In Z City, two cities away from City A, a man with streaks of white in his temples was prescribing medicine for a woman with similarly graying hair.
"A Qi, have you heard? City S had quite a commotion a while back. There was a drug that made people irritable. It was... developed by Xiao Liang..."
Jian Qi's hand paused while stirring the medicinal herbs, then he calmly skimmed off the foam. "I'm just an old man enjoying my retirement. These things have nothing to do with me anymore."
*Nothing to do with you, then pour out my medicine! It's going to boil dry if I wait any longer...*
"I wasn't talking about him, I just... I heard no one could develop an antidote. Would you like to try?"
Jian Qi then poured the medicine into a bowl and brought it over. "Cousin, please don't worry about it. Your illness is mostly caused by too many worries weighing on your heart. You need to relax properly."
The woman asked earnestly, "Can you really let go?"
Jian Qi was silent for a long time before speaking again, his voice carrying a touch of weariness. "You know I never dabbled in these unorthodox methods. Besides, isn't Du Tang still around? His talent is quite good."
"Speaking of talent, it still has to be you. As your son, Xiao Liang has been exposed to it since childhood. Therefore, ordinary people simply can't compete with him."
Not only in developing drugs, but that brat had a ruthless streak, was cruel and ruthless, and capable of anything. It was truly a mystery how someone as good as A Qi could have such a son!
Jian Qi said no more, quietly packing up his medical kit and leaving the room with a stooped gait.
"Sigh!"
She knew A Qi would be upset, but could he truly let go by hiding away in that secluded village? Not to mention, his later years were spent in poverty. She felt heartbroken for him...
As Jian Qi walked out, he made a phone call.
In City S, Jian You was finally undisturbed and sleeping soundly. However, the phone by her bedside rang.
Seeing her frown, Xuan Mohan scooped up the phone, intending to hang up. But upon seeing the caller ID, he paused. When did Qian Qian get a grandfather?
However, Xuan Mohan quickly remembered Shui Yuan saying that she had been recognized as a granddaughter by a doctor from a small village. This made Xuan Mohan somewhat displeased. Qian Qian could only be his.
Aunt Tong was one thing; she had always taken care of Qian Qian. But this doctor who suddenly appeared dared to call himself Qian Qian's relative? What kind of people were claiming kinship these days? Didn't they consider if he was willing?
In Xuan Mohan's eyes, Lan Qian Qian had already become his private exclusive; he wouldn't allow anyone else to share her...
Xuan Mohan, with a knitted brow, was about to hang up when Jian You, covering her forehead, hoarsely asked, "Who is it?" Her small hand reached out simultaneously.
Xuan Mohan looked down at the delicate white hand before him and could only... obediently place it in hers.
"I don't know who it is. Probably a telemarketing call..."
Xuan Mohan had hoped she wouldn't answer the phone, but clearly, Jian You hadn't fully woken up from her grogginess.
"...Who?"
Jian Qi glanced at the phone. Wasn't it only past eight in the evening? Jian You was already asleep? Judging by her voice, she had been asleep for a while.
"How have you become so lazy after going to someone else's house? Sleeping at this hour?!"
Hearing the old man's voice, Jian You's eyes snapped open. She glanced at her phone. It wasn't a dream?
"Is something wrong?" Didn't he call just two days ago? Could it be that he was short of money? She had forgotten to transfer the money to him.
"Can't an old man call you if there's nothing wrong?"
Jian You pouted and said nothing. If there was nothing wrong, the old man wouldn't have forgotten her.
"I'll transfer money to you tomorrow..."
"Don't go out unnecessarily from now on..."
Two voices spoke simultaneously. Jian You stared blankly at the ceiling. What did the old man mean?
"Why?"
Jian Qi said impatiently, "Why so many questions? You've been out for a while, and your questions have increased. You must do as the old man says, understand?"
Before Jian You could react, Xuan Mohan's displeasure deepened. He snatched the phone from Jian You's hand and said coldly, "Is this how you usually talk to her?!"
Jian Qi immediately stopped walking and asked in a deep voice, "Who are you? Let Jian You take the call."
Xuan Mohan was so angry he was about to hang up directly, but at that moment, Jian You suddenly took the phone back. However, as soon as she turned around, she grimaced.
"Give it to me, I'll speak..."
But before Jian You could speak, a voice with unsteady breathing came from the other side: "Jian You, what have I told you? Do you still remember? Who is the man by your side? Do you like him?!"
If not, why would she be with him so late at night, and in the same room!
Jian You felt the old man was being overly dramatic. So what if she liked someone?
"Is that important?"
On the other end, Jian Qi heard her reply and immediately understood that she had been moved. While the effects of her medicine hadn't worn off, she had developed feelings that she shouldn't have.
"Are you... feeling unwell in any way?"
Jian Qi placed the medical kit aside and slowly sat down on a chair, his voice carrying fatigue and weakness.
"What could be wrong with me? I'm perfectly fine, and my wound has healed..."
As she spoke, Jian You seemed to recall something. She looked up at Xuan Mohan above her, and her face instantly flushed as if on fire.
Jian Qi didn't know how to describe his feelings at that moment. Had she revealed everything about herself to a man she had only known for a few days?
"Jian You, do you know what you are doing?!" Her actions were tantamount to handing her life over to someone else!
Listening to the old man's stern voice, Jian You finally realized something was wrong and understood why the old man was angry. But it really wasn't her fault; it was Xuan Mohan's keen observation.
When he was about to apply medication, she had wanted to refuse, but he had pointed it out with a single sentence. How could she pretend to be ignorant? Talking to such an intelligent person, if she still played dumb, she would seem very foolish.
"He discovered it himself..." Jian You explained with insufficient confidence.
Jian Qi felt it was too late to say anything now. Her physical characteristics had been discovered, and now she had fallen in love with this man. He truly wondered what she had done in these short few days!
This girl didn't seem like someone who would trust people easily, so how did she fall in love with someone in such a short time?
Jian Qi repeated with a headache, "Are you sure there's nothing unusual about your body?"
Why was the old man asking such a strange question? What did he mean by "something unusual about her body"? She was fine, how could there be anything unusual?
However, this question did make her think of something.
"These past two days... my head has been hurting."