Seeing a once well-behaved child reduced to such a state, Ji Nian couldn't help but feel a pang of sorrow in her heart.
"You..."
The child had made countless cuts on her hand, leaving it a bloody, unrecognizable mess. Blood dripped steadily from the wounds.
Ji Nian felt a phantom pain in her own palm, which had almost fully healed, leaving only a faint scar.
She took out a handkerchief and tended to Shen Qingtang's wounds. The child, as if numb to the pain, remained silent, allowing Ji Nian to do as she pleased.
"Harming yourself won't solve anything."
"The real villain is the one who used you."
Emotionally, Ji Nian did feel a slight resentment, but rationally, she knew Shen Qingtang was just a child.
When she was five, Ji Nian had been a snot-nosed brat who pulled the hair of every boy on the street, earning the disdain of even the neighborhood dogs.
System: Your childhood, my childhood—they're not the same.
"Will Wei Yang also become a star in the sky?"
Shen Qingtang still wore that expressionless face, as if her soul had been drained from her body.
Ji Nian gently stroked the child's messy hair.
With a firm tone, she said, "No!"
How dare someone poison her people? Did they think she, a toxicology expert, was dead?
The only concern was that this world was different from the one she had lived in before. Would the naming and effects of certain elements be the same?
Even so, Ji Nian wouldn't stand by and watch Wei Yang lose his mind.
Her confidence was so overwhelming that it overshadowed her youthful appearance, making it hard not to be influenced by her certainty.
"Really?"
A glimmer of hope appeared in Shen Qingtang's eyes.
Ji Nian patted her chest. "Really!"
"Come with me now, let's get your wounds treated, clean up, change your clothes, and get some sleep. I promise you'll see Wei Yang safe and sound tomorrow."
After all, the poison takes time to take effect, and in the original story, Ji Tingzhou hadn't let him die.
Ji Nian extended her hand to Shen Qingtang, who seemed to be considering it.
Shen Qingtang looked at the small girl standing under the streetlight, radiating confidence and offering an encouraging gaze. Slowly, she placed her uninjured hand in Ji Nian's.
Ji Nian grasped it firmly and helped her up.
After a moment of thought, Ji Nian suddenly opened her arms and hugged Shen Qingtang.
As Shen Qingtang's eyes widened, she heard a soft voice whisper in her ear, "It's not your fault..."
Ji Nian had been too careless. If she had paid more attention or mentioned that Wei Yang was the target, perhaps this could have been avoided.
Upon hearing these words, Shen Qingtang's suppressed emotions, which had been spiraling toward self-destruction, suddenly burst forth. She hugged Ji Nian back and let out a loud, heart-wrenching cry.
Ji Nian patted her back.
It's good to cry. Being able to cry is a good sign.
Shen Qingtang didn't know that if Ji Nian hadn't been there tonight, her life might have taken a very different path.
Zhi Le, standing behind a pillar and listening to the scene, let out a soft sigh.
She wasn't even as composed as a child.
Wei Yang would be fine. Ji Tingzhou had already lost one brother, Shen Rushan. He wouldn't allow another to leave.
...
Ji Nian held Shen Qingtang's hand and led her back, handing her over to a worried servant who had been anxiously waiting.
When the servant saw Shen Qingtang, she rushed over, her eyes reddening at the sight of the child's bloodied hand.
"How did this happen... How did it get like this?"
Seeing the servant's genuine concern, Ji Nian felt reassured.
How could anyone not love such a sweet and adorable child like the female lead?
Who could spend time with such a kind and well-behaved child and not grow fond of her?
Ji Nian turned to leave, but Shen Qingtang grabbed her sleeve.
Ji Nian looked back and met Shen Qingtang's eyes, filled with reluctance and fear.
"Be good, trust me. Everything will be fine."
"Let the doctor treat your wounds and get some rest."
Hearing her words, Shen Qingtang felt a sense of relief and let go.
The servant watched Ji Nian's retreating figure with a puzzled expression.
Her tone and demeanor... they didn't seem like those of a five-year-old girl.
If someone told her this was Shen Qingtang's grandmother, she'd believe it.
...
After leaving, Ji Nian went to see Wei Yang.
Wei Yang, who had already written his will, now seemed to have a detached view of life. When he saw Ji Nian, his face showed a bit of genuine warmth.
If he survived, he would risk having Ji Tingzhou break his legs to buy Ji Nian some shrimp chips.
"Ji Nian, come here."
Wei Yang was grateful to Ji Nian. Without her, he would probably already be in a coffin.
"Wei Yang, how are you holding up?"
Ji Nian noticed the puffiness around his eyes, knowing he wasn't as strong as he appeared.
Wei Yang said he felt fine and even joked that the doctor might have misdiagnosed him.
But that was impossible.
Ji Nian's eyes darted around, and she soon spotted a few crumpled reports on the table nearby.
She guessed Wei Yang had probably asked to see them himself.
As she walked over, Wei Yang suddenly spoke up, "Hey, wait."
Ji Nian paused.
Had he figured out her intentions?
But even if he had, it didn't matter. No one would believe a five-year-old could understand these reports.
"If you want to draw, I can have someone bring you some blank paper. These already have writing on them."
Wei Yang was touched.
It was late, and instead of sleeping, she wanted to keep him company under the guise of drawing.
What an incredibly thoughtful child.
Ji Nian: "...Sure."
Well, she was just a child now.
No need for logical behavior.
She walked over and started reading the densely packed reports.
Sure enough, one of them was the chemical analysis she was looking for.
Ji Nian leaned in and carefully examined the data.
First glance: Good, good, the names are the same. I can understand this.
Second glance: She rubbed her eyes in disbelief and looked again.
[What the hell...]
System: What happened?
Ji Nian: [What the hell!!!]
[What the hell!!!]
[Which bastard stole my research!!!]
This poison was clearly the deadly weapon she had accidentally created when she was twenty-two!
System: Huh?
Ji Nian: Huh?
Thanks for the invite. I'm in another world and just found my own research.
Meanwhile, Wei Yang watched the little girl, who seemed to be seriously studying the report as if she could actually understand it, with a warm feeling in his heart.
Too bad... he didn't know if he'd have the chance to watch her grow up.
Wei Yang's eyes dimmed.
Just then, Ji Nian strode over with purpose, hopped onto the chair by the bed, and patted Wei Yang's shoulder.
"Kid, you better take good care of me in the future."
With that, she jumped down, laughed heartily, and walked away.
Wei Yang: ???
Seriously, maybe they should give Ji Nian a full check-up.
She seemed like the one who was poisoned.
But Ji Nian stopped laughing as soon as she reached the door.
[So here's the question]
[I remember the antidote formula and can make it]
[But will they let a kid who's barely taller than a puddle into the lab?]
