Chapter 8: Is This Old Man Going Too Far?

Qi Xiaochen helplessly patted his forehead—even with a hundred mouths, he couldn’t explain this situation.  

Awkwardly, he muttered, “You just don’t understand men. This is just a reflex…”  

“You’re right, I really don’t understand men! Especially the kind who pretend to be clueless when they know exactly what’s going on.” Song Ziwan finished adjusting his clothes and casually tugged up his underwear for him, though his pants were still embarrassingly tented.  

But that wasn’t her problem!  

That night, Song Ziwan lay on the camp bed in the master bedroom, leaning against her little whale cushion. She flipped through five or six magazines before finally drifting off to sleep.  

When Qi Xiaochen got up and asked if she wanted a midnight snack, she barely managed to open her eyes, shook her head, and fell back asleep.  

By the next morning, when she woke up, daylight was already streaming through the window.  

“Can you check how my wound is healing?” Qi Xiaochen had been awake for a while. After years of relentless work, his recent injury and hospitalization had given him a rare taste of slow living. He knew Dr. Song was eager to leave.  

Song Ziwan went to the bathroom and then returned to the master bedroom. Lifting the thin blanket, she expertly examined the surgical wound from the day before.  

There was no redness, swelling, or signs of infection, so she sighed in relief. “No major issues. Just rest at home for a few more days.”  

“Will you come back this afternoon to change my dressing?” Seeing her packing up the medical kit, Qi Xiaochen couldn’t help but ask.  

Song Ziwan nearly questioned her life choices.  

“If you don’t come, I’ll file a complaint,” he said casually, his tone laced with a veiled threat when he sensed the rogue doctor was about to refuse.  

At that, Song Ziwan almost cursed out loud.  

She looked up at the man, who was already trying to get out of bed on his own. Tall, strikingly handsome, and outwardly refined—yet his personality was ruthlessly cunning.  

With a distracted nod, Song Ziwan grabbed the medical kit and left Director Qi’s home.  

His assistant drove her back to her rented apartment.  

As soon as she stepped out of the car at the entrance of her complex, she spotted her boyfriend, Zhou Xuyan, standing under a tree by the gate, his head lowered, his entire demeanor cold and distant.  

The moment he saw her stepping out of an unfamiliar black car, Zhou Xuyan’s eyes darkened with suspicion.  

He strode forward. “Ziwan! Whose car is that?”  

“A rideshare.”  

“A rideshare? Since when do rideshares have red license plates?” Zhou Xuyan pointed at the black car’s license plate as it slowly drove away, his accusatory tone making it seem like he’d caught her cheating.  

His words sparked an idea. Song Ziwan glanced back at the official police vehicle Director Qi had arranged.  

Might as well use the old man for now.  

She scoffed. “Oh, you noticed? So what? We’ve already broken up. Why don’t you hurry home and marry your childhood sweetheart instead of bothering me?”  

Ignoring her boyfriend’s resentful, doubtful glare, she brushed past his simmering anger and walked into the complex without another word.  

Zhou Xuyan hadn’t seen his girlfriend all day and night. When he came by last evening, no one was home.  

After waiting until midnight, he finally left.  

Now, early in the morning, her apartment was exactly as he’d left it—proof she hadn’t come home all night!

During their seven-year secret relationship, they had mostly lived together and were very familiar with each other’s routines. Last night was the first time she hadn’t come home, and today she was dropped off by an unfamiliar car—how could he not be suspicious?

If it had been a female patient, it might have been different. But what if the patient she attended to during her extramural service last night had been male…

Jealousy surged uncontrollably in Zhou Xuyan’s heart!

“Ziwan, was the patient you cared for last night male or female? Don’t accept every job from now on.”

“This is my job! Even though I only earn twenty thousand after insurance deductions each month, it’s money I’ve worked hard for myself—not some reward for being Zhou Xuyan’s girlfriend. I hope you have the self-awareness to understand that.”

They bickered all the way back to their rented apartment. Exhausted, Song Ziwan finally let her guard down the moment she stepped into their cramped space, collapsing onto the sofa in a daze.

Zhou Xuyan could see how tired his girlfriend was. Though he had countless questions, especially noticing she still had her medical kit with her, he held back from pressing her further.

He cooked two bowls of noodles and set them on the table. Seeing her exhaustion, his heart ached. He untied his apron, walked over, and gently lifted her into his arms.

At that moment, Song Ziwan couldn’t hold back her emotions any longer—tears streamed down her face.

She had lived in this apartment for years, and every corner was filled with their memories. The thought of breaking up made it unbearable to leave him.

“Don’t cry, it’s okay. I won’t let my family tear us apart!” Zhou Xuyan sat down with her in his arms, letting her wrap her arms around his neck as she sobbed quietly. He loved her more than words could express—he would never agree to a breakup!

After they ate, he drove her to the hospital for her shift. Before Zhou Xuyan could reach his office in his Porsche, his mother called.

“Zhou Xuyan, have you cleaned up that woman outside yet?” Zhou’s mother’s voice was cold and sharp from the start.

“Mom! Ziwan isn’t the kind of girl you think she is. She has her own job, and we’ve been together for seven years—it’s not what you imagine. Please stop pressuring me.”

Zhou Xuyan barely restrained the urge to yell.

But Zhou’s mother had already secured the Gu family’s agreement. The time and restaurant for their meeting were booked—how could she give up on such an elite daughter-in-law now?

“Listen carefully, Zhou Xuyan. If I find out you’re still tangled up with those flings of yours, don’t blame me for being ruthless! Tomorrow night at six, Park Hyatt Hotel, third-floor Chinese restaurant. I’ve arranged to meet with Gu Xueyi’s mother.”

Cornered by his family’s relentless pressure, Zhou Xuyan couldn’t think of a perfect solution. For now, he had to placate his parents and meet with Gu Xueyi before deciding his next move.

That afternoon, Director Qi sent a car to pick up Song Ziwan from the hospital.

When they met, Song Ziwan couldn’t help recalling the awkward moment from the previous night.

While changing his bandages, Qi Xiaochen tried to ease the tension by asking, “Why not stay for dinner here before you leave?”

“Thank you, Director Qi, but that won’t be necessary.”

Song Ziwan steered the conversation elsewhere, rambling about trivial topics until the dressing was done. After reapplying the suture strip, she packed her medical kit and prepared to leave.

The man lying on the bed suddenly asked with complete seriousness, “When are you breaking up with your boyfriend? Once it’s over, I’ll take you out to celebrate with a feast!”

Qi Xiaochen had been staying at home all day and had already heard about the Zhou family’s intention to arrange a marriage with the Gu family.  

So, he knew very well that the relationship between this rogue female doctor and the Zhou family’s young master was already doomed, with a breakup imminent.  

Based on his understanding of the Zhou family, they would never accept a woman like Dr. Song, who had no background, as their daughter-in-law. It would be detrimental to Zhou Xuyan’s future standing in the family.  

Song Ziwan had originally intended to remind him to be careful and not aggravate his wound.  

But hearing his words out of nowhere, even the usually composed Song Ziwan was practically seething with anger, her eyes blazing.  

Song Ziwan widened her eyes in shock, her dark gem-like pupils locking onto the man’s.  

He seemed to be testing her limits, a provocative smirk playing at the corner of his lips.  

But she had never had any conflict with him! Was there really a need to mock her like this?  

Before she could think further, Song Ziwan reacted instinctively, beating him to the punch with her proud defensive stance:  

“Fine! I hope Director Qi won’t use work as an excuse later. Since you’re so sincere about treating me, let’s add each other on WeChat first. When the breakup happens, you’ll be the first one I notify for that free meal!”  

With that, she swiped open her WeChat, ready to scan his QR code.