Chapter 53: Chapter 53: Change

When Teacher Ai Li and Teacher Sherry saw Lu Xiao suddenly appear in the office, they both smiled, walked over, and gave her a hug. “Darling, why aren’t you resting at home for a few more days?”

“I’ve completely recovered, Teacher Ai Li, Teacher Sherry.” Lu Xiao returned their hugs politely. “Weren’t there any patients scheduled for me today?”

“We thought you’d be resting for a few more days, so we didn’t open your office,” Teacher Ai Li explained. “Are you really feeling alright?”

She had seen with her own eyes how weak Lu Xiao was that day. Any other female wouldn’t have shown up without resting for at least ten days to half a month.

More ostentatious ones might even go around proclaiming they’d done some earth-shattering, heaven-moving deed.

A humble female like Lu Xiao was a true rarity.

“Don’t worry, I’m really all better. There isn’t enough time this morning, so I’ll start this afternoon.” As she spoke, Lu Xiao took down the “Temporarily Closed” sign from her office door, not wasting a single minute.

Teacher Ai Li sighed. “Even if you’re fine, you should still take good care of yourself.”

“I know, Teacher Ai Li. That’s why I wanted to discuss something with you. The next time I go see Dean—um, I mean 3377—would you be willing to perform a Spiritual Soothing for him as well? I think with our combined strength, we could help him recover faster. What do you think?”

Teacher Ai Li froze for a moment before nodding. “You’re right, darling. We’re all therapists at the Fifth Research Institute. It’s not right to let you do all the hard work alone. We should share the burden.”

Lu Xiao’s words were like a needle, jolting them awake.

Watching Lu Xiao see patients every day, it was impossible for them not to be moved. It was just that after so many years, their ingrained way of thinking and their status as females made it impossible for them to justify treating those males for no good reason.

But now that Lu Xiao had suggested it, Teacher Ai Li felt she had found her justification.

They were helping because they couldn’t bear to see Lu Xiao overwork herself. If that story got out, there would be no problem at all.

In truth, Lu Xiao was surprised by how readily Teacher Ai Li agreed and found herself subconsciously taking a second look at her.

“Why are you looking at me like that? Did you think I’d refuse?” Teacher Ai Li didn’t miss Lu Xiao’s surprised expression. “I’m not so heartless as to watch you struggle alone. I’ve already spoken with the others. The next time you go to the shelter, we’ll all go with you. And starting today, our offices will begin accepting patients, too. We can’t manage two a day, so we’ll start with one. You don’t have a problem with that, do you?”

“Of course not! I think you all are incredible!” ’For them to be willing to change their long-held beliefs and take the initiative to perform Spiritual Soothing on males, all for my sake… isn’t that incredibly brave and praiseworthy?’

“Well, since you think we’re so incredible, how about a little something to show your appreciation?” Teacher Sherry leaned in, looking at Lu Xiao expectantly.

Seeing their expressions, Lu Xiao knew they had planned this beforehand. She wasn’t annoyed by it, though, and simply smiled. “Of course. What would you like, Teacher Sherry?”

“In that case, we won’t be shy! We’d love to have those sweet-and-sour pork ribs you made before. Is that okay?”

Teacher Sherry asked that last part—”Is that okay?”—very cautiously, as if worried Lu Xiao might find her request imposing.

Lu Xiao didn’t think it was a big deal at all. Hearing that all they wanted was sweet-and-sour pork ribs, she couldn’t help but chuckle. “Hm? Is that all? No other requests besides sweet-and-sour pork ribs? In that case, how about this: I’ll invite everyone over to my place this weekend, and I’ll cook for you myself. How does that sound?”

Teacher Sherry’s eyes widened. “You’d really invite us over to your house?”

“Of course. You’re all my friends, and I’d be happy to cook for you. So it’s a date! You all have to come. I’ll get all the ingredients ready to treat you, so please, make yourselves at home!~”

“Well, since you put it like that, it would be rude for us not to go!” Teacher Ai Li’s eyes were filled with mirth. She felt Lu Xiao was truly the most selfless and kindest female she had ever met.

Her uniqueness was dazzling.

Even as a fellow female, it was hard not to like her.

She felt that no one could refuse Lu Xiao.

She was truly a ray of light in this endless darkness.

With nothing much to do in the morning, Lu Xiao first organized some patient files, then opened her author dashboard. She’d had a lot going on, so her novel hadn’t been updated in two days. The number of private messages in her inbox demanding an update was already 999+.

Feeling a pang of guilt, she didn’t open the messages. Instead, she went straight to the new Chapter page, planning to use the free moment to write.

Just as she was about to start, she heard Teacher Sherry’s exasperated voice. “The author of *After the Main Husband Runaway* hasn’t updated in two days. Do you think she might’ve dropped the series?”

“It’s hard to say. It’s pretty normal for new authors like this to just go silent mid-story. And I especially think she’s genuinely planning to have Morian and Belle get a divorce.”

“No way! Teacher Ai Li, how could you think that? I don’t think they’ll get a divorce, no matter what. Morian loves Belle so much! What he’s doing now is just a cry for attention. Once Belle comes to her senses, the story will get all sweet and fluffy again. I’m sure of it!” Teacher Sherry looked completely certain; she’d seen this kind of trope in countless novels.

Listening to her two colleagues’ discussion, Lu Xiao couldn’t help but glance at Teacher Ai Li.

’On this point,’ she thought, ’Teacher Ai Li’s judgment is much more accurate.’

’I already wrote that Morian found a new place and was preparing to move out. Was that just for show?’

’Of course not—’

Morian was really preparing to move out. It was true that he had once loved Belle dearly, enough to give up everything for her. Everyone thought he was just an ordinary male with no background or family connections. In reality, however, he was a male from the Valenda Family, one of the three great financial dynasties of the Empire. Even without any inheritance rights, the wealth he possessed was beyond the imagination of most Imperial people.

His family had never approved of Belle’s status. They had even threatened to cut him off from his wealth to make him give her up, but he chose Belle in the end. The outcome, however, was tragic.

Morian finished packing his things and looked at the single duffel bag. A silent, bitter smile spread across his face—a smile full of sarcasm and sorrow.

Meanwhile, Belle was out drinking with her friends, complaining about how unreasonable Morian was. “I mean, I even gave him the position of main husband. What more could he want? Which female doesn’t have a side husband or other husbands? I admit I might have a few too many, but wasn’t that to help him with the burden of supporting me? I was thinking of his well-being! And now he wants to divorce me? He’s lucky I haven’t divorced him first!”

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep