Chapter 83:

Qin Chaoyu smiled, tidied up the notebook on the table where she recorded medical conditions, and said, “If you study hard, you can do it too.”

“Mm!” You Yingzhi nodded earnestly, then sat upright to the side, determined to observe his master’s diagnostic process carefully and take notes, hoping that one day he could be just like her.

That day, Qin Chaoyu had gone to check on You Yingzhi out of concern and learned about his grandmother’s passing. Worried about him, she brought him home. Later, she discovered that the boy was exceptionally intelligent—perhaps due to his upbringing—and despite his young age, when most children would be playful and mischievous, he approached every task assigned to him with seriousness and dedication.

His patience was remarkable, surpassing even that of many adults, making him more reliable than most.

Qin Chaoyu had initially been troubled about what to do with You Yingzhi. While she could easily support him financially, the boy was stubborn and unlikely to accept such help readily.

As she observed him, it suddenly occurred to her: why not take him on as her apprentice?

After all, reviving her medical lineage couldn’t be done alone. A “lineage” implied more than just one person. She didn’t need to recruit many disciples, but having one or two would be ideal.

She had previously hesitated about taking on an apprentice, fearing that a mischievous or disobedient one would exhaust her. But now, as if the universe had answered her unspoken wish, this child seemed tailor-made for her—intelligent, patient, and earnest, making him the perfect student.

When she proposed the idea to You Yingzhi, he was overjoyed and readily agreed to become her apprentice.

Later, Qin Chaoyu even selected an auspicious day for You Yingzhi to formally become her disciple, following the traditions of their lineage.

For You Yingzhi, becoming Qin Chaoyu’s apprentice was something he had never dared to dream of.

To him, Qin Chaoyu was the hand that reached out when he was drowning in despair. With a father like his, he had never imagined escaping the darkness.

Meeting Qin Chaoyu had already felt like the greatest stroke of luck in his life, but he never expected to be blessed even further—so much so that it brought tears to his eyes.

On the day of his formal apprenticeship, he visited his grandmother’s grave and spoke to her at length. In the end, he told her: “I’ll be fine. I’ll be happy. Don’t worry about me.”

He meant every word. He truly believed it.

~

Wang Qijing acted quickly. Once she made up her mind, she sought out Han Lanyi and asked her to accompany her to Yuzhou.

Han Lanyi didn’t ask why Wang Qijing hadn’t invited her husband along. She simply agreed silently.

Three days later, without informing anyone, Han Lanyi and Wang Qijing arrived in Yuzhou.

After disembarking the plane, it was only around nine in the morning. Wang Qijing asked, “Lanyi, should we go find that doctor now?”

Han Lanyi had never met the doctor before. All the information she had came from her sister-in-law. Since Wang Qijing wanted to find the doctor immediately after landing, how could she possibly know where to look?

Just as she was fretting, she suddenly remembered her sister-in-law mentioning that the doctor was a student at Yuzhou University. Since it wasn’t vacation time yet, they could try looking for her there.

She grabbed her bag and said, “Let’s go! To Yuzhou University!”

Wang Qijing was baffled. Why were they going to the university when they were supposed to find the doctor? But seeing her friend already striding out of the airport, she didn’t have time to think and hurried after her.

At the gates of Yuzhou University, Han Lanyi had no idea where to go next. She didn’t know which department the doctor belonged to! But since the doctor practiced traditional Chinese medicine, the most likely place would be the College of Traditional Chinese Medicine, right?

Uncertain, Han Lanyi stopped a passing student and asked, “Excuse me, do you know Qin Chaoyu? Is she from the College of Traditional Chinese Medicine?”

The student she stopped was a young man. When he saw the striking, queenly woman who had halted him, his initial irritation faded. Coincidentally, he was from the College of Traditional Chinese Medicine.

“Yeah, I know her. I’m from the same college. Are you looking for Qin Chaoyu? Unfortunately, she’s not here right now. She’s been recommended by our professors to intern at Yuzhou Hospital because of her outstanding performance. She’s usually there when she doesn’t have classes. She’ll be back on campus tomorrow morning. If you can’t wait, you can try finding her at the hospital.”

This was common knowledge in their college. While many envied Qin Chaoyu for interning at Yuzhou Hospital as a sophomore, most acknowledged her skills. She had earned praise from numerous professors, especially Professor Wei Bolan, who openly praised her medical expertise. The gap between her and others was so vast that envy was pointless.

“Thank you,” Han Lanyi said before pulling Wang Qijing toward the campus exit.

“Hey, miss, can I get your contact info?” The young man, unwilling to let such a beauty slip away, called after her.

Han Lanyi chuckled. “Miss? I’m hardly a ‘miss.’ More like a big sister—I’m over thirty.”

Leaving the stunned young man behind, she led Wang Qijing away.

On the way, Wang Qijing couldn’t stop laughing.

Han Lanyi sighed. “What’s so funny? It just proves my charm is intact and I’ve aged well!”

She wasn’t wrong. To anyone who didn’t know her, she looked like she was in her early twenties. With a life of comfort and wealth, maintaining a youthful appearance wasn’t surprising. Moreover, her commanding presence, shaped by years of authority, gave her a regal, untouchable aura—far from the fragility of ordinary young women.

She was undeniably captivating.

Wang Qijing’s laughter gradually faded.

They were the same age, yet Han Lanyi still looked like a young woman while she had become a middle-aged housewife. How laughable.

Noticing her friend’s sudden silence, Han Lanyi understood immediately.

Her friend’s current state was both heartbreaking and frustrating—maddeningly passive, tormenting herself with her own helplessness.

At Yuzhou Hospital, Han Lanyi stopped a nurse and asked for directions to the Traditional Chinese Medicine Department. Since Qin Chaoyu practiced TCM, she must be there.

The nurse replied without hesitation, “Are you here to see Dr. Qin?”

“Yes! We’re looking for a doctor named Qin Chaoyu. Where can we find her?”

“You won’t find her in the TCM Department. She’s on the third floor in the specialist outpatient clinic. Take the elevator up, turn right, and you’ll see a crowd of patients outside the door labeled ‘TCM Specialist.'”

It seemed inquiries about Qin Chaoyu had become so frequent that the nurse had developed a reflex response.

In truth, the nurse admired Dr. Qin. Despite being younger than her, Qin Chaoyu had been assigned to the specialist clinic. Initially, many in the hospital had mocked and ridiculed her, but now, those same people had been thoroughly humbled.

Now, no one in the hospital doubted her medical skills. What’s more, she was humble and kind-hearted. Rumor had it that her prescriptions were tailored to patients’ financial situations—affordable yet highly effective. Countless patients had been cured under her care, and nearly every day, someone came to present her with a banner of gratitude.

“Thank you,” Han Lanyi said, surprised the nurse had guessed their purpose so quickly. Clearly, this doctor was well-known in the hospital.

Following the nurse’s directions, Han Lanyi and Wang Qijing easily found their destination.

Stepping out of the elevator, they were stunned—the waiting area was packed with patients. Such a scene was usually reserved for renowned medical experts.

Wang Qijing tugged at Han Lanyi’s sleeve and whispered, “This doctor must be really good.”

Han Lanyi nodded, but the crowd made her hesitate. “Should we come back tomorrow? With so many people, we might not even get seen by evening.”

Wang Qijing was equally daunted. “Are you sure we’d get a spot tomorrow?”

Han Lanyi wasn’t. What if people queued overnight or arrived at dawn? They’d never compete.

“How about this: we’ll go to her university tomorrow. That student said she’d be there in the morning.”

“Alright.”

So, Han Lanyi and Wang Qijing checked into a hotel and waited for the next day.

Early the following morning, they got ready and headed to Yuzhou University.

Unfortunately, they arrived during class hours. The campus was quiet, and after some difficulty, they found the classroom where Qin Chaoyu was teaching.

They slipped into an adjacent classroom to wait for her lecture to end.

The wait lasted over an hour.

Qin Chaoyu was the last to leave the classroom, having stayed behind to discuss medical theories with her professor.

Since many professors learned she had been trained since childhood, they no longer treated her as an ordinary student. Once they realized her exceptional skills, they regarded her as a peer, often pulling her aside for discussions.

Uncertain how long the conversation would last, Qin Chaoyu hadn’t asked her roommates to wait for her.

Planning to grab lunch before heading to the hospital, she was surprised to see two women clearly waiting for someone as she exited.

Assuming they weren’t there for her, she started to walk past.

“Excuse me, could we have a moment of your time?”

Qin Chaoyu stopped and pointed at herself. “Me?”

Han Lanyi nodded. “Yes, you. We came specifically to see you.”

“Oh, I see.” Glancing at the older woman’s face, she guessed, “You’re here for medical treatment?”

Aside from that, few would seek her out with such respect.

“Yes. Would you be willing to spare us some time?”

Qin Chaoyu considered her schedule and decided two hours would suffice.

“Sure. I’m free now. We can talk.”

Han Lanyi and Wang Qijing exchanged relieved glances. They had worried the doctor might find their approach presumptuous and refuse.

Honestly, their quick acceptance of Dr. Qin’s youth was largely due to the crowd of patients they’d seen at the hospital the day before.

People tend to follow the crowd. When so many trust someone, there must be something exceptional—and credible—about them.

Han Lanyi checked her watch. “It’s still late enough for breakfast. Let’s find a place to eat and talk.”

Qin Chaoyu had already eaten but didn’t object.

They ended up at Hualong, the best breakfast spot in Yuzhou.

Qin Chaoyu had been there a few times—their food was delicious, especially their signature soup dumplings, which were mouthwateringly good.

Hualong specialized in breakfast and refused to serve it outside breakfast hours. This stubborn policy only added to its popularity, as if telling customers: “Want breakfast? Follow our schedule!”

Fortunately, they arrived just in time. Half an hour later, and they’d have missed out.

Seated in a private room, after ordering and dismissing the server, Wang Qijing nudged Han Lanyi under the table, urging her to speak.

Understanding her friend’s urgency, Han Lanyi said, “Dr. Qin, it’s my friend here who needs your help. She’s been married for years but hasn’t conceived. We were hoping you could see if it’s treatable.”

Qin Chaoyu nodded. “From her complexion, I’d guess she has fertility issues—difficulty ovulating, as Western medicine calls it. In TCM, we categorize this as infertility.”

“Yes! Exactly!” Wang Qijing exclaimed, thrilled that Qin Chaoyu had pinpointed her problem without being told. Maybe there was hope after all. “Dr. Qin, can it be treated?”

“We can try.” Truthfully, Qin Chaoyu had agreed to talk largely because of this patient’s condition.

Despite treating countless patients at the hospital, not a single one had come to her for infertility. She wanted to experience all kinds of cases—how could she skip infertility? But without patients seeking her out, she couldn’t just accost strangers on the street offering treatment. She’d be labeled a lunatic!

Now, here was the perfect patient, delivered to her doorstep.

When she’d glimpsed the woman’s face in the hallway earlier, she’d immediately recognized the signs of infertility. Why hesitate? She’d agreed without a second thought.

Hearing this, Wang Qijing felt an inexplicable wave of relief, even though Qin Chaoyu hadn’t guaranteed a cure.

With her spirits lifted, she could finally enjoy the meal.

Han Lanyi relaxed too.

When her friend had first approached her, she’d noticed how tightly wound Wang Qijing was—like a bowstring stretched beyond its limits, on the verge of snapping.

Her concern was why she’d agreed so readily to this secret trip to Yuzhou.

After breakfast, over an hour had passed. Qin Chaoyu checked the time. “I need to head to the hospital now, so I can’t examine your friend immediately. How about tonight at nine? We can meet somewhere.”

Han Lanyi suggested, “Our hotel, Minli Star. We’ll wait for you there.”

“Got it. See you then.” With that, Qin Chaoyu left.

Han Lanyi and Wang Qijing departed soon after.

~

“Why are you working so hard? In the end, Benyuanzhai won’t have anything to do with you.” Lu Weijin barged into the office without knocking, plopped into the chair opposite the desk, and smirked at the man engrossed in documents. His posture was as if he owned the place.

Lu Yaoqing didn’t look up, his voice icy. “Get out.”

“Tsk. The famously gentle, refined nobleman Lu Yaoqing, speaking so harshly to his own brother? People would be shocked.” Lu Weijin ignored the command, crossing his legs insolently.

“Courtesy is reserved for those who deserve it. You? Hmph!”

That single scoff, dripping with disdain, shattered Lu Weijin’s last thread of rationality.

He slammed his hands on the desk and leaned forward, snarling, “I’m still better than you. In Father’s eyes, I matter more. No matter how capable you are, you’ll hand everything over in the end.”

With that, he stormed out.

“President Lu, I—I’m sorry. I didn’t expect Young Master Weijin to barge in like that.” The manager stood trembling at the door, stammering apologies.

Lu Yaoqing waved him off. “It’s fine. Even if you’d known, you couldn’t have stopped him. Close the door on your way out.”

“Y-Yes.” The manager shut the door quietly, exhaling in relief.

Only then did Lu Yaoqing set down his documents. Raising his head, his eyes were filled with scorn—whether for his departed brother or their so-called father, it was unclear.