Chapter Three: The Regal Lady

When Qin Luo opened his eyes, the room was shrouded in darkness.

"Awake? If you're still tired, rest a little longer," Lin Qingyuan said with a gentle smile, seated right beside him.

"I'm well rested. How are those children?" Qin Luo asked with concern. He had confidence in his own medical skills, but there was always that lingering fear—one can never be too careful.

"Don't worry. They all recovered. Not a single medical mishap," Lin Qingyuan replied cheerfully, his wrinkles smoothing out as he grinned. "Old Qin has a good grandson. The pupil truly surpasses the master."

"If he ever heard you praise me like this, he'd probably be so angry he'd blow his beard and glare at you," Qin Luo said with a laugh. "He doesn't think much of my medical prowess."

"That's because he cares for you. Your grandfather is stubborn and never says what he really feels—I know him well. By the way, is he truly unwell?"

"That's what he says, at least." Qin Luo sat up in bed. "Where am I?"

"This is the rest room in my office. Sometimes, when I don't go home at noon, I nap here," Lin Qingyuan explained, opening the thick curtains embroidered with oracle bone script.

Sunlight flooded in, silvery and bright, spilling into the room like mercury. It washed over Qin Luo's body, leaving him languid and utterly at ease after a long sleep.

"How long was I asleep?" Qin Luo asked in surprise. He remembered attending an expert conference in the afternoon—so how had it become morning again?

"You slept through the night. Today is the sixteenth," Lin Qingyuan replied with a chuckle, growing more and more fond of this young man. "You must have been truly exhausted. Qin Luo, though your grandfather and I are old friends, I still want to thank you. You didn't just save those children—you also saved our hospital, and my own reputation. If anything had happened to those kids, I would have..."

"Director, you're being too kind."

"It's not just politeness—I'm telling the truth," Lin Qingyuan said earnestly, waving his hand. "What? Still calling me Director? Can't you just call me Grandpa? I've been friends with your grandfather for years. Otherwise, why would he trust his precious grandson to help me this time?"

"Grandpa Lin," Qin Luo called out, a little awkwardly.

Lin Qingyuan laughed. "I know you young people don't care about these titles. I won't force you—call me whatever feels natural." He was an open-minded old man. "Qin Luo, there's something I should tell you honestly. Please don't be upset."

"What is it?"

"Well, after you treated those children yesterday, the hospital held a press conference. It wasn't just us who cared—the media and public were concerned as well. But you were unconscious, so only the other expert team members attended."

Seeing that Qin Luo's expression didn't change, showing no interest in basking in the spotlight, Lin Qingyuan continued, "You were the one who saved them—the credit should have been yours. But as you know, the expert team is led by government officials. We could only announce to the media that it was a collective effort. I hope you understand."

Perhaps feeling guilty about the hospital's actions, Lin Qingyuan looked embarrassed. "I did mention your name to the press. If you like, I can arrange for some reporters to interview you—"

"Grandpa, I understand. It's no big deal. Since the credit was given to the expert team, arranging an interview for me wouldn't be appropriate. If I said in the interview that I did it myself, that would embarrass the rest of the team. And if I claimed it was a team effort, I couldn't bring myself to say that," Qin Luo replied.

Lin Qingyuan paused, then said, "You young people really are sharp—almost intimidating."

"Grandpa Lin, I'm just able to say what I think. Too many people can't do that because of all sorts of constraints."

"So, do you have any plans for the future? Why not become a doctor at our hospital? With your skills, you could easily run an expert clinic. Whatever else you need, I'll do my best to provide," Lin Qingyuan offered, wanting to make it up to Qin Luo.

Qin Luo shook his head. "Thank you, Grandpa Lin. Even if I become a doctor, it won't be at the Affiliated Hospital."

"Why not?"

"I just had a disagreement with the deputy director. Wouldn't joining now be walking straight into a trap?" Qin Luo said, smiling.

"Don't worry about it. I may be retiring soon, but I still have students here. Ma Youtai wouldn't dare do anything to you," Lin Qingyuan promised.

Qin Luo shook his head. "Life is short. Why make things unpleasant for everyone?"

"All right, I won't push you. Do you have any business to handle in the capital this time?"

"Yes. I'm here to break off an engagement."

"Break off an engagement?" Old Lin's eyes widened in astonishment. "I've only ever heard of men proposing. Who comes all the way to end an engagement?"

Qin Luo just smiled, showing he didn't want to discuss it further.

Lin Qingyuan laughed. "Well, as long as you're all right. I have a meeting to attend. You probably don't have a place to stay in the city—you shouldn't go to a hotel, it's inconvenient. I'll have Xiao Chen drive you to my house. There's plenty of space—no sense leaving the rooms empty. If you accept me as your grandfather, don't be formal with me. I have so much more to say to you."

Unable to refuse such earnest hospitality, Qin Luo agreed to Lin Qingyuan's request.

Xiao Chen was Lin Qingyuan's secretary—a young man with glasses and an honest face. It didn't surprise Qin Luo in the slightest that Lin Qingyuan would choose someone like him for the job.

"My name is Chen Lei. You can just call me Xiao Chen," he said, introducing himself as he drove.

Qin Luo noticed that as he spoke, his ears turned red.

Fortunately, Qin Luo wasn't a beautiful woman—or else Chen Lei might not have been able to keep his hands steady on the steering wheel.

"Qin Luo. Qin like the first emperor, Luo like the Luo River," Qin Luo replied, not disliking this earnest young man and introducing himself in turn.

"Your name sounds better than mine," Chen Lei commented.

"A name is just a label," Qin Luo replied wryly. Two grown men praising each other's names—this Chen Lei certainly had a knack for awkward conversation, leaving Qin Luo at a loss for words.

The car turned into a residential area and stopped beside a koi pond.

Chen Lei pointed to a two-story villa by the pond. "That's the Director's house. You can go in yourself; I won't accompany you."

As he spoke, Chen Lei seemed uncomfortable, as if he were doing something against his will. His face reddened again, and his eyes darted away.

Qin Luo grew suspicious and asked with a smile, "Why won't you go in?"

"I... I..."

"What's wrong?"

"I'm afraid."

"Why?"

"Director Lin... has a granddaughter. Miss Lin might be at home..."

"A granddaughter?" Qin Luo stroked his nose and thought for a moment. "Is she unattractive?"

"No, not at all. Miss Lin is very beautiful."

"Then why are you afraid to go in?" Qin Luo was even more curious.

"She... she doesn't like me. I really don't dare," Chen Lei nearly burst into tears.

"All right. I'll go in myself. Thanks for bringing me," Qin Luo said with a smile, not wanting to trouble this honest fellow.

"Thank you, thank you. Here's the key from the Director. You go ahead," Chen Lei replied.

After waving goodbye, Qin Luo had only just opened the car door when Chen Lei drove off in a flash.

Qin Luo was stunned. Could the women of the Lin family be that formidable?

He hesitated, but finally gripped the key and walked toward the Lin family's villa. He'd promised Lin Qingyuan—he couldn't just flee because of a woman's reputation.

Through the gap in the open iron gate, the first thing that caught Qin Luo's eye was the beauty of the courtyard.

Or rather, the breathtaking woman within it.

She was watering the flowers, her movements full of quiet concentration, as if tending to her most cherished treasure.

She wore a simple white cotton leisure outfit, stood about one meter seventy, and as she bent over, her ample chest followed the motion, swaying as if about to tumble down—a pair of deep-water bombs threatening to fall at any moment.

Her long, jet-black hair cascaded over her shoulders, half-covering her face. Yet the half that was visible was enough to intoxicate.

Voluptuous, statuesque, with an enchanting figure—she was an earthly goddess.

More importantly, she seemed to be twenty-seven or twenty-eight years old. There was not a trace of girlish innocence about her features or figure—she was a peach fully ripened in the summer sun.

A mature beauty? I love mature women, Qin Luo groaned inwardly, then gently knocked on the Lin family's iron gate.

In the presence of such a woman, Qin Luo resolved to be the perfect gentleman.

Though his knock was soft, the woman watering the flowers was startled, turning around to fix him with a glare.

One look—and the flame in Qin Luo's heart was half extinguished.

Cold.

Utterly cold.

Whatever she had been through, her gaze was as sharp and frigid as a blade, sending a chill through him.

Qin Luo suddenly understood why "Brother Thunder" hadn't dared even enter the gate, fleeing in a panic.

Now, even he wanted to run.

The woman set down her watering can and walked toward him. The closer she came, the more dazzling her beauty became—and the more biting the chill in the air.

"Who are you?" she asked in an icy tone, her voice devoid of human warmth.

"I'm Qin Luo," he replied, forcing the corners of his mouth up into what he hoped was his most charming smile.

"Never heard of you."

Bang!

She pulled the iron gate shut and locked it with a click.

Qin Luo stood dumbfounded for a long time before realizing—he'd been shut out.

What the hell was this?

Of course you don't know me—I haven't even introduced myself.