Translator: Cinder Translations
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The two were chatting when the fatty came back, carrying several bags full of groceries.
The young man named Pi Ruan visibly froze when he saw the fatty. After Jiang Cheng calmly explained that this was his friend, Pi Ruan's face instantly lit up with the enthusiasm of someone meeting an old friend in a foreign place, making the fatty a bit overwhelmed.
"Hello," Pi Ruan grabbed the fatty's free hand. "I'm Pi Ruan. It's a pleasure to meet you."
The fatty's face showed a puzzled expression. He looked at Jiang Cheng, but Jiang Cheng's face was always unreadable, so he had no choice but to look back at the young man in front of him. With a regretful yet conflicted expression, he said, "Hello, brother. Although I sympathize with you for having this illness at such a young age, I'm not a doctor, so telling me won't help."
Pi Ruan's hand froze in mid-air.
The fatty suddenly remembered he still needed to hurry up and make the ribs, so he excused himself and quickly darted into the kitchen, where he busied himself with the cooking.
Jiang Cheng didn't exploit the awkward moment, simply gesturing for Pi Ruan to sit down and asked, "How is your girlfriend behaving now?"
At the mention of his girlfriend, Pi Ruan sighed, "About the same as before, but worse in intensity. She often suspects that I'm not sincere with her, that I'm seeing someone else."
At this point, Pi Ruan suddenly became agitated. He raised his head, his neck tensing, and exclaimed, "But Doctor Jiang, you know me. How could I possibly be that kind of person!"
"Mm," Jiang Cheng pulled out a notebook with a blue cover, wrote a few words in it, and then nodded, "I know."
Pi Ruan then started pouring out his grievances like a floodgate had opened, recounting all the efforts he'd made since being with his girlfriend, only to be met with her lack of understanding.
Tears started streaming down his face as he spoke emotionally.
The fatty finished washing his hands and came out of the kitchen.
Pi Ruan was still talking passionately, while Jiang Cheng didn't show much empathy, only chiming in occasionally. Most of the time, he just listened.
The fatty, curious about Jiang Cheng's work, pulled up a chair and sat on the side, watching.
When he heard about how much Pi Ruan had given, yet his girlfriend still doubted him, the fatty couldn't hold back. But before he could offer words of comfort, he caught Jiang Cheng's gaze.
Silently, the fatty swallowed the words he was about to say.
"Dr. Jiang," Pi Ruan finally seemed to have exhausted himself. He rubbed his forehead with one hand, speaking in a tired tone, "That's the gist of it. In short, my girlfriend suspects that my motives for being with her are not pure, that I have some ulterior motive."
Jiang Cheng closed his notebook and clipped his pen onto it.
"Dr. Jiang, please come up with a treatment plan for my girlfriend as soon as possible. I'm counting on you."
Jiang Cheng nodded, "It's part of my job."
Pi Ruan sighed deeply and left.
As soon as he stepped out the door, the fatty scooted over, "Doctor, this guy's not bad. Although he's a bit 'soft,' he's genuinely devoted to his girlfriend. I really don't get why she'd think his motives aren't pure."
Jiang Cheng opened a drawer, placed the notebook inside, and looked up, "That's what you think?"
The fatty blinked, seemingly not understanding Jiang Cheng's point, and mumbled, "What are you trying to say?"
Jiang Cheng gestured for him to stop talking. A few seconds later, the door opened again, and Pi Ruan walked in briskly. Apologetically, he said, "Dr. Jiang, you see how forgetful I am! I almost forgot the most important thing—my girlfriend's 80th birthday is the day after tomorrow, and you absolutely have to come!"
Jiang Cheng, in his usual calm manner, replied, "Congratulations. I'll be there."
Satisfied with the answer, Pi Ruan left contentedly.
The fatty's mouth formed an O-shape.
After the door closed, the fatty finally noticed a young woman dressed as a secretary standing outside—a white blouse, black professional skirt, and black-framed glasses, exuding an intellectual yet alluring vibe.
After Pi Ruan walked out, his left hand habitually wrapped around the woman's waist, and the two left chatting and laughing.
The fatty silently picked up the shattered pieces of his worldview, realizing that no matter how hard he tried, he couldn't piece it back together.
Jiang Cheng tidied up some documents on the table and filed a few of them into the case rack in order. When he turned around, he noticed the fatty was still staring blankly out the door.
A blue sports car revved its engine and sped away.
"What are you looking at?" Jiang Cheng asked.
The fatty suddenly said, "I don't want to work hard anymore. His joy seems so pure."
Jiang Cheng thought for a moment, then turned around and walked back to the case rack. He pulled out several case files marked with red sticky notes.
He first opened one, then turned to face the fatty, holding the others under his arm. "Zhao Guiqin," he read aloud, "an entrepreneur, owns nine villas, countless luxury cars, with assets worth over a billion. Age: 89." He looked up at the fatty. "Currently single."
The fatty's lips trembled, seemingly wanting to say something but not knowing how.
Jiang Cheng, showing a look of sudden realization, pulled out another file from under his arm. "Liu Niuma, landlady, owns dozens of apartments. Age: 77. Also single." He put down the file and advised earnestly, "Don't be fooled by her youth. Her illness is severe, and she has no children."
The fatty took a deep breath and declared firmly, "I think I'm still young. I can still work hard."
Jiang Cheng clicked his tongue a few times in disappointment and regretfully put the documents back.
Following Jiang Cheng, the fatty asked, "How do you have these people's info? Are they your patients?"
"You could say that," Jiang Cheng replied.
"What illness do they have?"
Jiang Cheng looked at the fatty and said each word slowly, "Lonely, empty, and cold at night."
The fatty shuddered, and then, as if suddenly realizing something, his eyes widened. "So, you were the one who introduced Pi Ruan's girlfriend to him?"
Jiang Cheng, somewhat embarrassed, rubbed his nose, "It's my duty as a doctor. Seeing long-lost smiles light up their faces brings me genuine joy as well."
The fatty: ". . . Be honest. How much of a cut do you get from these wealthy women?"
Jiang Cheng ignored him and mysteriously went upstairs to busy himself with something unknown.
(End of the Chapter)
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