Lu Yan’an felt a pang of guilt and fear under Lu Beiting’s sharp gaze, but she hadn’t said anything wrong, had she? Their mother had been working tirelessly for their eldest brother’s future, and now he had gone and found some random woman. Anyone would be upset.  

“Lu Yan’an, you’re a girl too. How can you say such things? Was all the education we gave you wasted?”  

Lu Beiting frowned deeply, his voice thick with disappointment.  

“W-What did I say that was wrong?” Lu Yan’an hadn’t expected her usually doting brother to snap at her like this. Her eyes reddened with grievance, tears welling up but refusing to fall.  

“Wrong? Do you even know Xia Zhi? Do you understand her? You all just open your mouths and criticize without knowing a thing—is that right? Xia Zhi has never even met you, yet she hasn’t said a single bad word about any of you!”  

Lu Beiting took a deep breath, his face pale as he stared at them. “What’s wrong with all of you?”  

Lu Yan’an froze mid-sob, then glanced at Xia Zhi, who had remained silent the whole time. A belated sense of shame washed over her—they had been the ones attacking her from the start.  

Wang Xiulan, however, didn’t feel the slightest bit remorseful. She was the elder—since when did juniors get to lecture their seniors?  

Xia Zhi watched Lu Beiting, who was visibly seething with anger, with a mix of sympathy and suspicion. Were these really his family?  

“Don’t you see Lu Beiting is injured? I’m starting to doubt if he’s even your real son. Not only do you not care, but you’re also adding fuel to the fire.”  

Lu Yan’an took one look at Lu Beiting’s ashen face and labored breathing, and her tears burst forth. “Waaah—Big Brother, I’m sorry!”  

Wang Xiulan finally seemed to realize the situation, her lips parting slightly, but no words came out.  

Xia Zhi picked up the medicine nearby and handed it to Lu Beiting before turning a stern gaze to his so-called family.  

“Maybe you don’t fully understand the severity of Lu Beiting’s injuries, so let me enlighten you. If this injury isn’t treated properly, he could end up in a wheelchair for life, unable to continue his military career. In the worst-case scenario, he’ll be bedridden, with less than three years to live. If you’re still determined to push him to his grave, fine by me—it’s not my son who’ll die.”  

Xia Zhi deliberately emphasized the worst possibilities.  

Wang Xiulan, Lu Yan’an, Lu Weifeng, and even Li Jianguo all paled at her words.  

How could it be that serious?  

Lu Yan’an cried even harder, repeatedly apologizing.  

Lu Beiting’s expression darkened, his hands gripping the blanket over his legs. A wheelchair? Paralysis? No—he refused.  

He’d rather die honorably serving his country than waste away helplessly in bed. He could accept infertility, but losing his military career? Never. He wouldn’t accept it, and he wouldn’t give up.  

Su Yating, seeing how Xia Zhi’s exaggerated claims had frightened everyone, couldn’t hide her displeasure. “Xia Zhi, neither Dr. Chen nor Dr. Shen said anything like that. What right do you have to declare Beiting beyond saving? You’re just cursing him!”  

Lu Weifeng snapped out of his shock and glared at Xia Zhi. “Exactly! Who do you think you are? This isn’t your place to speak!”  

Xia Zhi shot him a cold look and smirked. “I’ve said my piece. Believe it or not, that’s up to you.”  

If they refused to accept the truth, there was no point in wasting her breath.  

With that, she turned and walked out. As she stepped outside, she caught a glimpse of a suspicious figure by the courtyard wall—but it vanished almost instantly. Frowning slightly, she dismissed it for now.

Xia Zhi walked over to the empty plot of land next door and crouched down, pondering what to plant there.  

Behind her, the sound of an argument erupted from the house.  

In the end, it was Li Jianguo who, furious beyond measure, drove everyone out.  

“Lu Weifeng, Wang Xiulan! You don’t care about Beiting, but I do! Get out, all of you! From now on, no one lets them in without Beiting’s permission.”

Li Jianguo pointed at them and cursed. He had never seen such heartless parents. Whether Xia Zhi’s words were true or not, Beiting’s injuries were right in front of their eyes—were they blind?!  

“Li Jianguo, we’re just looking out for Beiting. What if Xia Zhi was just bluffing…”  

Shen Hangzhi and Chen Yang, who had rushed over after hearing the commotion, nearly choked on their breaths.  

Good heavens, what kind of mess was this?!  

“You don’t believe it? Fine, let me tell you—everything Xia Zhi said is true. In fact, it’s even worse than what she described. Not only that, but Beiting’s foundation is also damaged. Are you satisfied now? Happy?”  

Outside, Xia Zhi stiffened at Chen Yang’s words before turning to look inside.  

The noisy room fell into dead silence. From a distance, she seemed to catch a glimpse of Lu Beiting’s despairing, self-mocking gaze, and her heart ached with pity.  

Wang Xiulan and Lu Weifeng’s throats seemed to clog up, rendering them speechless. A flicker of regret flashed across their faces, but it vanished just as quickly.  

Su Yating hadn’t expected things to be this serious either.  

Shen Hangzhi, usually mild-mannered, now wore a cold expression as he stared at Su Yating. “Su Yating, you call yourself a doctor? Don’t bother coming to the hospital for a while. Our institution has no place for a physician who deliberately stirs up trouble.”  

Su Yating’s lips trembled, but no words came out—only silent tears.  

Xia Zhi glanced at Lu Beiting, who sat on the bed with his head lowered, his expression unreadable. Then she turned to Lu Weifeng and Wang Xiulan.  

Lu Weifeng’s face was tense, revealing nothing.  

Wang Xiulan, however, had a storm of emotions swirling in her eyes before she finally looked at Lu Beiting, a trace of displeasure flashing across her face at being contradicted.  

She felt humiliated. Couldn’t they have just explained properly?  

Did they have to embarrass her like this? She just hadn’t understood—why were they making it seem like everything was her fault?  

“It’s not like—” you weren’t careless yourself.

Before Wang Xiulan could finish, Xia Zhi stormed in with a broom and cut her off.  

“Get out! Are you deaf? I said LEAVE!”  

Xia Zhi swung the broom, driving them out with several solid whacks landing on Lu Weifeng and Wang Xiulan.  

Once they were out, Xia Zhi turned her still-burning glare on Su Yating. “You too. Get lost, unless you want me to slap you.”  

Su Yating shuddered at the menace in Xia Zhi’s eyes before scrambling away.  

The room finally fell silent. Xia Zhi tossed the broom aside and smiled at Li Jianguo. “Chief, don’t worry. If I say I can cure him, then I can. You all should head back now if there’s nothing else.”  

Li Jianguo’s reddened eyes glistened slightly. “Mhm. Good girl… thank you.”  

He glanced at Lu Beiting, who remained silent, sighed, and left.  

Chen Yang walked up and patted her shoulder. “You’re a good kid. Come by my clinic sometime when you’re free.”  

After seeing them off, Xia Zhi turned back to Lu Beiting.  

Lu Beiting’s eyes flickered before he finally spoke after a long pause. “Xia Zhi… you’re a good person. Even Uncle Chen thinks highly of you now…”  

Xia Zhi frowned. “What are you trying to say?”