Chapter 19: So Poor

Yuan Li’s lips were swollen into two thick sausages, making him look utterly ridiculous. His once handsome face was flushed bright red, and his right hand trembled as he pointed at Zhuang Zhou.

“Are you asking what I did?” Zhuang Zhou replied calmly, shrugging his shoulders. “Sorry, I’m just a doctor who’s eager to help people. Don’t try to blame me. I only slapped you because I couldn’t stand how you bullied Sister Lin Wen. But how could a slap possibly make your lips swell like that? Regardless, I owe you an apology—I acted too rashly. Who would have thought that the disease of a foul mouth is most afraid of a beating? My slap just made your condition worse!”

Yuan Li babbled incoherently, his anger and frustration making him look like an agitated monkey.

“Tsk, tsk, tsk. What a pity—a handsome face ruined by those lips,” Zhuang Zhou said, relishing the misfortune.

“Find... a... doctor!” Yuan Li managed to force out the words, his eyes filled with venom. He had planned to use Lin Wen’s debts to force her into submission, hoping to win the beauty over. But Zhuang Zhou’s intervention had thrown everything into chaos.

There was no way Yuan Li could believe his lips had suddenly swollen to the size of sausages without Zhuang Zhou being involved.

“I am a doctor. Would you like me to take a look? I can cure your sausage lips, but as I said before, my consultation fee isn’t cheap. Five hundred thousand. No discounts. What do you think, Young Master Yuan? Is that your price range? Are you willing to accept it?” Zhuang Zhou spoke nonchalantly, but with his demeanor and tone, no one could possibly believe he had nothing to do with Yuan Li’s condition.

Yuan Li’s finger pointed at Zhuang Zhou, his gaze murderous, threatening him as if to say: Just wait, you’ll see!

Clumsily, Yuan Li turned and stumbled out of the hospital room with his entourage.

He would rather die than let Zhuang Zhou treat him! Moreover, facing Zhuang Zhou now, a strange fear welled up inside Yuan Li. He couldn’t fathom why his lips had suddenly become like that—was it really the slap that triggered his poisoning? Or was there an undetected illness lurking inside him? Whatever the case, he needed to find a skilled doctor to uncover the truth.

Watching Yuan Li flee in embarrassment, Lin Wen cautiously approached Zhuang Zhou and asked, “Zhuang Zhou, will Yuan Li be alright? His father is a trustee at the medical university—very influential. And Yuan Li is one of the university’s three prodigies. People like us can’t afford to offend him!”

“Someone like that, a prodigy? He’s a disgrace. Don’t worry, Sister Lin Wen. He’ll be fine,” Zhuang Zhou replied carelessly. He knew Yuan Li wouldn’t dare retaliate—unless he wanted to lose his lips. Otherwise, he’d surely come back for more.

“How did you do it?” Lin Wen pointed to her own lips, unable to hide a smile. Seeing Yuan Li suffer made her happy. This innocent girl, with a beauty as if she stepped out of a painting, had clearly been bullied too much by Yuan Li, cowed by his power, and forced to suffer in silence. Now, with Zhuang Zhou standing up for her, she felt her spirits lift, returning to her cheerful self.

Zhuang Zhou grinned, feigning mystery. “Heh, Sister Lin Wen, my curses are formidable. Want me to give you a pair of sausage lips too? It’d look rather sexy!”

“Get lost!” Lin Wen’s delicate fist struck Zhuang Zhou, her laughter bursting forth as she clutched her stomach.

That slap had been no more than a cover. The real trick was that Zhuang Zhou used it to transfer a trace of the poison afflicting him from Old Master Ye’s backlash onto Yuan Li—just a hint of yang poison, and the spoiled young master’s lips swelled up.

“Sorry to trouble you again,” Lin Wen said apologetically.

Zhuang Zhou shook his head, suddenly serious. “Don’t say that, Sister Lin Wen. I should be thanking you. Without your hundred thousand, I might already be ashes in a crematorium. This is what I ought to do—and besides, I still owe you money.”

“I know. You’re still a student. Even though you have some income from your internet café, your expenses are high. And your parents’ health isn’t good. You, as their son, should take care of them. Don’t worry about me. I’ll manage to repay Yuan Li.”

What a kind-hearted girl! Zhuang Zhou realized he had been blind before—right beside him was a gentle, thoughtful, and compassionate girl, yet he’d failed to appreciate her, wasting the meaning of “childhood sweetheart.”

“Don’t worry, Sister Lin Wen. The money borrowed from Yuan Li doesn’t need repaying. Soon enough, he’ll be the one sending you money!” Zhuang Zhou declared confidently. After all, Yuan Li’s poison could only be cured by Zhuang Zhou—unless he no longer valued his life.

Lin Wen thought to herself that Zhuang Zhou was simply too good at comforting her. Yuan Li wanted nothing more than to kill them both; expecting him to send money was impossible. She’d have to work hard, earn enough in a few years, and pay back the scoundrel.

Recently, Yuan Li’s mother had been hospitalized for heart disease. Lin Wen, a nurse, caught Yuan Li’s eye immediately.

But Lin Wen kept her cool. She knew that playboys like Yuan Li were never sincere. He’d discard her once the novelty wore off, just as he’d toss away a new shirt after a few days.

At first, he courted Lin Wen with gifts for her mother and loans for herself. But as his interest waned and he found a gymnast to pursue, he turned hostile, demanding Lin Wen repay the debt. He even shamelessly proposed a nude loan, which Lin Wen refused outright. She signed a promissory note instead, but Yuan Li continued to harass her for repayment, and most of Lin Wen’s wages went to paying him back.

Today, Yuan Li had come to the hospital again. If not for Zhuang Zhou’s intervention, Lin Wen wouldn’t have known how to cope.

“Don’t worry about the money, Sister Lin Wen! I’ll find a way!” Zhuang Zhou promised.

Lin Wen’s nose tingled, her eyes grew red. Her mother’s illness was severe—even after surgery, she’d need substantial funds for recovery. Heart surgery and rehabilitation were an endless pit, impossible to fill. She’d been struggling alone for so long, now all she wanted was a shoulder to lean on.

Lin Wen threw herself into Zhuang Zhou’s arms and sobbed.

Zhuang Zhou didn’t understand why Lin Wen suddenly broke down, but he let her hold him and comforted her gently. “It’s okay, Sister Lin Wen. Don’t be afraid. I’m here. With me around, no one dare bully you!”

Lin Wen lifted her tear-streaked face. “Thank you, Zhuang Zhou,” she choked out.

Zhuang Zhou felt as if a speeding train had crashed straight into his heart, hitting him with full force. He nodded, wrapping Lin Wen tightly in his arms, holding her close with nothing but tenderness—he wanted nothing more than to cherish this beautiful girl.

Damn it, Zhuang Zhou thought. He had wronged her so much before; now he must repay her doubly.

“Ahem!”

At the ward door, a young woman cleared her throat loudly.

Lin Wen turned to see it was Officer Ye Song, and instantly her face flushed crimson, feeling as though she’d been caught in the act. Clutching her lunchbox, she hurried away.

Ye Song strode in with her usual brusque manner, sitting next to Zhuang Zhou’s bed. Her face was cold as ever. “Not bad, you two—lovers’ tryst. Did I interrupt something?”

Zhuang Zhou rolled his eyes. “What do you think, Officer Ye?”

He had no fondness for this female soldier. Though her figure was alluring and her heroic appearance enticing, her intimidating presence kept everyone at arm’s length.

“When will you treat my grandfather? You have time to flirt with the pretty nurse but not to heal him? You’re deliberately shirking!” she snapped.

“Don’t worry. I’m a doctor, and I have professional ethics. Your grandfather’s condition is half cured already. I’m confident about the rest. But please, drop that icy, superior attitude, will you? Acting like a block of wood! You’ll never get married at this rate!” Zhuang Zhou cursed mischievously—his curses were powerful.

“What did you say?” Ye Song exploded—how dare he curse her?

“I said, shouldn’t we discuss my consultation fee next?” Zhuang Zhou pulled up a chair and sat opposite her.

“Afraid I’ll shortchange you?” Ye Song’s brief respect for Zhuang Zhou evaporated. Doctors were supposed to be noble, saving lives as their calling, yet this guy always talked about money. How vulgar!

“Let me tell you, as long as my grandfather recovers, you’ll get every penny!” Ye Song replied coldly. “If all doctors were as greedy as you, patients would never enter hospitals!”

Zhuang Zhou cut her off, annoyed. “Enough. Doctors are people, too. We need to live. Don’t act so high and mighty—it’s only because you’ve never worried about money. I’m just a nobody, and money matters a lot to me!”

Ye Song rolled her eyes in disdain. “Don’t worry. One hundred thousand—every cent will be yours. When my grandfather recovers, I’ll transfer it immediately.”