Chen Ze finally turned his gaze toward Wang Xiaoke after hearing her words. “From your tone, are you planning to renege on your debt?”

In his eyes, Wang Xiaoke could almost see the words “low moral standards” glaring back at her, making her heart sink even further.

“What I’m saying is that I’m already drowning in debt. Could you please, great master, help me save a bit of money?” Wang Xiaoke asked, looking utterly heartbroken, as though she was ready to kneel before him.

Chen Ze’s handsome face remained utterly clueless. “I don’t think I’m spending extravagantly.”

“Then what about that bouquet of imported lilies?” Wang Xiaoke pointed to the vase on his nightstand.

Chen Ze glanced back nonchalantly. “Oh, you mean those? They’re for cultivating my appreciation of beauty. The doctor said I should connect more with nature.”

“Master, don’t you think going out for a walk and breathing some fresh air would connect you more with nature? Fine, even if you’re physically limited, I wouldn’t object if you just bought some ordinary flowers from a street vendor. Why insist on buying these insanely expensive and completely impractical flowers?” Wang Xiaoke’s frustration finally boiled over as she lashed out.

“I’m a patient right now. Using better things is only fair,” Chen Ze replied casually, leaving Wang Xiaoke momentarily speechless.

She took another deep breath. Fine, he’s a patient. I’ll let it slide.

“And what about these fruits? Did you really need to buy so much? Can you even eat it all yourself?” Wang Xiaoke decided to emphasize the importance of frugality. “Do you know how many people in the world are still suffering in poverty, without enough to eat every day? Meanwhile, you’re here wasting all this food.”

“I’m not wasting anything,” Chen Ze said calmly.

“So, do you eat nothing but fruit every day?” Wang Xiaoke asked, dumbfounded.

Chen Ze looked at her seriously. “You clearly don’t understand. The elderly folks next door have been very kind to me. Since I don’t have anything else to repay their kindness, I always bring some of these affordable fruits to share with them when we chat.”

Wang Xiaoke suddenly found herself at a loss for words. After a long pause, all she could manage was, “You’re really thoughtful.”

“Not at all, it’s only because they’ve been so kind to me,” Chen Ze replied modestly.

“Mr. Chen, here’s your lunch.” A beautiful assistant entered, set up a table by his hospital bed, and began placing dishes on it one by one. “Your boiled fish, Buddha Jumps Over the Wall, braised ribs, and…”

Wang Xiaoke swallowed hard, resisting the urge to dive over. “Excuse me, beautiful sister, may I ask how much this meal costs?”

The assistant, busy arranging the food, glanced at her and smiled gently, her attitude radiating warmth. “Actually, this isn’t too expensive. It’s just twelve dishes in total, costing around 800 yuan.”

The moment Wang Xiaoke heard the price, her eyes went wide. She turned to Chen Ze in disbelief. “I’m not the one paying for this meal, am I?”

Chen Ze nodded affirmatively. “Of course. Don’t forget, I haven’t even charged you for my lost wages yet.” He spoke as if he were doing her a favor.

“But you can’t possibly eat all this by yourself!” Wang Xiaoke felt like every aspect of her life was a trap.

“It is a bit much, but the doctor said I need to replenish my nutrition. I’m just trying to maintain a balanced diet,” Chen Ze said, resting his chin on his hand, explaining with the patience of a saint.

“If you don’t mind, you’re welcome to join me,” he suggested.