Chapter 22: Without the Tang Family, I Live Better

“You’re still eating here, smiling so happily. Everyone at home is suffering because of you, and you don’t even feel guilty?” Tang Jie questioned Tang Xiao.

Her voice wasn’t loud—she couldn’t afford to make a scene in such a place.

This was a restaurant filled with wealthy people, and no one would tolerate his behavior.

Su Lengdie crossed her arms, standing behind Tang Jie, ready to back up her best friend.

Tang Xiao frowned.

What bad luck, running into her here.

“No, I don’t feel guilty,” Tang Xiao answered coldly. “If you’re not happy, what does that have to do with me?”

His tone was filled with irritation.

“You!” Tang Jie was enraged.

Su Lengdie spoke up, “Tang Xiao, she’s your sister, you should speak more respectfully.”

“Once the relationship is cut off, she’s no longer my sister.”

Su Lengdie was taken aback, but she still fought back, “Even if the relationship is severed, she’s still your sister. You share the same blood!”

Those words hit a nerve with Tang Xiao.

Yes, because I have the Tang family blood, I endured two years of mistreatment from you all.

Because of that blood, I was abused for two years and left to die like trash.

What did the Tang family blood bring me? Only pain.

But Tang Xiao’s emotions were stable. He wouldn’t lose control again.

When a person’s heart is dead, their emotions become incredibly stable.

No, it was more like indifference.

Tang Xiao replied, “Is the Tang family bloodline so noble? I hate that blood in me. It disgusts me.”

“Tang Xiao! You!” Tang Jie was livid.

Her family’s status was her greatest pride, and hearing Tang Xiao insult it like this was unbearable.

“Tang Xiao! Apologize to Jie and take back what you just said!” Su Lengdie demanded.

Beside them, Xin Ling had been observing quietly.

Xin Ling spoke up, “Apologize? Tang Xiao was mistreated at your house for two years. Did you ever apologize?”

“Don’t speak nonsense. Who bullied him?” Tang Jie retorted.

Xin Ling sneered. “He stayed at your house, grew thin and weak, lived in misery and suffering. After leaving, he gained weight, improved mentally, and even ranked first in his class. He’s doing better without the Tang family—how do you explain that?”

Indeed, how could they explain it?

Without the Tang family, Tang Xiao was living better, which only proved that his life was better without them.

Tang Jie and Su Lengdie were left speechless. “This…”

Xin Ling noticed that Tang Xiao was getting impatient and seemed about to ask them to leave.

But just then, the sound of a chair toppling over echoed through the restaurant.

“Who! Who can help! Our boss fainted! Please call an ambulance!” A man shouted in panic.

Everyone looked over to see a middle-aged man in his forties or fifties lying on the ground, his body convulsing, his face red and swollen.

The young man who had called for help was in his twenties. He was holding the middle-aged man’s hand, frantically looking around for help.

At that moment, a stunning woman in her thirties walked in from the back of the restaurant.

The woman wore dazzling silver earrings and a necklace.

She was the owner of Jianhu Xuan, Lan Xin.

“I’ve already called an ambulance. Everyone, please don’t crowd around or block the way. Xiao Li, open the window and let some air in,” Lan Xin instructed calmly, taking charge of the situation.

She quickly directed the staff to manage the scene.

As the owner of Jianhu Xuan, Lan Xin was someone with authority and knew how to handle such situations.

“Xiao Cheng, don’t worry. Mr. Fan will be fine,” Lan Xin reassured the young man.

The man lying on the ground was Mr. Fan, and Xiao Cheng was his companion—the one who had been shouting for help.

Mr. Fan and Xiao Cheng were regular customers of the restaurant, and Lan Xin knew them well.

Xiao Cheng was on the verge of tears. “Lanjie, we were eating, and suddenly Mr. Fan started convulsing and passed out. How long will the ambulance take? His condition looks really bad.”

Mr. Fan’s face was extremely swollen, and his eyes were rolling back. His breathing was shallow and labored. It was clear that his condition was critical.

“Don’t worry, panicking won’t help.”

Lan Xin didn’t have an answer. The calmness on her face was partly an act.

She was actually quite anxious.

Mr. Fan wasn’t an insignificant person. If something were to happen to him in her restaurant, she wouldn’t be able to continue running it.

Lan Xin said, “Let’s help him up and move him to the sofa. The floor is too cold.”

“Yes, yes, let’s help,” the others agreed.

Just as they were about to lift Mr. Fan and place him on the sofa, an untimely voice interrupted.

“If you don’t want him to die, don’t touch him!” Tang Xiao said sharply.

Everyone was startled and turned to look at him.

Tang Jie and Su Lengdie were dumbfounded.

Tang Jie tugged at Tang Xiao’s sleeve and whispered, “Tang Xiao, you don’t understand, don’t say nonsense. Don’t make things worse!”

Xin Ling blinked and also looked at Tang Xiao. She knew that Tang Xiao had some knowledge of traditional medicine.

She had experienced Tang Xiao’s massage techniques, and they were impressive.

But whether his medical skills were sufficient to treat someone in a critical condition, she wasn’t sure.

For some reason, Xin Ling felt an inexplicable hope. She believed Tang Xiao might actually be able to help!

Was it trust from an older sister to a younger brother? Xin Ling herself wasn’t certain.

Everyone else was also looking at Tang Xiao.

“Who’s this guy? Don’t recognize him. But he is quite handsome.”

“So young, probably some rich second-generation heir.”

“These rich heirs love to show off. At a life-and-death moment like this, they still want to be in the spotlight.”

Tang Xiao’s youth and handsome appearance made it easy for people to underestimate him.

Lan Xin furrowed her brows but still asked patiently, “Sir, do you know how to perform first aid?”

“Just a little.”

Tang Xiao walked over and squatted down.

He checked Mr. Fan’s pulse, listened to his heartbeat, and lifted his eyelid to examine his condition.

After confirming, he said, “He’s suffering from acute cardiovascular spasm and blockage, which has caused dangerously high blood pressure and fainting. If you move him, his blood vessels will rupture, and he’ll die instantly.”

Everyone exchanged confused glances. They understood each word Tang Xiao said, but together, it made no sense to them.

Seeing that Tang Xiao sounded so confident, Xiao Cheng quickly asked, “Young man, how serious is this condition?”

“It’s not too serious. He can still live for about ten minutes.”

“Uh…”

Everyone sucked in a sharp breath.

He can still live for ten minutes, and you’re calling that not serious? Is he even human?

Xiao Cheng was about to get angry.

At such a critical moment, how could he joke?

But what Tang Xiao meant was that ten minutes was enough for first aid.

Tang Xiao began massaging Mr. Fan.

He started with the head, then moved to the neck artery and thigh, adjusting Mr. Fan’s posture along the way.

Tang Xiao’s movements were practiced.

He had performed these techniques many times—on his grandmother, Gu Weiguo, and even himself.

After completing the sequence, it was immediately noticeable that Mr. Fan’s swollen face had become less red and puffy.

Xiao Cheng was thrilled. “Wow, young man, you’re amazing! Mr. Fan is already looking much better.”

Tang Xiao nodded. “There’s some improvement. He can survive for another twenty minutes now.”

“Uh…”

Tang Xiao was blunt, but some of the onlookers thought he was showing off.

If they hadn’t seen that he seemed to actually know what he was doing, Xiao Cheng might have punched him by now.

Then, Tang Xiao took out a set of acupuncture needles and began performing acupuncture.

The needles were thin, but Tang Xiao’s movements were smooth—he pinpointed and inserted the needles with light precision.

Everyone was tense, holding their breath so as not to disturb him.

Even Tang Jie and Su Lengdie were gripping each other’s hands in nervousness.

After a few needles, the blood swelling in Mr. Fan’s face subsided, and his breathing became stronger.

Tang Xiao pulled out the needles and wiped the sweat from his forehead.

He said, “There’s no problem now…”