Lu Shaoyan smiled faintly but didn’t respond.
“Brother, do you really like that An Yurou from school?”
“Why are you asking?”
“I… I was just curious. I just got to Shen University, and I heard… I heard people talking about it.”
“I don’t like her,” Lu Shaoyan replied indifferently.
“Hmph, I knew it was just rumors. How could you like that kind of woman? Women like her just rely on a bit of looks, trying to climb the social ladder. A total scheming green tea…”
“You’ve interacted with her?” Lu Shaoyan asked, slightly curious.
Lu Keran pursed her lips. “I’ve never met her, but I’ve seen plenty of girls like that. They’re only interested in our family background.”
“Brother, don’t be so polite to everyone. People like them—give them a little leeway, and they’ll take a mile.”
“She’s just treating you like a badge of honor.”
“That whole ‘rich young master falls in love with me’ storyline—who knows how smug that cheap woman must feel.”
…
Lu Shaoyan listened to her muttering and finally said, “Why are you talking so much today?”
Lu Keran paused, then immediately said, “I’m just afraid you’ll get tricked.”
“Just make sure you don’t get tricked.”
“I won’t. I know exactly what those boys hovering around me are thinking. You can’t give them a good face. Give them a step, and they’ll climb all over you…”
Even after getting into the car, Lu Keran remained talkative, chirping nonstop like a little bird.
Before long, Lu Shaoyan leaned back, crossing his legs, one arm resting on the armrest as he stared out the window, lost in thought.
In the office, Xu Yi looked at Lu Shaoyan with a complicated expression.
The saying that clothes make the man seemed to come alive at this moment. Lu Shaoyan walked in with a smile, but for some reason, Xu Yi felt a chill.
Lu Shaoyan in branded casual wear was nothing like the Lu Shaoyan in a hospital gown.
In this world, it was no wonder people respected appearances before they respected the person.
Especially after what had happened in the electrotherapy room yesterday, Xu Yi still felt unsettled.
Attendant Liu Bin had lost two teeth and suffered a serious concussion, requiring a long period of recovery. Although Xu Yi had suppressed the matter, rumors had already begun to spread.
“Young Master Lu… you’re too kind. I can’t accept these gifts. We have regulations here.”
Lu Shaoyan waved his hand. Zhou Yuan, who had set down the gifts, bowed and quietly left the office.
Lu Keran blinked at Xu Yi before casually looking around the office. She wasn’t particularly interested, but since Lu Shaoyan had come, she naturally followed. The source of this chapter is g.com.
Lu Shaoyan smiled. “It’s not a bribe. I must have caused Director Xu quite a bit of trouble, so it’s only right to show some appreciation.”
Xu Yi frowned slightly. Trouble, yes—but Lu Shaoyan had been a psychiatric patient, and at most could have been disciplined within the hospital. Moreover, two lawyers from the Lu family had come earlier this morning, leaving him with no way to act against Lu Shaoyan.
Before Xu Yi could respond, Lu Shaoyan continued, “I also want to thank you for taking care of me these past three months. It’s just a small token of my appreciation.”
“You must accept it.”
Though his tone wasn’t forceful, the words “taking care” sounded sharp to Xu Yi. And that final sentence carried an unspoken meaning—whether you want it or not, you will take what I give.
It was presented as a gift, yet seemed to carry something more.
If I don’t give it, you can’t take it. If I give it, you can’t refuse—whether it’s good or bad.
Xu Yi shifted slightly in his chair before forcing a smile. “Young Master Lu, you’re too polite. You know your attending physician was Zhang Hao. He was responsible for your treatment.”
“As for Liu Bin, it was an accident. I’ve already suppressed the matter.”
“I… I’m not in charge of those specifics.”
“There’s no need to come here to thank me.”
Lu Shaoyan simply smiled without speaking. He naturally remembered Zhang Hao.
But he hadn’t forgotten Xu Yi either. Without Xu Yi’s approval, he wouldn’t have been admitted to Qingshan so smoothly.
The smile on Lu Shaoyan’s face brought an abrupt silence between them.
Lu Keran sensed the strange atmosphere. In her eyes, the older man, Xu Yi, seemed tense.
Soon, however, her attention shifted back to Lu Shaoyan, who sat leisurely on the sofa.
Her brother really had that kind of physique—slim in clothes, well-built underneath. He looked the same as before, yet now there was an inexplicable charm to him.
The morning sunlight streamed through the office window, casting a soft glow around him.
Without realizing it, she found herself staring at him again.
Xu Yi, however, only felt a growing chill.
Before Lu Shaoyan arrived, the two lawyers from the Lu family had been anything but polite. Their words implied that while they acknowledged the original psychiatric evaluation that led to Lu Shaoyan’s admission, they questioned the entire admission process.
As for Lu Shaoyan injuring someone, it was considered trivial. One of the lawyers had bluntly stated that, given his mental condition, there was no need to pursue the matter. As for the injuries, the Lu family would cover all expenses.
Their attitude was clear—whether it was an injury or something more serious, it wouldn’t be a problem for them.
Back then, Lu Shaoyan had been brought to Qingshan personally by Zhou Ting and Liu Yun. Xu Yi had only followed a simplified process to admit him first.
Many things couldn’t withstand close inspection. Procedures might seem unimportant most of the time, but in certain hands, they could overturn everything.
The correctness of a process could invalidate everything else.
Procedure was justice.
The stance of the Lu family’s lawyers was obvious—there were flaws in Lu Shaoyan’s admission.
This kind of “justice” felt more like a privilege of the wealthy.
The Lu family clearly had the power to stir up trouble over procedures.
Xu Yi felt uneasy. He even considered calling Zhou Ting, but hesitated. And now, Lu Shaoyan had come in person.
Looking at him, and recalling the lawyers’ words, Xu Yi realized something had gone wrong.
According to the lawyers, Lu Shaoyan would not be returning to Qingshan. As for discharge procedures, they would handle it themselves.
Xu Yi knew something had happened within the Lu family, though he didn’t know what. He sighed inwardly—he had gotten himself into trouble.
Under Lu Shaoyan’s deep gaze, Xu Yi forced a smile. “Young Master Lu, you coming here with gifts truly leaves me feeling undeserving.”
After pouring him a cup of tea, Xu Yi looked at him seriously. “Back then, Madam Lu asked Steward Zhou to have me take special care of you. But I’m old now, nearing retirement. With so many matters at the hospital, I simply couldn’t spare the attention, so I declined.”
“Many things were decided by Doctor Zhang Hao.”
“So, I was rather neglectful toward you. Later, it was likely Steward Zhou who approached Doctor Zhang to take better care of you. Sigh… at that time, I had some issues at home and couldn’t manage everything at the hospital.”
“For you to come personally to thank me—I truly feel unworthy.”
Lu Shaoyan narrowed his eyes slightly at those words, then smiled. He glanced at the tea Xu Yi had poured, lowered his crossed leg, leaned forward slightly, and gently pushed the cup away with two fingers. “I’m not very thirsty.”
Then, under Xu Yi’s furrowed gaze, he said calmly, “Director Xu, there’s no need to be so modest. Even if Doctor Zhang was the one who ‘took care’ of me, it was still under your approval. You’re the director of this hospital—it’s only right that I thank you.”
Xu Yi sighed.
Lu Shaoyan clearly held a grudge against him.
After all, admitting Lu Shaoyan had required his signature.
He wanted to say something firm, to show he wasn’t afraid of a young master from the Lu family. But as he met Lu Shaoyan’s gaze, an inexplicable discomfort crept into his heart.
The man in front of him seemed like an impulsive young man trying to intimidate him—but those eyes made him uneasy.
People said the arrogance of youth knew no bounds.
But that very recklessness could be dangerously destructive.