Chapter 016: Beautiful Lady, Please Be Quiet—There's a Thief in the Room

Song Kai left the pharmacy and headed straight for the First People's Hospital.

At the hospital entrance, he ran into Zhang Dejun, who was anxiously hurrying inside with an old leather bag—no doubt containing all his bankbooks and savings.

Song Kai greeted him.

Zhang Dejun only nodded, his eyes bloodshot, saying nothing.

Together they walked toward the cardiovascular emergency ward.

Inside, a woman in a white coat stood holding a stethoscope.

"Dr. Tang, how is my wife? Is it possible to operate now?" Zhang Dejun asked, coming up behind her.

The doctor turned and replied, "We need to wait a bit longer. As soon as the asthma subsides, we'll proceed with the cranial surgery. Don't worry, Mr. Zhang."

Zhang Dejun nodded, looking at his unconscious wife, wiping away tears in sorrow.

Song Kai approached as well, examined Mrs. Zhang’s condition thoughtfully, and said, "Mr. Zhang, you can't go through with this surgery. If you do the operation, she might never wake up—she could end up in a vegetative state. Even if she does regain consciousness, she'll be confined to a wheelchair for life."

"Song Kai, get out!" Zhang Dejun glared at him furiously.

Song Kai remained unruffled. He patted Zhang Dejun on the shoulder and said, "Mr. Zhang, you have to trust me this time. Otherwise, you'll only do more harm to your wife. Let me try to treat her first—I guarantee she'll wake up within ten minutes."

As he spoke, Song Kai took out the acupuncture kit he had bought.

Zhang Dejun quickly stopped him. "Song Kai, don't mess around. This is a hospital! You've never even studied medicine—how dare you try something like this?"

Song Kai smirked and made up a story, "How do you know I haven’t studied medicine? I’m the last disciple of a grandmaster of traditional medicine. Three years ago, my father spent millions to have me apprenticed. Don’t worry."

"Really?" Zhang Dejun looked at him suspiciously.

Song Kai nodded. "Trust me. If I can't cure her, her condition won't get worse. You can still opt for surgery then."

Zhang Dejun hesitated, tempted by the prospect. In fact, he was already at the breaking point. Just as Song Kai had said, surgery carried a slim chance of waking her, but with the risk of paralysis or worse.

He squeezed Song Kai’s hand tightly. "Alright, but please—be careful!"

Song Kai nodded and moved to the bedside.

The female doctor blocked his way, frowning. "This is ridiculous! Mr. Zhang, you’re being foolish. Her condition is critical—how can you let just anyone stick needles into her? And he’s just a high school student in uniform!"

Song Kai glanced at her. He was about to snap back but swallowed his words—she was surprisingly attractive, despite her untidy hair, lack of makeup, and simple white coat with black-rimmed glasses. Even so, she was a beauty.

Song Kai understood well that nowadays, so-called internet celebrities and beauty queens owed seven parts to makeup and only three to actual looks. Ever since the cosmetic surgery and makeup craze swept in from Korea, even the plainest woman could become a stunner, let alone someone already attractive.

Despite her plainness, this doctor still deserved the title of beauty.

For her sake, he held his tongue. "Hey, do you know anything about traditional Chinese medicine? About acupuncture?"

Tang Ying, seeing his cavalier attitude, trusted him even less. She frowned, "I know nothing of Chinese medicine, but I think you know even less. This is a hospital. If you act recklessly, I’ll call security to throw you out."

Song Kai grinned, glancing at the badge on her chest—Tang Ying, Attending Physician. So young to have that title—he was sure she must have some connections.

He said, "Doctor, first, judging people by age and appearance is wrong. Second, since you know nothing about traditional medicine, you should keep quiet, or you'll only expose your ignorance. As a doctor, you should be open to learning new things—stubbornness can harm not only yourself but your patients as well."

"You... you—get out!" Tang Ying was so furious she could hardly speak.

Song Kai ignored her, went to the bed, took a deep breath, and removed Mrs. Zhang’s breathing machine.

"Stop right now!" Tang Ying shrieked in alarm, fearing for the patient’s life.

As expected, once the respirator was gone, the old lady immediately gasped for air, her face flushing red.

Tang Ying rushed forward to put the mask back on.

At that moment, Song Kai produced a needle and, through the fabric, swiftly inserted it into her chest.

Immediately, her breathing eased.

He drew another needle and inserted it into her throat at the Tiantu point.

Tang Ying clapped her hand over her mouth in shock. These were dangerous places to stick needles—one wrong move could be fatal!

But as Song Kai deftly twirled the needle, Mrs. Zhang’s breathing grew completely steady. The attack was gone!

Tang Ying uttered a surprised sound, observing the patient carefully. Her breathing was calm; nothing seemed amiss.

"How is this possible? Did your needles really relieve her asthma?" Tang Ying stared at him.

Song Kai smiled. "I told you, doctor, a healer must never stop learning. Respiratory spasms like this are child’s play."

Tang Ying fell silent, glaring at him grudgingly, but now she was watching, hoping Song Kai might accomplish something even greater. If he really cured Mrs. Zhang, then—perhaps she should switch to studying traditional medicine herself!

Song Kai’s expression grew serious. Treating asthma was simple enough, but saving a patient with cerebral hemorrhage was another story. The main points to needle were on the head, and the cranial blood vessels were fragile—one misjudged stroke could rupture a vessel and end all hope.

More importantly, Song Kai didn’t possess inner energy. Whether it was acupuncture or massage, a healer needed internal breath to clear the patient’s meridians. Lacking that, Song Kai could only rely on the mechanical stimulus of acupuncture to forcefully clear the channels and dissolve the blood clots.

He took a couple of deep breaths, then, with lightning speed, inserted needles into the patient’s abdomen at Qimen, at both Jingmen points, then up to the head—Four Smart, Shenting, Shangxing, Qianding, Baihui... In one breath, Song Kai drove in thirty-six needles!

Thirty seconds. Thirty-six needles!

His hands moved like the wind.

Finishing the last one, he exhaled and wiped the sweat from his brow. Acupuncture was truly exhausting.

Tang Ying stood there, mouth agape, her eyes filled only with astonishment and admiration.

Zhang Dejun, tense with worry, came over and whispered, "How is she, Song Kai? Is she alright?"

Song Kai caught his breath. "It’s fine now. She should wake up soon. But when she does, don’t upset her or let her get anxious—let her rest for a couple of days, and she’ll be completely well."

As the words left his mouth, Mrs. Zhang slowly opened her eyes.

Tang Ying leaned closer, amazed. "Ma’am, you’re awake?"

"I... I have a bit of a headache," Mrs. Zhang murmured.

Song Kai said, "That will pass soon. Just keep resting. In a while I’ll remove the needles, and then you can go home."

Zhang Dejun seized Song Kai’s hands, tears streaming down his face—he nearly knelt in gratitude. "Song Kai, dear boy, you’re a blessing to our family, a true blessing!"

Song Kai waved it off. "It was nothing."

As a doctor, Tang Ying was even more astounded. She had never imagined traditional medicine could be so effective. As an attending physician herself, specializing in cardiovascular cases, she’d always looked down on traditional medicine, dismissing it as a scam that preyed on the elderly. But after witnessing Song Kai’s treatment, her beliefs were utterly shattered!

"Um, young man—no, Mr. Song?" Tang Ying approached him. "Mr. Song, could we talk? Maybe even an interview? This case is incredible—it would astonish the entire nation, no, the whole world of medicine!"

Song Kai waved her off. "No need to shock the world. But if you, doctor, have some free time, how about we have a meal together, chat, see a movie, discuss medicine—and if you’re willing to lend me some money, even better. Oh, and by the way, do you have a boyfriend?"

"Uh?" Tang Ying was caught off guard. In her mind, Song Kai was a brilliant student—just a kid. How did he suddenly jump to a date? And borrowing money, no less!

"...” Tang Ying was speechless. Then she replied, "No, I don’t have a boyfriend at the moment. I was about to accept someone’s proposal, but after seeing you, Song Kai, I think I still have more to learn. I’ve decided to find a traditional medicine practitioner as a boyfriend."

From the look on her face, Song Kai could tell she was entirely serious. He laughed. "Well, how about a meal now? Your treat."

Just then, a nurse burst in. "Dr. Tang, patient in bed sixty-seven is unwell—please come quickly!"

"Alright." Tang Ying replied at once, turning to Song Kai. "Wait for me. I’ll check on the patient first. Song Kai, you really surprised me." With that, she hurried off.

Zhang Dejun came over, chuckling. "Song Kai, Dr. Tang is a very kind young woman. Sure, she’s a few years older than you, but everyone says a woman three years older is a treasure, right?"

He laughed mischievously.

Song Kai replied, "Mr. Zhang, you just reminded me—could I stay at your place for another two months? As soon as I have money, I’ll pay the rent."

Zhang Dejun protested, "What are you saying, Song Kai? Talking about rent and months as if you’re a stranger! That place is yours as long as you want. Don’t worry, I’ll move your things back right away!"

Song Kai laughed heartily. "Then I’m reassured. Let me take out the needles."

He removed the needles from Mrs. Zhang’s body. "Lie flat for another half hour, and you’ll be ready to go home."

After a while, Mrs. Zhang was completely recovered, and the elderly couple went off to process the discharge.

Song Kai waited outside the ward for Tang Ying to return.

A free dinner awaited! Tang Ying looked like she could afford a good meal—where should they go for a feast?

He rubbed his stomach, fantasizing.

But he waited and waited—an hour, two—and she never came back.

"Damn it, women really can’t be trusted! She stood me up!" Song Kai muttered, leaving the hospital and heading back to Kowloon Bay.

Meanwhile, Tang Ying was swamped with work, sweat pouring down her face. To be honest, being a doctor was no easy task—every patient was a responsibility, and if you ran into unreasonable family members, it was even more troublesome.

In the midst of all this, Tang Ying completely forgot her arrangement with Song Kai. Four hours later, she finally finished her rounds, stomach growling, massaging her aching waist. Suddenly, she remembered Song Kai and hurried toward the ward.

But the room was empty; the Zhangs had been discharged, and Song Kai was gone.

Tang Ying pouted, muttering, "Really, what a faithless brat—talking about movies and chatting, and now he’s vanished!"

Song Kai was equally frustrated; denied his feast, he had to make do with two big bowls of beef noodles, then went straight to Black Horse Gym for a workout.

It was ten at night by the time he showered, changed into a clean pair of shorts, and headed home.

He opened the door.

The lights were on inside.

Song Kai rubbed his nose, muttering, "That old man Zhang never remembers to turn off the lights—what a waste of electricity."

"Hey, darling, you’re finally back," a woman’s voice called out.

Song Kai jumped. Darling? Me? Since when did I have a darling? Could it be Xu Ling? No way!

He swallowed, stepped inside.

A woman in a black silk romper strode toward him—tall, at least one-seventy, wearing slippers, her short slip barely covering her hips, long legs dazzlingly white in the lamplight...