The Heartthrob Halo Doesn't Work on the Villain - Chapter 17

Xia Qiyu’s shout drew Lin Yan’s gaze to her. Though initially surprised, Lin Yan quickly pieced together the situation.

Earlier, 555 had mentioned that Xia Qiyu’s adoptive mother was at First People’s Hospital. Now that Xia Qiyu had received the money from her, she would naturally prioritize paying for her mother’s treatment. The surgery was likely scheduled for the next few days, making their encounter at the hospital unsurprising. However, Lin Yan recalled that Xia Qiyu’s mother shouldn’t be on this floor.

With few vacant hospital beds available and only needing an IV drip, Lin Yan instructed the nurse to seat her on one of the small iron chairs scattered throughout the area. This arrangement was both convenient and prevented boredom from the otherwise empty space.

Thus, the moment Xia Qiyu turned her head, she saw two Lin Yans. Under her questioning gaze, they strode over to her in a few steps, glancing at the IV drip hanging beside her with a hint of concern in their eyes.

“Are you sick?”

“Acute gastritis. Just a minor thing, nothing serious.”

Lin Yan tilted her head back and smiled, her expression nonchalant. But this only made Xia Qiyu’s brow furrow even deeper.

“How did this happen?”

Lin Yan hadn’t expected Xia Qiyu to be so persistent. She paused, then pressed her lips together self-consciously. “It’s probably because I’ve been fasting for too long today, and my eating habits have been irregular lately. So…”

Any sensible person would understand what she meant: this was a problem caused by her own negligence, which had suddenly flared up.

“Are you still feeling unwell? Are you hungry?”

“I had a gastroscopy, so my throat’s a bit sore, but otherwise I’m fine. My stomach is definitely growling, though.”

As soon as she finished speaking, a loud rumbling sound echoed through the room. Lin Yan’s face flushed crimson, and she chuckled awkwardly.

“See? It’s staging a protest.”

Xia Qiyu’s usually stern expression softened at the joke, but after a moment, she placed the bag of medicine she was carrying on Lin Yan’s lap.

“Wait here for a bit. I’ll be right back.”

With that, she darted to the elevator in a flash, turning back to smile at Lin Yan before disappearing.

Lin Yan was left feeling somewhat bewildered by Xia Qiyu’s concern. To an outsider, they might have seemed like close friends, but she knew they had only met two days ago. Finally, 555 spoke up.

See? Our Female Lead is such a gentle little angel. She must have gone to get you something to eat.

555’s reminder made Lin Yan realize that was indeed a possibility. She tilted her head slightly to glance at the IV drip, which was nearly empty. She had originally planned to find some food herself after the infusion finished, but now it seemed unnecessary. With this in mind, she called over the driver who had gone to fetch her medicine earlier, gave him a few instructions, and sent him home. After all, he had been with her all day and then had to deal with this sudden emergency late at night—he must be exhausted.

Having taken care of these matters, Lin Yan was about to clear her mind and wait quietly when 555 suddenly piped up again.

By the way, you’re never allowed to say my All-Encompassing Charm Halo is useless again! Look how quickly the Female Lead’s affection for you has risen to 70!

Hearing this, Lin Yan glanced toward the elevator where people were coming and going, feeling a flicker of surprise. Her affection level is that high? But upon reflection, it made sense. During their high school years, the Female Lead had only two concerns: studying and her adoptive mother’s illness. At this critical moment, Lin Yan had given her a helping hand, likely elevating her to an extraordinary position in the Female Lead’s heart.

This 555 really knew how to flatter itself. If it hadn’t brought it up again, Lin Yan would have almost forgotten about the so-called All-Encompassing Charm Halo. After all, she hadn’t felt a single benefit from it. Today, she was even so furious about the sudden drop in Lou Yubing’s favorability that her chest ached. If this halo truly worked, how could it let her suffer like this?

“Then explain why Lou Yubing’s favorability rating keeps refusing to increase.”

Forget increasing it—at this point, even maintaining it at zero seemed like an uphill battle.

The moment she said this, 555 went silent, like a firecracker that fizzled out. It desperately tried to salvage some dignity, but its voice, now lacking its earlier confidence, was as faint as a mosquito’s buzz.

That’s a bug! How am I supposed to know the halo has no effect on her?

Lin Yan wasn’t buying it. She scoffed, “I bet your halo itself is flawed, like those useless health supplements flooding the market—just a placebo effect.”

555 desperately wanted to retort, but given the current situation, every word Lin Yan spoke rang true. It was left with nothing to say.

Before long, Xia Qiyu hurried back. 555’s guess had been correct: she had gone to buy food for Lin Yan. Soft, easily digestible foods were best for someone with a stomachache, and there was a small noodle shop just a short walk from the hospital where Xia Qiyu often ate when she was on duty. The noodles were quite good, and she had brought back a bowl of clear broth noodles to go.

As soon as she returned, Xia Qiyu crouched down in front of Lin Yan, tore open the disposable chopsticks, and handed them over. She carefully peeled back the lid of the bowl. Since Lin Yan’s left hand was still connected to an IV drip, Xia Qiyu had to hold the bowl up for her.

Being cared for so attentively for the first time, Lin Yan couldn’t help but glance at Xia Qiyu a few extra times. But this only prompted Xia Qiyu to urge her to start eating.

“Eat quickly! The temperature should be just right since it’s takeout. If you wait any longer, the noodles might get soggy.”

Lin Yan gazed at the bowl of clear broth noodles, garnished with a sprinkle of chopped green onions. Though it looked plain, whether it was because she was starving or for some other reason, it seemed incredibly appetizing.

Without making a fuss, she picked up her chopsticks, determined to finish her belated dinner quickly. It felt a little awkward having someone hold the bowl for her, but Xia Qiyu, mindful of her stomach discomfort, kept reminding her to eat slowly.

Despite this, Lin Yan devoured the entire bowl of noodles in just a few minutes, replenishing her energy. Even her complexion looked much better. Xia Qiyu, meanwhile, reversed her earlier steps, repackaging the trash. Before heading to the trash can, she pulled a pack of tissues from her pocket.

“Here, wipe your mouth.”

Watching Xia Qiyu’s retreating figure, Lin Yan suddenly realized that 555 had at least gotten one thing right. As the Female Lead with the most abundant fortune in the Small World, Xia Qiyu truly deserved her position. She was genuinely the kind of person who could be called a little angel.

The more Lin Yan worked on this mission, the more she felt like she was raising children. Coincidentally, she was exactly the type of person known as a “mommy fan.” Unfortunately, these two girls were destined to be as incompatible as fire and water, possibly even fighting each other in the future. Lin Yan, desperate to reconcile their relationship, couldn’t think of any foolproof solution.

If Xia Qiyu weren’t the Female Lead, things would be simpler. But 555 had explicitly confirmed her status, and the Female Lead already had her official pairing—a man named Qin. Otherwise, the best solution would have been to play matchmaker and bring the two together.

To be fair, Xia Qiyu’s gentle and steady personality truly complemented Lou Yubing’s cold, aloof, and fastidious nature.

It was just a pity that Lin Yan had to act as a “converter” between them now. She still hoped to influence Lou Yubing in the future, at least to prevent her from doing what the original plot described. If Lou Yubing did go that far, Lin Yan would have no choice but to stand against her.

While Lin Yan was lost in thought, Xia Qiyu had already moved to her side. She glanced up at the remaining fluid in the IV drip before settling into the chair beside her.

Lin Yan couldn’t help but feel a little puzzled. Xia Qiyu’s sudden appearance here seemed too coincidental.

“Is your mother on this floor too?”

“No, she’s on the eighth floor.” Xia Qiyu paused, realizing Lin Yan’s implication, and quickly added, “I saw your driver picking up medication downstairs. We met yesterday, so I took the elevator up to check on you.”

So that’s how it is.

Lin Yan nodded thoughtfully. Perhaps she was just bored, or maybe she wanted to chat a bit longer.

“So, are you planning to stay here tonight to keep watch?”

Hearing this, Xia Qiyu shook her head and pointed to the bag of medicine Lin Yan had been holding for her.

“They’ve scheduled the surgery for tomorrow morning. I don’t need to stay tonight. I was originally going to pick up the medicine and head back to school, then come back early tomorrow.”

So I’ve been keeping her from resting, Lin Yan thought, and quickly replied, “Then you should go back right away. You have something important tomorrow, so you need to get some rest.”

Xia Qiyu just smiled and said nonchalantly, “It’s fine. I wouldn’t be able to sleep even if I went back early. I’m still a bit nervous.”

She glanced at Lin Yan. “Besides, your IV is almost finished. We can go back together. I’ve already moved my things in—we’re roommates now.”

Her words were light and her smile gentle, making Lin Yan couldn’t help but smile back.

After all, smiles are contagious, capable of making people forget their troubles in an instant.

By the time Lin Yan and Xia Qiyu returned to campus, it was nearly midnight. While the dormitories had no curfew on weekends, the school gates were locked. After some questioning and registration, the two finally stepped inside.

“After the surgery tomorrow, I’ll cook you a feast for dinner,” Xia Qiyu said.

For Lin Yan, a notorious kitchen disaster, this level of temptation was irresistible, instantly stirring all her emotions.

“Really? I had someone stock the fridge with tons of ingredients today. Take whatever you want!”

“Mm, by tomorrow night, the weight that’s been hanging over my heart for days will finally lift,” Xia Qiyu replied. She turned to Lin Yan and said earnestly, “Thank you again.”

Lin Yan knew Xia Qiyu was referring to the 500,000 yuan, but she playfully draped an arm over her shoulder. “Then you’d better work hard tomorrow to repay me properly!”

The two chatted and laughed, completely unaware of another familiar figure standing outside the nearby teaching building.