In the dark corridors of Fourth Hospital, the air was filled with laughter and gasps as a crowd of onlookers hopped eagerly from post to post, witnessing the unfolding drama.


    The latest sensation on the forum, ‘Zhuge Liang burning the Spider Web Cave’, ignited the forum. Fans wept and their hearts were in turmoil as the pedestal they had placed their idol on crumbled to dust. Zhuge, once revered, now revealed in the art of character assassination. It was a bitter pill to swallow indeed.


    However, the juicy gossip was simply too tempting to ignore, and the arguments continued with relentless enthusiasm.


    【…So, it turns out that the father of Zhuge’s child is actually a man, the same one making headlines at Third Hospital today!】


    【Did you forget? That very man is the mother!】


    【Ah ah ah ah!!! Zhuge! Our partnership is over! It’s done for good!】


    【Good riddance. We are better off without clients like you. Just remember, it’s risky to go it alone with your kind of power.】


    【I will seek Dragon Sister’s help!】


    【Does anyone have contact information for the ‘Deaf Descendant’?】


    【hghhjk……】


    【Can someone translate this? English is not my strong suit.】


    【’Eternal God of Hemp’ seems to have a habit of destroying phones.】


    …


    Zhou Xiao Zhen couldn’t help but laugh. “Who would have thought that Luo Jin had it in him?”


    Yu Xiao nodded, a smirk dancing on her lips. “He’s always been pretending. Now we truly see him for who he is.”


    At Fourth Hospital, it was anything but an ordinary day. Zhao Lan couldn’t help but find amusement in the unfolding argument between Lu Jin and Liu Si Si, akin to a live comedy show.


    The hospital forum hummed with the latest gossip.


    【Hospital in turmoil!】


    【Just got off the phone with a friend from Fourth. Everyone’s in a tizzy over the ‘Sky City’ guy from Third Hospital claiming to be pregnant. Can you believe it? Since when do men from Third Hospital start having babies? Sky City, we need some explanations!】


    **


    Amidst the chaos, Xie Ping couldn’t find any solace. He laid in the sterile embrace of his bed, his phone forgotten, his eyes tightly shut, hoping to shut out the world, but peace stayed out of reach.


    **


    The fervour on the forum gradually died down. Lu Jin and Liu Si Si’s online battle had ended, perhaps with a truce or a move to communicate through more private channels.


    As dawn approached, the usual daily routine began. Yu Xiao and her friends welcomed the new day by washing up, having a meal, and preparing for the tasks ahead. Zhou Xiao Zhen and Zhao Lan immersed themselves in fulfilling the day’s orders, while Yu Xiao started arranging the supplies for her talismans.


    Yu Xiao’s fingers danced over the talismans, her eyes filled with excitement. Her latest sale of talismans had been a tremendous success, earning her an astounding one thousand points. The goal of reaching eighteen hundred, which had once seemed so far away, was now within reach—a promising prospect of freedom.


    However, Yu Xiao had no intention of leaving without her squad. She, Precious, and Misty were a package deal, after all. Let’s face it, selling all those talismans wouldn’t have been possible without the help of her friends.


    But there was an issue. Yu Xiao’s stock of yellow paper was dangerously low. She peered into the nearly empty box and let out a concerned sigh.


    Zhao Lan came over, her eyes fixed on the meagre amount of paper. “Clicking to the market to restock on paper?”


    Yu Xiao nodded, her voice calm. “Yes, at the market, they offer ten sheets for a single point.”


    For Yu Xiao, that deal was fantastic. With her talent for drawing talismans successfully over ninety-five percent of the time, each charm cost her only a fraction of a point. Selling them for three points each? She was making a fortune, especially with her cinnabar supplies overflowing.


    Sure, others tried their hand at the craft, but their talismans fizzled more often than they sizzled. And with the high price of cinnabar, creating a talisman for just three points felt like a waste of resources. So, despite the cutthroat competition, Tan Qiao Yin’s prices remained as unyielding as her spirit.


    With a dramatic gesture, Zhao Lan pulled out her phone, her voice filled with mischief. “Guess what? I got an upgrade card. Let’s give your Coin of Great Observation a makeover. Version 3.0 is bound to cause trouble, but a little adjustment might solve the problem.”


    Yu Xiao felt the urgency clawing at her. The Coin had been her companion, though a rather capricious one. She had managed to coax it into action only twice ever since it had come into her possession, and even then, it had been more temperamental than a cat caught in a rainstorm. The previous time she had wielded the Coin, she hadn’t even meant to use it on herself. If Luo Jin hadn’t snatched it away from her, she would have taken her chances with the Fodness Card instead.


    “Yes,” Yu Xiao replied, her tone devoid of formality and brimming with raw desire. She did crave that upgrade, but a part of her was thrilled at the idea of presenting Misty with a magical prop of her own.


    【Choose the item you want to upgrade. A. Sunglasses. B. Wig. C. Coin 3.0.】


    Her fingers danced over the ‘C’ without a moment’s hesitation. No grand display erupted from the screen this time, only a serene golden glow that enveloped the room in its comforting warmth. The light shimmered, gracefully moving across the screen before settling. The Coin, once a piece of transparent jade, now disguised itself as an ordinary copper penny, albeit one adorned with the marks of time.


    “Seems like it has lost some of its former glory,” Zhao Lan mused, holding the Coin of Great Observation between her fingers. “Have you noticed any changes in its abilities?”


    “Wait a moment.” Yu Xiao’s fingers tapped on her phone.


    【Coin of Great Observation 4.0: Determines fortune and misfortune. If it lands on heads, it brings good luck—knocking out every soul, spectre, and creature within a short distance for ten minutes. If it lands on tails, it brings a curse—causing everyone nearby to treat the tosser as their own baby for the same duration. The magic needs an hour to recharge.】


    “…”


    “Well? Any upgrades?”


    “It’s… an improvement,” Yu Xiao admitted, a slight smile forming on her lips.


    “Fantastic!” Zhao Lan leaned over to catch a glimpse of Yu Xiao’s screen. “And what are the consequences like now?”


    A moment of shared silence hung in the air as they absorbed the information.


    “You know, this isn’t half bad,” Zhao Lan finally spoke, breaking the quiet. “Being treated as their baby? It’s like the saying, ‘Even a beast protects its own offspring.’ Much better than dealing with jealousy and affection.”


    Yu Xiao nodded, putting the coin back into her pocket, her expression a mix of amusement and resignation. “True, although our list of family titles might just become a bit more… extensive.”


    “…” Zhao Lan’s hand gently settled on her shoulder, offering comfort and grounding. “Chin up, love. A couple of stand-in parents and you’ll ace that instance with loads of titles. It’s a steal, really.”


    Yu Xiao bit her lip, a slight frown playing on her face. “It’s easy for you to say,” she murmured, her voice reflecting a weariness from past experiences. “I just don’t want to be burdened with another dark title, that’s all.”


    Zhao Lan chuckled, the sound warm in the crisp air. “So what?” she teased, her eyes sparkling mischievously. “Luo Jin and Lu Xu are still around, aren’t they? Titles and all.”


    That thought prompted a reluctant smile from Yu Xiao, lifting her spirits.


    She jumped to her feet, newfound energy propelling her upwards. With a flourish, she announced, “Misty, thanks a lot. What do you fancy for dinner tonight? It’s on me!”


    Zhou Xiao Zhen crouched by the door, looking perplexed. The words that had just been exchanged left her speechless. What was Yu Xiao talking about? When did they start worrying about paying the bill? Sёar?h the N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    **


    “He’s already on voluntary duty,” the courier whispered, her voice barely audible as she handed over the parcels. “Word is, the doctor at Sage Hospital was in desperate need of a janitor, and believe it or not, our guy got transferred there as his punishment.”


    Seems like the former delivery guy and Qing Shi were an item now. Yu Xiao bit her lip, worried they would cause trouble. “By the way, the former delivery guy must have had a name, right?”


    “His old name is a mystery,” the courier gal replied with a shrug. “But before, when he was a attending doctor, they named him Wang Shu (望舒: ‘hope for comfort’ or ‘longing for ease’. 望舒 is the name of a deity in ancient Chinese mythology who is said to drive the carriage for the moon, symbolising a celestial journey of hope and tranquillity.).”


    “Got it,” Yu Xiao nodded. “Thanks for that. Come by Saint Elizabeth sometime, I owe you a roasted chicken leg.”


    The courier’s laughter filled the air, warm and hearty, before she disappeared.


    With the deliveries taken care of, the halls of Saint Elizabeth were quiet, so the ghosts gave her a break. Yu Xiao wasn’t in the mood to draw symbols. Instead, she sprawled on her bed, ready to enjoy a moment of peace.


    But as soon as she lay her head on the pillow, her mind wandered to ‘Wide Sea and Sky’. With a sigh, she reached for her Nokia, only to be interrupted by the buzz of her smartphone. Lu Xu’s name flashed on the screen.


    Curiosity flickered in Yu Xiao’s eyes, a spark that could ignite the driest tinder. Was Lu Xu really calling her at this hour?


    “Hello,” her voice playfully danced through the line. “So, how was your day?”


    She was itching to ask about the hot gossip of the day. But she had to be sly about it, not letting on that she had been keeping an eye on the Fourth Hospital forum.


    “Let’s not get into today just yet,” Lu Xu’s voice came out as a weary sigh, deflating like a balloon. “And about that secret we promised to keep? You can let the cat out of the bag now.”


    “Why’s that?” Yu Xiao probed with a knowing smile. “Have Liu Sisi and Xie Ping finally come around?”


    “It’s all out in the open now, whether they like it or not,” Lu Xu said with a hint of resignation. “I’m calling for a favour. There’s someone here looking for a carry through an instance, and you have the team card, right? How about we make a deal?”


    Yu Xiao paused, weighing the risks. Could she really pull off a safe carry?


    “Maybe give it some thought?” Lu Xu suggested. “They’re willing to part with a prop as payment. I’ve had a look, and it’s quite the find.”


    “What prop?” Yu Xiao asked, her interest clearly piqued.


    “Belts for Hanging Ghosts, control-type prop. It’s got a short cooldown, just an hour.”


    Pondering the proposition, Yu Xiao thought aloud, “It’s a solid piece of prop. Misty could really use it. But why sell such a control-type prop? There’s got to be a downside.”


    “Um… yeah,” Lu Xu hesitated, then shared, “The deal is: Use it, and you’ll end up hanging next to the ghost.”


    Even over the phone, Yu Xiao’s silence spoke volumes.


    “But if your team’s around, they can save you,” he quickly added.


    Yu Xiao scoffed. “The seller doesn’t have friends to help out?”


    “Exactly,” Lu Xu confirmed. “They’re alone.”


    Yu Xiao hesitated, primarily concerned about the safety of another person during the instance.


    “Are you doubting you can pull it off?” Lu Xu seemed to guess her thoughts.


    “So, any ideas?”


    “Hire me and Old Luo. We’ll charge twenty talismans each.”


    “Thanks, but I’ll pass.”


    “Wait!” crackled Lu Xun’s voice through the speaker. “Ten!”


    The line went dead as Yu Xiao disconnected, her mind whirring with possibilities. With a pocket full of talismans burning a hole, why not take a gamble on a partnership with ‘Wide Sea and Sky’? The very patient who sends shivers down his own doctor’s spine—surely he would offer more bang for her buck than those two ever could.


    ─── ? ── ☆ ── ? ───