Chapter 49 (2/2)

What a joke. Those who could afford these splendid decorations had no financial difficulty, but Zheng Ren had endured countless hards.h.i.+ps just to survive. How could he possibly have the luxury to appreciate these impractical items?

A lady in a red trench coat and sporting black shoulder-length hair welcomed them as they entered the courtyard.

“Doctor Zheng, it’s nice to finally meet you,” the lady… or perhaps the girl greeted politely.

Her pastel-white skin glistened as if she was a fairy carved from solid, pure jade. She was stunningly gorgeous.

She had lovely eyebrows and beautiful hair that danced with the wind. Her eyes shone brightly like dazzling stars as though her gaze held the power to see through Zheng Ren’s heart.

Zheng Ren actually found it difficult to estimate her age.

Judging by the open-mindedness and a good sense of judgment in her gestures, she was perhaps in her late thirties or early forties, as those were the temperaments of a successful career woman who had been working for more than ten years.

However, from her eyes and brows that had a slight hint of youth, she appeared to only be in her twenties.

Zheng Ren was momentarily stunned. Smiling gently, he walked forward and extended his hand.

Her cold fingers brushed lightly against Zheng Ren’s palm like a dragonfly skimming the surface of the water. It gave him the impression that she was unconcerned with material values or ordinary life.

“I’m Bu Li, Bu Yunge’s daughter. Doctor Zheng, this way, please.” The woman called Bu Li courteously gestured to invite Zheng Ren into the house.

He was able to recall the ident.i.ty of Sea CIty’s richest man with the surname Bu. Moreover, Bu Yunge had had at least ten multidisciplinary consultations before his surgery, so it was natural that his name was still fresh in Zheng Ren’s memory.

However, he felt the name Bu Li sounded strikingly old-fas.h.i.+oned for Bu Yunge’s daughter.

After they entered the house and sat down, some chefs with white toques so tall they almost touched the ceiling brought cooking utensils to the dining table and started cooking various delectable dishes on the spot.

Zheng Ren had never seen such a scene before, but he was not interested in or impressed by the spectacular view.

In his opinion, they were just escargots and undercooked steaks.

Zheng Ren’s calmness piqued Elder San’s curiosity. The atmosphere was lively, especially as the various anecdotes he shared whetted Zheng Ren’s interest as well.

Bu Li would join the conversation from time to time and comment on the dishes or national goings-on. Although she was not very chatty, her words enriched Elder San’s jokes and stories.

Zheng Ren’s appet.i.te was not satisfied as the food tasted bland and the steak was undercooked, which made him miss the food skewer stall in front of his house.

If he could simply indulge in some barbequed meat and a cold bottle of cola, he would be content.

The lethargy on Zheng Ren’s expression was getting worse. Elder San and Bu Li, both smart and savvy, met each other’s gaze before Bu Li said, “Doctor Zheng, regarding my father’s surgery, I would like to thank you for doing the right thing.”

“You’re welcome. That’s what doctors are supposed to do,” replied Zheng Ren with a smile.

“There’s no such thing as supposed. If my understanding is correct, you had to take the fall no matter how well your performance was.” Bu Li understood the trouble Zheng Ren had faced.

All worldly affairs were similar.

Zheng Ren kept quiet and smiled.

“It was actually a blessing in disguise. Doctor Zheng, Old Pan actually thinks highly of you after you were transferred to the emergency department. You have a promising future ahead of you,” replied Elder San.

“Haha, I’m used to it by now.” Zheng Ren then added calmly, “You’ll meet all kinds of people in the hospital, so you’ll learn to take everything easily after a while.

“For example, the caregivers for most vegetative patients are usually their mothers.

“Spouses normally prefer to give up on treatment.

“The child who cares for their parents was not the most favored one at home.

“If any woman comes for treatment of ectopic pregnancy, you have to first catch the man who sent her to the hospital and not let him escape. Otherwise, no one will pay for her medical expenses.”

Zheng Ren’s voice was calm and dull as if he was an elderly man who had understood the world thoroughly, sitting alone in front of the fireplace with a blanket on his knees and recalling the past while cold wind rampaged outside the house.

The vicissitudes of life turned the atmosphere gloomy there and then.

Elder San nodded as he had already experienced these matters.

Bu Li’s gaze was dull as she replied, “Doctor Zheng understands worldly affairs well. Every family has its own issues, but they’re similar to the problems frequently encountered in society. That’s just not worth it.”

After letting out a heavy sigh, she smiled warmly and lifted the gloomy mood as if spring had fallen. “Let’s not discuss this any further. Doctor Zheng, I’ve something that requires your a.s.sistance.”

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