Chapter 31:

“Brother, you’re back. What are you doing?” Xiong Yunhan asked with feigned curiosity. In truth, she had come solely to pry into her brother’s affairs. Rumor had it that he had brought a strikingly beautiful girl home, likely his girlfriend. Knowing her brother as she did, ordinary girls would never catch his eye, let alone be brought home. Naturally, she was curious about what kind of girl could make her brother go to such lengths. The moment she heard her brother was in their mother’s room, she rushed over excitedly.

Upon entering, she saw her brother sitting by their mother’s bedside, while the girl he had supposedly brought stood quietly to the side.

Xiong Yunhan took a careful look at the girl rumored to be her brother’s girlfriend. Even as a woman herself, accustomed to hearing praises about her own appearance, she couldn’t help but feel overshadowed by such ethereal beauty. The girl had almond-shaped eyes, clear as autumn water, flawless skin that seemed impossibly well-maintained, delicate willow-leaf eyebrows, and lips red as cherries against pearly white teeth. She wore a somewhat vintage-style white dress with silver thread embroidery at the hem, faintly visible, complementing her exquisite appearance perfectly.

Beyond her beauty, the girl’s demeanor was equally extraordinary. Xiong Yunhan felt as though she were gazing at a snow lotus atop the Tianshan Mountains—proud, pure, and untainted. Yet, paradoxically, she exuded a gentle warmth, creating a strange yet harmonious impression.

Xiong Yunhan nodded inwardly, approving of her brother’s taste. But she couldn’t help but wonder how her brother had met such a beauty.

Xiong Bochang, noticing his sister’s suggestive expression, knew she had misunderstood. Though exasperated, he stood up and introduced, “This is Qin Chaoyu, Doctor Qin. I’ve invited her to treat our mother. Show some respect.”

After introducing her to his sister, Xiong Bochang turned to Qin Chaoyu and gestured toward Xiong Yunhan. “This is my younger sister, Xiong Yunhan.”

Qin Chaoyu nodded slightly in acknowledgment.

“Brother, have you lost your mind? She’s so young—how good could her medical skills possibly be?” Xiong Yunhan exclaimed in shock. She had assumed the girl her brother brought home was his girlfriend, not a doctor for their mother. But given her youth, Xiong Yunhan couldn’t help but doubt her qualifications. For the first time in twenty years, her unwavering trust in her brother wavered.

Faced with such skepticism, Qin Chaoyu remained unruffled, her expression calm. She had encountered such doubts countless times before. During her apprenticeship, she had heard far more unreasonable and offensive remarks. When she entered the secular world, she had prepared herself to face skepticism—it was an inevitable part of reviving her sect’s reputation.

Xiong Bochang’s face darkened at his sister’s impolite behavior. This was a doctor he had personally invited. Even if she doubted her skills, such rudeness was unacceptable.

“Xiong Yunhan, watch your words!” he reprimanded sternly.

Chastened by her brother’s warning, Xiong Yunhan composed herself but still voiced her doubts. “Brother, it’s not that I don’t trust you, but the doctor you’ve brought is far too young. It’s not that I look down on young people, but medical expertise is something that heavily relies on experience and age!”

Xiong Bochang knew that unless he provided a convincing explanation, his sister wouldn’t allow Qin Chaoyu to treat their mother. Reluctantly, he elaborated, “Doctor Qin isn’t just about appearances. You know about the Gu family patriarch’s illness, right?”

Xiong Yunhan nodded. Of course she knew—they moved in the same circles. She had heard how gravely ill the Gu patriarch had been, reportedly on the verge of death. But someone with remarkable medical skills had cured him. Why was her brother bringing this up now? Unless… it was this Doctor Qin who had treated him?

Sure enough, Xiong Bochang’s next words confirmed her suspicion. “Doctor Qin was the one who cured the Gu patriarch. I went to great lengths to confirm this with the Gu family later.”

While this alleviated some of Xiong Yunhan’s doubts, it wasn’t enough to fully convince her. When it came to their mother’s health, she couldn’t risk entrusting her care to someone who appeared even younger than herself without absolute certainty.

Just as Xiong Yunhan was contemplating how to refuse her brother’s insistence, her aunt’s voice sounded from behind.

“Oh, Bochang, Yunhan, you’re both here!” Xiong Zhimin chuckled, her tone brimming with pride. “Perfect timing! I’ve brought a doctor for your mother—Doctor Wang Zhenyong.”

She stepped aside to reveal Wang Zhenyong standing behind her.

Wang Zhenyong wore an air of aloof confidence, utterly unfazed by Xiong Zhimin’s flattery—a clear testament to his unwavering belief in his own medical prowess.

And he had every reason to be confident. As a disciple of the renowned national physician Huang Hongsong, he had trained under his master for twenty years before being deemed ready to practice independently at thirty. Since then, he had successfully treated countless patients, never encountering a case he couldn’t handle. This track record filled him with pride and earned him respect wherever he went.

This time, Xiong Zhimin had invited him to treat her sister-in-law, who was suffering from postpartum hemorrhage. Privately, he wasn’t overly concerned—postpartum hemorrhage was essentially a matter of excessive blood loss weakening the body. Such conditions required careful recuperation, which happened to be his specialty. Even his master had praised his restorative skills.

Wang Zhenyong cast a dismissive glance around the room, remaining silent as Xiong Zhimin made introductions.

Noticing Wang’s arrogance, Xiong Zhimin wasn’t offended. On the contrary, she found it justified—talented individuals were entitled to a bit of attitude!

As she prepared to say more, her gaze fell upon Qin Chaoyu.

“Who might this young lady be? I don’t believe we’ve met,” she inquired curiously.

Xiong Yunhan remained silent, still upset with her brother.

Left with no choice, Xiong Bochang began to explain. However, knowing his aunt’s temperament, if she learned Qin Chaoyu was a doctor he’d invited to treat their mother, she would undoubtedly make a scene. As an elder, she would be difficult to restrain, and the commotion would disturb his mother’s rest—something he wished to avoid at all costs.

“Aunt, let’s discuss this outside. We shouldn’t disturb Mother’s rest,” he suggested instead.

Xiong Zhimin planted her hands on her hips indignantly. “What? Are you saying I’m being too loud?”

Xiong Bochang quickly denied it, placating her. “Not at all! It’s just that we need to discuss Mother’s treatment. It’s better to do so outside to avoid disturbing her. That’s all.”

Satisfied with this explanation, Xiong Zhimin relented, though not without consulting Wang Zhenyong first.

With a condescending nod, Wang Zhenyong acquiesced to Xiong Bochang’s proposal.

“Let’s go then,” Xiong Zhimin said, turning toward the bed. “Sister-in-law, we’ll step out for now.”

She then led Wang Zhenyong downstairs to the living room.

Xiong Zhimin’s departure allowed Xiong Bochang to exhale in relief. Turning to Qin Chaoyu, he said respectfully, “Shall we head down as well?”

Qin Chaoyu frowned slightly, her displeasure evident. Wang Zhenyong’s arrival had irked her, but she wasn’t ready to give up this opportunity just yet. As long as it remained within tolerable limits, she would persevere. With a nod, she followed them out.

Xiong Bochang sighed in relief. His aunt bringing another doctor—though not at his request—was somewhat disrespectful to Doctor Qin. He had genuinely feared she might take offense, but fortunately, she hadn’t.

He then looked at his sister. Xiong Yunhan rolled her eyes and stormed out, too angry to engage with what she deemed her brother’s foolishness.

Finally, Xiong Bochang turned to his mother. “Mom, we’ll be outside. Rest well,” he murmured softly.

With great effort, Madam Xiong nodded, watching as her son left the room and closed the door behind him. She had observed everything and could predict how things might unfold downstairs. Knowing her sister-in-law’s personality, the young girl might face some unfair treatment. This pained her, but she was simply too weak to intervene—even nodding was strenuous. All she could do was silently apologize to the girl who had made such a favorable impression on her at first sight.

Downstairs in the living room, the moment Xiong Bochang took his seat, Xiong Zhimin eagerly resumed her earlier line of questioning.

Secretly, she had a theory—this girl might be her nephew’s girlfriend.

It seemed she and Xiong Yunhan shared the same suspicion, proving they were indeed family.

Xiong Bochang explained, “Aunt, this is Qin Chaoyu. I’ve invited her to treat Mother.”

“What? This… this mere child?” Xiong Zhimin exclaimed, staring at her nephew in disbelief. She wondered if he had lost his mind, entrusting his mother’s health to someone so young. What if something went wrong? This concerned the matriarch of the Xiong family—hardly a matter for jokes! Even for an ordinary person, one wouldn’t casually let an unproven individual handle their treatment.

Xiong Bochang massaged his temples. He had anticipated this reaction from his aunt, but as an elder, he couldn’t reprimand her as he had his sister.

“Aunt, I’m serious. Doctor Qin was the one who cured the Gu family patriarch’s coronary heart disease,” he said patiently.

Xiong Yunhan smirked smugly. Served him right for scolding her earlier—now faced with their aunt, he didn’t dare speak up!

Xiong Zhimin regarded Qin Chaoyu with newfound interest. The claim about curing coronary heart disease was impressive—enough to lend some credibility. But what if that was the only condition she could treat?

“At such a young age, curing coronary heart disease is indeed remarkable—unprecedented, in fact,” Wang Zhenyong interjected, casting a disdainful glance at Qin Chaoyu. “But how can you be certain this girl can treat other conditions? Postpartum hemorrhage, for instance.” He drew himself up proudly. “However, I am confident in my ability to treat Madam Xiong’s condition!”

While he admired the girl’s talent, Madam Xiong’s case was one he couldn’t relinquish. The potential benefits of success were too significant to ignore—this opportunity was his for the taking.

Unfazed by the jab, Qin Chaoyu smiled faintly. “Old sir, one shouldn’t speak in absolutes. Overconfidence leads to downfall.”

Wang Zhenyong’s expression darkened at being lectured by a junior. Rising abruptly, he declared coldly, “Since you remain silent, Young Master Xiong, I shall take it as your choice to proceed with this girl. In that case, I bid you farewell!”

With that, he made a show of heading for the door.

Xiong Zhimin hastily intercepted him, calling out to Xiong Bochang, “Have you lost your senses, Bochang? You’d choose some young girl over the highly skilled Doctor Wang?”

Wang Zhenyong allowed himself to be stopped, though his expression remained stormy. In truth, he had no intention of leaving—this was merely a ploy to pressure Xiong Bochang into a decision.

Xiong Yunhan, who had never been fond of her aunt’s petty nature, set aside her usual reservations and urged, “Brother, say something!”

Caught in a dilemma, Xiong Bochang hesitated. Wang Zhenyong’s reputation preceded him—his restorative skills were peerless. Initially, Xiong Bochang had wanted to engage him for his mother’s treatment, but the doctor had been abroad for some medical exchange, forcing him to abandon the idea. Now that Wang had returned…

Yet Doctor Qin was his guest. Turning her away would be a grave insult, and he felt deeply conflicted about doing so.