Chapter Fourteen: Humiliation!

"Young man, are you telling the truth?" Han Xueping gripped Qin Mu's hand as if she were clutching at hope. Yet Xia Xuan, who had been shoved aside by Qin Mu, suddenly grew nervous, hastily stepping forward to pull Han Xueping away.

"Mom, don't listen to his nonsense. Who knows where Xia Yuan found this charlatan?" Xia Xuan pointed to the medical equipment, her words sharp and factual. "Look at Dad's heart monitor—it's flatlined. He's dead. How could he possibly save him?"

Despair flickered in Han Xueping's eyes; she knew Qin Mu was only trying to comfort her. But Qin Mu glanced coolly at them both and said, "Just because you can't, doesn't mean I can't."

Xia Xuan and Doctor Li were momentarily stunned. Was he insulting their ignorance?

"Fine, I’d like to see how you save a man when you don’t even know the cause of illness!" Doctor Li sneered.

Xia Xuan was unwilling; what if Qin Mu actually succeeded? Doctor Li shot her a reassuring glance—there was no such thing as reviving the dead.

"You still don't know the cause?" Qin Mu smiled faintly.

"I don't know what you're talking about," Doctor Li replied with bravado, though his heart tightened.

Xia Yuan made his decision. "Everyone, please step out. Whatever happens, wait until my friend has finished his attempt!"

No matter what, Xia Yuan wanted to give Qin Mu respect, at least not let these cold-hearted people stand nearby and interfere.

Once outside the ward, Xia Xuan immediately let out a cold laugh. "Xia Yuan, don’t think you’ve found a way out. You’re digging your own grave!"

"What do you mean?" Xia Yuan demanded.

"You’ve let an unlicensed man treat a dead person. That alone is enough to have you committed. Once you’re in the psychiatric hospital, let’s see how you crawl out! I ought to thank you!"

Luckily, Han Xueping was preoccupied with her husband’s condition and paid them no mind.

With her father already stricken, Xia Yuan couldn’t afford to lose Han Xueping too; otherwise, the Xia family would cease to exist. He endured Xia Xuan’s barbs for that reason.

"Miss Xia, there’s no need for such trouble," Doctor Li chuckled. "By my count, in less than two months, this fellow will be preparing for the grave just like the old man."

Xia Yuan was long accustomed to their scheming. Yet Doctor Li’s words sounded familiar; on their way to the hospital, Qin Mu had given him the same diagnosis. Could his old classmate truly possess medical skill?

Barely two minutes had passed. The ward was quiet, and the door soon swung open again. Qin Mu emerged, patting Xia Yuan’s shoulder.

Xia Yuan nodded, understanding. "It’s alright, you did your best. It was always..." After all, the ECG didn’t lie; his father’s life had truly ended.

"I warned you not to disturb the dead, to let family accompany him to the end, so he could pass peacefully. Now Mr. Xia can’t rest in peace; his spirit will surely curse you!" Doctor Li accused Qin Mu in righteous tones.

Xia Xuan lingered outside, peering in to confirm Xia Qinghai’s ECG was still a straight line before cursing.

"So the fraud’s exposed at last? Weren’t you supposed to be so skilled? Why is my father still dead, not revived?"

Xia Yuan wanted to speak up for Qin Mu, but the truth was undeniable—his father had not been saved.

Qin Mu shrugged and said to Xia Yuan, "Remember, next time you’re free, treat me to a meal."

With that, Qin Mu strode down the stairs and left.

"Disgraceful! Xia Yuan, is this your friend? Disturbing the dead and then asking for a meal—what nerve!" Xia Xuan raged at Qin Mu’s retreating figure.

Just then, a scream rang out.

Han Xueping rushed madly into the ward.

Xia Yuan thought she might be suicidal and hurried after her.

But as soon as he entered, Xia Yuan froze in the doorway, stunned.

"Xia Yuan, stop pretending. I saw with my own eyes, that old man is already dead—"

As Xia Xuan glanced inside, she stumbled back, trembling and crying out in disbelief.

For inside the ward, Xia Qinghai, once pronounced dead, was now propped against his pillow, sitting up!

His complexion was normal, his gaze sharp, his presence commanding without anger.

Beside him, the ECG traced a steady rhythm.

This was no hopeless, incurable corpse!

"Father!" Xia Yuan cried out in joy.

But what shocked him most was that his friend Qin Mu had truly brought his father back!

He recalled Qin Mu’s confident pat on the shoulder, his calm farewell.

"I called him brother, yet I didn’t trust him at the crucial moment," Xia Yuan reflected with a wry, proud smile. He was proud to have such a reliable friend.

"You’ve worked hard these days," Xia Qinghai said, embracing Han Xueping and looking at Xia Yuan.

Though bedridden, his mind had been clear; he knew all Xia Yuan had done for him.

"Where is the miracle doctor who saved me? I must thank him in person, and visit his home. Without him, I would not have survived."

During the period his heart had stopped, though unconscious, Xia Qinghai had sensed Qin Mu’s miraculous skill—a mysterious method, beyond human, that expelled all toxins from his body.

No one dared answer his question. Xia Xuan and Doctor Li stood dumbstruck outside, not daring to enter.

Xia Qinghai frowned. "Why is no one speaking? Xia Yuan, explain!"

So Xia Yuan recounted everything that had happened.

Hearing it all, Xia Qinghai, ignoring his frail state, tore out his IV and strode over, slapping Xia Xuan across the face.

"You worthless fool! You drove him away! Do you realize whom you’ve offended?"

"And regarding the poisoning, I will investigate thoroughly. Pray you had no part in it, or you are no longer my daughter—prepare for your downfall!"

Xia Xuan shook her head, panic-stricken. This time, she was truly afraid.

If Xia Qinghai returned to power, she would have no say, let alone inherit his estate.

"And you! You blind, sniveling dog!" Xia Qinghai kicked Doctor Li hard.

"Get out! Find the miracle doctor! If you can’t, none of you will survive in Jiangcheng!"

"Father, don’t be upset. He’s my old classmate, we live in the same neighborhood. I’ll find him in a few days."

Hearing this, Xia Qinghai’s anger eased, and he spoke earnestly: "Son, your friend is no ordinary man. No matter the cost, you must keep him close."

...

A few days later, after a spring rain—

The Jiang family.

Jiang Zheng leaned on the windowsill, lost in thought as she watched two lively birds outside.

After the incident at the company, she had been promoted directly to department manager, replacing Zhou Shuya.

Lin Qingxue had promised that if she could obtain a complete recipe for the Youth Retaining Pill from Qin Mu, she would immediately gain a ten percent stake in Yazi Cosmetics and rise to vice president.

Good fortune seemed to come in pairs. For some reason, Director Zhang from the orphanage visited her personally, praising her past care for the children and miraculously handing her several tens of thousands of yuan, saying it was the amount owed by Zhu Bin over the years, now fully repaid.

Yet Jiang Zheng had been melancholy these days, unable to lift her spirits.

Several times she wanted to call Qin Mu to apologize, but hesitated each time, never dialing.

Until today, when the Zhao family called.

Zhao Jiacheng asked Jiang Zheng to dress up and come along to select wedding rings in preparation for the ceremony.

That call swept away her gloom.

Most women can hardly resist the allure of luxurious jewelry.

She rode in Zhao Jiacheng’s black Porsche to a jewelry mall in Jiangcheng.

In the car, Zhao Jiacheng introduced a relative in the back seat.

"This is my aunt. She’s experienced in this, so I asked her to help."

But Jiang Zheng’s mind was filled with visions of marital bliss, selecting rings. She barely registered the introductions.

Upon entering the mall, she was dazzled by glittering displays and the opulent array of goods.

She rarely visited such lavish places and eagerly looked around.

This behavior irked Zhao Jiacheng’s aunt.

After half an hour, Jiang Zheng finally chose a sapphire diamond ring she adored.

"Jiacheng, I want this one!"

She hurriedly pulled Zhao Jiacheng over.

He ignored its appearance, focusing only on the price.

Fifty thousand yuan?!

Just for a sample? That’s far too expensive!

"No rush, let’s compare a few more." Zhao Jiacheng brushed her off.

"I’ve looked around, and I like this one," Jiang Zheng insisted.

Just then, Zhao Jiacheng’s aunt, Zhang Man, strolled over, barely glanced at the ring before lecturing her.

"This isn’t pretty, and the price is obviously inflated to fool girls who don’t know the market."

"Come on, let’s look at others."

Zhao Jiacheng nodded repeatedly, pulling Jiang Zheng along. "Let’s go, maybe there’s something better ahead."

"But I like this one," Jiang Zheng whispered, head bowed.

She suddenly felt aggrieved.

With the wedding approaching, the groom’s family needed funds, so Jiang Zheng had transferred all her savings to Zhao Jiacheng without hesitation.

Now, even the ring symbolizing a lifetime together was beyond her wishes, and her future husband seemed unwilling.

"I could use my own—"

She thought of the money Director Zhang had recently given her and considered buying the ring herself.

But before she could speak, Zhang Man beckoned from nearby.

Reluctantly, Jiang Zheng walked over, where Zhang Man pointed at a silver-plated ring in the display case, priced under five thousand yuan.

"Look, I think this one’s good, quite suitable for you. If there’s nothing else, let’s buy this."