Chapter Forty-Three: Perseverance

At this moment, Gu Xiucheng's expression could no longer be described as merely grim; he seemed more like a block of ancient, black iron soaked for a thousand years in icy depths, exuding a chill that could not be ignored.

"Mr. Gu, please wait a moment," Wang Miao’er persisted, chasing after Gu Xiujin. She borrowed a piece of paper and a pen from a passing waiter and quickly scribbled down her contact information.

With a heart full of anticipation, she handed it to Gu Xiujin, her cheeks flushed and her voice trembling with girlish excitement. "This is my contact information. I’ll be waiting for your call."

Before Gu Xiujin could refuse, she turned and dashed away, her face burning. Li Zhao, witnessing this, gaped in astonishment. "Are girls these days always this forward?"

"Let’s go," Gu Xiujin said indifferently, tossing the slip of paper onto the ground before entering the private room he had reserved.

Returning to her family’s private room, Wang Miao’er’s mother frowned, "What took you so long?"

"Mom, I’m not feeling well. I think I’ll head home first." Ever since she had seen Gu Xiujin, Wang Miao’er’s eyes had never left him. She no longer cared about Gu Xiucheng and had no wish to engage in empty pleasantries with his uncle and the others. Without waiting for further questions, she picked up her bag and left, her parents’ eyes filled with disbelief.

A few moments later, Gu Xiucheng caught up to her and said, "Let me take you home. And you don’t need to reject me again—I already understand how you feel. Can we just be friends?"

The words of rejection stuck in Wang Miao’er’s throat. Not wanting to make things too awkward, she nodded in agreement.

Once inside the car, Gu Xiucheng spoke, "I have to admit, I’m surprised that you like my cousin. I like you, but I care more about your happiness. If you ever need my help, just ask."

"Really?" Wang Miao’er had assumed that someone like Gu Xiucheng would feel insulted and distance himself, maybe even come to resent her. Yet things had turned out quite differently.

Not only did Gu Xiucheng show no resentment, he was even willing to help her. Wang Miao’er’s opinion of him improved slightly, though thoughts of her earlier encounter with Gu Xiujin made her bite her lip.

"Gu Xiujin seems to really dislike me. After all, I must have left a poor impression on him," she said, her voice tinged with disappointment and resentment toward Xie Qingtang.

In her mind, if Xie Qingtang hadn’t repeatedly embarrassed her, making her lose face in front of Gu Xiujin, things wouldn’t have come to this pass between them.

Gu Xiucheng smiled, "No one understands a man better than another man. Don’t worry, I’ll help you."

"Thank you—truly." Wang Miao’er’s gratitude was sincere, but she failed to notice the devilish smile curling at the lips of the man beside her.

At Chunshan Hall, Zhou Jinfan beamed as he watched their online shop’s sales climb once more. He said to Xie Qingtang, "A master’s touch makes all the difference. After Mr. Gu wiped out those malicious online comments, our reputation improved and sales rose too."

Previously, Chunshan Hall had always run at a loss, but with the first profits now coming in, Xie Qingtang could see a glimmer of hope on the horizon.

The next morning, as soon as Chunshan Hall opened its doors, a crowd of elderly men and women from the neighborhood poured in. Word had spread overnight about the man with chronic back pain who had gone home singing the praises of Xie Qingtang’s acupuncture skills.

Curiosity and skepticism brought the local residents to the hall, but Xie Qingtang’s medical expertise quickly dispelled their doubts. The bad reputation Chunshan Hall had acquired over the years had seemed impossible to overcome, but after witnessing the miraculous effects of his acupuncture, the elders began to truly believe in their new director’s abilities.

So, almost without realizing it, the reputation of Chunshan Hall began to spread through the neighborhood, and business flourished.

Across the street, at Gu Hospital, Wang Miao’er watched all of this unfold, biting her lip. Ever since she had given her contact information to Gu Xiujin, she had been waiting for him to reach out. But no message ever came; all she saw was the growing success of Chunshan Hall across the road.

"Are the people around here stupid, believing a swindler’s words?" Xiaoying muttered, noticing both the bustling scene at Chunshan Hall and the gloom on Wang Miao’er’s face.

Wang Miao’er withdrew her gaze, slumped into her chair, and stared forlornly at her phone. At that moment, someone knocked at the door.

"Come in," she called, setting her phone aside, only to find that it wasn’t a patient but Gu Xiucheng himself. Xiaoying, recognizing the young master, tactfully excused herself from the office.

Wang Miao’er’s expression went cold, edged with impatience. "Why are you here?"

"As I told you, I want to help. So, I’ve brought you Gu Xiujin’s contact information," Gu Xiucheng replied bluntly, causing Wang Miao’er’s eyes to light up with hope.

With Gu Xiujin’s number in hand, she immediately sent him a text message, waiting anxiously for a response. But it was as if her message had been swallowed by the sea—no reply came. Gu Xiucheng, standing nearby, smiled, "My cousin has always been distant and aloof. He’s never really interacted with women before. If you want to win him over, you’ll need patience."

"Thank you for your help, I understand," Wang Miao’er replied, her interest in Gu Xiucheng clearly waning as she set her phone aside.

Gu Xiucheng said nothing more. He left the hospital and, upon returning home, was summoned to his uncle’s study.

"I heard that Wang Miao’er has made it clear she no longer likes you. What’s going on?" His uncle’s tone was stern. For years, he had hoped to see Wang Miao’er marry his son, Gu Xiucheng, thus securing the family’s hold on Gu Hospital.

But now, rumor had reached him that Wang Miao’er was in love not with Gu Xiucheng, but with Gu Xiujin. That struck a nerve; after all, all these years, Gu Hospital had been his only source of profit. If Wang Miao’er and Gu Xiujin ended up together, control of the hospital would almost certainly return to Gu Xiujin—and that would mean the end for him.