The moment Leng Qingqiu received the jade pendant, she felt dizzy.
Lu Chengwen quickly steadied her and glared at Luo Shiyin. "What did you do?"
Luo Shiyin looked panicked. "I didn't do anything!"
Furious, Lu Chengwen snatched the pendant from Leng Qingqiu's hand and shoved it back at Luo Shiyin. "Stay away from us!"
Luo Shiyin dropped her umbrella. "Brother, let's help her rest over there."
"Let go of her!"
"Don't touch her!"
"Step back!"
Luo Shiyin retreated like a scolded child. "I'm sorry, I didn't know this would happen. I don't know what's wrong. I just wanted to help..."
By then, Jiang Shihan had rushed over. "What's going on?"
Lu Chengwen said anxiously, "I don't know, but it's definitely her doing!"
Luo Shiyin was frantic. "I really didn't do anything!"
Lu Chengwen stepped closer. "Cut the act. Tell me, what did you do?"
The commotion drew a crowd.
People saw several stunning women—one unconscious, another tending to her, and the most alluring one of them all being berated by a man, on the verge of tears.
"Hey! What's with the attitude toward a woman?" someone shouted.
"Yeah, where's your manners?"
"Some men are just scum. The world's unfair!"
Lu Chengwen glared at Luo Shiyin, seething with anger.
He turned, scooped Leng Qingqiu into his arms, and strode away.
As soon as he got into the car, he called Xu Xuejiao. She answered coldly, "What?"
"Xuejiao, where are you?"
"None of your business."
"I need your help. It's urgent!"
"Oh, the great Young Master Lu needs help? Should I come running, only to be yelled at afterward?"
Lu Chengwen was desperate. "I was wrong earlier. I shouldn't have lost my temper. This is a matter of life and death!"
"Life and death? You got someone pregnant? Just go to the hospital for an abortion."
Lu Chengwen snapped, "Are you going to help or not?!"
Xu Xuejiao fired back, "Don't yell at me! Why should I help you?"
"Leng Qingqiu passed out after touching some woman's jade pendant. I don't know what happened."
"Then it's even less my problem. You two are a perfect match. What does it have to do with me?"
Lu Chengwen hung up.
Twenty minutes later, at the hospital.
Xu Xuejiao showed up anyway.
Lu Chengwen looked at her. "Thought it wasn't your problem?"
She rolled her eyes and checked Leng Qingqiu's pulse.
"How is she?"
"Is it serious?"
"Will she be okay?"
Xu Xuejiao shot him a look. "You're noisy."
Lu Chengwen shut up and stepped back.
After checking Leng Qingqiu's pulse, pupils, and heartbeat, Xu Xuejiao said, "She's fine. Just unconscious."
Lu Chengwen nodded. "Thanks, Doc."
Then it hit him—if she was unconscious, how was that "fine"?
Why else would he call her if not because Leng Qingqiu had passed out?
Unconsciousness wasn't normal!
"Wait, there's got to be a reason she's unconscious!"
Xu Xuejiao replied, "She might need further tests. Western medicine is more thorough in some areas."
Lu Chengwen frowned. "But you're the miracle doctor. If something's wrong, you'd detect it just by checking her pulse!"
Xu Xuejiao met his gaze. "You care so much about her. If I say she's fine, would you believe me? Or would you think I'm harming her?"
Lu Chengwen realized—Xu Xuejiao was still upset.
*(This girl... She's been messing with me, and now she's pulling this?)*
*(She's really angry, huh?)*
*(Fine. Maybe it's for the best. If she really hates me, she won't get tangled up with me anymore.)*
With that thought, he didn't try to placate her.
He just said politely, "Thanks. Sorry for making you come all this way."
Xu Xuejiao stared at him. "If Leng Qingqiu hadn't collapsed, would you never have called me?"
Lu Chengwen met her eyes. "Yes."
Xu Xuejiao's anger flared. "Do you just want me to stay away, only reaching out when you need something?"
"I was wrong," Lu Chengwen said. "I promise I won't call you again, even if I need help. If I'm shameless enough to dial your number, just hang up."
With that, he walked out.
He called Leng Tianhao, but the man brushed him off, saying he was too busy and to handle it himself.
Lu Chengwen regretted making the call.
*Luo Shiyin—it had to be her.*
*But was her target not me? Was it Leng Qingqiu?*
At the end of the hallway, he stared at the city skyline, lost in thought.
Soon, Xu Xuejiao approached.
Both were in a foul mood.
Lu Chengwen was weighed down by Leng Qingqiu's condition, while Xu Xuejiao's expression was stiff from their unresolved tension.
Normally, Xu Xuejiao dressed in bright, youthful outfits.
But today, she wore a white lab coat over black fitted pants, her hair tied back in a simple ponytail, hands in her pockets, her demeanor calm.
Lu Chengwen studied her. She seemed different—mature, professional, and reliable.
Xu Xuejiao looked at him silently before speaking. "There's a pinprick on her fingertip. I took a blood sample for testing. Results will take time."
Lu Chengwen shook his head. "Doubt they'll find anything."
"Personally, I think it's a specialized knockout drug from the martial world. Who did this?"
"A woman."
Xu Xuejiao frowned. "Aside from Long Aotian, you've pissed off women in the martial world too?"
Lu Chengwen nodded. "She works for Long Aotian."
"Why target Leng Qingqiu?"
Good question—why?
Leng Qingqiu had already resigned. She posed no threat to Long Aotian or Leng Tianhao. Why go after her?
"Is there a cure?" Lu Chengwen asked.
"Yes, but it'll take time." Xu Xuejiao reassured him, "Don't worry. Her vitals are stable. The drug is mild—it won't harm her. Their goal wasn't to hurt her, just knock her out."
Lu Chengwen looked at her sincerely. "Thank you."
"I'm a doctor. Saving lives is my job. No need for thanks."
"Still, I appreciate it."
Xu Xuejiao's voice wavered. "Do you like her more... or me?"
Lu Chengwen sighed. "You're both my friends. I made things clear with Leng Qingqiu today. If either of you ever needs help, I'll be there without hesitation. But we can only be friends. I don't want to stay too close."
"Because of Long Aotian?"
"Not just him." Lu Chengwen said, "I've got too many problems now. Anyone around me could get dragged down. I don't want to drag you into it."
"What if I'm not afraid?"
*"I am."* He changed the subject, admiring her. "You look good in professional attire."
"Really?"
"Yeah. Mature, steady, and trustworthy."
Xu Xuejiao tilted her head. "Want to get closer to your doctor? I'm the real deal."
Lu Chengwen chuckled.
*(This girl... Just when I thought she'd grown up, she starts messing around again.)*
"Forget it. I don't want your dad chasing me with a knife."
"You're scared of him?"
"Of course. He's your dad."
"But I heard you yelled at him this morning."
Lu Chengwen froze. "You know about that?"
"You chewed him out in our living room until he was speechless. The whole household's talking about it. How could I not know?"
"Sorry. I had no choice. He wouldn't listen. I just wanted him to—"
"I know." Xu Xuejiao smiled. "So... starting today, we're friends?"
Lu Chengwen exhaled in relief and nodded. "Good friends."
"Always there for each other?"
"Absolutely."
"If I need help, you'll come?"
"Without a doubt."
Xu Xuejiao seemed to have let go. She smiled and extended her hand. "Thank you, *good friend*."
Lu Chengwen shook it warmly. "Thank *you*, good friend."
Suddenly, Xu Xuejiao yanked him forward, throwing herself into his arms, and screamed, "What are you doing?! Let go of me, you pervert!"
Lu Chengwen realized—he'd been set up.
Everyone in the hallway—doctors, nurses, patients, families—turned to stare.
Lu Chengwen pushed her away. Xu Xuejiao stumbled back against the wall, on the verge of tears. "How could you? This is a hospital! Even if you want to harass me, you can't just act like this here!"
Lu Chengwen was done.
*(This little minx is too good at acting!)*
*(That calm, heartbroken expression made me feel guilty for a second!)*
*(Turns out it was all a trap. Now I'm the villain with no way to clear my name.)*
Nurses rushed to shield Xu Xuejiao, scolding Lu Chengwen. "How dare you? This is a hospital!"
"I don't care who you are. This is the Xu family's private hospital. You can't throw your weight around here! Show some respect!"
Lu Chengwen could only awkwardly explain, "It's a misunderstanding..."
"What misunderstanding? We saw everything! Get out of here now, or we're calling the police!"
As he tried to explain, he spotted Xu Xuejiao behind the crowd, sticking out her tongue and making faces at him. He itched to drag her over and spank her.
Just then, his phone rang—Leng Qingqiu's number.
He answered. Luo Shiyin's voice came through.
"Brother, want to save Leng Qingqiu?"
Lu Chengwen's expression darkened. "What do you want?"
"Come to the presidential suite at the Junli Hotel. Oh, and you're paying for the room."
She hung up.