Lu Jingyan said in a low, heavy voice, "How many accidents is your life worth?"
Lu Jingming knew his brother was worried about him. He lowered his head and said, "I'm sorry, brother. I've worried you. Please don't tell Mom."
On the way to the hospital, Lu Jingyan had already had someone check on Lu Jingming’s condition; he was indeed not seriously hurt. Ever since the car accident, their mother hadn't slept well, and he didn't want to cause her any further fear or worry.
"Get some rest. I’ll have someone pick you up and take you home later. As for Mom, you don't need to worry. There are still things at the company that need to be handled, so I’m leaving now."
Seeing him turn his wheelchair to leave, Lu Jingming thought of what had happened after the accident and hurriedly grabbed him. "Brother, you absolutely cannot enter into a marriage alliance with Gu Qing."
Lu Jingyan didn't want to hear this. Considering he had just been injured, he didn't rebuke him too harshly, only saying coldly, "Let go."
Seeing that he remained unbothered, Lu Jingming grew anxious. "Brother, believe me, Gu Qing is not a good person. Neither of those two sisters from the Gu family is any good. You have to understand that a single household cannot raise two different kinds of people; those who lie are often deeply calculating."
He thought of the beautiful, gentle woman he had seen the moment he opened his eyes at the scene of the accident. He gripped Lu Jingyan’s arm tightly and said excitedly:
"Don't marry Gu Qing. I have a much better candidate for a sister-in-law! When the car accident happened just now, I met a girl who was incredibly beautiful and gentle; she was the one who saved me. She looks about your age, and the moment I saw her, I felt like you two were a match made in heaven. Only such a girl is worthy of you. I just didn't get the chance to ask for her contact information before I was loaded onto the ambulance."
He spoke quite convincingly, finally asserting, "Brother, why don't you go to the Gu family and call off the engagement right now? Go marry that beautiful young lady instead. I will definitely find a way to help you track her down. How about it?"
In Lu Jingyan's eyes, these remarks from Lu Jingming were absurd, unreasonable, and childish. He looked at Lu Jingming, his gaze cold. "Who taught you to comment on a girl like that behind her back?"
Lu Jingming was intimidated into silence by his brother's glare.
"The marriage alliance with the Gu family cannot be canceled. Stop talking such childish nonsense."
Lu Jingyan turned his wheelchair around, ready to leave, when he suddenly remembered something. He tilted his head and said, "Also, Gu Qing is not the 'liar' you claim she is. She will be your sister-in-law in the future. Show her some respect. Lu family rules certainly do not include gossiping about others behind their backs."
Lu Jingming was stunned by his brother's stern attitude. He didn't snap out of it until he heard the click of the door closing.
*Fine, just fine...*
What kind of scheme had this woman, Gu Qing, pulled? His brother had only met her once, yet he was already being completely led by the nose and defending her so staunchly.
After a moment of contemplation, Lu Jingming became even more determined. No matter what, he absolutely could not let a woman like Gu Qing marry his brother. He had finally encountered someone who was truly perfect for his brother, and he wasn't about to give up on that.
***
Golden plane tree leaves covered the ground. The street scene looked somewhat desolate.
In a private room at a restaurant, two people sat facing each other. A man and a woman, though there was a significant age gap between them. The man appeared to be nearly sixty, with graying hair at his temples. The woman across from him was only in her twenties, her long, dark hair draped behind her. Her silhouette was slender; this was none other than Gu Qing.
The man smiled and said, "Evelyn, ever since we parted ways in the United States, I’ve tried to set up a meeting so many times. You, such a busy person, have finally managed to see me."
This man was none other than Professor Feng Zhengduan, a highly respected figure at Jingcheng Medical University. Gu Qing had worked with him while in the United States.
Gu Qing knew he was teasing her. She picked up the teacup in front of her and replied with a smile, "I was indeed held up by some personal matters. I apologize, Professor Feng; please accept this tea in place of wine as a toast to you."
Back in the States, when Feng Zhengduan first met her, he thought she was too cold and reserved, leaving a poor impression. Furthermore, he thought she was too young and doubted her capability. After the incident in Chinatown, however, he had been completely won over by her abilities. It wasn't so much that he liked this young girl, but rather that he admired her. There were few young, talented medical practitioners left like Evelyn.
Feng Zhengduan was delighted and clinked his teacup against Gu Qing's.
"Evelyn, given our relationship, I won't beat around the bush," Feng Zhengduan said. "Actually, I invited you out this time because I sincerely want to invite you to give a lecture at our university."
Gu Qing pondered for a moment. Her grandmother had passed away on the operating table, and she had to admit she hadn't fully emerged from that shadow. Moreover, her hands would tremble from time to time... Add to that the mental energy she had spent analyzing Lu Jingyan’s condition, and she simply didn't have the capacity to lecture others.
Gu Qing said apologetically, "Professor Feng, first of all, thank you for the invitation. However, I have a very important patient waiting for me to treat them. You know that medical lectures require extreme focus and preparation, and I truly don't have the energy for it right now. I have to decline for the time being. But once I have treated this patient, if your university is still willing to invite me, I will certainly not let you down."
Hearing this, Feng Zhengduan nodded repeatedly with a smile. "Alright, alright, I'll hold you to that. If you try to refuse then, I'll have to tell everyone that a rising star in the medical world is playing tricks on an old man."
Gu Qing nodded. "A promise made is a promise kept."
Her attitude greatly satisfied Feng Zhengduan. "You go ahead and eat; I'm going to the restroom."
Feng Zhengduan left the private room. On his way back from the restroom, he heard someone calling out to him from behind. He turned his head and saw a girl in a blue dress.
Gu Ruo ran up to him, pleasantly surprised. "Professor Feng, is it really you?"
Gu Ruo had been admitted to Jingcheng Medical University and was one of the students who actively participated in his classes, so Feng Zhengduan recognized her.
"Student Gu Ruo, are you dining here as well?"
Thinking of Lu Jingming, Gu Ruo nodded shyly. "Yes, with a friend."
She then asked, "Professor Feng, are you here alone?"
"I am with..." Feng Zhengduan paused for two seconds. Remembering Evelyn's mysterious nature and guessing she might not want to be identified, he said, "I'm having a meal with one of my idols."
"An idol?" Gu Ruo was surprised. "To be an idol of Professor Feng, that person must be very exceptional!"
Feng Zhengduan nodded. "Very exceptional, and young and promising as well."
Gu Ruo hoped to interact more with the professor so that he would have a good impression of her. She hurriedly said, "By the way, Professor Feng, I bought a lot of medical books a few days ago. One of them was written by my idol, Evelyn, but there are some overly professional terms and difficult medical theories in it that I can't quite understand. Could I message you on WeChat after I go back to ask for your guidance?"