Chapter 102: Ruthless Refusal

“Alright, return the money to them. Let this matter be behind us. And in the future, don't resort to deceit and fraud. As a doctor, you must be responsible to your patients—you can’t sacrifice medical ethics for profit,” Zhang Xiaofan said firmly.

“Yes, yes, yes, I will definitely remember the teachings of Divine Doctor Zhang. I will return the money to them,” the man with the dark mole replied, visibly relieved.

Zhang Xiaofan paid him no further mind and turned to Gao Zhipeng. “I tore up your banner. Any objections?”

“Nonsense. I’m ashamed to have such a dishonorable disciple in Huichuntang, unworthy of that banner. And I bear great responsibility for not disciplining him properly. Divine Doctor Zhang came looking for wild ginseng? To show my apologies, I’ll give you one,” Gao Zhipeng said, then glanced at his attendant. “Go fetch my wild ginseng.”

The attendant hesitated, whispering, “Master, that’s worth tens of millions…”

“Tens of millions? That’s nothing. Not long ago, Divine Doctor Zhang’s prescription was worth even more. Bring it here,” Gao Zhipeng commanded. The prescription he referred to was the antidote Zhang Xiaofan had prepared for the Ye family.

After returning, Gao Zhipeng had studied it for days, greatly improving his detoxification skills. That prescription was a rare treasure, practically priceless—making a two-hundred-year-old wild ginseng seem trivial by comparison. Besides, gaining Zhang Xiaofan’s favor and perhaps learning something from him was well worth it.

The attendant dared not disobey and reluctantly went to the back room. Soon, he returned carrying an exquisite jade box, which he handed to Gao Zhipeng.

Gao Zhipeng passed the jade box to Zhang Xiaofan. “Divine Doctor Zhang, this is a two-hundred-year-old wild ginseng from deep within Mount Dabai. Please accept it.”

“Wow… such a precious treasure, just given so freely…” The onlookers were stunned.

“Divine Doctor Gao, I offer fifty million for your ginseng!” A wealthy man shouted, unable to resist the temptation. A two-hundred-year-old wild ginseng was indeed a life-saving item!

One had to admit, the offer was generous.

However, Gao Zhipeng remained unmoved. “No matter the price, I will not sell it, nor have I ever intended to.”

His words immediately dashed the hopes of the rich man.

Zhang Xiaofan was indeed tempted by the ginseng. With it, his injuries would heal rapidly. Yet, since Gao Zhipeng was a stranger, accepting such a grand gift felt inappropriate. Moreover, Zhang Xiaofan did not wish to owe him any favors.

After some thought, he walked aside to where there was a calligraphy brush and rice paper. He picked up the brush and began to write with flowing strokes, then handed the paper to Gao Zhipeng. “Let me trade you this instead.”

Gao Zhipeng’s expression grew excited as he eagerly took the paper. After reading it, his face lit up with joy.

“It’s an ancient medical technique for acupuncture point massage!” he exclaimed.

He stared intently at the characters on the paper. The method of acupuncture point massage was a lost art—an ancient therapy involving pressing specific points in a particular sequence for healing.

Its value was beyond measure!

Of course, the onlookers didn’t understand what this technique was, but seeing Gao Zhipeng’s excitement, they knew it was something precious.

“Do you think this exchange is acceptable?” Zhang Xiaofan asked, watching Gao Zhipeng’s enthusiastic reaction.

Gao Zhipeng came back to himself and quickly said, “Absolutely! Compared to this, my two-hundred-year-old ginseng is nothing! Honestly, I’m the one who’s gained here.”

“Then it’s settled. I should be going,” Zhang Xiaofan said, taking back the jade box.

He then took Lin Siyu’s hand and prepared to leave.

“Divine Doctor, please take a look at my illness. I’ve seen many doctors, but none have cured me. I’ll pay whatever it costs,” the wealthy man from before pleaded.

Zhang Xiaofan glanced at him and replied, “I wasn’t going to bother with you, but if I don’t say this, you might not have long to live. Go home and ask the women you’re often with what they have given you. There must be an antidote.”

With that, Zhang Xiaofan led Lin Siyu away.

Such wealthy people, even the women around them might conspire against them to seize their wealth—it was a miserable fate.

Meanwhile, Gao Zhipeng was deeply engrossed in studying the acupuncture technique Zhang Xiaofan had given him, repeatedly praising it.

“Xiaofan, what exactly did you give him? Why is he so excited?” Lin Siyu asked once they were in the car.

Zhang Xiaofan smiled. “It’s just a fragment of an ancient medical art, but to him, it’s a treasure. Lost arts like these are rare and precious.”

“I see. You really know a lot,” Lin Siyu remarked.

“Well, don’t you know who I am? Maybe tonight we should try a different position,” Zhang Xiaofan teased with a mischievous grin.

“You’re so bad… You’re still injured and thinking about that. No sense of decency,” Lin Siyu blushed and gave him a mock glare. In front of Zhang Xiaofan, she was as gentle and coy as a little kitten.

“Hehe…” Zhang Xiaofan chuckled and couldn’t resist placing his large hand on Lin Siyu’s long leg.

After some effort, Lin Siyu managed to drive them back to the villa. That boy was truly incorrigible.

“Wow! Sister Lin! Brother Xiaofan! You’re finally back!” Just as they got out of the car, a voice called out. Then a figure dashed out from the villa.

It was none other than Ye Qingcheng… So the girl really had come after finishing her college entrance exams.

Zhang Xiaofan immediately realized his peaceful life was about to be disrupted.

“Qingcheng, what are you doing here?” Lin Siyu asked upon seeing Ye Qingcheng.

“I heard Brother Xiaofan was your bodyguard, so I came,” Ye Qingcheng said matter-of-factly.

She stepped forward and hugged Zhang Xiaofan’s arm affectionately. “Brother Fan, I’m here! You have to play with me!”

Lin Siyu, clever and intuitive, immediately sensed that little Sister Ye was fond of this mischievous boy.

This was really…

Lin Siyu didn’t know what to say.

“If you keep this up, Sister Lin might get jealous,” Zhang Xiaofan warned.

“Jealous? Why would Sister Lin be jealous?” Ye Qingcheng looked puzzled.

“Aren’t you silly? Because Sister Lin is already mine, got it?” Zhang Xiaofan said.

“What? Sister Lin is already yours? Does that mean you’ve… you know…” Ye Qingcheng’s face flushed with surprise.

Zhang Xiaofan was speechless. Of course, if she was already his, then yes, they had been intimate.

He nodded. “Yes, we have.”

Lin Siyu blushed deeply at his bluntness. Who spoke so plainly?

But then Ye Qingcheng suddenly pouted and began to cry. “Is it because I’m not as mature and feminine as Sister Lin? You don’t like me at all.”

That question really gave Zhang Xiaofan a headache…

Fortunately, Lin Siyu stepped beside Ye Qingcheng. “Qingcheng, you’re still young. You haven’t reached the age for love yet, understand? When you’re older, Brother Fan will definitely like you too. After all, you’re very pretty.”

“Really?” Ye Qingcheng whispered.

“Of course,” Lin Siyu assured her.

“But Brother Fan is about my age. Why can he…” Ye Qingcheng looked at Zhang Xiaofan with a hint of grievance.

Even Lin Siyu didn’t know how to answer that. She couldn’t very well say she had forced Zhang Xiaofan to be intimate with her…

Sometimes, being too handsome and charming was a burden. Having too many women who liked you could also be troublesome.

Ye Qingcheng was indeed beautiful and well-developed, but as a young girl, she was different from Chen Yuanyuan and Lin Siyu. That was why Zhang Xiaofan had kept his distance.

He also blamed himself—he shouldn’t have flirted with her in the first place.

After some thought, he said seriously, “Little one, you’re too young. I’m not interested in you yet, okay? Go home now.”

But his words had no effect. Ye Qingcheng puffed out her chest and glanced at Lin Siyu, making Lin Siyu’s face flush crimson. When did little Sister Ye become so bold?

“I’m not young! Look, I’m about the same age as Sister Lin,” Ye Qingcheng said proudly.