Chapter 18
The System’s notification sound made Wang Ming tremble.
[Li Zhixuan]
Wang Ming looked at Li Zhixuan in his arms.
Is this… asking me to take care of my brother’s wife?
Well, with Zhang Jian gone, Li Zhixuan is all alone in Xiguan City. I can’t just leave her to fend for herself.
Although I only have two hundred thousand left, the task with Zou Shuqing is about to be completed. Once I get the reward, I should have more money.
“Zhixuan, if you ever have any difficulties, just let me know. I’ll do my best to help you.”
Li Zhixuan choked up, “Zhang Jian said the same thing back then, but look what happened-he died because of someone else!”
She gently pushed Wang Ming away, hesitating to speak, “Can… can you… lend me some money first? I need to pay the mortuary fee and the cold storage charges.”
Wang Ming took out his phone, tapped on Li Zhixuan’s profile, and transferred fifty thousand yuan to her in one go.
“Use this for now. If it’s not enough, just let me know.”
Li Zhixuan took out her phone and stared at the fifty thousand transfer, a bit surprised. She wiped her tears, worried she’d cried so much her vision was blurred.
She checked again-yes, it was fifty thousand.
“I don’t need that much. The whole funeral won’t cost that much.”
“Just keep the rest for now. Zhang Jian was telling me yesterday that your rent is about to expire. Don’t you pay every six months?”
Li Zhixuan nodded gratefully, “Thank you. I’ll pay you back as soon as I can.”
“No rush. I don’t need the money right now.”
Li Zhixuan knew Wang Ming’s salary was just over four thousand, so she found it strange he could lend her so much at once.
But with Zhang Jian’s situation, she didn’t have the energy to think about it.
“I’ll go pay the fees first.” Li Zhixuan turned and left the morgue.
Wang Ming looked at Zhang Jian’s lifeless body a couple more times. After a sigh, he gently picked up the white cloth and covered Zhang Jian again.
His phone rang-it was Zou Shuqing calling.
He answered.
“How are things on your end? I’m a bit worried about you.” Zou Shuqing’s gentle, caring voice came through the receiver.
Wang Ming felt a warmth in his heart. “Don’t worry about me. Are you home now?”
“Mm, I’m at home.”
“Let’s meet again today if we can. We parted too hastily just now.”
There were still four minutes left for the date. It had to be completed today, or the previous fifty-six minutes would be reset.
Zou Shuqing paused for a moment, “Before five o’clock is fine, but definitely not tonight. If Mengmeng sees us again, there’s really no way to explain.”
“Alright, I’ll try to see you before evening.”
“Mm, if you need my help, be sure to tell me. Bye, darling.”
Zou Shuqing hung up.
Wang Ming sighed.
Exhausted, both physically and mentally.
He hadn’t even started on the landlord’s task, and now he’d triggered the binding with Li Zhixuan.
But now that Li Zhixuan was all alone in Xiguan City, the task should be easy to complete. It shouldn’t be like the landlord’s task, meeting mothers-in-law and all that.
After a while, Li Zhixuan came back from paying the fees, her eyes still red.
She looked at Wang Ming and said softly, “All the fees are paid. Thank you, Wang Ming.”
Wang Ming forced a smile, “Don’t mention it. Try not to get too emotional. We can only face reality. What are your plans next?”
Li Zhixuan shook her head, looking forlorn, “I don’t know. First, I’ll think about how to tell Zhang Jian’s parents.
After that, I might leave this city. There’s nothing left for me here.”
Wang Ming nodded, understanding her thoughts. “That’s fine. Maybe a change of environment will help you feel better.
No matter what you decide, if you need help, just ask. I’ll do my best.”
[Binding successful.]
[Bound Target: Li Zhixuan]
[Age: 22]
[Appearance: 86]
[Figure: 88]
[Purity: 90]
[Infatuation Level: 59]
[Binding task with Li Zhixuan has been updated:
Guide her to stay in Xiguan City, help her rebuild her confidence in life. When she completely lets go of the pain and shadows in her heart, the task will be completed.]
Wang Ming looked at the prompt that popped up from the System, thinking to himself: This task really doesn’t seem difficult.
Her Purity has decreased by only 10 points, so she’s only ever been with Zhang Jian.
Why is her Infatuation Level so high? Zou Shuqing only started at five points, and it only increased after using the Heart’s Flower Bouquet.
The landlord was already attracted to me, so the Infatuation Level was forty right after binding.
Li Zhixuan started at fifty-nine points-maybe because I just lent her fifty thousand yuan?
She has a strong liking for me. Since we’re bound, I’ll try my best to complete the task. I wonder what the reward for finishing it will be.
Li Zhixuan saw Wang Ming silent for a long time and thought he was still grieving.
Wang Ming closed the System Panel, looked at Li Zhixuan, and asked, “Once Zhang Jian’s affairs are settled, are you leaving Xiguan City?”
Li Zhixuan lowered her head slightly, her eyes full of confusion. “If I stay in this city, I’ll keep remembering all our moments together. I really can’t stay here.”
Wang Ming patiently persuaded, “Didn’t Zhang Jian say your job isn’t very stable? But the pay is good, and Xiguan City is so developed. If you go to another city, you might not find a better job.”
Li Zhixuan thought about her job, then looked up, a hint of wavering in her eyes, but it quickly faded.
“But I really don’t know how to start over. We used to want to stay in this city, working hard to buy a house. Now that he’s gone, it feels like my life has lost its direction.”
Wang Ming found this a bit amusing. This was just her wishful thinking-Zhang Jian’s salary wasn’t even enough for himself, and he still spent some of hers.
Buying a house? Who knows when that would happen.
“He’s gone, but the goal is still there. You can keep working hard to buy a house on your own.
You have a good job-that’s your confidence.”
Li Zhixuan thought for a moment. “You’re right. Without him, maybe I can buy a house even faster.
I’ll seriously consider it. Thank you for your guidance, Wang Ming. And the money you lent me-I’ll pay you back as soon as I can.”
Wang Ming shook his head. “Just think of the fifty thousand as my way of helping out a departed brother. Forget about it.
As long as I’m in Xiguan City, I’ll do my best to look after you.”
Li Zhixuan was a bit moved and nodded gently. “Th…thank you…
Xiguan City really is a nice place. During my university years, I didn’t have money to spend.
Now that I can earn money, I’m reluctant to go out and enjoy the city. There are so many places I haven’t visited yet.”
Wang Ming felt more and more indignant for Li Zhixuan. Zhang Jian often spent lavishly, while Li Zhixuan was too frugal-turns out all the money was spent by him.
Wang Ming spoke softly, “I’ll go with you to those places.”
Li Zhixuan turned her head, surprised. “You’ll go with me?”
Wang Ming nodded.
Li Zhixuan calmed herself, then said, “Hey, don’t you have a girlfriend? That Auntie-no, I mean that beautiful woman.”
Wang Ming retorted, “Can’t friends go out together?”
Li Zhixuan hesitated, “But isn’t that a bit inappropriate? What if your girlfriend misunderstands?”
Wang Ming smiled, “Don’t overthink it. Zhang Jian used to accompany both of us. Now we can skip the middleman.”