Chapter Fifty: Ailments of the Body

This kid was doing it on purpose. When Xiaowei had her back to Yuan Xiangdie, she stealthily opened her mouth. If Jin Yuan hadn’t dodged in time, he would’ve gotten bitten by this little rascal.

Even so, he was left with a damp bite mark. Though his face didn’t show outright annoyance, for once he did frown.

He squatted down, his muscular figure revealed beneath the suit, every line on display. Yuan Xiangdie’s heart raced and her face flushed just looking at him; she never liked those pale, delicate pretty boys. Jin Yuan happened to fit one of her criteria perfectly—a great figure!

He held Xiaowei’s head at arm’s length with one hand, while the other brushed over his trousers.

“Open your mouth. Let me take a look at those teeth.”

Just from a touch, Jin Yuan knew the kid had done it on purpose. Biting him was one thing, but he was more worried about germs getting in.

Xiaowei, for reasons unknown, clamped her mouth shut stubbornly, as if refusing to yield. She mumbled something unintelligible, “No, no, I won’t…”

Jin Yuan had always been this way—a tyrant, one might say. Xiaowei, only a child, could not resist and had to let the villainous adult prop her chin up with one hand and pinch her cheek with the other.

Forced to bare her little teeth, Jin Yuan examined them carefully.

“You’ve had too many sweets lately. There are two cavities. From now on, no more sweets. I’ll tell Butler Hu, so don’t just hope for Grandpa Zhang’s help.”

Only with this child did Jin Yuan ever act so shamelessly.

Before the little rascal could bare her claws and try to scratch him, Jin Yuan pushed her aside early. Yuan Xiangdie instinctively reached out and caught her.

The little one, who had been filled with fierce resistance, instantly wilted, turning limp like a sticky rice dumpling, dispirited.

“Little traitor.”

Jin Yuan didn’t mind letting his guard down for once at home. Yuan Xiangdie had seen other emotions on her boss before, but never like this. The way he called someone a little traitor was unexpectedly charming.

Yet Yuan Xiangdie vaguely sensed he was including her in that accusation too.

Lost in her drifting thoughts, Yuan Xiangdie was jolted back to reality by a tug. She realized she’d been hugging the child so tightly that her little face was turning red.

She quickly let go, missing the fleeting reluctance in Xiaowei’s eyes.

“Yiyi, are you staying at Xiaowei’s house tonight?” That childish voice, still laced with a bit of drool, was impossible for Yuan Xiangdie to resist.

She nearly nodded her head into the floor. “Of course! I promised you before, didn’t I? I said I’d come see you.”

At those words, Xiaowei lit up like a sunflower basking in the sun. If she could glow, she’d be an angel.

Yuan Xiangdie’s heart melted. “Heavens, how can there be such an adorable little darling in this world? What brand of angel are you?”

She hugged the child tightly, careful to mind her strength—not wanting to squeeze her too hard, especially since her little face was still flushed.

Yuan Xiangdie thought this, but she wasn’t entirely truthful with herself. Ever since Qi Mei suggested she find someone at home to model, she figured she might as well make clothes for the darling right away.

To her surprise, she actually found blank paper and sketch pens on the desk. She had to admit, this man was quite well-prepared.

“I’ll sketch some little outfits for you right here, all right?” Yuan Xiangdie had no fear of being turned down. In the child’s large eyes, she saw her own reflection shining.

Something about this scene moved her, as if a piece of her heart was slowly shifting. She didn’t know what it meant, but she was certain she was getting married—she’d signed the contract, there was no backing out now.

“What should I do, then?” Xiaowei asked, already somewhat familiar with the process. After all, she’d helped Yuan Xiangdie’s studio quite a bit online before. Without her shares and reposts, V-Face wouldn’t have been able to invite her over in the first place, let alone uncover so many truths and bring them to Butler Hu as evidence.

“Oh, darling, you don’t need to do anything. Just keep doing what you like—I want to capture your most natural movements.”

The study was bustling, the sounds of fabric and thread in constant demand. Qi Mei, though she wanted her daughter-in-law to bond with her son, found herself watching the child instead.

The old master, learning of this, and knowing his wife’s thoughts, actually spoke up—an unusual sternness on his face.

“Xiaowei is my chosen child, no matter whether he is Xiao Yuan’s or not. Besides, can a paternity test really be wrong? Even if they’re not related, you absolutely can’t show favoritism.”

Though Qi Mei seemed to rule the household, it was the old master who held real authority.

She wanted to object, but after opening her mouth, she fell silent.

That old man had always been eccentric—years ago, she’d gotten her way, but only because he let her. Her son inherited his father’s temperament, which explained his somberness. Otherwise, why would she still be searching for a daughter-in-law at her age, so anxious about it all?

Yuan Yao’er found today’s explosive news one shock after another—her reputation had been sent straight to her grandmother’s house, as the saying went.

Even in that remote mountain village, people were abuzz with surprise. The family company’s ups and downs played in an endless loop on the old black-and-white TV screen.

“Today, the family enterprise made waves—not because of the thriving second daughter, but the eldest daughter’s return after five years. For more details, stay tuned to our channel.”

An old woman, drooling as she ate her rice soaked in tea, sat by watching. The pickled vegetables beside her had a strong smell, and a greedy glint flashed in her cloudy eyes.

“Hehehe, Dalingzi, you’re going to be rich, hehehe.”

Zhang Xi didn’t know what had frightened her so much—she’d been shivering for days and didn’t know when it would end. She’d even gone to the hospital, thinking she had a cold.

But the doctor said, “Nothing serious—probably just nerves. You’ll be fine. Move along, don’t block the others. If you want treatment, go get some saline.”

For the first time, Yuan Yao’er felt so slighted. In the past, people would let her cut in line on the street, but now, even in her own family’s hospital, she was treated this way?

“Do you know who you’re talking to? That’s your boss—the director of this private hospital. With your attitude, believe me, I could fire you on the spot!”

But the doctor was truly unafraid. As the hospital’s chief specialist, if it weren’t for his position, this woman would have no authority over him.

His expression soured; he tossed his pen aside, folded his hands under his chin, and looked bored.

“Sorry, I’m extremely nearsighted—I really couldn’t see who it was. All I know is there’s a patient with nothing wrong, convinced she’s ill.”

Zhang Xi felt uneasy hearing this.

Yuan Yao’er seemed ready to explode, but outsiders didn’t know this hospital was actually part of their company. Zhang Xi had no wish to cause a scene, so she hurriedly pulled the angry Yuan Yao’er away.

“Let it go. It’s nothing serious, I’ll listen to the doctor. Don’t make a fuss, be good.”

She turned around, bowed sincerely, and said,

“Doctor, I’m really sorry. We’re leaving now and won’t disturb you further. My daughter is young and doesn’t know any better. Please don’t take it to heart. Have a good day.”

Then she led the fuming Yuan Yao’er away. The sound of high heels echoed through the corridor as they walked, their footsteps alternating.

It wasn’t until they reached the garage that Yuan Yao’er wrenched her hand free.

“Mom, what’s wrong with you? That doctor dared speak to you like that. Why not just fire him? It’s our hospital—so what?”

Zhang Xi was exasperated. “Stop making a scene. We’re in the garage. If you keep this up, I’ll get angry.”

She tried to look stern, but her calm face betrayed nothing—who would believe she was truly angry? Yuan Yao’er sulked, stomping so hard it seemed she’d break the floor.

“Mom, I’m your own daughter. If someone bullies you, I want to help you fight back. So what if we’re public figures? We can’t just let people push us around!”

“Foolish child. People think this is a public hospital, but it’s ours. Your useless father secretly bought it, saying it was to treat the old master. If I hadn’t known early on, do you realize how much money our family would’ve thrown away for nothing?”

Zhang Xi pulled her into the car, which was parked in the garage without a driver. She’d already arranged for the old master to be sent elsewhere—even if it meant leaving him on the street.

But that doctor had insisted on keeping the news quiet, only urging Yuan Xiangdie to pay the hospital fees.

“The previous doctor was loyal to the hospital—your useless father…”

He’d admired that doctor’s skills and kept him here. Otherwise, who knows where he’d be now.