In Pei Cizhou’s eyes, Miss Qiu’s actions were entirely, utterly ill-advised.
It was only a job, and the man in question was merely an old man with one foot already in the grave. Was it really worth risking her own safety and taking poison herself?
He had no idea how harsh and brutal Miss Qiu’s upbringing had been to make her so careless of her own well-being.
And the way she had turned out was not her fault.
He simply felt sorry for her.
That was why he did not ask too many questions or dig into the details. The incident had already happened, and there was no need to make a show of himself by criticizing her. He only wanted to give her some peace of mind and a guarantee of safety.
Qiuyun looked at the list of medical tests. “Why do I need a checkup? You know what happened to the old chairman?”
“Mm. The military hospital in Jing City has the most advanced biochemical testing technology in the world.”
After a pause, he added, “The hospital’s high-ranking-official health center only accepts officials at or above division level and their immediate family members.”
Wasn’t that practically the Imperial Physicians’ Court?
Qiuyun was somewhat interested in broadening her horizons, but the words “immediate family member” sounded far too jarring.
“Let’s forget it. Not to mention, I already received emergency treatment at the hospital that night, and the follow-up examinations didn’t show any problems. Besides, I have plenty of work at the company today. There’s no need to make another trip.”
As if he had already guessed that she would refuse, Pei Cizhou pulled out his phone and played a short video for her.
An old man in a white coat was speaking earnestly to the camera.
“Hello, fellow patients. Some latent lesions don’t show any obvious symptoms on the surface, but as you age, they can gradually wear down your body. One of the most significant causes is toxin poisoning. Why is that? Let me explain.”
“…”
Qiuyun stared at him with a face full of disbelief and reached out to pause the video. “Does President Pei really think I’m the kind of person who can easily be brainwashed by clickbait accounts?”
Pei Cizhou enlarged the video. “Here. Take a look for yourself.”
Behind the doctor in the white coat, a bronze plaque bearing the military hospital’s emblem was clearly visible on the wall.
“…”
If anyone dared to fake something like this, they would probably be rewarded with a six-month prison vacation.
Qiuyun silently resumed the video.
The words of an authoritative doctor were still worth listening to.
The back seat was somewhat dim.
The glow from the phone screen reflected on Miss Qiu’s face, creating a naturally shifting pattern of light and shadow that drew his gaze to her without him realizing it.
Miss Qiu had a smooth, full forehead, long lashes, and an intent look in her eyes.
Actually, he rather enjoyed provoking Miss Qiu from time to time.
Miss Qiu was always so gracious, generous, gentle, and kind. No matter when or whom she was dealing with, she wore the same polite smile on her face.
But when she was facing him—whether she was unwillingly taking a loss, glaring at him through clenched teeth, or secretly feeling pleased after winning a round back—she was always so vivid and lively.
It gave him the illusion that…
He was special to her.
Pei Cizhou lowered his eyes and, relying on that sense of special treatment, sighed mournfully. “As the company’s chief artist, Miss Qiu is the key person determining whether we can successfully launch the game over the next six months. I was kindly expressing concern for your health, yet you misunderstood and thought I was trying to trick you with a clickbait video.”
Qiuyun coughed twice. “That doctor just looks too approachable. And his hair is so thick. It was just a small misunderstanding.”
“It’s only a checkup.” Pei Cizhou’s voice was low. “Think about it. That night at the hospital, weren’t nearly all the doctors and nurses gathered around Chairman Jiang’s bed? The person assigned to you was either an inexperienced intern or your attending physician, who only had time to see you after finishing everything else.”
Qiuyun pressed her lips together slightly.
He had actually hit the nail on the head.
Pei Cizhou glanced at her expression, suppressing the corners of his mouth as they threatened to curve upward, and continued. “Whether it was an inexperienced intern or an attending physician who was exhausted after dealing with everything else, their medical judgment would have been less than perfect under those circumstances. How could they guarantee that no medical accident had occurred? Our bodies belong to us. We only get one life. Surely you don’t want to let your life be ruined by a condition that could have been prevented, right?”
Fine.
As someone who had been given a second chance at life, Qiuyun was persuaded by his argument that a person only got one life.
“I’ll find time to go to the central hospital for an examination later.”
Pei Cizhou immediately told Daniel to start driving. “Better to do it today than put it off until tomorrow. I’ve already made an appointment for your checkup. Besides, the examinations at the central hospital are just there to fleece gullible patients. When it comes to hidden conditions like latent lesions, how could they be as accurate and efficient as the military hospital? Let’s do it properly in one go and eliminate the problem completely.”
“Wait, what!?”
The car started moving. Qiuyun was startled.
Pei Cizhou stretched out his long arm, leaned over, and pulled the seat belt across Miss Qiu before fastening it for her. Then he flipped open the file in his hand to the second page.
“Come on, let’s go over the schedule for this afternoon’s factory inspection.”
The car sped along. Qiuyun was speechless, but she could only follow the direction of his finger and look over the itinerary.
Before long, the number of cars around them began to dwindle, and the road grew quieter and more secluded.
After another turn, they stopped in front of a security checkpoint.
Daniel drove the car into the designated area and turned off the engine. He got out to present his identification and the vehicle registration. Since they were going to the military hospital rather than entering the military compound itself, security was not especially strict. Two officers merely used handheld scanners to conduct a preliminary inspection around and inside the car.
After registering the information of all three people and confirming that everything was in order, they were allowed through.
Qiuyun clicked her tongue.
As expected of the Imperial Physicians’ Court.
The car drove for another ten minutes before turning into an underground parking garage and stopping outside the elevator entrance to the health examination center.
Daniel waited in the car while Pei Cizhou accompanied Qiuyun upstairs. After a guard verified their identities, they entered a changing room, where Qiuyun changed into loose patient clothes to make the examinations more convenient.
Pei Cizhou told the nurse, “This is the patient I mentioned last time. You can ask her about the details.”
“All right.”
The nurse carefully asked Qiuyun about the amount of poison she had ingested, when she had been examined, and what treatment she had received afterward. She then arranged a series of medical tests.
There were few patients, plenty of equipment, and a nurse guiding and accompanying her the entire time. Even though the examinations came one after another, everything was completed within an hour.
Qiuyun changed back into her clothes and went to the waiting area beside the health center’s security gate.
Pei Cizhou handed her the breakfast he had ordered. “The results will be ready in an hour. Eat some fruit and cereal first to keep your stomach from being empty. We’ll go out for lunch after we see the doctor.”
“Thank you.”
She had gone so long without breakfast that she was beginning to feel dizzy with hunger.
Qiuyun ate slowly, taking small bites. Pei Cizhou propped his chin on one hand and tilted his head as he watched her eat.
Once she had regained some of her energy, she finally had time to jab at him a little. “Young Master Pei certainly looks like he’d make an excellent audience member—quiet, attentive, able to endure loneliness, and willing to watch just about anything.”
Pei Cizhou pretended to be surprised, then arched his brows and smiled. “I never knew I possessed such a talent. Miss Qiu truly has a discerning eye.”
“…”
Ever since this Little Devil had confessed his feelings to her, his specialty had been becoming impervious to every attack, with skin thicker than ever.
And since she had rejected him but could not truly cut him off, she inevitably felt somewhat guilty and awkward around him. She could not bring herself to attack him too harshly.
Tsk.
She really had no idea what to do with him.
