6: Chapter 6: Subconscious Outburst - Life-and-Death Contract Unlocked, Ten Years of Lifespan Received!

The atmosphere in the hallway was tense.

"One minute left."

Before Lin Zhe's voice had even faded, Shen Nianwei violently shoved Second Uncle Shen Yaobang, who was blocking her path.

"Second Uncle, get out of my way!"

Second Uncle Shen Yaobang retreated half a step, his face ashen, and pointed at Shen Nianwei's nose.

"Nianwei, there's a limit to how unruly you can be! This is your own grandfather's hospital room! Who does this kid think he is, and why are you letting him go in there to cause trouble?"

Several distant relatives chimed in.

"Exactly. What time do you think it is? Are you really bringing an outsider in to make a mess?"

"I think she just wants to anger Old Master Shen to death so she can get her hands on the will."

Shen Nianwei's eyes were red, and she had no desire to waste words. She turned to look at the two personal bodyguards she had brought with her.

"Move all of them out of my way! Whoever dares to stop me today will disappear from Jiangcheng tomorrow!"

The two bodyguards exchanged a look, stepped forward, grabbed Second Uncle Shen Yaobang by the collar, and slammed him against the wall.

"You've rebelled! You've completely rebelled!" Second Uncle Shen Yaobang cursed furiously, "Where is security?! Throw them out!"

The scene was in complete chaos.

Lin Zhe ignored the shoving and shouting around him; he kept his eyes fixed on the bright red entry behind the door.

[Countdown: 42 seconds]

Shen Nianwei burst through the heavy hospital room door, and Lin Zhe followed closely behind, reaching back to lock it with a crisp "click."

Inside the room.

The shrill alarms of the medical equipment sounded in a continuous drone.

Dean Chen was drenched in sweat, holding a defibrillator, preparing to press it against the withered old man on the hospital bed.

The door was suddenly flung open, startling Dean Chen, who turned to see Shen Nianwei and Lin Zhe.

"Miss Shen? What are you doing? Get out, quick!" Dean Chen shouted in distress, "The patient is undergoing final cardiac resuscitation!"

Shen Nianwei strode forward and grabbed Dean Chen's wrist.

"Uncle Chen, no need for the electric shock. Let him try."

Dean Chen followed Shen Nianwei's gaze to Lin Zhe, his face full of disbelief.

"Him? He isn't even a doctor! Miss Shen, you cannot treat your grandfather's life as a joke!"

"Can you save him?" Shen Nianwei raised her voice, tears welling up in her eyes.

Dean Chen froze, looking at the increasingly faint ECG on the screen, and let go of his hands in defeat.

Lin Zhe walked to the side of the hospital bed.

Old Master Shen was wearing an oxygen mask, his cheeks sunken, and his skin was a deathly gray color.

The entry above his head was still flashing frantically.

[Near Death (Countdown: 31 seconds)]

Lin Zhe turned to look at Shen Nianwei.

"I've stated my price."

Shen Nianwei bit her lip, staring intensely at her grandfather on the hospital bed.

"What do you want? As long as it's something I can afford!"

"One billion." Lin Zhe uttered the two words calmly.

The entire room went silent instantly; even the alarm of the equipment seemed to pause for a second.

Dean Chen's eyes widened, his jaw almost hitting the floor.

"One billion? Are you insane? You're coming here to extort us at a time like this? I'm calling the police to have you arrested!"

Shen Nianwei was also stunned, her chest heaving violently.

One billion in cash; this was an astronomical figure.

Looking across all of Jiangcheng, the number of families that could produce one billion in cash within an hour could be counted on one hand.

"Are you robbing me?" Shen Nianwei blurted out.

"This is a reasonable price." Lin Zhe offered no further explanation.

[Countdown: 18 seconds]

Shen Nianwei gripped the corners of her clothes with both hands, her fingernails almost digging into her skin.

"Fine! One billion! I agree!" Shen Nianwei looked up sharply, "Save him right now!"

Lin Zhe shook his head.

"I said, you can't make the decision for this deal."

Shen Nianwei grew anxious. "Why can't I make the decision?"

"To buy his life, he must agree to it himself." Lin Zhe bypassed the stunned Dean Chen and leaned directly over the hospital bed.

"System, the target cannot speak right now. Can a voluntary contract be reached?"

Lin Zhe asked quickly in his mind.

[The target is in a near-death state. The intent of the transaction can be communicated through physical contact. As long as the target's subconscious bursts with a strong desire to survive and agrees to the transaction, the contract can be established.]

Lin Zhe reached out and grasped Old Master Shen's withered, cold wrist.

He lowered his head, bringing his lips close to the old man's ear.

"Old Master Shen, you are dying."

"Second Uncle Shen Yaobang is waiting outside to collect your corpse. He has brought a group of people and plans to kick your granddaughter off the board of directors tomorrow."

"The hard work of your entire life is about to be completely ruined by these parasites."

Beside them, Dean Chen was hopping mad.

"What are you doing! At a time like this, you're still agitating the patient! Get him out!"

Lin Zhe ignored Dean Chen and continued speaking to the old man.

"I have Ten Years of Lifespan here."

"One billion, in exchange for you coming back from the brink of death to clean house."

"If you agree to this deal, say 'I will' in your heart, or move your finger."

The room was eerily quiet.

Shen Nianwei even held her breath.

Two seconds passed, and the old man on the bed showed no reaction.

Lin Zhe stared fixedly at the entry.

[Countdown: 5 seconds]

[Countdown: 4 seconds]

Suddenly, a long, continuous "beep—".

The ECG curve on the bedside monitor turned completely into a flat red line.

Dean Chen's face went pale, and he collapsed into a chair.

"It's too late... The heartbeat has stopped."

Shen Nianwei's legs gave out, and she fell to her knees in front of the hospital bed, covering her face and sobbing loudly.

"Grandfather!"

At that very moment, a crisp electronic notification sound erupted in Lin Zhe's mind.

[Detected that the target has burst with an extreme desire to survive!]

[Target's subconscious has confirmed the transaction rules!]

[Voluntary contract established!]

Lin Zhe's eyes lit up, and he immediately issued the command in his mind.

"Bestow Ten Years of Lifespan!"

[Deducting item from host's virtual warehouse: Ten Years of Lifespan]

[Bestowing to target...]

A golden stream of light, invisible to ordinary people, surged madly from Lin Zhe's tightly gripped wrist into Old Master Shen's body.

Lin Zhe could clearly see the bright red [Critically Ill] tag above the old man's head shatter with a crash after a burst of distortion and flickering.

In its place was a glowing green tag.

[Healthy (Aged State)].

[Lifespan Countdown: 3650 days].

"Bang!"

The locked door of the hospital room was forced open by the people outside, and Second Uncle Shen Yaobang rushed in with several relatives and bodyguards.

As soon as he entered, he heard the long beep that signified death and saw Shen Nianwei kneeling on the floor, weeping bitterly.

A flash of wild joy crossed Second Uncle Shen Yaobang's eyes, but he immediately put on an expression of extreme grief.

"Dad!"

He stumbled toward the foot of the bed and began to wail loudly.

"How could you leave so suddenly! You didn't even leave a word! You left such a huge mess behind; what is our Shen Family going to do from now on!"

Several relatives also wiped away tears.

"This won't do. The Group cannot go a single day without a leader. There must be an explanation today!"

"Nianwei, that quack doctor you brought in killed Old Master Shen. You must take full responsibility!"

Second Uncle Shen Yaobang pointed at Lin Zhe and sternly ordered the security guards.

"What are you still standing there for? Tie this kid up and send him to the station! Then notify the Group's legal department immediately to freeze all..."

Before he could finish his sentence.

The straight line on the monitor screen suddenly jumped.

Beep.

Extremely faint, but incredibly clear.

Immediately after.

Beep—beep—beep—