Volume One, Chapter 28: Do I Really Have to Let Him Treat This Illness? Absolutely!

It was precisely lunchtime.

Li Shiyan had just set down the report in his hand when Cheng Xiuming appeared punctually at the door and knocked on the clinic’s door—

“Doctor Li? Heading to the cafeteria?”

Li Shiyan rose and stretched his stiff limbs; sitting all morning had left one side of his body numb.

Their breaks were few and often interrupted by emergencies, so mealtime and rest were squeezed tightly together, mostly spent hastily in the hospital cafeteria.

As the two stepped out, Cheng Xiuming led the way and, seeing people in the corridor, exclaimed, “Oh, looks like lunch is off.”

Li Shiyan glanced up.

There were Lin Haoyu and Ning Yu, with Lin gripping her wrist.

Cheng Xiuming clicked his tongue. “Why does it seem like the young lady isn’t very willing to come? Do you think she doesn’t want to see Lin Haoyu, or is it you she’s avoiding?”

Li Shiyan stopped, casting Cheng Xiuming a sidelong glance but said nothing.

The next moment, Lin Haoyu spotted Li Shiyan and tugged Ning Yu toward him. “Uncle!”

Seeing Cheng Xiuming, he smiled and greeted, “Brother Cheng.”

No matter how the Cheng family viewed this son, he was still family, and as a close friend of the uncle, it was wise not to offend him.

Lin Haoyu understood this well.

His grasp on the woman’s delicate wrist was firm, as if he had pulled her along forcibly.

“Uncle, Doctor Cheng,” Ning Yu also smiled but dared not meet their eyes, quickly withdrawing her hand.

Lin Haoyu’s grip lacked gentleness, and Ning Yu’s pale skin was already marked red, the tug aggravating her injuries, leaving her lips pale.

Though she didn’t look up, she felt a sharp, cold gaze fixed upon her.

Li Shiyan responded with a curt nod, his usual cold demeanor intact.

Cheng Xiuming, wearing a polite smile, said, “Haoyu, this is…”

He cast a meaningful look at Ning Yu, clearly acknowledging that Ning Yu had called Lin Haoyu “uncle.”

“Brother Cheng, you’ve been out of the loop for too long, haven’t been back to the Cheng family residence much, right?” Lin Haoyu grinned playfully.

Cheng Xiuming replied, “I haven’t been back to the Cheng family mansion in quite a while. Hospital work keeps me busy, so I don’t keep up.”

The truth was, Cheng Xiuming never saw himself as part of the upper circles, and was indifferent to such matters; with the hospital’s nonstop demands, he had no time for gossip.

Li Shiyan was a man of few words and not one to gossip, so it was natural he hadn’t mentioned anything to Cheng.

“That explains it,” Lin Haoyu laughed, putting an arm around Ning Yu’s shoulder. “Brother Cheng, let me introduce you—this is Ning Yu, the second daughter of the Ning family and my fiancée. We’re getting engaged in just over two weeks.”

Cheng Xiuming’s eyes widened; he glanced at the silent man beside him and quietly gave him a thumbs-up.

That relationship! Truly daring. No wonder Doctor Li was remarkable.

He was the kind who either kept distant from women or, once involved, was wildly unrestrained.

Lin Haoyu, ever the self-assured, continued introducing Ning Yu: “Xiaoyu, this is Doctor Cheng—not just any gynecologist but also your uncle’s close friend. Technically, he outranks us in generation!”

Ning Yu smiled and reached out her hand cautiously, avoiding the man beside her. “Doctor…”

Cheng Xiuming cut in swiftly, “Just Doctor Cheng, as always.”

Although he was a generation senior to Lin Haoyu, with this young lady, it was hard to say who was actually senior; he dared not commit.

Just as Cheng and Ning’s hands were about to meet, the man’s deep, impatient voice intervened:

“Say what you need to say or leave. This hospital isn’t a playground.”

Annoying.

All three understood.

Cheng Xiuming raised an eyebrow, silently agreeing.

Ning Yu fell silent.

Lin Haoyu was used to Li Shiyan’s cold demeanor—after all, the uncle was like that with everyone. Compared to usual, this was actually quite patient.

Lin Haoyu eagerly went on, “Uncle, I know I shouldn’t take up too much of your time. But you know I neglected Xiaoyu last night. Today she’s clearly unwell, and I thought no one’s medical skill could surpass yours. So I’m taking advantage of the lunch break to trouble you a bit. Uncle, please…”

He hinted at the events of last night and today involving Ning Yu and Ning Yunyun, trying to show his concern for Ning Yu by involving Li Shiyan—a bit like offering borrowed flowers as a gift.

Upon reflection, that phrase seemed odd.

Li Shiyan hadn’t agreed yet, but some already knew the answer.

Cheng Xiuming raised an eyebrow, thinking, Well, no telling when we’ll get to eat lunch today.

Li Shiyan’s cold gaze settled on Lin Haoyu, who immediately tensed, sweat beading his brow as regret flooded him.

Ning Yu quickly said, “It’s nothing, Haoyu. It’s just a minor illness, probably an old issue. And Uncle is so busy, there’s no need to trouble you. Better not bother…”

Before she could finish, Li Shiyan turned and said, “Come in.”

Those two light words cut off Ning Yu’s hesitant explanation.

Lin Haoyu was overjoyed, eyes wide with surprise, pushing Ning Yu inside. “Xiaoyu! What a rare opportunity! Uncle almost never agrees to see patients. Honestly, compared to that little scuffle with Fang Fei, Grandpa hasn’t even enjoyed this honor!”

Ning Yu gritted her teeth in frustration—who wanted such “honors”!

She knew that if Lin Haoyu found out she wasn’t actually sick and had lied last night, half the sky would fall.

Ning Yu was seated by Lin Haoyu’s insistence.

The man seated across the table wore a pristine white coat, his expression indifferent and cold, utterly unlike the man who had spoken on the phone last night.

Facing his oppressive gaze, Ning Yu forced herself to look up and smiled weakly, “Then… I’ll have to trouble you, Uncle.”

Li Shiyan glanced at her. “Easy to say. This isn’t the first time I’ve been troubled.”

“Please examine her carefully. Xiaoyu’s health has never been good. It’s always one ache or another, and she’s too thin,” Lin Haoyu rattled on, sounding considerate.

“Oh, Uncle, you know Xiaoyu’s stomach isn’t great—she’s allergic to eggs and latex. I heard she’s got a bit of a cold too…”

Before he could finish, the sharp tapping of knuckles on the table interrupted him.

Lin Haoyu instinctively looked up at Li Shiyan.

Li Shiyan’s expression grew impatient. “So noisy. If you’re so capable, why don’t you do it? Want my chief physician’s seat?”

“No, no…” Lin Haoyu hurriedly waved his hands in denial.

Li Shiyan said, “Examinations require quiet.”

“Ah… alright, alright,” Lin Haoyu immediately understood and hastened out of the clinic.

The clinic fell silent, leaving only Ning Yu and Li Shiyan.

Ning Yu looked up and met his gaze. “Fifth Master…”

The man didn’t look at her. “Reach out your hand.”