Volume 1 Chapter 5 Awakening

"Sigh, what a pity. I wonder if you would be willing to serve as a guest expert at our hospital? Don't worry, it won't take up much of your time. You would only need to stop by once a week for a check-in, and we would offer you a monthly retainer of 100,000."

"Fine, I'll consider it."

"Oh—excellent! This is my contact information. Just give me a call once you've made up your mind." Xie Guanglin took a business card from his pocket and handed it to Duan Wuhen with deep respect.

"Director Xie, your hospital's doctors don't seem to welcome me very much." Duan Wuhen gave a playful smirk as he looked at the ugly expressions on the faces of the doctors who had just been mocking him.

"Kid, don't you dare spout nonsense."

"Insolent! Liu Yuansheng, I heard every word you said just now. Someone like you is unworthy of wearing this white coat. I am firing you effective immediately, and I will ensure you are blacklisted from the entire industry."

Upon hearing this, the doctors who had been calm just a moment ago were instantly thrown into a panic.

"Director, this was all Liu Yuansheng’s doing! It has nothing to do with us!"

"You!" Liu Yuansheng pointed a finger at these fair-weather friends, too enraged to speak.

"Um, young man, if you aren't satisfied, I can fire them all," Xie Guanglin said, steeling his heart as he looked at Duan Wuhen’s unchanging expression.

"That won't be necessary." Duan Wuhen waved his hand.

Shortly after, the few doctors who had spoken out in mockery slunk away in shame.

Just then, Yan Xiyue let out a cry of surprise.

"Look! Mom is awake!"

Everyone turned to look in a hurry, only to see the patient who had been declared beyond hope just moments ago actually opening her eyes and sitting up on her own.

"Mom, I'm so glad you're okay! You have no idea how worried I was, wuwuwuwu!" Yan Xiyue hugged Shangguan Xiyue’s arm, tears streaming down her face.

"Am I... in the hospital?"

The newly awakened Shangguan Xiyue had not yet gathered her wits; she only felt as if her head were filled with chaos.

Duan Wuhen stepped forward to check her pulse, then smiled knowingly.

"There, it's all fine now."

Yan Mingjun gripped Duan Wuhen’s hand tightly.

"Wuhen, I truly owe you everything this time. If it weren't for you, I wouldn't have known what to do."

"Uncle, this is only what I should have done."

As the two men spoke, Shangguan Xiyue finally regained her senses. She held onto Yan Xiyue’s arm, a sense of relief from having survived a brush with death washing over her.

"Yueyue, are you saying I was in a car accident, the hospital had issued a notice of critical condition, and then someone saved me?"

Yan Xiyue nodded, looking toward Duan Wuhen with a hint of gratitude in her eyes.

"Where is the person who saved me? Yueyue, I want to thank them in person. Honestly, you should have stopped him from leaving."

Yan Xiyue looked pained. She desperately wanted to tell her mother that the man was nothing more than a country bumpkin, but she realized it wasn't appropriate since he had just saved her mother’s life.

"Yueyue, where is my savior?"

Yan Xiyue pointed a finger toward Duan Wuhen, who was still talking to her father.

"There, that young man next to Dad."

Shangguan Xiyue stared, a jolt of surprise hitting her heart.

What a handsome young man! If he were around when I was young, I definitely would have chased after him myself.

"Mom?"

Yan Xiyue waved her hand, interrupting her mother’s thoughts.

"Oh, what are you doing? So disrespectful!" Shangguan Xiyue swatted away Yan Xiyue’s meddling hand.

"Mom, it’s not polite to stare at him like that."

"What’s wrong with that? Is it a crime for a woman to look at her own savior?"

Yan Xiyue blushed, leaned into her mother’s ear, and whispered something.

*Smack!*

A loud, crisp slap echoed through the quiet emergency room. Yan Xiyue clutched her backside, looking at Shangguan Xiyue with a wronged expression.

"Such a wonderful son-in-law, and you’re still being picky."

"What’s so good about him? He’s just a country bumpkin who knows a bit of medicine."

At that moment, a doctor rushed in, looking panicked, and handed a folder to Xie Guanglin.

"Director, it’s a miracle! This is nothing short of a miracle!"

Xie Guanglin opened it and scanned the contents, catching his breath in shock. It was no wonder he was so excited—anyone would be stunned to see this report. A patient whose bodily functions had been failing and who had been diagnosed as certain to die had seen all her vital signs return to their peak in just a few short minutes. It was truly incredible!

"Um, Chairman Yan, your wife has fully recovered. You may proceed with the discharge formalities."

"Wonderful. Thank you for the trouble, Director Xie."

"Oh, you give me too much credit! This is entirely the young man’s doing."

Duan Wuhen watched the two of them heap praise upon each other, helplessly rubbing his forehead.

Upon hearing she could be discharged, Shangguan Xiyue was stunned.

"What? I can be discharged already? It hasn't even been a day!"

"Looking at that expression, do you want to stay here for a few more days? If so, be my guest."

Hearing this, Shangguan Xiyue pinched Yan Mingjun’s ear.

"Are you trying to use my hospital stay as an excuse to run wild? Let me tell you, don't even think about it! I’m getting discharged today."

Caught by his weak point, Yan Mingjun didn't dare to be defiant. In front of his wife, he was completely henpecked and didn't dare let out a peep.

Duan Wuhen watched Yan Mingjun being handled like that, then looked at Yan Xiyue, thinking to himself: *This won't do. I can't let myself be handled by this girl like Uncle Yan.*

Seeming to feel his gaze, Yan Xiyue looked back at Duan Wuhen. *This guy must be thinking of something unsavory. Ugh, I need to hurry up and move out.*

***

After the discharge papers were processed, Shangguan Xiyue took Yan Mingjun’s arm and got into the car. Before leaving, Yan Mingjun gave Duan Wuhen some instructions.

"Wuhen, I don't feel like your aunt’s accident was simple. The Yan Group is growing stronger every day, and our expanding business scope has certainly stepped on someone's toes. I'm afraid they might target Xiyue. I’ve pulled some strings to get you enrolled in Xiyue’s school. Wait for my call; be ready to report there tomorrow!"

Duan Wuhen nodded. He had never been to school in his life, and he saw this as a chance to make up for that regret.

"Remember, protect Xiyue. She is not just your fiancée, but my daughter."

Yan Mingjun patted Duan Wuhen on the chest before turning to leave.

Duan Wuhen walked over and tapped the still-dazed Yan Xiyue.

"Alright, stop staring. They’re already far away."

Yan Xiyue jumped in surprise, and once she regained her composure, she yelled at him:

"You scared me to death! Do you know that? Hmph! I'm moving out today, you can live there by yourself! Ling'er, come on, help me move my luggage!"