"Yes, Doctor Xu, please come in and sit," Zhou Xiuyun said, her demeanor completely changed. "I was rude just now. Please forgive me."

If Xu Ke had understood her earlier attitude, he surely would have taken it to heart. Therefore, to avoid causing Xu Ke any displeasure, Zhou Xiuyun chose to apologize directly.

"It's fine. Aunt Yun was just looking out for me," Xu Ke said with a faint smile. "However, I'm not accustomed to waiting for others. Let's go inside. May I ask where Elder Master Zhou is?"

Zhou Xiuyun was grateful for Xu Ke's magnanimous response. His remark, "I'm not accustomed to waiting for others," was his way of telling her: *I understood what you said just now.* But Xu Ke didn't pursue the matter, simply letting it slide.

The Zhou Family, being in the medical industry, had seen many brilliant doctors, but most of them carried a fair bit of arrogance. Xu Ke's medical skills were astonishing, yet he was humble and courteous. He wasn't arrogant about his talents, which made Zhou Xiuyun feel a pang of guilt and, simultaneously, a flicker of admiration.

"Come, Doctor Xu, please come in. My father is resting in his room," Zhou Qingzhi urged, too preoccupied to bother with pleasantries. Saving his father was what mattered most.

Frankly, his expectations for Xu Ke were even higher than for the Divine Doctor whom Duan Chongfeng had invited. After all, that physician had only cured Duan Chongfeng's hidden ailment. Xu Ke, however, had brought people back from the brink of death!

At this, Xu Ke walked right in.

Wang Qiya, Zhou Xiuyun, and Zhou Yi Yi only followed after Xu Ke, Zhou Qingzhi, and the others had gone inside. It was only then that Zhou Xiuyun apologized to Wang Qiya. "Qi Ya, I was disrespectful to your brother-in-law just now. Please forgive me."

"Aunt Yun, it's fine. My brother-in-law doesn't mind," Wang Qiya smiled.

Zhou Xiuyun continued, "Thank you for bringing your brother-in-law. Aunt Yun must find an opportunity to properly thank you both!" This "thanks" wasn't just for Wang Qiya; she also intended it as a way to make up for her earlier slight against Xu Ke.

"It's nothing, really," Wang Qiya said, waving her hand dismissively.

Zhou Xiuyun sighed, then turned to Zhou Yi Yi. "Yi Yi, your aunt was wrong just now."

Zhou Yi Yi, however, was still in a daze. "Wrong...?" She blinked, then seemed to snap out of a trance. "Auntie, what are you talking about?"

Seeing this, Zhou Xiuyun frowned. "What's the matter with you?"

"I, I'm fine!" Zhou Yi Yi quickly forced a laugh.

Zhou Xiuyun then said, "Auntie shouldn't have stopped you and Doctor Xu earlier. It appears your actions were even quicker than Patriarch Ouyang; otherwise, he wouldn't have missed the opportunity to receive Doctor Xu. So you knew about Doctor Xu's capabilities! That's why you deliberately kept it from me and had Qi Ya invite him over. You could have at least told your aunt. If Doctor Xu can discern anything this time, I will definitely have your father reward you properly."

At her words, Zhou Yi Yi's eyes widened. What in the world is she talking about?

She was about to explain, but Zhou Xiuyun had already quickened her pace and hurried inside. She had to see how Xu Ke conducted his diagnosis. There was so much to be learned from observing a Divine Doctor's consultation!

Seeing this, Zhou Yi Yi was at a loss for words. Was she supposed to admit that she'd invited Xu Ke over just to see him get humiliated?

Just then, Wang Qiya whispered to Zhou Yi Yi, "I wanted to tell you earlier that my brother-in-law cured Qin Ya's son, but you didn't let me finish."

"Ah!" Zhou Yi Yi exclaimed, taken aback. So Wang Qiya had tried to tell her all along?

Then, Wang Qiya's expression turned serious. "Yi Yi, I know you have a lot of prejudices against my brother-in-law. But on the way here, he already said he didn't want to hold it against you, so I hope you won't trouble him anymore. As for this matter, don't bother explaining it to your aunt. If she finds out that you invited my brother-in-law over this time just to see him be ridiculed, Aunt Yun would definitely scold you mercilessly."

Wang Qiya wasn't a fool; she had naturally seen through Zhou Yi Yi's intentions. But given their years of friendship, and Xu Ke's own magnanimity, she didn't want to press the issue. She just hoped Zhou Yi Yi wouldn't cause any more trouble for Xu Ke. Otherwise, she would be in a really difficult position, caught in the middle.

Zhou Yi Yi was astounded. So Wang Qiya had seen through everything! Then, she stammered, "She... she wouldn't scold me *that* harshly, would she?"

"Trust me," Wang Qiya said earnestly. "Considering Aunt Yun's status, the fact that she apologized without hesitation and planned to make amends the moment she learned my brother-in-law's identity says it all. She made a single mistake out of carelessness, and yet she's being this cautious about it. If she knew you had malicious intentions from the very beginning, you would be in for a world of trouble."

Just as Zhou Yi Yi had tried to cause trouble for Xu Ke for Wang Qiya's sake, Wang Qiya was now looking out for Zhou Yi Yi.

After hearing Wang Qiya's words, Zhou Yi Yi suddenly broke out in a cold sweat. Thank goodness I was restrained enough not to mock Xu Ke... Otherwise, wouldn't Dad and Auntie have kicked me out of the house by now?

***

Zhou Qingzhi looked at Xu Ke nervously. "Doctor Xu, everything is here. Are you sure you don't need to rest before looking at it?"

Nearby, Ouyang Hao, Duan Chongfeng, and Zhou Xiuyun stood by, not daring to utter a word.

"It's fine. I ate before coming over. I'm ready," Xu Ke replied with a smile.

He was seated on the sofa, watching as Zhou Qingzhi brought over a thick stack of Elder Master Zhou's medical records. The stack contained Elder Master Zhou's recent comprehensive reports: various physical indices, X-rays, diagnostic summaries from top doctors at major hospitals, and even evaluations from traditional Chinese medicine practitioners.

Xu Ke took a deep breath, somewhat astonished. The Zhou Family truly lives up to its reputation as a medical dynasty. To get so many top doctors to diagnose Elder Master Zhou in such a short time is impressive! Furthermore, he was secretly grateful his master had also taught him Western medicine. Otherwise, he'd be completely lost looking at these charts and indices.

But there was one thing that gave Xu Ke a massive headache. Every single report invariably pointed to the same conclusion: Elder Master Zhou was perfectly healthy. There was absolutely nothing wrong with him.

This is impossible... Xu Ke murmured to himself.

Whether it was Duan Chongfeng, Zhang Qiming, or Zhou Qingzhi—who was currently explaining the situation by his side—their descriptions of Elder Master Zhou's recent health all boiled down to one word: terrible.

How can a man who can't eat or sleep properly show up as perfectly healthy on all the medical equipment? This defies all common sense.

Hearing Xu Ke's murmuring, the expressions on Zhou Qingzhi and Zhou Xiuyun's faces immediately darkened. It wasn't the first time they had heard those words.

Xu Ke took a deep breath. "Is it convenient for me to go in and see the Elder Master now?"

"Of course!" Zhou Qingzhi immediately stood up.

"Let's go." Xu Ke gathered the documents, set them aside, and rose to his feet.

***

「Inside the room.」

"Dad, I've brought Doctor Xu to see you."

The group entered Zhou Hongsheng's room. Zhou Hongsheng was lying with his eyes gently closed, his chest rising and falling rhythmically. He was clearly asleep.

The moment Xu Ke saw Zhou Hongsheng, his brow furrowed. That complexion... it's clearly not normal. When he shifted his gaze to Zhou Hongsheng's hands, his pupils suddenly shook violently. He knew what was wrong!

Just then, hearing Zhou Qingzhi's voice, Zhou Hongsheng spoke without opening his eyes. "Is it the doctor who cured Chongfeng?"

"No, Dad, but this Divine Doctor—" Zhou Qingzhi began.

Zhou Hongsheng, however, simply waved his hand. "Doctor Xu, I'm truly sorry, but please leave for now. Qingzhi, show him out. Remember to thank Doctor Xu for the trouble of coming all this way."

At his words, everyone's expression changed dramatically.

*Zhou Hongsheng only wanted to see the doctor who treated Duan Chongfeng?*

Zhou Qingzhi grew even more anxious. Isn't Dad just driving him away? If Doctor Xu gets angry, where am I supposed to find another Divine Doctor capable of bringing someone back from the dead?

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