Chapter 84:

After leaving Benyuanzhai, Lu Weijin grew increasingly frustrated and decided to seek out a friend he had recently met.

This friend was someone he had encountered at a banquet. After exchanging a few words, they unexpectedly hit it off and decided to become friends. Later, he learned that this man was named Fei Dinggui, the youngest son of the Fei family.

Speaking of the Fei family, they occupied a rather unique position in Yuzhou’s upper-class society.

The Fei family was in the real estate business and held considerable influence in that sector. However, those who thrived in real estate were never simple.

The Fei family was no exception. Their origins were in the underworld, but they later laundered their wealth and went legitimate. They had good timing, and the head of the family at the time was bold enough to not only successfully legitimize their business but also make a fortune in the process.

Though the Fei family now presented themselves as refined, their roots still showed in their behavior.

As a result, the truly established elite families looked down on the Feis, considering them vulgar and nouveau riche. Meanwhile, families with clean, respectable backgrounds also avoided associating with them, viewing the Feis as crude and tainted by their past. Thus, the Fei family found themselves in an awkward middle ground.

None of this, however, had much to do with Fei Dinggui. He was untalented, with an older brother who handled the family business, so his daily life revolved around idleness—hanging out with friends, drinking, and chasing women. The idea of revitalizing the family or striving for success never crossed his mind.

In short, he was the archetypal playboy. But he was loyal, fun-loving, and enjoyed making friends regardless of background—as long as someone suited his tastes, he considered them a friend. Consequently, he had a wide circle of acquaintances.

When Lu Weijin learned this, he saw an opportunity.

Why was he struggling in Yuzhou? Because he lacked connections. If he befriended Fei Dinggui, he could expand his network through him.

With connections and his father’s support, what could Lu Yaoqing do, no matter how capable he was? He’d have no choice but to surrender his position!

Lu Weijin called Fei Dinggui and, upon learning he was at Yuancuilou, immediately drove over.

It was around one in the afternoon, and Fei Dinggui was having lunch with a group of friends. He loved lively gatherings and hated restraint, so he rarely ate at home, where meals were silent and pretentiously refined. Yuancuilou was one of his regular haunts.

By the time Lu Weijin arrived, Fei Dinggui and his friends were nearly finished eating.

Inside the private room, the group lingered, chatting and laughing boisterously. Fortunately, the soundproofing at Yuancuilou was decent, and their room was at the far end with no neighboring guests, or else they’d have surely received complaints.

Fei Dinggui was the first to notice Lu Weijin entering. He stood up enthusiastically, throwing an arm around Lu Weijin’s shoulders. “Weijin! Finally here! How’ve you been?”

Lu Weijin forced a bitter smile and waved a hand. “Ah, don’t even ask. My brother… well, never mind. Let’s not talk about that—bad luck.”

“Right, right, no sad talk,” Fei Dinggui quickly agreed. He’d heard a bit about Lu Weijin’s strained relationship with his brother and, as a friend, naturally sided with Lu Weijin. Eager to change the subject, he added, “Actually, I haven’t introduced you to some of my friends yet. Let me do that now!”

This was exactly what Lu Weijin had hoped for. He readily agreed, “Of course! I’d love to meet your friends.”

Pleased by the response, Fei Dinggui—who prided himself on his reputation—cleared his throat and called for attention. “Alright, everyone, quiet down! I want to introduce a friend.”

As the de facto leader of the group, his words carried weight, and the room gradually fell silent.

Fei Dinggui patted Lu Weijin’s shoulder. “This is Lu Weijin—a true friend of mine. Show him some warmth, alright?”

After a brief pause, the room erupted in enthusiastic greetings.

“If he’s Fei-ge’s friend, he’s our friend too!”

“Exactly! We’ll treat him like a brother—no need to even ask!”

“I was wondering what the guy Fei-ge kept mentioning looked like. Now I see—he’s clearly exceptional!”

Most of these people weren’t from wealthy backgrounds. To befriend Fei Dinggui, they had to be sharp with their words, and they knew exactly how to respond in situations like this.

Lu Weijin, frankly, had never been showered with such praise before.

As an illegitimate child, he’d spent his first five years with his mother, never knowing his father. People whispered about his uncertain parentage and his mother’s questionable morals.

Adults at least avoided saying it to his face, but children were cruelly honest. Whenever he tried to play with others, they mocked him for not having a father and shunned him.

He’d often return home in tears, only to find his mother too preoccupied with her lavish lifestyle to comfort him.

At five, his father finally acknowledged him and brought him into the Lu family—but his status as a bastard never changed.

No respectable scion of a prominent family would lower themselves to associate with an illegitimate child, especially when the legitimate heir was outstanding.

This upbringing left Lu Weijin more insecure than most. The more insecure he felt, the more he compensated with arrogance. He craved praise—it gave him confidence.

So this atmosphere was exactly what he enjoyed.

He adopted a haughty smile. “Thank you. From now on, we’re all brothers.”

His tone was condescending, as if speaking to them was a grand favor.

Not everyone in the room was a fool. Some saw through his facade and exchanged disdainful glances.

Unaware that his attitude had already rubbed some the wrong way, Lu Weijin was too busy scheming how to use these people for his ambitions.

—

By the time Qin Chaoyu left the hospital, it was already eight in the evening. Recalling the address Han Lanyi and Wang Qijing had given her, she estimated the taxi ride would take about forty minutes.

The timing worked out, so she headed straight to Minli Star Hotel.

Since parting ways with Qin Chaoyu, Wang Qijing had been restless, her mind racing with worries. As the scheduled meeting time approached, her anxiety only grew.

Han Lanyi, annoyed by her constant pacing, checked the time and decided to drag Wang Qijing down to the hotel lobby to wait.

The moment Qin Chaoyu entered the hotel, she spotted Han Lanyi and Wang Qijing in the lounge area.

The two women stood up immediately and approached her.

After brief pleasantries, they headed to the room Han Lanyi and Wang Qijing had booked.

Wang Qijing remained uneasy. When Qin Chaoyu finished taking her pulse without saying anything, she couldn’t help but ask timidly, “Dr. Qin, is my condition… very serious?”

“Hm? No, not at all,” Qin Chaoyu replied. “I was just considering the best treatment approach.”

Wang Qijing and Han Lanyi exchanged glances, their eyes alight with hope.

“Dr. Qin, does that mean it can be treated?” Han Lanyi pressed, wanting confirmation.

“Yes! Ms. Wang’s condition isn’t severe. If she’d seen a competent TCM doctor earlier, it might’ve been resolved long ago. The issue now is that she’s taken too many different medications over time. All medicine has side effects, and the mix she’s taken has damaged her body to some extent—that’s why she can’t conceive. I was just deciding which herbs would best repair that damage before addressing the infertility.”

Wang Qijing hadn’t realized her past medications could have such consequences. She clutched Qin Chaoyu’s hand pleadingly. “Then… Dr. Qin, I leave it to you.”

Han Lanyi patted her shoulder, guilt-ridden. Some of those doctors had been her recommendations.

Used to such reactions, Qin Chaoyu didn’t react even when Wang Qijing’s grip hurt. She subtly freed her hand and reassured her, “Relax. Stress won’t help the treatment. First, I’ll write you a medicinal diet prescription. Take it for a month, then we’ll move to the next phase. This formula is gentle—nutritional therapy suits your current condition.”

Wang Qijing nodded eagerly, watching as Qin Chaoyu wrote.

Han Lanyi sighed. If she didn’t ask, Wang Qijing—too overjoyed by the news—probably wouldn’t think to.

Once Qin Chaoyu finished, Han Lanyi asked, “Dr. Qin, how should we prepare this? What if we don’t do it right?”

“Hmm…” Qin Chaoyu thought for a moment. “There’s a medicinal cuisine restaurant in Yuzhou called Benyuanzhai. Take this prescription to their manager and ask them to prepare it. I know the owner—I’ll let them know you’re coming.”

Han Lanyi repeated “Benyuanzhai” to memorize it. “Alright, we’ll go there.”