If that brat's father knew what Wu Liang was like now, he probably wouldn't ignore him like that anymore.
"Let's talk about these things after you come back, my dear Doctor Li."
Wu Liang pulled an invitation from his jacket and handed it to Li Hua. He knew exactly how much Li Hua had given up to return this time.
Li Hua had spent several years preparing for the international medical paper competition. It absolutely couldn't go down the drain because of him.
"Th-This is...?"
Li Hua froze slightly when he saw the black-sealed letter in Wu Liang's hand.
When he opened the letter and saw the seal of the International Medical Organization, Li Hua's eyes widened as he stared at Wu Liang in stunned disbelief.
"I can't let our ace physician miss the lecture he's been looking forward to most."
"While I can't postpone the start of the competition for you, it's easy enough to have you join midway as a specially invited guest."
Wu Liang handed Li Hua the card that symbolized his status.
Ever since learning that Li Hua had turned down the competition lecture he had prepared for years in order to return to Yanghai City, Wu Liang had asked someone to handle the matter with the International Medical Organization.
Although Wu Liang couldn't delay the lecture competition, he could arrange for Li Hua to enter that closed competition as a top scholar.
"Wu Liang... you didn't have to go this far..."
Li Hua gripped the identification card in his hand and spoke helplessly. He knew how much weight that card carried.
The lecture competition was completely closed off. Once it began, no one was allowed to enter the venue again.
If a physician failed to make it in time, they could only wait another five years. Even with his considerable influence in the medical world, he had no right to join that academic debate midway through.
"You returned to Yanghai City because of me, and I know what this competition means to you."
"So I can't let you miss this opportunity for nothing. If my old man found out, that guy would probably scold me to death."
Wu Liang patted Li Hua's shoulder and spoke in a low voice. He couldn't let Li Hua lose this opportunity.
He clearly remembered that Li Hua had shone brilliantly at this lecture, rising in one leap to become one of the most influential physicians in the history of Chinese and foreign medicine.
"If your father knew how much you've changed, he'd probably be too shocked to say a word."
"He might even wonder whether you're really his son. I never thought the little hooligan Wu Liang from back then would disappear completely."
Li Hua gave a helpless, amused smile.
Even he was deeply shocked by Wu Liang's changes. The polite gentleman before him was truly difficult to associate with the hooligan Wu Liang of the past.
"Doctor Li Hua, go get some rest now. My private plane will depart at six tomorrow morning."
"I know you have many questions about who I am now, but if I started explaining, it wouldn't be something I could finish anytime soon."
Wu Liang waved toward Yao Shi nearby.
However, when he saw Yao Shi's somewhat pale face, he felt a little puzzled.
Yao Shi didn't look well. He had also heard Yao Shi and He Xue talking about something earlier.
Had those two said something while he was away? Why did Yao Shi look so terrible?
"All right, then I'm looking forward to seeing you next time."
"Once this lecture is over, I'll come back to find you immediately. You'd better explain properly how you came to your senses."
Li Hua stretched forcefully and looked at Wu Liang with a smile.
That little hooligan from back then had grown up, though it seemed his love of pranks hadn't changed.
You were already a seventeen-year-old adult, yet you still liked wearing such strange KFC headgear.
"The Wu family will always welcome Doctor Li Hua as a guest."
Wu Liang smiled warmly. His second goal had also been achieved.
Gaining Li Hua's approval would undoubtedly be of great benefit to him.
After all, Li Hua had a very good relationship with his father. When it came time to speak with his father in the future, Doctor Li Hua would be his greatest help...
The Flustered Ice Queen
"Doctor Li Hua, I'll take you to your arranged accommodation."
Yao Shi quickly walked to Li Hua's side, her usual composure wiped from her face.
Her gaze kept avoiding Wu Liang beside her. Yao Shi didn't want Wu Liang to see her in such a flustered state.
"Uh, all right."
Li Hua looked at Yao Shi in confusion, then shifted his gaze to the girl standing behind them with her head lowered.
Had some friction arisen between these two? Why did both of them look so strange?
"You don't look well. Did something happen?"
But the instant Wu Liang's palm had just landed on Yao Shi's shoulder—
He suddenly felt his hand empty. A flash of silver streaked past his eyes, and a sharp silver hairpin pressed against his throat.
"Ah... n-no, it's not like that..."
The moment she realized she had committed an unforgivable mistake, Yao Shi's face instantly turned pale. Intense panic and fear rose in her beautiful, clear blue eyes.
As if afraid of something, Yao Shi put away the hairpin in her hand and quickly backed away.
Unable to explain herself, Yao Shi looked like an abandoned child at that moment, panicked and helpless.
"I'm not feeling well... Please have someone else take Doctor Li Hua to the hotel..."
When she met Wu Liang's stunned gaze, Yao Shi felt a stabbing pain in her heart.
As if fleeing, Yao Shi turned around and ran from the place.
Before anyone could even react, Yao Shi's figure had already vanished into the corridor.
"..."
Wu Liang touched his throat and looked at the finger stained with a trace of blood.
This was the first time he had seen Yao Shi make such an expression. That icy aura, as cold as a corpse's, suddenly made her feel far more unfamiliar to him.
Setting aside why Yao Shi had suddenly become like this, her smooth, instinctive counterattack alone was enough to make him think deeply.
Yao Shi was only a nineteen-year-old girl. Wu Liang had never heard of his maid needing to learn martial arts.
Moreover, Yao Shi's earlier movements hadn't been stiff. They weren't some flashy moves learned in a combat course.
Those fierce, swift movements had seemed more like instinct. Yao Shi's counterattack had been aimed at killing him in one strike.
If Yao Shi hadn't stopped herself at the last moment, his throat would likely have already been pierced by the silver hairpin in her hand.
"Hey... are you all right, kid...?"
Li Hua, who had witnessed everything that had just happened, lightly patted Wu Liang's shoulder.
Why had that girl Yao Shi reacted so strongly? He hadn't even seen how Yao Shi had taken out that jade hairpin.
He couldn't see Yao Shi's movements clearly even from that distance. Was that girl really just a maid?
"Yeah, I'm fine. She's just upset with me."
"Doctor Li Hua, take the two bodyguards in the corridor with you. I don't think I can keep you company here."
Wu Liang scratched his cheek and smiled faintly.
Although he didn't know what had happened to Yao Shi, he couldn't just stand by.
"Heh, if you're worried about her, just say so. Why are you acting mysterious in front of me?"
"Hurry up and go after her. Don't wait until something happens."
Li Hua gave Wu Liang a meaningful look. That girl Yao Shi normally wouldn't show such an expression.
Something must have happened between Yao Shi and that girl. Sigh, adolescent girls really gave him a headache.
"Mr. He Feng, once the medical staff move Elder He Jingao into a ward, you'll be able to visit him."
"Until then, you can only wait here for a while. I still have some matters to handle, so I won't disturb you any longer."
Wu Liang made a simple arrangement for He Feng. When he saw the guilt all over He Xue's face, he felt a headache coming on.
What exactly had He Xue said to Yao Shi to provoke such a huge reaction from her?
"Mr. KFC, Miss Shi acted that way because of me..."
He Xue felt flustered inside. She hadn't expected Miss Shi to get angry over a single sentence.
She had only wanted to understand the relationship between Miss Shi and Mr. KFC a little better.
She was wrong. If she hadn't made careless jokes, this wouldn't have happened.
"It's fine. She's not the kind of woman who would get angry with you over something like that."
Wu Liang couldn't think of anything to say to comfort He Xue.
He knew He Xue wasn't someone who spoke recklessly. The reason Yao Shi had become like that was probably due to her own issues.
"I'll go take a look. Stay here and keep your grandfather company for now."
Wu Liang reached out and rubbed He Xue's little head, only stopping after turning her hair into a bird's nest.
Looking at He Xue's messy hair, Wu Liang found it a little amusing.
The female lead from the game was like a toy in his hands. That feeling was strangely satisfying.
"Please apologize to Miss Shi for me. If possible, I'd like to express my apology to her in person."
He Xue covered her head and spoke with a slight blush. It was the first time a boy her age had treated her like this, yet she didn't dislike the feeling.
More accurately, she didn't dislike Mr. KFC treating her this way. Strange as it was, it was also the first time she had felt this kind of reliance on a boy.
They had only met a few times, yet she felt something particularly familiar, as though he had always been by her side.
"I will."
Wu Liang smiled calmly, then chased after Yao Shi in the direction she had left.
It was impossible for him not to care about Yao Shi. In the game, Yao Shi had always been set up as a maid who could remain calm no matter what happened.
But Yao Shi's personality was clearly different from what he knew now, and that made Wu Liang much more curious about her.
He suddenly wanted to learn more about his maid. What other secrets was she hiding?
"That brat..."
Li Hua cursed as he watched Wu Liang leave.
It seemed he had underestimated that kid. He hadn't expected the brat to be such a veteran in matters of romance.
Without realizing it, he had attracted both Yao Shi and that little girl named He Xue. Did he really have no clue?
And why did that brat still look completely unaware? Could that boy be dense as a block of wood?
..
Yao Shi stumbled out onto the street. Her pretty face and alluring office attire drew the eyes of many men nearby.
Seeing Yao Shi in such a disheveled state, the surrounding pedestrians felt a trace of sympathy. Quite a few self-proclaimed gentlemen even wanted to step forward and strike up a conversation.
"Yo? Beautiful lady, did you get dumped? How about us brothers keeping you company?"
Five or six shady-looking men suddenly stopped in front of Yao Shi, grinning as they spoke.
When they saw Yao Shi's exquisite face, as beautiful as a fairy from a painting, they unconsciously swallowed.
Their gazes gradually shifted to Yao Shi's full, enticing figure as they thought... they had truly hit the jackpot today...
A Classic Scenario
Before you continue