Wang Zhuo and Qin Siqing sat side-by-side on a bench along the tree-lined path of the campus, the young girl idly kicking at a fully bloomed dandelion with her toes. Her legs, lean but not bony, possessed a soft, healthy tan, clad in denim shorts that ended to reveal short socks just covering her ankles, perfectly framing her ** .

Wang Zhuo’s eyes lingered on those lovely legs, but his mind drifted elsewhere. He was currently weighing whether to seize this opportunity to cozy up to Zeng Xiangguo and secure some advantage. Often, Wang Zhuo wasn't calculating, but people are bound by worldly affairs; even monks at Shaolin Temple couldn't escape the mundane, let alone a young man like him who’d known hardship. He understood the importance of connections far more thoroughly than most of his peers because, without his mentor Qin Jingzhong, he might well be a fugitive fleeing from Hui Hai’s relentless pursuit right now. Thus, Wang Zhuo wasn't pondering the charge of toadyism, but rather whether it was necessary and what benefit he could actually gain.

Having been stared at by Wang Zhuo, Qin Siqing was initially shy, her cheeks flushed and her movements flustered. However, she quickly realized that the focus of Wang Zhuo’s gaze was misplaced, and his attention had long since wandered. How audacious! Qin Siqing thought with an embarrassed huff. "Brother Wang Zhuo," she called out, "What are you thinking about?"

"Oh," Wang Zhuo snapped back to attention. After a moment's thought, he smiled. "I'm wondering if it's better to bring fruit or fresh flowers for the patient?"

Qin Siqing waved a hand dismissively. "He’s in the ICU; they don’t allow flowers or fruit in there. Just save your effort."

"But we can't go empty-handed, can we? It would be rude." Wang Zhuo scratched his head.

Qin Siqing chuckled. "They’ll be too busy thanking you to care whether you brought a gift or not."

"Ah! I’ve got it!" Wang Zhuo suddenly remembered Ruan Mingqing and her daughter. The little girl, Zeng Chu, was only six—buying her a gift would be perfect! When he voiced this idea, Qin Siqing immediately agreed. Bringing something to a patient required thought these days, but buying a gift for a child was wonderfully simple.

"I can't go with you," Qin Siqing explained. "My father said he might come along a little later."

Wang Zhuo considered this and nodded in agreement. Given Qin Xue’s status, it wasn't necessary for him to visit Zeng Xiangguo’s sick son, but since his daughter was involved in the righteous act, making an appearance would give him both face and favor—it was entirely appropriate.

"By the way, your outfit today looks really nice. Keep up the great work."

As he was leaving, Wang Zhuo offered that sudden, rather vague compliment, which left Qin Siqing consumed by anxiety all morning, unable to decipher why Brother Wang Zhuo would suddenly praise her, or what was so nice about her ordinary attire. Maidenly sentiments are always poetic; Wang Zhuo had no idea his casual remark had caused the mayor’s daughter so much overthinking.

During the break, Wang Zhuo called Senior Sister Feng Miao, whom he’d met while saving lives yesterday, to ask if she wanted to visit the patient together.

"I think I’ll pass," Feng Miao replied. "A hospital is coming to campus for interviews at noon, and I still need to finalize my thesis defense preparations."

Wang Zhuo laughed. "Are you worried about finding a job at Jiangzhou Medical College? Interview opportunities abound."

"Heh heh," Feng Miao offered a strained chuckle. "You don't know; the competition in our lab science major is fierce, and my defense isn't going smoothly. I’m stressed to death right now."

Wang Zhuo pondered, thinking that good deeds should always be rewarded. He spoke half-jokingly, half-seriously: "Then you should definitely come with me. Director Zeng is extremely close with Director Pu at our affiliated hospital. Who knows, with this visit, your defense might only need Director Pu’s word, and you might even secure employment."

Feng Miao hesitated, then recalled the scene yesterday where Director Pu personally welcomed Zeng Xiangguo. She conceded Wang Zhuo had a point and agreed.

By the time they arrived at the hospital, various parties had already gathered: relatives of the Zeng and Ruan families, local Jiangzhou leaders, and relevant specialists. Zeng Yan’s surgery had lasted nearly ten hours; while temporarily successful, the subsequent prognosis was not optimistic.

The busy Zeng Xiangguo rushed out to greet Wang Zhuo and Feng Miao personally. While the bouquet Feng Miao carried was expected, Wang Zhuo was holding a large, gray wolf helium balloon, which momentarily stunned Zeng Xiangguo.

"Uncle Zeng, this is for little Chu," Wang Zhuo explained.

Ah, a pacifier for a child. Zeng Xiangguo remembered his granddaughter crying incessantly yesterday and sighed. "Thank you for thinking of it. Chu is with Mingqing; I’ll have them come down shortly."

After discussing Zeng Yan’s condition for a few minutes, it confirmed Wang Zhuo's prediction: unless a miracle occurred, Zeng Yan would be left with some degree of unpredictable sequelae. The brain is the body’s most complex organ; who knew where the surgery might have caused damage and what the consequences would be? Drastic personality changes, amnesia, dementia, a vegetative state—anything was possible.

"By the way, why didn't Qin Siqing come with you?" Zeng Xiangguo asked.

Wang Zhuo smiled in response. "Her father might be coming a bit later."

"Oh, oh," Zeng Xiangguo understood immediately and nodded. "That explains it."

"Sister Feng will need to leave soon too," Wang Zhuo smoothly shifted the focus to Feng Miao. "She’s graduating this year, and there’s a small, rare interview session at the school around noon."

Sure enough, Zeng Xiangguo inquired about Feng Miao’s situation. After learning the details, he summoned his secretary to escort Feng Miao back to school for her interview. The favor of saving his son was not something repayable with just a secretary’s ride; Feng Miao’s graduation defense and employment issues were surely settled.

Just then, Ruan Mingqing pushed open the door. Zeng Xiangguo stood up. "Mingqing is here. Wang Zhuo, you two talk; I have something else to attend to and can’t stay."

Sitting opposite Wang Zhuo, Ruan Mingqing managed a weak smile. "Thank you so much for yesterday. I heard from little Chu’s grandfather; if you hadn't helped, Zeng Yan definitely wouldn't have made it."

Wang Zhuo smiled gently. "I’m a medical student; saving lives is my duty. It was the right thing to step in when something like this happened."

Ruan Mingqing nodded in agreement. Having stayed up all night, she had only managed an hour of sleep after dawn. Her expression was far more haggard than yesterday, and she still wore the same wrinkled clothes from the day before, their former elegance gone. She had assumed Wang Zhuo and the others wouldn't return after leaving yesterday, so she was quite startled to hear they had arrived with Feng Miao. Yesterday, Wang Zhuo’s trio had left abruptly, displaying a selfless, helping-without-seeking-reward style that left her grateful but also indebted. She had planned to track them down at school after things settled to express her gratitude. Hearing two people had come, she immediately surmised the reason: Zeng Xiangguo’s status had likely reached the school, and they felt they couldn’t miss such an opportunity, hence their return. In truth, she was quite right; if Zeng Xiangguo’s status were lower, Wang Zhuo probably wouldn't have returned to the hospital. While her ** charm could offer Wang Zhuo a feast for the eyes, it wasn’t enough to warrant a special visit.

"Right, where is little Chu? This balloon is for her," Wang Zhuo tugged the gray wolf balloon.

"She went out with her aunt to clear her head," Ruan Mingqing said with a bitter smile. "The child is still young; I don't want her exposed to this too soon."

"I understand," Wang Zhuo nodded. "Then please pass this balloon on to her, with my hope that Chu’s father will be as strong as the Gray Wolf and conquer his illness to recover soon."

Only then did Ruan Mingqing grasp the metaphor of the Gray Wolf. She thought, No wonder it wasn't Pleasant Goat; there’s little to be happy about right now. The Gray Wolf certainly fits the situation. This Wang Zhuo was truly thoughtful.

"Then I'll thank you on behalf of Chu and her father," Ruan Mingqing accepted the balloon, wrapping the string around her palm and gripping it tightly.

"Then I won't keep you," Wang Zhuo said, rising. "It seems there’s nothing more I can do here, so I won’t overstay my welcome."

"Leave me your contact information," Ruan Mingqing quickly insisted. "When I have time, I can bring Chu over to thank you properly."

"No need for thanks," Wang Zhuo smiled, producing a business card and handing it to her with one hand. "I’d certainly welcome a casual visit. And my shop has some items that are quite nice—I imagine one or two would suit you, Sister Ruan." It sounded like an invitation for Ruan Mingqing to spend money, but she certainly didn't interpret it that way. Wang Zhuo’s car alone was worth over a million; he was clearly not a greedy small-time merchant. Ruan Mingqing knew that even if she visited to buy something, she would certainly receive a preferential discount.

Taking the card with both hands, Ruan Mingqing heard Wang Zhuo add, "Brother Zeng’s illness won’t be fixed overnight. Sister Ruan, try to stay positive and don't wear yourself out."

Ruan Mingqing nodded repeatedly, tears involuntarily welling in her eyes, and waved farewell to Wang Zhuo.

Leaving the hospital, Wang Zhuo let out a breath he hadn't realized he was holding. Upon arriving, he had already used his X-ray vision to look past the ICU doors at Zeng Yan’s condition. Zeng Yan had a drainage tube inserted in his head, was connected to countless medical devices, and was flanked by auxiliary machinery like a ventilator. His brain had sustained some damage during the surgery; his life hung by a thread, perhaps seven or eight parts gone. Frankly, in Zeng Yan's current state, perhaps death would be a release. If he didn't die, it would only result in suffering for the patient and exhaustion for the relatives. Even if Zeng Yan survived, it would be a life worse than death, with no possibility of enjoying life thereafter. And all his family members would suffer alongside him, especially Ruan Mingqing, who, so young, would be doomed to be a widow, tending to her husband while raising her child—her life effectively finished. Thinking of that beautiful woman, mature like a honeyed peach, being crushed under the weight of life's burdens, the compassionate Wang Zhuo felt a profound melancholy. Damn this Fate, why was it so relentlessly cruel?