Xiao Mengyi's brows furrowed slightly, and it wasn't until the phone had rung for five or six seconds that she answered.
An unhappy voice immediately came through the phone, "Yi Yi, how much longer do you plan to stay in Jiangcheng City?"
Xiao Mengyi, looking exhausted, said weakly, "Mom, the company is very busy lately. I'll come back after this busy period is over."
"A small pharmaceutical company, can that be more promising than being the Chen Family's young mistress?"
The person on the other end immediately became furious and shouted, "Xiao Mengyi, listen to me, the bank's collection is just the first step. If you don't come back, just wait for the company to be sealed!"
Xiao Mengyi's face was blank, her eyes brimming with tears, she said angrily, "So it was you scheming behind my back. Do you know how much effort I've put into starting this company?"
"With a single word, you'd sacrifice my happiness for the Xiao Family's benefit, and now with another word, you want to destroy my career? On what grounds? You want me to compromise? Impossible! I won't go back before the engagement!"
After speaking, she hung up the phone, leaned over the desk, and begun to sob softly.
It took a while for her to steady her emotions, her eyes red as she said, "Now, only grandpa and grandma are truly concerned about me."
"Buzz~"
Suddenly, her phone vibrated with a new message.
Xiao Mengyi opened the message and saw a bank transfer for one million, along with a note "Qin Chuan repayment."
"Qin Chuan?"
Xiao Mengyi was taken aback, this was the first time she had heard the name.
When she confirmed that it was the card given to Qin Chuan, the events of that night came flooding back to her mind.
Remembering that it was her own initiative, her face flushed with embarrassment.
After calming down, she frowned and said, "I only gave him a hundred thousand, how could he repay a million?"
Although puzzled, she was in urgent need of money and couldn't be bothered with the questions for now. She swiftly proceeded to transfer the entire million to the company account using her phone's backend system.
After transferring the money, she breathed a sigh of relief, shook her head with a bitter smile, "This money, it's still far from enough!"
As she said this, she suddenly froze, recalling that Qin Chuan had said the same thing.
"That night, you were clearly scared too, but you still stood up, took me away from that den of wolves."
"You clearly took that spiked drink for me, and when the drug took effect, you let me leave, not wanting to harm me."
Thinking back on the events of that night at the bar, Xiao Mengyi's delicate face showed a lovely smile, "What a fool!"
She suddenly remembered something and checked the time on her phone, saying with a bitter face, "I don't know what grandpa and grandma are thinking, insisting on setting me up with a relationship."
"I understand it's for my own good, but how could the Xiao Family possibly allow me to marry someone else?"
For some reason, whenever she thought about the marriage arrangement, Qin Chuan's figure would always flash through her mind.
The next morning, Xiao Mengyi drove to Rose Manor Villa Area and finally stopped in front of a two-story detached small villa.
"My dear granddaughter! Grandma has missed you to death!"
Sun Xiuyun, who was watering flowers and plants in the courtyard, beamed with a kind smile and approached when she saw Xiao Mengyi.
"Grandma, I missed you too!"
Xiao Mengyi ran up and hugged Sun Xiuyun tightly, her eyes reddening slightly. Only in the presence of her grandparents could she feel that deep, blood-thicker-than-water kinship.
After entering the room, Sun Xiuyun came over with a plate of washed fruit and said with a smile, "Your grandpa took Xiao Chuan to treat someone from the Song Family, they'll be back in a while."
"That's right, Xiao Chuan is the young man I want to introduce to you. Your grandmother's judgment in people is absolutely impeccable. Xiao Chuan is an exceptionally outstanding boy, and if you two get together, I am sure you will be very happy,"
Xiao Mengyi had a bitter expression on her face. She was very resistant to the idea, but since it was her grandmother's suggestion and she didn't want to disappoint her, she had agreed to meet the other party.
"Yi Yi, tell your grandmother honestly, did the Xiao Family bully you again?"
While Sun Xiuyun was praising Qin Chuan's virtues, she suddenly noticed that Xiao Mengyi's eyes were red, and she seemed obviously distracted.
Xiao Mengyi quickly shook her head, forcing a strained smile and said, "Grandma, the Xiao Family hasn't been bullying me."
Sun Xiuyun let out a cold snort and said, "Your useless father only knows how to curry favor. When he wanted to marry into the Xiao Family, both your grandfather and I disagreed. In the end, he threatened us with breaking off relations, but the Xiao Family never really valued him as a son-in-law."
"Now, to gain more benefits from the Xiao Family, he is willing to sacrifice your happiness. Does he even deserve to be a father?"
Sun Xiuyun became increasingly angry as she spoke, and Xiao Mengyi quickly tried to calm her down.
"Yi Yi, your grandmother knows you don't want to marry into the Chen Family. If you're unwilling, then just reject the idea! If something happens, your grandparents will have your back!"
Sun Xiuyun spoke with domineering assurance, then her tone shifted as she continued, "Although Xiao Chuan can't compare to the Chen Family for the time being, it won't be long before his achievements far outshine that so-called Chen Family Heir."
Xiao Mengyi knew her grandmother well, and there were very few young people who could catch Sun Xiuyun's discerning eye. Now, seeing her grandmother so highly regard a young man she barely knew, Xiao Mengyi couldn't help but feel a certain expectation towards this Xiao Chuan.
Meanwhile, at the Song Family residence.
Song Qingshan and Luo Changsheng were playing chess under the pavilion in the courtyard, next to which flowed a man-made creek. In the crystal-clear creek, various koi the size of an arm swam and tumbled.
"Checkmate!"
After placing a chess piece on the board, Song Qingshan said with a laugh, "Old Luo, you've lost again!"
Looking at the dire chess situation, Luo Changsheng laughed bitterly and shook his head, "Playing chess with you, I've never won!"
"Hahaha!"
Song Qingshan laughed heartily and then looked toward the villa to see Xia Wanrong walking over with Qin Chuan.
"Divine Doctor Qin, you've worked hard!"
Song Qingshan greeted him with a smile and then instructed a servant beside him, "Pour some tea for Divine Doctor Qin!"
Xia Wanrong, full of astonishment, exclaimed, "Dad, Divine Doctor Qin's medical skills are truly miraculous! After his treatment, Xiao Yan looks much better than yesterday, and today's Xiao Yan is absolutely different from how she was a month ago!"
"Oh?"
Surprised, Song Qingshan then looked at Luo Changsheng and laughed, "Old Luo, it looks like you might not be able to retain your title as Jiangcheng's number one divine doctor!"
Luo Changsheng replied modestly, "Chinese medicine is profound and vast, and I've only learned a smidgen. It's not just the title of 'Jiangcheng's number one divine doctor' I don't deserve; even the term 'divine doctor' is more than I can claim."
"Mr. Qin is so young and already possesses such medical skills. The youth indeed have a lot to offer!"
Qin Chuan replied with a bitter smile, shaking his head, "Elder Song, Old Luo, please don't flatter me."
After speaking, he glanced at Song Qingshan's legs and asked, "Elder Song, if I'm not mistaken, you haven't been able to walk for fifteen years now, have you?"
Upon hearing this, Song Qingshan's pupils contracted sharply, and he instinctively looked at Luo Changsheng.
Luo Changsheng shook his head, "I didn't say anything."
Song Qingshan was shocked, and remarked, "Divine Doctor Qin's medical expertise is indeed formidable—just one glance and you could tell my disability has lasted for fifteen years."
As he said this, something seemed to dawn on him, and he became short of breath, his gaze fixed intensely on Qin Chuan, almost trembling as he asked, "Divine Doctor, is there a chance you could cure my legs?"