Chapter 14 – Asking Sheng Qiye for Help Again

Sheng Qiye’s tone was cool and distant.
“You seem rather free these days?”

Leng Xiao froze. He had only spoken up because Sheng Qiye didn’t seem to mind Su Rong’s physical closeness last night. Besides, they had all had some contact with her these past few days. He slapped his mouth lightly and muttered,
“I was meddling.”

Sheng Qiye returned to his desk, sat down, and after a moment of silence, asked,
“Where did she go?”

Didn’t he say he didn’t want to mind her business?
“I’m not sure,” Leng Xiao answered carefully, then asked,
“Should I…check?”

Sheng Qiye didn’t reply, only shifted his gaze to the computer screen.

A dozen minutes later, Leng Xiao came back, having tracked Su Rong’s car.
“Su Rong drove north early this morning, should be heading toward Phoenix Mountain. Isn’t her hand injured? Do you think she’s gone to see the miracle doctor Hua?”

A flicker of surprise flashed in Sheng Qiye’s eyes.
“She knows about Doctor Hua? And that he’s at Phoenix Mountain?”

Leng Xiao explained,
“I only know her general whereabouts, not exactly if she went there.”

Sheng Qiye fixed his gaze on him.
“I’ll check right away,” Leng Xiao said hastily.

He called Zhang Shuo. Sheng Qiye had some acquaintance with Hua Tuo, and last time, the medicine he bought for Master Shen had been sent by Zhang Shuo.

“Mr. Zhang said two girls did come looking for Doctor Hua. One of them was indeed Su Rong. But Doctor Hua refused to see them—they’re still standing outside the villa.”

Sheng Qiye frowned.
“How would Su Rong know about Doctor Hua? She’s only been out of prison for a few days.”

Leng Xiao was just as curious.
“Could it be Miss Liu Xu or Madam Su who told her? After all, both the Liu family and the Su family are powerful and well-connected.”

Sheng Qiye shook his head.
“Doctor Hua doesn’t associate with many people in the capital. The Su and Liu families may not know his whereabouts. Hua Tuo is an eccentric man—if he says he won’t take a patient, then he won’t. Even if Su Rong waits there for half a month, it’ll be useless.”

“Should we…help her?” Leng Xiao asked cautiously.

Sheng Qiye’s interest was piqued.
“Leave her be. I want to see if she can make Hua Tuo break his rules for her.”

Night fell, the rain had stopped, and the ground was damp. Droplets fell from the leaves now and then, sliding down her collar, chilling her to the bone.

Liu Xu received a call from home—an urgent matter forced her to leave, but she was worried about Su Rong.
“Rongrong, why don’t we just go back first?”

Su Rong comforted her.
“You go on ahead. I’ll wait a bit longer. Maybe seeing me all alone here will soften his heart. If not, I’ll just book a car home later.”

“Alright, but promise me you’ll take care of your health. Don’t push yourself, understand?”

Leaving her an umbrella and some food, Liu Xu drove off.

The night breeze was cool. Su Rong wrapped her coat tighter, eyes fixed on the villa’s lights. Compared to prison, this little hardship was nothing.

Prison nights had been like a savage beast, like an endless black hole threatening to swallow her whole.

The stabbing pain in her wrist made her body ache, but only hardened her resolve to seek treatment.

The ground was too wet to sit, so she paced back and forth at the villa’s entrance, standing until her back and waist ached. But she couldn’t leave.

At last, the villa door opened again.

Zhang Shuo, having noticed her waiting from upstairs and recalling Leng Xiao’s call, stepped out to speak.
“Go back. Mr. Hua won’t see patients right now. Maybe try again another time.”

Su Rong bowed deeply.
“If Doctor Hua refuses to treat me, I won’t leave. Please, sir, make an exception.”

Zhang Shuo sighed, shook his head, and went back inside. He couldn’t really let her wait there all night, could he?

She thought he had gone to speak with Hua Tuo. Instead, minutes later, security guards came. They dragged her out of the complex and warned her not to harass the residents again.

Su Rong’s whole body turned cold. Along with her dignity, her last shred of hope was trampled. The bruises and stabbing pain on her wrist filled her with unbearable sorrow.

Tears slipped down her cheeks—she hadn’t cried in a long time. Still, she didn’t break down sobbing.

Her phone rang. It was Liu Xu, asking how things had gone. Su Rong didn’t want her to worry, so she said she’d already taken a cab home, and would think of another way another day.

After hanging up, she walked aimlessly down the street.

Zhang Shuo’s words—“try again later”—were vague. How long was “later”? Hua Tuo refused to see her, and she couldn’t force it.

Even the message she carried from Li Nan had been useless. This wasn’t something her persistence or willpower alone could change.

Eventually, she ordered a ride back to the Su residence. By the time she arrived, it was past midnight.

She took out the medicine Sheng Qiye had given her, swallowed one pill, and applied some to her injuries, especially her left wrist.

As she sniffed it carefully, a memory struck her. She had smelled this exact scent earlier in the evening—on Zhang Shuo. He must have just applied the same medicine!

As a child, she had been frail and spent time with an old Chinese doctor. From then on, she had a sharp nose for herbal scents and could identify many ingredients. The old doctor had once joked about taking her as an apprentice, but her family brought her back home for school.

If Zhang Shuo, who was close to the miracle doctor, used this medicine, it was very likely Hua Tuo’s own formula. Which meant—Sheng Qiye knew Doctor Hua!

Her heart leapt with excitement, then sank again. Why did it always come back to Sheng Qiye? She truly didn’t want to trouble him. He didn’t owe her anything anymore—helping him win that ruby had already gotten her into the Ladies’ Society.

But this might be her only chance to meet the miracle doctor.

The next morning, Liu Xu came. After Su Rong explained her thoughts, Liu Xu drove her straight to Shengshi Group to find Sheng Qiye.

Downstairs, Su Rong hesitated. She and Sheng Qiye had no real connection—wasn’t it inappropriate to suddenly barge in asking for help? She might not even get to see him.

“You’re right,” Liu Xu said. “If you’re asking for help, you should at least bring a gift.”

The matter was urgent. There weren’t any formal rough-stone auctions these days, but there was one place where she might find something Sheng Qiye wanted and could accept from her.

“The black market.”

“What?” Liu Xu exclaimed. “What if Sheng Qiye doesn’t even know Doctor Hua? That place is dangerous, full of shady people.”

Su Rong’s wrist throbbed again.

If she wanted to rise again, she first had to heal her hand. Even if Sheng Qiye didn’t know Hua Tuo, his power and connections would make it far easier for him to reach the doctor than for her.

So she had to show her sincerity first.

As for danger—after three years in prison, she no longer knew what fear was.