Lin Feng stepped aside, dodging the bow.
"You're bowing to the wrong person!"
Hearing this, Divine Doctor Xue not only refused to stand up, but dropped straight to the floor in a full prostration. "No, I'm not. My master was once part of the Medicine King Lineage, but my talent was limited and I never learned everything. Since you are the grandmaster of the Medicine King Lineage, I owe you this profound kowtow!"
"All right, get up then. Remember to practice your medicine more when you go back."
"Yes!"
Divine Doctor Xue respectfully backed away.
Elder Zhao, realizing that it was Lin Feng who had saved his life, stood up and expressed his gratitude. "Thank you for stepping in to save me, Divine Doctor. I am endlessly grateful!"
"Since you've been brought back, let's talk about business," Lin Feng said.
"Business?"
Elder Zhao looked completely puzzled.
Zhao Tianlong stepped forward and murmured in Elder Zhao's ear, "Dad, have you forgotten? The engagement you arranged for Qingling back then—this Mr. Lin is Qingling's fiancé!"
Only then did the realization dawn on Elder Zhao. He said excitedly, "Little Divine Doctor, don't you worry! I give the marriage between you and Qingling my absolute blessing. You two can go get your marriage license right now and consummate it tonight!"
Embarrassed by Elder Zhao's astonishing efficiency, Lin Feng sighed helplessly, "Actually, I've come here to call off the engagement. After all, your granddaughter and I haven't even met, and there's no emotional foundation between us. Wouldn't it be better to dissolve the engagement early for everyone's sake?"
No sooner had the words left his mouth than Elder Zhao grew agitated. "What kind of talk is that, Little Divine Doctor? Our Zhao family has always honored our word, and on top of that, you saved this old man's life today. Reason and duty both dictate that the Zhao family will never break this engagement!"
"I really am here to cancel the engagement!" Lin Feng emphasized.
Elder Zhao pondered for a moment, then persuaded, "How about this, Little Divine Doctor? Why don't you rest for the night, and tomorrow when my granddaughter Qingling gets back, the two of you can talk face-to-face. How does that sound?"
Lin Feng thought it over briefly and agreed. "Very well."
A smile broke out at the corners of Elder Zhao's mouth. "Wonderful, wonderful! Take the Little Divine Doctor to the ocean-view villa in Yulongwan so he can have a proper rest!"
Immediately, a Zhao family servant respectfully stepped forward to lead Lin Feng away.
As soon as Lin Feng was gone, Zhao Tianlong couldn't help asking, "Dad, wasn't that ocean-view villa in Yulongwan supposed to be Qingling's dowry and bridal home?"
"Indeed it was! So it's only right that the Little Divine Doctor stays there," Elder Zhao replied with the smile of an old fox.
"But..."
Before Zhao Tianlong could finish, Elder Zhao cut him off. "Don't worry. With someone as exceptional as the Little Divine Doctor, Qingling is bound to fall for him. Right now, my only worry is that the Little Divine Doctor won't think highly enough of our Qingling!"
"Should I go ahead and give Qingling a heads-up?"
"No need. I trust in the fate between these two young people."
With that, Elder Zhao waved his hand, signaling that Zhao Tianlong could go attend to his own affairs.
Just as Zhao Tianlong stepped out the villa doors, a sharply dressed young man in a suit walked straight up to him.
The young man asked with a hypocritical, deferential tone, "Uncle Zhao, I heard that a fellow claiming to be Ms. Zhao's fiancé came knocking today?"
This young man was Huang Qiming, the young master of the Huang Family, one of Nancheng's newly rising wealthy families, who had been pursuing Zhao Qingling for a long time.
"That's right. Qingling does have a fiancé, and he arrived today. He'll be fulfilling the engagement with her before long," Zhao Tianlong replied patiently.
He didn't think much of a newly minted wealthy family.
Still, one does not strike a smiling face, so since the question was asked, Zhao Tianlong deigned to answer.
Huang Qiming grew frantic upon hearing this. "Uncle Zhao, how could you let Ms. Zhao marry a total stranger? Besides, from what I know, this guy isn't worthy of Ms. Zhao at all!"
Hearing this, Zhao Tianlong's eyes narrowed, a dangerous gleam flashing in their depths.
Yet Huang Qiming remained completely oblivious, assuming Zhao Tianlong had taken his words to heart, and pressed on, "I've already checked him out. This guy only arrived in Nancheng today, and before that he was stuck out in some remote mountain valley. He's obviously just a country bumpkin. How could Ms. Zhao possibly marry someone like that?"
"So I think this whole thing must be a scam. This country bumpkin has some nerve, trying to get something for nothing and hoodwink the Zhao family!"
Huang Qiming spoke with exuberant flair.
He had always regarded Zhao Qingling as his own possession, and once he discovered that Lin Feng hailed from some mountain backwoods, he resolved to teach this fellow a harsh lesson.
"So what do you suggest should be done?" Zhao Tianlong asked coldly.
"A guy like that should be rounded up and taught a brutal lesson so he learns his place!" Huang Qiming recommended without the slightest hesitation.
Zhao Tianlong, however, remained completely silent, simply staring at Huang Qiming with a cold, mocking smirk.
That look made a chill creep up the back of Huang Qiming's spine.
"Slap!"
At that exact moment, Zhao Tianlong raised his hand and dealt Huang Qiming a heavy blow across the face.
"Ow!"
The sheer force knocked Huang Qiming flat on the ground. Clutching his half-face, already red and swollen, he stared up at Zhao Tianlong in sheer disbelief.
"Uncle Zhao, why did you hit me?"
To this day, he still couldn't fathom why he was being beaten.
Zhao Tianlong said frostily, "I hit that filthy, slanderous mouth of yours!"
"Mr. Lin is Qingling's fiancé and a valued guest of the Zhao family. How dare you open your mouth here and hurl wild accusations?"
"If it weren't for the happy occasion in my family today, do you think a single slap would be all you'd get for what you just said?"
Huang Qiming turned pale with fright, shivering as the color drained entirely from his face.
"Get lost, and fast!" Zhao Tianlong barked angrily.
Huang Qiming bolted, only letting out a breath of relief when he saw that Zhao Tianlong hadn't sent anyone after him.
Feeling the still-burning sting on his face, Huang Qiming was filled with resentment.
Not daring to retaliate against Zhao Tianlong, he shifted all his hatred onto Lin Feng.
"Damn country bumpkin! Not only is he trying to steal my Zhao Qingling, but he got me slapped for nothing!"
"I'm going to track down where this bastard is staying right now, and I'll make him pay back this slap tenfold!"
With that thought, Huang Qiming let out a cold snort and stalked off in a rage.
Yulongwan, ocean-view villa.
The Zhao family servant handed the villa keys to Lin Feng and said respectfully, "Mr. Lin, everything you need for daily life is fully stocked inside. Please make yourself at home!"
Lin Feng inspected the villa; both the design and interior decoration were utterly flawless.
Having traveled all day, Lin Feng took a quick wash and collapsed onto the bed, falling into a deep sleep.
Nighttime.
A woman dressed in professional attire walked into the villa. She had long hair, large eyes, a slender waist, and long legs. Her tight blouse buttoned so tensely it seemed on the verge of bursting open, drawing the eye instantly, especially around her ample bust and narrow waist.
Yet at the moment, her face was etched with sheer exhaustion.
Too lazy to turn on the lights, she felt her way through the dark, entered the front door, went upstairs, and walked into the bedroom.
In a flurry of movements, she cast off all her restrictive clothing and slid straight under the covers stark naked.
She reached out a smooth, delicate hand to feel for a body pillow.
Suddenly, the tactile feedback against her hand shocked her completely awake.
Why did this body pillow have body heat? And moreover, an eight-pack of abs and eighteen centimeters?
The next second.
In the pitch darkness, two pairs of eyes locked gazes.
Just as the woman opened her mouth to scream, an even louder shriek rang out.
"Ah!!!"
"Pervert woman!!!"
Unable to get her own scream out, she glared furiously at the pair of eyes in the dark.
What the hell are you yelling for? Those are my lines!