"Who... Who are you?" Dr. Zhou, trembling, pointed a shaking finger at the intruder, his voice a mix of anger and fear. Just as his scheme was about to succeed, it was interrupted at the critical moment—his fury was evident.
Xiang Ri, however, paid him no mind. He walked directly to the beautiful teacher, who had collapsed to the ground, and helped her to her feet. "Ms. Song, are you all right?"
"I'm fine," Song Qiuheng responded, her cheeks flushing faintly. Though the man helping her was a decade younger and her student, she couldn't help but feel slightly uncomfortable.
"Good to hear." Relieved, Xiang Ri cast a brief glance at the doctor in the white coat before focusing again on the teacher. "So, what was it that made you call me so urgently just now?"
Song Qiuheng's previously composed demeanor shifted instantly to panic. Grasping Xiang Ri's arm tightly, she exclaimed, "Xiang Kui, my brother needs immediate surgery!"
Startled by her sudden action, Xiang Ri frowned. "Then why isn't the surgery happening?" He turned toward the doctor. "You're the doctor, aren't you? Why haven't you started the operation?"
Still seething with anger, Dr. Zhou retorted harshly, "How do you expect me to operate without money?"
In truth, Dr. Zhou had no intention of performing the surgery. The patient on the bed wasn't as critical as he appeared; his unconscious state was merely the result of some underhanded tricks. After all, such substances weren't uncommon in hospitals.
"How much?" Xiang Ri's expression darkened. He now understood why Ms. Song had called him earlier. Without money, surgeries were withheld. Even if payment was made, a delay in the operation could still result in death, with the hospital bearing no responsibility.
"Two hundred thousand," Dr. Zhou replied nonchalantly, his tone as casual as if he were mentioning "two yuan."
To him, this young man, who looked every bit the penniless student, couldn't possibly produce such an amount. One glance at his outdated attire and cheap glasses told the story—he was practically beneath contempt.
However, the young woman next to him was a different story. Comparable in beauty to Song Qiuheng, Dr. Zhou's eyes gleamed with greed. If he could have both of these exceptional women, life would indeed rival the divine.
Unaware of the lewd grin on the doctor's face, Xiang Ri swiftly filled out a check and handed it over. "Take it."
"What do you mean by this?" Dr. Zhou's expression shifted. He knew anyone using a check was no ordinary individual. While he was accustomed to mingling with the wealthy, this particular situation unnerved him. After a quick glance at the check, his disdain returned. "Let me tell you something—I've changed my mind. I'm not doing the surgery anymore."
"What did you say?" Seeing the doctor's arrogance, Xiang Ri grabbed his collar, yanking him forward. "Say that again if you dare!"
Panic overtook Dr. Zhou. He hadn't expected this seemingly unimpressive young man to possess such strength. No matter how he struggled, he couldn't break free from Xiang Ri's grip. "What are you doing? This is a hospital!"
"You're aware it's a hospital?" Xiang Ri roared. "Hospitals are meant to save lives, not serve as playgrounds for scum like you to freeload and exploit others!"
He had long been displeased with this despicable doctor. Although he wasn't entirely sure what had transpired earlier, the sight of the beautiful teacher collapsed on the ground upon his arrival made it clear that the situation was far from simple. If money were the issue, she wouldn't have called him for help, so something more sinister must have occurred.
The only suspect worth questioning was the man in the white coat standing at the scene. Perhaps he had uttered something he shouldn't have—threats, blackmail? Xiang Ri's gaze turned icy. He had deduced the crux of the matter. Given the teacher's current state—neither wealthy nor influential—the only leverage she possessed was herself. This vile doctor had clearly exploited her concern for her brother's life to force her compliance.
With this realization, Xiang Ri tightened his grip and hoisted the degenerate doctor off the ground.
"Don't! Stop! Somebody help! Help me!" Suspended in midair, Dr. Zhou screamed in panic.
"Xiang Kui, stop this!" Song Qiuheng, regaining her senses, rushed forward and clutched her student's arm tightly. To her, the priority was her brother's surgery; nothing else mattered.
"Put him down, please. My brother still needs the operation." Her voice trembled, cracking into a sob by the end.
Hearing this, Xiang Ri's heart wavered. He released the despicable doctor and shoved the check at him. "Here's the money. Now get to work and perform the surgery immediately!"
Dr. Zhou, weakened by the earlier struggle and fear, was visibly drained, but his gaze had grown even more malicious. "I'm not in the mood right now. I'll do it when I feel like it." He sneered, emboldened by the belief that his earlier screams must have alerted security. Once they arrived, this insolent boy would surely pay.
"What's going on here?" Sure enough, his words had barely faded when a crowd stormed into the room—doctors, nurses, and uniformed security guards.
Dr. Zhou, now brimming with arrogance, pointed at Xiang Ri and bellowed, "This man is causing a disturbance in the hospital and even assaulted me. Throw him out immediately!"
"Who dares?"
---
"Old Wan, have the suspects been apprehended?" In the office, Tie Wan remained seated behind her desk, questioning the middle-aged officer before her.
"Yes, Chief Tie, but..." The officer's words faltered, his hesitation evident.
"But what?" Tie Wan's brow furrowed, a sense of foreboding creeping into her mind.
"Well... a few of them managed to escape, but they're just small fry. The primary target, the man named Ma, has been captured."
Tie Wan's frown deepened. "Old Wan, how many times have I told you to ensure everything is thoroughly prepared? How could you be so careless?"
"It's not that, Chief Tie. The other side was heavily armed, and our team was caught off guard..."
Tie Wan's heart tightened as she quickly stood. "Were any of our officers injured? Did anyone..." She couldn't bring herself to finish the sentence, dreading the worst possibility.
Sensing her concern, the officer hastily reassured her. "Don't worry, Chief Tie. Only a few minor injuries. Everyone has already been sent to the hospital."
"That's a relief." Tie Wan exhaled deeply. "Which hospital are they at?"
"The Ninth People's Hospital—it's the nearest facility to the scene." The officer hesitated briefly before adding, "The Ninth isn't the best hospital, but it's decent enough. We chose it purely for proximity, not to mistreat the injured."
"The Ninth People's Hospital?" Tie Wan froze for a moment, lost in thought. Then, gathering the files on her desk, she spoke decisively, "Old Wan, I'll head over to check on their condition. As for the newly captured suspects, I'll leave them to you. Write up a report for me by the time I return!"