"But then again, for a military doctor, hitting the target is quite commendable," Nan Xiao added with a smile.
Huo Shao knew Nan Xiao was joking, but he still felt deeply regretful. "It's a shame Levin was captured. I don't even have a chance to redeem myself."
"Oh, but you do! If you drink all the wine today, that'll be your redemption!"
Someone started the teasing, and others joined in. Huo Shao picked up his wine glass and drained it.
Looking at his old brothers, Nan Xiao felt a flicker of nostalgia, as if he were back in those days years ago. They were still steely soldiers then, their lives filled with nothing but training and missions. Life was simple, and they knew nothing of sorrow. How he wished time could freeze at that moment.
Less than ten minutes into the meal, Nan Xiao's phone rang. He stepped out of the private room with his phone. As soon as he answered, a tall, exceptionally elegant girl emerged from the elevator. Seeing the striking tear mole on her face, Nan Xiao's grip on his phone tightened slightly. She was back!
"Boss, I saw Lan Yuxi in the parking lot..."
"I saw her."
Nan Xiao hung up the phone and strode forward, grabbing Lan Yuxi's wrist and pulling her into the restroom at the end of the corridor. Throughout the entire ordeal, Lan Yuxi didn't resist; she was surprisingly compliant.
Once inside, Nan Xiao cornered her against the wall. His deep-set eyes, devoid of any warmth, stared at her icily. "Don't do dangerous things like this again! Understand?" His voice was colder than his gaze.
Lan Yuxi lifted her charming face to look at him. "Mr. Nan, may I ask by what right you order me around?"
Nan Xiao averted his gaze, his eyes fixed on her blood-red tear mole, and said word by word, "I raised you! You are not to defy me!"
Lan Yuxi's expression changed instantly, and she shoved him away fiercely. "That's all you ever say! I've endured your Nan family for so many years because of that! From now on, I won't endure it anymore!" She continued, "Furthermore, I've severed ties with your Nan family, so whatever I do is none of your business!"
Nan Xiao looked at the furious young woman before him, his facial muscles tense. After a long moment, he parted his thin lips. "I wouldn't care about you, but what you're doing right now concerns me!"
Lan Yuxi jutted out her chin defiantly. "You said it yourself, I was raised by you. I'm only doing this as repayment. Now that the debt is settled, we are even."
Nan Xiao snarled, "I don't need you to repay me!"
"You're yelling at me? Believe it or not, I'll turn you into a vegetable again!"
Nan Xiao narrowed his eyes dangerously. "Your wings have grown strong, haven't they? You think I can't control you anymore!"
Lan Yuxi instinctively shielded her backside. In the past, when he said that, her backside always suffered. She was twenty-four now; surely he wouldn't still spank her?
Nan Xiao almost burst into laughter at her instinctive action. However, it did remind him. This girl really knew how to push his buttons when he wasn't looking. Nan Xiao extended his long, slender hand and, in an instant, held her captive in his embrace.
"Slap!" he landed a resounding smack.
Damn it! He really hit her! Lan Yuxi's face flushed. She raised her hand to grab his, but Nan Xiao didn't give her the chance, seizing her hand and pinning her against the wall.
"Did you get hurt over there?" This was Nan Xiao's most pressing concern.
"No!" Defeated, she could only answer honestly. Otherwise, she would be the one suffering.
"Where did you take the person?"
"Handed them over to Interpol."
Nan Xiao let out a long sigh of relief. Thankfully, she hadn't gone too far.
Just then, Lan Yuxi's phone rang at an inconvenient moment. Nan Xiao hesitated for a moment and then released her. Simultaneously, to prevent her from retaliating, he quickly retreated to a safe distance. Lan Yuxi was furious but helpless. She took out her phone and answered it. "I've arrived... Okay, see you in a minute."
After hanging up, Lan Yuxi glanced at Nan Xiao, his face as cold as ever. "I don't have time to deal with you now. You wait; I'll get this slap back sooner or later!" With that, she stormed out arrogantly.
Nan Xiao watched her leave and rubbed his forehead. He knew it. The moment he saw her, he would lose control. He turned and punched the wall. The pain in his hand brought him back to his senses. By the time he emerged, Lan Yuxi had vanished. After they had both left, another person furtively emerged from the restroom.
The next morning, a news headline titled "Quack Doctor Causes Harm" quickly climbed to the top of the trending list. It claimed that after Lan Yuxi treated a patient with lower limb paralysis, the patient not only failed to recover but became completely paralyzed. The report was accompanied by images and a tearful account. After reading it, Lan Yuxi felt guilty herself! But where had this patient come from? She desperately wanted to ask, "My dear sir, do we really know each other?" If you want to harm me, at least put in some real effort!
Lan Yuxi read the news and then scrolled through the comments. She even replied under some of the most popular comments.
- A finance student suddenly becomes the inheritor of the Lan Ling Golden Needle. Is this a wuxia film? Did you stumble upon an opportunity?
[Yes, I did. Are you jealous?]
- What a load of bull, heir to the Lan Ling Golden Needle! You're just trying to enrich yourself and gild your own name!
[My sister is from a wealthy family; we're so rich we only have money left!]
- I suspect the previous news was fake. It's been so long, and not a single vegetative patient has come forward to testify for you.
[Do you know what a vegetative state is? A vegetative state is when a person is in a long-term coma, unable to communicate with the outside world. You expect them to testify for me? Who do you think you are, a celestial being?]
After replying, Lan Yuxi switched to a game interface and started playing. However, some people just wouldn't let her play in peace. Her phone rang incessantly. After taking calls all morning until her phone battery finally died, she had a moment to take a sip of water. While grateful for the concern from her loved ones, Lan Yuxi felt a tinge of disappointment that Nan Xiao hadn't called her when she was in trouble. Well, she wasn't a child anymore; she could handle this minor issue herself.
In the CEO's office of Nan Corporation, Nan Xiao looked at Lan Yuxi's three replies, and the corners of his mouth curled up involuntarily. Nan Xiangbei tentatively asked, "Boss, should we delete the posts?"
Nan Xiao's face immediately returned to its usual calm. "No need. The way she's so brazenly arguing with them, she clearly doesn't want to delete the posts... Go and investigate who is behind this. Also, contact the patients she has treated. The sooner the better."
"Understood." Nan Xiangbei bowed and left.
The next day, the heat surrounding the criticism of Lan Yuxi didn't die down; instead, it was pushed to the forefront again. Lan Yuxi didn't even bother to look, continuing to live her leisurely life. When Lan Mu Shang arrived, he saw a girl as pale as snow, radiating beauty like a little siren, floating in the swimming pool, basking in the sun. The man's icy expression melted instantly the moment he saw her.