Chapter 51: Love Awakens

Bitten by a dog? What a joke—what kind of ferocious dog could leave traces of blood without leaving any tooth marks, not even a scratch on the skin? If Leng Nini really believed such a ridiculous story, she’d have to be either hopelessly naïve or have her brains scrambled by a pig. Clearly, she was neither, and as a woman, her persistence in getting to the bottom of things was unmatched.

“Hmph, Yang, who are you trying to fool? Do you think I’m easy to trick?” Leng Nini was annoyed, her pout so pronounced it could hang several bottles of soy sauce. She jabbed at Lin Yang’s body in a flurry, as fierce as a little tigress—a classic feisty female.

The two argued for ten full minutes about whether Lin Yang’s forehead had really been bitten by a dog. In the end, Lin Yang suffered a complete defeat and had to agree to accompany her for a day out as compensation. Only then did Leng Nini let it go.

With Lin Yang’s face twisted in resignation, Leng Nini strutted away like a proud peacock, brimming with satisfaction. As she opened her bedroom door and Lin Yang was about to breathe a sigh of relief, she suddenly stopped and threatened again, “Yang, don’t forget our appointment the day after tomorrow.”

Just as Lin Yang nearly stumbled on the stairs, Leng Nini flashed an impish smile and slipped into her room.

Lin Yang was utterly speechless, dragging his feet into the bedroom across from hers—his own. The car accident had given him a front-row seat in a free, adrenaline-fueled action blockbuster, and after battling a few street thugs, he was drenched in sweat, feeling sticky and uncomfortable.

He hurried through a hot shower and lazily collapsed onto the soft, comfortable bed. The exhaustion from the night quickly overwhelmed him, and he drifted off to sleep.

When the nth ray of morning sunlight touched his face, Lin Yang—lazy as ever—had no intention of getting up until the alarm blared at ten, finally rousing him.

Groggy, he opened his eyes and saw the clock pointing to a quarter past ten. He hesitated for a moment, then rolled over and sat up abruptly, shaking off the last remnants of sleep. He hurriedly dressed and washed, waved goodbye to Leng Nini—who had prepared breakfast for him like a dutiful wife—and rushed downstairs.

Since the Thirteen Blades Hospital had not yet been fully renovated, Leng Nini, mischievous as she was, found herself playing housewife for a few days.

Apart from the store-bought breakfast, her home-cooked meals left much to be desired. Lin Yang still remembered her first attempt at scrambled eggs with tomatoes—a simple dish, yet somehow she managed to produce something unappetizing both in appearance and taste. After just one bite, he spat it out before even chewing, spraying Leng Nini, who sat across from him, right in the face. She didn’t forgive him easily for that.

But practice does make perfect. After countless attempts, Leng Nini finally achieved a modest success. At least, when Lin Yang mustered the courage to try another bite, he gave it a passing grade—because he didn’t spit it out.

He remembered how, when he voiced his willingness to try again, Leng Nini clung to him, throwing a tantrum that only subsided after much coaxing and reassurance.

Stepping out the front door, Lin Yang drove his stylish police car straight to Bai Fu Pharmaceuticals. He had promised Bai Jing to start work on improving the “Golden Silkworm Powder” today.

Because the attack on Lin Yang happened at night, it didn’t cause much stir. With the government suppressing news, even the most resourceful reporters were forced to let go of the explosive story from the previous evening.

The assassination attempt, Lin Yang’s reckless intrusion into private homes, his commotion at the police station, and his bold slapping of faces—all these legendary exploits would be buried in the river of time.

As for Fang Tianqi, who had suffered Lin Yang’s wrath, he seemed to have calmed down, making no moves for revenge. It was as if he had truly forgotten the humiliation of the previous night. But beneath the surface, he turned his endless hatred into schemes for retaliation. Unable to target Tang Yixue for now, he shifted his gaze to Bai Fu Pharmaceuticals, which he had long coveted. The rumor that Lin Yang was a shareholder only fueled Fang Tianqi’s plan to swallow up Bai Fu Pharmaceuticals.

Everything seemed peaceful, and the busy days flew by. Five days passed in a blink, with Lin Yang working tirelessly at Bai Fu Pharmaceuticals. Early mornings and late nights, the new drug research stalled due to issues with medicinal herbs, so most of his energy went into experiments to improve “Golden Silkworm Powder.”

As the owner of the recipe, Lin Yang naturally took the lead. The experts worked day and night, and finally found a cheap medicinal substitute for the silkworm pupae. Though the efficacy dropped by thirty percent, it was still a success, bringing good news to Bai Fu Pharmaceuticals.

Bai Jing’s long face finally brightened, but she remained vigilant about the ginseng substitution—never tolerating an inside job. An internal mole, especially one liable to explode like a timed bomb and ruin the company, was intolerable. For safety, the experiment to improve “Golden Silkworm Powder” was kept confidential, known only to her and a few dedicated experts.

With the results in, Lin Yang could now step back and let others handle the rest. He had no interest in business competition, nor was he good at it. After five days of hard work, the renovation of Thirteen Blades Hospital was complete, and the improved “Golden Silkworm Powder” would soon hit the market. No longer limited, Lin Yang considered revising the sixteen-character motto on the wall, perhaps changing the last four characters.

As he pondered, his phone suddenly rang. Seeing that it was Nurse Liu Meng calling, he answered with curiosity, “Meng, is something up?”

They were familiar at the hospital but rarely contacted each other privately, so Lin Yang was puzzled. Still, a call from a beautiful woman was always welcome.

“N-no, nothing really. It’s just that the hospital’s renovation is finished. Director Lin, do you think we can resume business tomorrow?” Liu Meng asked nervously.

For some reason, she always stammered when speaking to Lin Yang. With tomorrow being Saturday, it was only natural to resume operations. As a nurse and Lin Yang’s unofficial secretary, she had to check in advance—especially since the memory of the last time the hospital was trashed still haunted her.

“Open up, of course! How else are we going to make money?” Lin Yang replied, full of meaning.

It was said without much thought, and likewise, those listening took it lightly. Still, the procurement department staff, though confused, all looked up in awe as Lin Yang prepared to leave for Bai Jing’s office.

A few simple words confirmed to them that the caller was a woman.

In this day and age, what spreads fastest and is most dangerous? Scandal, without a doubt. Except for the workaholic Lin Wanying, there were few in the procurement department who behaved themselves. Their gossip was vicious. As Lin Yang headed to Bai Jing’s office to call her off work, the office became a hotbed of speculation.

“Hey, which vixen do you think seduced the boss? Does the second boss know? Will she get jealous?” Gossip-monger Wu Dong’s words were sharp, instantly labeling the female caller as a fox. You had to admire his imagination.

“It’s hard to say—but I’d love to see what happens if the second boss meets that fox.” Typical troublemakers, eager for drama.

…

Meanwhile, Lin Yang, just arriving at Bai Jing’s office, couldn’t have imagined that a perfectly ordinary phone call had been transformed in their eyes into a scandalous seduction.

“Jing, the experiment to improve Golden Silkworm Powder is done. I should be leaving now,” Lin Yang said, settling onto the sofa by the door, lighting a cigarette, and speaking softly so Bai Jing could hear.

Bai Jing responded with an “oh,” then fell silent, turning to gaze out the window.

After five minutes, she finally spoke, “You don’t plan to stay at Bai Fu?” Her words carried a double meaning. Time is the best test for emotions, and after days of close contact, it would be a lie to say there was no spark between them. Especially with Bai Jing—a career-driven beauty whose allure was undeniable. Lin Yang knew he had no immunity to beautiful women, and Bai Jing’s special care for him made his heart race.

“Yes, the hospital’s renovation is finished, and I can’t leave it unattended. You know I’m the only attending physician there—if I’m not around, the hospital is just an empty shell,” Lin Yang replied with a reasonable excuse, fearing he might lose control and agree to stay if he went on.

He’d been so busy lately that he’d barely seen Tang Yixue. Now that he was free, he wasn’t about to be trapped here—he’d rather hurry and get Tang Yixue into his bed.

“They’re not far apart, and your hospital isn’t so busy you can’t spare time. You don’t even have to work here—just supervise,” Bai Jing persisted, unwilling to give up, though she knew Lin Yang was determined to leave.

“Jing, you know I’m no good at business, and besides, I like my freedom. Please, don’t persuade me,” Lin Yang said, extinguishing his cigarette and standing to leave.