Chapter 42: Cards on the Table—I’m Done Pretending
Chi Chaoshen: “…” If you admit you’re psychotic, isn’t that already a big problem?
Not long after, wearing his white coat, he left the office.
Chi Qian pulled out her phone and started furiously typing complaints to Chi Fengxiao.
He quickly replied: Didn’t you read the summer homework guide online? The very first rule is: care for children’s physical and mental health. Why can’t you understand the good intentions we adults have for you? (wipes tears)
Great. He was acting again.
Chi Qian typed back: Uncle, if you put half this energy into acting, your wealth would’ve long surpassed those empty promises you keep making me.
Chi Fengxiao: Your uncle’s promises are already baking—don’t worry, they’ll fill you up.
Chi Qian: Following Third Uncle means starving nine meals out of three.
Chi Fengxiao: …You brat, why do you always have to speak the cruel truth?
Conversation over.
Chi Qian took out her turtle shell and casually did a quick divination for her two uncles.
Third Uncle—currently in the water. Probably a swimming pool.
Second Uncle…
Uh-oh.
A bad omen.
What danger could there be in a hospital?
Only two words popped into Chi Qian’s mind. She immediately stood and went out.
From the second-floor railing, she saw a commotion in the lobby below.
A middle-aged man held up a blood-red sign, shouting, “Black-hearted hospital! Black-hearted doctors! My daughter’s illness hasn’t gotten better after all this time—you’re just scamming poor families like us for money!”
“Give my daughter her health back!”
At that moment, Chi Chaoshen stepped forward through the path the doctors cleared for him and faced the man.
“With your daughter’s current condition, the success rate for surgery is eighty-five percent. But you chose not to operate and only relied on medication, which can never be more than a temporary fix.” His tone was calm.
The man roared back, “Lies! Half a month ago my daughter was fine! Ever since she came to your hospital, she’s only gotten worse! Surgery? Surgery will only kill her!”
“Medication can only suppress the illness temporarily,” Chi Chaoshen replied evenly. “Our doctors have explained that to you many times.”
“I don’t care! You have to pay me back! Compensate me for everything my daughter has suffered!”
The man’s eyes reddened, desperation flashing.
Chi Chaoshen’s gaze cooled. “If your daughter leaves the ICU now, her condition will deteriorate even faster. If the hospital were willing to cover all surgical and medical expenses, would you, as her parents, allow her to undergo the operation immediately?”
Without thinking, the man blurted out: “No! That money has to go to me!”
Chi Chaoshen narrowed his eyes. “To you? If I’m not mistaken, sir, you gamble regularly. You’ve already pawned off your house to pay debts. Don’t tell me… you want to use your daughter’s life-saving money to patch your own hole?”
Murmurs erupted around them.
So that was it—they thought he was fighting for his daughter’s sake, but it was just blackmail!
Disgusting. Shameless!
Everyone began cursing him until his face flushed red.
He glared at Chi Chaoshen with hatred and suddenly lunged forward!
From his sleeve flashed the cold gleam of a fruit knife.
Whoosh—
A sharp whizz sliced through the air from above.
A pebble struck the back of the man’s head with perfect accuracy. Dizzy, he collapsed with a thud.
Security rushed in and pinned him down.
Chi Chaoshen glanced upward, already guessing.
There on the second floor stood Chi Qian, waving down at him with a bright, toothy grin.
In her hand, along with a few pebbles, was the hair tie she had just pulled off.
She would never claim credit—heroic deeds hidden in silence.
Chi Chaoshen’s lips curved faintly before he turned and ordered, “Prepare for surgery.”
“Director, are we really covering the costs for that girl’s operation? That’s no small amount.”
“If she agrees to the surgery and wants to live,” Chi Chaoshen said quietly, “then put it on my personal account.”
A human life shouldn’t have to pay for the negligence of her parents.
There were plenty of pitiful people out there, but Chi Chaoshen wasn’t the type to help every single one of them. If he did, he’d be worked to death.
It was just that whenever he thought of Chi Qian being here, he couldn’t help but feel that maybe, as her uncle, he ought to do a little better.
At worst, he’d just buy one less antique.
The girl agreed to undergo surgery. She even wrote out an IOU, promising that after she graduated and found a job, she would pay the money back little by little.
She was a student in the journalism department at Qing University, running a few popular online accounts on the side.
On a whim, she wrote about the experience and posted it online.
What she didn’t expect was that her article went viral. Suddenly, both the First Hospital and its young director found themselves at the center of public attention.
No one would dare associate Chi Chaoshen with smuggling antiques again.
Chi Qian received a message from her second uncle. He told her to wait for him at the psychiatrist’s office—he’d be there soon.
“Wu… wu wu…”
In the corner of the corridor, a girl was squatting down, crying so hard she was nearly choking on her sobs.
Hands stuffed in her pockets, Chi Qian walked over. “This is a hospital. If you’re not feeling well, you should see a doctor.”
The girl’s eyes were red as she looked up. “I… I’m not sick. I’m just really sad.”
“Oh.” Chi Qian nodded. “Not sick, that’s good. Saves me the trouble of calling someone.”
The girl opened her mouth to say something, but a sharp female voice cut her off, “What are you doing here? If your mother finds out, she’ll scold you again. Come with me—Yanran is still waiting for your blood transfusion!”
The girl looked aggrieved. “Auntie, I’m not feeling well either…”
“What’s wrong with you? You look perfectly fine to me. Stop being difficult!”
Chi Qian watched them for a moment. “Do you need me to call the police for you?”
Both of them froze.
“Non-consensual forced blood transfusion is a crime, you know,” Chi Qian kindly reminded them.
“Mind your own business!” the woman snapped. “What do you know, little brat?”
Chi Qian: “I just got out of prison last week. Think I wouldn’t know?”
The woman faltered, her tone suddenly uncertain. “Y-you look barely over ten.”
“That’s because I look young. I’m actually thirty-eight. Been divorced twice, done two prison stints.”
Chi Qian put on a weary, world-weary expression. “Once for attempted murder, once for illegally forcing someone to give me a blood transfusion.”
Attempted murder…
The woman’s face went pale. She yanked the girl along and fled in a hurry.
Chi Qian was about to leave too, when suddenly her collar was yanked from behind.
“Divorced twice, two prison sentences,” came Chi Chaoshen’s frosty voice. “Chi Qian, how come your uncle never knew you were so… talented? Hm?”
Chi Qian: “…”
“Uncle, it’s all a misunderstanding. Let’s talk this out.”
His expression hardened. “Your third uncle was right to send you to a psychiatrist. Go on—let’s see just how twisted your mind really is.”
He scooped her up by the scruff of her neck like a helpless but edible stray cat and deposited her in the psychiatrist’s office.
Chi Qian’s heart went still.
Fine. The act was over.
She wouldn’t pretend anymore.
After all, the only reason she got a second chance at life was because in her past life she’d struck the perfect balance of meat and vegetables, wasted nothing, and practically shattered her electronic wooden fish with prayers.
She was a freak.
Hahaha. Loving this story! Thanks for sharing the translation. 🙂