The moment Leng Qingqiu touched the jade pendant, she swayed, dizziness overwhelming her.
Lu Chengwen caught her, glaring at Luo Shiyin. "What did you do?"
Luo Shiyin looked panicked. "I didn't do anything!"
Lu Chengwen snatched the pendant from Leng Qingqiu's hand and shoved it back at Luo Shiyin. "Stay away from us!"
Luo Shiyin dropped her parasol. "Brother, let's help her rest over there."
"Don't touch her!"
"Stay back!"
Luo Shiyin retreated like a scolded child. "I'm sorry, I didn't know this would happen. I don't know what's going on. I just wanted to help…"
Jiang Shihan ran over. "What's wrong?"
Lu Chengwen, frantic, said, "I don't know, but it's definitely something she did!"
Luo Shiyin protested, "I swear, I didn't do anything!"
Lu Chengwen stepped toward her. "Don't play innocent with me. What did you do?"
Onlookers began gathering, drawn by the commotion. They saw a dramatic scene: one beautiful woman passed out, another tending to her anxiously, and a third, strikingly alluring, on the verge of tears as a man berated her.
"Hey! Why's a grown man yelling at a girl like that?"
"Yeah, no manners at all."
"God's blind—how do scumbags like this exist?"
Lu Chengwen glared at Luo Shiyin, his anger boiling, then turned, scooped up Leng Qingqiu, and strode toward the exit.
In the car, he called Xu Xuejiao. Her voice was icy. "Hello."
"Xuejiao, where are you?"
"None of your business."
"No, I need your help! It's urgent!"
"Oh, the great Young Master Lu needs help? Should I come running, only to get chewed out and sent away after?"
Lu Chengwen was desperate. "I really need you. I was wrong before, my attitude sucked. This is life-or-death!"
"Life-or-death? Got someone pregnant? Just go to the hospital for an abortion."
Lu Chengwen snapped, "Are you helping or not?!"
Xu Xuejiao fired back, "Why should I?"
"Leng Qingqiu touched some woman's jade pendant and passed out for no reason."
"Then it's got nothing to do with me. You two lovebirds can sort it out yourselves."
Lu Chengwen hung up.
Twenty minutes later, at the hospital, Xu Xuejiao appeared despite her earlier refusal.
Lu Chengwen looked at her. "Thought it wasn't your problem?"
She rolled her eyes and began checking Leng Qingqiu's pulse.
"How is she?"
"Is it serious?"
"She's okay, right?"
Xu Xuejiao glanced at him. "You're loud."
Lu Chengwen shut up and stepped back.
After checking Leng Qingqiu's pulse, pupils, and heartbeat, Xu Xuejiao said, "She's fine, just fainted."
Lu Chengwen stared. "Thanks, Doctor."
Then he paused. "She's fine, just fainted"? I called you because she fainted! Fainting is fine? Who faints when they're fine?
"There's gotta be a reason she fainted, right?"
Xu Xuejiao said, "We should run some tests. Western medicine can check things more thoroughly in some cases."
Lu Chengwen frowned. "That's not right. You're a miracle doctor. If something's wrong, you'd know from her pulse!"
Xu Xuejiao looked at him. "You're so worried about her. If I say she's fine, will you believe me, or think I'm sabotaging her?"
Lu Chengwen realized she was still upset.
[This brat's been screwing me over, and now she's pulling this.]
[Looks like she's really mad.]
[Fine, let it be. If she hates me, maybe it's better—she'll stay out of my mess.]
He didn't try to placate her, just said politely, "Thanks for coming. Sorry to drag you here."
Xu Xuejiao studied him. "If Leng Qingqiu hadn't fainted, you wouldn't have called me, would you?"
Lu Chengwen met her gaze. "No."
She grew angrier. "So you just want me out of your life, only calling when you need something?"
"I was wrong," Lu Chengwen said. "I promise, from now on, even if I need help, I won't call you. If I do, feel free to hang up."
With that, he turned and walked out.
He called Leng Tianhao, who shockingly said to "handle it" because he was too busy to deal with it.
Lu Chengwen regretted making the call.
It had to be Luo Shiyin.
But was her target not him, but Leng Qingqiu?
Standing at the end of the hospital corridor, looking out at the city's towering buildings, Lu Chengwen fell silent.
Soon, Xu Xuejiao approached. Both were in sour moods—Lu Chengwen over Leng Qingqiu's condition, Xu Xuejiao over their cold war.
Normally, Xu Xuejiao dressed in vibrant, youthful outfits. Today, in a white lab coat, fitted black pants, and a simple ponytail, she looked mature, composed, and professional—a doctor who inspired confidence.
Lu Chengwen noticed the change. "You look different."
Xu Xuejiao spoke slowly. "There's a pinhole on her fingertip. I've discreetly taken a blood sample to test. Results will take time."
Lu Chengwen shook his head. "You probably won't find anything."
"I suspect it's a special sedative used by martial artists, designed to knock someone out instantly. Who did this?"
"A woman."
Xu Xuejiao raised an eyebrow. "Besides Long Aotian, you've pissed off a woman from the martial world?"
Lu Chengwen nodded. "She's with Long Aotian."
"Why target Leng Qingqiu?"
Yeah, why? Lu Chengwen didn't get it either. Leng Qingqiu had resigned, posing no threat to Long Aotian or Leng Tianhao. Why go after her?
"Any solutions?" he asked.
"There are, but it'll take time," Xu Xuejiao said. "Don't worry, I checked her pulse. The drug's mild, no harm to her body. Their goal wasn't to hurt her, just to knock her out."
Lu Chengwen looked at her sincerely. "Thank you."
"I'm a doctor. Saving people is my job. No need to thank me."
"Still, thanks."
Xu Xuejiao's voice carried a hint of grievance. "Do you like her more, or me?"
Lu Chengwen sighed. "You're both my friends. I made it clear to Leng Qingqiu today. If either of you needs help, I'll drop everything to be there, no questions asked. But we can only be friends, and I don't want too much contact."
"Because of Long Aotian?"
"Not just him."
Lu Chengwen continued, "I'm in a lot of trouble right now—a ton. Anyone close to me might get dragged down. I don't want to hurt you."
"What if I'm not afraid of that?"
"I am." Changing the subject, he added, "You look great in your professional attire."
"Really?"
"Yeah. Mature, steady, professional. You seem trustworthy."
Xu Xuejiao tilted her head, eyeing him. "Want a close encounter with a professional doctor? I'm the real deal."
Lu Chengwen chuckled. [This girl, one second she's mature, the next she's back to her antics.]
"Nah, I'm scared your dad would chase me with a cleaver."
"You're afraid of him?"
"Of course. He's your dad."
"But I heard you tore into him this morning."
Lu Chengwen froze. "You know?"
"You chewed him out in our living room until he couldn't get a word in. The whole household's talking about it. How could I not know?"
"Sorry, I had no choice. He wouldn't listen, and I just wanted him to—"
"I know," Xu Xuejiao said with a smile. "So… from today, we're friends?"
Lu Chengwen exhaled, smiling back. "Good friends."
"Always there for each other?"
"Absolutely."
"If I need you, you'll show up?"
"No question."
Xu Xuejiao seemed to let go, smiling as she extended her hand. "Thanks, good friend."
Lu Chengwen shook her hand, relieved. "Thank you too, good friend."
Suddenly, Xu Xuejiao yanked him into her arms and screamed, "What are you doing?! Let me go, you creep!"
Lu Chengwen realized he'd been played.
Doctors, nurses, patients, and families in the corridor turned to stare.
He pulled away quickly. Xu Xuejiao staggered back against the wall, looking unsteady, as if on the verge of tears. "What are you doing? This is a hospital! Even if you want to mess with me, you can't do it here!"
Lu Chengwen was dumbfounded.
[This little minx is too good at acting!]
[That calm, disappointed, heartbroken look—she made it feel like a breakup scene, and I actually felt guilty for a second!]
[And then she pulls this! Great, now I'm screwed.]
Nurses rushed over, shielding Xu Xuejiao and scolding Lu Chengwen.
"How could you do that? This is a hospital!"
"I don't care what rich young master you are. This is the Xu family's private hospital. You can't throw your weight around here. Show some respect!"
Lu Chengwen tried to explain. "It's a misunderstanding, a misunderstanding…"
"Misunderstanding? We saw it clearly! Get out, or we're calling the police!"
As he fumbled for words, he caught Xu Xuejiao behind the crowd, sticking out her tongue and rolling her eyes at him. He wanted to drag her out and spank her.
Then his phone rang—Leng Qingqiu's number. He answered, and Luo Shiyin's voice came through.
"Brother, want to save Leng Qingqiu?"
Lu Chengwen's face darkened. "What are you up to?"
"Come to the presidential suite at the Junli Hotel. Oh, and you're paying for the room."
She hung up.
_
If you want to support me and read advanced 100+ chapters of this story and also other stories join: patreon.com/Caluem