Chapter 173: Chapter 166: Engagement Without Knowing Who You’re Engaged To!
What constitutes an advanced hospital room? Naturally, it has a private bathroom, which in this case is more like a lavish bathing room, even more upscale than those found in some average homes, spanning over a dozen square meters. This made it convenient for Xia Xue to apply the medication Xiao Lin brought on Niu Niu’s mother.
During this time, Chen Feng took the opportunity to eagerly ask about emergency treatment and the Divine Needle of Jiulong. Xiao Lin was very open and thorough in his explanations, and he appreciated Chen Feng’s willingness to learn from a young person. Previously, he hadn’t noticed this admirable quality in him.
Xiao Lin holds a PhD from Harvard Medical School and is considered a mentor to Chen Feng in both emergency treatments and the Divine Needle of Jiulong. As Xiao Lin easily answered each daunting question, Chen Feng couldn’t help but admire this young man’s prowess.
The two of them were engrossed in a delightful and engaging medical conversation for over half an hour. It was only then that Chen Feng remembered the patient inside and asked, "Why haven’t they come out yet? Is there a problem?"
"It won’t be quick. If Director Chen has other things to attend to, you can leave. I’m capable of handling things here," replied Xiao Lin, understanding the situation. Although he enjoyed the chat, he could tell Chen Feng was eager to depart.
Chen Feng pondered for a moment, then smiled and said, "I’ll take my leave then. If there’s anything I can help with, just call me!" After exchanging a few polite words, Chen Feng left first.
After Niu Niu’s mother applied the medication, it needed to fully penetrate her skin before Xiao Lin could use the needles. It would take at least twenty-four hours to fully absorb, meaning it wouldn’t be until tomorrow night when the medication takes effect that Xiao Lin could perform the Divine Needle technique on her.
However, there hadn’t been many opportunities for intimacy with Xia Xue lately, as things kept coming up. Today was relatively free, so he waited to finish helping Niu Niu’s mom before heading back to where they were staying together.
If it weren’t for these distractions, Xiao Lin probably wouldn’t have been able to hold back long ago.
Waiting alone in the small lounge outside the hospital room, Xiao Lin idly flipped through TV channels with the remote, not knowing what to watch; the only thing that piqued his interest was the news.
"We just received breaking news: Multiple cities in Jingliang Province have experienced an outbreak of the HTC4 variant virus, but it has been rapidly controlled by an expert team. Currently, there are no casualties. The antibody development for the HTC4 variant virus is in its final stages, with a breakthrough expected shortly!"
Xiao Lin lingered on this news broadcast, but after this brief update, there was no further news about the variant virus. The information from the alert made Xiao Lin increasingly concerned. Although the news suggested they were in the final stages, seemingly just a step away from completion, Xiao Lin knew that the expert team was actually confused. They hadn’t even fully understood the formation of the variant virus, let alone developed an antibody.
Xiao Lin continued flipping through the channels aimlessly. He checked the time, realizing it had been almost an hour. Xia Xue should be nearly done by now. Her voice came from the bathroom in the hospital room: "Xiao Lin, should I put some on my face?"
"Yes! I said to cover everything except the eyeballs, mouth, and nostrils. Even the scalp!" Xiao Lin shouted back. This wasn’t ordinary ointment. If Niu Niu’s mother absorbed it all, Xiao Lin would have greater confidence in healing her. Moreover, it would make employing the Divine Needle within her body more seamless.
Because this was a private advanced hospital room, unlike ordinary rooms, the door wasn’t left open, and entering or exiting required knocking. After footsteps ceased outside, there was a knocking on the door.
The knocking was neither urgent nor slow, yet it was quite loud, indicating the visitor was no ordinary person. From the sound alone, it was clear the person had some status.
Xiao Lin got up to open the door. However, upon seeing the middle-aged man standing there, he froze for a moment, unsure how to address him, as if his mind went blank.
The middle-aged man was none other than Xia Xue’s father, Xia Yusheng. Although his expression remained stern, there was a faint smile on his face as he looked at Xiao Lin.
"What’s the matter, not inviting me in to sit for a bit?" Xia Yusheng’s steady voice came through, his tone treating him as an equal rather than a junior or prospective son-in-law.
Xiao Lin snapped back to reality, and suddenly didn’t know how to handle this. If Xia Yusheng came with a fierce attitude, demanding accountability, Xiao Lin, by nature, would not have obliged. But with this serious demeanor, tinged with a slight smile, it felt more like a father-in-law meeting a son-in-law, carrying some authority.
After all, Xiao Lin did have a relationship with Xia Xue. In front of her father, especially one taking this stance, Xiao Lin felt somewhat guilty. As soon as he heard Xia Yusheng speak, he composed himself and somewhat awkwardly said, "Uncle Xia, please come in!" Meanwhile, he pondered why Xia Yusheng had come to the hospital looking for Xia Xue. Was he planning to take her home?
Thinking of how tomorrow was Elder Xia’s birthday, according to the Xia Family’s plans, it was also the date of Xia Xue and Fatty Wang’s engagement. Without Xiao Lin, Xia Xue would probably be at the Xia Family residence trying on engagement dresses or the like now.
Xia Yusheng nodded in satisfaction, secretly relieved. Although he wasn’t aware of Xiao Lin’s personal background, he could be sure it was very intimidating. Yet, in front of him, Xiao Lin didn’t display an arrogant attitude. Instead, he acted nervously, like a young man meeting his prospective father-in-law for the first time, and subsequently calmed himself quickly, courteously inviting him inside without showing any servility.
"You all wait here at the door," Xia Yusheng said softly to the four bodyguards by his side. One of them seemed to hesitate slightly but then stood quietly on either side of the door.
Xia Yusheng entered the small lounge and casually closed the door. His demeanor was quite relaxed. He looked toward the hospital room but didn’t see anyone and frowned slightly, "Where’s Xiaoxue? Isn’t she here?"
Xia Yusheng’s intention was clear, making Xiao Lin even more steady. If Xia Yusheng wanted to take Xia Xue away now, Xiao Lin wasn’t sure what he would do. Upon hearing the question, he answered truthfully, "Xiaoxue is helping the patient bathe. She should be finishing up soon."
Xia Yusheng nodded and, without needing an invitation, sat down on the sofa, exuding an air of authority. Xiao Lin stood by and watched him.
Xia Yusheng smiled slightly, saying, "I presume you know that tomorrow is Xia Xue’s grandfather’s birthday. The Xia Family has unanimously agreed that Xia Xue should marry into the Wang Family with Fatty Wang, and that’s her grandfather’s wish too. Tomorrow is both her grandfather’s birthday and her engagement day with Fatty Wang. I’m here to take Xia Xue back."
Although Xiao Lin had anticipated Xia Yusheng’s intent, hearing him confirm it still left him dissatisfied. He finally had a chance for intimacy with Xia Xue tonight, but her father came to take her away. He couldn’t possibly say, "I’ve only been with your daughter once, and the recent busyness left us with no time for intimacy."
"You should ask Xiaoxue directly when she comes out. I have no right to make decisions for her," Xiao Lin replied.
Xia Yusheng showed no signs of anger. He calmly said, "Actually, I’m here to ask you a favor, to help persuade Xiaoxue to return."
"Persuade Xiaoxue to return?" Xiao Lin smirked. "Convince the woman I love to get engaged to another man? Is that what you want from me?" Even a clay figure would have temperament, let alone Xiao Lin. It was simply because it was Xia Yusheng himself who came over, otherwise, if it had been any of the other Xia family uncles or cousins, Xiao Lin wouldn’t even bother talking to them.
"Young man, no need to be rash!" Xia Yusheng didn’t get angry at Xiao Lin’s attitude. His expression remained calm as if he expected Xiao Lin to get mad. He continued, "Indeed, I came to take Xiaoxue back to prepare for her grandfather’s birthday and engagement. However, regarding who she will be engaged to, there’s still room for negotiation." His words were quite clear. It was evident that, following the Jiangling incident, in Yanjing’s upper society, besides the Hua family, only Xia Yusheng seemed to know the most about the potential of the young doctor who had just joined the university hospital.
"Alright, I’ll help persuade her to return," Xiao Lin replied without hesitation, a hint of a smile on his face. This future father-in-law was an old fox too. (To be continued. If you like this work, please visit Qidian () to vote with recommendations and monthly tickets. Your support is my biggest motivation.)