Those present could more or less guess the nature of their relationship. No one had expected Yao Lingxuan to divorce Su Yan right in front of everyone. As prominent figures in Yunhai, they all remained cautious around Yao Lingxuan. Seeing that even the fifth young master of the Shen family treated her with such care, it was clear that the influence behind her was not to be underestimated.
As for this Su Yan, they had privately investigated his background. He had been incarcerated three years ago in Longteng Prison, and after losing a kidney, he had become a broken man. It was only natural for Yao Lingxuan to divorce such a wreck. How could a man who was no longer even a man be worthy of her?
Su Yan knocked out the restless Duoduo in his arms and looked at the cold-faced Yao Lingxuan. "From now on, we go our separate ways."
"That goes without saying." Yao Lingxuan looked back at him, arms crossed, adopting a condescending posture. "For the sake of our time as husband and wife, I’ll give you a warning: the Jiang family is not someone you can afford to offend. If you want to keep living, leave now. Don’t think your cheap little tricks can fool them."
"Fool them? When did I ever say I wanted to fool them?" Su Yan smiled. "I said I could treat her, so I certainly can!"
"You..." Yao Lingxuan hadn't expected him to be so stubborn. She had been kind enough to help him, and yet he was so ungrateful. It was obvious he was deliberately acting against her, just to spite her. "Su Yan, you are truly immature!"
A cold glint flashed in Chen Jinglun’s eyes, and he spoke with keen interest, "Since he is so certain, why don't we have a contest?"
He had been extremely concerned ever since he heard the news that Su Yan claimed to be able to cure Old Madam Jiang. The illnesses of Old Madam Shen and Old Madam Jiang were quite similar, and countless doctors in Yunhai had found them beyond help. If it weren't for the powerful figure behind Yao Lingxuan, as the grandson of Divine Doctor Chen, he would never have done her this favor.
A piece of trash who had spent three years in prison actually dared to imagine he could cure Old Madam Jiang? It was utterly laughable! For Su Yan to make such a bold, shameless claim was an insult to the medical profession. If he didn't teach him a harsh lesson and force him to face reality, there was no telling how much he would tarnish the reputation of doctors in the future.
"A contest?" Su Yan asked with a smile. "How do you propose we do that?"
Chen Jinglun adjusted his glasses. "Old Madam Shen and Old Madam Jiang suffer from similar conditions. Let’s see who can cure their respective patients, shall we?"
"I have no problem with that," Su Yan replied readily.
"You have no problem with that?" Yao Lingxuan, stunned by his decisiveness, laughed in anger. "Do you have any idea who the Little Divine Doctor is? He is the grandson of Divine Doctor Chen himself. How could someone who spent three years in prison possibly match his medical skills?"
Su Yan shrugged. "Isn't he eager to try? Won't we know once he tries?"
As the successor of Tianshu, medical expertise was his most basic ability. If he hadn't made a promise to the head of the Jiang family, Jiang Yunhe, the Jiang family’s status would not have been enough to warrant his personal intervention!
"You..." Seeing him remain so stubborn, Yao Lingxuan scoffed, "Fine. I’d love to see how you manage to cure Old Madam Jiang!"
Was Old Madam Jiang’s illness really that easy to treat? If it were, it would never have come down to hiring the Chen family. She couldn't understand what the Jiang family was thinking—were they just desperate and clutching at straws?
Su Yan asked with a smile, "Since we are having a contest, there should be a wager, right? What happens to the loser?"
"He must kneel before the patient, apologize, and promise never to swindle anyone again!" Chen Jinglun curled his lips into a sneer. "Well? Do you dare agree to that?"
Swindle? Su Yan smiled faintly. It was clear they didn't believe a word he said. And to demand he kneel—were they planning to humiliate him thoroughly?
"Fine!"
"If you say there's no problem, then there’s no problem!"
Su Yan had never been one to turn down a challenge, because it wouldn't be long before his opponent tasted the bitterness of defeat. The people present shook their heads gently, thinking he had lost his mind. Because of his stubbornness, he had backed himself into a corner and agreed to such an outrageous demand. Kneeling! There would be quite a show to watch later.
Chen Jinglun looked at Shen Jianian and asked, "Young Master Shen, is my proposal acceptable to you?"
As the youngest generation of the Shen family, Shen Jianian stood in a unique position and understood a fair amount about the Jiang family. The Jiang family wouldn't go looking for just anyone to treat the old lady without a reason. If Su Yan truly had the skill, then he wouldn't have offended him, and perhaps he could even ask him to treat his own grandmother. If Su Yan was truly a fraud, the Shen family would be helping the Jiang family see his true colors, and the Jiang family would owe them a favor. No matter how he looked at it, the Shen family wouldn't lose; in fact, there was profit to be made.
"Since this is the Little Divine Doctor’s decision, and presumably Miss Yao’s as well, the Shen family is willing to cooperate," Shen Jianian replied with a smile, casting a glance at Su Yan.
The spirit and cleverness shown by this fifth young master of the Shen family were certainly impressive.
Su Yan crossed his arms and asked, "Tell me, what is the format of the contest?"
Yao Lingxuan frowned. Even at this point, Su Yan still hadn't grasped reality? Why was he so keen on a contest he was bound to lose?
Shen Jianian said solemnly, "The Lake Garden of the Shen family and the Lake Garden of the Jiang family are adjacent. If we move both old madams to the Lake Garden, we can treat them at the same time and determine the final result."
Chen Jinglun clapped his hands. "Done. Let's do that. I just don’t know if you can persuade the Jiang family to let Old Madam Jiang go to the Lake Garden."
"No problem," Su Yan replied with a smile.
"I don't know where you get the confidence to be so sure the Jiang family will listen to you," Yao Lingxuan scoffed.
Su Yan smiled and said, "You just have to wait for the news. Other matters aren't for you to worry about."
Yao Lingxuan was so angry she could barely speak, and she sneered, "Fine. We’ll wait for your news."
Su Yan looked at Xu Guangyao, who was standing to one side. "Let's go."
"...Alright." Xu Guangyao followed him out, feeling utterly humiliated. In any other circumstance, his status was on par with Yao Lingxuan’s. Yet, at this moment, he felt like a dog following Su Yan. No, he felt even worse than the dog in Su Yan’s arms! Even Yao Lingxuan, Su Yan’s own wife, considered him a piece of trash; how could his father think he was someone extraordinary? Following Su Yan in front of so many people—wasn't he just lowering his own social standing?
The others watched their figures disappear into the night and then withdrew their gazes with mocking chuckles.
"Do you think Su Yan will try to run away?" someone asked.
"Haha, with such a massive bet on the line, it’s quite likely."
"I really don't know where he gets the confidence to think the Jiang family will do as he says."
Yao Lingxuan felt an growing sense of disgust toward Su Yan as she listened to the chatter.
Su Yan hadn't walked far before he reached the Jiang family villa. As the door opened, an old man in his sixties walked out and ran straight into them. The old man was none other than the head of the Jiang family, Jiang Yunhe, and he recognized Su Yan immediately.
Jiang Yunhe’s expression shifted, and he knelt down before Su Yan with the utmost reverence.
"I apologize for failing to welcome you, Young Master. Please, forgive me!"