Chapter 15: A New Member Joins the Group Chat

Page 1/3

Because of Mu Xue’s miraculous “dream message,” there was no need for Yun Zhi to bring it up herself; Tao Qi was the first to ask about it.

Yun Zhi casually took from her backpack two bottles of medicine wrapped in plastic foam and sealed inside food preservation bags. “Yes, I received something to deliver to you and someone named Mu Qingsong—one bottle each. But I don’t know Mu Qingsong personally, and I heard you do. Tao Ge, could you help me pass it on to him?”

Tao Qi’s eyes suddenly widened.

He hadn’t expected that the dream he had was actually real!

Moreover, he had gone out this morning to visit Uncle Mu, who seemed to have had a similar dream but didn’t take it seriously.

Tao Qi was momentarily stunned, then stammered, “Sure, sure, I’m quite close with Uncle Mu. Lately, we even go fishing together sometimes. I’ll help you deliver it.”

He accepted the plastic bag from Yun Zhi, carefully checked the contents—indeed the two bottles mentioned in the dream—and cautiously placed them in the passenger seat next to his backpack.

With a strange expression, Tao Qi asked, “Yun Sister, how did you get this? Did you have any special dreams last night?”

Yun Zhi held back a smile, fully aware Tao Qi was asking about Mu Xue.

But Mu Xue had said it was best not to mention her to Tao Qi in reality. If he knew she was not dead but had gone to another world and still maintained occasional contact through Yun Zhi, it would make it even harder for him to move on.

Mu Xue was destined never to return from that strange world, while Tao Qi’s life had to go on.

He was only 25, with a long future ahead.

It had only been a year since she left.

In ten or twenty years, who would still be pining over a distant first love who had long been gone?

Besides, they had never truly been together.

Last night, Mu Xue appeared in Tao Qi’s dream for the first and perhaps last time. She said she knew about what he had done to that scumbag’s mistress and had prepared a gift for him, to be delivered by a girl named Yun Zhi. She also expressed hope that he would let her go and live well in the future.

Yun Zhi sensed Mu Xue’s lingering affection for the real world, perhaps even regret—regret that she had not chosen Tao Qi, who was devoted to her.

Otherwise, she might have had a somewhat tumultuous but ultimately happy love and life.

But life is like an arrow shot from a bow—there’s no turning back.

Even if one day Mu Xue returned from that strange world, with her extraordinary experiences there, she might no longer be able to be with an ordinary person like Tao Qi.

Following Mu Xue’s instructions, Yun Zhi said, “No, I didn’t have any special dreams. As for these, someone gave them to me to deliver to you. Maybe they trusted me because I know you. I don’t know who that person is. They also gave me a runner’s fee, so you don’t need to thank me much. Just remember to give Uncle Mu’s bottle to him by tomorrow at the latest.”

The medicine was valid for three days; today was the first day.

Seeing Yun Zhi’s casual runner’s attitude, Tao Qi was a bit disappointed but didn’t ask further.

“All right, I’ll bring it to Uncle Mu tonight.”

He then shifted the conversation to the auction.

The auction would begin in eight days, preceded by a three-day preview for buyers to inspect the items.

Tao Qi had already contacted the auction house. Yun Zhi would need to go to Haicheng within four days to authenticate the items and hand them over in advance.

The entire process would be witnessed by the notarization center, recorded on surveillance, and security was tight. If anything was lost, the auction house would compensate.

Yun Zhi calculated that four days was still enough time.

After taking the medicine, her parents typically digested the effects within two days.

Tao Qi said, “By the way, you want to rent a place quickly, something safe, private, and suitable for rest. A villa would be best, even if it’s somewhat remote, right? Given your situation, you’ll probably be buying your own house after the auction.”

“Good places usually don’t rent short-term, so I’ll lend you my villa in the suburbs. It’s a coming-of-age gift from my father.”

“I work in the city and rarely stay there, but a cleaning lady comes regularly. This morning, I had someone clean again, added some new supplies, and stocked the fridge. I’m not sure exactly what’s there—you can check when you move in.”

Yun Zhi needed a place urgently with high standards, which was hard to find.

Because it was to be used for her parents’ medication, hotels with cameras everywhere were inconvenient.

If no better choice existed, a high-end hotel might be the fallback, but after taking the medicine, they’d have to be careful: her father’s sudden improvement shouldn’t be seen by staff, and they’d need to maintain the appearance of serious illness when leaving. It was complicated.

As for her mother, Yun Zhi was still uncertain if the medicine would help her recover.

Yun Zhi said, “Fine, tell me the rent; I’ll pay market price. I can’t let you lose out, Tao Ge.”

Tao Qi put on a stern face: “I thought we were friends. You still haggle over this? Do you think I’m short of that rent? If you get anything good to sell, just come to me.”

Yun Zhi smiled, “Okay, then I won’t be polite.”

She had Tao Qi take her to the hospital, and with his help, completed the discharge procedures for her parents.

The doctor strongly recommended continued hospitalization, but Yun Zhi said she wanted to take them to a big city for treatment. The doctor didn’t insist and processed the discharge.

Z City was only a second-tier city with less advanced medical facilities than a big city.

Yun Xinbo’s wounds had improved, but his lumbar injury was not fully healed, so he couldn’t sit up yet. He was carried on a stretcher to the suburban villa by ambulance.

Page 2/3

Ran Yao’s external wounds had healed; with the nurse’s help, she was placed in a wheelchair but remained unconscious.

By the time they settled Yun Xinbo and Ran Yao in two rooms on the villa’s first floor, and the nurse collected her payment and left, it was already past 8 p.m.

Even dinner for Yun Zhi and Tao Qi was just some bread and milk.

As for Yun Xinbo… he hadn’t eaten at all.

Yun Zhi said it was fine to skip one meal.

Tao Qi thought…

It felt like Yun Zhi wasn’t just transferring her father for treatment but maybe wanted him to endure some hardship?

Earlier at the hospital, Yun Zhi had said she’d take her parents to a big city and first back to the villa to find an old Chinese medicine doctor.

Regardless of Chinese or Western medicine, with their conditions, they needed care. Why then had she sent the nurse away tonight?

It didn’t make sense. Yun Zhi was not an unfilial person, and she wasn’t short of money now.

But this was her private matter; despite his doubts, Tao Qi didn’t ask further.

Tao Qi said, “I’ll leave first to deliver the medicine to Uncle Mu. If you need any help, call me.”

He jingled the small backpack he always carried.

Yun Zhi said, “Wait a moment, Tao Ge.”

Tao Qi was surprised. “Is there something else?”

Yun Zhi nodded and took from her bag a food-grade plastic bag containing three bottles of light green medicine, identical to the two Tao Qi held.

“This is the runner’s fee they gave me. I want to give this to my parents, but I’m worried about unexpected situations. I want you to watch over them while they take it.”

Although Mu Xue said once the medicine was in their hands, she didn’t need to worry about its use, Yun Zhi feared her parents might treasure it as a keepsake instead of taking it.

That would be a waste!

Better to have Tao Qi witness its effects!

She was staying in Tao Qi’s house and would be in frequent contact with him.

Outsiders might not know, but Tao Qi would realize she hadn’t called a Chinese doctor over. Soon her father’s wounds would heal quickly.

Maybe even her mother, who was in a vegetative state, could awaken.

Tao Qi himself had some of this medicine; there was no need to hide it from him.

Tao Qi was indeed curious about the medicine’s effects. Mu Xue’s dream message only said it was good for the body, to drink it as soon as possible, preferably when alone at home.

But Tao Qi didn’t know exactly how it worked.

He hadn’t decided whether to drink it himself. This was the first and perhaps only item Mu Xue had entrusted to him!

He even considered setting up an altar with offerings and incense to keep the bottle, hoping to dream of Mu Xue more often.

Then he saw Yun Zhi also had three bottles!

Perhaps Yun Zhi’s family had connections to get them as well?

His curiosity was piqued.

“All right, you feed them. I’ll watch.”

He didn’t dare feed it himself—he wouldn’t risk spilling his bottle.

Yun Zhi first went to Yun Xinbo’s room.

Yun Xinbo was conscious but confused.

His daughter said she was bringing an old Chinese doctor, yet his injuries were mainly external. Even the best doctor might only prescribe tonic herbs.

His daughter had her reasons. She wouldn’t suddenly abandon him now that she was financially stable.

If she wanted to give up, she could have just stopped treatment.

“Xiao… Zhi.”

Yun Xinbo was hungry but didn’t want to trouble his daughter. He wondered why she sent the nurse away. What if he needed to use the bathroom at night?

He was full of questions but hadn’t figured out how to ask when Yun Zhi brought the bottle over. “Open your mouth, Dad. I’m going to give you some medicine.”

Page 3/3

Yun Xinbo instinctively opened his mouth.

A small sip of sweet liquid entered, barely more than 1ml.

Yun Xinbo: …??!!

Medicine? It tastes like sugar water!

Had his daughter been tricked into buying fake medicine expensive enough to seem miraculous?

But the next moment, he felt a warm, gentle energy envelop his injuries.

The pain and discomfort eased bit by bit, replaced by an itching sensation as bones and wounds rapidly healed.

Yun Xinbo exclaimed, “Hiss! What kind of medicine is this? So amazing! Xiao Zhi, where did you get it?”

Less than three minutes after drinking, he was speaking clearly!

Tao Qi, who had watched the whole time, was stunned.

Yun Zhi fed Yun Xinbo only about a quarter of the dose to avoid overwhelming effects, as healing and detoxification occur simultaneously. When the dose is low, healing takes priority.

Whether that amount was enough to repair Yun Xinbo’s body remained to be seen.

It turned out to be sufficient.

Two hours later, Yun Xinbo sat up in bed, though still hindered by plaster casts on his hands and feet.

Tao Qi contacted a doctor friend nearby, who brought tools to remove the casts.

Yun Xinbo successfully got out of bed and sat at the dining table, eating a large bowl of tomato and egg noodles cooked by Yun Zhi.

Tao Qi ate a bowl too, then left with the doctor friend.

The friend joked, “That pretty girl just now—is she your girlfriend?”

Tao Qi replied, “No, don’t say that. You’re damaging my reputation with a young lady.”

The doctor friend: …

“If there wasn’t something special, why would you let her stay at your place?”

Tao Qi didn’t elaborate, quickly saying goodbye and rushing to the Mu family’s home.

Yun Zhi said she planned to give her mother the medicine soon and would take some herself later.

She told him to drink his dose at home early to avoid delaying their flight to Haicheng the day after tomorrow.

Tao Qi felt Yun Zhi knew much more about the medicine than she let on, but she only mentioned precautions, especially the three-day shelf life, never revealing how she knew.

The villa where the Mu family lived was just opposite Tao Qi’s own villa, only a few minutes by car.

When Tao Qi arrived at the Mu residence, Mu Qingsong was already asleep.

Woken in the middle of the night, Mu Qingsong thought something serious had happened.

Tao Qi said, “Uncle, don’t say anything. I’m giving you something to drink. Remember, you must not spit it out—swallow it all…”

Meanwhile, Yun Zhi was urging Yun Xinbo to finish the remaining medicine in one go.

Suddenly, a glowing screen popped up—the task interface of the Transmigrators’ Chat Group.

[Qin Tianhai’s commissioned task completed. Settling rewards…]

[The task giver is very satisfied, giving the host a five-star rating and 500 points. Total points: 790, closer to the 1000 points needed for level 2.]

[First perfect completion of a commissioned task. The host receives a reward—a random new member with a golden finger joins the chat group!]

In the Transmigrators’ Chat Group:

Ancient Matriarchal World—Chi Xiaoyu: “Hello everyone, I’m Chi Xiaoyu, a royal chef from the fictional Dayong dynasty! My golden finger is a chef god cultivation system.”

Everyone bubbled with welcomes for the newcomer.

Chi Xiaoyu: “Wuwuwu, I finally found my family! Who understands? As a handsome guy transmigrated to an ancient matriarchal world, I was almost forcibly taken by several queen lords! I deliberately acted ugly and passed many tests to become a palace chef, escaping disaster! qaq”

Cen Junfei immediately felt jealous: “What? Such luck! Being fought over by rich ladies? Why didn’t that happen to me!”

Chi Xiaoyu replied gloomily, “Those queen lords are over 1.9 meters tall, robust, 1.5 times my size. Each has several, even dozens of male favorites, some with domestic violence tendencies… Are you sure you want that ‘luck’?”

Cen Junfei: …!!!

He deleted a message immediately.