Old Madam Lu’s tone was slow and certain, causing the doctor, who was about to praise Qi Yuanyuan further, to immediately stop short.
Her words were like a silent slap, stinging the faces of everyone present.
Especially Qi Yuanyuan. Her smile turned awkward. This kind of public denial was like taking the lead to make everyone question her identity as the "Anonymous Divine Doctor."
If it were an ordinary person, she would "tactfully" refuse to treat them further. But this was Old Madam Lu, from the Lu family, which was on par with the Qi family. There was nothing she could do to the other party.
"Mom, are you confused? Where did you get a granddaughter-in-law from?"
Li Jieying said. To ease the awkwardness, she added, "Do you want Yuanyuan to be your granddaughter-in-law? I think it’s a good idea. Yiming is also at the age to get married. I think they are well-matched and very suitable."
Upon hearing this, Qi Yuanyuan’s lips moved, thinking about how to refuse.
Her heart belonged only to Qin Beiting; she would marry no one else.
"No!"
However, before she could speak, Old Madam Lu refused first.
If Lu Yiming were to marry, Yu He would be prioritized. If that brat Lu Chenyu couldn't do it, then his older brother would step up.
"I have already found a suitable candidate for him. Once I have more information, I can arrange for them to meet," Old Madam Lu said.
First, her medical skills were questioned, and then her character was denied. Qi Yuanyuan’s smile was strained.
Although she only had eyes for Qin Beiting and would marry no one else, she was still the eldest daughter of the Qi family, one of the four great families, and the top socialite in Beishi. Yet, she couldn't catch Old Madam Lu's eye?
This gap in her expectations gave rise to jealousy in Qi Yuanyuan.
"Mom, in Beishi, who else has better conditions than Yuanyuan?" Li Jieying asked.
She liked Qi Yuanyuan very much. Their families were well-matched. If they could form an alliance with the Qi family, their branch's status would be secure.
However, within the Lu family, she still had to respect Old Madam Lu.
"Let's keep it a secret for now," Old Madam Lu said, not elaborating.
She understood her eldest daughter-in-law. If she revealed any more details, she would surely investigate, then dislike the person, and probably even try to intimidate them. Therefore, she deliberately maintained an air of mystery.
Since Old Madam Lu wouldn't say, Li Jieying couldn't force it. She could find out by sending someone to investigate later.
"My health is fine now. Thank you for your treatment and care, Miss Qi. You don't need to come to treat me anymore," Old Madam Lu said to Qi Yuanyuan.
"Mom, are you stopping Yuanyuan from treating you because you want that woman to treat you? How can you be so muddled? Yuanyuan is the famous Anonymous Divine Doctor!" Li Jieying said.
"Madam Lu, it's alright. Since Old Madam Lu has a better choice, I won't disturb you anymore. I wish you a speedy recovery." Qi Yuanyuan said with a smile.
After speaking, without waiting for Li Jieying to stop her, she turned and left.
She wanted to show her displeasure. She, Qi Yuanyuan, was not someone to be bullied by just anyone.
Secondly, rheumatoid arthritis, even for a true Anonymous Divine Doctor, was not something that could be cured. So, Old Madam Lu not letting her continue the treatment actually helped her.
Since Old Madam Lu wanted her "granddaughter-in-law" to treat her, then let that woman do it. Later, if anything went wrong, she wouldn't have to bear the responsibility.
"Yuanyuan..." Li Jieying pretended to chase after Qi Yuanyuan to stop her, but in reality, once outside, she immediately ordered someone to investigate the person who had given Old Madam Lu acupuncture.
What she truly cared about was not Old Madam Lu's illness, but who the person Old Madam Lu intended to arrange for Lu Yiming would be.
Thinking about it again, she considered how to make that woman kill Old Madam Lu, so that Lu Yiming and Qi Yuanyuan would have a chance.
—
After school in the afternoon.
As Yu He and Chu Ying walked out of the school gate, a white Maserati stopped beside them. The car window slid down, revealing a face so handsome it could incite global war.
"Professor Qin..." Chu Ying was so excited she almost shrieked. Seeing the speculative glances from nearby classmates, she quickly covered her mouth.
"Boss, I won't disturb your date then." She said with a grin, waved goodbye, and left.
As she walked away, she kept looking back, secretly taking a few photos with her phone and sharing them in her close-knit group chats.
The news of Qin Beiting looking for Yu He at noon had exploded in the gossip groups of various classes in the academy, pushing down the hot news about the Gu Group's downfall in recent days.
They were gossiping in the groups because photos of Qin Beiting and Yu He couldn't be posted on the school forum, and even gossip posts about them were blocked.
Rumor had it that sensitive keywords were being filtered by the school's IT department.
Yu He smiled helplessly at Chu Ying's reaction.
"Miss, would you like a ride?" Qin Beiting asked from the driver's seat, a smile playing on his lips.
Yu He stepped forward, opened the passenger door, and got in. She teased, "Professor Qin, are you moonlighting as a chauffeur?"
Qin Beiting followed her lead, saying, "Yes, the salary the boss gives me is too low to afford to keep a college student, so I have to sneak out to earn some extra cash."
"Unfortunately, I'm broke and planning to hitch a free ride," Yu He said deliberately.
"It's okay if you don't have money, you can pay in other ways," Qin Beiting said, leaning towards the passenger seat and pointing to his lips, "Come on, fill 'er up."
"..."
Yu He pushed his face away with her fingers spread, "Drive properly."
Qin Beiting chuckled, took her hand, and kissed the back of her hand. "What do you want to eat tonight?"
"Let's go back to the Ye family to eat," Yu He said, glancing at a message from Ye Qichen on her phone.
She needed to go back to get Qin Beiting's medicine for his final treatment.
"Alright," Qin Beiting said, turning the steering wheel to make a U-turn.
Yu He replied to Ye Qichen and then looked up to find they were not heading towards the Ye family. "Where are we going?"
"To buy some things first," Qin Beiting said.
An hour later.
Yu He and Qin Beiting emerged from a shopping mall, followed by Chen Dong and a bodyguard in a suit carrying sunglasses. The two of them were laden with shopping bags.
From nutritional supplements for the elderly to video game consoles for children, they had bought gifts for everyone in the family, young and old.
"We can't go to your place empty-handed," Qin Beiting said proactively, seeing Yu He's confusion.
Yu He: "..."
Yu He: "It's not your first time at my place."
Qin Beiting nodded. "That's right, so we need to make up for the gifts and leave a good impression on your family."
"A good impression means pulling a gun and injuring someone the first time you visit? Or shamelessly tagging along for the entire family trip the second time?" Yu He teased.
Qin Beiting: "..."
"Tsk, no wonder you said my brother guarded you like a guard dog. It's because he doesn't like you," Yu He added another jab, then got into the passenger seat.
"..."
Qin Beiting sat in the driver's seat and reached over to ruffle Yu He's hair. "Whether your brother likes me or not isn't important. What's important is that you like me. That's enough."