"I apologize, Doctor Gu, for making you both make an extra trip."
As the group walked out of the villa's main gate, the fragrance of flowers planted along the pathway helped to mask the faint, foul odor that clung to them.
"President Ouyang, there's no need for politeness. Whoever can cure your daughter's illness is a good thing, and we are happy for it," Gu Yuanbai said to Ouyang Zhixin.
Ouyang Zhixin nodded, then turned to look at Wan Yunting. His expression was impassive, but his eyes held a gentle warmth as he said, "Please, come in and sit in the living room with me for a while."
Wan Yunting exchanged a glance with Gu Yuanbai. Since the Sima family father and son were already attending to Ouyang Zhixin's daughter, there was no need for them to stay any longer. He shook his head and said, "No thank you, President Ouyang. We have other matters to attend to, so we must take our leave."
Seeing that he wouldn't linger, a trace of unspoken disappointment flickered in Ouyang Zhixin's eyes as he nodded.
Wan Yunting and Gu Yuanbai nodded slightly at him, said nothing more, and with Gu Sinuo and Gu Zichen, headed towards the villa's front gate...
"Uncle, if there's nothing else, I'll be going too," Ouyang Liqun said to Ouyang Zhixin at this moment, then followed Wan Yunting and their group.
Standing at his daughter's villa entrance, Ouyang Zhixin's gaze remained fixed on Wan Yunting's retreating back. The inexplicable emotion within him grew stronger, as if he was certain this young man was indeed his long-lost son.
"Cousin, what's wrong?" Ouyang Zhihui approached and asked him.
Ouyang Zhixin, agitated, pointed at Wan Yunting's retreating figure. "Zhihui, doesn't that young man resemble my lost son?"
His words stunned Ouyang Zhihui. He saw Wan Yunting's figure, and as they turned the corner and disappeared from their sight, he said, "Cousin, you think that young man named Wan Yunting is your son from years ago?"
"Yes."
Ouyang Zhixin, his voice filled with emotion, turned to him. "I don't know why, but when I saw him, I had an inexplicable intuition that he might be my lost son!"
Ouyang Zhihui raised an eyebrow and recalled the moment Ouyang Zhixin and Wan Yunting had met eyes earlier, noticing a striking resemblance between them. He had felt it at the time, and now, seeing Ouyang Zhixin so certain, he couldn't help but feel excited. "Cousin, if that Wan Yunting is truly your lost son, it would be wonderful. This would be not only great for you but also a monumental event for our entire Ouyang family!"
The feeling growing stronger, Ouyang Zhixin immediately took out his phone to make a call. After a moment, someone answered, and he said, "Zhishang, where are you?"
A man's voice replied from the other end, "President Ouyang, we are in Shenzhen City in the south."
"Put down whatever you are doing and immediately go to Huadu City to investigate Wan Yunting's identity. Also, send people to investigate all the welfare homes and orphanages in Huadu City to see if there's anything related to Wan Yunting!" Ouyang Zhixin said excitedly.
If Wan Yunting were his lost son, he would surely have connections to the welfare homes or orphanages in Huadu City. Investigating through this clue would be much faster.
Ouyang Zhihui, standing beside him, seemed to recall something. "Cousin, Huadu City recently held a charity auction, and Wan Yunting attended. He wrote two pieces of calligraphy, one of which was auctioned for an astonishing 450 million yuan. You should ask Zhishang to start from this matter, which can directly investigate which charity organization Wan Yunting is affiliated with!"
Ouyang Zhixin was astonished to hear that Wan Yunting's calligraphy had fetched such a sky-high price of 450 million yuan.
Snapping back to reality, he instructed He Zhishang to start investigating Wan Yunting's background from the Huadu City charity auction to see if he was his lost son from years ago...
Meanwhile, Gu Yuanbai, walking in the front yard of Ouyang Zhixin's villa, turned to Wan Yunting and asked, "Little Wan, do you know that Ouyang Zhixin?"
"No, I don't."
Wan Yunting shook his head and said, "It's the first time I've met him."
"Oh," Gu Yuanbai looked at him. "But why did his expression and words just now seem as if he knew you?"
Wan Yunting rubbed his nose, recalling Ouyang Zhixin's gaze and the questions about his age and birthday. It was indeed a bit abrupt to outsiders. Wan Yunting himself found it strange, especially that inexplicable feeling within him. He also felt as if he knew Ouyang Zhixin, a sense of familiarity mixed with unfamiliarity.
"I don't know, but I truly met him for the first time," Wan Yunting shrugged.
Gu Yuanbai was about to say something when Ouyang Liqun's voice called from behind, "Mr. Wan, please wait!"
Wan Yunting stopped and turned around. Gu Yuanbai, Gu Sinuo, and Gu Zichen also turned to see Ouyang Liqun approaching quickly. He smiled and said, "I'm truly sorry that we couldn't arrange for you to treat my cousin, Fanmeng."
Facing the imposing Ouyang Liqun, Wan Yunting suspected he was the true mastermind behind the "Dragon Gang" drug trafficking ring, but he had no proof yet.
Therefore, Wan Yunting maintained his usual composure and shook his head at Ouyang Liqun. "You are too kind. It's our medical etiquette; two doctors cannot treat the same patient simultaneously, as it can lead to conflicts."
Ouyang Liqun nodded and looked at Wan Yunting with a smile. "Do you know me, Mr. Wan?"
Wan Yunting shook his head slightly. Ouyang Liqun smiled and extended his hand. "My name is Ouyang Liqun. Ouyang Zhixin is my uncle."
"Hello." Wan Yunting also shook his hand, and they released. Ouyang Liqun smiled and said, "Mr. Wan may not know me, but I know you. Huadu City awarded you the title of 'Hero of Drug Enforcement' for the people of Huadu City, and your efforts in organizing a medical rescue team to aid the disaster-stricken area in Lingyun County, Jiang Province, spread widely online.
"Also, at your recent Huadu City charity auction, one of your wild cursive calligraphy pieces was auctioned for an astronomical 450 million yuan, causing a sensation across the Chinese art world overnight. Your name is now known to everyone."
As Ouyang Liqun recounted his achievements one by one, Wan Yunting became suspicious. Why was he so interested in his affairs?
Ouyang Liqun smiled and said, "Mr. Wan, I've actually admired your calligraphy for a long time. I had an urgent matter and couldn't attend that charity auction, which is a great regret. I wonder if I'll have the opportunity to collect a piece of your treasured work in the future?"
Wan Yunting nodded. If he were a calligraphy enthusiast researching his achievements, the logic would make sense.
However, he still felt a bit strange. He had intended to find an opportunity to approach Ouyang Liqun himself, but unexpectedly, Ouyang Liqun had taken the initiative!
"It would be my honor."
Wan Yunting smiled and took out his phone. "How about this, let's add each other on WeChat, and when we have the chance, we can discuss calligraphy together?"
"Certainly."
Ouyang Liqun also immediately took out his phone. They added each other on WeChat and confirmed. He smiled at Wan Yunting and said, "Then, Mr. Wan, we'll be in touch later."
"Alright, goodbye."
Wan Yunting put away his phone, smiled and nodded at him, then called Gu Yuanbai and the others, continuing towards the villa's yard gate, and left by car driven by Gu Zichen.
Ouyang Liqun stood by the gate, squinting as he watched Wan Yunting and his group leave. In the car, he glanced back at Ouyang Liqun standing at the entrance. Gu Yuanbai, sitting beside him, asked curiously, "Little Wan, what is your relationship with this Ouyang family?"
His question also made the driving Gu Zichen and the silent Gu Sinuo in the passenger seat curious. They somehow felt that Wan Yunting and the Ouyang family members knew each other.
Wan Yunting withdrew his gaze and smiled at Gu Yuanbai and the others, shaking his head. "Elder Gu, I truly met the Ouyang family for the first time. However, regarding that person named Ouyang Liqun just now, I've known him for a long time!"
This made Gu Yuanbai and Gu Zichen even more puzzled, saying, "It feels like there's something strange between you and him!"
Wan Yunting waved his hand and said, "It's complicated to explain this to you right now, and it's not very convenient to discuss. Elder Gu, please forgive me."
"It's alright, if it's not convenient to talk about, then don't," Gu Yuanbai said with a smile, waving his hand in understanding.
Gu Sinuo, sitting in the passenger seat, remained silent, seemingly uninterested in these matters. She changed the subject and said, "The appearance of Sima Wentang and his son. If they cure the patient, this will be detrimental to you!"
Wan Yunting and Gu Yuanbai raised their eyebrows simultaneously and sighed, "Yes, if Sima Wentang and his son manage to cure this patient, it will have a significant impact on the traditional Chinese medicine community in the capital. It will also be disadvantageous to us at the National Traditional Chinese Medicine Conference."
Wan Yunting seemed to recall something and said, "Right, Zichen, Sima Wentang's son, Sima Xuanyu, do you know anything about him?"
The driving Gu Zichen shook his head and said, "Sima Xuanyu, I heard before that he was a genius and was rumored to be the future heir of the Sima family. However, he seems to have been abroad for the past seven or eight years and rarely returned to the capital, so we don't really know much about him."
"Yes, I've heard that too."
Gu Yuanbai also added, "Sima Boyong dotes on this grandson of his. He probably wants to groom him as his successor."
Wan Yunting nodded. Although he had only met Sima Xuanyu today, his first impression was that he was not simple!