Yang Chen and Chu Xiang parted ways at the entrance of the auction house.
Chu Xiang took her gilded uranium agate gold dragon tea set home, while Yang Chen, out of necessity, pocketed thirty thousand yuan and headed to the hospital.
His mother, Zhang Suqin, had been pulled back from the brink of death by him, but the tumor in her brain remained. Hospital expenses were still substantial, and Yang Chen was eager to share the joy of the thirty thousand yuan with his father.
Ding…
He received a call from Li Yu halfway there.
"Xiao Chen, did you mess things up?"
Li Yu's voice on the other end held a trace of nervousness. She didn't doubt Yang Chen's appraisal skills, only that his intelligence might not be enough to get by at the auction. Kuaishu Ge.
"Manager Li, everything went smoothly."
Yang Chen, in his usual stammering tone, briefly recounted the events at the auction.
*Phew!*
Li Yu clearly let out a long sigh of relief on the phone.
However, she still felt uneasy and confirmed again:
"Is that really how it happened?"
"Manager Li, if you don't believe me… you can call Miss Chu and ask her!"
"Alright… alright, I believe you, okay."
Afraid of upsetting Yang Chen, Li Yu changed the subject. "The thirty thousand yuan labor fee Miss gave you is entirely yours, as agreed before. You don't need to turn it over to the company."
"This… this is too much, I…"
"It's all well-deserved. It's not too much at all. Moreover, you've boosted the reputation of our Jin Xiang Yu Auction House. I should be rewarding you extra—a raise!"
Yang Chen was overjoyed. While the thirty thousand yuan labor fee from Chu Xiang was substantial, it was a one-time deal. Working for Li Yu was the real steady income.
"Thank you, Manager Li. I will definitely work hard and not disappoint you!"
"Alright, go to the hospital to see your mother now. Be careful on the way."
"Yes!"
…
Oncology Department, Room 304, single room.
When Yang Chen, dressed in a suit, appeared before Yang Gang, the old man couldn't believe his eyes and rubbed them.
"Xiao Chen, you… this outfit…"
"Does it look good?"
Yang Chen straightened his suit jacket and smiled, "Manager Li asked me to accompany an important client to an auction. She gave me this suit."
"Looks good… looks good. You looked like this three years ago when you first started working…"
At this point, Yang Gang stopped, afraid of upsetting Yang Chen. Yang Chen had been dressed in suits and ties when he first found a job after graduating from university. It was only after his intelligence declined that he started dressing sloppily.
Yang Chen understood his father's concerns and thought, *I'll tell my dad everything at once, but I'm afraid he'll be too happy and can't handle it. It's better to subtly influence him, letting him know I've recovered without him realizing it.*
"Dad, how has Mom been these past couple of days?"
"Good… much better than before. She just took her medicine and fell asleep."
Speaking of his wife's illness, Yang Gang became eloquent. "Dean Ma said that the tumor in your mother's brain shows no signs of growth. If she continues to be observed in the hospital for a while and remains stable, we can consider home-based conservative treatment. Oh, the hospital beds are tight now. Today, I saw a coal boss arrive with cash but couldn't get a bed; they had to add beds in the corridor. Your mother being able to stay in this single room is all thanks to Dean Ma's arrangements. Oh, Dean Ma also said that he wants to see you when you arrive, as he has something urgent to discuss!"
Dean Ma wants to see me? Could it be about the time Dean Ma asked me for medical advice?
"Okay, I'll go see Dean Ma now."
"Go ahead."
"Got it."
…
Yang Chen left the ward. As he walked past the nurse's station, he heard a familiar voice: "I need a single room, did you hear me!"
Is that her?
Yang Chen's heart leaped. He looked up sharply and saw a tall figure in a miniskirt facing away from him.
It's really her!
Even though it was just a back view, Yang Chen could be 100% sure that the woman before him was the one he had loved for two years and hated for three—Li Ying!
He and Li Ying had been a couple in college, dating for two years. They had promised to get married after graduation and settle down. Three years ago, after graduating from university, they planned to stay in the city and strive together.
However, within months of entering society, Li Ying was influenced by the world. She couldn't stand living in a twenty-square-meter rented room, couldn't bear squeezing onto buses every day, and envied her female colleagues who used expensive makeup, designer bags worth tens of thousands, and clothes costing over a hundred thousand. She unleashed all her resentment on Yang Chen, her temper worsening day by day. Ultimately, she fell for a rich second-generation heir, Gao Feng.
One ordinary afternoon, Yang Chen, who had gotten off work early, returned to their rented apartment and found Li Ying and Gao Feng in his bed.
Even though Yang Chen caught the adulterous couple red-handed, he was, like Wu Dalang, then hit over the head by Li Ying and Gao Feng, leaving him with the intelligence of a seven-year-old child.
After three years, Yang Chen never expected to encounter Li Ying at this time and place.
Li Ying also felt Yang Chen's gaze from behind her. She turned around, her face initially showing a hint of panic, then composure. A mocking smile spread across her lips as she walked towards Yang Chen.
"Tsk, tsk…"
Li Ying circled Yang Chen, making clicking sounds, then slapped his face and jeered, "Even a fool is dressed up nicely. Anyone would think you've recovered."
*Slap!*
Yang Chen slapped Li Ying's hand away.
"What are you doing? You dare resist!"
Li Ying was furious and raised her hand to slap Yang Chen.
Just then, Yang Gang opened the door.
"Xiao Chen, you must speak politely. The hospital beds are so tight, yet they arranged a single room for your mother. You should thank Dean Ma properly…"
Yang Gang also saw Li Ying at this moment. Anger flared on his old face. He stepped forward, shoved Li Ying aside, and stood in front of Yang Chen, shouting sternly, "You wicked woman, don't bully my son!"
"Get lost, old man, or I'll beat you too…"
Li Ying's gaze flickered to Zhang Suqin, who was lying in bed in the ward behind them. She turned back, slammed hard on the counter of the nurse's station, and yelled, "You said there were no more single rooms, so how does this old bat have one!"
Old bat!
This completely ignited the anger that Yang Chen had suppressed for three years.
"Li Ying!"
"What are you yelling about…"
*Slap!*
Li Ying heard the shout and turned her head. A slap, as large as a fan, landed on her face. A burning sensation spread, and one side of her fair cheek visibly swelled.
"You… you dare hit me? I'll fight you to the death!"
Li Ying covered her swollen cheek with her hand, glared at Yang Chen with fury, and lunged at his face like a mad dog.
"Slapping you is too good for you. If you dare to speak disrespectfully again, I'll kill you!"
*Slap!*
Yang Chen slapped Li Ying's other cheek. This time, she spun around several times, stars dancing before her eyes, and she sat down on the ground, dizzy.