Chapter 29 Part 2

Zhu Yanqing kept smiling ingratiatingly all the way until he stepped outside the door. Then his face twisted instantly, and he kicked a roadside trash can viciously.

“Pah! Bunch of snobbish idiots!”

·

Zhu Ran drank alone at the bar. He didn’t actually want to drink that much; he just had nothing else to do and came to kill time.

He didn’t know how many glasses he’d had when Zhu Yanqing showed up. Zhu Ran ignored him.

“Huo Boyan hurt your feelings, huh?” Zhu Yanqing wore an “I knew it” expression. “I warned you those people wouldn’t trust us. Only what’s in your pocket truly belongs to you.”

Zhu Ran didn’t even lift his eyelids, his tone icy. “I’m not so fragile that I need you piling on.”

“You ungrateful brat, I’m just worried you’ll drink too much and get into trouble!” Zhu Yanqing glanced at him and said, “Drink less. Let me order you a glass of milk to sober up.”

Zhu Ran stayed silent.

He wasn’t heartbroken, just a bit bored. He needed something to numb his nerves so he wouldn’t overthink.

Soon, Zhu Yanqing returned with a glass of milk. “Drink this and go back to sleep.”

Zhu Ran hesitated for a moment but drank it.

The taste was odd. Zhu Ran frowned. “What did you put in this?”

Zhu Yanqing: “Sobering-up medicine.”

Zhu Ran didn’t suspect anything and got up to head back.

Zhu Yanqing tried to support him, but Zhu Ran shook his head, saying he could walk on his own. He still had basic safety awareness—out alone, he wouldn’t drink himself into a stupor before returning.

On the way back, Zhu Yanqing trailed behind him, wearing an expression of deep concern.

It irritated Zhu Ran to no end. Zhu Yanqing had never cared before, and now he was putting on this father-son bonding act.

Zhu Ran spoke up to send him away. “I don’t need you to walk me.”

“I’ll see you to the door,” Zhu Yanqing insisted. “Your mother called me several times tonight. If she knew you’d been deceived, she’d be heartbroken.”

Zhu Ran pressed his lips together and said nothing more.

Perhaps it was the alcohol kicking in, but he started feeling dizzy. He pushed on until he reached his room door, nearly stumbling as he opened it.

“Careful.” Zhu Yanqing reached out to steady him.

Zhu Ran, unaccustomed to physical contact with family, stepped forward to dodge it.

That movement made his head spin even worse. He forced himself into the room and sat on the edge of the bed, dazedly thinking that he hadn’t drunk that much—why did he feel so awful?

Zhu Yanqing glanced over and said, “Want me to stay with you?”

“No need.” Zhu Ran shook his head. Their father-son relationship had been ice-cold for years; this sudden warmth only made him want to vomit.

Zhu Yanqing didn’t linger and added, “Then rest well. I’m leaving.”

“Mm.”

He didn’t know how much time passed before the sound of the door closing came. Zhu Ran finally couldn’t hold on any longer. His vision went black, and he collapsed onto the bed.

·

Meanwhile, Huo Boyan was holding an emergency meeting.

Just half an hour earlier, they had finally received word: the truck driver’s daughter from the old accident, Zhang Jinhua, was willing to meet him—on the condition that Huo Boyan find a doctor to treat her child.

Chen Jiaming: “Zhang Jinhua has an 8-year-old daughter with malignant pediatric brain cancer. To treat her, she exhausted the accident compensation money, and even her husband divorced her.”

Liang Ziqian: “Do you have the medical records?”

“Right here.” Chen Jiaming handed over the tablet.

Liang Ziqian was a neurosurgery expert. Though young, he had become the hospital director while still working the front lines, solving countless difficult cases.

After reviewing the records, even the experienced Liang Ziqian frowned. “This is a tough one. There aren’t many successful cases worldwide. It’s recurred three times after surgery, and no other doctors dared take it on afterward. I’ve only handled one similar case.”

Huo Boyan: “Can you take it?”

“No one else can. I can’t guarantee 100% success, but if I fail, probably no other doctor could save her.” Liang Ziqian handed the tablet back to Chen Jiaming and added, “Arrange a time soon.”

Chen Jiaming nodded. “Got it.”

“Not yet.” Huo Boyan shook his head.

“What’s wrong?” Liang Ziqian asked.

“Too coincidental,” Huo Boyan said. “I’ve been tracking everyone involved in that accident for over a decade with no leads. This year, out of nowhere, I get word on the driver’s daughter Zhang Jinhua. And right when we find her, she happens to have a daughter who’s sick—and the case is exactly in Liang Ziqian’s specialty, requiring surgery abroad.”

“I get it,” Chen Jiaming said. “You suspect the whole thing is a plot targeting Dean Liang? Should I check out Zhang Jinhua’s social circle first?”

That was precisely Huo Boyan’s thinking. He nodded. “Thanks for the trouble.”

“Make it quick,” Liang Ziqian said. “If the case is real, the girl’s condition is already dire.”

“Jiaming, handle this personally,” Huo Boyan instructed. “Put non-urgent matters on hold and handle the emergencies yourself.”

Chen Jiaming mentally reviewed his schedule, reprioritizing and slotting in meetings with two onboard partners for Huo Boyan.

“Not tonight,” Huo Boyan shook his head. “Move them to tomorrow morning.”

Chen Jiaming was surprised. “You have plans?”

“I’m going to see Zhu Ran.” Huo Boyan recalled the sight of Zhu Ran crying in his arms last time and couldn’t help sighing. “I’m afraid he’ll cry tonight.”

Chen Jiaming and Liang Ziqian exchanged a glance, their expressions subtly amused. Huo Boyan was notorious as a workaholic—this was the first time he had postponed work for personal reasons.

Liang Ziqian teased with a smile, “Looks like you’re really hooked.”

“Hooked on what? I’m not a gardener.” Huo Boyan’s tone was calm; he was just worried.

Last time, Zhu Ran had cried so miserably from being startled by the horse. This time, after Huo Boyan had bullied him, he might not say anything, but who knew how heartbroken he was? He might already be hiding away, sniffling in secret.

If not for the sudden news about the accident-related contact, he would have gone to Zhu Ran half an hour ago.

With things mostly settled, Huo Boyan stood. “That’s it for today. Meeting adjourned. Call me if anything comes up.”

Bzzz.

At that moment, his phone vibrated.

A message from Zhu Ran—

I’m waiting for you in Room 9169.