Chapter 91: Grandpa
Translator: Nyoi-Bo Studio Editor: Nyoi-Bo Studio
A few minutes later, Lu Ying walked to Qiao Yue's side to remove the needles on Old Master Qiao.
Since the old master was awake, he no longer needed someone to hold him still, so Qiao Yue stepped aside.
Lu Ying was extremely quick when removing the needles. In just a short while, all the needles on the old master had been removed.
With Lu Ying's help, Old Master Qiao sat up and beckoned Qiao Yue.
Although the old master didn't lose his composure again, he couldn't hide the excitement in his eyes.
"You're Xiao Qing's son?" Old Master Qiao asked as he held Qiao Yue's hand.
But before Qiao Yue could answer, he muttered to himself, "Yup! You look so much like her so you must be Xiao Qing's son!"
"Your name is Qiao Yue, right? Xiao Yue! I'm your grandfather!"
Qiao Yue was a little uncomfortable at her grandfather's touch. Although her mother often told her about her grandfather when she was young, she was still very young then and she had never met her grandfather. She couldn't get close to someone she had just met, so she just said "Grandpa" matter-of-factly.
Qiao Yue felt that her "Grandpa" was dry and insincere but Old Master Qiao had tears streaming down his face. He patted the back of Qiao Yue's hand and said, "When your mother left the Qiao family when she was pregnant with you, I thought that I would never see you again in this life. I didn't expect to see you again. Grandpa feels that he owes you and your mother for all these years. From now on, you'll live with us and the Qiao family will protect you!"
Qiao Yue detected something strange in her grandfather's words. Why did he say that the Qiao family would protect her? What did he mean?
Just as Qiao Yue was about to ask, Lu Ying suddenly coughed.
"We need to be more watchful since the old master has just woken up." Lu Ying gave Qiao Yue a look as he spoke, indicating that there were still people waiting outside.
Qiao Yue understood what he meant. If they still didn't go out, the people who didn't want the old master to wake up would probably cause a ruckus outside.
Qiao Yue was right. The second son of the Qiao family had been restless since Qiao Yue was left behind in the ward.
One moment he would say that Qiao Yue colluded with Lu Ying to murder the old master, and the next moment, he would say that Qiao Jing had been tricked into bringing Qiao Yue home.
Qiao Xuan and Qiao Jing stood on both sides of the door, their faces cold. If Dr. Lu's treatment didn't work, the only thing they could do was to bring the old master back to C-Country and ask Dr. Lu's teacher to treat him.
Their second uncle's mouth didn't stop, and both of them were annoyed.
Qiao Xuan and Qiao Jing were both sort of brought up by Old Master Qiao, so their feelings for him were deeper than the rest of the Qiao family.
Hearing his second uncle's endless chatter, Qiao Jing took out his phone and dialed a number. "Terminate all our contracts with companies under Qiao Zhong."
His words were like a pause button, but before his second uncle stopped, Qiao Jing had already hung up.
Qiao Xuan looked up at Qiao Jing with a smile.
The second son of the Qiao family didn't believe it at first and walked to a corner in silence. Twenty minutes later, his phone rang, and a woman's anxious voice sounded. "Hubby, what happened? The person in charge of public relations came to the office just now to tell us that Xiao Jing's company has terminated their contract with us. Aren't you all in S-Country to see Dad? Why did this suddenly happen?"
Hearing the woman's voice, the second son of the Qiao family seemed to be in a daze. He stared at Qiao Jing blankly, but Qiao Jing didn't even look at him as he stared at the door.
Qiao Xuan turned his head and smiled at his second uncle. His smile was gentle but full of mockery.
Qiao Zhong was about to pounce on Qiao Jing to beg for mercy but was stopped by Qiao Xuan. "You'd better not make a fuss now. If you disturbed Grandpa, I can't guarantee what will happen to you next. You know Qiao Jing's temper."
Qiao Xuan's voice was gentle, but it sent a chill down Qiao Zhong's spine. He threw Qiao Jing a quick glance before he walked out of the hospital talking on his phone.
Qiao Xuan shifted his gaze to his third aunt, who was sitting on a long hospital bench. This woman looked kind and complacent on the surface, but she was a scheming person.
Qiao Xuan couldn't see Third Madam Qiao's sweaty palms. She had been hoping that Qiao Yue and the so-called miracle-working doctor would kill the old master.
For everyone waiting outside the ward, the time the door stayed closed was unbearable.
Suddenly, a beam of light appeared in the corridor, and the door to the ward finally opened.
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Chapter 92: Qiao Yue's Backer
Translator: Nyoi-Bo Studio Editor: Nyoi-Bo Studio
The door to the ward opened and Lu Ying was the first to walk out. He scanned the corridor but did not see the person who called him a quack.
He needed to keep calm before treating a patient, so he didn't argue with this man. But now that the old master was awake, how could he let him off?
"Dr. Lu, how is Grandpa now?" Qiao Xuan asked as he met Lu Ying at the door.
Seeing the anxiety in Qiao Xuan's eyes, Lu Ying didn't keep him in suspense. "He's already..."
Before Lu Ying could finish, the sound of someone running came from the corridor. As the old master was staying in a Class A ward, with less than ten high-status patients across the entire floor, who would be so impolite to run in the corridor?
"Second brother, how can you believe the words of a so-called miracle-working doctor! They're all liars!"
Qiao Xin ran up to Qiao Jing and said anxiously. Qiao Ying followed behind her, along with Qiao Yu and Qiao Ze. This was great, the entire third generation of the Qiao family was here.
Qiao Jing frowned silently at Qiao Xin before he fixed his eyes on Lu Ying.
Qiao Xuan was also a little annoyed that Qiao Xin interrupted Lu Ying, but he didn't show it as obviously as Qiao Jing.
When Third Madam Qiao saw her daughters, she calmed down a little and walked up to Lu Ying. "Sir, I don't know where you came from. Everything's fine if Father is cured but if his conditions worsened because of your treatment, please be prepared to receive a legal notice."
Lu Ying's eyes were filled with ridicule as he said, "You threaten me before the treatment and then after the treatment. It looks like you really don't want the old master to wake up at all. Why else would you keep riling up the doctor?"
Third Madam Qiao's body stiffened at Lu Ying's words. Qiao Xuan also stared at her after hearing Lu Ying's words.
That's right! It was a taboo for doctors to be riled up before treating a patient, especially before an acupuncture session, which required extreme concentration. Wouldn't his grandfather be in great danger if Dr. Lu was affected by them?
Qiao Xuan and Qiao Jing looked at each other. They didn't speak, but they understood what the other meant.
Third Madam Qiao shivered from the stares and tried her best not to shudder as she held Qiao Xin's hand.
"I only have Father's best interests at heart, don't slander me! And that Qiao Yue, you must be in cahoots with him! Why else would he appear so suddenly?" Third Madam Qiao scolded sternly.
Lu Ying kept his expression but the mockery in his eyes grew.
"Sorry to disappoint you, but the old man is awake now. You can go and see him!" With that, Lu Ying gave way to Qiao Xuan and Qiao Jing.
As soon as Qiao Jing entered the room, he saw Old Master Qiao holding Qiao Yue's hand and telling him how he fell into coma. It was because Qiao Jing had discovered Qiao Yue's whereabouts and news that Qiao Qing had died long ago. Old Master Qiao collapsed under the shock of great joy and great sorrow and was rushed to the hospital immediately. For some reason, he fell into a coma and was unconscious for a month before he woke up today.
"Xiao Yue, now that Grandpa is awake. I will be your backer from now on. Just tell me if anyone bullies you, and I'll teach them a lesson for you." Old Master Qiao glared at Third Madam Qiao as he spoke.
Qiao Yue didn't expect the old master to say this and didn't know how to react.
She had very few relatives since young. She lived with her mother, and they didn't stay in one place for long. As soon as she got to know her friends and neighbors, her mother would move again. Her mother's health deteriorated because of that.
After her mother passed away, she was sent to an orphanage. Although there were many children there, not many became friends. Sometimes, they would fight over an opportunity to be adopted.
After living in the orphanage for half a year, godfather found her. At first, she didn't know that he was looking for her on purpose. She heard it by accident when she returned early from a mission.
She had been wandering around for more than half of her eighteen years of life. She only settled down after meeting godfather, but he had never been so close with her. She was at a loss now when faced with love from an elder like Old Master Qiao.
"Old master, I..."
As soon as Qiao Yue opened her mouth, she was glared at by the old master.
"What did you just call me?" Old Master Qiao said to Qiao Yue with a threatening tone.
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Chapter 93: Reason for Grandpa's Coma
Translator: Nyoi-Bo Studio Editor: Nyoi-Bo Studio
Qiao Yue hesitated for a moment before she said tentatively, "Grandpa."
The fact that the old master was so happy to be called "Grandpa" made Qiao Yue wonder if he really was the head of the Qiao family who brought up the expressionless Qiao Jing.
Qiao Jing walked up to the old master and said, "Grandpa, how do you feel now?"
Seeing his grandson, Old Master Qiao regained his serious look and nodded.
Qiao Yue finally witnessed the old master's rapid change in expression.
After confirming that the old master was awake, Qiao Xuan went up to ask how he was feeling. He was preparing to operate on his grandfather, so he had to know his grandfather's condition in advance.
Qiao Yue saw that the old master was surrounded by people and quietly left.
Lu Ying was waiting for her at the door. After seeing her come out, the two of them headed to the smoking area.
Qiao Yue did not smoke, but Lu Ying had the habit of smoking after acupuncture. Because acupuncture was a mentally exhausting treatment. Every acupoint on the human body was closely connected to the organs. Any mistakes would affect the patient's life. So, smoking was the only thing that completely relaxed Lu Ying after.
Qiao Yue did not agree at first, but she got used to it after a few times.
Lu Ying lit a cigarette and smoke surrounded him. For a moment, his face was blurry.
"I inhale second-hand smoke every time I do a treatment with you," Qiao Yue held a cigarette between her fingers but didn't light it.
Lu Ying chuckled, "There must be time for relaxation after a battle. I'll accompany you if you have any habits."
Lu Ying felt that Qiao Yue was too self-disciplined. Her ability to adapt and manage stress had shocked Lu Ying several times. However, it was also because of this that Lu Ying was attracted to Qiao Yue.
But when he met Qiao Yue this time, he felt that she seemed different. He couldn't tell exactly what had changed, but he felt that she had somehow become more human.
"I don't have any habits. It's just that instead of smoking, why don't you run or box or something? I can still accompany you." Qiao Yue took a sip of water and spoke.
Lu Ying chuckled, "You've said that many times."
Qiao Yue raised her eyebrows. "But you never listened."
Lu Ying took a puff of his cigarette and changed the subject. "Right, how's life with the Qiao family? I think those people were trying to bully you today."
"Bully me? Are you sure?" Qiao Yue replied with a smile.
"I very much think so. I think your second uncle and third aunt aren't easy to deal with. Also, although the first madam Qiao didn't say anything today, she looked at you with eyes full of hostility!" Lu Ying said with a hint of gloating.
He then teased, "Do you want to throw yourself into my arms and let me comfort you? "
Qiao Yue instantly felt that the old Lu Ying had returned when she heard this. Lu Ying was like this when they were studying medicine together. Especially after finding out that she was a girl when he got worse. She gave Lu Ying two acupuncture needles when she couldn't bear it anymore; only then did he show some restraint.
She really should have threatened him by sending him a video of his shaking hands when he was inserting needles.
"I'm very curious about how you managed to keep your cool and aloof image in front of other people." Qiao Yue said expressionlessly.
"How can they compare to you? I can naturally be cool and aloof with them."
Who would have thought that such sweet nothings would come from the cool and aloof Dr. Lu?
"So, you asked me out here to say this?" Qiao Yue asked, speechless.
"Of course not. It's just that Old Master Qiao's coma was really strange, so I wanted to get your opinion." Lu Ying said seriously.
Old Master Qiao had been suffering from cerebral embolism and heart problems for a while, but these didn't cause his coma. What's more puzzling was that he couldn't detect the reason for his unconsciousness from his pulse.
Qiao Yue lowered her eyes. She had a few guesses, but she couldn't be sure. And she didn't feel like sharing.
"I don't have an opinion. We've been out for a long time, let's go back! Someone might come looking for you." Qiao Yue then got up and prepared to leave. Who knew that as soon as she got up, she felt dizzy. Her body swayed and she steadied herself by putting her hands on the coffee table.
As Qiao Yue and Lu Ying were sitting across from each other, when Qiao Yue's unsteady body leaned forward and Lu Ying got up to help her, the distance between them closed.
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Chapter 94: Forbidden Love
Translator: Nyoi-Bo Studio Editor: Nyoi-Bo Studio
Qiao Yue shook her head and steadied herself. Lu Ying had also gotten up to support her.
"You're not feeling well?" Lu Ying asked as he held Qiao Yue's wrist.
Qiao Yue shook her head. "I'm fine. Maybe I got up too quickly."
Lu Ying didn't quite believe Qiao Yue's explanation, but after checking her pulse, he had no choice but to agree with her explanation.
What he didn't understand was that Qiao Yue had always been in good health, even healthier than a man like him. How could she feel dizzy when she got up?
Suddenly, a pair of hands separated Lu Ying and Qiao Yue.
"Dr. Lu, my brother said just now that he'd like to discuss Grandpa's operation with you. Please go back as soon as possible." Qiao Jing said coldly.
As soon as an outsider appeared, Lu Ying reverted to his cold demeanor, but he still looked at Qiao Yue worriedly.
Qiao Yue nodded, indicating that she was fine.
Lu Ying still looked at Qiao Yue worriedly before he left but he noticed the unfriendly look in Qiao Jing's eyes. Lu Ying was stunned for a moment, then something struck him and surprise appeared in his eyes. He moved his lips as if he wanted to say something, but Qiao Jing stopped him, "Dr. Lu, Grandpa also wants to thank you. Please go back as soon as possible."
"Alright," Lu Ying swallowed the words he was about to say, turned and left.
Only Qiao Jing and Qiao Yue were in the smoking area. Qiao Yue thought that Qiao Jing would stay by the old master's side, but he came to find her instead.
"Brother, why are you here?"
"How did you know Dr. Lu?"
Both of them spoke at the same time, but they didn't answer together. Qiao Jing stared at Qiao Yue, waiting for her answer.
"We met by chance. Dr. Lu saved my life." Qiao Yue said.
"By chance?" Qiao Jing asked in disbelief.
Qiao Yue was helpless but she had to complete her own lie.
"I was seriously injured in a fight. Fortunately, Dr. Lu found me or I'd be dead."
Qiao Yue replied casually, but Qiao Jing frowned.
"Injured?" Qiao Jing asked.
Qiao Yue sighed and pointed to the back of her neck. "Here. This injury."
Qiao Yue didn't want to keep using the same injury to act pitiful, but these people kept asking her questions. She felt really helpless.
Just when Qiao Yue thought that the matter was over, a hand suddenly touched the back of her neck. The warmth from his palm permeated through the bandage on to her skin, making her tense up.
A few seconds later, the palm became a finger and touching became tracing, as if he was tracing her scar. It was slightly seductive.
Qiao Yue reached out and held down the mischievous hand as she said unhappily, "Brother, what are you doing?"
Qiao Jing looked at Qiao Yue's angry expression and suddenly smiled. "I just wanted to look at your injury."
Qiao Yue was so mesmerized by Qiao Jing's smile that she forgot to resist. She loosened her grip on Qiao Jing's hand and the latter removed her bandage easily.
Qiao Jing's eyes fell on the scar on the back of Qiao Yue's neck. His eyes darkened. He couldn't imagine how Qiao Yue had been on the verge of death then.
"Does it hurt?" Qiao Jing's voice softened unconsciously.
Qiao Yue felt uncomfortable under Qiao Jing's gaze. When Qiao Jing asked, she quickly took the bandage from him and quickly wrapped it around her neck.
"It's an old injury and I've long recovered. I just cover it with a bandage because the scar is too scary." Qiao Yue said as calmly as she could.
Qiao Jing's focused gaze made her blush and she felt that something was wrong with her.
"I won't let this happen to you again. I'll protect you."
Qiao Jing's voice was firm, and Qiao Yue's heart fluttered.
"Brother, please stop saying things like that. It's a good thing I'm not a girl. Otherwise, this could be considered flirting. Are you trying to have forbidden love with me?" Qiao Yue replied playfully on purpose, cutting the atmosphere with a knife.
Qiao Jing's temper was extinguished by her joke, and he pressed his hand against Qiao Yue's head.
"You can do whatever you want. It doesn't matter if you are in a relationship with a man or a woman, but you must get your grades up first. Otherwise, don't even think about getting into a relationship."
"Ah?" Qiao Yue didn't know why Qiao Jing suddenly brought this up; her mouth was opened so wide that it could fit a whole egg.
Qiao Jing cleared his throat and said, "I saw you and Dr. Lu just now. He saved your life and I understand that you have feelings for him, but you have to be clear about the kind of feelings that you have."
Qiao Yue didn't expect that Qiao Jing would say these things out of concern for her relationship problems.
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Chapter 95: Second Brother's Beauty
Translator: Nyoi-Bo Studio Editor: Nyoi-Bo Studio
Qiao Yue raised his hand to rub her temples, "Brother, what exactly are you thinking about that made you misunderstand to this point?"
Seeing Qiao Yue's expression, Qiao Jing's usually expressionless face showed some confusion.
"Didn't you just kiss Doctor Lu?" Qiao Jing asked.
"What? You said I kissed Lu Ying?" Qiao Yue was so frightened by Qiao Jing's words that she said Lu Ying's full name.
Seeing Qiao Yue's reaction, Qiao Jing knew that he had misunderstood, but he didn't understand why he would misunderstand when he had seen it with his own eyes.
"You stood up and kissed him just now," Qiao Jing said with a frown.
Qiao Yue recalled what had happened just now and chuckled when she thought of the direction Qiao Jing had come from, "Brother, you have misunderstood. I was in a hurry so I stood up abruptly just now and almost fell because I felt faint. How did you see me kiss him? "
After listening to Qiao Yue's explanation, Qiao Jing suddenly felt relieved. For some reason, the suffocating feeling he had just felt disappeared.
"By the way, brother, are you fine with me liking both men and women?" Qiao Yue asked curiously.
Qiao Jing recalled what he had just said and felt a little embarrassed, "It's up to you who you like. Outsiders have no right to interfere."
"Eh? Brother, I didn't know you were so open-minded!" Qiao Yue couldn't help but sigh.
Qiao Jing pursed his lips and did not answer.
The two of them returned to Old Master Qiao's ward. Although Old Master Qiao was still surrounded by people, the others made way for them when they saw them. It was all because Old Master Qiao had personally acknowledged Qiao Yue's identity. Even when she was not around, he made the effort to clear her name. It was clear how much Old Master Qiao favored Qiao Yue.
There were still a few days left before the holiday, so Qiao Yue decided to stay by the Old Master's side for the next few days. The purpose of her return to the Qiao family was to fulfill her mother's filial duties. Everything else could be put aside for the time being.
In the evening, Qiao Yue knocked on Qiao Jing's door. After a long while, just as Qiao Yue was wondering if Qiao Jing had left the house, the door to Qiao Jing's room opened.
Qiao Jing was wearing a sleeping robe with a deep V-neck collar that revealed a large area of his pale skin. He was drying his hair with one hand while the other hand was on the doorknob. Beads of water slid down his delicate face to his neck, making Qiao Yue gulp unconsciously.
"Qiao Yue?" Seeing Qiao Yue's dazed look, Qiao Jing frowned and called out.
Qiao Yue was called back to her senses and cleared her throat lightly to cover up her loss of composure.
"Brother, I wanted to talk to you about Grandpa," Qiao Yue's eyes flickered, but she didn't look at Qiao Jing.
"Come in and talk!" Qiao Jing said.
Qiao Yue hummed in acknowledgment and followed Qiao Jing into his room in a daze. It wasn't until she sat on the sofa that Qiao Yue smacked her forehead. She had planned to go back to her room to sleep right after she had finished saying whatever she wanted to say at the door. How did she end up following him in a daze?
Qiao Jing sat on the sofa opposite him, waiting for Qiao Yue to speak.
"Brother, I want to stay here and take care of Grandpa. I'll go back when Grandpa recovers," Qiao Yue had her own considerations when she said this. She suspected that someone had drugged Old Master Qiao's drip, but she wasn't sure. Therefore, she wanted to stay here for a while longer. Maybe she could find the person who did it.
"I'll take care of Grandpa," Qiao Jing said after a few seconds of thought, "You should go back to school."
"Brother, skipping a few days of school won't make a difference. Grandpa has just woken up and he's so good to me. I just want to take care of him by his side," Qiao Yue spoke with a hint of coquettishness.
She didn't know how Qiao Jing treated others, but she knew that he was amenable to coaxing but not coercion in her case. As long as she was soft, Qiao Jing would always give in to her.
Unfortunately, Qiao Yue was wrong this time. Even though she said so, Qiao Jing still refused, "I'll take care of Grandpa. When he's more or less recovered, I'll bring him back. Don't worry."
An idea flashed past Qiao Yue's mind, and she got up before walking behind Qiao Jing. She took the towel from Qiao Jing's hand and gently wiped his hair, "Brother, it's fine to skip a few days of school, don't you think? I just..."
Qiao Yue's gaze was once again drawn away halfway through her sentence. From her angle, she could clearly see the water droplets sliding down Qiao Jing's face, down his neck, and then down to his chest. She could feel her cheeks heat up, and she forced herself to turn her eyes away from the beautiful scene before her.
"Someone who only scored 60 points on the exam is saying that skipping a few days of school is fine?" Perhaps it was because he was relaxed, but Qiao Jing's tone also carried a hint of ridicule.
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