After Mu Jinyu made that gesture, he was also stunned, unable to comprehend why he would inexplicably make such an impolite action.
If it had been Wen Rou, or even Gu Xiyan, he wouldn't have felt it mattered much, as their relationships were already quite close, and such actions could be taken as joking.
But for Xu Qingya, counting this time, they had only met twice and hardly exchanged a few words. Making such a move didn't seem like joking at all, but more like teasing her.
Hadn't everyone noticed her cheeks were now flushed red?
Mu Jinyu silently reflected, he must not behave this way again in the future. He wasn't someone who was lost for words at the sight of a beautiful woman, how could he just act recklessly whenever he got a chance to be near someone attractive?
After warning himself, Mu Jinyu actively changed the subject to avoid further awkwardness, "Alright, Sister Xiaoya, find a quiet place to settle down, and I'll treat your grandfather. Of course, what I promised will not change."
"Oh, okay..." Xu Qingya's eyes darted about, avoiding Mu Jinyu's gaze. Realizing her situation, she then turned her head and said to the steward behind her, "Elder Lin, please prepare the car to go home."
In River City, where could be quieter than their Xu Family residence?
"Okay." Steward Lin nodded in agreement and went to call the drivers to prepare the vehicles.
As for the Xu family members following behind Mu Jinyu, because they were walking behind, they didn't dare overstep and naturally hadn't noticed Mu Jinyu and Xu Qingya's subtle interactions. However, they heard their conversation loud and clear.
Certainly, they could not avoid embarrassing themselves?
Seeing the unavoidable, their previously anxious mood gradually calmed.
Let it be, even though they had to face humiliation, since it occurred within their own family home and not in front of outsiders, this made it a little easier to bear.
The crowd shook their heads and sighed, then walked toward their cars.
Xu Tianzheng had been standing beside Mu Jinyu and had indeed seen the subtle interaction between Mu Jinyu and Xu Qingya. He clearly noticed the peach blossoms spreading across Xu Qingya's delicate face in that moment.
He inwardly nodded, confirming that his thoughts were right. Xu Zhixin's actions yesterday were not wrong either, but he was too hasty, attempting schemes without knowing that Gu Xiyan was already Mu Jinyu's girlfriend.
However, even if he had a girlfriend, their Xu family still had a chance.
Who says a man can only marry one woman?
With their overwhelming power and influence, who among them did not have multiple wives and concubines? Even if they must marry a woman of equal family status for an arranged marriage, and cannot publicly take several more wives, don't they still manage to keep their situation colorful outside?
Despite Xu Qingya being his granddaughter, who hadn't received much attention before, now due to her connection with Mu Jinyu, her status in the Xu family had rapidly risen, and it would be rather degrading for her to become a minor concubine to Mu Jinyu.
However, if it meant they could secure a hold over a divine doctor like Mu Jinyu, the Xu family could bear that bit of grievance.
While Xu Tianzheng was lost in thought, Steward Lin had already called the chauffeurs accompanied by bodyguards to bring the car over.
Xu Tianzheng quickly went forward to open the rear car door for Mu Jinyu, raising his hand courteously and saying, "Divine Doctor Mu, please."
Mu Jinyu gave a slight nod, then he and Xu Qingya, whose relationship with him was now somewhat awkward and flirtatious, got into the car.
This scene left the high-ranking bank officials watching them depart astonished, their jaws nearly hitting the ground.
...
It took almost half an hour.
The extremely spectacular convoy of the Xu Family finally returned to their estate.
As soon as they arrived, Xu Tianzheng, eager to impress Mu Jinyu, hurriedly disembarked first, moved around to Mu Jinyu's side of the car, and, after casting a warning glance at the similarly acting Elder Steward, respectfully opened the door for him.
"Divine Doctor, we have arrived, please," Xu Tianzheng gestured towards the villa as he spoke deferentially.
Mu Jinyu nodded faintly at him, disembarked, and looked at the villa he had visited just a few days earlier, feeling a sense of poignant reunion.
On that day, he had been invited, but no one recognized him. Not only that, but they also mocked and viciously insulted him, forcing him to injure several security guards before he left in disarray.
Yet merely three days later, the Patriarch of the Xu Family came in person to invite him, bowing and scraping, with his subordinates competing to serve, afraid of performing poorly and angering him, fearful that he might sabotage the treatment for his progressive freezing disorder...
It was an exaggerated change, yet it made sense.
After all, one only has one life, and at the level of a wealthy person like Xu Tianzheng, who wouldn't cherish it?
After a moment of reflection, Mu Jinyu turned his head towards the respectfully waiting Xu Tianzheng and said indifferently, "Get everything ready and lead the way..."
As soon as he finished speaking, a series of uniform and crackling sounds suddenly came from inside the villa. Without listening closely, one might think the Xu Family was celebrating a festival with firecrackers.
Mu Jinyu turned his head to look and saw the members of the Xu Family, who had entered the villa ahead of him, all standing respectfully in two lines with a red carpet in the middle. The crackling sounds were them stretching out their hands, energetically slapping their own faces.
It felt as though the Xu Family had invited a big shot into their home and were setting off firecrackers on either side in celebration.
However, this lively sound of firecrackers came at the expense of their swollen red cheeks.
Mu Jinyu watched this scene, slightly stunned for a moment, and then remembered that because of Xu Huaguang's presumptuous behavior the day before, he had laid down a condition that if they wanted him to come to treat the illness, this group of insolent people must first slap themselves a hundred times.
And the sentence he had just spoken to Xu Tianzheng had undoubtedly made them think he was instructing them to start slapping themselves a hundred times.
They were using the loud slapping sounds as a victorious anthem, welcoming him like a barrage of firecrackers.
In fact, he had no such intention and had even forgotten about it.
Mu Jinyu watched the members of the Xu Family, all gritting their teeth. Even though their faces were already red and swollen, they dared not lessen their force. His expression changed slightly as well.
After about a dozen slaps, Mu Jinyu could no longer bear to watch and quickly waved his hands, saying, "Enough, that's enough..."
The members of the Xu Family, their ears ringing from their own slapping, had not heard Mu Jinyu's words and continued to slap furiously.
Although Xu Tianzheng was anxious about his own illness, he also pitied his descendants. Seeing that Mu Jinyu had let bygones be bygones, he quickly stepped forward, gestured for them to stop.
The members of the Xu Family, upon seeing this, looked up at Xu Tianzheng in astonishment.
Some of the weaker individuals saw stars before their eyes, their bodies swaying a few times before they couldn't help but collapse to the ground.
Xu Tianzheng glanced at them with pity and then said sternly, "Divine Doctor Mu has forgiven you all. Why aren't you coming over to thank Divine Doctor Mu?"
Upon clearly hearing Xu Tianzheng's words, the members of the Xu Family were suddenly overjoyed and quickly bowed to Mu Jinyu, saying, "Thank you, Divine Doctor, for your generosity."
And Xu Huaguang, the main culprit of all this, also swayed a few times before attempting to bow in gratitude to Mu Jinyu.
Mu Jinyu glanced at him and said, "You, I really find annoying. Let's forget about a thousand slaps, but a hundred are still necessary. I guess you can't do it yourself, so let them help you out; it'll also allow them to vent their frustrations!"