Chapter Thirteen: You Have Disappointed Me Deeply!

In that instant, Qiao Lan understood many things. Staring at the two nauseating, groveling faces before her, an unexplainable fury rose in her chest. “Get lost, both of you! If you want to know, go ask the Li family yourselves!”

So Brother Zheng was already married. After learning the truth, Qiao Lan felt a sudden restlessness she couldn’t suppress.

“Uh…”

Chen Jianguo and Chen Xiong stood frozen, stunned by her outburst, but soon a chill crept over them. It was over—clearly that useless fool had caused a major incident at the Li family and had been detained, which was why Qiao Lan was so hostile toward them!

“Quick… Quickly inform the old lady, something terrible has happened, the Chen family is in trouble!” Chen Xiong finally managed to order his men, his voice trembling as he watched Qiao Lan drive away. Chen Jianguo simply collapsed to the ground, cursing “idiot” and “useless” under his breath, his eyes vacant.

Meanwhile, Su Zheng was enjoying tea, attended personally by Luo Huichun and his apprentice, Nie Feng. Although the Li family had no shortage of servants, Luo Huichun, eager to repay the favor of Su Zheng’s instruction, insisted on serving him himself, refusing to let anyone else take his place.

Of all present, Nie Feng had it worst. Already humiliated by his master's slap, he was now forced to wait upon this scoundrel, enduring the occasional curious glances from others, which made him wish he could disappear entirely. Inwardly, Nie Feng vowed that one day, he would reclaim his lost dignity, no matter the cost.

After a while, Su Zheng announced that he wished to return to his room. Li Yanze and Li Yanjun hastily rose to escort him, while Nie Feng followed with the gift boxes, all making their way to the prepared chamber.

“Have your apprentice stand guard outside. You stay and help me prepare the medicine,” Su Zheng instructed blandly.

Luo Huichun was delighted, knowing this was another rare opportunity. To observe a miracle doctor brewing medicine was to glimpse techniques he could not have imagined; he resolved to listen and learn with all his heart.

Nie Feng trudged outside, miserable. The thought of serving as a mere doorman for the next three days made his head spin.

Toward evening, Li Yanze and Li Yanjun personally invited Su Zheng to dinner. Luo Huichun declined, insisting on overseeing the medicine’s preparation until it was done. He refused to let Nie Feng leave either, declaring their duty to serve with utmost devotion.

It was past eleven that night before the medicinal properties of the Chixia herb were fully extracted. After Su Zheng took the decoction, he felt a warm current surge through his body; all his internal injuries were gone, and his constitution was notably strengthened.

At midnight, Su Zheng once again performed acupuncture on Li Jiangcheng. The old man’s condition had obviously improved.

Upon hearing that Su Zheng wanted no consultation fee and only cared for the rare herb, Li Jiangcheng immediately ordered his sons to bring out all their stores and dispatched buyers to acquire more at great expense, sparing no effort.

And so, on the following day, Luo Huichun continued brewing the medicine, Nie Feng stood guard, while Su Zheng spent his time either treating Li Jiangcheng, instructing Luo Huichun, or accompanying his mother—living at ease.

By the fourth morning, Li Jiangcheng could already walk unaided. In these days, he’d had no relapses, and his whole demeanor was no longer unnaturally flushed and sickly, but calm and healthy.

Su Zheng took the Chixia herb decoction daily, and his physical condition had improved dramatically. His strength increased to the point where even facing several strong men, he could hold his own with ease.

“Ha ha… Miracle Doctor Su, you truly have restored me to life. I owe you my very existence!” Li Jiangcheng exclaimed with deep emotion. He offered payment again, but Su Zheng only asked that it be used to buy more of the herb.

Finally, amidst the Li family’s gratitude, Su Zheng left the villa.

Luo Huichun wanted desperately to accompany him, but Su Zheng refused, telling him to focus on his own affairs and to seek him out if anything came up in the future.

Qiao Lan came every day, today being no exception. In the end, it was she who accompanied Su Zheng as he left the Li estate.

“Doctor Su is young and capable, a man worth befriending. In the future, you two should stay close to him,” Li Jiangcheng instructed his sons seriously as he watched Su Zheng’s departing figure. “Oh, and since I’m throwing a banquet to celebrate my recovery and entertain business partners, send an invitation to Doctor Su as well. He must attend.”

“Brother Zheng, thank you so much this time! Let me treat you to lunch,” Qiao Lan said with a light-hearted smile.

“No need, I have to get home right away—there are matters waiting for me,” Su Zheng replied with a wave.

“Actually… with your abilities, there’s no reason for you to stay with the Chen family. A man as outstanding as you—if you ever divorce, I guarantee there’ll be a host of women lining up to marry you!” Qiao Lan stood in the sunlight, radiant and slyly smiling, her eyes betraying a hint of veiled anticipation.

“There are indeed some things that need to be resolved…” Su Zheng was drawn into somber reflection, speaking without thinking.

“Good! To celebrate you making up your mind, let’s have a feast for lunch!” Qiao Lan said, inexplicably happy.

“You seem even happier than I am,” Su Zheng teased.

“Ahem… I always treat friends this way. Enough talk, let’s go!” Qiao Lan quickly covered, hurrying alongside Su Zheng toward the estate gates.

As they stepped out and were about to get in the car, they spotted a familiar figure approaching from the distance—Chen Muxue.

Su Zheng’s expression shifted. He couldn’t fathom why Chen Muxue would show up here of all places.

“Muxue? Is there something you need?” Su Zheng asked with concern. He cared deeply for Chen Muxue, and sometimes his words came out unconsciously.

“So you’re President Qiao? Well! I suppose I was overthinking things after all,” Chen Muxue said coldly, not replying to Su Zheng, but looking straight at Qiao Lan, her tone tinged with self-mockery and disappointment.

Qiao Lan smiled, instantly understanding the relationship between the two. “Hello, I’m Qiao Lan.”

“Chen Muxue,” she replied curtly, giving Qiao Lan a brief glance. “Do you have anything else to do?”

The implication was clear: if not, you can leave us alone.

Qiao Lan brushed aside her hair with composure, deliberately matching Chen Muxue’s intensity. “Nothing important, just about to have lunch alone with Brother Zheng. Why don’t you join us?”

She emphasized the word “alone,” still smiling faintly.

“Not interested,” Chen Muxue replied icily, then shot Su Zheng a glare. “You’ve let me down too much.”

With that, she turned and walked away.

Su Zheng’s face darkened.

At first, knowing Chen Muxue had waited here out of concern for him, he’d felt moved. But her words—“You’ve let me down”—stirred a sudden fury within him.

What did she mean, “let her down”?

She’d gone into a hotel with another man behind his back—what did she think of his feelings?

“Wait, I’ll go back with you. There’s something that needs to be settled between us,” Su Zheng said to Qiao Lan, then got straight into Chen Muxue’s car.