Chapter 131 – I Want to Be with You

When Jian Mei woke up again, he was filled with a sense of unease.

On one hand, he was afraid that his grandfather might have figured things out, and on the other, he was anxious about whether he had done well enough or if he would be able to explain things. The fear of the unknown weighed heavily on him.

As Jian Mei got out of bed and went downstairs, he saw his mother preparing breakfast.

Shen Meina noticed him and said, “You’re up. Freshen up and come down for breakfast.”

Jian Mei replied, “Okay,” but then hesitated before asking, “Where’s Grandpa?”

Shen Meina answered, “Your grandpa is in the study. Why don’t you go call him down for breakfast?”

Jian Mei agreed and headed upstairs. When he entered the study, he saw his grandfather writing something. As Jian Mei approached, the old man looked up and smiled, “Meimei, you’re awake.”

Jian Mei nodded.

He quickly realized something: the video call he had made to his grandfather on Stan Star was done while he was asleep here on Earth. This meant that if his grandfather or anyone else had come to check on him during the live stream, they would have easily discovered that he was actually asleep.

Jian Mei felt a wave of fear.

However, his grandfather showed no sign of wanting to expose him. Instead, he smiled and said, “Meimei, I’ve made some adjustments to the prescription for you. If you follow this, it should work.”

Jian Mei moved closer and saw that his grandfather had modified quite a few herbs, making the prescription much more effective than his original version. Some of the changes were very thoughtful. He couldn’t help but smile, “Then I’ll give it a try.”

His grandfather pointed out, “These particular herbs are hard to find nowadays.”

Jian Mei thought that perhaps he could find them in the phone’s online store, so he wasn’t too worried. He simply said, “I’ll find a way.”

In his excitement, he spoke without fully thinking it through.

When Jian Mei realized what he had said, his grandfather was already smiling knowingly at him.

Jian Mei sensed that he might have already exposed a lot, and that his family probably knew more than they were letting on, but they just hadn’t said anything. Softly, he began, “Grandpa, I…”

His grandfather set down his pen and reached out his hand, “Mei Mei, come here.”

Jian Mei took his grandfather’s hand.

His grandfather was quite old now, and his hands were a bit rough, but still warm. “Meimei, many things in life—whether they come or go—are a kind of blessing. Don’t be too attached, and don’t feel like you have to force things. Since it’s happening, it might be a good thing. It’s not necessarily bad.”

Jian Mei was a bit confused.

The old man patted the boy’s head. “As long as you’re okay and what you’re doing is right and meaningful, that’s what matters.”

Jian Mei felt like he was starting to understand, but also not fully. However, one thing he was sure of was that his grandfather wasn’t blaming him.

Softly, Jian Mei said, “Grandpa, I think what I’m doing is the right thing.”

His grandfather smiled gently. “Then that’s good. When you face challenges, you don’t have to bear them all on your own. Your father and I, we’re here to be your safe harbor. Do you understand?”

Jian Mei hugged his grandfather, burying his face in his chest. The reassurance soothed his anxious heart, and he nodded.

…

Later that day

Jian Mei began seriously preparing some things in his room.

He started writing in a journal. If the divine power within him was truly fading, he could already feel that his time on Earth was getting longer and longer. He was worried that one day, after falling asleep, he might never return to Stan Star. So, he started recording everything—every detail of what was happening on Stan Star and what he needed to do.

If something were to happen to him, if things went awry, he hoped that this journal would provide some help.

After falling asleep that night, he found himself back in the hospital on Stan Star.

Jian Mei’s first instinct was to place an order for the herbs his grandfather had recommended using his phone. Once the seeds were delivered, he contacted Nan Feng, asking him to come help.

Over the phone, Nan Feng said, “I’m stuck at home.”

Jian Mei asked, “Why?”

“What other reason could there be?” Nan Feng replied with a laugh. “My family is worried I’ll get infected, so they won’t let me go out.” Right now, there were fewer and fewer people with plant-based divine powers, both in the hospital and outside. It was becoming difficult to find anyone left. Those who were still healthy and had some money had already left Stan Star, fleeing to other planets to avoid the epidemic.

Nan Feng leaned against the glass and said, “Everyone else is stuck at home too.”

Jian Mei felt a bit anxious. “Nan Feng, I really need your help right now.”

Nan Feng replied, “I want to come and help, but you know how it is. My family won’t let me leave the house. If you can think of a way to get me out, I’ll be able to assist you.”

Jian Mei felt troubled by this.

Early in the morning, as he was deep in thought about how to solve this issue, he received a call.

It was a communication from Lu Xingwang. When he answered, the man’s voice came through, “You’re awake?”

Jian Mei replied softly, “Yeah.”

“Have you been very tired lately?”

“Not really,” Jian Mei said quietly. “It’s not too bad.”

Lu Xingwang seemed to chuckle lightly and said, “Then why are you frowning?”

Jian Mei paused, instinctively looking around. Then, in the distant hallway, he spotted the man standing at the far end. Lu Xingwang was dressed in a black uniform, the tight fit making him look especially handsome and striking.

Jian Mei’s eyes lit up when he saw him, and he rushed over to hug him. “Why are you here?”

Lu Xingwang gently patted his head and replied in a low voice, “I finished dealing with some political matters, so I came over.”

As he looked down at Jian Mei, he noticed that in the few days they hadn’t seen each other, Jian Mei had lost a lot of weight. The once plump little face had become pale and thin. It had only been a few days, but Jian Mei now appeared somewhat frail.

Lu Xingwang frowned slightly and asked, “Why have you lost weight again?”

Jian Mei looked up at him. Given the national turmoil, it was only natural that many would seize the opportunity to target the young monarch. With internal and external threats piling up, Jian Mei knew that Lu Xingwang’s burdens far exceeded his own. Indeed, as he looked at the man before him, he noticed faint traces of exhaustion on his face.

“And what about you?” Jian Mei asked, wrapping his arms around Lu Xingwang’s waist. “Are you tired?”

Lu Xingwang smiled softly. “Not tired.”

“Liar.”

Jian Mei knew that Lu Xingwang was definitely lying; how could he not be tired?

Jian Mei spoke softly, “Let me tell you a secret.”

Lu Xingwang looked down at him and asked, “What is it?”

“The past two nights you were away, I dreamed about you every night,” Jian Mei said with a light smile. “Really.”

Lu Xingwang looked down at Jian Mei’s radiant smile, and it felt as if all the hardships of the past days instantly melted away. All the pressure he had been carrying was relieved in that moment. He leaned down and gave the person in front of him a gentle kiss. His voice was a bit hoarse as he said, “Mm, I missed you too.”

Jian Mei’s way of expressing things was more subtle, but Lu Xingwang’s was direct.

Jian Mei’s smile deepened a bit. When the kiss ended, he took Lu Xingwang’s hand and asked, “Have you eaten yet? The food in our hospital’s cafeteria is pretty good. Want to try it?”

Lu Xingwang replied that he had already eaten.

He looked at the boy in front of him and gently said, “Now can you tell me what you’ve been worrying about?”

Jian Mei didn’t expect that his concerns had been so easily seen through by Lu Xingwang. After thinking it over, and realizing it was a matter of life and death, he explained, “I want to plant some herbal seeds, but I can’t find anyone with the right powers to help them grow faster.”

Lu Xingwang asked quietly, “Is it urgent?”

Jian Mei nodded, “A little bit.”

Lu Xingwang gently patted his head and said softly, “Lead the way.”

Jian Mei looked at him in confusion. Lu Xingwang smiled and said, “I’ll take care of it.”

The idea of having an emperor, the ruler of a nation, help plant herbs might be something only Jian Mei could think of and carry out so effortlessly.

“Here…”

“And over there too.”

On the mountain outside the capital, where Jian Mei had instructed Ping Ping to prepare the soil earlier in the day, Lu Xingwang stood. As he did, branches began to grow, and slowly, lush green sprouts started to emerge, filling the area with vibrant life.

When all the herbs had grown, Jian Mei was overjoyed, not knowing how to express his happiness.

Lu Xingwang looked at him and asked, “Are you happy?”

Jian Mei beamed with joy, nodding vigorously. He ran into Lu Xingwang’s arms, giving him a big kiss and nodding again, “Happy! I love you the most!”

Not far away, Ping Ping, who had come to help collect the herbs, unfortunately witnessed this scene. He quickly stopped the others who were about to come over and said, “Wait, wait! Hold on a second.”

The others looked at Ping Ping curiously, somewhat confused.

Ping Ping blushed, unsure how to explain.

After Jian Mei finished being affectionate, he waved them over, “Hey, Ping Ping, you guys can come over now. The herbs are ready to be harvested.”

Ping Ping then hurriedly led the others to start collecting the herbs.

While directing them on how to carefully dig up the herbs without damaging the roots and ensuring that they stored the herbs properly to preserve their medicinal properties, Jian Mei noticed that Lu Xingwang had been quietly waiting nearby the entire time.

This very busy king was sitting calmly to the side, handling urgent documents while Jian Mei worked. They didn’t interrupt each other but supported one another.

After getting into the car, Jian Mei asked softly, “I heard there’s been a proposal to import medicine from other planets. Is that true?”

Lu Xingwang nodded.

Jian Mei continued, “But many people might have adverse reactions to those medicines. If we start with large-scale trials, there could be harmful effects. I suggest that if we do decide to use them, we should start on a small scale first. What do you think?”

Lu Xingwang replied, “If we import medicine from other planets, each person’s body may react differently. Once the medicine is brought in, foreign doctors, distributors, and other entities could take advantage of the situation. At that point, they could gain extensive knowledge of our national conditions, potentially even taking control of our economy.”

This was the worst-case scenario.

It wasn’t just a matter of healthcare; it was a matter of national security.

Jian Mei’s expression also became more serious. “It seems that if things go wrong, it could be very serious. But what should we do now? This epidemic must be controlled, or many more people will die…”

Lu Xingwang glanced at him, his gaze deep and thoughtful, and said, “Aren’t you already researching medicine to treat the epidemic?”

Jian Mei was taken aback; he hadn’t expected Lu Xingwang to say that. The fact that Lu Xingwang mentioned his work showed a strong trust in him, and that moved Jian Mei deeply. “Do you really believe in me?”

Lu Xingwang put down his work, turned to face Jian Mei, and said in a low voice, “Why wouldn’t I?”

The calm expression on the man’s face as he looked at Jian Mei gave him an overwhelming sense of security. This feeling made Jian Mei’s heart warm with emotion.

Taking a deep breath, Jian Mei said, “I think if you give me some time, I can succeed.”

Without hesitation, Lu Xingwang replied, “I believe in you.”

“Really?” Jian Mei, who had just been so confident, suddenly faltered. He looked at Lu Xingwang with a tentative smile and asked softly, “Why?”

Lu Xingwang raised an eyebrow. “Didn’t you cure the poison in me?”

That was the poison from Xiao Cheng. If Jian Mei could detoxify it once, then, barring any unforeseen circumstances, why couldn’t he do it a second or third time?

Lu Xingwang’s words were like a light bulb going off in Jian Mei’s head, reminding him of what he was capable of. That’s right, if traditional medicine could defeat the virus once, then it could certainly do it again and again!

Jian Mei clenched his fists. “I’ll work hard to develop the cure as soon as possible, to save the people who are still suffering and bring them out of this disaster!”

Lu Xingwang smiled and asked, “Is that your only reason?”

Jian Mei paused.

His grand ambitions were suddenly tempered by the sight of Lu Xingwang bathed in the car’s headlights. The new monarch had a face that was both handsome and righteous. Sitting beside him, Lu Xingwang smiled, his charm irresistible.

Jian Mei’s cheeks reddened slightly. He leaned in and gave Lu Xingwang a gentle kiss, a bit shy but still managing to say, “And also to help ease your burden.”

Lu Xingwang deepened the kiss. He softly called Jian Mei’s name, “Jian Mei.”

Breathing a little heavier, Jian Mei responded, “Yes?”

“If we make it through this,” Lu Xingwang said softly, holding Jian Mei close, “let’s get engaged.”

Jian Mei froze.

But Lu Xingwang lifted his head to look at him, his voice husky and deep as he asked, “Okay?”

Jian Mei gazed into Lu Xingwang’s eyes—those beautiful eyes that now clearly reflected his own image. They were intertwined, like two lonely souls leaning on each other, each the other’s only solace in this moment. Even if, in the end, they were destined to part, Jian Mei couldn’t help but softly nod and say, “Okay.”

He hugged Lu Xingwang tightly, his voice low, filled with dependence and affection, “Okay.”

…

The next day.

The newly acquired herbs had been ground into medicinal soup and distributed. The effects were immediate.

Many patients who had been on the brink of death showed significant improvement after taking just a few doses of the medicine. A week later, the first fully cured patient emerged, and their condition was excellent. After being monitored for two more days, there were no signs of relapse!

When this news was announced, many doctors present couldn’t hold back their emotions and broke down in tears, hugging each other as if they had just witnessed a miracle.

“He’s really cured.”

“He’s truly recovered.”

“We’re all going to be okay.”

Initially, many of the hospital officials had been skeptical of Jian Mei’s approach. In a world that revered divine power, most people were resistant to or outright rejected a treatment plan that didn’t rely on such power. But gradually, under Jian Mei’s preventive measures, the number of infections decreased, and with the first completely cured patient, everyone began to admire the young man. Now, they were entirely convinced of his methods.

The recovery of this patient felt like a beacon of hope for the entire society, the hospital, and even the nation.

Major media outlets rushed to report the news, and overnight, the name Jian Mei spread far and wide. People began to speak of him as a symbol of hope and survival.

Lu Yunshi said to him, “The problem is that all the herbs cannot be mass-produced.”

The number of infected people across the country was too large. The land near the imperial capital could barely supply the largest hospital there, and this hospital was responsible for smaller hospitals in various towns and counties. How were those patients supposed to be treated?

Jian Mei was clearly aware of this issue as well.

They couldn’t possibly rely solely on Lu Xingwang—he was just one man, and Jian Mei didn’t want to overburden him.

“I want to talk to Nan Feng about this,” Jian Mei said softly. “I hope he can first gather his fellow students who have plant-based divine powers to help out temporarily. Then, we can organize the local communities to start planting medicinal herbs. I was thinking of handing over the seeds to the research institute to try cultivating and replicating them. Once the seeds are mass-produced, towns and cities can start their own cultivation, creating a sustainable cycle.”

But until the seeds naturally grow and mass production is achieved, some of the more severe cases would have to rely on those with plant-based powers to save lives.

This country was primarily made up of commoners. If the commoners began to plant medicinal herbs on a large scale and those with divine powers lent a hand, they could support each other and overcome this crisis together.

Lu Yunshi asked, “Shall I accompany you?”

Jian Mei thought for a moment and then said, “Just take me to the place, and I’ll go in by myself.”

Nan Feng’s residence was the home of the Prime Minister, the highest-ranking civil official in the imperial capital. The Nan family had represented the civil official lineage on Stan Star for generations. The mansion was grand, and when word came that someone was visiting, even the servants were surprised before they announced it.

Soon, someone came out to greet him and led Jian Mei to the front hall.

It wasn’t Nan Feng who greeted him, but the Prime Minister himself—Nan Baichuan.

With a warm smile, the Prime Minister said, “Mr. Jian, it’s an honor to receive you. I apologize for not welcoming you sooner.”

Jian Mei, wearing his protective mask, replied softly, “To be honest, sir, I came here to visit my classmate, Nan Feng, and I also hope to seek his help.”

Nan Baichuan, still smiling, said, “My son has little skill; how could he possibly assist someone like you? To tell the truth, it’s rather embarrassing—though he and you were in the same class, his accomplishments are far behind yours. I’ve already ordered him to stay home and focus on his studies…”

“Does your Excellency know?”

Jian Mei sat quietly as he spoke, “According to incomplete statistics, approximately 100,000 people die each day across the nation due to this pandemic.”

Nan Baichuan’s smile froze in place.

“Perhaps even while we’re talking, people are dying,” Jian Mei continued softly. “In some places, the entire population of a town is around 100,000 people. This means that many towns could be completely wiped out in a single day.”

“First, it starts with the smaller towns, then the larger ones, and eventually, it will spread to the capital, slowly engulfing everything.”

Nan Baichuan was shocked, and he angrily reprimanded Jian Mei for his boldness: “How dare you speak like this!”

Jian Mei stared at him without flinching. “Do you really think staying at home is the safest option? Or that leaving this planet is the answer? Without a nation, without people to rely on, you’d be nothing more than prey, waiting to be devoured.”

“I need classmates with plant-based divine powers to help me,” Jian Mei said softly. “Nan Feng can save tens of thousands of lives.”

Nan Baichuan remained silent, but then a noblewoman stepped forward, tears in her eyes. “He’s my only son. How can I let him go out there with such a severe pandemic spreading?”

Jian Mei responded calmly, “I’m the only one left in my family too.”

“In our hospital, there are many young nurses and patients who are the only children in their families,” Jian Mei said, looking at the two of them. “If this plague isn’t stopped, everyone will die.”

The room fell into a prolonged silence.

In the end, Jian Mei was granted permission to take Nan Feng out of the mansion. As he was leaving, Nan Baichuan remarked, “Mr. Jian, if this plague is eradicated, I believe the pharmaceutical industry on Stan Star will undergo a revolutionary change because of you.”

Jian Mei looked back and smiled at him. “What I hope to see change the most is people’s hearts.”

As an S-rank power wielder with plant-based abilities, Nan Feng’s divine power drastically increased the growth rate of medicinal herbs, but it still wasn’t enough to meet the demand. The packaged herbs were distributed to the hospital’s affiliated facilities and then transported to nearby towns, but the rapid consumption quickly outpaced the production.

Nan Feng had already been working through the night. Jian Mei continuously enhanced Nan Feng’s powers, boosting his divine energy, but even with these efforts, Nan Feng’s physical strength was gradually being depleted.

Nan Feng sighed, “I really can’t keep going.”

Jian Mei asked, “Do you want to take a break?”

“Yeah…”

Not far from Jian Mei was Shen Huai, another plant-based power user who had voluntarily come to help. He said, “This isn’t a sustainable solution. Our power can’t cover the entire nation.”

Nan Feng suggested, “Let’s have The Medical Association act as a representative and issue a call to recruit plant-based power holders from across the country to join and assist.”

The largest family in The Medical Association was the Lu family.

Lu Yunshi, who was nearby, added, “Our family is currently led by Old Master Lu. My brother got infected with the disease recently, and the old master is overwhelmed right now. If you go and persuade him, he’ll definitely agree.”

Jian Mei immediately volunteered, “I’ll go.”

Once the decision was made, they wasted no time and quickly set things in motion.

When Jian Mei arrived at the Lu family estate, he felt the solemn and dignified atmosphere that permeated the place. As he entered the main hall, he saw the old master and respectfully greeted him.

The old master said, “Mei Mei, I gave you this opportunity, and you haven’t disappointed me.”

Jian Mei replied softly, “As long as I can help the people and ensure that everyone can overcome this crisis and defeat the pandemic, it’s what I should do.”

The old master smiled gently and said, “Mei Mei, I heard that under your care, there have already been patients who recovered. The contributions you’ve made in fighting this pandemic are immense. On behalf of everyone, I thank you.”

Jian Mei shook his head, “The credit doesn’t belong to me alone; it’s the result of many people’s efforts.”

The old master lowered his head and coughed lightly before looking at Jian Mei and saying, “Mei Mei, you’ve created a medicine that can treat the pandemic, essentially saving all our lives. If we get through this, I’ll grant you one wish—anything you ask for.”

A shrewd person might seize this moment to request something that would increase their power or wealth.

For example, they could ask for immense riches or greater influence. For a wealthy and powerful medical family, fulfilling such requests would be a minor issue.

Jian Mei seriously considered the offer for a moment, then smiled gently and said, “No need. If the pandemic can really be overcome, then everyone should just live their lives well.”

The old master was stunned.

“As long as the pain can be cured, that’s enough,” Jian Mei continued, standing there with a bright and upright demeanor. He added softly, “If you really want to grant me a wish, then after the pandemic, implement more medical policies that make healthcare affordable for ordinary people.”

At that moment, this ordinary child seemed to radiate a dazzling light.

Lu Xi looked at Jian Mei for a moment, then laughed, “I knew I didn’t misjudge you.”

Jian Mei was taken aback.

“I’ve looked into it. Your parents on Stan Star have already passed away. When this is all over, I want to adopt you as my son,” Lu Xi said, gazing at him. “Mei Mei, that way you’ll have the right to inherit, just like Yunshi and the others. In the future, you can help me, help the Lu family, and help the entire medical community. How about that?”

Jian Mei was completely stunned. He had never expected Grandpa Lu Xi to say such a thing.

When he first arrived in this world with no one to rely on, of course, he had longed for support and someone to depend on. But he never imagined that everything he had ever dreamed of would suddenly come to him just when he was preparing to leave this world.

Jian Mei’s heart felt a mix of sorrow and a slight twinge of bitterness, but he was still very happy to receive such genuine care. Looking at Grandpa Lu Xi, he felt as if he were seeing his own grandfather, making it impossible to refuse. Finally, he gently nodded and said, “Alright, I’m willing.”

Thank you to everyone who has been willing to give me this care. Even if it doesn’t lead to anything in the end, I won’t have any regrets.

…

After the medical family issued a call for help, it received widespread support and reinforcement.

In just one day, officials with divine powers from all over the country responded, traveling to the government to receive distributed seeds and coordinating with hospitals to provide medicinal herbs. These herbs, supplied in the short term, alleviated the suffering of many critical patients. The daily increase in new cases began to decline steadily from that day on. The daily death toll, which had been at 100,000, slowly decreased to just over 10,000, and even down to a few thousand.

As the majority of people began to recover, the commoners also started participating in the planting efforts.

In times of crisis, many capable officials with divine powers stepped up. But when the situation became dire, the common people voluntarily joined the planting teams as well. Some began setting up tents and preparing food to deliver to the officials. This pandemic seemed to have truly brought together the two previously divided classes of society.

“The one who cured this pandemic, the one who first developed the solution, is named Jian Mei.”

“He’s a commoner child.”

“He has no divine power.”

“And he saved everyone.”

In this pandemic, most of the people who originally had divine power lost it and experienced what it was like to have nothing. So even after recovering their powers gradually, the thoughts of the upper class in the entire country and society slowly began to change. They were no longer as arrogant and started to understand the hardships of the lower classes.

Everyone was immersed in the joy of the pandemic finally coming to an end, and the whole country, the whole society, seemed to finally be able to breathe a sigh of relief.

However, in the hospital, Ping Ping’s brows were furrowed deeply.

It wasn’t for any trivial reason; today, while eating, Jian Mei had once again shown symptoms of coughing up blood. Although many people had been cured, Jian Mei’s condition seemed to be worsening rather than improving.

Ping Ping was worried, “Mei Mei, what’s really going on with you?”

Jian Mei could clearly feel that this body’s life was nearing its end.

His life had always been sustained by Lu Xingwang’s divine power. However, as he used divine power, and as Lu Xingwang gradually used more of it, Jian Mei’s body grew increasingly weak.

He had secretly checked his own pulse before. Although he couldn’t precisely determine how much time he had left, Jian Mei could roughly estimate based on his body’s condition that he had, at most, only one month left to live.

Jian Mei held Ping Ping’s hand and said, “Don’t tell anyone about my condition, okay?”

Ping Ping looked at him with concern. Even though he didn’t fully understand the situation, he knew that Jian Mei’s condition was definitely not good. “Mei Mei, you can’t let anything happen to you. What illness do you have? Tell me, and we’ll find a way to treat it.”

Jian Mei shook his head; there was no cure.

Lu Yunshi sent someone to inform him that in two days, he would be appointed as the hospital’s vice director, but Jian Mei declined, citing exhaustion from working during the pandemic. Now that everyone was safe and the pandemic was under control, he wanted to spend his remaining month of life for himself and with Lu Xingwang.

After leaving the hospital, Jian Mei called Lu Xingwang.

On the other end, he heard the voice he longed for day and night. Lu Xingwang asked softly, “What’s wrong?”

“Nothing much. Where are you?”

“I’m just outside the military base, on my way back after handling some things,” Lu Xingwang replied over the phone. “Where are you?”

Jian Mei smiled, “I’m outside the hospital. I want to come to see you. I’ve taken an especially long leave.”

Lu Xingwang was a bit surprised. “Taken leave?”

For a workaholic like Jian Mei to take time off was indeed unexpected.

Jian Mei nodded, his eyes filled with gentle warmth as he softly said, “I’ve taken a long leave. For this next month, I want to spend it with you.”