Chapter 15

Chapter 15

Shen Muyun's eyelashes fluttered, his heart seizing. How had Lu Huainan seen through his act? No, he couldn't be exposed. Since he'd committed to the pretense, he would see it through. He couldn't possibly be dragged awake so abruptly. Shen Muyun composed himself, his face serene, his heart undisturbed, lying perfectly still on the bed.

Lu Huainan set the apple aside, observing Shen Muyun's subtle tells—the twitching eyelashes, the slightly less steady breathing. He pursed his lips, then sat in a nearby chair, cutting the peeled apple into small pieces and placing them in a bowl before beginning to peel an orange.

A voice echoed in Shen Muyun's mind: "Host Master, I must say, your acting is truly superb. Why haven't you won a Nanfeng Oscar? With talent like yours, you should enter the film industry—you'd make a fortune."

Shen Muyun frowned but quickly smoothed his expression. No, he was still pretending; he couldn't let any cracks show. He even ignored the system.

The system, sensing his disinterest, fell silent.

After a while, Shen Muyun noticed the surrounding sounds had quieted. Was everyone gone? He hadn't heard Lu Huainan leave. He squinted, opening his eyes just a slit, trying to discern Lu Huainan's current position and movements.

Just then, a commotion erupted at the door. "Mr. Lu, how are things here? Has Mr. Shen woken up?"

It was Qi Beichen's voice. Hadn't he said he needed rest? How long had it been, and he was already here checking in?

Lu Huainan stood, walked to the door, glanced back at Shen Muyun on the bed, and gestured to Qi Beichen: "Shh."

The two stepped out of the room and conversed by the door.

"How is he?"

"Still unconscious, just as you see. Dr. Qi, I never expected to find you here. Don't you usually live in the lab or the emergency room?"

Qi Beichen shrugged helplessly. "Shen Liuyun arranged it. He said there was a horse race here and asked me to be the on-site doctor. I thought, since I was on leave, I'd come take a look. Who knew something like this would happen? My students are covering the lab, but even my time off isn't peaceful—I got roped into being extra help here."

Lu Huainan exhaled. "He didn't fall off the horse; it might just be shock. Is it possible he's pretending to be unconscious?"

Qi Beichen was taken aback. "Huh? Why would he pretend? Medically speaking, even without a fall, experiencing extreme joy or sorrow, or highly exciting events, can indeed cause fainting. But during the examination, I found no internal injuries. You, however, might be overthinking it."

Lu Huainan peered into the room through the small window on the door. "Hmm, I suppose I am overthinking."

Shen Muyun heard every word distinctly. He immediately rolled over, turning his back to the door, and opened his eyes. "System, should I keep pretending? Lu Huainan already knows. If I keep lying here, I'll just look ridiculous."

The system flickered and appeared before him. "Host Master, honestly, you could have woken up earlier. I didn't expect you to get so deeply into character. Lu Huainan is incredibly observant—he notices your every move, even if he doesn't say anything. Don't be fooled by his gentle exterior; Lu Huainan is far more complex than you imagine."

Shen Muyun gasped inwardly. So, his little charade had probably been seen through by Lu Huainan all along. No wonder he'd asked such a strange question earlier. He decided to drop the act. Stretching his arms and legs, he got out of bed and walked to the door.

Hearing their conversation, he opened the door a crack, tilted his head, and smiled. "Huainan, Dr. Qi, why are you talking by the door? Aren't you coming in?"

Hearing Shen Muyun's voice, Lu Huainan frowned slightly. His hand moved faster than his brain, immediately reaching out to support him. He then said, "Why are you out of bed so soon after waking up? Your brother asked me to look after you. If anything happens, I won't be able to explain it. Do you feel dizzy, or any pain anywhere? What if you fall again without noticing?"

"Ahem..."

Qi Beichen, standing nearby, couldn't bear it any longer and coughed lightly. Was he supposed to become part of their little play?

Shen Muyun glanced awkwardly at Qi Beichen and quickly pulled away from Lu Huainan's grasp. "Um, Dr. Qi, I'm fine. Thanks to your examination earlier, I feel refreshed now, no major issues. Maybe I just needed a good sleep to make up for the morning's missed rest. I was probably just too tired."

Qi Beichen gestured for Shen Muyun to lie back down and conducted another thorough check. Only after confirming that Shen Muyun was truly fine did he relax. "You do seem perfectly fine. If anything comes up, you can contact me. Mr. Lu, you have my number—feel free to call anytime."

Qi Beichen swiftly escaped the room. The dynamic between these two felt off; better to run than be caught in their… whatever it was. Weren't they supposed to have just met? Well, no time to ponder their affairs. Leaving was the best option.

Lu Huainan speared a piece of apple and offered it to Shen Muyun, who took it readily.

"So, Huainan, about today... I really owe you one. But aren't we getting a bit too close? Wouldn't want any rumors spreading."

Lu Huainan pulled a chair to the bedside and sat down. "Things were urgent today. So many people were around, but no one else stepped up. You're Liuyun's brother—I couldn't just stand by and watch you get hurt. I didn't think much about it."

Shen Muyun nodded, studying Lu Huainan's expression. He felt a flicker of doubt, but that strange feeling finally dissipated.

"As for public opinion, don't worry. I've already had someone handle it. That race was quite exciting—I didn't know you could ride."

Shen Muyun smiled. Of course he could. In his previous life, he'd even won awards. But later, he became too busy with experiments and gradually gave up these hobbies. Now, though, it was good. With this new identity as a carefree young master, he could indulge in whatever he liked.

"I learned as a child, but after a fall, I never really got back into it. But facing Zhou Shiqing as an opponent sparked my competitive side, so I... By the way, how's Himi? I should go check on him. Is he badly hurt?"

Lu Huainan hadn't expected Shen Muyun to be so sympathetic. He was the one who stabbed the horse, yet he seemed genuinely worried, unlike the crowd below who'd called him a madman.

"I just came from there. Don't worry—the wound isn't fatal, and it missed major blood vessels. Even the vet was surprised at how precisely you avoided them. He should recover in a month or two. But horses hold grudges—you might need to win him over with some gifts."

Shen Muyun nodded, relieved. It had been unintentional, and now he felt a pang of guilt. "That's good."

"Does this mean I owe you another favor?"

Lu Huainan was about to respond when his phone buzzed. "Ding."

He glanced apologetically at Shen Muyun, gestured that he had to take the call, and walked out of the room.

Shen Muyun looked at the medical chart at the bedside, which recommended one to two days of observation. He didn't want to stay a moment longer in this place—the lingering smell of disinfectant was a constant, unwelcome reminder.

"System, come out. Is there any way to check out immediately?"

"Host Master, honestly, you're lucky to be alive this time. I really thought we might need to find a new Host Master. Luck balances out, you know? In your previous life, you had it rough, but this time, your luck is bound to be off the charts. You'll exceed all mission targets and maybe even get a fresh start."

"Enough with the flattery, System. Has my behavior affected the main storyline? Or caused any drastic changes in the favorability meter?"

The system flickered, calculating the relevant data. After a while, it replied.

"Based on the current progress, the race has caused some fluctuations. The main storyline has been affected, even corrected to some extent. Previous Host Masters have unlocked hidden arcs like this, but... well, they didn't succeed, and the main plot just continued uneventfully. Host Master, you need more confidence. This is your life—how you live it is up to you. My purpose is just to make sure you enjoy it to the fullest."

Before Shen Muyun could respond, Lu Huainan pushed the door open and hurried in, looking apologetic. "Brother Yun, there's a problem with the north land project. I need to go check it out. As for here..."

Shen Muyun smiled. "I'm fine. Go ahead."

Lu Huainan felt something was off about Shen Muyun's demeanor but couldn't pinpoint what. It seemed he'd need to observe him a bit longer.

"Brother Yun, even if you're not injured, make sure to rest properly."

Shen Muyun nodded, leaning obediently against the pillow as he watched Lu Huainan leave the room. Only then did his tension ease, and he continued his conversation with the system.

"System, are you saying nothing here is set in stone?"

Shen Muyun took a bite of the apple, its sweet juice flooding his throat.

"Yes, Host Master. This is just an unfinished novel—there was never a fixed ending. So anything is possible. You're in control, as long as you stay within the limits."

Shen Muyun caught a key piece of information. "System, what's the limit?"

The system circled around Shen Muyun before hovering mid-air. "You've known since day one—you only have three years to live. Everything is based on that premise. Then, you try to extend your lifespan so the game can continue. As for the limit, the system doesn't have a precise definition—it just suggests that everything should be done in moderation."

Shen Muyun was speechless. This system was a master at playing dumb and avoiding questions. "That's not an answer at all, System. How is it that you never give a straight answer? I'm tired now and want to rest. You—you're dismissed."