Jiang Fei hadn’t expected that right after reaching the pinnacle of his medical skills, instead of treating Liu Yunduo’s disabled hand, which she had been waiting months for, he would be rushing to Xidu to treat Lin Moli’s grandfather.
Although Lin Moli’s relationship with her parents was now at a freezing point, she still had a deep affection for her grandfather. Hearing that he was seriously ill, she didn’t hesitate for a second, dropping everything and heading straight to the airport.
Therefore, this highly intelligent woman, exceptionally gifted in the business world, had momentarily forgotten what Jiang Fei’s profession actually was.
He was the foremost expert in Traditional Chinese Medicine, the best doctor in the country. He had practically single-handedly defeated a top-tier Western medical delegation. If her grandfather was critically ill, what could be better than having Jiang Fei come along?
As long as they could get back in time and her grandfather still had a breath left, Jiang Fei would have a very good chance of curing him!
Lin Moli arrived at the airport first and bought Jiang Fei a ticket for the fastest flight from Jincheng to Xidu. Less than twenty minutes later, Jiang Fei arrived.
They went through security together, and after another half hour of anxious waiting for Lin Moli, the plane finally took off.
They were seated in first class. Jiang Fei took drinks from the flight attendant, set them down, and handed one to Lin Moli. “Don’t worry too much,” he comforted her. “Good people are blessed by heaven. Don’t worry, your grandfather will be fine.”
Lin Moli trusted Jiang Fei’s medical skills immensely, but she was terrified that they might be too late, that they would arrive after it was already over, and then no matter how skilled Jiang Fei was, he wouldn’t be able to turn back time.
Jiang Fei reached out and held one of her delicate hands. “How about I promise you?” he said softly. “I promise you, your grandfather will get through this.”
Feeling his hand around hers, Lin Moli looked up into Jiang Fei’s eyes. Perhaps she was influenced by his demeanor. Although rationally she told herself his promise was baseless and unreliable, her heart still felt much calmer.
Because she trusted Jiang Fei deeply, and she felt that if he made a promise, he would keep it. So, looking quite haggard, she nodded.
Jiang Fei held her hand and gently patted her fingers. “Close your eyes and try to sleep for a bit,” he said. “We’ll be in Xidu soon. Worrying yourself like this won’t help.”
“Mm.” Even though Lin Moli knew she wouldn’t be able to sleep, she followed his advice and closed her eyes, treating it as a moment of rest.
Jiang Fei closed his eyes too.
The reason he could make such a confident promise to Lin Moli wasn’t just to reassure her.
Beyond his absolute confidence in his newfound mastery of medicine, the main reason was that he had already performed a divination for Lin Moli using the Art of Qimen Dunjia and the Diagram of Heavenly Secrets. He saw that she was not fated to experience any overwhelming sorrow in the near future. Therefore, her grandfather likely wouldn’t succumb to this illness; Jiang Fei would be able to save him.
Jincheng wasn’t far from Xidu. The flight was on time, landing at Xidu Airport in about an hour and twenty minutes.
They had come in a hurry and had no luggage, planning to take a taxi outside the airport.
But before they even left the terminal, they were stopped at the arrivals area, where people were waiting to pick up passengers.
“Uncle Xu? What are you doing here?” Lin Moli looked at the honest-faced, stocky middle-aged man before her, quite surprised.
This man had been the driver for Lin Moli’s family for as long as she could remember, over twenty years.
“Madam asked me to pick you up,” the middle-aged man replied. “She thought you’d probably be on this flight back to Xidu, so she had me come get you.” However, his gaze fell on Jiang Fei beside Lin Moli, a flicker of surprise in his eyes. He likely hadn’t expected that in her hasty, anxious return, Lin Moli would be accompanied by a man.
Given the circumstances, coming back together and seeming quite close, it wasn’t hard to guess their relationship.
Though Uncle Xu appeared simple and honest, he wasn’t foolish. He sighed inwardly, thinking, “Miss bringing her boyfriend home this time will probably stir up even more trouble.”
Of course, he kept these thoughts to himself. Some things were beyond his purview, and even if they weren’t, there was nothing he could do about them…
Uncle Xu led the way, with Jiang Fei and Lin Moli following behind. They soon got into an Audi with a Xidu municipal government license plate, heading towards Lin Moli’s grandfather’s home.
“Uncle Xu, how is my grandfather, really?” Lin Moli asked urgently as soon as they were in the car.
“Well…” Uncle Xu hesitated for a moment, then sighed. “It’s nothing too serious. You’ll see when you get home, miss.”
Hearing his answer, Lin Moli finally felt a slight sense of relief.
It seemed she hadn’t returned too late, and her grandfather was okay. Otherwise, Uncle Xu wouldn’t have had that expression or given that answer.
Even though Uncle Xu’s demeanor seemed a bit off, a little strange to her, at least it wasn’t the worst-case scenario.
Lin Moli’s grandfather didn’t live in a villa complex or a high-end apartment building. His home was a genuine, large courtyard house in a quiet, central part of the city!
Jiang Fei looked up, slightly taken aback.
Even if Xidu’s property prices weren’t as terrifying as Beijing or Shanghai’s, and were even a bit lower than Jincheng’s, it was still a provincial capital. Prices wouldn’t be cheap. Owning such a courtyard house in this location was something only a select few could manage.
However, Lin Moli’s family background was already evident from the special license plate on the Audi and the way Uncle Xu addressed her.
“Looks like I accidentally won the heart of a genuine, high-class lady. If I hadn’t gotten the system, tricking this young miss into being with me would have meant a life of ease with no worries,” Jiang Fei mused to himself, finding the thought amusing.
The three of them entered the courtyard unimpeded, heading straight to the inner quarters.
Contrary to what one might expect for someone as important as Lin Moli’s grandfather being critically ill, there weren’t many people waiting outside.
Inside, there were more people, but their expressions were normal, not showing much worry.
Lin Moli politely greeted everyone as she entered – uncles, aunts, and the like. They were presumably key members of her mother’s family.
“Moli, you’re back…”
“We were just talking about you. It’s been two years since you’ve been home, hasn’t it?”
“Go see your grandfather. He’s been mentioning you.”
Lin Moli’s grandfather had always doted on her since she was little. Additionally, her father’s position in the government was now quite influential, giving him considerable sway in Xidu.
These two factors made Lin Moli quite popular within her mother’s family; many people were happy to greet her warmly.
Jiang Fei followed behind her. From the moment they entered, he was subjected to all kinds of curious stares. Even he felt a bit uncomfortable, rubbing his nose self-consciously. While the uncles, aunts, and cousins were friendly to Lin Moli, they weren’t nearly as welcoming to him, this man of unknown origin. Their expressions were more teasing, as if they were anticipating some kind of show.
Lin Moli didn’t care about any of that. She took Jiang Fei’s hand and quickly led him to the bedside.
Lying in the bed was an elderly man with white hair and a deeply lined face. His eyes were half-closed, but the oxygen mask had been set aside. Hearing the commotion, he soon opened his eyes and, seeing Lin Moli approaching, managed a weak smile. “Little Moli is back. Would you have come home if this old man hadn’t gotten sick?”
Seeing her grandfather so frail, Lin Moli, who was usually resilient and strong-willed, felt her eyes well up. She leaned down and said softly, “Grandfather, it’s my fault for not coming to see you for so long. Are you feeling any better?”
“Much better. Honestly, it wasn’t a big deal from the start. Just some trouble breathing. A little medicine and it’s fine. These people just overreacted. There was no need to call you back. It was your mother who secretly called and told you to come,” the old man said with a smile.
Standing behind Lin Moli, Jiang Fei remained calm and didn’t rush to take the old man’s pulse. With his mastery of TCM, which included observing, listening, questioning, and feeling the pulse, he could often gauge a patient’s condition without even taking a pulse. A complete master like him could deduce a lot just by looking.
Judging by the strength of the old man’s voice and his complexion, he truly was out of danger for the moment. His condition had stabilized, and there was no imminent threat.
Instead, Jiang Fei’s attention was caught by a middle-aged woman standing beside the bed. She wore an exquisite black business suit, very sharp, high-heeled black shoes, and her makeup was perfectly done. Her hair was styled in a traditional bun. Her gaze, however, was sharp and made him feel like he shouldn’t be in the room.
Without needing an introduction, Jiang Fei immediately guessed that this was Lin Moli’s mother.
Not because she looked particularly like Lin Moli – they weren’t that similar. It was her commanding presence, especially her traditionally styled appearance combined with that piercing, uncomfortable gaze, which perfectly matched Lin Moli’s description of her.
This woman certainly had an intense desire for control.
Jiang Fei didn’t back down. He remained composed under her sharp scrutiny and even nodded slightly in greeting. This only earned him an even sharper glare and a frown.
“This kid seems like he’s not easy to handle,” Lin Moli’s mother, Cui Ruzhu, thought to herself.
Meanwhile, Jiang Fei thought, “This potential mother-in-law is quite the tigress…”
Their eyes met briefly. Lin Moli, unaware of the exchange, had already turned back to her grandfather. “Grandfather, wait a moment. I brought you the best doctor to see you…”
She stood up and pulled Jiang Fei to her side. The sadness on her face seemed to lift slightly, replaced by a hint of shyness and embarrassment. But she soon spoke up clearly, “Grandfather, this is Jiang Fei. He’s currently the president of the Traditional Chinese Medicine Association and is recognized both domestically and internationally as the number one TCM expert. And… and he’s also my boyfriend.”
Wow!
Bringing a man home at a time like this already spoke volumes, and many had already guessed Jiang Fei’s identity.
But Lin Moli explicitly stating it now, announcing his identity, carried a different weight. It was her way of declaring to everyone that she had made up her mind to be with Jiang Fei, no matter who objected.
Hearing this, her strong-willed mother, Cui Ruzhu, frowned even more deeply. Her sharp gaze now included her daughter, and it looked like she was about to pull them aside for a talk and break them up on the spot.
Lin Moli’s grandfather was also slightly taken aback by her introduction. But he didn’t react as strongly as his daughter Cui Ruzhu. “Oh, a TCM doctor? That’s a respectable profession. But no need to examine me. I know my own body best. There’s nothing seriously wrong.”
“Grandfather, please let Jiang Fei take a look. If he says you’re okay, then you’ll really be okay,” Lin Moli urged.
How could she not let him? If Jiang Fei examined him, he could check her grandfather’s health and also show off his skills, impressing her family. It would kill two birds with one stone!
But before the old man could reply, Jiang Fei spoke up. “The old gentleman’s condition isn’t critical. However, there are underlying issues with his heart and blood pressure. But since he’s just recovered from a serious illness, it’s not a good time for treatment. We should wait a few days.”
Hearing this, Lin Moli, who had been about to insist, held her tongue.
Others in the room were slightly surprised by Jiang Fei’s comment. The young man could tell the old man had heart problems and high blood pressure just by looking? That was quite impressive.
But then they quickly dismissed it. Lin Moli must have told him beforehand. How could such a young doctor be that skilled?
The claims of being the president of the TCM Association or the number one TCM expert in the world weren’t something you could believe just based on Lin Moli’s word.
Soon, the old man, just recovering from his illness, felt tired. He asked everyone to leave so he could rest.
Lin Moli’s mother, Cui Ruzhu, suddenly spoke up. “Moli, you stay here in the room and talk with your grandfather. It’s been so long since you’ve seen him.”
Lin Moli’s expression darkened slightly. She immediately understood her mother’s intention. She wanted to keep her here and talk to Jiang Fei alone. She didn’t like it.
Just then, Old Master Cui also spoke. “Little Moli, stay and chat with me for a bit.”
“Grandfather…”
Lin Moli started to protest, but Jiang Fei patted her hand gently and said with a warm smile, “You stay and talk with him. It’s alright.”
Lin Moli looked into Jiang Fei’s eyes for a moment before finally nodding silently in agreement.
Cui Ruzhu watched this exchange. Instead of being satisfied with Jiang Fei’s behavior, she was even more displeased.
She was Lin Moli’s mother. But ever since her relationship with Lin Moli’s father soured, Lin Moli had stopped listening to her, even leaving Xidu to get away.
Her daughter, while not inheriting her domineering personality entirely, was still stubborn and didn’t easily listen to anyone. Yet now she was so obedient to this Jiang Fei, complying with just one word from him.
What did that mean?
It meant their relationship was probably already quite advanced, and this man had her daughter completely in his grasp!
Thinking this, Cui Ruzhu’s face, still attractive and bearing traces of her former beauty, darkened as if it could drip water. She walked directly up to Jiang Fei and said coldly, “You. Come with me.”
Jiang Fei gave Lin Moli a reassuring look before following Cui Ruzhu out of the room with a smile on his face.
Watching her mother lead Jiang Fei away, Lin Moli sat down on a stool by the bed, next to her grandfather. She trusted Jiang Fei’s abilities, but she was also anxious about her mother’s overbearing nature, so she couldn’t help but worry.
And in the dynamic between a son-in-law and mother-in-law, Jiang Fei’s medical skills or culinary talents weren’t necessarily what would settle things.
“Little Moli has grown up,” the old man in the bed said kindly, watching his granddaughter’s expression.
Snapping out of her thoughts, Lin Moli gave her grandfather a slightly reproachful look. “Grandfather, why did you side with my mother just now?”
She knew that because her mother was so strong-willed and sharp-tongued, her grandfather had always protected her from her mother’s overly strict control.
Though the old man was weak and his eyes were a bit cloudy, his mind was still sharp. He spoke meaningfully, “Your mother’s personality is indeed difficult. But when it comes to choosing your future partner, her approach is a good one. If this man can’t even pass your mother’s test, then he’s not qualified to be with you.”
He then looked at Lin Moli with a gentle, amused expression. “But I am curious. What does this young man have that could win over my Little Moli? You say he’s a TCM doctor, and the number one in the world… Little Moli, I remember you used to hate lying. How old is this kid? It would be impressive if he’s even proficient in TCM, let alone the number one.”
Lin Moli said seriously, “Grandfather, I’m not lying. It’s all true. At the last Sino-Western medical exchange in Beijing, Jiang Fei practically single-handedly defeated the Western medical delegation. They were completely convinced. You can ask any experienced TCM doctor about it.”
The old man just chuckled weakly, as if he didn’t have the energy to argue with his granddaughter anymore.
Or perhaps he felt the point was too obvious to debate.
He merely sighed inwardly, thinking that no matter the era, women in love always became so foolish…
