Chapter 28: We Are Family

Hearing Zhang Shen’s words, Ye Jianfei burst into hearty laughter.

“My young friend, I think you’ve misunderstood. When I returned last night, I gave Ye Qiong a thorough scolding. She now realizes her recklessness and rudeness. Please, don’t take it to heart.”

With Ye Jianfei’s reassurance, Zhang Shen felt more at ease. After all, he had no desire for further complications.

When Ye Qiong entered the living room to find her parents and Zhang Shen sitting together, her previously cheerful expression vanished at once.

“Dad, why is he here?”

“What’s wrong? He’s the disciple of the man who saved my life—my guest. Aren’t you going to come over?”

Hearing this, Zhang Shen felt as if his status had suddenly become radiant, as though he were the protagonist himself.

He stood and declared, “From today on, we’re family.”

“Family? Who wants to be family with you?”

Ye Qiong hadn’t expected this quack to tease her right in front of her parents.

Ye Jianfei, however, seemed unfazed.

“Well said, my young friend! You must visit often from now on.”

Ye Qiong was bewildered at her father’s easy acceptance of Zhang Shen’s words.

“Mom, look at Dad!”

She quickly turned to her mother, Qin Rong, for support.

“Your father is right! If it weren’t for this young man’s master, how would your father and I have ever met?”

In that moment, Ye Qiong felt as if her parents were the real couple, leaving her the outsider.

What neither Ye Qiong nor Zhang Shen realized was that Qin Rong was quietly forming a plan. Since hearing about Zhang Shen from Ye Jianfei the night before and now seeing him in person, she found the young man quite satisfactory. Her daughter was of age, after all, and she was inclined to bring the two of them together.

But the meeting of fire and water rarely goes smoothly.

“Qiong, your father told me you hit someone with your car yesterday, is that so?”

Ye Qiong hadn’t expected to be scolded about this yet again. Why must they always bring up the past? But with her parents clearly siding with Zhang Shen, any excuse she could muster seemed feeble.

“Yes…”

“And then I heard that after he cured your illness, you didn’t even thank him. Instead, you called your father over that night. Thankfully, no one was accidentally hurt. Tell me, you’re a grown woman now—can’t you save us some worry?”

“Mom, I was wrong, isn’t that enough? But I did drive him home yesterday, didn’t I?”

“You’re still making excuses? You hit him—driving him home is the bare minimum. Or do you expect us to praise you for it?”

Seeing Qin Rong’s rebuke getting out of hand, Zhang Shen hurried to intervene.

“Director Ye, I don’t think Ye Qiong did it on purpose. In fact, she called the police right away, and the confusion that followed was just a misunderstanding. If you put it that way, you can’t blame Ye Qiong entirely. At the very least, both of us share some responsibility.”

Hearing this, Qin Rong replied, “You see how considerate he is? He even takes responsibility himself.”

“How about this—you don’t need to eat dinner at home tonight.”

“What? Not at home? Then where am I supposed to eat?”

Ye Qiong was still confused.

“You should take this young man out for dinner and give him a sincere apology.”

Ye Jianfei seemed to understand his wife’s intentions. To him, his daughter was of similar age to Zhang Shen, and a relationship between them wouldn’t be a bad thing. Moreover, Zhang Shen’s expertise in medicine could only help the family’s herbal business flourish.

“Your mother is right. I’ll have someone bring you your car keys right now.”

Ye Qiong had planned to refuse, but the mention of her car keys changed her mind. One meal was a small price to pay.

“Fine then, ‘gynecologist,’ let’s go.”

She put special emphasis on those words, making her prejudice against Zhang Shen all the more obvious.

Zhang Shen didn’t mind. After all, food was food no matter where it was. But the news he’d received about his master today was of little value. It seemed the search for his teacher would be a long road yet.

Ye Qiong drove Zhang Shen to a restaurant. By six in the evening, the place was already bustling—a clear sign of its popularity.

Ye Qiong, however, had invited her close friend Wang Ying along, believing she had nothing in common to discuss with Zhang Shen.

The three of them chose a table by the window. A waiter soon came over.

“Miss Ye, welcome!”

The waiter greeted Ye Qiong politely.

Zhang Shen could tell at a glance that Ye Qiong must be a regular here.

“The usual.”

Zhang Shen didn’t know what her “usual” was, but judging by the lively atmosphere, he was certain the food wouldn’t disappoint.

Soon, the dishes arrived: a country-style chicken casserole, a plate of chopped chili fish head, and two side dishes. The ingredients were simple, but the presentation was exquisite—something that, for someone who had trained in medicine since childhood, made Zhang Shen hesitate to start eating.

“What are you staring at like that? Is there food on my face?” Ye Qiong snapped.

“N-no.”

Zhang Shen had only been admiring the cuisine, but Ye Qiong assumed he was staring at her.

As the three of them ate, Zhang Shen made no attempt to join in their conversation.

Just then, Wang Ying noticed a young man in his twenties entering the restaurant. She quickly lowered her head, hoping not to be seen. Unfortunately, the man spotted her as well and began walking over.

Ye Qiong noticed Wang Ying’s odd behavior and asked, “What’s wrong?”

Wang Ying whispered, “See that man coming towards us? That’s Xu Jinwen—he’s been relentlessly pestering me. I’ve already refused him, but he won’t give up unless I have a boyfriend. Of all days, how did I manage to run into him today?”

“Why didn’t you ever mention this before?”

Ye Qiong’s mind truly worked differently from others. With a crisis at hand, she still found time to gossip.

“Oh, for heaven’s sake, can you just think of a solution?”