This was the first time Grandpa had ever hit her.
It was also the first time Grandpa had ever… reprimanded her with such an attitude.
And then, she witnessed an even more shocking scene—
After reprimanding her, her Grandpa…
Released her and quickly walked towards Ming Zheng.
“Doctor… Cough, Miss Ming Zheng, why are you here?” The old man stood before Ming Zheng, his usually stern face filled with respect and politeness.
Lu Manqin’s grandfather was Ming Chu Yan’s teacher, the same Elder Lu who had previously wanted to treat Ming’s mother’s hands.
Last time, he had learned from President Zhan that Ming Zheng was the idol of countless practitioners in their medical field—the Saint of Medicine.
Upon seeing Ming Zheng, how could Elder Lu dare to be negligent in the slightest?
“I have an appointment with President Zhan,” Ming Zheng replied indifferently.
Her gaze swept past Elder Lu and landed on Lu Manqin.
This look made Elder Lu’s heart tighten. He quickly apologized, “Miss Ming Zheng, she, she is my granddaughter. I’m usually busy with the affairs of the Medical Association and have been negligent in disciplining her. It is my fault. I apologize to Miss Ming Zheng…”
“Grandpa!” Lu Manqin bared her teeth, her eyes wide with shock and filled with unwillingness.
That was her grandfather.
Her grandfather, whom she had always been proud of!
Although their Lu family was not a top-tier family in Xia Du.
Even the Four Great Families or the first-tier families had to address her grandfather respectfully as “Elder Lu.”
Because her Grandpa was also a senior teacher at the Imperial Capital Academy.
Because her Grandpa held a pivotal position in the Traditional Chinese Medicine Association.
But, her brilliant and heroic Grandpa…
Why was he so respectful in front of Ming Zheng?
And why did he have to apologize to Ming Zheng on her behalf?
Lu Manqin could not accept it. Her Grandpa, who was like a god in her heart, had bowed his head to Ming Zheng.
She frantically broke free from the apprentice who was supporting her.
She wanted to pounce on Ming Zheng like a wild animal.
As her foot moved towards Ming Zheng,
Suddenly, she heard a unified and respectful voice from the main hall—
“President Zhan!”
Lu Manqin’s footsteps halted.
She quickly looked back.
And saw a figure in an ink-green robe hurrying over.
Lu Manqin’s eyes instantly lit up.
She hurried forward, disregarding her disheveled appearance, her voice excited yet cautious, “President Zhan…”
If her grandfather was her second most admired person.
Then her most admired person was undoubtedly the President of the Traditional Chinese Medicine Association, Zhan He’an.
She had grown up by her grandfather’s side since childhood, and thus had some understanding of Traditional Chinese Medicine.
She had always aimed to join the Traditional Chinese Medicine Association and diligently followed her grandfather in learning.
However, even with her grandfather’s backing…
She still hadn’t been able to join the Traditional Chinese Medicine Association.
This was because the Traditional Chinese Medicine Association consisted of genuinely skilled practitioners who had to pass numerous tests and undergo reviews before they could be admitted.
Her abilities were not yet sufficient.
Thanks to her grandfather, this was her third time seeing President Zhan.
If she could catch President Zhan’s eye and become his disciple, then she… would very likely become the future president of the Traditional Chinese Medicine Association!
Lu Manqin was extremely nervous, wanting to leave a good impression on President Zhan.
However, President Zhan seemed to have completely ignored her presence.
He directly passed by her.
Just like her grandfather’s expression moments ago, he walked towards Ming Zheng with excitement, bowed respectfully to Ming Zheng.
“Miss Ming Zheng, you’ve waited a long time.” Zhan He’an’s tone was full of apology.
Then he saw Elder Lu standing nearby and said with a smile, “So Elder Lu specially came to pick you up.”
Elder Lu was a bit embarrassed, his old face flushed red. He lowered his head and said with some shyness, “It’s my granddaughter. While waiting for me, she had some conflict with Miss Ming Zheng…”
Zhan He’an narrowed his eyes and said with an ambiguous tone, “Oh?”
His gaze followed Elder Lu’s line of sight and landed on Lu Manqin.
Lu Manqin’s body stiffened. Her tear-stained, red eyes were staring at Zhan He’an and Ming Zheng with disbelief.
She looked as if she had gone mad.
Was it her who had gone mad?
Or was it this world that had gone mad?
Why was it not just her grandfather who was treating Ming Zheng politely?
Even the President Zhan, whom she deeply admired, whom everyone in all directions treated with utmost respect and deference, was also… so polite to Ming Zheng?
Moreover, when he saw Ming Zheng…
His face showed expressions of excitement, eagerness, and warmth.
It was as if he had been waiting for Ming Zheng for a long time, and if Ming Zheng hadn’t forbidden it, he would have wanted to personally escort Ming Zheng here.
Even if Ming Zheng was a legendary figure in the music industry.
But… but, her identity had nothing to do with the medical world!
“President Zhan, it… it’s this slut…”
Before she could finish speaking, Lu Manqin was glared at fiercely by her grandfather.
Unwilling, yet fearful, she changed her words, “It’s this woman… She hit me at the entrance of the main hall…”
“Presumptuous!”
President Zhan, who had always been amiable in Lu Manqin’s memory, now put on a stern face and reprimanded her sharply.
His eyes, imposing and cold, bore down on Lu Manqin: “Miss Ming Zheng is not one to cause trouble, nor would she attack someone for no reason.”
“If you insist on slandering Miss Ming Zheng, I wouldn’t mind retrieving the surveillance footage from the entrance of the Traditional Chinese Medicine Association’s main hall and handing it over to the police for them to determine who is in the right.”
Lu Manqin’s face turned even paler. She hadn’t expected President Zhan to protect Ming Zheng so fiercely.
The emotions in her eyes were extremely awkward, “But, but I’m injured… This is a fact…”
“If you actively provoked Miss Ming Zheng and caused trouble, then Miss Ming Zheng hitting you is justifiable,” President Zhan’s gaze grew colder as he looked at her. “In the Traditional Chinese Medicine Association, Miss Ming Zheng can do as she pleases.”
“Any consequences will be borne by the Traditional Chinese Medicine Association.”
Zhan He’an’s words, each one like a slap, landed on Lu Manqin’s face.
Her reddened eyes flickered with madness and unbelievable unwillingness, “Why? President Zhan, why?”
“I have studied Traditional Chinese Medicine under my grandfather since childhood, recognizing countless herbs, and I have strived to follow your example.”
“However, no matter how hard I try, I can’t get your attention! I can’t even cross the threshold of the Traditional Chinese Medicine Association!”
Lu Manqin said this, her voice cracking as she began to cry heartbrokenly.
She raised her hand, pointing at Ming Zheng, her voice filled with immense dissatisfaction, “She, Ming Zheng, is just a country girl from some remote village.”
“Even her own family would rather have an adopted daughter than her!”
“Why should such a person receive your attention? Receive your protection?”
“I don’t understand! I’m not convinced!”
Lu Manqin, almost screaming, let out all her pent-up anger and unwillingness.
“Xiao Qin!” Elder Lu couldn’t help but reprimand her sharply, stepping forward to grab his granddaughter and lead her away.