The crisp slap echoed throughout the ward. Guo Shaocong's left cheek swelled up visibly right before their eyes.
"You… you dare hit me?!" Guo Shaocong stared at Ye Qiu in utter disbelief.
All this time, he had looked down on Ye Qiu as a useless loser. But now…
"I held back and gave you space not because I fear you," Ye Qiu said coldly.
"I'll kill you!" Guo Shaocong raised his fist, ready to attack.
"Try laying a finger on him," Lin Jingzhi's icy voice rang out. "Touch Ye Qiu, and I'll take your life."
Guo Shaocong turned around. Lin Jingzhi's eyes were cold and emotionless — she was not joking in the slightest.
"Who exactly are you?" Guo Shaocong asked in a deep, tense voice.
"Someone you can never afford to provoke," Lin Jingzhi snapped, her almond eyes sharp. "Get out!"
Her dominance was overwhelming.
Guo Shaocong hesitated for a moment, then reluctantly lowered his fist. Until he figured out Lin Jingzhi's real status, he didn't dare act rashly. What if she really was untouchable?
"Ye Qiu, this isn't over. You just wait," Guo Shaocong snarled, then hurried out of the ward.
The ward finally fell quiet.
"Sister Lin, thank you," Ye Qiu said gratefully.
He was deeply touched by how she had stood up for him.
"It's nothing, don't mention it." Lin Jingzhi smiled. "How did it feel slapping Guo Shaocong?"
"Amazing!" That single slap had released all the frustration bottled up inside him.
Ye Qiu then asked, "Sister, do you think I'm cowardly?"
"No, you're not cowardly — you're just too kind," Lin Jingzhi said. "You've just stepped into society. You avoid trouble and fear it, because you know you have no money, no power, no connections. So every time something happens, you back down again and again, willing to suffer rather than offend others. I understand how you feel."
"But I don't approve of it."
Lin Jingzhi's tone shifted. "Like I said: good people get trampled on, gentle horses get ridden. Endless patience won't solve anything. Guo Shaocong bullying you over and over is proof enough."
"Remember this: a man must have a strong, decisive heart to stand firm in this world."
Ye Qiu smiled bitterly. "I know the truth, but…"
"But you think you have no backing, so you can't afford to provoke them, right?"
"Yeah." Ye Qiu nodded.
Lin Jingzhi smiled. "Why not see it differently? You have nothing to lose. If you stand your ground, do they really dare fight you to the death?"
Ye Qiu froze.
"In this world, the richer and more powerful people are, the more afraid they are of dying. If you stand up to them without fear, they'll back down," Lin Jingzhi said. "Besides, you're not completely without support."
"What do you mean?"
"From now on, I'm your backing. Anyone who bullies you, I'll deal with them."
Ye Qiu wasn't sure if she meant it seriously, but his heart felt warm all the same.
"Thank you, Sister."
"I don't like empty thanks. How about something real?" Lin Jingzhi narrowed her long, seductive eyes and looked at him playfully. "Kiss me."
What?!
That was way too direct!
Ye Qiu's face flushed red again.
"Hahaha, you're such a cute one. Alright, I'll stop teasing you. Give me the contract." Lin Jingzhi laughed.
Ye Qiu quickly handed her the contract and a pen.
Lin Jingzhi didn't even read the terms before signing her name boldly on the document.
It was done!
Ye Qiu let out a long sigh of relief.
Now the care worker station had no reason to fire him, which meant he could stay at the hospital.
As long as he remained here, he had a chance to return to surgery.
"Oh, can you heal my leg with Maoshan talismans?" Lin Jingzhi asked.
Ye Qiu shook his head. "There is a powerful bone‑healing spell among the talismans, but I haven't learned it yet. Besides, your leg has already had surgery — you just need to rest and recover."
"But I hate lying in this hospital bed."
"I'll wheel you down to the garden later, okay?"
"Really? Ye Qiu, you're so sweet. I wish you were my boyfriend," Lin Jingzhi said, blinking her big watery eyes, charming and playful.
There she goes again.
Ye Qiu could barely stand it.
Why did this woman love teasing him so much?
"Sister Lin, I'll go get you food from the cafeteria. Stay here and rest," Ye Qiu said, fleeing the ward in a fluster.
…
Qian Jinglan had been worrying about Ye Qiu's marriage for days. Since she had the day off, she finished her housework and came to the hospital, planning to talk to Zhang Lili about arranging a meeting between their parents to finalize Ye Qiu and Zhang Lili's engagement.
As soon as she reached the inpatient building entrance, she saw Zhang Lili walking out with a young male doctor.
The doctor had one arm wrapped around Zhang Lili's waist, and the two looked extremely intimate.
Qian Jinglan was a traditional woman. Seeing this, she felt a flicker of displeasure.
Just then, Zhang Lili spotted her and frowned. "Auntie, what are you doing here?"
"Lili, I came to see you," Qian Jinglan said directly.
"See me? Why?"
"I want to talk about setting a date for our parents to meet, so we can settle things between you and Ye Qiu."
Zhang Lili's frown deepened. "Auntie, didn't Ye Qiu tell you?"
"Tell me what?" Qian Jinglan asked, confused.
"Looks like he didn't." Zhang Lili said, "Ye Qiu and I have broken up."
"You broke up?!" Qian Jinglan stared in shock. "When? Why didn't he say anything?"
"Then he definitely didn't tell you either that he got caught plagiarizing Dr. Guo's medical records and got demoted to a care worker."
What?!
Qian Jinglan's face turned ashen. As a mother, her greatest fear was Ye Qiu's future.
"Will Ye Qiu still be able to become a full‑time doctor?" she asked anxiously.
"Lose his job first, let alone become permanent? Dream on!" Guo Shaocong sneered. "Old woman, you raised a fine son — plagiarizes my work and even hits me. Outrageous!"
"You say Ye Qiu hit you? That's impossible," Qian Jinglan refused to believe it. "Ye Qiu has always been kind. He's never hurt anyone. There must be a misunderstanding."
"Misunderstanding my ass." Guo Shaocong pointed at his swollen cheek. "Old woman, open your eyes — your son did this."
Zhang Lili added, "Auntie, I can testify. Shaocong's father is the associate dean. Ye Qiu will never get a permanent position here."
Qian Jinglan's face drained of all color. Ye Qiu was her only hope. But now…
No! She couldn't let her son lose his job!
Qian Jinglan bent over, forcing a smile, and said to Guo Shaocong, "Dr. Guo, it's all Ye Qiu's fault. I'll teach him a lesson when he gets home. You're a generous man — could you give him a chance, for my sake?"
"For your sake?" Guo Shaocong spat directly in her face and cursed. "Who the hell do you think you are? Your 'face' is worth nothing."
"Dr. Guo, please forgive him. Ye Qiu was just foolish. I apologize on his behalf —"
Slap!
Before Qian Jinglan could finish, Guo Shaocong slapped her across the face and snarled, "A lowlife like you dares ask me for mercy?"
Qian Jinglan covered her cheek and looked at Zhang Lili pleadingly. "Lili, you were with Ye Qiu once. Please beg Dr. Guo for him!"
Zhang Lili said coldly, "I've cut all ties with Ye Qiu. Whether he lives or dies has nothing to do with me."
Qian Jinglan stared at her in disbelief.
At that moment, Guo Shaocong smiled grimly. "Old woman, kneel down and apologize to me, and I'll give Ye Qiu a chance."
Thud!
Without hesitation, Qian Jinglan dropped to her knees. For her son's future, her own dignity meant nothing.
Little did she know, Ye Qiu had just walked out of the inpatient building and witnessed the whole thing. His eyes turned bloodshot in an instant.