Chapter 155: Such a Sharp Tongue

Thinking back on those past days, Xia Yu couldn’t help but smile; after all, he was only eighteen then—a reckless age indeed.

“Hey, little brother, why did you come back to the country?” Liu Feihong asked curiously, regaining his composure.

Xia Yu exhaled smoke rings and replied, “I was tired of that kind of life. I’m still young; I can’t keep staying in that environment forever. I needed a different way to live.”

Liu Feihong nodded thoughtfully. “I understand. You’re really still very young—makes one envious.”

“Haha, don’t talk about me,” Xia Yu laughed. “How’s your daughter doing?”

“Heh, my daughter’s studying at university in Jiangnan. She’ll graduate next year.”

After catching up on old times, they checked the time.

Liu Feihong then invited Xia Yu and Lin Yuqing to join him and the others for dinner.

Xia Yu naturally accepted.

At the restaurant, Liu Feihong assured them he would retrieve the contract and have it executed for them, as a way to repay Xia Yu’s kindness.

Of course, the project was huge; it would be difficult for Hongshun Group alone to handle.

Xia Yu didn’t refuse but decided not to get involved himself. Instead, he would have Li Shen manage it, working alongside Chu Zitong and Lin Yuqing.

After a satisfying meal, they bid farewell to Liu Feihong.

Li Shen and Chu Zitong left as well, eager to share the good news with their families.

Only Xia Yu and Lin Yuqing remained.

Lin Yuqing had long reached her limit. Suddenly, she lifted her foot and kicked Xia Yu hard.

“Ah…”

Xia Yu cried out in pain, clutching himself, sweat pouring from his forehead—not faking, it genuinely hurt because of an old injury.

“You bastard, how much are you still hiding from me?” she demanded.

“Yu Ge, I’m really angry!” Lin Yuqing said indignantly, hands on her hips, growing more suspicious by the moment.

Putting aside people like Xiao Jun and Huang Hai, Liu Feihong was an outsider, yet such a powerful businessman who showed Xia Yu immense respect.

Why?

He was just an ordinary person—why did he always seem to know influential figures?

When he was a son-in-law in the Lin family, he hadn’t noticed any of this.

“Ah…” Seeing Xia Yu’s face flush red as he continued clutching his groin in agony, his expression pained.

“Hey, stop pretending. I wasn’t even using full strength. Is this necessary?”

“You weren’t using full strength? Miss Lin, do you want me to be left heirless?!” Xia Yu snapped.

“Ah…” Lin Yuqing covered her mouth in embarrassment and said innocently, “I… I was aiming for your back! How did it hit the front then?”

“Who told you your shoe was so long? And high heels at that,” Xia Yu said with mock innocence. “You better head home. I can’t be walking you back.”

“Then where are you going?”

“Of course, to the hospital for a check-up.”

Xia Yu strode angrily toward the car.

Blushing, Lin Yuqing stood still, calling out, “Sorry, I didn’t mean it…”

Twenty minutes later, Xia Yu arrived at the emergency department.

Praying for a male doctor to be on duty.

But fate had its irony—when Su Ziyu walked in, he froze, feeling awkward.

“Doctor Su, you’re on night shift again?”

“Xia Yu, it’s you again?” Su Ziyu looked surprised. “I’m actually about to hand over and finish my shift, and here you come.”

“What happened? Old injury acting up?”

“Yeah.”

“Let me take a look.” Su Ziyu approached.

Xia Yu hesitated a bit but reminded himself it wasn’t the first time.

As soon as he loosened his belt, Su Ziyu frowned.

“Here again?”

“Xia Yu, you… you’re doing this on purpose, aren’t you? Trying to flirt with me?”

“I… how could I be doing it on purpose? That’d be courting death. What if I got crippled?” Xia Yu grimaced. “I really got kicked.”

Su Ziyu rolled her eyes but proceeded to examine him.

Luckily, it wasn’t serious; just continue applying medicine once back home.

“Thank you, Doctor Su.”

Xia Yu sighed in relief, feeling much more at ease than the first time.

“I’m a doctor, no need to thank me. But be careful. If you get injured two more times, who knows what might happen,” she warned.

Xia Yu broke out in a cold sweat. “No way, I’ll definitely be careful.”

“Are you off work now? Great, let me treat you to a late-night meal.”

“Really?”

Su Ziyu smiled, admitting she was a bit hungry.

Besides, she considered Xia Yu a friend; having a meal together was no big deal.

“Of course. Get yourself ready; I’ll wait outside.”

Xia Yu stood by the door, waiting ten minutes.

Su Ziyu emerged, having changed out of her white coat into a light blue short skirt.

Her long, smooth, pale legs caught the eye strikingly. Her hair was tied back in a ponytail, giving off a fresh and crisp impression.

“Doctor Su, what would you like to eat? My car’s parked right outside,” Xia Yu greeted.

“Something nearby will do. I’m tired after work; don’t want to go far,” she replied.

“Understood. Then we’ll eat nearby.”

They headed to a Haidilao hotpot near the hospital, ordered their meal, and began chatting.

“Why do both of us often visit the welfare home, but I’ve never seen you there?”

Su Ziyu smiled. For some reason, she felt very relaxed around Xia Yu.

It was like they had known each other for years; unlike other men who approached her with ulterior motives, Xia Yu gave no sense of hidden agendas.

“The director said our visiting times just don’t overlap,” Xia Yu explained helplessly.

She smiled naturally. “I heard from the director that the welfare home is where your mother grew up. It must be hard for you every time you go, right?”

“Then why do you still go?”

Xia Yu was momentarily taken aback. “How do you know it’s hard for me?”

“Last time I saw you, I could feel your sadness—or how much you missed her.”

“Yeah. My mother passed away early. She always treated the welfare home like her own family,” Xia Yu said with an awkward smile.

Su Ziyu noticed his reluctance to talk further and tactfully changed the subject. “By the way, don’t worry about the welfare home situation.”

“I’ve already thought of a solution.”

Xia Yu smiled silently. He had long since entrusted Li Shen to handle it, no need for explanation.

While they ate, a voice from behind suddenly rang out in surprise.

“Oh, isn’t that Ziyu? Changing boyfriends again?”

“You’re really fast at ditching the director and finding a new flame.”

Xia Yu looked over to see a group of young men and women approaching, their tones dripping with sarcasm.

Su Ziyu frowned deeply, displeased. “Cai Xiaojing, what nonsense are you talking about?”

“Who’s talking nonsense?” A girl with a Sassoon haircut sneered. “Everyone knows you’ve been hooking up with Director Liu behind the scenes.”

“Then you smoothly got promoted to chief physician. Now that you’ve got what you wanted, you’ve dumped Director Liu and are on to a new lover.”

“Tsk, this guy is pretty handsome. Hey handsome, do you even know what kind of person your girlfriend is?”

Cai Xiaojing turned to Xia Yu, flanked by others wearing expressions full of malicious delight.

Xia Yu sneered coldly. “You guys are Ziyu’s colleagues, right?”

“Didn’t brush your teeth this morning? Your mouth stinks!”