Chapter 14: Face is the most useless thing

Even if Professor Zhang was older, Niu Chunli herself was already in her fifties! Being repeatedly scolded and lectured made her lose face.

“Old Zhang, I know my own daughter’s situation clearly. She’s simply not cut out for studying traditional Chinese medicine. My husband and I swallowed our pride to get her into Capital University — we just wanted her to muddle through for a diploma so she wouldn’t be looked down on as an illiterate in the future. You’re meddling too much.” Niu Chunli’s tone turned unpleasant.

“Heh.” Zhang Pingtian only found it laughable now — so this was how Jingshu appeared in her parents’ eyes! They truly treated a pearl like a piece of glass.

Gu Jingshu’s talent for traditional Chinese medicine was better than any student Zhang Pingtian had encountered in his lifetime! If it weren’t for that, he wouldn’t have broken the rules for her multiple times, hoping to cultivate a future famous doctor for the TCM world.

“Jingshu told me she’s already completely severed ties with her family. Do you want me to have her come out and say it to your face again?” This was “meddling” that Zhang Pingtian was determined to keep doing!

“If you think it was thanks to your efforts that she got into Capital University, I can arrange for her to drop out right now,” Zhang Pingtian said calmly. “Forget Capital University — Military Medical University, Medical University — as long as I wish, she could choose from any prestigious university in the country! Jingshu doesn’t need to owe you that favor.”

Niu Chunli’s chest heaved violently. What kind of “witchcraft” had Gu Jingshu used on Zhang Pingtian to make him protect her so much?

“She can’t say severing ties counts — no matter when or where, Gu Jingshu is my daughter! Her surname is Gu! And she must listen to me!!”

“…” Zhang Pingtian calmed down now, looking at Niu Chunli’s frenzy without expression.

Gu Jingshu, seeing something was wrong, started to get up to come out, but Zhang Pingtian raised his hand to signal her not to move.

Then he lowered his voice and said to Niu Chunli, “If you and your husband dare to trouble this child again, I’ll tell everyone about what you care most about — Gu Chuxue’s three miscarriages!”

Now that Gu Jingshu had completely severed ties with her family, wasn’t forcing the child to this extent enough? And now she was still coming here to put on an act of “being a mother”? Why didn’t she think of that earlier?

If they had given even one percent of the care they showed Chuxue to Jingshu, she would never have been so utterly disappointed in them as parents.

Zhang Pingtian cherished Jingshu from the bottom of his heart. He was sure that in the future, Niu Chunli and her husband would regret it! As for whether Jingshu would forgive them then — that would be up to her.

Right now, what Zhang Pingtian had to do was keep this “future star” of the TCM world well protected under his wings.

Niu Chunli’s mouth twitched hard. “Old Zhang, concealing a patient’s condition is the most basic medical ethics.”

“I’m already at this age — what’s face worth to me?” For people like them, you had to be shameless! Zhang Pingtian was ready to throw his face away for this.

For Chuxue’s reputation, Niu Chunli couldn’t act rashly. Fine, from now on she’d just pretend she never gave birth to that daughter. If Zhang Pingtian wanted to take care of her, let him! She didn’t believe Zhang Pingtian could protect Gu Jingshu for a lifetime!

Niu Chunli left the school unwillingly. Zhang Pingtian turned to Gu Jingshu with a smile, “Let’s continue class—”

---

Military District.

Gu Chuxue was stopped at the gate by the guard and couldn’t get in. She was a little anxious.

“I’m your Regiment Commander Lin’s fiancée. It’s fine if you won’t let me in, but at least go contact your Regiment Commander Lin and have him come out, okay?!”

The guard replied stiffly, “Not today. Come back another day.”

“At least give me a reason?” Gu Chuxue hadn’t seen Qinghai for several days.

“Today is the unit’s big military competition — no outsiders are allowed in to disturb it.”

Gu Chuxue resented the guard for being “too rigid” and “unable to be flexible.” Later she’d tell her Qinghai-ge and find a reason to have him dismissed!

At that moment, the atmosphere on the military parade ground had reached a fever pitch.

The big competition was a contest in two areas: marksmanship and physical ability.
Marksmanship had both short- and long-distance events. Physical ability involved an obstacle course — whoever completed a lap in the shortest time won!

“Come on! Come on!!”
“Yeahhh~”
“…”

“Commander, I think the winner of this year’s big competition is already clear — Lin Qinghai!”

Hearing the division commander beside him say that, Lu Shiyan gave a dismissive laugh. “The results for first place in the big competition get worse every year.”

The division commander froze. “Ah?”

Lin Qinghai’s performance in both shooting and physical fitness had been pretty good.

“Let me try.”

With that, Lu Shiyan took off his coat and handed it to the division commander, rolling his sleeves up to his forearms.

The division commander was stunned — was he actually going to join the competition? Commander Lu was in a good mood!

The soldiers who saw Commander Lu’s movements immediately understood what was happening and were all excited to watch.

They had long heard of Commander Lu’s “reputation,” and hadn’t expected to get the chance to see his real skills today.

Lin Qinghai was still panting heavily, not fully recovered. He didn’t understand what Commander Lu meant by this.

Whether in short-distance or long-distance shooting, Lu Shiyan had a 100% hit rate!

Finally, the physical competition — Lin Qinghai’s best time earlier had been three minutes.

Lu Shiyan, still wearing leather shoes, finished in two and a half minutes.

Never underestimate thirty seconds — on the battlefield, being one second late could mean death.

Lu Shiyan’s breathing was only slightly uneven. After taking his coat back from the division commander, he asked his time and shook his head in dissatisfaction. “Far worse than back in the day.”

That made quite a few people present break into a cold sweat! Compared to their best performer in this competition, he was far superior — and yet he said he was “far worse”?

The gap between people really was enormous. No wonder he could be the Commander.

The scene erupted in thunderous applause.

Lin Qinghai felt that Lu Shiyan had done this deliberately. After his “show-off” performance, where did that leave him, the supposed first place? Others would only remember how impressive Commander Lu was.

Lu Shiyan’s thin lips curled slightly, his gaze seemingly cutting through the crowd to fall on Lin Qinghai.

Lin Qinghai felt provoked.

As for why he had that feeling — he couldn’t quite explain it himself. Could it be that Commander Lu was still thinking about that night’s incident?

If that was really the case, Lin Qinghai furrowed his brows.

Taking advantage of the competition still going on, Lin Qinghai quietly followed Lu Shiyan.

He followed him all the way to the Commander’s office.

“Report!”

“Eh? Qinghai, what brings you here?” The division commander was puzzled. “You’re this year’s first-place winner in the big competition — let me congratulate you in advance, your prize money will be issued later.”

“Thank you, Division Commander. I want to see the Commander,” Lin Qinghai hesitated.

“Go ahead!” The division commander motioned for him to go in.

“Report!” Lin Qinghai gave a standard salute. “Commander Lu, I want to apologize to you for my impulsive behavior that night. Please be the bigger person and don’t hold it against me.”

“What incident?” the division commander asked curiously.

“I… that night I was there to catch an adulterer, and didn’t know that the guesthouse room was occupied by Commander Lu…”