Bai Jie smiled at the sight. "Yuyan, don't overthink it. We're best friends—surely you don't think I'd steal your husband?"
"I don't."
Su Yuyan shook her head, her expression somewhat unnatural.
Actually, it wasn't that she didn't trust her best friend; she simply knew how outgoing Bai Jie was.
Especially with male friends, with whom she acted like one of the guys, making no distinction between genders.
Though this cheerful personality of hers had won her many friends and earned her a very broad social circle in Haicheng.
"Brother-in-law, let's add each other on WeChat."
Holding her phone, Bai Jie walked over to Zhang Hao and opened the WeChat QR code scanner.
Zhang Hao still hesitated.
He had sensed something from the change in Su Yuyan's expression.
Just then, the nanny's voice rang out.
"Xiao Zhang, Xiao Su, if you don't need anything else, I'll be heading back. I'll be over first thing tomorrow morning."
Su Yuyan smiled. "Alright, Auntie. Be safe on the way."
"Mm."
The nanny nodded with a smile and walked toward the door.
"Wait a moment."
Zhang Hao hurriedly stopped the nanny and walked straight over.
"Auntie, I haven't taken your pulse yet."
With that, he placed his fingers directly on the nanny's wrist, carefully feeling her pulse.
The nanny chuckled. "Xiao Su, I had no idea Xiao Zhang knew how to practice medicine. He really is a jack-of-all-trades... Hey, Xiao Zhang, why are you frowning?"
Seeing Zhang Hao suddenly frown and turn serious, the nanny's heart skipped a beat.
She remembered a saying: don't fear a Western doctor's smiling face, fear a traditional Chinese medicine doctor's furrowed brow.
If Zhang Hao was frowning, it meant something was definitely wrong.
"Auntie."
Zhang Hao said solemnly, "You have an arrhythmia and myocardial ischemia. While it's not too severe right now, if you don't take medication in time, it will worsen, and in serious cases, it could lead to a myocardial infarction."
Hearing this, the nanny looked surprised.
She wasn't scared by Zhang Hao's words; rather, she was astonished.
Because the doctors at the hospital had said the exact same thing.
Only, at the hospital, she had to go through a battery of tests—CT scans and blood draws—costing well over a thousand yuan.
Yet Zhang Hao had pinpointed her condition simply by taking her pulse.
It was utterly unbelievable.
And utterly miraculous!
"Auntie, you don't need to worry. Your condition isn't serious yet. I'll write you a prescription, and after taking it for a while, you'll be fine."
As he spoke, he took out his phone and began typing.
"Let's see... 500g of Codonopsis, 500g of Polygonum multiflorum, 300g of Angelica sinensis..."
As Zhang Hao thought, he typed the prescription into his phone and sent it to the nanny via WeChat.
"Xiao Zhang, is this prescription really going to work?"
"Rest assured, Auntie, it's guaranteed to work."
"Alright, then I'll give it a try. If it works, I'll be sure to thank you properly."
With that, the nanny turned and left.
At the same time, the look Bai Jie gave Zhang Hao was tinged with a newfound sense of admiration.
Chapter 28 He Once Washed My Feet
"Yuyan, Brother-in-law is amazing! He even knows how to treat illnesses."
Bai Jie looked admiring, acting just like a little fan girl.
Yet Su Yuyan felt no relief; instead, her face was etched with worry.
She knew Zhang Hao could treat the babies, but that was just basic common sense stuff.
The nanny was an adult, and more importantly, she had a heart condition. What if something went wrong?
"Zhang Hao, are you sure you can cure Auntie's heart disease?"
"Of course."
Zhang Hao's face was full of confidence. "Auntie's condition is mild and easy to treat, plus traditional Chinese medicine has no side effects. You don't need to worry."
Su Yuyan gave a slight nod.
Though she still had her doubts, she figured that since the nanny came every day, she could monitor how she was doing after taking the medicine.
Zhang Hao continued, "It's almost time for dinner. Watch the babies while I go cook."
As soon as the words left his mouth, a voice of surprise rang out.
"Brother-in-law, you can cook too?"
"Mm."
Zhang Hao nodded with a smile, uttering just a single word before heading toward the kitchen.
He wasn't a cold or aloof person.
Yet for some reason, standing in front of Su Yuyan, he suddenly lost any desire to banter with other women.
Besides, he had noticed the faint trace of jealousy on Su Yuyan's pretty face just moments ago.
Meanwhile, Bai Jie watched Zhang Hao's tall back, her eyes shimmering with tenderness.
"Yuyan, is Brother-in-law always this quiet and taciturn?"
"Pretty much."
"Oh, I guess handsome men tend to be low-key."
"Uh..."
...
"Wife, dinner is ready."
After half an hour of busy work, Zhang Hao came to the bedroom door to call Su Yuyan for dinner.
As he looked into the room, he suddenly paused.
Su Yuyan was holding Sanbao and feeding her milk.
Bai Jie was holding Dabao, except Dabao's little hand was resting right on Bai Jie's chest, a smile on his face, while Bai Jie didn't seem to mind at all.
At that moment, Su Yuyan pulled up her clothes.
"You hold Erbao, and let's go eat together."
"Okay."
Zhang Hao nodded with a smile, stepping over to the window.
"Miaomiao, come have dinner with Daddy."
Erbao, who had been sitting on the bed, looked at Zhang Hao and opened her little arms.
"Daddy."
Suddenly, two very clear words came out of Erbao's mouth.
Zhang Hao froze, followed by a surge of excitement.
"Wife, did you hear that? Miaomiao can call me Daddy!"
With that, he immediately scooped Erbao into his arms and planted a kiss on her fair, tender little cheek.
At the same time, the System's voice rang out.
"Ding: Congratulations to the host for completing the task of teaching Erbao to call Daddy. The reward of 100,000 has been credited to your account."
Su Yuyan wore a gratified smile.
Hearing Erbao call her father made her immensely happy.
"Let's go, Daddy will take you to eat."
With those words, he happily carried Erbao out of the bedroom.
Su Yuyan held Sanbao, and Bai Jie followed closely behind with Dabao.
"Brother-in-law, did you cook all these dishes?"
Seeing the four dishes and one soup on the dining table, Bai Jie looked surprised.
Stir-fried pork with green peppers, braised pork belly, boiled pork slices in spicy broth, stir-fried shrimp kernels with pig's heart, and tomato, seaweed, and egg soup.
Not only did it look appetizing, but the aroma was enough to make anyone's mouth water.
"Yeah, try them and see how they are."
Zhang Hao replied with a smile, dishing a bowl of rice for Su Yuyan.
Seeing this, Bai Jie smiled and said, "Brother-in-law, dish me a bowl too."
"Alright."
Zhang Hao agreed immediately.
After all, Bai Jie was holding Dabao and still had a hand on her chest—dishing her some rice was the least he could do.
"Thanks, Brother-in-law."
Taking the bowl of rice, Bai Jie offered a polite thank-you and picked up her chopsticks.
"Let me taste if Brother-in-law's cooking is any good."
With that, she picked up a shrimp kernel, popped it into her mouth, chewed twice, and suddenly looked astonished.
"Mmm~ This is so good! The flavor is so fresh, the texture is springy—this is definitely the best stir-fried shrimp I've ever had."
Having said that, she began to wolf down her food.
Su Yuyan frowned slightly. "Eat slower. Nobody's going to take it from you. Why are you acting like you haven't eaten in days?"
Between mouthfuls, Bai Jie mumbled indistinctly, "Mmph, it's just that Brother-in-law's food is too delicious, I can't stop. I'm definitely coming over to eat often from now on."
Hearing this, Zhang Hao broke out in a sweat.
He thought to himself that next time, he mustn't make the food *too* delicious.
His culinary skills were meant exclusively to serve his wife and babies.
After dinner.
Zhang Hao stayed in the bedroom playing with Sanbao Jingjing on the bed.
While playing, he patiently taught Sanbao to call him Daddy.
Since Dabao and Erbao could both say Daddy, only Sanbao couldn't.
If she still couldn't say it by tomorrow noon, the System would fine him 100,000.
"Be a good girl, Jingjing. Call Daddy."
"Da-da."
"Dad-dy."
"Ya-ha~"
After teaching for over an hour without success, Zhang Hao couldn't help but feel a bit helpless.
"Heehee."
Bai Jie laughed from the side. "Brother-in-law, looks like you're no good at this either. You've been trying for ages and still can't teach her. You're not as good as me. Third Princess, call Auntie."
"Yi~"
Sanbao let out a childish sound.
Hearing this, Bai Jie burst into a fit of giggles.
"Haha, our Third Princess is the best! Auntie will buy you a toy tomorrow."
At that moment, Su Yuyan glanced at the clock on the wall.
"Zhang Hao, it's getting late. You should go back and rest."
Before Zhang Hao could reply, Bai Jie's surprised voice rang out.
"Huh? Why are you sending Brother-in-law away? Don't you guys sleep together?"
Su Yuyan bit her lip and smiled faintly. "No, because he's still in school, so he has to go back at night to study."
"School? You mean Brother-in-law is still a college student?" Bai Jie's face was plastered with astonishment.
Su Yuyan smiled and nodded, saying nothing more.
Zhang Hao smiled. "Right, I'll head back first and come over again tomorrow morning. Bye-bye, babies."
Waving to the three cute babies, Zhang Hao turned and walked out of the bedroom.
"Brother-in-law, wait a minute."
Bai Jie hurriedly called out. "I drove here anyway. What school are you at? I'll give you a ride."
"No need, I'll just hail a cab."
"Don't stand on ceremony with me, I was about to leave anyway. Yuyan, I'll come over tomorrow if I have time."
"Alright."
Su Yuyan replied with a smile, though it looked somewhat forced.
Following that, Zhang Hao and Bai Jie walked out of the residential complex.
Bai Jie took the car keys from her bag and pressed the unlock button; the headlights of a white Maserati parked by the roadside flashed.
Zhang Hao smiled faintly, "I wouldn't have guessed you were a rich second-generation kid."
Bai Jie smiled and shook her head. "It's just a million-yuan car; in bustling Haicheng, that doesn't make me a rich kid. By the way, Brother-in-law, what school do you go to?"
"Haicheng University of Economics and Trade."
"Economics and Trade."
Bai Jie looked surprised. "What a coincidence, my younger brother goes to Economics and Trade. You must know Bai Bing."
Since her younger brother was quite famous at school and widely nicknamed the Tyrant of Economics and Trade, Zhang Hao surely knew him.
Only, the mere thought of that younger brother gave her a headache.
Instead of studying properly, he spent all day idling about, either taking young girls to bars or hanging out with hoodlums, driving their parents up the wall.
Lost in her thoughts, she heard Zhang Hao reply.
"I know him. He even washed my feet once."
"Huh?"
Bai Jie's mouth dropped open in shock—she could practically fit an egg in it.
Chapter 29 What Do You Think of My Sister?
"What did you say?! My younger brother washed your feet?!"
Bai Jie raised her slender eyebrows, her eyes flashing with anger.
Zhang Hao hurriedly changed his tune with a smile. "You misheard. I meant we washed our feet together."
After all, he knew Bai Jie was Bai Bing's sister.
If she found out her younger brother had washed *his* feet, she'd probably pounce on him like a wildcat.
Besides, there was another matter concerning Bai Bing: a couple of nights ago when Yang Wei had hired people to teach him a lesson, Bai Bing had been among them—only to get beaten up instead.
Some "Tyrant of Economics and Trade"—"Scumbag of Economics and Trade" was more like it.
At that moment, Bai Jie's face broke into a smile.
"I figured. My brother is a campus bully; bullying others is more his style, no way he'd get pushed around."
"Besides, you look so proper, I never expected you to go to places like clubs. Careful or I'll tell Yuyan."
Zhang Hao chuckled. "I meant washing our feet in a basin in the dorm. Your mind is way too dirty."
"You!"
Bai Jie glared at him, her eyebrows twitching with anger.
Before she could blow her top, however, she saw Zhang Hao open the back door and climb inside.
"Hmph, sitting in the back? Am I really that ugly to look at?"
...
A few minutes later.
At the gates of Haicheng University of Economics and Trade.
"Thanks for the ride."
Zhang Hao offered a polite remark and reached for the door handle to get out.
Bai Jie smiled faintly. "Don't be so polite. Wait a second."
Having already stepped out of the car, Zhang Hao asked, "What is it?"
"Uhm, do you have any older or younger brothers? Introduce me to one."
"I have a younger sister, will that work?"
"Get lost, I'm not a lesbian."
Zhang Hao chuckled and strode toward the school gates.
Bai Jie watched Zhang Hao's back, waiting until he walked into the campus before driving away.
Meanwhile, however, in a dim corner beside the school gates, two girls stood watching, one of them recording a video on her phone.
"Yaoyao, didn't you already turn Zhang Hao down? Why are you still secretly filming him?"
"Hmph, he's already a father and yet he's playing the field. I'm going to let the whole school know what a scum Zhang Hao really is!"
With that, Wang Yaoyao wore a smug expression.
She had been harboring deep resentment toward Zhang Hao when she happened to spot him flirting with another young woman—it was simply heaven-sent assistance.
Just wait, she was going to post these pictures on the school forum right now.
She had to completely ruin his reputation and tear his family apart!
"Achoo! Achoo!"
Having just reached the door of his dorm, Zhang Hao sneezed twice in a row.
He rubbed his nose and frowned, muttering, "Who the hell is bad-mouthing me behind my back?!"
With that, he shoved the dorm door open. "I'm back."
Looking into the room, Zhao Yong was working out, while Dazhuang and Shaohua were gaming.
The next second, however, all three of them shook their heads and sighed in unison.
Zhang Hao looked puzzled. "What's wrong with you guys? Did you take the wrong medicine?"
"Sigh, you came back after all. As good buddies, we're deeply worried about you."
"Exactly, a guy with a wife and kids, what's with running over to our side all the time?"
"Brother Hao, don't tell me you're just here to show off."
Hearing what the three of them said, Zhang Hao instantly figured it out.
Before he could retort, his phone suddenly rang.
"Show off? I'm about to rub my happy domestic life in everyone's faces."
With that, he swiped the screen with practiced ease to answer the call while turning on speakerphone.
"Wife, I just got back to the dorm. Are our babies asleep?"
"Zhang Hao!"
A deep voice boomed out.
*Oh crap, why is it Miejue Shitai's voice?!*
Zhang Hao hurriedly looked down at his screen, only to find the caller ID flashing the words "Miejue Shitai."
"Hahaha."
A roar of laughter erupted around the room.
Zhao Yong and the others chimed in in low voices:
"Rat, you're awesome!"
"Impressive, you even conquered Miejue Shitai."
"Brother Hao, watch out for your tastes."
"Shut up!"
Zhang Hao frowned, speaking miserably into the phone, "Miejue—uh, Professor Li, is there something you need?"
"Get to my office right now."
"Alright, I'll be right there."
Zhang Hao hurriedly hung up.
He had thought it was a call from Su Yuyan; never in his wildest dreams did he expect it to be Miejue Shitai.
If he'd known, he would have checked the screen first.
"I'll deal with you guys when I get back!"
Leaving those words behind, Zhang Hao bolted out of the dorm.
Just as he left, he heard even louder laughter echoing from the room.
A short while later, Zhang Hao arrived at Li Yan's office door.
Knock, knock, knock.
"Come in."
Zhang Hao pushed the door open to find Li Yan sitting at her desk with several test papers laid out in front of her.
"Professor, did you want something?"
"Zhang Hao, did you do all these test papers yourself? Did you cheat on the exam?"
"I swear to the heavens, absolutely not."
Li Yan stopped talking, looking utterly astounded.
Zhang Hao leaned in closer and saw his own name written across the test papers, all of which had scored full marks.
Thinking of Li Yan's skepticism, he suddenly understood.
"Professor, like I said before, I've been studying in the evenings lately, and combined with my brilliant brain, getting a full score is a walk in the park."
As soon as the words left his mouth, the System's voice suddenly chimed in.
"Host, you really have no shame."
"What the heck!"
Zhang Hao couldn't help cursing inwardly, wondering how this System managed to pop up out of nowhere.
Hearing him, Li Yan frowned. "What did you say?"
"Nothing, I thought the desk looked dirty so I was wiping it off."
Li Yan's lips twitched. "Zhang Hao, your exam score is absurd, but I checked the surveillance footage and didn't find any cheating. I only called you here to verify it, and also, I wanted to thank you."
"Thank me?"
"Mm. I've been taking the medicine according to your prescription and I can clearly feel my body getting much better. I never expected you to know medicine as well—you're full of surprises."
"Thank you for the praise, Professor. Even though your condition has improved, you still need to take care of yourself and rest more. If you burn out, who's going to keep us mischievous students in line?"
"You, always with the slick tongue. Alright, you can go back and rest now. I'll contact you if anything comes up."
"Okay, goodbye, Professor."
With that, he turned and walked out of the office.
Li Yan watched the doorway, her face plastered with deep bewilderment.
"How did his academics suddenly improve so much? He used to be at the very bottom, and now he suddenly leaps to first place in the entire school. It's too bizarre."
By now, Zhang Hao was back in the dorm.
After bantering with Zhao Yong and the others for a bit, he grabbed his kettle and headed to the washroom to fetch water for a foot bath.
"Brother Hao, coming to fetch water?"
Suddenly, a polite voice sounded.
Hearing it, Zhang Hao's expression shifted slightly.
Wasn't that Bai Bing's voice?
Glancing sideways, he saw Bai Bing also coming to fetch water, a grinning expression on his face.
"Yeah." Zhang Hao replied casually.
Bai Bing lowered his voice, smiling ingratiatingly, "Brother Hao, don't take to heart what happened that day. It was that punk Yang Wei who dragged me into it; I couldn't refuse out of courtesy. If I offended you in any way, I hope you won't hold it against me."
As the saying goes, you don't hit a smiling face. Seeing Bai Bing acting so polite, Zhang Hao couldn't very well hold a grudge.
Besides, Bai Bing hadn't even thrown a punch before getting laid out—all things considered, he was the one who got the short end of the stick.
"It's fine. We bump into each other all the time around campus, we're still friends."
As he spoke, he noticed his kettle was full, so he picked it up and headed toward the door.
Just as he took two steps, however, he heard Bai Bing speak up.
"Brother Hao, what do you think of my sister?"
Chapter 30 Stirring Up Anger
"What do you mean by that?"
Zhang Hao was taken aback by the question.
Although he had guessed that Bai Jie might mention him to Bai Bing, it was common knowledge across the whole school that he had a wife and kids.
Logically speaking, Bai Jie would have brought that up too.
Therefore, he felt Bai Bing's question was utterly moronic.
Bai Bing smiled. "My sister was chatting with me on WeChat just now, asking if I knew you. I said I did, and she told me to hang out with you more."
With that, he stepped in front of Zhang Hao and lowered his voice, "Brother Hao, my sister's looks and figure are both top-notch. If you like her, I can help play matchmaker."
"Get lost!"