14: Chapter 14 The Insignificant Character in a Pampered Novel 14

Xu Zhao looked at the three people standing in front of her hospital bed. It didn't seem to be the weekend today.

"Study God, you're finally awake! You scared me to death." Seeing that she was fine, Zhou Chi was overjoyed and plopped down on the edge of the bed, only to be pushed away by a disgusted Gu Yunjing.

"Brother Gu, why are you pulling me?"

"You just came in from outside and you're covered in bacteria. Stay away from the patient."

So it wasn't an illusion; Brother Gu really was disgusted by him!

But wasn't this a hospital? No matter how many bacteria he had on him, could it be more than the hospital? But he didn't dare say that. Looking at Brother Gu's face, he knew he'd get a beating if he did.

Fine, he'd stay away. He originally wanted to get close to the little Study God; he had a belly full of things to share with her these past few days, especially to show off his midterm exam results.

"How do you feel? Is there anywhere that feels uncomfortable?" Gu Yunjing asked, taking two steps forward with his long legs.

Xu Zhao answered honestly, "I feel a bit hungry."

"While you were unconscious these past few days, you were on nutritional fluids, so it's normal to be hungry. The servant made chicken soup for you; it should be delivered in a while."

Xu Zhao's eyes instantly lit up, and she looked at him with starry eyes. He was really too thoughtful.

"Brother Gu, I didn't expect you to be such a 'cold face, warm heart' kind of person. I really misunderstood you before," Zhou Chi said with a look of touched emotion. "You're truly concerned about our little Study God."

Cheng Yi's calculating gaze drifted between Gu Yunjing and Xu Zhao.

The girl had a simple, light bob cut and a face the size of a palm; her pale face was almost transparent now. She sat obediently on the hospital bed, hands resting at her sides, her clear eyes quietly reflecting the person before her. She grinned at Gu Yunjing, revealing pretty little tiger teeth that were white and bright—she was truly very good-looking.

Although this face wasn't exceptionally exquisite, this person had a very unique temperament—pure and persistent.

Brother Gu must have noticed it too, which is why he intervened in the Xu Family's affairs.

Brother Gu's ears seemed a bit red. Cheng Yi rolled his eyes; had he discovered something extraordinary?

Once the chicken soup was delivered, Xu Zhao immediately turned cold and heartless.

"Alright, you guys can go back to class now."

"Little Study God! You're burning bridges! Is the chicken soup the only thing that's important? Are we not important anymore? I care about you a lot; I even skipped class specifically to see you."

Xu Zhao glanced at him. "Whether the chicken soup is important or not, what does it have to do with you? Gu Yunjing gave this to me. I didn't see you thinking of me."

Zhou Chi hurriedly cried out, "Heaven and Earth be my witness, I really do care about you! I even pestered my Old Man to make sure those biased parents of yours were taught a lesson."

Xu Zhao actually knew what these three had done while she was unconscious.

What she had originally planned was to use her divine consciousness space while she was asleep to post the recordings from the Xu Family villa online and spread them far and wide, making them impossible to delete.

Then she would use paid posters to control the narrative, letting the whole thing ferment and using public opinion to put pressure on the Li Family and Xu Family.

The intervention of these three left her with no room to use her skills—more accurately, it was the Gu Family's intervention.

In her previous life, Gu Yunjing hadn't personally come to the Xu Family villa, she hadn't been injured, and because she had denied the Xu Family's illegal detention, the matter had eventually faded away.

But for now, she was supposed to be unaware of what they had done behind the scenes, so she tilted her head, her small face full of confusion as she looked at their leader.

Gu Yunjing wanted to kick him—so much nonsense! The girl was also surnamed Xu; what if her sympathy overflowed and she blamed them for meddling?

"So, it was you guys who helped me expose the matters of the Xu Family, the Liang Family, and the Li Family?"

Gu Yunjing felt a bit flustered being looked at by those exceptionally bright eyes, especially since they held an unspoken gratitude. He truly felt a bit embarrassed and gave a low grunt of affirmation: "Mm."

Actually, he hadn't done much other than carry out what she had entrusted to him before she fell unconscious.

He only later saw the contents of the recording from the Xu Family living room.

The police had reviewed the recordings from a few days ago when she had a conflict with the Xu Family members in the living room and was injured, understanding the cause and effect. But he had followed the timeline and watched the earlier recordings.

When the Xu Family was warmly gathered in the living room watching TV, she was nowhere to be seen.

When the family ate breakfast together, laughing and talking, she sat alone in a corner, head down, eating quietly.

When she came home from school and passed through the hall, even the servants in the living room were pointing and whispering about her.

She ate alone, studied alone—everything was done alone. The liveliness of the Xu Family was incompatible with her, having no connection at all. It was as if they gave all their love to one person and forgot the other.

Gu Yunjing suddenly remembered when he carried her into the hospital; she had been gripping his sleeve so tightly that it couldn't be pried away. Only when he leaned in could he hear her constantly murmuring, "Don't leave me..."

Gu Yunjing's heart felt like it had been pricked at that moment.

What kind of person, after being treated like that, could still maintain their original heart, without becoming discouraged or giving up on themselves, and keep moving toward their goal?

"Thank you guys." Xu Zhao smiled, her eyes full of sincerity. "In the future, if there's ever a place where you need me, just ask. I'll definitely help."

Before Zhou Chi and the others could celebrate, her tone shifted: "How about this? Do two mock exams for each subject first to consolidate your knowledge. When I'm discharged, I'll be checking them."

"You're toxic!" Zhou Chi wailed, his face turning into a bitter gourd. His speed at changing expressions was unmatched.

Hearing this, Gu Yunjing suddenly smiled. It was good that she hadn't been affected.

After staying in the hospital for a few days, Xu Zhao's body had basically recovered. She hadn't seen anyone from the Xu Family come by. At first, she thought they were quite composed, but later she felt it was a bit boring that they never showed up.

With her body recovered and her combat power off the charts, Xu Zhao began to eagerly ask 1105: [After making such a big scene that even the head of the Li Family was drawn out, why hasn't anyone from the Xu Family or Yinghua come over?]

system 1105: [They've all been blocked by the Gu Family. Li Shaoheng has some ability; otherwise, he wouldn't have been able to get in either.]

Xu Zhao was a bit disappointed. Fine then, with no place to use her skills, it felt like she was going to win by just lying down.

Not long after, Father Xu's abuse and illegal detention case went to trial.

Because it involved a minor, the case was not tried publicly, but the final verdict received social and public attention.

Father Xu was sentenced to six months with a one-year reprieve for the crimes of illegal detention and abuse. The guardianship of Father Xu and Mother Xu over Xu Zhao was revoked, with guardianship transferred to the neighborhood community. Child support of 3,000 yuan per month was to be provided by Father Xu and Mother Xu.

Zongheng Group, 39th Floor.

In the massive CEO's office, in front of clean and bright floor-to-ceiling windows, Li Shaoheng sat behind his desk. He looked up at the girl on the LCD screen being surrounded by multiple media outlets at the court entrance; the heat of this case remained high.

The reporters' microphones were almost shoved into her face: "Student Xu Zhao, are you satisfied with this result? Do you hate your parents?"

"I don't hate them. Although they were biased, they raised me." But she didn't love them either; they would just be the most familiar of strangers.

"But your parents weren't just biased; they also harmed you and restricted your freedom for their own interests."

"That was because they didn't recognize my value. I will use practical actions to prove that I am far more valuable than their interests."

Li Shaoheng couldn't help but chuckle. The girl's ambitious and determined look completely left the reporters speechless.

"Then are you satisfied with today's verdict?"

"The law cannot make everyone equal, but before the law, everyone is equal. Regardless of the verdict, I accept it. I believe in the law, and I believe in my motherland."

He began to feel a bit curious about just how far this girl could go.

As the curtain fell on this matter, the popularity of the name Xu Zhao remained undiminished; it seemed to have become a synonym for bravery, resilience, kindness, and wisdom.