Chapter 34

Arriving at the hospital, Zhang Yizhi casually found a doctor to treat Xiao Bing’s wounds. As Zhang Yizhi put it, such a minor injury wasn’t worthy of his personal attention. However, when Yezi went to the bathroom, leaving Xiao Bing alone in the ward, Zhang Yizhi’s tone became serious, saying, "Xiao Bing, I didn’t expect you to run into trouble as soon as you arrived in Jiangcheng."

Xiao Bing got off the bed, put on his shoes, touched his nose, and said with a bitter smile, "Sometimes, even if I don’t seek trouble, trouble finds me. So I always feel that anyone who gets too close to me ends up being quite unlucky. Old Zhang, I’m going to cause you more trouble."

"Go on, how much trouble have you caused me already?" Zhang Yizhi said in a bad-tempered manner.

"It’s like this..." Xiao Bing recounted how the Ye family siblings had asked him to treat Ye Bancheng’s illness. Then he looked at Zhang Yizhi and asked, "Old Zhang, can you help with this?"

"I remember." Zhang Yizhi said calmly, "The Ye family once came to find me in the capital, but I didn’t receive them, let alone agree to their terms. For me, retirement means retirement. If I were to help the Ye family today, the Zhangs, Wangs, and Lis might come to me tomorrow. What would be the difference between my retirement and not retiring? Later, when I came to Jiangcheng, Ye Tianming came to see me personally, but I didn’t agree."

Yezi walked in from outside, quietly approaching Xiao Bing and listening obediently to their conversation.

"But since you’ve come to me today, I might have to make an exception. Not just for you, but also for your cute girlfriend. I feel a strong connection with your little girlfriend. I can’t let Yezi lose her father at such a young age."

Yezi, moved, said, "Old Zhang, thank you."

Although she had a falling out with her father and was still unwilling to speak to him or show any concern, it didn’t mean she didn’t care about his life and death. She just didn’t express it.

Zhang Yizhi said, "No need to thank me. But since we’re on this topic, from now on, if anyone else gets sick or injured, or if there are any other life, aging, illness, or death issues, don’t come to me. I won’t treat anyone else this year."

Xiao Bing, curious, said, "Old Zhang, I really don’t understand... You’ve retired, but why be so rigid? You should be more flexible."

Zhang Yizhi glared at Xiao Bing angrily and said, "What do you know? In short, don’t come to me this year unless it’s something else. Arrange a time, and I’ll go see how Ye Bancheng is doing."

Yezi said, "Why not today? My father will be very grateful for your visit. How about today?"

Zhang Yizhi looked at Yezi and chuckled, "Alright, I know you’re anxious. I’ll go tonight. It’s also a good opportunity to see what this difficult illness is."

Xiao Bing asked, "About dinner tonight?"

"You don’t need to arrange it. I’ll eat something at the hospital cafeteria and have a car pick me up tonight."

Xiao Bing smiled, "No problem."

Zhang Yizhi looked at Yezi and Xiao Bing and said with a smile, "You don’t need to stay here with this old man. You two young people should go on a date."

Yezi’s face turned red, and she said playfully, "Old man, what are you saying!"

Zhang Yizhi laughed heartily, "Actually, I feel Xiao Bing isn’t good enough for you."

"I agree," Yezi glanced at Xiao Bing and smiled sweetly, "So, someone needs to court me well, or I might kick him out if I’m in a bad mood one day."

Yezi was sometimes playful, sometimes sweet, sometimes mischievous, and sometimes bold and free. Her charming and playful eyes made Xiao Bing dazzled, and his heart beat for her.

Zhang Yizhi reminded them, "Hey, why are you still standing there?"

"Huh? Oh... I saw a mosquito on Yezi’s face."

Yezi’s eyes sparkled with mischief, as if she had already seen through Xiao Bing’s thoughts. She smiled, "Is it gone now?"

Xiao Bing chuckled, "Yes."

Looking into Yezi’s eyes, which seemed to see through everything, Xiao Bing felt his face heat up. Sometimes, Xiao Bing couldn’t understand why he felt so helpless in front of Yezi, even though he wasn’t a naive high school boy and had had many beautiful and charming friends before.

Xiao Bing steadied himself, grabbed Yezi’s smooth hand, and felt his heart soften. His heart beat wildly as he said gently, "Let’s go for a walk."

There was still some time before dinner. After leaving the hospital, Yezi called Ye Tianming, who was very excited to hear the news. Xiao Bing and Yezi then took a car to the riverside and sat down.

Xiao Bing put his arm around Yezi, and they lay down together, breathing in the fresh air by the river. All the unease and tension of the day seemed to disappear.

"Yezi, do you remember, this place...?"

Yezi closed her eyes slightly, curled her legs, and snuggled into Xiao Bing’s arms like a cat. The faint, sweet scent of a young girl filled his senses, and the soft, warm, and smooth body made Xiao Bing’s heart race. One of his hands was under Yezi’s head, and the other hesitated for a long time before gently resting on her back.

Looking at her up close, he felt an urge to hold her tightly, but he didn’t dare to, as if she were a precious porcelain that could break at any moment.

Yezi curled up in Xiao Bing’s arms, closed her eyes, and smiled sweetly, "Are you going to say this is where we fell in love?"

"Yes," Xiao Bing sighed, "the place where we fell in love."

With that, Xiao Bing couldn’t resist and leaned in to gently kiss Yezi’s small, upturned lips, just a light touch.

Yezi’s eyelashes fluttered, and she opened her eyes shyly, asking, "Why did you stop?"

"I’m afraid of being too forward," Xiao Bing said softly, "because I’m not thinking about taking advantage of you, but about how to love you."

The two of them looked at each other with affection, and Yezi’s already soft body began to melt.

After getting Xiao Bing’s answer, Ye Tianming went to Ye Bancheng’s room, knocked on the door, and walked in.

Ye Bancheng’s stepmother, Liu Piaopiao, was taking care of him. Seeing Ye Tianming walk in, Ye Bancheng asked weakly, "Any progress?"

Liu Piaopiao, who was very charming, also looked at Ye Tianming with concern. She was not only dressed and made up seductively, but her eyes were also very alluring, as if trying to tempt you into sin.

Ye Tianming ignored Liu Piaopiao’s gaze, his eyes showing no emotion, but his tone was excited, "Father, Old Zhang, the great doctor, has agreed to come and diagnose you tonight."

Ye Bancheng, surprisingly, struggled to sit up, though it was difficult and made him pant, his face looked radiant and his voice was excited, "Are you sure... really sure...?"

Liu Piaopiao quickly supported Ye Bancheng, gently patting his back, and said softly, "Father, don’t get too excited. Your health is not good, be careful..."

Then, Liu Piaopiao looked at Ye Tianming and asked, "Tianming, is this true?"

"Absolutely true, otherwise I wouldn’t have come in to tell you. This was thanks to a man named Xiao Bing."

"Great, great," Ye Bancheng said excitedly, "They say Zhang Yizhi is the best doctor in China. If he treats me, there might really be hope..."

Ye Tianming smiled, "Father, you are blessed. This is heaven’s way of letting you live a long life!"

Ye Bancheng laughed heartily, but then, perhaps due to excessive excitement, he began to breathe heavily. Liu Piaopiao quickly patted his back and helped him lie down, scolding, "Father, you’re not a child anymore. How can you not take care of yourself? You know your condition, you shouldn’t get too excited."

Ye Tianming smiled, "I understand Father’s feelings, but as Auntie said, you need to take care of yourself. I’ll go out now."

"Go ahead," Ye Bancheng’s mood was clearly much better, and his tone was less strict than usual, "You’ve always managed the company well. When I recover, I’ll give you more responsibilities. As the only son, you should help me more."

Ye Tianming shook his head, "Sister is doing a great job."

Ye Bancheng frowned and said sternly, "Don’t forget, you are my son. Is there a problem with helping me manage the company?"

"No... no."

Ye Bancheng smiled, "That’s right. As for your sister, she will also take on more responsibilities, but as a girl, finding a good husband is her top priority. She shouldn’t be too involved in these matters."

Ye Bancheng’s words were almost a final decision, tilting the company’s power towards Ye Tianming. This time, Ye Tianming’s success in getting Zhang Yizhi to agree added a lot of weight to his position.

Ye Tianming sighed, "I’ll do as you say, Father... I also have another thing to tell you."

Ye Bancheng was in a good mood, and his spirits seemed to be better, so he asked generously, "What do you want to say?"

"About Xiao Bing... my little sister is already his girlfriend."

"Oh?" Ye Bancheng’s eyebrows raised, then slightly furrowed.