Chapter 50: Thank You for Your Care

Leaving the Arcane Bureau, Wei Zi made her way directly to the residential complex where Zhou Xiaoya lived. Just as she approached the entrance of the building, she saw Zhou Xiaoya being dragged by her father and pulled by her mother, while Zhou Xiaoya clung to the doorway for dear life, refusing to let go. Next to them stood two large pieces of luggage.

"Dad, Mom, I don't want to go! I really don't want to go! You know very well that I am terrified of the sight of blood. How could I ever become a healer? I’d rather die than do it!" Zhou Xiaoya cried out, holding onto the doorframe with all her might, determined not to budge.

"Xiaoya, my precious daughter, you’ve made us so proud! Dad loves you to pieces! Countless people would kill to become a healer, but they can't. My daughter is amazing—simply incredible! Now be a good girl, let go, and let's go register at the school!" Zhou Xiaoya's father coaxed and praised her in the same breath. Although Xiaoya was throwing a tantrum, could a sapling ever overturn a giant tree? He was already so overjoyed he didn't know which way was up. His daughter was going to become an Arcanist, and a healer at that! It was simply miraculous, as if their ancestors' graves were smoking with auspicious vapor!

"Xiaoya, it hasn't been easy for Mom to raise you. I've weathered every hardship, raising you through every mess, changing your diapers and all. What was it all for? Wasn't it so you could amount to something and look after your parents in the future? Don't be so stubborn now. Fear of blood is just a minor little quirk; we can always consult a psychological counselor later!" Zhou Xiaoya's mother chimed in with persuasion.

"What are you talking about? Xiaoya is going to be a healer; that kind of minor issue will cure itself! Xiaoya, if you keep this up, your father is going to drag you away by force. You only had your nail art done last week—you're going to chip it all!"

"That's right, Xiaoya! If you go off to university, Mom won't care what eyeshadow you wear or how you do your makeup anymore!"

"And that water spa treatment you wanted? Dad promised!"

"Yes, and that ridiculously expensive brand of lingerie you asked for? Mom will buy it for you!"

Zhou Xiaoya's parents combined the carrot and the stick, launching a barrage of material temptations that left her utterly bewildered.

Watching this family of three from the side, Wei Zi found herself amused and torn between laughter and tears. The way the three of them interacted filled her with both humor and deep envy. Even before her mother passed away, her own family had never been as joyful as Zhou Xiaoya's household.

However, Wei Zi merely allowed herself a momentary sigh of envy before shaking the thoughts away. The past was the past; from now on, she would live a brilliant and unrestrained life, truly worthy of being reborn.

Originally, she had intended to come and persuade Zhou Xiaoya, but seeing the current situation, what need was there for her persuasion? Nobody understood Zhou Xiaoya better than her own parents!

Under the relentless bombardment of material bribes, Zhou Xiaoya finally loosened her grip and asked with hesitant skepticism, "Really?"

"Really, really!" her father and mother chorused in unison.

"Then... alright!" Zhou Xiaoya finally agreed, still full of lingering hesitation.

"Oh, my precious baby!"

Both adults erupted into another round of enthusiastic praises, beaming with delight. A healer in the family meant a complete transformation of their lifelong fortunes!

Seeing Wei Zi standing to one side, smiling along, Zhou's parents and Xiaoya finally noticed her presence. Xiaoya instantly flushed a brilliant red.

"Wei Zi, when did you get here?" Xiaoya asked meekly.

"Right about when a certain someone was acting shamelessly and clinging to the doorframe," Wei Zi teased.

"Oh god, how mortifying!" Zhou Xiaoya covered her face in embarrassment.

Zhou's parents burst into hearty laughter. "Is Wei Zi also going to register at the school? Let's all go together then. We'll drop you both off!"

"Alright!"

"Wei Zi, where is your luggage? Let Uncle Zhou carry it for you," Zhou's mother offered warmly.

Wei Zi raised a hand, only to find herself completely empty-handed, and couldn't help but offer a wry smile. Her luggage? What luggage did she even have?

Back at Wei Dongming's villa, her clothes were pitifully shabby—mere evidence of the abuse she had suffered, and she would rather die than wear them again.

As for the clothes she had worn recently, they were all over at Xing Haotian's place, and she wouldn't go back to retrieve them for the world.

Thinking of Xing Haotian, Wei Zi felt she should send him a message. After all, to leave without a word or a proper goodbye was simply not right.

"It's fine, I'll just buy new ones when I get there!" Wei Zi replied, stepping forward to take luggage bags from Zhou's father. Zhou Xiaoya snatched up another, prompting effusive praise from her mother about how her daughter had finally grown up and become sensible.

Zhou's father hailed a taxi to the West City gate. The First Academy of the Imperial Capital occupied a vast expanse of land and was located not within the city itself, but out in the suburbs, requiring them to pass through a hazardous zone. They would need to transfer to a military-protected war chariot at the city gates—naturally, only the most ordinary bronze war chariots, and the fares were by no means cheap.

While Zhou's father was hailing the taxi, Wei Zi stepped aside and initiated a comms link with Xing Haotian.

"Wei Zi, are you feeling better?" The moment Xing Haotian appeared, he asked with eager concern. Attorney Zeng had brought back word yesterday, and he had desperately wanted to be by Wei Zi's side during her most vulnerable moment. However, knowing she needed space to calm down, he had forced himself to suppress the urge to rush over, resulting in a sleepless night.

Hearing Xing Haotian's solicitous words, a warmth stirred in Wei Zi's heart, immediately followed by a surge of resistance.

She didn't want Xing Haotian to treat her this well; she disliked the feeling of things being beyond her control.

Her expression grew cold and distant as she replied calmly, "I'm fine."

"Really? Have you had lunch? Where are you now? Should I come pick you up?" Xing Haotian pressed.

"General Xing," Wei Zi said with formal stiffness, "when we were at the hospital, I asked you to protect me for half a month, until my birthday. Now, that time has passed. I won't be coming back. Thank you for taking care of me these past few days."

"What?" Xing Haotian cried out, his eyes and hair seeming to blaze with anxious panic. Wei Zi actually had no intention of returning?

"But if you don't come back here, where are you going to live? Are you planning to stay in that villa? Wei Zi, even if you now control shares in the Cheng family and have sold them off, aren't you afraid that Wei Dongming and his cohorts will be driven to desperation, harassing and threatening you?" A profound sense of unease washed over Xing Haotian; with Wei Zi out of his sight, how could he possibly rest easy?

"They won't. I've already applied to the First Academy through the Arcane Bureau. The Arcane Department of the First Academy has just started military training. At the First Academy, Wei Dongming's reach isn't that long," Wei Zi said.

"You're going to the First Academy?"

"Yes. I have to go, my friend is calling me!" Wei Zi said hastily, cutting the connection. Only when Xing Haotian's avatar vanished from her vision did she breathe a sigh of relief.

It was better this way. From now on, their paths would never cross again.

Only now did she feel truly reborn.

Together with the Zhou family, Wei Zi boarded the taxi.

Back at the villa, however, Xing Haotian was pacing back and forth across the living room, radiating such intense body heat that even the carpet on the floor began to curl slightly at the edges, scorched by his rising temperature.