Quick Transmigration: The Mad Beauty Refuses to Be the Scapegoat!-Chapter 447: Cannon Fodder Stepsister Doesn’t Want to Die (4)

Chapter 447: Cannon Fodder Stepsister Doesn’t Want to Die (4)

The boy drowsily wiped his drool, swiftly picked up his empty backpack, sat at the front, and continued sleeping.

Listening to the voices all around, Jiang Lai’s heart remained calm.

His muddled mind grew increasingly clear, and his serious demeanor even affected the girl beside him reading a novel.

She had been secretly watching Jiang Lai for a long time.

During the ten-minute break, Jiang Lai didn’t stop writing, continuously calculating.

Oh my, has Jiang Lai been possessed?

Little Buding was already accustomed to Jiang Lai’s strong obsession with completing tasks, convinced that once he committed to something, his entire focus would be on it. Such a person is highly efficient at everything, so Little Buding wasn’t worried about this task at all.

However, this version of Jiang Lai made him feel a bit bored.

Taking advantage of Jiang Lai taking a sip of water, Little Buding quickly asked.

"You haven’t picked a skill yet, shall I help you choose one?"

"Pick whatever you want."

Jiang Lai’s indifferent attitude slightly hurt Little Buding.

He didn’t really need to pick, just repeatedly used whichever skill he selected for her, and after a long time, he finally found one suitable.

"Congratulations, you’ve acquired the twenty-hour workaholic skill! The skill has been dispensed."

"Explain further."

"Simply put, you only need to sleep four hours a day to gain abundant energy, and the remaining twenty hours can be utilized for studying or earning money."

Jiang Lai nodded, acknowledging his approval of the skill Little Buding provided.

"You’re doomed to toil all your life..."

Little Buding sighed while complaining.

Previously, he was known as a laid-back, lazy soul, with no high ambitions. Once he finally got promoted, his approach was just to accomplish five or six tasks out of ten, sufficient to pass.

Then, he met Jiang Lai.

Devious, cunning, smart, attractive, a mix of good and bad, Little Buding neither liked nor hated her; mostly, it was Jiang Lai’s relentless drive, her full dedication to each task that was overwhelming. The king of all roll-ups forced this lazy soul to roll along, passively, turning him into an annual performance champion and attendance model, his employee number and name were everywhere on the honor board.

Looking back at his carefree days, and comparing them to now with one task after another, he was close to suffocating. Besides worrying about his health, he constantly worried if Jiang Lai might suddenly collapse.

But Jiang Lai clearly didn’t have time for such wild thoughts; the original owner had a weak foundation and wasn’t particularly intelligent, even if she tried her best, her ranking was at most middle level in this school.

Jiang Lai had always set high standards for herself; the moment she set the goal to get into medical school, she immediately crafted a study plan overnight, amassing heavy study tasks every minute and second.

Little Buding felt a little heartache watching her.

He’s not well-connected and unlike other assistants who can casually give their hosts a cheat code for effortless success, the best skill he could provide Jiang Lai was allowing her minimal sleep time for maximum energy.

But most importantly, it still required her own effort.

After returning home, having dinner, Mao Fang originally planned to take Jiang Lai out to relax, but didn’t expect Jiang Lai to head straight to her room, closing the door after finishing dinner.

Not once did she come out.

Mao Fang felt somewhat worried and sliced up some fruit to bring inside.

"What’s wrong? Did something happen at school? Tell Mom about it."

Jiang Lai put down her pen, looking at Mao Fang sitting on the edge of the bed.

"Did you go for a check-up?"

"Yes."

"How was the result?"

Mao Fang momentarily froze, recalling the doctor’s stern words to her today, worry flashed through her eyes but she chose to continue pretending nothing happened, seeing Jiang Lai was unaware.

"It’s nothing serious, just a bit tired usually, just need more rest."

She didn’t want to say, and Jiang Lai wouldn’t inquire further.

After all, even if she knew, she couldn’t provide any help to Mao Fang, only unnecessarily making Mao Fang worry about her.

"Mom, you know, you’re my only family in this world, you’re very important to me, I hope you can be healthy and witness every significant moment in my life ahead."

Jiang Lai’s voice mixed calmness with worry.

This made Mao Fang’s heart ache.

Her mid-stage cancer condition couldn’t be hidden for long, and it happened to be incurable pancreatic cancer. If Jiang Lai hadn’t reminded her, she might have kept treating it like regular back pain, not realizing a pancreatic tumor was growing inside.

Luckily, it was discovered relatively early, although incurable, treatment with surgery and medication could extend her life by several years.

Mao Fang’s eyes reddened a little.

She reached out to touch Jiang Lai’s hair, suppressing the inner pain.

"Alright, Mom promises to live healthily for sure."

Indeed, her daughter’s only family, and the daughter is still young. If she dies now, who’ll look after Jiang Lai in the future?

Jiang Zhen Sheng?

Although that man superficially tolerated Jiang Lai, behind the scenes, he’s already left all of Jiang Family’s valuables to his son Jiang Ci.

Mao Fang could understand; after all, she and her daughter were outsiders, and Jiang Zhen Sheng wasn’t foolish enough to leave his wealth to Jiang Lai.

She was already content that he was willing to care for them.

For future treatment costs, she had to figure something out; she couldn’t let Jiang Zhen Sheng bear it all alone.

After Mao Fang left, Jiang Lai lowered her head to look at the white paper in front of her, which clearly listed all the costs associated with treating mid-stage pancreatic cancer.

If treatment proceeds, it should be by the best standard.

Surgery to remove the tumor, subsequent chemotherapy, targeted drugs, supportive therapy, and associated conditions; adding up the series of expenses, a conservative estimate for the first three years costs nearly four million.

The task was to save Mao Fang, but what counts as saving?

Based on current worldwide survival odds for pancreatic cancer patients, the five-year survival rate for mid-stage cancer patients is less than twenty percent.

In the original plot, Mao Fang’s condition deteriorated after Jiang Lai graduated high school, and in less than half a year, she passed away.

Fortunately, it was discovered timely now, ensuring she’ll live for five years; matters after those five years now depend on Jiang Lai.

Little Buding saw Jiang Lai’s furrowed brow, feeling heavy-hearted.

It was his first time seeing Jiang Lai troubled by a task.

"The task is hard; just do your best for Mao Fang’s illness. You’ve already extended her life by several years; so this should count as task completion."

"Saving someone is far more difficult than destroying someone."

Little Buding fell silent, realizing Jiang Lai was right; this world was far tougher than the previous ones.