An hour later, Ke Teng returned to the entrance of his villa.
The butler, having noticed the commotion early, was already at the door to greet him.
Getting out of the car, Ke Teng tossed his keys inside without a word, the butler settling the bill behind him.
Back at home, seeing him still in the clothes and shoes he’d left in, his face grim, the butler knew he hadn't had a good few days.
He instructed the housekeeper to prepare his favorite meals and handed him his phone.
The house was spacious and bright, exuding an air of refined elegance.
He used to spend his days in this environment without thinking much of it, but after a few days of hardship outside, returning felt different.
In front of the butler, Ke Teng took off his clothes and shoes and threw them on the floor. "Take these and throw them out."
Then he went into the bathroom to shower.
He emerged nearly an hour later, feeling refreshed after a long, comfortable soak. The housekeeper had already set out a meticulously prepared Western meal with red wine.
Wrapped in a bath towel, Ke Teng sat at the dining table, leisurely eating his steak and sipping his wine, while gazing out at the night view through the expansive floor-to-ceiling windows.
He thought, "I didn't die after leaving you, Jian Fei. Just you wait. Once I’ve recovered, I won’t let you off tomorrow."
This was the first time in his life he had encountered a woman who dared to humiliate him. Ke Teng’s sole desire now was to brutally trample Jian Fei's dignity into the ground.
He wanted to make her realize deeply that she had provoked the wrong person.
With his phone finally back in his hands, and no one to tell him otherwise, Ke Teng stayed up until three or four in the morning before finally falling asleep.
He woke up the next day well past ten o'clock.
After showering and dressing, he instructed the butler to bring him his car.
"Young Master, where are you headed?"
"Tell my father that from now on, I'll listen to him. I'll be at the company tomorrow. I have some personal matters to attend to today."
He drove the car directly to the Second Affiliated Hospital of Shangcheng Medical University, found the neurosurgery department, and asked the nurses about Jian Fei.
Generally, only older people were prone to cardiovascular aging, blockages, and related problems, so neurosurgery typically dealt with middle-aged and elderly patients.
When such a young, tall, and handsome man appeared, the nurses couldn't help but gaze at him with starry eyes.
But they soon regretfully informed him that Jian Fei was no longer in their department; she had been fired yesterday.
Ke Teng never expected that Jian Fei, who was so meticulous and almost pathologically diligent about her work, would ever be fired.
He should have been happy to hear this news, considering how much he disliked her.
However, his first reaction was surprise and annoyance.
"Why was she fired?"
The nurse replied, "I don't know the specifics. She must have made a mistake. Director Zhang, who is her doctoral advisor, handled it personally."
"Caught making a major mistake by her own supervisor, it seems she can't expect to get her diploma either. A wasted doctorate."
Recalling Jian Fei’s expression the previous evening as she returned home, Ke Teng felt an inexplicable discomfort.
He immediately left the hospital, got in his car, and sped towards Jian Fei's home.
He rushed upstairs and pounded on the door. Soon, the door opened.
Jian Fei's eyelids were even more swollen than yesterday. She was disheveled and still wearing yesterday's clothes, and it was unclear if she had slept or not.
Seeing the completely refreshed Ke Teng appearing at her door again, she showed no surprise.
"Why are you here again?"
"Why aren't you at work?" Ke Teng followed her inside familiarly.
Jian Fei didn't answer him, speaking as she walked.
"What do you want with me? If I go to work, you won't be able to find me, right?"
As they entered, Ke Teng realized she was packing her belongings.
In the small apartment, there were only a few clothes and some inexpensive home appliances, all of which she was packing.
Some were in bags, some were piled on suitcases, all standing against the wall.
"What are you doing? Are you moving?"
Jian Fei walked over, pulled the cover off the sofa, and prepared to fold it to take with her.
"If you have something to say, just say it. Don't ask irrelevant questions."
"You didn't bring anything when you came, so you shouldn't have anything left here with me."
The two seemed to be on different wavelengths, each speaking their own thoughts.
Ke Teng stepped forward. "Did something happen to you? Were you fired?"
Jian Fei hadn't expected him to know about her dismissal so quickly. Her actions paused, and her face finally showed an expression.
There was surprise and embarrassment, but soon, as if it had nothing to do with Ke Teng, she returned to a state of calm.
"Don't you always call me heartless and like a robot, saying I don't deserve to be a doctor? Now that I've been fired, it should make you happy, right?"
"..."
Ke Teng recalled what he had said before.
Indeed, none of his words had been kind.
But now wasn't the time to bring that up!
After all, Jian Fei had been his private doctor for a few days, and they had some connection.
If she had encountered something unpleasant, wouldn't it be too unfeeling of him not to inquire?
What was so special about folding a sofa cover?
He found Jian Fei's attitude of avoiding the crucial issue annoying and reached out to stop her.
"I'm asking you! What exactly happened? Why were you fired? Did you perhaps give a patient the wrong medication?"
Jian Fei sidestepped his hand and, in a few swift movements, folded the sofa cover, picked up a red plastic bag, and put it inside.
"Why do you need to know the details? Do you intend to help me?"
Ke Teng blurted out.
"It's not impossible, if you didn't do anything wrong..."
Honestly, hearing him say that, Jian Fei felt a touch of emotion.
But then she thought, they were not related, nor were they friends. Why would Ke Teng believe her words and go to the trouble of sticking up for her?
"No need. I can't be bothered to explain. Since you're back, just listen to your father."
"He only has you as his child in this life. It hasn't been easy..."
Ke Teng completely lost his patience and kicked the wall.
"Stop lecturing me! I'm talking about you right now, don't drag me into it!"
"I'll ask you one last time: what did you actually do wrong?"
"My father could find you, which means your professional skills should be excellent. After all, you were my private doctor. If you don't want to be called a good-for-nothing, speak!"
Again and again, his persistence caused a ripple in Jian Fei's already resigned and calmed heart.
Her nose pricked, and her eyes couldn't help but redden.
She turned and glared at Ke Teng.
"It wasn't about my profession. It was because I saw something I shouldn't have, infringed upon someone's interests, and someone had to make me leave!"
"You wealthy and powerful people, you just like to manipulate people's lives and trample on their dignity so casually. What's the use of me telling you? Will you understand me if I do?"
Although Ke Teng had treated her very badly before, often verbally abusing her and indeed trampling on her dignity,
He considered himself different from others.
Hearing Jian Fei categorize him with those villains, his heart tightened, and he felt a bit suffocated.
"Is that really the image I have in your mind?"
"What else? What do you think? Haven't you seen yourself clearly after a few days away from your father?"