The Sickly Beauty Gives Up Struggling [Rebirth] Chapter 103

The antipyretics worked effectively, and within about half an hour, Li Rong felt his temperature drop.

However, his weakness remained. The medication could only reduce the fever; it couldn’t address the underlying inflammation.

Normally, he should have spent the day resting in bed, allowing his body to recover and strengthen its immune response.

But there was no time for normalcy.

Yu Fuyan had booked their tickets, and Cen Xiao sent Li Rong a message immediately:

[Cen Xiao: The earliest flight is at 7 p.m. There’s no first-class seat available, so we’ll have to fly economy. Get some rest; I’ve ordered breakfast for you. Don’t worry about the report—I’ve kept it completely secure.]

Cen Xiao didn’t mention the ten-day deadline from Han Jiang, knowing that it would only stress Li Rong further.

Li Rong read the message, his thumb slowly brushing over the screen.

After a moment, he exhaled deeply.

Since they couldn’t leave until the evening, he couldn’t afford to waste the time.

[Li Rong: Okay, but don’t order breakfast—I just heated some bread. I want to sleep now and might not hear the doorbell later.]

[Cen Xiao: Let me know when you wake up.]

[Li Rong: Got it.]

Li Rong exited the chat, glanced at the time on his phone—8 a.m., the peak of the workday rush. There were 11 hours until their flight.

He opened his wardrobe, pulled out a thick down jacket, and bundled himself up.

Even the act of dressing left him drenched in sweat. He sat on the bed to catch his breath and only stood up again once his strength returned slightly. Grabbing the antipyretics, he stepped outside.

As soon as he opened the door, a fierce morning wind, laced with fine snow, blew against him. The pale sunlight barely warmed the earth before the cold scattered it into frost.

Covering his pale face, Li Rong took out his phone and dialed a number he had saved but never called.

The phone rang for about ten seconds before being answered. The background noise was harsh—the screech of metal being sawed and clanging as steel fell to the ground.

“Hello?” The sound of heavy footsteps grew fainter, and the industrial din faded as the person walked away from the noise.

Finally, Li Rong could hear the voice clearly.

Hailing a taxi and stepping inside, Li Rong spoke calmly: “Huang Baikang, I need your help.”

There was a pause on the other end, followed by a surprised voice: “You… that high school kid, Li Rong?”

Huang Baikang hadn’t expected to receive a call from Li Rong, let alone that Li Rong truly needed his help.

Li Rong spoke calmly, “Money isn’t an issue. Will you take the job?”

Huang Baikang chuckled. “Depends—what do you need me to do?”

Li Rong heard the creak of a metal chair as Huang Baikang lazily settled into it. 

Lowering his voice to ensure the taxi driver, listening to the radio, couldn’t hear, Li Rong said, “I’ll give you an address—a mooncake shop. No matter what method you use, I need you to find out if Jiang Sheng was coerced before he fell to his death. Were his family members threatened by Meijiang Pharmaceuticals? On the night he fell, did he meet with his family, and did he exhibit any unusual behavior?”

Huang Baikang was sharp enough to ask, “Who’s Jiang Sheng?”

Li Rong replied evenly, “An employee of the Ghost Eye Unit in District Nine. He fell to his death, officially ruled an accidental death, but internally the Ghost Eye Unit suspects foul play.”

Intrigued, Huang Baikang raised an eyebrow. Although he had little understanding of organizations like Blue Pivot and Hongsuo, his involvement in the Li Qingli thesis incident had piqued his interest in such matters. 

He understood what the Ghost Eye Unit of Blue Pivot District Nine represented.

“You think there’s something off about the official ruling? That the authorities botched the investigation?” Huang Baikang asked.

Li Rong let out a faint laugh. “No. I suspect the Ghost Eye Unit made a mistake—or they were deceived.”

Excitement lit up Huang Baikang’s face. This sounded like a thrilling challenge. “Anything goes, huh?”

Li Rong closed his eyes briefly. “Yes. I need results by 7 p.m. tonight. As for your methods, I don’t need to know.”

Huang Baikang couldn’t help but laugh. “Still a student through and through.”

After hanging up, Li Rong leaned back against the seat, swallowing hard. 

The taxi was filled with a heavy stench—a mix of motor oil, gasoline, and the damp, musty odor of rags used to wipe the windows.

The slippery road forced the driver to move cautiously, stopping and starting repeatedly. The nauseating smell combined with the jerky motion left Li Rong’s stomach churning, almost causing him to throw up the undigested bread he’d eaten earlier.

After what felt like an eternity, the taxi finally reached the entrance of the Xuefu Road Police Station. Li Rong paid the fare, got out, and immediately leaned against a wall, dry-heaving for a full two minutes.

He gritted his teeth, his entire face scrunched in discomfort as he clutched his stomach, taking deep breaths to steady himself.

Across from the police station, a shop had been newly renovated, replacing a Lanzhou noodle restaurant with a milk tea shop. Despite the cold weather, quite a few people lined up for a cup of hot milk tea, and the rich aroma of milk and fruit syrup wafted down the street.

Li Rong adjusted his scarf, exposing most of his face, and walked into the Xuefu Road Police Station.

“Hello, I’d like to see Officer Chen Ping. He handled a case of mine before.”

Chen Ping was the officer who had dealt with the case of the geology student who lost a portable hard drive. 

After handling the case, Chen Ping had gained some understanding of the situation. He felt sorry for Xu Tanghui, who had been wrongfully accused, and had a favorable impression of Li Rong as a student who stood up for justice.

Seeing Li Rong, Chen Ping sighed and rubbed his head in mild exasperation. “Alright, I recognize him. You don’t need to worry about it. Let him come with me.”

Carrying his teacup, Chen Ping led Li Rong into his office. 

He sat down in his chair and pushed another chair, belonging to a colleague assigned to community work, toward Li Rong. With a sigh, he asked, “Why are you here to see me again?”

Li Rong sat down, his expression unusually serious. He spoke each word with precision: “I need to confirm again—was there absolutely nothing irregular in Jiang Sheng’s case?”

Hearing Jiang Sheng’s name, Chen Ping immediately straightened up. He glanced around to ensure no one was paying attention before setting his teacup on the table and leaning in close to Li Rong. In a low voice, he said, “I’ve already told you—there was absolutely nothing irregular. This case wasn’t even ours to handle. Technically, I shouldn’t have even asked around for you. If it weren’t for my classmate being involved… You young people always seem to distrust law enforcement. If there were really so many loopholes, society would be in chaos by now.”

Li Rong pressed Chen Ping’s emphatically pointing finger down with a slight laugh. “It’s not about distrust. I’ve entrusted my personal safety to the police, after all. Of course, I can’t help but ask.”

Chen Ping frowned. “What do you mean by that? Wait—why do you look so pale?”

Li Rong pursed his lips, his tone light but steady. “Jiang Sheng died unexpectedly while investigating Meijiang Pharmaceutical. I’m about to head there myself. Knowing the extent of their recklessness in advance will help me prepare.”

Looking at Li Rong’s pale, exhausted face, Chen Ping grew uneasy. “Why do you always end up involved in such messy situations? You’re a college student—shouldn’t you be enjoying life? Look at you—you’ve worn yourself sick.”

Li Rong gave a helpless, bitter smile. “Do you think I don’t want to enjoy life?”

Chen Ping fell silent.

After the last incident, he had taken the time to look into who Li Qingli and Gu Nong were and learned about Li Rong’s tragic circumstances.

He couldn’t say whether Li Qingli and Gu Nong had been wronged, but there had been no official statement on the matter.

Nongan Medical Equipment Company’s bankruptcy had been caused by the breakdown of its supply chain. Public pressure led partner companies to terminate contracts unilaterally, cutting off Nongan’s cash flow and preventing the promised products from being delivered on time.

Then came the even murkier rumors, followed by the deaths of Li Qingli and Gu Nong from carbon monoxide poisoning, leaving Li Rong alone.

The public outrage and online harassment continued to target Li Rong for another two months.

In truth, Li Rong had never been afforded the chance to enjoy life.

Chen Ping sighed. The Li family’s tragedy was far beyond the reach of a low-ranking police officer like him to resolve. However, he had asked a classmate to help him look into Jiang Sheng’s case and had personally reviewed the records.

Chen Ping spoke earnestly, “I can responsibly say that the officers handling Jiang Sheng’s case followed all proper procedures. There were no suspicious traces found at the scene. The footage from outside his home was reviewed, and the doors and windows were checked—no one had broken in or threatened him. His phone and computer were also examined, with no deleted messages or threatening content found.

That night, Jiang Sheng drank a lot of alcohol. According to his neighbors, he was in high spirits, even singing karaoke in his apartment, which disturbed the elderly lady next door. Later, a couple argued loudly downstairs, and many residents came out to watch. Jiang Sheng went to his balcony to watch the commotion, but in his drunken state, he accidentally fell. His slowed reaction time due to the alcohol meant he couldn’t take any measures to save himself.”

Li Rong nodded and forced a small smile. “Alright, I believe you.”

Officer Chen Ping frowned as he looked at Li Rong’s pale, almost ghostly face. “Still, you… take care of yourself, okay? You’re still young, and there’s plenty of time ahead.”

Li Rong chuckled softly, stood up while supporting himself on the chair, and bid farewell to Chen Ping.

After leaving the police station, Li Rong didn’t head home immediately but went to the university instead.

The delicate snowflakes drifting from the sky seemed to have finally come to a stop, leaving a thin white layer covering the ground. The paths were wet, and wherever wheels passed, they left winding, damp tracks.

Even though Li Rong wore a thick down jacket that covered him tightly, his limbs grew numb from the cold. He could, however, feel the unusually warm breath he exhaled, which condensed into soft, beautiful white clouds in the chilly air.

The university canteen had installed heavy thermal curtains at the entrance, but with the constant stream of students entering and leaving, they didn’t seem to do much good. The temperature inside the canteen wasn’t comfortable either, so most students preferred to order takeout and eat in their dorms.

Li Rong returned to his dormitory and waited for He Changfeng to come back.

The moment he entered his bedroom, Li Rong didn’t bother to take off his coat. He collapsed onto his bed.

As soon as his body hit the mattress, he felt a sliver of comfort, but a dull headache began to throb in his temples, as if protesting against the chill he’d endured.

With his eyes half-closed and feeling groggy, he endured the discomfort, his hand never leaving his phone.

He wanted to know about Huang Baikang’s progress immediately, even though he knew it was unlikely to have results so soon.

Cen Xiao probably thought Li Rong was asleep and didn’t dare disturb him.

Li Rong had initially intended to discuss his plan with Cen Xiao but decided against it. Cen Xiao might get angry; it was better to wait for another time.

As his thoughts wandered, Li Rong managed to make it to midday. Just as expected, He Changfeng returned to the dormitory immediately after class.

Li Rong was startled awake by the loud sound of the door slamming shut. He Changfeng, carrying two large lunch bags, had used his foot to kick the door closed.

“Hoo~ Eek~ Hmm~ Oh~” He Changfeng hummed a tune while sniffling, clearly in a good mood.

He set the lunch bags on the small dining table, unbuttoned his coat, and went to the fridge for a carbonated drink.

Li Rong got up, opened his bedroom door, and stepped out. It was only then that He Changfeng noticed someone else was in the dorm.

He paused briefly. “When did you get back?”

He was so used to Li Rong not spending the night in the dorm that seeing him there felt unusual.

Li Rong’s face was pale, his lips dry, and his eyes slightly bloodshot from just waking up. His voice was hoarse as he replied, “This morning.”

He Changfeng frowned as he scrutinized Li Rong. “Are you sick?”

Li Rong took a deep breath, his gaze lowering slightly. In a soft voice, he said, “I have a favor to ask, but… it’s a bit much, so I’m hesitant to bring it up.”

He Changfeng frowned. “What do you mean by ‘a bit much’?”

He had plenty of money, and what others considered extravagant often didn’t seem that way to him.

Li Rong’s eyelashes trembled as he looked up slightly, forcing a small, embarrassed smile. “It’s my grandmother’s birthday soon. She’s religious, and last time, she saw your necklace. I’d like to get one custom-made for her. Could I borrow yours for two days? If you’re worried, I can leave a deposit.”

He Changfeng glanced down at his neck and touched the cross necklace with his fingers. “You want to custom-make this?”

The silver necklace was from a brand, and its price was significantly marked up. If someone were to order a similar one from a silver shop, it wouldn’t cost much at all.

Based on He Changfeng’s estimate of Li Rong’s financial situation, that seemed about right.

He Changfeng didn’t want others to think he was stingy. Besides, a necklace costing tens of thousands of yuan didn’t mean much to him.

He never really understood his father’s devotion to this kind of thing. He personally preferred wearing something more trendy. Wearing a cross necklace often led others to assume he was religious, which left him feeling awkward.

Without much thought, He Changfeng casually took off the necklace, squeezed it in his palm, and tossed it to Li Rong.

“No deposit needed. If you want to make one, go ahead,” he said nonchalantly.

Li Rong caught the necklace, feeling the weight of the pure silver in his hand. His emotions were complicated.

From the necklace, it was clear how much thought He Dayong had put into it. The intricately crafted cross had a small green diamond embedded at the top.

Green diamonds symbolize hope, health, and life. It was a sign of He Dayong’s wish for He Changfeng to stay free from illness and misfortune, living a safe and peaceful life.

But this wish was born from a heavy truth: He Changfeng knew nothing about the sacrifices his father had made.

While He Dayong sank deeper into the whirlpool of his troubles, he tried to create a pure and untarnished world for his son.

Yet this world was fragile, unable to withstand the trials of life.

Once it collapsed, innocence would become a disaster, and love would turn into cruelty.

Li Rong clenched the necklace in his palm, feeling the edges of the cross press painfully against his bones—a dull, numbing ache.

Softly, he said, “Your father must have high hopes for you.”

He Changfeng popped open a soda can, taking a few large gulps before smirking. “Do I even need my dad’s hopes? Of course, I’ll expand the family business in the future. At the very least, I’ll change some things. Otherwise, what’s the point of studying biochemistry?”

Li Rong smiled. “What’s wrong with things now? What do you plan to change?”

He Changfeng looked puzzled. “Don’t you think everyone’s just churning out generic drugs to make quick money, blindly following others? How many companies are truly innovating new drugs? Suhe, Changxing, Bairan—oh, and those startups under Hongsuo Research Institute. The gap in innovative drugs between us and foreign companies is still huge. When I take over our company, I’m going to narrow that gap.”

“That’s great. I’m looking forward to it.” Li Rong slipped He Changfeng’s necklace into his pocket. His fingers brushed against a recorder inside and quietly switched it off.

He Changfeng felt Li Rong was acting a bit odd today, but he chalked it up to the effects of being unwell.

“Are you sure you don’t want to go to the school clinic?”

Li Rong smiled and shook his head. “I have something to do. I’ll head off first. Take your time eating.”

With that, Li Rong covered his mouth with a fist and coughed violently a couple of times.

He walked to the locker, grabbed a bottle of mineral water, and downed it along with some fever medicine.

After waking up earlier, he realized that the morning dose of medication had worn off, and his fever had returned. The cold wind he’d braved earlier hadn’t helped—it only made things worse.

Taking a deep breath to suppress his discomfort, he left the dormitory.

On his way home, he sent a message to Cen Xiao.

[Li Rong: I’ve woken up and feel much better. Please order something light for me to eat.]

[Cen Xiao: I’ll order something easy to digest. I’ll be back as soon as I can.]

[Li Rong: Alright.]

Next, Li Rong messaged Ji Xiaochuan privately.

[Li Rong: Xiaochuan, approach He Changfeng from Class Two. Use the class committee or student council as a pretext. Keep an eye on him for the next few days and wait for my instructions. If necessary, show him the complete evidence of Meijiang Pharmaceuticals’ illegal activities before my visit to the company.]

[Ji Xiaochuan: Boss, are you heading to Meijiang Pharmaceuticals?]

[Li Rong: Cen Xiao and I have a flight tonight.]

[Ji Xiaochuan: Take care and be safe.]

[Li Rong: Will do.]

Back at Cen Xiao’s apartment, Li Rong found that the food delivery had just arrived, but he had no appetite. 

He glanced at the clock: 1 p.m. That left him no more than four hours until they had to leave.

Forcing himself to eat a bit, he then collapsed onto the bed. However, he didn’t dare fall deeply asleep, keeping his phone on maximum volume while waiting for news from Huang Baikang.

At 3:30 p.m., Cen Xiao returned from District Nine.

As he stepped inside, he noticed the barely-touched lunch on the table and Li Rong curled up under the blanket, resting uneasily with one hand draped over the pillow.

Cen Xiao gently touched Li Rong’s forehead and leaned close to his ear. “Why does your complexion still look poor?”

But his forehead wasn’t as hot as before.

Sensing Cen Xiao’s presence, Li Rong opened his eyes and lazily extended an arm to hook around Cen Xiao’s neck. “I feel much better. The fever’s almost gone.”

Cen Xiao leaned in to kiss him, but Li Rong turned his head away. “I’m not sure if it’s the flu. What if you catch it?”

Unfazed, Cen Xiao pressed a kiss to his warm lips anyway. “They say sharing it helps you recover faster, right?”

“That’s nonsense. Pseudoscience.” Li Rong chuckled softly, shaking his head.

“Thanks for the lesson, Professor Li,” Cen Xiao said playfully, tucking Li Rong’s exposed arm back under the blanket. “But wanting to kiss you isn’t pseudoscience.”