Chapter 5: Turning the Tables

Three days later, Xia Rusheng was admitted to A City’s most prestigious dermatology clinic for treatment. After three successive skin graft surgeries, along with organ correction and plastic surgery, she spent nearly a year languishing in the hospital.

Ten months and twenty-one days later, Dr. Liu informed the family that the bandages could be removed. The elderly Madam Xia personally went to the hospital, eager to see if Xia Rusheng’s face had fully recovered. But the moment the gauze was peeled away, Madam Xia was so terrified that she lost her breath and fainted directly in the ward.

"What is the meaning of this!" Once she had regained consciousness, Madam Xia summoned all the surgeons involved in the operation to the Xia residence. On the coffee table lay a photograph clipped from a newspaper. "Which one of you can tell me why you reconstructed my granddaughter's face to look exactly like that Xia Rusheng who committed suicide by jumping off a building!"

Dr. Liu felt quite innocent; he had merely been paid to keep his mouth shut. He was not the one who had actually performed the surgery, and besides, choosing to look like that was the young mistress’s own idea—it had nothing to do with anyone else.

"That woman, Xia Rusheng, is notorious among the elite circles of A City. According to the original surgical plan, it should never have turned out like this. Do you have any idea how much trouble this face will bring to Xiaxia? The Xia family values our reputation. If you don't give me an explanation, prepare to receive a court summons!" Madam Xia was consumed by rage, while Xia Rui stood by, constantly trying to soothe her.

"And you! You were the one who found the doctor, weren't you? Tell me, what is going on here!" Tan Li had just stepped forward to reach for Xia Rui’s hand, but before she could touch him, Madam Xia shifted the target of her fury toward her.

"Mother, didn't the doctor say before the surgery that the results often fail to reach one hundred percent of the expected outcome? A little deviation is inevitable."

"Deviation? Do you take me for a blind woman? Is this just a 'little' deviation? You kept insisting you found the best doctor! Is this the most authoritative specialist you could find to perform this surgery?" Madam Xia grabbed a teacup and hurled it at Tan Li. With a trembling finger, she pointed at the photograph. "Look at this! These features, this face shape—it’s almost identical. Don't think you can fool me with the word 'unintentional.' Rui, go find me a lawyer. I am going to sue them!"

"Madam Xia, this really has nothing to do with us. We were only—" Dr. Liu’s assistant interjected, but as he reached the crucial point, Dr. Liu cut him off.

For a moment, Tan Li’s heart rose to her throat.

"Only what?" Madam Xia sensed there was more to the story and demanded sternly.

Dr. Liu’s assistant glanced at Tan Li, gritted his teeth, and said, "Madam Xia should ask Madam Xia."

"What does that have to do with me? What do you mean? You botched the surgery and are now pushing the blame onto me?" Tan Li argued back vehemently, her expression so aggrieved it was almost convincing—and the man who was supposed to be Xia Rusheng’s father actually believed her.

"Mother, although Lili and Xiaxia aren't close, she wouldn't go so far as to harm her. Besides, Lili even suggested changing doctors before the surgery. This might really be the doctor's fault."

"Chairman Xia, speak with a conscience. It was your wife who pointed at the photograph and told us to reconstruct Miss Xia's face to look like this." Dr. Liu’s assistant spoke with righteous indignation. Now that the elder Madam Xia was holding them accountable, they dared not take the fall. Once this label was stuck on them, their professional careers would be over.

"You're lying! When would I ever do such a thing?" Tan Li felt weak inside, but she refused to admit it. Such matters required evidence; without it, no one could touch her, especially since Xia Rui was still on her side.

Dr. Liu’s assistant snorted in anger and said to Dr. Liu, "Dr. Liu, it's a good thing you were worried about trouble and had me record the audio. Before coming here, I was afraid this would implicate us, so I brought the digital recorder."

Upon hearing this, Tan Li’s legs buckled, and she would have fallen had Xia Rui not steadied her.

"Play it!" Madam Xia took the recorder without hesitation. When Tan Li tried to snatch it, Chen Ma stepped in front of her with quick reflexes, taking the brunt of the collision and hitting the coffee table.

"Are you rebelling? Xia Rui, hold her down! If you let her move again, you and she can both get out of the Xia house tomorrow!"

Stunned by his mother’s fury, Xia Rui quickly restrained Tan Li. At the same time, Madam Xia pressed the play button.

"Dr. Liu, what is the meaning of this? Didn't you already take the money and agree to do as I asked?"

"Madam Xia, I am truly sorry. I think you may have misunderstood. I only said I would consider it. After all, intentionally causing a medical accident to ruin someone’s appearance is a crime. As a doctor, I really cannot take that risk. If this were to be exposed, losing my license would be a minor issue, but if I were to get involved in a lawsuit, my whole life would be ruined. Here is that million—please take it back, Madam. I will compensate you an extra fifty thousand as an apology."

"Hmph! Great wealth comes from great risks. Are you saying you want more money, Dr. Liu? Tell me, how much will it take?"

"Madam Xia, it is not about the money. Besides, that is your daughter; can you really bring yourself to do this? I suggest you reconsider."

"She is that bitch’s daughter, not mine! No need to reconsider. If you won't do it, I can find someone else who will!"

The recording paused for a moment. Madam Xia was trembling so violently that her entire body shook. She thought the recording had ended, but it automatically skipped to the next segment.

"Dr. Liu, you must help me. The child’s father won't agree to change doctors before the surgery. I’ll give you two million. If two million isn't enough, then three."

"Madam Xia, I’ve said all I can. Let’s just pretend this never happened. Please leave. I have another patient waiting to finalize a surgical plan, so I won't see you out."

"Wait, Dr. Liu—huh, why does this person look so familiar?"

"Doesn't Madam recognize her? This is the ex-wife of the second young master of the HIC consortium, who committed suicide by jumping off a building due to a scandal. Her reputation was foul, but in the world of plastic surgery, this face is recognized as the epitome of refinement. Many people used to want to imitate her, but unfortunately... now, no one is willing to have their face modeled after hers. To put it bluntly, it's considered bad luck."

"I have an idea! Dr. Liu, I won't ask you to do anything criminal. I will still give you one million; just perform the surgery according to this person’s appearance. I will take responsibility for everything else."

"But—"

"Two million."

"It's very difficult to make it look exactly the same, and shouldn't we ask the patient for her opinion?"

"Three million, and not a cent more. I can convince the patient. That way, your hospital won't have to bear any responsibility. That’s acceptable, right?"

"That is a matter for you and your family. If Madam Xia can convince the patient, we have nothing more to say. But please take your money back, Madam. As a doctor, I truly cannot accept it."

The recording ended completely. Tan Li looked ashen.

"Tan Li! When did you become so vicious, so terrifying! I used to think you just didn't like Xiaxia, but you actually wanted to destroy her! You knew she had amnesia, yet you went and asked for her consent—weren't you just tricking her? Now that she looks like this, are you satisfied?" Xia Rui erupted in a rage unlike anything he had shown before, pushing Tan Li far away. Xia Yu watched, stunned, too terrified to utter a single word.

"Enough!" Madam Xia slammed the table, ordering the doctors to leave. Family scandals should not be aired in public; she would not let outsiders witness more of this farce!

"Mother, do whatever you think is necessary to handle this. I won't say a single word against it. Even if you want me to divorce her, I will listen to you!"

Tan Li scrambled over like a madwoman, clinging to Xia Rui’s arm and refusing to let go, shrieking hysterically, "Xia Rui, you cannot divorce me! I am pregnant! If it’s a boy, he will be the only heir to the Xia family! Even if you try to divorce me, the court won't accept the petition. I will not divorce you!"

"What? You're pregnant!" Both Xia Rui and Madam Xia were shocked. Madam Xia even signaled for the servants to help her up. Xia Rusheng watched silently, her eyes filled with deep sarcasm and disappointment.

"Xiaxia, you’ve just returned home. Go upstairs and rest. Grandmother will handle this for you and won't let you be wronged."

Xia Rusheng obeyed and headed upstairs. She could tell from the reactions of Xia Rui and Madam Xia that the Xia family was a place that favored sons over daughters. She had no interest in staying there to watch them perform their pathetic, melodramatic soap opera.

"Chen Ma, is your arm alright?" Chen Ma had taken a hard fall earlier, and it pained Xia Rusheng just to look at her.

"It’s fine, I’m tough. It’s nothing, really. Xiaxia, don't be too sad. Every family has its own troubles. The old Madam has been hoping for a grandson for years. Now that Tan Li is finally pregnant again, the old Madam probably won't easily—"

"Chen Ma, don't say any more. I understand, and I’m not sad. Let me rub some medicinal wine on your arm for you." Xia Rusheng interrupted, looking for the medicine kit but unable to find it.

"It's no trouble. I'll just go apply something myself. You go rest, Xiaxia. Chen Ma will go make you some soup and bring it up later." With that, Chen Ma covered her arm to hide it from Xia Rusheng and hurried out of the room.

Xia Rusheng stared blankly for a moment, then opened her laptop, skillfully entered Dr. Liu’s email address, and typed a single sentence: "Dr. Liu, the performance was excellent."

A notification chime for a new email sounded almost immediately. Xia Rusheng opened it: "Thanks to Miss Xia’s brilliant strategy. I hope we have a chance to cooperate again in the future. I’ll be sure to offer you a fifty percent discount."

Xia Rusheng smiled, deleted Dr. Liu’s contact information, cleared her history, and closed the laptop, leaving not a single trace behind.