After Backstabbing The Villain, The System Allowed Me To Enter The Book Again - Chapter 38

Two days earlier.

The school was empty. Shen Chumo glanced at the notice posted at the school gate—it stated that all elementary and middle school students had been given a complete holiday to go home. After a moment’s thought, he found a bicycle and set off.

The roads were now like parking lots. Due to various accidents, traffic no longer followed its usual routes. Small shops along the road—especially convenience stores and supermarkets—had been smashed or looted, leaving almost no intact storefronts.

Shen Chumo looked up at the sky. Dark clouds hung heavy, but no rain fell. After some emergency repairs, the signal returned only slightly, as if back in the 2G era, allowing him to browse only the most basic text messages.

Reports of this disaster varied by country, but one thing was certain: it had erupted simultaneously across the globe yesterday, sweeping humanity in a shared catastrophe. Some called this anomaly “pollution,” others referred to it as a “mysterious arrival.”

Thirty minutes later, Shen Chumo arrived at his destination.

He knocked on the door—no answer. He called out several times, still nothing. Without hesitation, he kicked the door open, only to find the place completely abandoned.

Worst-case scenario.

Shen Chumo sat down on the floor, forcing his eyes closed. Though anxiety churned within him, he couldn’t panic. He had to maintain control. He steadied his breathing, extinguished the chaotic thoughts in his mind, and gradually entered a meditative state.

He continued recalling and searching for places Su Zihan might be.

In his visions, Su Zihan could purify. If he found her, there might still be a glimmer of hope. Although he knew the chances were slim, he refused to dwell on the consequences of failure—they were unbearable.

Before long, Shen Chumo’s eyes opened. He found a keyword—Qi Yi.

Since Su Zihan had no phone, Shen Chumo barely managed to contact Qi Yi through the weak signal. Learning that they were at a hospital, he immediately rushed over.

The hospital had already formed long lines, filled with injured people. The air reeked of bl00d. At short intervals, more casualties arrived. Doctors and nurses scrambled to save the critically injured, unable to maintain order. Chaos reigned everywhere.

Given the circumstances, it was remarkable the hospital could still function.

But Shen Chumo knew that this place would soon fall. Not only he understood this; anyone with common sense would realize that with so many people gathered here, if even one person’s pollution erupted, the whole hospital could be dragged down.

When the nest is overturned, can any eggs remain intact?

Shen Chumo found Qi Yi and discovered that they were assisting in saving Su Zihan’s father. He had been attacked by the pollution, slipped into shock, and although CPR had restored his heartbeat, he was barely hanging on. His clothes were soaked in bl00d, and he looked as pale as paper.

Su Zihan stayed by her father’s side, crying so hard she could hardly breathe.

Shen Chumo quickly realized that even though he had found the person he was looking for, the practical situation was complicated. First, under the current circumstances, she couldn’t leave her critically ill father to save Shen Huaixin. Second, she had not yet awakened her powers, let alone purify for Shen Huaixin.

He had to remove these obstacles within two days—by any means necessary.

Qi Yi pulled him aside and whispered, “Uncle Shen contacted me. He said Auntie and Shen Huaixin have been out of touch. Have you seen them?”

Shen Chumo shook his head. Qi Yi’s tone grew anxious: “Who exactly? Do you know the details?”

Shen Chumo looked at him. “Auntie is dead. Xin-jie has been contaminated and has transformed into a source of pollution.”

“……”

Qi Yi drew a deep breath and exhaled, his eyes reddening, voice trembling: “She… already…?”

“That’s why I’m here,” Shen Chumo said succinctly.

Suddenly, they heard the sound of Shen Huaixin arguing with security personnel.

“My father can still be saved! Why aren’t you helping him?”

“Didn’t you see the virus level detected? It’s beyond the limit. Keeping him here will only turn him into a monster and endanger everyone! We have the right to abandon such dangerous patients.”

“He won’t turn into a monster! My father has always been… the backbone of our family. He wouldn’t leave me and Mom…” Su Zihan, tears streaming, bit her lip and held onto her father’s bed, refusing to let anyone move him.

The security guards exchanged glances. One held Su Zihan from behind while the other pushed the bed to handle her father. Su Zihan struggled and called loudly for Qi Yi’s help.

Qi Yi frowned and stepped forward to intervene, but Shen Chumo’s calm voice interrupted:

“Let her go. Her father will not mutate.”

At his words, everyone paused, turning to look at a young boy. Doubt spread immediately: “You speak with no proof. What evidence do you have?”

The security personnel temporarily released Su Zihan, sneering: “I advise you to stop talking nonsense. Don’t risk the entire hospital for selfish reasons!”

Qi Yi shook his head at Shen Chumo, signaling: “I know you mean well, but my father has checked extensively. There is currently no cure for pollution.”

“There is. It just hasn’t been discovered yet.”

A patient in a hospital gown scoffed: “All this talk is meaningless. Experts worldwide haven’t produced a cure. And you just say lightly—”

Shen Chumo looked at him. The patient fell silent instantly, feeling as if the abyss itself stared into him. A cold fear rose instinctively from deep within.

People still wondered why Shen Chumo had stopped speaking mid-sentence, when he calmly stated in a neutral tone, as if declaring a fact:

“Give me one day.”

In times of panic and uncertainty, people are often persuaded by calm authority. Seeing Shen Chumo’s composure, unlike a typical high school student, the hospital fell silent. The security guards exchanged hesitant glances. Rationally, they should ignore this boy’s claims… but one guard finally let go of Su Zihan: “I’ll report this to the captain.” The other nodded.

Su Zihan was freed. She grabbed Shen Chumo’s sleeve, pleading: “Shen, please, save my father… I’ll do anything to repay you, really…”

Shen Chumo shook his head, his expression darkening slightly, and said:

“It’s not me who saves him—it’s you.”

Su Zihan’s eyes widened. She looked up at him. He remained as calm as a still pond, as if he had said nothing at all. She suddenly felt that Shen Chumo had changed. Unlike the silly boy she remembered, now he carried a mysterious aura of authority without anger.

The feeling was strange and intimidating. She hesitated to meet his gaze, even though he was just a high school student her age.

Just as she was about to ask more, Shen Chumo turned his back: “Follow me.”

The security guards reported the earlier incident to Captain Zhao Yu. Zhao Yu’s dark face revealed confusion. From his perspective, this was unbelievable. A group of adults, including hospital staff, had been intimidated by a single boy?

“Xiao Song, you’ve lost your mind, reporting such a minor issue? Should I make the decision? How many times have I reminded you to follow regulations? Do you understand?!” Zhao Yu scolded furiously. “During these extraordinary times, you can’t just pity others. If anything goes wrong, leadership will hold us accountable. Don’t think I can protect you. We’d all be fired!”

Xiao Song, thoroughly scolded, sobered a bit under the captain’s authority. He quickly tried to correct: “I’ll take the patient out immediately!”

Just as he stepped out, he saw a figure in a white coat gliding past, holding his breath—Lin Director had noticed!

Behind them, Zhao Yu was blocked from view by Xiao Song, who nudged him: “Why aren’t you leaving?”

“I… I think I saw Director Lin…”

“Which Director Lin?” Zhao Yu’s face grew serious.

“The one—Lin Muxiu,” Xiao Song said, distressed. “Wasn’t he urgently transferred to the capital to study the pollution source? How is he still here?”

“Supposedly he leaves today,” Zhao Yu said, sighing at Xiao Song. “Probably just curious. Let’s resolve this quickly and avoid drawing attention.”

Xiao Song nodded repeatedly.

Hospital corridor.

Su Zihan, uneasy: “Shen, what do you mean when you say I’ll save him?”

“Your ability can save people,” Shen Chumo said concisely. “I’ll find a way to stimulate you, so you awaken your powers quickly.”

“Powers? What powers? Like superpowers? What should I do?” Su Zihan was confused, asking nonstop questions.

Shen Chumo continued: “Afterwards, I’ll need you to help me save someone.”

Considering today’s anomaly and his deliberate trip to the hospital, Su Zihan felt she might have guessed the answer. She cautiously asked: “…Who?”

“Shen Huaixin,” Shen Chumo said, looking up. A hint of vitality had returned to him. He solemnly added: “As long as you agree, I can—”

“Alright.”

Su Zihan smiled reassuringly: “We’re classmates. Why make a big deal out of it?”

“…”

Shen Chumo paused, assessing her. Su Zihan, understanding his worry, gently explained: “I know I had some… issues with her before. It’s reasonable for you to have a bad impression of me. But this is life and death. How could I let someone die?”

She paused, facing the window, feeling a faint ray of sunlight. Remembering Qi Yi’s words, she added: “I’m helping myself too.”

Shen Chumo didn’t ask further. He nodded, sincerely: “Thank you. No matter the outcome, I owe you.”

“So, how do I… uh, awaken my powers?”

Shen Chumo had some ideas, though all were risky and uncertain. Just as he was contemplating, a gentle, low male voice came through the wall:

“How about… I try?”