When Qiao Yiyi first arrived in Daocun, despite the exhausting journey, she was completely captivated by the village’s natural beauty.
The scenery here was breathtaking!
Now that summer had arrived, Daocun’s landscape had transformed from when Jiang Fei first arrived. The trees were lush, the grass was thick, and the fields were dotted with countless wildflowers. The clear lake was lined with reeds swaying in the breeze, and the summer waterfall had grown more majestic, surrounded by towering mountains that made the place feel like a secluded paradise.
While many famous scenic spots might rival Daocun in beauty, there was one thing that set Daocun apart—its tranquility and harmony. Unlike other tourist destinations, which were often overcrowded and chaotic, Daocun remained untouched by the outside world, offering a peaceful and serene environment.
From this perspective, Daocun was the perfect place for relaxation and unwinding.
Moreover, Daocun’s weather was uniquely pleasant. Even though summer had arrived, the village didn’t suffer from the sweltering heat of the city. After stepping out of the car, Qiao Yiyi didn’t feel the need for air conditioning. Under the sunlight, she didn’t feel the oppressive heat, much like Jiang Fei’s villa, which had air conditioning but never needed to use it.
At first, Qiao Yiyi couldn’t understand why such a talented young doctor like Jiang Fei would choose to live in a remote village instead of the city. She had assumed he was some kind of recluse who preferred a simple, anonymous life.
But now, she realized it wasn’t about that. It was simply because Daocun’s beauty was unparalleled. After seeing the village’s scenery, Qiao Yiyi herself felt the same urge—to build a villa here and live here permanently!
Of course, this was just a fleeting thought. Unlike Jiang Fei, she wasn’t free to do as she pleased.
So, when Jiang Fei proposed that she stay in Daocun for her treatment, Qiao Yiyi readily agreed.
Even if she couldn’t build a villa and live here permanently, spending a week in such a serene place was a rare opportunity she couldn’t pass up.
Aunt Mei, her hands held by Qiao Yiyi, could see the determination in the young star’s eyes. She knew Qiao Yiyi had made up her mind.
There was no other choice. Even if Aunt Mei disagreed, she had to accept Jiang Fei’s conditions. She couldn’t afford to dismiss Jiang Fei like she had before—that would be gambling with Qiao Yiyi’s singing career.
If Qiao Yiyi’s vocal cords weren’t fully healed, the damage could become irreversible. For a singer, her voice was her livelihood, and there was no room for error.
So, despite her reluctance and concerns, Aunt Mei had to agree.
“Alright, if Yiyi agrees, then we’ll trouble Dr. Jiang to let her stay here for a while,” Aunt Mei said, forcing a smile. “However, I’d like to hire a maid to take care of Yiyi during this time. She can also help with cooking and other chores. Would that be alright?”
She glanced at Qiao Yiyi, signaling her to play along. “Dr. Jiang, you should know that Yiyi isn’t used to doing household chores. If she stays in your villa, she might cause you some inconvenience. Having a maid would make things easier.”
The request for a maid was just an excuse.
Aunt Mei’s real concern was leaving Qiao Yiyi alone with Jiang Fei. She was worried that Jiang Fei might take advantage of the situation.
This wasn’t her being overly suspicious—it was just the reality of the world. Such things happened all the time.
Qiao Yiyi wasn’t just a beautiful woman; she was a superstar. Her looks and status made her a magnet for unwanted attention, and Aunt Mei couldn’t afford to take any risks.
As for herself, Aunt Mei would have loved to stay in the villa with Qiao Yiyi to keep an eye on things. But with the backlog of work and issues piling up since Qiao Yiyi’s vocal cord injury, she was already stretched thin. She couldn’t afford to spend a week in the countryside, cut off from the world.
So, while Qiao Yiyi could stay in Daocun, Aunt Mei had to return to Jin City, only visiting occasionally.
Hearing Aunt Mei’s words, Jiang Fei frowned.
He wasn’t stupid—he could sense the underlying meaning in her words.
Having a maid stay with Qiao Yiyi wasn’t a problem. Even if he wouldn’t let the maid handle the cooking, she could help with cleaning and laundry.
What bothered him was Aunt Mei’s implication.
Did she not trust him? Was she worried he would take advantage of Qiao Yiyi?
This lack of trust made Jiang Fei uncomfortable and disappointed.
“Aunt Mei, that’s not necessary! I’m not as delicate as you think. I’m not a child who needs someone to take care of me. I’m already imposing on Dr. Jiang by staying here—I can’t bring someone else along,” Qiao Yiyi interjected, giving Aunt Mei a reproachful look.
“You fool!” Aunt Mei exclaimed, her eyes filled with worry. But Qiao Yiyi cut her off, finalizing the matter. “It’s settled. I’ll go back to Jin City with you later to pack my things.”
“But…” Aunt Mei opened her mouth to protest but ultimately said nothing.
As Qiao Yiyi’s manager and close confidante, Aunt Mei knew that when Qiao Yiyi set her mind to something, there was no changing it.
She sighed, looking at Jiang Fei with concern. “Then I’ll trouble Dr. Jiang to take good care of Yiyi.”
“Of course,” Jiang Fei nodded calmly.
His impression of Qiao Yiyi had improved even further.
Just as Aunt Mei was about to leave, thinking the matter was settled, Jiang Fei stopped her.
“Wait a moment,” Jiang Fei called out.
“What is it, Dr. Jiang?” Aunt Mei asked.
“Well…” Jiang Fei scratched his nose. “I agreed to treat Miss Qiao Yiyi, but we haven’t discussed the consultation fee yet.”
These two women!
They knew he was too shy to bring up something as mundane as money.
Shouldn’t they, as the patients, have brought it up themselves?
“Oh… my apologies, I completely forgot,” Aunt Mei said, not showing any disdain or surprise. After all, it was only natural for a doctor to charge for their services. In today’s world, free treatment would be the exception, not the norm.
“Dr. Jiang, given your exceptional skills and the fact that you’ll be treating Yiyi for a week, I’ll pay you 40,000 yuan upfront. Once Yiyi is fully recovered, I’ll pay the remaining 60,000 yuan. How does that sound?” Aunt Mei proposed a substantial sum.
Even for a week of treatment, 100,000 yuan was a generous offer.
However, Jiang Fei shook his head firmly.
“Not enough?” Aunt Mei raised an eyebrow but remained composed. “If you can heal Yiyi’s voice within a week, we can increase the amount. Or you can name your price.”
“I don’t want money,” Jiang Fei said, his gaze shifting to Qiao Yiyi with a thoughtful smile.
“Huh?” Aunt Mei’s expression changed, and even the usually polite Qiao Yiyi looked uneasy.
Was this guy trying to take advantage of the situation and make some inappropriate demand?
Qiao Yiyi was at the peak of her career, adored by countless men. Many wealthy individuals had made not-so-subtle advances toward her. So, when they saw Jiang Fei’s expression, their first thought was that he might make some improper request.
Unaware that his friendly smile had been misinterpreted as “lecherous,” Jiang Fei quickly added, “I won’t charge a consultation fee, but I do have a request. I’d like Miss Qiao Yiyi to do me a favor…”
“What kind of favor?” Aunt Mei asked, suppressing her anger.
“If I can heal Miss Qiao Yiyi’s vocal cords, I’d like her to be the spokesperson for my clinic, Jiang’s Medical Center. In exchange for free treatment, Miss Qiao Yiyi can provide free endorsement for my clinic,” Jiang Fei said, feeling a bit embarrassed.
He knew this request might seem like he was taking advantage of the situation.
He expected Qiao Yiyi and Aunt Mei to immediately reject the idea or at least hesitate for a long time.
After all, hiring Qiao Yiyi as a spokesperson would normally cost millions. His consultation fee, no matter how high, couldn’t compare…