The Man of the Hour

The sudden turn of events took Luo Yang by surprise, too.

He could guess that the middle-aged man was Liu Youshui, the patient Ye Zi had mentioned—a man with connections in both the underworld and legitimate circles, and considerable influence in Ba City.

What he had not expected was that the model-like young woman would be so fierce.

Ye Zi breathed a sigh of relief and greeted him politely. "Mr. Liu, you're here."

Liu Youshui gave a slight nod and got straight to the point. "Young lady, where's the miracle doctor you told me about on the phone?"

But before Ye Zi could introduce him, or Luo Yang could say a word, the Song Family's thugs swarmed toward Liu Youshui and the long-legged woman.

A cold sneer crept onto Liu Youshui's lips.

The long-legged woman's striking face remained expressionless, as cold as ice.

Suddenly, Song Dongming slapped one of the leading thugs across the face and barked, "Are you blind? Don't you recognize President Liu? Back off!"

Only then did the thugs realize something was wrong, and they hastily retreated.

"President Liu, what brings you... here?" Song Haichang ventured cautiously.

"I came to seek treatment," Liu Youshui said evenly. "But what's all this? You brought so many men here. Are you shooting a gangster movie?"

Song Haichang's lips twitched.

You're a fucking gangster yourself. Who are you trying to fool?

But he did not dare say it aloud.

Luo Yang pushed aside a thug blocking his path and walked over to Ye Zi. "Mr. Liu, I'm the doctor you're looking for. But the situation is a little unusual right now. Let's talk in a moment."

Liu Youshui glanced at Luo Yang, looking somewhat surprised. "So young?"

Wang Shunli gave a derisive chuckle and cut in. "He's a student of mine. He's only just finished his internship and is merely a junior physician. I had intended to train him properly, but he's dishonest, posing as a miracle doctor to swindle wealthy, influential patients. Ms. Ye is one of his victims, too. Oh, I should introduce myself. I'm Wang Shunli, director of Wise Heaven Hospital and a professor at Bacheng Medical College. You can find my published papers in The Lancet."

Liu Youshui turned his gaze toward Ye Zi and Luo Yang, a trace of anger in his eyes. "Is everything he said true?"

"Mr. Liu, Dr. Luo is indeed Director Wang's student, but..."

Before Ye Zi could finish, Liu Youshui frowned and interrupted her. "Young lady, you told me on the phone that he was a miracle doctor who could cure my legs. Now that I'm here, he's turned into a junior physician?"

Ye Zi wanted to explain further, but Luo Yang shook his head slightly. She did not understand why he would not let her explain, but she trusted him completely, so she swallowed her words.

Wang Shunli chuckled. "President Liu, to tell you the truth, this boy has no respect for his elders and refuses to follow the rules. Our hospital has already dismissed him. It seems you've been deceived, too."

Liu Youshui's expression grew colder.

No one had dared deceive him in years. Yet judging by the situation before him, Ye Zi had not only deceived him, but was clearly using him to fight her battles.

Song Dongming seized the opportunity. "President Liu, since Director Wang is here, why not have him examine you? He's a leading specialist, far better than those fraudulent miracle doctors."

"Then I'll trouble Director Wang to take a look," Liu Youshui said evenly.

Those words were also meant for Ye Zi.

Ye Zi grew anxious and glanced at Luo Yang again, but he showed no reaction.

"I never make house calls, but for Mr. Song's sake, I'll examine President Liu." Wang Shunli put on the airs of an esteemed professor, then walked over to Liu Youshui.

Liu Youshui reached down to pull up his trouser legs, looking as though it took some effort.

The long-legged woman crouched down and rolled both his trouser legs up to his knees.

Luo Yang glanced at Liu Youshui's legs. With his Super-Sense State active, a single look was enough for him to form a preliminary judgment, and a faint smile appeared on his lips.

In his view, Liu Youshui's condition was actually less serious than Song Meiqi's.

Wang Shunli bent two fingers and tapped both of Liu Youshui's knees, but his legs did not move at all. He then squeezed Liu Youshui's calf muscles, frowning at their slackness.

"President Liu, you've already lost sensation in both legs. This is peripheral neuropathy, and it's quite severe. I recommend that you be admitted to Wise Heaven Hospital for treatment. I'll provide you with the best possible treatment plan." Wang Shunli offered his diagnosis and recommendation.

"Professor Wang's diagnosis is correct," Liu Youshui said. "I went to Europe last month, and the doctors there gave me the same diagnosis. But they recommended that I get a powered wheelchair. Professor Wang, can you really cure my legs?"

"Well..." Wang Shunli's gaze shifted evasively. "All I can promise you, President Liu, is that my treatment plan will be the best possible one. Western doctors are rather rigid and lack the spirit of tailoring treatment to the patient's condition. Our hospital's equipment and staff are among the best in the country, on par with hospitals in developed European nations. I'll assemble a team of specialists to study your condition thoroughly. I'm sure we can find a way to treat it."

Song Haichang chimed in. "Put your mind at ease, President Liu. I'm sure that with Director Wang treating you, you'll be cured in no time."

Liu Youshui's face remained expressionless. He had heard words like these countless times, yet he was still sitting in a wheelchair.

"Your condition won't respond to medication, and there are currently no drugs specifically for it. You could say no medicine can cure it," Luo Yang suddenly said.

A peculiar smile appeared on Liu Youshui's lips. "Then you still dared ask me to come?"

"Nonsense! What do you know? There's still hope for President Liu's legs, and you dare say no medicine can cure them?" Wang Shunli demanded sharply.

"Do you think every doctor in the world is like you?" Luo Yang said calmly. "I said no medicine can cure it because I don't need medicine at all."

Wang Shunli was so furious that he laughed. "Absurd! Do you think President Liu is like Ms. Ye, believing anything you say?"

Ye Zi frowned.

"Then tell me, how do you intend to treat my legs without medicine?" Liu Youshui sounded interested now.

"Mr. Liu, you do have peripheral neuropathy," Luo Yang said. "But what I need to treat isn't your legs. It's your lower back. If you don't want to have come here for nothing, lie facedown on the sofa and let me treat you. I won't promise you'll stand up immediately, but I can restore some sensation to your legs."

Before Liu Youshui could respond, Wang Shunli hurried to pour cold water on the idea. "President Liu, you're a man of standing. Surely you wouldn't believe a junior physician? I'm telling you, he's nothing but a..."

Before he could say "fraud," Liu Youshui interrupted him. "What, do I need you to tell me whom I should trust?"

Wang Shunli immediately grew nervous. "President Liu, that's not what I meant. I..."

Before Wang Shunli could finish, the long-legged woman pushed the wheelchair toward the sofa. Liu Youshui had given her no signal, yet she knew what he was thinking.

Song Dongming wanted to say something, but a look from Song Haichang stopped him.

Luo Yang walked toward the sofa.

The long-legged woman lifted Liu Youshui onto the sofa.

"Facedown," Luo Yang said.

The long-legged woman gave Luo Yang a cold look. Still, she followed the "doctor's orders" and helped Liu Youshui turn over onto his stomach.

"Lift his shirt," Luo Yang added.

A flash of anger crossed the long-legged woman's dark eyes.

Did he know who she was? How dare some lowly doctor order her around like this!

But at that moment, Luo Yang was carrying himself like a miracle doctor.

"Jiang Yue, what are you waiting for? Do as he says," Liu Youshui said.

The long-legged woman, whom he had called Jiang Yue, lifted Liu Youshui's shirt to expose his lower back.

Luo Yang sat in the empty space beside Liu Youshui and extended his right hand. Bringing his thumb and index finger together, he slowly reached toward Liu Youshui's lumbar spine.

Jiang Yue said quietly, "If my godfather's legs don't regain sensation, you and I will have a nice little chat."

Luo Yang smiled calmly. "So you can talk after all."

Jiang Yue: "..."

So he had taken her for a mute?

Without another word, Luo Yang pressed his Primordial Medical Finger against Liu Youshui's lumbar spine.