Chapter Four: Does Her Life or Death Have Anything to Do with Me?

"Five minutes? What five minutes?" Everyone was momentarily stunned, but quickly recalled that Xiao Chen had previously said the old lady wouldn’t last a quarter of an hour. After all that had transpired, indeed, only about five minutes remained.

In that instant, Xu Chengyang sneered coldly. "Grandmother, do you see? Even now, Xiao Chen is still cursing you."

"He says you have only five minutes left to live."

The old lady’s face changed dramatically at those words.

Sun Ling was practically beside herself with rage. This useless good-for-nothing had already brought them enough misery—did he have to spout nonsense at a time like this?

She raised her hand, ready to slap Xiao Chen again.

Disappointment in Xu Qingran’s eyes was now tinged with disgust and even resentment.

Xu Qianran glared at Xiao Chen with undisguised venom. Now that Xu Qingran had lost control of the company, their family’s income would plummet.

How could she ever hold her head high among her classmates and friends again?

But just then, a sudden cry erupted from the side. "Mom!"

"Grandma, what’s wrong?"

Sun Ling’s hand froze mid-air, and she hurriedly turned to look at the sickbed. Xu Qingran and Xu Qianran, too, dropped everything and rushed over.

They saw the old lady, her face ashen and sallow, eyes tightly shut—she had clearly lost consciousness.

Her chest heaved violently; from the rhythm, it was clear she was exhaling more than she was inhaling.

"What’s happening?"

"What’s wrong with her?"

"Wasn’t she just fine a moment ago? Could Xiao Chen have been right? Did Chengyang’s acupuncture go wrong?"

The entire ward descended into chaos. Some began to suspect Xu Chengyang.

Xu Chengyang’s expression changed slightly at these murmurs.

Xu Zhongshan, meanwhile, glared hard at Xiao Chen. "Isn’t it obvious? Mother just woke up, still weak, and that brat had to curse her to death and agitate her. No wonder she fainted!"

"Xiao Chen, I’m warning you: if anything happens to her, I’ll never forgive you!"

Others nodded in agreement; what Xu Zhongshan said made sense.

He immediately barked, "Chengyang, what are you waiting for? Hurry and treat your grandmother!"

"Yes!" Xu Chengyang answered, preparing to administer acupuncture again.

Xiao Chen shook his head and said calmly, "If you mess around again, not even the gods could save her."

Xu Zhongshan and Xu Chengyang shot Xiao Chen vicious looks, about to rebuke him, but Sun Ling had already lost all composure. She practically jabbed her finger in Xiao Chen’s face, yelling, "Shut your mouth! Who asked for your opinion, you useless wretch?"

"You should take a good look at yourself. You spend your days loafing about, and even at home you’re fit only to serve tea and water. How dare you pretend to know anything here?"

She loathed Xiao Chen with all her being.

He was dragging them all down with him.

At this, Xu Zhongshan and Xu Chengyang could not be bothered to say more. For now, saving the old lady took precedence.

Xu Chengyang sobered up, pulled out several silver needles, and began puncturing one acupoint after another on the old lady’s body.

Before long, her condition stabilized. The violent rise and fall of her chest slowly eased.

"Phew!" Xu Zhongshan and the others finally breathed a sigh of relief.

Xu Chengyang wiped the cold sweat from his brow; he had been terrified just now. Thankfully, he had managed to bring her back.

The onlookers marvelled, "Chengyang’s medical skills are truly remarkable."

"Before long, you’ll surely be recognized as Linzhou’s greatest physician."

"With you here, even the Zhou and Li clans will have to come begging to our Xu family."

Sun Ling quickly chimed in with flattery, "Yes, Chengyang, you’re a dragon among men. Among the younger generation in Linzhou, few can compare to you."

Xu Chengyang gave Sun Ling a perfunctory smile. "You flatter me, Third Aunt."

Then he glanced mockingly at Xiao Chen. "Xiao Chen, didn’t you just say Grandmother wouldn’t last a quarter of an hour? I’ve just saved her again."

He wore an air of smugness. "When it comes to medicine, not even a hundred of you could compare to me. So in the future, do not pretend to know what you don’t, and don’t talk nonsense."

"Oh? You really think you’ve saved her? With no heartbeat left, is that what you call saving?" Xiao Chen sneered.

"What are you talking about?" Xu Chengyang was taken aback. He glanced at the bed, and cold sweat broke out down his back.

The old lady’s heartbeat—had stopped.

Earlier, when her pulse had surged, he’d thought stabilizing her meant success. He hadn’t realized her heart had stopped altogether.

This was serious.

Xu Zhongshan’s face also changed, and the other Xu family members’ eyes flickered as they immediately began to consider the consequences.

If the old lady were to die at Xu Chengyang’s hands, they could join forces to pressure Xu Zhongshan’s branch. His dream of controlling the Xu family would be shattered.

He’d even have to surrender much of the power he already held.

As for all the praise and flattery they'd just showered on Xu Chengyang, that had long since been forgotten.

What could be more important than self-interest?

Xu Zhongshan knew all too well what kind of people his siblings were. If something really went wrong, he’d suffer a major loss; controlling the entire Xu clan would be nothing but a dream.

He cursed inwardly, mind racing, and quickly turned to Xiao Chen. "Xiao Chen, do you have a way to save her?"

After all, it was Xiao Chen who had said she wouldn’t last a quarter of an hour, and he had noticed the issues with Xu Chengyang’s technique. Perhaps he really knew something.

And even if he didn’t, it didn’t matter.

As long as Xiao Chen intervened, if the old lady couldn’t be saved, they could shift the blame to him and clear Xu Chengyang of all responsibility.

Thinking thus, he quickly softened his tone. "Xiao Chen, your uncle may have spoken harshly just now—don’t take it to heart. If you can save Grandmother, please do it now."

Xu Chengyang was momentarily taken aback, but then quickly understood Xu Zhongshan’s intent.

He glanced at Xiao Chen, eyes filled with a mix of pity and ridicule.

"Why should I save her?" Xiao Chen sneered, casting a glance at the old lady lying on the bed. "What does her life or death have to do with me?"