them finally shift focus from his eyelashes, he breathed a sigh.

But hearing Cheng Leyan’s frequent “Mom,” and “Little Zhuozhuo,” he felt a bit uncomfortable.

He once shared smooth relations with his mom, but with an air of respect and distance—indeed, the entire Rong family’s atmosphere was very considerate in interaction. He couldn’t recall the last time he called Ms. Zheng “Mom” so affectionately.

However, regarding his own mother’s character, he was well aware. Ms. Zheng’s stubbornness made her challenging to deal with; even his father couldn’t manage her. Could she be swayed by a few sweet words?

Heading to dine with him?

Impossible.

Next moment, his mom: “Alright, time’s come, let’s go together.”

Rong Wangzhi:……

Ms. Zheng, are you slapping my face here?

Mama Rong then amiably asked, “What’s the restaurant? Since Zhuozhuo loves it, should Grandma buy it?”

Cheng Leyan: “Hahaha, Mom, this one might not be for sale; it’s a foreign enterprise.”

Mama Rong: “So what? Who says foreign enterprises can’t be acquired? Which one is it?”

Cheng Leyan: “KFC.”

Mama Rong: ???

Thanks, that’s truly not for acquisition.

But when Cheng Leyan checked the date, he said, “Oops, can’t eat there’s no Crazy Thursday! What KFC without that! Ah, Mom, Zhuozhuo, let’s head to McDonald’s. We can get a Poor Ghost Set; super cost-effective.”

Mama Rong: “Poor what? I won’t have a Poor Ghost Set! Is there a Rich Lady Set? I want the Rich Lady Set! Cheng Leyan, make more effort, this is on me, alright, no Poor Ghost Set!”

Zhuozhuo: Ah? So only our home is the Poor Ghost, and Grandma’s actually a Rich Lady?

Cheng Leyan: “Mom, you are my real mom. If you’re treating, could I decline? Let’s do this, a Rich Lady Set for mom, a Happy Meal for Zhuozhuo, I will have the Poor Ghost Set myself.”

Mama Rong: “No, you get the Rich Lady Set too! Stop mentioning the ‘Poor Ghost’ words in front of me!”

Zhuozhuo: Ah? Because Grandma’s a Rich Lady, is she leading us out of poverty to prosperity?

They talked as they slowly walked further. The last sound Rong Wangzhi heard was the door closing.

He didn’t know in this past year of being a vegetative state, how his mom’s condition had been, if she shed tears. He didn’t know her mood when she away spoke to his unconscious self, how hard it had been for her.

But now, listening to her voice, albeit with disdain and ridicule, ultimately eased his mind.

This—this is good.

He considered this good.

His consciousness began to sink again.

When would he become conscious next? He even felt some anticipation.

So until next time.

250: “Till next time, Host! Can’t wait as well!!”

Rong Wangzhi: …Quiet, not anticipating you.