Fu Bing and Wu Shi went down to the parking lot.
Fu Bing walked straight to the driver’s seat. "Give me the keys."
Wu Shi didn’t hand them over.
"I’ll drive," Fu Bing stated.
Wu Shi ignored her, swiftly getting into the car ahead of her and shutting the door.
Fu Bing was left speechless.
「In Gu Yazheng’s office.」
The bodyguard came in. "Mr. Gu, Fu Bing and her bodyguard have already left."
"Was the surgery successful?"
"Mr. Ren is awake now, and Dr. Zhang’s team is taking care of him."
Fu Ning clenched her fists. Fu Bing actually managed to save him.
Fu Ning gave a subtle signal with her eyes, and the perceptive bodyguard excused himself.
"I played cards with Director Zhou’s wife a few days ago," Fu Ning began. "She mentioned that if we could get Fu Bing to treat her mother-in-law, she would help Si’an get into the bank. Technically, I’m still Fu Bing’s aunt. Plus, she saved our daughter recently. We can use this to get closer to her."
Gu Yazheng knew Fu Ning was adept at exploiting any connection she could.
But she wants to use Fu Ya. He couldn’t stand it.
"How did you treat Fu Ya back then?" Gu Yazheng retorted. "And now you want to use her daughter to secure your son’s future? Have you no shame?"
Fu Ning snatched a document from the nearby table and threw it at Gu Yazheng. "Isn’t Si’an your son too? Don’t act innocent with me! If Si’an successfully gets into the bank, it’s to prepare the capital flow for your hospital, isn’t it? If I weren’t out there managing things, do you think you could have become the richest man?"
"I forbid you from targeting Fu Bing."
"Why not? Is it because you can’t bear to hurt your old flame’s daughter? For someone who’s already dead, you’re willing to sacrifice your own son and daughter?"
Fu Ning’s face contorted with jealousy.
She spat fiercely, "Gu Yazheng, your belated affection is more worthless than dirt! If you’d had the backbone to be like Ren Ye and never marry, remaining single for Fu Ya’s sake, I might have respected you as a man. But parading this supposed devotion in front of me? I despise you!"
After delivering her tirade, Fu Ning stormed out.
Gu Yazheng waited until the sound of Fu Ning’s high heels faded before sweeping all the documents off his desk in a rage.
「When Fu Ning returned home, she found Gu Sining innocently feeding the dog.」
Fu Bing was not only world-famous but had also become a leading physician. Her own daughter, however, was nothing. Even in death, Fu Ya still overshadowed her.
Fu Ning was so furious she nearly crushed the handbag in her grip. "I’ve found out where the person who saved you lives. I’ll take you to pay a gratitude visit first thing tomorrow morning."
"Okay! I’d like to see Sister Bing too," Gu Sining replied.
Fu Ning snapped, "What did you call her? Sister Bing? You’re the daughter of the wealthiest man, and she’s just an actor! How dare you lower yourself to call her ’sister’?"
Gu Sining, startled, shrank back and said weakly, "But... everyone calls her Sister Bing."
"So if everyone else does it, you follow suit? When I ask you to accompany me to social functions, why aren’t you so obedient then?"
Gu Sining was too upset to utter a word.
「Fu Bing arranged for the male doctor provided by property management to come over daily to change Wu Shi’s bandages.」
Wu Shi remained unwilling to speak, communicating only via his phone.
Consequently, Fu Bing didn’t inform anyone else that he could talk.
After the five of them had breakfast, they prepared to explore the city together.
Xiaomei had just finished loading the car with food, drinks, and supplies when she noticed a pink car parked outside the yard. The downside of a guesthouse villa was that the guests changed daily, so security wasn’t as robust as in regular residential villa areas. Noticing the car was the same color as her own pink one, Xiaomei gave it a second glance.
Gu Sining hopped out of the car.
"Miss, does Sister Bing live here?" Gu Sining asked. "I’m Gu Sining. Sister Bing saved me a few days ago, and I’ve come with my mom today specifically to thank her."
Xiaomei didn’t reply, instead going inside to ask Fu Bing.
Fu Bing had already spotted Gu Sining and Fu Ning through the floor-to-ceiling windows.
"Tell them I’m not home."
Xiaomei scratched her head. "But I came in to ask you. If I say you’re not here, they won’t believe me."
"Whether they believe it or not is unimportant."
Xiaomei went back out, still puzzled.
"My sister went out this morning, and I’m not sure when she’ll be back. Perhaps you could try another day."
Fu Ning said with dissatisfaction, "I specifically asked the security guard when I arrived, and he said Fu Bing hadn’t gone out."
"My sister left early this morning," Xiaomei reiterated before returning to the villa.
Aunt Ning observed Xiaomei’s awkward handling of the situation and frowned.
Xiaomei had improved, but her progress was too slow. Many things still depended on Fu Bing. Even if Fu Bing could manage everything, she would eventually get tired.
Aunt Ning said to Fu Bing, "I’m feeling a bit unwell. Let’s cancel today’s plans."
She needed to seize the opportunity to mentor Xiaomei. There would be plenty of time for leisure later.
Fu Bing asked with concern, "Is your leg bothering you again? If the weather here is too much for you, we can return to Jiangcheng once our business is concluded."
"My leg is fine; I just lack energy. You, on the other hand, should rest well for a few days. Stop bustling about all the time."
"Alright, I’ll relax with you today."
Aunt Ning affectionately placed a medicine pill in Fu Bing’s palm. "Take this first."
Fu Bing swallowed it without a second thought.
The villa boasted a hot spring pool fed by a mountain spring, with several trees lining its edge.
Fu Bing changed into a swimsuit, draped a large white bath towel over herself, and reclined by the pool to soak.
She drifted off to sleep without realizing it.
Qin Jinhai stood behind the second-floor curtains, quietly observing Fu Bing in the hot spring pool.
Even though the hot spring pool was well-secluded from outside view, with two other men in the villa, she had very discreetly covered herself almost completely. Not only did she wear the most conservative swimsuit for the hot spring, but she had also wrapped a bath towel around herself. Yet, the curves of her body that were visible were still incredibly enticing. The faint marks he had previously left on her fair, delicate skin were scattered like tiny, faded stars.
Qin Jinhai’s throat tightened. He longed to pull her into his arms, to kiss her with abandon, to make her eyes see only him. Even if it were with disdain, he just wanted her to look at him.
Meanwhile, Aunt Ning had Xiaomei set up a temporary dispensary and was having her grind herbs.
Looking at Xiaomei’s still slightly chubby, youthful face, Aunt Ning asked, "Do you think what you did today was right?"
Xiaomei lowered her head in shame. "I was careless."
"It’s not that you were careless, but rather that you see yourself as Xiaobing’s younger sister and unconsciously act a bit spoiled around her. You can behave like that with family, but acting thoughtlessly spoiled in front of outsiders will only cause trouble for Xiaobing. Your actions today won’t bring trouble upon yourself; it will all fall on Xiaobing."
"Aunt Ning, I’ve really tried hard to improve, but I still mess things up."
"Xiaobing is willing to give you room to grow and to indulge you. That’s because she cares for you. But her responsibilities will only increase. As the person best positioned to help her with external interactions right now, you need to become more capable. Currently, Yang Ningzheng is shouldering some of that burden. Do you want Yang Ningzheng to eventually take your place?"
"No! I want to stay with my sister forever!" Xiaomei suddenly grew anxious.
"Then you must become more capable. From now on, remember one crucial thing in everything you do: your actions reflect on Xiaobing in the eyes of others. You cannot cause her trouble. If you make this your guiding principle, you’ll make fewer mistakes, and she’ll have fewer things to worry about."
"Although Xiaobing has no direct relatives, she has never lacked people who love her; otherwise, she wouldn’t have such a warm and accepting personality. In the future, even more people will come to love her. When that time comes, will there still be a place for you?"