Chapter 2: A Heart Swayed by Love

No wonder it smelled so sweet. Gou Liang unconsciously licked his lips; that jelly-like flavor was fragrant and sugary. Suddenly, he realized his eyesight had fully recovered—and was even better than before. He was so delighted he almost cried out.

Zhang Zhihan, seeing Gou Liang awake, finally pressed a hand to her heaving chest and let out a long breath. “Oh my god, you nearly scared me to death.” Her voice, as sweet as honey, could melt into one’s very bones, and her fair skin shone with the luster of mutton-fat jade, radiating an alluring charm, intoxicating as fine wine.

Gou Liang’s Adam’s apple bobbed as he swallowed, his throat dry. “Thank you, big sister. I don’t know why I fainted so suddenly—maybe I was just too hungry.”

Zhang Zhihan glanced at him. “Come with me. I still have some instant noodles and sausages. Eat a little to keep you going.”

As she looked at the lipstick still smudged on Gou Liang’s mouth, an inexplicable feeling welled up inside her. In her panic just now, she’d given her first kiss to this penniless doctor.

Gou Liang followed closely behind her, watching the gentle sway of her slender waist. A delicate fragrance like orchids wafted toward him, intoxicating and irresistible, stirring something within his heart.

Zhang Zhihan was wearing a casual home outfit, the silky hem of her dress cascading down to her ankles. Her snow-white, delicate feet were slipped into a pair of high-heeled crystal sandals. Without stockings, her lustrous toes curled in shyly, their pure and alluring charm arousing tender affection.

Gou Liang couldn’t help but marvel at her beauty—her skin smooth and luminous as fine jade, her long black hair cascading down to the small of her back. Even her silhouette was breathtaking. He thought to himself, if only he could marry a wife like this, he’d be content for life.

At that moment, the strange phone still in his hand suddenly rang. He pressed the answer button.

A woman’s voice came through, proud and icy. “Old Ye, I agree to your terms. I’ll transfer ten million yuan to you right now and send a car to pick you up. My daughter’s condition is getting worse. If you can’t cure her, you know what the consequences will be.”

Gou Liang was dumbfounded, his lips moving wordlessly. Before he could say anything, the call was cut off. A moment later, a message arrived—his mobile bank account had just received ten million yuan.

But without the password, he could only stare blankly at the screen. Then, a prompt flashed through his mind: password 666666.

Gou Liang entered the password into his mobile banking app, and the balance displayed: ten million. He stopped breathing for a second, his body stiff as a statue. It seemed all of this was real!

Zhang Zhihan returned from her room with two packets of instant noodles and two sausages and handed them to Gou Liang. Only then did he snap out of his daze and accept them, forgetting even to thank her. His mind was swirling—what illness could possibly require ten million to cure? He was only a fresh intern out of medical school, completely at a loss.

Zhang Zhihan noticed Gou Liang staring at her in a daze. She had no idea the turmoil raging in his heart and assumed he was simply mesmerized by her. Her cheeks flushed, and, feeling bashful, she turned and walked away.

Just as she reached her room, her phone rang—it was her father, telling her that her mother’s surgery would cost three hundred thousand. Zhang Zhihan’s eyes filled with tears as she sobbed into the phone, her shoulders shaking. “I’ll sell Grandma’s house right away, but even if I sell both properties, I can’t scrape together more than two hundred thousand. We’re still short by over a hundred thousand. What should we do?”

Her father’s voice came through the line, pained and helpless. “If there’s no other way, we’ll have to borrow from loan sharks.” Then he hung up.

Zhang Zhihan turned, casting Gou Liang an apologetic look. “I’m truly sorry. You’ll have to find another place to live tomorrow. I’ll pay your rent. I need to sell this apartment to cover my mother’s surgery.”

Gou Liang scratched his head, then looked at her seriously. “Big sister, sell the apartment to me. Three hundred thousand—I’ll buy it. And you don’t have to move out. You can pay me rent whenever you can afford it.”

Zhang Zhihan was stunned. Was this guy out of his mind? Her face darkened, and her tone turned cold. “Gou Liang, with everything happening to my family, you’re still making jokes like this? You’re really too much. Fine, I’ll give you the rent right now.” She pulled out three hundred yuan and handed it to him.

Gou Liang didn’t take the money. Still holding his phone, he maintained his serious expression. “I’m not joking. I mean it. I can transfer the money to you right now.”

Zhang Zhihan became angrier—she’d never met a young man so lacking in sense. Her emotions boiling over, she snapped, “Gou Liang, my whole world is falling apart, and you’re still trying to hit on me? Do you think this is funny? I really can’t respect someone like you. Please leave!” She stuffed the money into his hand with a look of disdain. “I’ve never met anyone more ridiculous than you. Go find another place to live. I’ll come by every day to cook for you until your eyesight recovers.”

Gou Liang, growing anxious, suddenly grasped Zhang Zhihan’s delicate hand. “Big sister, I’m not joking! I’m not trying to flirt with you. Please, just believe me.”

Zhang Zhihan hadn’t expected Gou Liang to be so shameless as to touch her. She erupted, “Leave! Stop bothering me!” She shoved him hard.

Gou Liang stumbled, instinctively grabbing her to steady himself, but ended up pulling her down with him. They tumbled down the stairs, and when they landed, Gou Liang was sprawled on top of her.

Zhang Zhihan, aching and furious, shouted, “You bastard! You’re disgusting! In the hospital you took advantage of me during the exam, and now, when my family is in crisis, you still shamelessly cling to me! You’re not even human!”

Having inherited the Healer’s legacy, Gou Liang now had a fierier temper. Provoked by her words, his pent-up grievances burst forth. “I didn’t take advantage of you—Zhu Jiahao pushed me! That’s why I bumped into you. I’m not as dirty as you think. I really want to help you. You’re just a dog biting the hand that feeds you, unable to recognize a good person!”

Pressed beneath him, Zhang Zhihan grew even angrier at being compared to a dog. “You’re the dog! You’re worse than a dog! I don’t believe you’d dare force yourself on me. Go ahead, try it! I’ll see you rot in prison. Otherwise, get lost! I can’t stand the sight of you. You…”

But Gou Liang was truly provoked now. Like a wild beast, he suddenly lowered his head. Before Zhang Zhihan could finish her sentence, her tender, rosy lips were seized by his wild kiss.