Chapter 113: The Sick Girl

"I'm not going to see that girl until this afternoon. You don't need to stay here with me right now. Go back and protect Gu Xiujin." Xie Qingtang's plan was to send Li Zhao away so she could slip away quietly in the afternoon to treat the girl without anyone knowing. She did not expect that in the very next moment, Gu Xiujin would suddenly appear inside Cunshan Clinic.

"Don't worry," he said. "Li Zhao will protect me."

Seeing him, Xie Qingtang was utterly taken aback. "What are you doing here?" she asked in astonishment.

"I feel like my health has improved slightly recently, so I came to have Dr. Xie take another look," Gu Xiujin said matter-of-factly. Xie Qingtang's lip twitched.

For the entire morning, Xie Qingtang was busy examining Gu Xiujin, preparing his herbal medicine, and administering acupuncture. At 1:00 PM, as agreed, a black sedan pulled up right in front of Cunshan Clinic.

A driver who looked to be in his thirties got out, found Xie Qingtang, and said very politely, "Hello, I am the driver for the Dong family. Are you Dr. Xie?"

"Yes, I am," Xie Qingtang nodded. Knowing the driver was here to pick her up, she picked up her medicine chest.

Just then, Gu Xiujin, who had not yet left Cunshan Clinic, was wheeled out from the back by Li Zhao. He glanced at the driver and said, "I happen to have some business matters to discuss with Mr. Dong. I assume Dr. Xie won't mind an extra passenger in the car?"

As soon as he finished speaking, the driver—who clearly recognized Gu Xiujin—let his surprised gaze sweep back and forth between the two of them, but said nothing.

Without a doubt, this must have been arranged by her grandfather. Xie Qingtang rolled her eyes in exasperation, but not wanting to reject her grandfather's good intentions, she could only nod and agree.

And so, Xie Qingtang, who was originally supposed to go alone to treat the little girl, now sat next to the cold-faced grim reaper, Gu Xiujin.

Together, they arrived at the Dong family's villa. It was a massive estate. The iron gates slowly swung open like the gaping maw of a slumbering beast welcoming them in.

In front of the villa lay a beautifully designed garden, with a lovely angel-shaped fountain standing at its center.

Xie Qingtang looked at all of this in silence. Soon, they arrived at the front door, where a man wearing a light brown sweater and suit trousers stood, watching the incoming car with a gentle smile.

He had eyes full of experience, with a few fine lines at the corners, which did nothing to detract from his refined, handsome appearance. His high-bridged nose served as a focal point, perfectly defining his facial features.

There was no doubt that this man exuded the charm of a mature gentleman. Any ordinary girl looking at him would surely find herself hopelessly drawn in.

As the two of them got out of the car, the man was momentarily startled to see Gu Xiujin, and he cast a questioning glance at the driver.

At that moment, Li Zhao got out of the car that had been following closely behind. Gu Xiujin was currently standing on his own feet rather than sitting in his wheelchair. When Li Zhao went to retrieve the wheelchair, Gu Xiujin raised a hand to stop him, indicating that it was not needed.

"Hello, Mr. Dong. It's been a long time," Gu Xiujin greeted him directly.

Dong Weiyi was taken aback for only a moment before recovering his composure. He smiled and nodded. "Indeed, Mr. Gu, it has been a long time. However, seeing you arrive together with Dr. Xie is quite a surprise."

Standing there, Gu Xiujin said with an indifferent expression, "I happened to be receiving treatment at Cunshan Clinic when Dr. Xie was invited here by you. Since I also have some business to discuss with you, Mr. Dong, I decided to tag along. I hope you don't mind my unannounced visit."

"Of course not. You are an honored guest, Mr. Gu. Please, come in," Dong Weiyi replied, shaking his head with a smile before turning to offer Xie Qingtang a gentle smile of his own.

It was a smile full of mature charm that few young girls could resist. Gu Xiujin cast a sidelong glance at Xie Qingtang.

To his surprise, despite such a charming smile, Xie Qingtang remained completely unfazed. With a calm expression, she gave a simple nod and followed Dong Weiyi into the living room.

Once the three of them were seated, Dong Weiyi first expressed his gratitude to Xie Qingtang for coming. "Dr. Xie, thank you for making a house call today. My daughter has refused to go outside ever since she was a child. Getting her to leave the house is incredibly difficult. I saw videos online of you treating patients and saving lives, and I knew you must be highly skilled. I leave my daughter's illness in your hands."

"It is a physician's duty to heal the sick. You don't need to be so polite, Mr. Dong. After all, I am charging a fee," Xie Qingtang joked lightly.

Dong Weiyi smiled and nodded. "Of course. I will have Nanny Yang take you upstairs right away."

With that, he gestured lightly, and a woman who looked like a housekeeper walked over. She bowed respectfully to Xie Qingtang and said, "Doctor, please follow me. I will take you to see the young mistress."

"Alright," Xie Qingtang replied. Knowing that the two men in the living room had other matters to discuss, she did not linger to disturb them and followed the housekeeper upstairs.

At the end of the hallway, the housekeeper knocked gently on the door and asked in a very soft voice, "Miss, may I come in?"

After a brief pause, a little girl's soft voice echoed from inside: "Nanny Yang, you can come right in."

"Dr. Xie, let us go in," Nanny Yang said with a nod. She pushed the door open and led Xie Qingtang inside. The moment she stepped through the door, Xie Qingtang was stunned by the fairytale-like decor.

Pink lace curtains, various plush toys, and Barbie dolls filled the entire room. Directly opposite the bed, a fairy-tale-like arched window took up a whole wall.

Soft sunlight streamed through the window, making the room feel as though it existed only in a fairy tale. Xie Qingtang's gaze fell upon a little girl lying in the bed, who looked just like a Barbie doll herself.

The girl's face was pale, and her lips had a slightly bluish tint, but this did nothing to diminish her beauty. Her long, silky hair, flowing like soft seaweed, was spread around her. A pair of clear, bright eyes stared at Xie Qingtang, filled with curiosity.