Chapter Thirty: Keeping Promises

While Xie Qingtang sorted through the medicinal herbs before her, she admitted, “Of course, I know you’re a workaholic. If I let you rest, you’d never actually rest, so this is the only way to make you take a few days off.”

Hearing this, Gu Xiujin felt a wave of frustration and didn’t know how to respond. While he hesitated in silence, Xie Qingtang continued, “Oh, by the way, I forgot to mention—after you take the medicine, you’ll feel sleepy very easily. Have a good rest.”

With those words, the call ended abruptly. Gu Xiujin set his phone aside, his face cold and stern. Sure enough, as soon as he finished the bowl of herbal medicine, a wave of fatigue washed over his mind.

Even someone with his formidable willpower couldn’t resist the drowsiness. He drifted into a deep sleep. When Li Zhao returned with company documents, he found that his boss was already fast asleep.

“President Gu, the documents…” Li Zhao hesitated as he saw Gu Xiujin asleep, then quietly withdrew from the room.

Meanwhile, Zhou Jinfan was swatting away flies and complaining to Xie Qingtang, “Boss, look at the Gu’s Hospital across the street—people coming and going all day long. Besides those coming to buy sachets, not a single soul comes to our Cishantang. Didn’t you bet with that intern doctor last time, saying all her patients would be referred to us? Why hasn’t a single one shown up?”

Hearing this, Xie Qingtang paused, her brows drawn together. “That’s strange. Could she be going back on her word?”

“Go back on her word? That’s impossible. Want me to go find her?” Zhou Jinfan slapped his thigh, leaping from behind the counter, his eyes shining as he looked at Xie Qingtang.

With the shop empty, Zhou Jinfan was bored out of his mind. Xie Qingtang glanced at him without protest, tacitly granting permission.

Zhou Jinfan straightened his clothes and strode off toward Gu’s Hospital, directly seeking out Wang Miao’er’s office.

“Take your medicine as prescribed when you get home; you’ll recover soon,” Wang Miao’er said with a gentle smile to her patient. Despite everything, she still maintained basic professional ethics as a doctor. But the next moment, her smile froze on her face.

Without knocking, Zhou Jinfan pushed the door open and walked right in. Noticing the patient inside, he called out, “Oh, you have a patient? I thought an intern doctor at Gu’s Hospital wouldn’t get any.”

“What are you doing here?” Wang Miao’er spat through clenched teeth. The sight of this assistant from Cishantang brought to mind the unpleasant events from a few days ago, souring her mood completely.

Zhou Jinfan grinned, glanced at the patient, and struck up a conversation. “What’s wrong with you? Why come here? You should try Cishantang. This doctor already promised us—all her patients for a year are ours.”

“Shut up!” Wang Miao’er lost her composure, slamming her hand on the desk. Her earlier gentleness vanished, startling the patient.

Zhou Jinfan stood up, narrowing his eyes at her and scoffed, “What’s wrong? Can’t keep your word? Have you already forgotten your promise? And what were you supposed to say?”

“Doctor, if there’s nothing else, I’ll take my slip and leave now,” the patient said, unnerved by the strange atmosphere in the room.

Zhou Jinfan didn’t stop him, folding his arms as he faced Wang Miao’er. “It seems Dr. Wang’s memory is lacking. Have you forgotten you lost a bet with our boss? For every patient you see, what’s the first thing you’re supposed to say? And don’t forget—you promised to refer your patients to Cishantang, and to declare that traditional medicine isn’t a scam.”

“Are you really going to pretend you’re not responsible? With your mediocre skills, you should be grateful you aren’t harming anyone.”

The repeated humiliation drained the color from Wang Miao’er’s face, leaving her flushed and pale by turns. She grabbed the phone to call hospital security.

“Wait. I know you’re calling security. But if they come, I’ll tell the entire hospital you lost a bet to the owner of Cishantang and are refusing to honor your word,” Zhou Jinfan said, unfazed, crossing his legs with an air of shamelessness.

Indeed, Zhou Jinfan feared nothing. He was just an assistant at Cishantang, and working in the trade of dubious remedies had long since thickened his skin.

But Wang Miao’er was anxious. Her reputation at Gu’s Hospital was at stake; if such rumors spread, who knew what others would think—especially that man.

“Go on, why aren’t you dialing?” Zhou Jinfan snorted at her indecision, then picked up the freshly brewed tea, took a sip, and immediately spat it out. “Not as good as our Cishantang’s floral fruit tea. What is this?”

Seeing this man settling in as if he’d never leave, Wang Miao’er drew a deep breath, cold light flashing in her eyes. “What exactly do you want?”

“Oh, nothing much. I just want Dr. Wang to honor her promise. That way, everyone’s happy. Isn’t that best?” Zhou Jinfan flashed a cheeky grin, showing all his teeth.

Wang Miao’er felt a headache coming on. She sat back down, massaging her temples, and finally relented. “Fine. I’ll refer my patients to Cishantang. But you must promise not to spread word of our bet around the hospital.”

“Relax. As long as you keep your end, I won’t waste my breath,” Zhou Jinfan replied, tossing aside whatever was in his hand.

Just then, another patient pushed the door open.

Before Wang Miao’er could speak, Zhou Jinfan greeted the newcomer with a broad smile. “The doctor here won’t see you. Head across to Cishantang—honest business, guaranteed cure!”

“Huh? Isn’t Cishantang across the street notorious for selling fake medicine? Isn’t traditional medicine just a scam?” the patient asked in confusion. He’d come for a Western consultation—why was someone here recommending a traditional clinic?

Zhou Jinfan didn’t get angry. He just turned slowly to look at Wang Miao’er, his expression full of meaning.

“Traditional medicine is not a scam,” Wang Miao’er ground out between her teeth.