Chapter Fifteen: Another Bet

At that moment, Gu Xiujin had appeared at her side without anyone noticing, gently grasping her arm to keep her from sitting directly onto the cold floor.

“Thank you,” Xie Qingtang said, looking briefly dazed. She didn’t say much more, merely steadied herself and took a seat in the nearby chair.

It was only then that the man's parents seemed to come to their senses, intending to rush forward, but Xie Qingtang stopped them. “These one hundred and eighteen needles must stay in his body for half an hour. After that, he’ll wake up.”

“Is… is that really possible?” the man’s mother asked, her voice trembling as she looked at her son's back, bristling with needles like a porcupine.

Having finished speaking, Xie Qingtang closed her eyes and began to rest, saying nothing more. The onlooker outside, who had been drawn by the commotion, also remained.

After what had happened to Xiaoying earlier, Wang Miao’er bit her lip, firmly convinced that if she dared to speak out while Xie Qingtang was performing acupuncture, Li Zhao and the bodyguards would throw her out to the hospital entrance as well.

But now that the acupuncture was complete, Wang Miao’er summoned her courage and climbed the steps up to the Hall of Kindness. Zhou Jinfan, seeing her suddenly enter, immediately became guarded.

“What are you doing here? I thought you looked down on our traditional medicine. Why come in, unless you want to sully the place?” Zhou Jinfan’s tongue was as sharp as ever.

Hearing this, Xie Qingtang showed no reaction, eyes still closed in repose. Wang Miao’er ignored Zhou Jinfan and walked straight to Gu Xiujin’s side.

“President Gu, you still need your checkup. Let me wheel you back to the hospital,” Wang Miao’er said, curving her lips into what she considered a flawless smile. She half-knelt by his wheelchair, her delicate hand resting lightly on the armrest.

No one noticed that Xie Qingtang, who had been sitting with her eyes closed, suddenly cracked her lids open and cast a glance their way.

“Li Zhao,” Gu Xiujin’s face darkened instantly. Outside, Li Zhao, who had been acting as a barrier between the crowd and the entrance, hurried over at once, bowing his head. “President Gu.”

“It seems you miss the days of intensive training,” Gu Xiujin’s icy gaze carried a clear warning.

Li Zhao shivered involuntarily, then quickly approached Wang Miao’er. “Miss, please remove your hand from President Gu’s wheelchair.”

At that, Wang Miao’er’s perfect smile froze, her lips twitching awkwardly for a moment.

“President Gu—” she tried to protest, but just then the patient’s parents spotted her. The man’s mother walked over, weeping, “Doctor, you were the one who suggested we come to the Hall of Kindness for treatment. But now my son’s back looks like this—what’s happening? Can she really cure him?”

As her words fell, the crowd outside murmured in surprise.

After all, everyone had heard the nurse beside Wang Miao’er disparage traditional medicine, yet now this very doctor from Gu Hospital had recommended her patient to the Hall of Kindness?

It wasn’t only the bystanders’ curiosity that was piqued; Xie Qingtang opened her eyes, a flash of lightning-cold light shooting toward Wang Miao’er.

“I… I only suggested you come here for treatment, I never said anything else. If that charlatan kills your son, it’s nothing to do with me!” Wang Miao’er blurted out anxiously.

She’d been so focused on speaking to Gu Xiujin that she’d forgotten the patient’s parents were nearby, and that she herself had recommended they bring their son to the Hall of Kindness.

“I never imagined that the first patient to walk through my doors after reopening would be sent by you,” Xie Qingtang said, standing up with a meaningful smile, staring at the flustered Wang Miao’er.

Wang Miao’er bit her lip, retorting, “Didn’t you just cure that mute old lady with your miraculous acupuncture yesterday? I thought you must have some skill, so I recommended this patient to you.”

“But now you’ve left this patient motionless—it’s not my fault if you lack ability.” She made it sound as if she had referred the patient for Xie Qingtang’s benefit, and if the treatment failed, it was solely due to Xie Qingtang’s incompetence, absolving herself of any responsibility.

With a few simple words, she shook off all blame. Xie Qingtang sneered inwardly—this woman might seem blunt, but her heart was far less clean than her appearance suggested.

“My poor child! If not for chasing such dangerous work, how would he have ended up like this?” the man’s mother wailed, seeing Wang Miao’er shirk all responsibility. She collapsed to the floor in tears.

Xie Qingtang frowned slightly and addressed her, “I’ve already said, in just half an hour, your son will wake up.”

“Hmph, who knows if he’ll really wake up in half an hour? Maybe you’re just stalling for time,” Wang Miao’er interjected relentlessly.

Xie Qingtang merely smiled, unruffled, arching an eyebrow and folding her arms. “Why don’t we make a wager?”

“Why should I bet with you?” At the mention of a wager, Wang Miao’er recalled how she’d been humiliated by this woman the day before, and immediately grew wary.

At her leisure, Xie Qingtang walked over, noting the badge on Wang Miao’er’s chest. “Doctor Wang, you brought this patient here. You also doubted my ability to cure him. In that case, let’s bet: if he wakes in half an hour, then for the next month, every patient you accept must be referred to my Hall of Kindness.”

The Hall of Kindness had yet to build its reputation, and because of Zhou Jinfan’s past involvement with fake medicine, most people remained skeptical and avoided seeking treatment there.

But if she could get Doctor Wang to refer more patients, Xie Qingtang could earn more money to buy her grandfather medicinal herbs for his health.

The onlookers, always eager for excitement, egged Wang Miao’er on, leaving her with no way to refuse in front of so many watching eyes.