Great Sea City, Dongfang Family Private Hospital.
Private ward.
"Alright, Miss, avoid strenuous activities for the time being. Rest more and boost your immune system..."
The female doctor put away the syringe containing the snake antivenom.
"Thankfully, Miss, you were quick-thinking and caught the venomous snake that bit you. Otherwise, identifying the correct antivenom in such a short time would have been troublesome."
Hearing the doctor's praise, Dongfang Zhixia felt inexplicably uncomfortable for the first time.
Because she knew—the person who caught the snake wasn’t her at all. Not only had she not helped, but she had almost flung the snake away in panic.
She’d practically sabotaged herself.
Now, listening to the doctor praise her for staying calm, Dongfang Zhixia’s face burned with shame. It wasn’t a compliment—it felt more like humiliation.
"Oh, Miss, do you still want the snake that bit you? If not, we’ll dispose of it safely," the doctor suddenly added.
Normally, venomous snakes brought to the hospital after biting someone were disposed of immediately. But since this one had bitten the young mistress of the Dongfang family, it warranted special treatment.
Best to ask first.
"Keep it for me. I have plans for it," Dongfang Zhixia said, as if struck by an idea.
"Understood, Miss. Make sure to rest well these days."
The doctor left shortly after.
Not long after, the petite secretary walked in carrying a transparent glass box.
"Miss, why are you keeping this snake? It looks so vicious!"
She lifted the glass box and gave it a little shake.
The coiled serpent inside suddenly sprang up, slamming against the glass with a loud clang.
"Ah! Waaah—!"
"Miss, it’s so scary! Waaah—!"
The secretary shuddered, nearly dropping the box in fright. She hastily placed it on the nearby cabinet and looked at her mistress with teary eyes.
Dongfang Zhixia: "..."
"Useless! How can you be so timid? You eat so much every day, yet when it matters, you’re completely worthless!"
The secretary pouted, too ashamed to lift her head under Dongfang Zhixia’s scolding.
When she looked down, all she saw was a pair of "useless fatty lumps."
Dongfang Zhixia rubbed her temples in frustration. "It’s in a box! Do you really think it’s going to jump out and bite you?"
"Pathetic. Even with the glass between you, you’re this scared? Look at me—I got bitten and didn’t even cry. What’s there for you to cry about?"
Dongfang Zhixia’s bravado was swallowed whole by the secretary, who believed every word.
Nodding vigorously, the secretary sniffled, "Miss, you’re so amazing! I’m terrified of slimy things like this. They’re so gross and scary!"
Dongfang Zhixia fell silent.
Truthfully… she was just as creeped out.
But in front of her secretary, she refused to lose face, forcing a relaxed expression.
The secretary didn’t suspect a thing—in her eyes, her mistress was practically a superhero!
"Hopeless," Dongfang Zhixia scoffed, rolling her eyes.
Her gaze then landed on the secretary’s plump "chest muscles."
"Starting tomorrow, you’re on a diet. I’ll supervise you!" Dongfang Zhixia declared out of the blue.
"Huh? But… Miss, I’m not fat," the secretary mumbled, peeking up timidly.
"Not fat?!"
Dongfang Zhixia glared pointedly.
Too intimidated to argue, the secretary could only reluctantly agree to her impending weight-loss ordeal.
Waaah… goodbye, my milk tea, my fried chicken…
"Miss, are we taking this thing home?"
The secretary cast a fearful glance at the snake in the glass box.
Dongfang Zhixia smirked coldly. "Of course. It won’t get off easy after biting me. I’m turning it into a wall-mounted specimen!"
"But Miss, can’t someone else handle that? It’s a venomous snake—so dangerous! What if it bites someone again…?"
The secretary blinked innocently.
Dongfang Zhixia pondered for a moment, then nodded.
"Fair point. You do it, then."
Secretary: "..."
"Waaah! Nooo, Miss! Waaah—!"
Dongfang Zhixia: "..."
Absolute moron.
"Miss, are we still going after that jerk tomorrow?" the secretary suddenly asked.
The moment Ye Cheng’s name was mentioned, Dongfang Zhixia’s calm demeanor shattered into gritted teeth fury.
"Obviously! That bastard made me suffer so much—you think I’ll let it slide?!"
"Should we have him kidnapped and beaten up?" the secretary asked blankly.
Dongfang Zhixia frowned.
Admittedly, both times she’d confronted Ye Cheng, she’d ended up humiliated.
It was like he was her natural nemesis. The simplest solution would be to have him tied up and thrashed until he learned to avoid her forever.
But… for some reason, Dongfang Zhixia hesitated.
Even though he was infuriating, and beating him up sounded satisfying…
"Beat him up? Pfft! I don’t crush ants with a sledgehammer. Since I lost face against him, I’ll reclaim it properly!"
She struck a confident pose.
The secretary nodded eagerly beside her, radiating admiration.
"But Miss… your shoe is still with him, isn’t it?"
Dongfang Zhixia: "..."
Her face instantly flushed red with rage. "You didn’t get my shoe back?!"
"S-Sorry, Miss! I couldn’t find him at the time…"
In truth, the secretary had completely forgotten about it in the chaos, her mind solely focused on her mistress.
Besides, Ye Cheng had been downright shameless—slipping away in the crowd and even stealing a Dongfang bodyguard’s jacket as a disguise.
With the secretary’s IQ, catching him was downright impossible.
Dongfang Zhixia’s chest heaved. "You’re going to be the death of me!"
"Waaah! I’m sorry, Miss! Waaah—! What if we lure him out again?" The secretary’s eyes lit up.
Dongfang Zhixia: "..."
"Do you actually think that’s clever?"
Secretary: "(๑°⌓°๑)"
Dongfang Zhixia: "..."
"You’re fired!"
"Waaah! Miss, I’m sorry! Waaah—!"
The next day.
Ye Cheng overslept—or more accurately, nearly slept himself to death.
The venom from the snake that bit Dongfang Zhixia was no joke.
Despite his professional handling, he’d still been affected. Once he lay down, getting back up was a struggle.
"Damn it, what now? I’m gonna be late… Huh?"
Just as he was at a loss, a familiar figure came into view—
A young mistress hobbling along on crutches!
Tap, tap, tap…
Shen Qinghan had barely taken two steps when someone suddenly steadied her.
Shen Qinghan instinctively furrowed her brows, her aura turning even colder. Before she could utter the words "Let go," Ye Cheng preempted her.
"Miss, it must be tough carrying all this weight alone, isn’t it?"
"Indeed, no matter how strong a woman is, she still needs a man to lean on. And as luck would have it, I happen to be that very man."
"Don’t worry, Miss. I won’t judge you. Feel free to rest your head on my shoulder and walk forward with confidence!"
Ye Cheng wore an expression of magnanimity.
Shen Qinghan fell silent for a moment.
"You’re late, aren’t you?"
Ye Cheng: "..."
"Miss, I’m afraid I don’t quite follow," Ye Cheng replied, unshaken.
Shen Qinghan remained impassive. "If you don’t understand, that’s fine. Later, I’ll just say your tardiness had nothing to do with me. Unless something unexpected happens, you’ll probably end up standing outside all morning and be the last one in the cafeteria again."
With a thud, Ye Cheng dropped to his knees and clung to Shen Qinghan’s other leg.
He burst into tears.
"Miss, you’ve got to save me!!!"
Shen Qinghan: "..."