SWNOVELXO Chapter 22:
Chapter 22: Mysterious Test:
Lin You’s response seemed to confirm what Li Ruochen believed—that he was humble to the point of modesty. To her, students like Lin You were the ones prestigious universities would compete to recruit in the future.
This thought filled her heart with a tinge of sorrow. She realized that the Jiangnan University she had set her sights on might not even be on Lin You’s radar. But no matter what, her newfound admiration for him urged her to take a chance. She resolved to confess her feelings before graduation, though it would be even better if Lin You confessed first.
With a dreamy look, she said, “I want to go to Jiangnan Medical University and become a doctor. It would be amazing if I could work at Lanlin Hospital someday. They have the best facilities and treatment in Hangzhou.”
She added with a smile, “I heard the director of Lanlin Hospital is also named Lin. Maybe you were from the same family five hundred years ago.”
Lanlin Hospital was part of the Lin family’s business empire, named after Lin You’s parents, Lan Lin and Lin Yuan. Its director, Lin Xiaotong, was Lin You’s eldest sister.
With a slight sneer, Lin You said, “Ruochen, people should have bigger dreams and not just settle for the present. Lanlin Hospital might look fancy, but it’s just a furniture hospital. Its ability to handle crises is lacking.”
“If you want to realize your full potential, aim for Capital Hospital. That’s where life’s true value can be maximized.”
Hearing Lin You call her “Ruochen,” she felt her heart race.
Dropping her last name made her feel like he had special feelings for her. She ignored his criticism of Lanlin Hospital and nervously countered, “Lin You, you can’t say that. My grades and abilities are what they are. Capital Hospital is out of my league. Lanlin Hospital is a big deal, too.”
Her voice softened. “Have you really given no thought to your future?” With a shy glance, she asked, “How about you consider going to Jiangnan University with me?”
Her words were practically a confession. As her face turned crimson, Lin You casually chewed the chicken leg she had given him and mumbled, “Jiangnan University is a great school. But with my grades, I’m not sure I’d get in.”
Hearing this, Li Ruochen’s heart soared. She reassured him, “As long as you perform at 70% of your normal level, getting into Jiangnan University will be a breeze.”
Just as Lin You was about to respond, his phone vibrated. He pulled out his worn, cracked Redmi phone and placed it on the table. Holding his chopsticks in one hand, he checked the notification with the other.
The screen showed a Weibo notification from his master, Xuan Chai. Lin You felt a mix of curiosity and unease. After all, he had only asked Xuan Chai to make a simple post, but his master had turned it into a long essay spanning thousands of words.
Lin You clicked the notification, but as he read the post, his hand trembled, and his chopsticks fell onto the table.
The Weibo post was shockingly detailed:
Mysterious Information:
At 8:34:52 PM on April 28, there will be an explosion at Sihai Restaurant, No. 38 Xiangcheng Road.
Explosion Intensity: Violent.
Cause: A nearby construction site operated by Dingcheng Group damages an underground natural gas pipeline, leading to a gas leak.
Casualties: 37 dead on the spot; 8 more succumb to injuries within an hour. 328 injured, 31 of whom suffer third-degree burns.
Property Damage: ¥75,964,500.
Structural Impact: Severe damage to the third to seventh floors, with the third to fifth floors collapsing.
List of Victims:
Lu Qianqian (28, female)…
Zhao Jin (32, male)…
…
List of Injured:
Ma Xiaoying (41, female): First-degree burns, multiple soft tissue injuries…
Xu Hongbing (54, male): Fourth-degree burns, comminuted leg fracture…
Lin You’s face turned pale. His hands trembled as he read the absurdly specific predictions, down to the second and the precise amount of property damage. This wasn’t a simple warning; it was an accident analysis report.
He felt a chill run down his spine. If this post gained traction, his master could face charges of spreading rumors, disturbing social order, and provoking trouble. The consequences could include years of imprisonment. Lin You couldn’t believe his master’s recklessness.
Lost in thought, beads of sweat rolled down Lin You’s face. His reaction alarmed Li Ruochen, who leaned closer and asked, “Lin You? Are you feeling unwell?”
Still in shock, Lin You didn’t respond. Seeing his pale face, she stood up and shouted toward the cafeteria kitchen, “Don’t eat the chicken legs! They’re poisonous!”
Her loud declaration sent ripples of confusion through the cafeteria. Dozens of students with food halfway to their mouths froze in place. Lin You snapped out of his daze and quickly covered her mouth. “Are you crazy? What poison? Stop shouting nonsense!”
He turned to the other students and apologized profusely. “Everyone, please ignore her! The chicken legs are perfectly fine. I just had one, and it’s delicious. Don’t let her scare you.”
After calming the situation, Lin You grabbed Li Ruochen’s hand and pulled her out of the cafeteria. As they ran, she couldn’t help but blush. Her heart raced as she felt the warmth of his hand holding hers.
Eventually, they reached a secluded spot in the woods. Lin You released her hand and said, “Ruochen, something’s come up at home. Please head back to class. If I’m not back, tell the teacher I’ve gone home.”
Her expectations of something romantic shattered, but her concern for Lin You remained. “Is it your master? Is he unwell?” she asked gently.
Lin You nodded, avoiding further explanation. His master was indeed important, and he couldn’t let him face the consequences of such a reckless post.