Chapter 17 The Real Heir

Xie Muhuan wasn’t able to leave.

Qu Qingzhi needed to stay in the hospital overnight for observation, and her father, full of love for his daughter, demanded that Xie Muhuan stay to keep her company.

“As long as you take care of Qingzhi, I’ll take care of your grandma’s surgery,” Qu Linze said before rushing back to his company for a meeting.

Qu Qingzhi had already been transferred to a VIP room.

Her complexion had improved, and she looked more energetic as she sat on the sofa eating fruit. She said to Xie Muhuan, “Don’t worry, if my dad said it, there’s no doubt. Granny Xu’s second surgery will be handled by the best specialist, and the success rate will be high.”

Based on her recent observations and understanding of this novel world, she realized that the fate of non-essential characters could be altered.

If this pattern held true, perhaps Grandma Xu wouldn’t be paralyzed?

No matter what, Qu Qingzhi was determined to try her best.

“Mm,” Xie Muhuan responded, his expression flat, his dark eyes concealing all emotions.

He hated how powerless he felt.

He hated being threatened by others who had control over his weaknesses.

He desperately wanted to become stronger.

“Xie Muhuan, how about teaching me how to solve problems?” Qu Qingzhi said, deliberately adopting a spoiled tone. “You’re supposed to be the top student, right? Let’s see how good you really are.”

The butler had already brought over her change of clothes and study materials.

She knew Xie Muhuan must be feeling anxious deep down.

Too many things had gone wrong for him recently, leaving him with little time to study.

His first choice was Qing University, the best school in the country.

“Alright,” Xie Muhuan agreed readily.

Qu Qingzhi sneaked a glance at him and noticed a faint gleam in his deep, dark eyes.

As expected, he was a boy who loved to study.

The mere mention of solving problems made his eyes light up.

…

That night, which Xie Muhuan had expected to be difficult, turned out to be a rare moment of peace where he could quietly focus on his studies.

The next day, Qu Qingzhi was discharged from the hospital, and Xie Muhuan went to take care of Grandma Xu.

When Xie Muhuan returned to school on Monday, he noticed that his classmates were giving him strange looks as he walked by.

“Muhuan,” a boy who used to get along with him approached him at the classroom door and whispered, “You know about Xie Jincheng, right? He transferred to our class.”

Xie Muhuan froze for a moment.

Xie Jincheng.

The boy he had been switched with at birth.

The real heir of the Xie family.

“Yeah, I know,” Xie Muhuan nodded and entered the classroom.

The moment he stepped inside, the noisy classroom fell completely silent.

Everyone’s eyes turned toward him.

Sitting in his seat was someone else.

That person was in a wheelchair, with handsome features and long, narrow phoenix eyes filled with ridicule.

Xie Muhuan’s expression remained cold and indifferent as he walked over. “Excuse me, that’s my seat.”

The boy raised an eyebrow and sneered, “You should be sorry, thief.”

Xie Muhuan didn’t react to the provocation and said calmly, “Please move.”

The boy let out a mocking laugh. “You’re asking me to move? Can’t you see I’m crippled? I gave you seventeen years of wealth and a peaceful life. Isn’t that enough?”

Xie Muhuan’s expression remained icy, his voice steady. “That wasn’t my fault.”

The boy threw his head back and laughed, a cold and eerie laugh. “So, it’s my fault then? Do I deserve to be crippled? Do I deserve to spend my life in a wheelchair?”

As he laughed maniacally, he pushed his wheelchair and left the room.

He didn’t continue to stir up trouble.

The classmates who had been watching with interest were surprised.

Qu Qingzhi, sitting at her desk, turned to look at Xie Muhuan. She knew very well what this encounter meant—

Xie Muhuan’s descent into darkness was about to speed up.

—