Chapter 4: A Lonely Widow

“Come in!”

The door creaked open, and a short, thin man in glasses and a white coat entered.

Su Wanqing looked up in surprise. “Director Li? What brings you here?”

Li Xiang, the director of cardiology, was notorious in the department for harassing women. Many female doctors and nurses had been subjected to his advances; intimidated by his position, some had submitted, while others had been forced to resign.

He openly surveyed Su Wanqing’s figure, a lecherous smile briefly crossing his face. “Wanqing, I remember you saying you’d love to meet the renowned physician Meng. Is that right?”

Her brows rose, and a trace of caution entered her eyes. “I did. Why do you bring him up all of a sudden, Director Li?”

He stepped closer with a greasy smile. “I remember everything you tell me. Physician Meng has just arrived at our hospital, so I came straight to find you.”

She felt sick, but forced a polite smile. “Thank you, Director Li. I’ll go see him now.”

She stood to leave, but Li Xiang blocked the door. “Before you meet him, Wanqing, shouldn’t you thank me properly?”

She stepped back, her gentle voice turning cold. “Director Li, please behave yourself.”

Dropping the pretense, he licked his lips and stared at her. “I’ve wanted you for a long time. Make me happy tonight, and I’ll take care of Physician Meng. I’ll see that he takes you as his apprentice.”

Her face turned icy. She pointed at the door. “Get out!”

“Get out?” He laughed. “You’ve been a widow for five years. You must be lonely. Let me take good care of you…”

He lunged at her with a leering grin.

The office door was kicked open with a heavy crash. Li Xiang stopped and spun around. Seeing an unfamiliar man in the doorway, he roared, “Who the hell are you?”

“X-Xiaotian? Is that you?” Su Wanqing’s voice trembled. Shock and excitement crossed her face, but above all was an almost disbelieving joy.

Qin Tian’s eyes reddened. “Sister-in-law… it’s me. I’m back.”

“Xiaotian!”

Weeping with joy, she threw her arms around him. The startling softness of her body made him stiffen, his hands hovering in the air. Then he gritted his teeth and gently held her trembling body.

“Sister-in-law, I…”

Li Xiang watched them embrace as if he weren’t there, and his face twisted. “Sister-in-law? What a touching reunion. Su Wanqing, I thought you were so pure and proper. Turns out you know how to have fun in private!”

Qin Tian turned, killing intent in his eyes. “Say that again.”

Under that icy stare, Li Xiang felt death closing in. Before Qin Tian could move, however, a nurse rushed to the doorway.

“Dr. Su, Director Li, something’s wrong! The patient in Room 001 has gotten worse!”

“What?” Su Wanqing lifted her tear-streaked face. “Xiaotian, wait here. I need to check on her.” She hurried out.

Qin Tian glanced at Li Xiang, whose heart tightened. “Get out of here,” Li Xiang snapped. “Or I’ll have security throw you out!”

He turned and left the office, pretending to be calm. Qin Tian frowned, considered for a moment, and followed.

…

In Room 001 at Jiangcheng Central Hospital, a woman lay unconscious on the bed, her face pale and her lips purple. Even with her eyes closed, she retained a cold, aristocratic beauty.

She was Lin Mengxi, Jiangcheng’s most beautiful female CEO, worth a hundred billion. Five hours earlier, she had suffered a sudden heart attack and been rushed to the hospital.

Besides the medical staff, several members of her family were in the room. Their expressions were telling: some gloated, some concealed smiles, and others looked expectant. None looked concerned.

An elderly man in a white traditional jacket sat by the bed, taking Lin Mengxi’s pulse with a deep frown. At the door, her second uncle, Lin Tong, and his wife, Wang Guilan, whispered to each other.

“Why is Physician Meng here?” Wang Guilan muttered through clenched teeth. “How is that girl supposed to die with him around?”

Lin Tong’s face darkened. “The hospital seems to have called him in. But even he can’t save her.”

“Don’t be so sure. That old man Meng Henian earned his reputation for a reason.”

Just then, Meng Henian asked, “What was done to President Lin just now? Who treated her?”

“I performed emergency resuscitation.”

Everyone turned. Su Wanqing entered the room, her eyes red, looking apprehensive.

“Nonsense!” Meng Henian snapped. “The patient had a sudden heart attack, yet you performed CPR. Now there’s blood in her chest and her heart channels are in disarray. If I hadn’t arrived in time, she’d already be dead!”

Su Wanqing went pale. “I… I checked. Her heart had stopped. It was standard procedure…”

“Standard procedure?” He cut her off with a snort. “President Lin isn’t like other people. There’s an intensely cold energy in her body, and pressure on her heart channels is the worst thing for her. You’ve harmed her!”

At the door, Lin Tong and Wang Guilan exchanged a glance, the faintest sneers appearing on their lips.

“Please don’t be angry, Physician Meng. Dr. Su did her best.” Wang Guilan stepped forward, feigning concern. “Can our Mengxi still be treated?”

Meng Henian shook his head and sighed. “Even an immortal couldn’t save her now. Prepare for the end.”

He pointed at Su Wanqing. “A life has been lost because of you. How can you call yourself a doctor?”

She lowered her head, tears spilling down her cheeks. “I… I’m sorry. I didn’t know there was cold energy in her body. I’m sorry…”

“You think an apology is enough?” Li Xiang seized the chance to step forward. “Dr. Su, this is a grave medical error. I’ll report you to our superiors!”

“Who told you CPR was harming her instead of saving her? Those dim old eyes of yours?”

A resonant voice came from the doorway. Li Xiang saw Qin Tian and immediately found an outlet for his anger. “Who let you in? This is a patient’s room. Get out!”

Ignoring him, Qin Tian looked at Meng Henian. “Old man, is talking nonsense how you earned that reputation as a great physician?”

The room erupted in shock.

“Where did this fellow come from? How dare he disrespect Physician Meng?”

“Does he know what he’s doing?”

“Questioning Physician Meng? He must be mad!”

Meng Henian’s face darkened. In over forty years of practicing medicine, he had been treated with respect wherever he went. Never had a young upstart challenged him in public.

“Where did a brat like you come from? How dare you lecture me on medicine? You don’t know what you’re talking about!”

So furious he laughed, Meng continued, “Her improper treatment threw the patient’s heart channels into disorder and caused blood to collect in her chest. There’s no saving her. What would an outsider like you understand?”

Qin Tian smiled. “What do I understand? How about we make a wager?”

“A wager?” Meng Henian stared at him. “What do you want to bet?”

Qin Tian narrowed his eyes. “Whether I can save this woman. If I do, you’ll get on your knees and apologize in public to the doctor you just accused of killing her.”

Meng Henian held back his fury and asked through clenched teeth, “And if you can’t?”