A Man of Many Faces

After finalizing plans with Kingpin to discuss matters in detail the next day, Lin Hai still worried about Vanessa's condition. At his gesture, the four of them followed Kingpin back into the inner bedroom.

Under the gentle light, Vanessa lay against the soft pillows. Though her face still bore the pallor of blood loss, her eyes had regained their usual clarity and warmth, albeit mixed with the exhaustion and lingering fright of having endured such terrible trauma.

When she saw Lin Hai enter, Vanessa struggled to prop herself up and said in a hoarse yet grateful voice, "Dr. Lin, I've troubled you again. Thank you for saving me..."

Her voice was weak, yet it clearly conveyed both the relief of surviving the ordeal and her deep gratitude.

Lin Hai smiled and gently shook his head, signaling that she need not stand on ceremony. "Ms. Vanessa, we've known each other for so long. You're no longer merely my patient. As far as I'm concerned, we're already friends."

His tone remained gentle as he turned to Kingpin beside her. "The same goes for Mr. Wilson."

"Since we're friends, there's no need to talk about trouble or favors. Isn't it only natural for friends to help one another?"

As Kingpin listened to Lin Hai's words, the hard lines of his rugged face softened considerably, and he gave Lin Hai a slight nod. This underground emperor might have been accustomed to maintaining relationships through power and fear, but he treasured Lin Hai's sincere feelings, untainted by self-interest, just as much.

Lin Hai then stepped forward and gently placed his right hand on Vanessa's forearm.

"Let me check on you one more time," he said softly.

Life Energy flowed out from his dantian once more, carefully examining every part of Vanessa's body, especially the area