Chapter 85: Hero Saves the Beauty

The security guards immediately moved to subdue the two unruly women causing a scene.

At that moment, Zhu Caixia’s husband, father-in-law, and two other male relatives exchanged glances and pushed their way through the crowd with grim expressions.

They had been silently observing their family women’s antics without intervening until now, but finally, they stepped forward.

These four men, clearly rough and rugged villagers, wore stormy faces, each holding some sort of implement.

“What’s this? A bunch of city folk think they can bully us country bumpkins?” Zhu Caixia’s father-in-law growled, his face dark and menacing.

The surrounding crowd immediately fell silent and moved back, not wanting to get involved.

“My eldest grandson is gone, and you’ve drained our family dry! What kind of sham hospital is this? Taking money without doing your job! How dare you refuse to compensate us? No wonder the old man gave you a piece of his mind!”

“Zhuzi, did you hear him call us scoundrels? Let’s go! Time to deal with that quack doctor!”

Zhu Caixia’s husband, a simple and brutish man, swung the half-brick he had picked up from who knows where and charged straight at Song Heng with a roar.

“Father!” Song Wanran’s face changed, and she instinctively moved to shield her father.

Everything happened in a blur.

The pain she anticipated never came. Instead, a tall and lean figure stood firmly in front of her!

“Ah—”

Song Wanran squeezed her eyes shut in fear.

When she opened them again, shocked, the person shielding her was groaning slightly, swaying from the blow.

He held her shoulders protectively, his gentle, scholarly face tilting toward her with a reassuring look.

“Are you okay?” he asked urgently.

Song Wanran was stunned. She stared at him with wide eyes, unable to process what had just happened. “You… Why is it you?”

It was the young man who had helped her twice already today.

What were the chances?

He had come to her rescue a third time.

“You… Are you hurt?!” Song Wanran snapped out of her daze and inspected him worriedly.

The half-brick in Zhu Caixia’s husband’s hand had struck Wei Tianhong squarely on the back.

He froze, dumbfounded at the sudden arrival of this figure. Wait… Wasn’t this his estranged uncle?

Zhu Caixia was the first to recover, exclaiming, “Tianhong?!”

Wei Tianhong’s back ached, but seeing the concern on the normally cold and composed woman’s face, he withdrew his hands from her shoulders, adjusted his glasses, and reassured her softly, “I’m fine.”

Zhu Caixia’s family was equally shocked.

Was this really their uncle? Wasn’t he here to visit his sister in the hospital? How had he ended up taking a blow meant for the quack doctor and his family?

What was going on?

Xia Li, standing among the onlookers, was just as dumbfounded.

Wow! This was straight out of a TV drama!

Wei Tianhong’s quick reflexes, his noble demeanor, his firm stance as he shielded Song Wanran from the flying brick—every moment was pure perfection.

It was an absolutely heroic scene, like something out of an idol drama!

At that moment, Xia Li’s mind clicked into place.

Wait a second… Wasn’t this the iconic meeting scene between the male lead and the female lead in the original storyline?

Yes! The female lead, Song Wanran, was the only daughter of the well-known Dr. Song Heng.

Xia Li recognized her immediately. She was the same young woman who had bought goji berries from her and her brother at the hospital entrance a while back!

It turned out she had already crossed paths with the original female lead back then, though she hadn’t known it at the time.

And now, she had the chance to witness the beginning of the male lead and female lead’s love story.

In the current timeline, the male lead, Wei Tianhong, hadn’t yet started his rise to prominence. Naturally, he hadn’t met the female lead until now. This moment marked the start of their romantic arc.

In the original storyline, Wei Tianhong happened to help Song Wanran twice by chance, leaving a subtle but favorable impression on her.

Today, Song Wanran’s father, Dr. Song, became the target of troublemakers. Wei Tianhong intervened for the third time, shielding Song Wanran from harm and skillfully resolving the situation. This act of heroism melted the ice around Song Wanran’s heart, and she secretly fell for him.

The proud and aloof Song Wanran, with her cool yet passionate personality, naturally captured Wei Tianhong’s attention as well.

From there, the two began a slow and steady courtship.

As the treasured daughter of the Song family, Song Wanran came with connections and status. The Songs took a liking to the capable and ambitious Wei Tianhong and discreetly lent him their support, helping him climb the ranks.

Everyone thought the young couple, with their beauty and talent, was destined for a happy ending.

But things were never that simple—after all, Wei Tianhong was the male lead!

As his career flourished, his charisma only grew. With his sophisticated demeanor and commanding aura, he began attracting attention from countless women.

Among them was the third female lead, Feng Qianru—Song Wanran’s supposedly closest friend.

Feng Qianru had initially looked down on Wei Tianhong for his rural background and lack of wealth, even mocking Song Wanran for her choice. But over time, Feng Qianru found herself drawn to his eloquence and elegance.

Meanwhile, Song Wanran became increasingly possessive and jealous, constantly arguing with Wei Tianhong, much to his frustration.

Seeking solace, he turned to Feng Qianru, and their interactions grew closer.

What ensued was a melodramatic love triangle that turned the two once-best friends into bitter rivals.

The two families, once connected by friendship, fell apart as they became embroiled in the drama.

As for Wei Tianhong, he continued to thrive, benefiting from the resources of both families while blaming the women for their petty squabbles.

Eventually, Song Wanran became pregnant, prompting Wei Tianhong to reluctantly settle down and marry her.

Yet, in secret, his affair with Feng Qianru persisted.

From then on, the female lead tended to the household, while the third female lead accompanied him to social events—a perfect arrangement in his eyes.

That is, until one day, Wei Tianhong met the true female protagonist of the story…

Xia Li quickly recalled the original plot, her gaze growing complicated as she glanced at the “handsome hero” and “beautiful damsel” standing in the distance.

Wow, so behind this romantic encounter was such a dramatic and cliché-filled turn of events!

Wei Tianhong and Song Wanran truly experienced what it meant to have their hearts moved the moment their gazes met.

Earlier, when they crossed paths again at the hospital staircase, Wei Tianhong had already begun to wonder about the identity of this cool and stunning young woman. Little did he know she was the daughter of the renowned doctor Song Heng.

When Wei Tianhong realized the troublemakers causing a scene outside Song Heng’s office were actually the family of his second eldest sister, his initial reaction was disgust. However, an inexplicable intuition struck him, and a sudden flash of inspiration gave him an idea.

Without hesitation, he stepped forward to shield Song Wanran from the incoming brick attack.

Zhu Caixia stood dumbfounded, staring at her brother, who had appeared out of nowhere.

At that moment, the hospital security finally reacted. This group of people had dared to assault Dr. Song—how could they let that slide? The guards quickly subdued them, twisting their arms behind their backs to prevent further violence, preparing to send them to the police station.

“Let me go! The hospital is bullying people! Bullying us!” Zhu Caixia’s mother-in-law screamed as she struggled.

Zhu Caixia, hair disheveled, panicked and called out her brother’s name. “Tianhong! Tianhong, you have status! Speak for us! This quack doctor cost me money and my son! I’m the victim here…”

Song Wanran, who had been worried about the young man in front of her, fearing he was hurt, felt deeply touched. But upon hearing those words, her gaze flickered between the two parties. Surprised, she looked up at him.

“You’re with them? You know them?”

Wei Tianhong gave a helpless and mocking smile. “Yes, we know each other. We’re from the same village, but I can’t understand how they could do such a thing.”

He then turned to Dr. Song with a respectful expression.

“Dr. Song, are you all right? Here’s what I propose. Since I know their family and they’re from a rural area with limited education, they may be stubborn. If you’re willing, I can explain things to them on your behalf. As a doctor, you shouldn’t be delayed from your important work because of this mess.”

Dr. Song, exhausted from the ordeal, looked at him for a moment.

Seeing this young man’s refined demeanor, he assumed he was a friend of his daughter’s and nodded appreciatively. “All right, I’ll leave it to you. Thank you, young man.”

Song Wanran still worried he might get entangled with those troublemakers.

But to everyone’s surprise, Wei Tianhong quickly approached them, asked the guards to release them, and whispered a few words to Zhu Caixia’s father-in-law.

Zhu Caixia’s in-laws exchanged a few words with him, shot a glare in Song Heng’s direction, and then—just like that—left without further drama.

This family of notorious troublemakers, known for their relentless antics, left so abruptly?

The crowd was astonished.

Their perception of Wei Tianhong shifted immediately.

Who was this young man? He had skills!

Song Wanran hurried over, her gaze alight with curiosity and admiration. “What did you say to them?”

Wei Tianhong gave a faint smile, speaking lightly, “Nothing much. I just warned them that if they got taken to the police station, they’d end up with a criminal record, and the public farmland their family depends on would be confiscated.

“Besides, Dr. Song is a well-respected and reputable doctor. They knew they were in the wrong, so they trusted me when I explained.”

His tone was calm and assured, carrying a persuasive charm.

With the troublemakers gone, the situation finally settled.

Yet in the eyes of the onlookers, Wei Tianhong had just delivered a flawless performance of bravery and reasoning, winning admiration from nurses and onlookers alike.

“Wow, this young man is something else!”

“Is he dating Dr. Song’s daughter? He arrived just in time! The way he shielded her earlier was so touching!”

“Why isn’t my boyfriend as heroic and eloquent as him?”

“They look so good together. A perfect match of talent and beauty…”

Wei Tianhong basked in Song Wanran’s now softer and admiring gaze, feeling a surge of pride and satisfaction. He thought to himself that he had succeeded.

This was the daughter of the prestigious Song family, a lofty and cold beauty.

Soon enough, she would surely fall for him.

However, just as Zhu Caixia’s family was being ushered out of the hospital and hadn’t gone far, a voice suddenly echoed through the corridor.

“Wei Tianhong? Is that really you?” A young woman’s surprised and bright voice rang out.

“I thought I had mistaken someone else! Isn’t that woman earlier your actual sister?”

“Caixia just had a baby and is unfamiliar with life in the city. How could you let them leave like that without even checking on them?”

Xia Li’s words hit Wei Tianhong like a bolt of lightning.

He turned to see Xia Li emerging from a corner, her expression a mix of knowingness and amusement.

Caught off guard, Wei Tianhong forced a smile and stammered, “X-Xia Li, w-why are you here at the hospital?”

Xia Li’s sweet voice carried clearly across the room, catching the attention of everyone. She was a natural beauty, and her straightforward demeanor left no room for pretense.

Her words, however, sparked immediate doubt among the crowd.

Wait, did she just say that the woman causing the commotion earlier was this guy’s sister?

What on earth?

And hadn’t he claimed they were just fellow villagers?

One causing trouble, and the other playing peacemaker?

Was this all a setup?

The crowd’s eyes turned toward Wei Tianhong with suspicion.

Xia Li met his gaze, fully aware of his guilt.

In the original story, he had won the initial favor of the Song family and Song Wanran’s admiration by skillfully defusing this hospital dispute.

But he had conveniently omitted the fact that the troublemaking woman was his biological sister.

Even after marrying Song Wanran later on, the truth eventually came to light, but it was too late for the Song family to raise objections.

The reality was, Zhu Caixia was indeed Wei Tianhong’s second eldest sister.

When she was born, their mother, dissatisfied with having another daughter, sent her to live with relatives in a neighboring village, giving her a different surname. But privately, she still called Wei Tianhong’s mother “Mom” and visited their house often.

With their different surnames, no one would suspect their connection.

As for what Wei Tianhong whispered to Zhu Caixia’s father-in-law to make them leave, Xia Li knew all too well.

It wasn’t the noble rhetoric he had presented earlier. Instead, he had promised to mediate on their behalf, vowing to help them recover their losses and ensure justice for their family.

Given his education and reputation in the rural community, Zhu Caixia’s family held him in high regard, viewing him as their ticket to pride and prestige.

Thus, they had reluctantly backed down.

Wei Tianhong had smoothly misled the onlookers and maintained his calm, heroic demeanor before Song Wanran.

But now, Xia Li’s sudden appearance had thrown a wrench into his carefully constructed facade.