No one, including Zhou Wannong, would have imagined that Nangong Yi, a towering figure in the domestic medical community, would disregard his reputation and prostrate himself before Chen Xiao to learn medicine, leaving everyone stunned into silence.
In an instant, the emergency room, which had been bustling with people just moments before, fell into a deathly quiet.
Even Chen Xiao hadn't expected to encounter Nangong Yi here. He was momentarily taken aback, then said with a wry smile, "Old man Nangong, I'm busy with emergency consultations. Lives are at stake, so don't cause trouble here!"
With that, Chen Xiao, his mind solely focused on treating the patient, strode quickly to the cold examination table.
Seeing Long Xiaolin lying on the table, he was surprised again. He instinctively turned to Zhou Wannong, who was approaching him, and frowned, saying with a hint of exasperation, "Deputy Director Zhou, the difficult patient you mentioned, is it this guy?"
Lin Meiqiao could never have dreamed that the Super Doctor King Chen Xiao, whom Nangong Yi spoke of, would be so young and handsome. She was both surprised and delighted, her good impression growing. Eagerly, she handed him her business card with a fawning smile. "Dr. Chen, my name is Lin Meiqiao. I'm the Vice Chairman of Shenwu City's Longlin Group. As long as you can wake my son up as soon as possible, in addition to paying all medical expenses to the Central Hospital, I will also give you an extra million in consultation fees..."
Chen Xiao chuckled slyly and interrupted Lin Meiqiao without a second thought. "What if your son was sent to the hospital by people I sent?"
Though his words were spoken calmly and evenly, they struck everyone like a bolt from the blue. The moment he finished speaking, everyone present was speechless and frozen in shock.
Lin Meiqiao's fawning smile gradually froze. Gritting her teeth, she said, "Dr. Chen, you're not joking with me, are you? Even if my son accidentally offended you, there was no need for you to be so ruthless!"
As she spoke, she subtly glared at the bodyguards present.
Instantly, over a dozen burly bodyguards swarmed around Chen Xiao.
Chen Xiao remained unfazed and continued calmly, "He wanted my life."
"You..."
Lin Meiqiao was enraged, her expression growing even more somber, her pretense of kindness completely stripped away. "Who do you think you are? Even if my son, Lin Meiqiao's son, truly wanted your dog's life, you have no right to harm even half a hair on him!"
As she spoke, she aggressively waved her hand, intending to slap Chen Xiao across the face.
Zhou Wannong's eyes widened in alarm, and he quickly and sternly interjected, "Lin Meiqiao, Dr. Chen cured my grandfather's strange illness, and the treatment isn't even over yet!"
Nangong Yi followed suit, anxiously adding, "That's right! If it weren't for Dr. Chen's miraculous recovery, Old Master Long would likely be dead by now."
"Wh-what?"
Lin Meiqiao instinctively retracted her hand. As audacious as she was, she wouldn't dare offend Long Aotian!
However, looking at Long Xiaolin, who was on the verge of death on the examination table, she couldn't swallow her anger. After a pause, she said with an air of entitlement, "Boy, for the sake of the Old Master, as long as you cure my Xiaolin, I can let bygones be bygones..."
She had already decided to first save Long Xiaolin, and then find an opportunity to retaliate against Chen Xiao in secret.
"Let bygones be bygones? Heh."
Chen Xiao sneered coldly, and with a swift, clean motion, slapped Lin Meiqiao across the face. His tone suddenly turned icy. "I haven't even decided if I want to let bygones be bygones, so why are you bossing me around with such a condescending tone? Is it because you think you're of noble birth and can bully others with your status?"
"Chen Xiao, you..."
Zhou Wannong could never have imagined that Chen Xiao would suddenly slap Lin Meiqiao. He was once again stunned into silence.
Nangong Yi was equally astonished, his face a picture of exaggerated disbelief. The blood in his veins seemed to boil to the extreme. He thought, "Damn! A truly formidable person! He even dares to hit Long Aotian's daughter-in-law! This is true bullying with power! But then again, if I could have Dr. Chen's heaven-defying medical skills, I would also be able to hold my head high and live without looking at anyone's face!"
With this thought, Nangong Yi became even more resolute in his determination to become Chen Xiao's disciple, his gaze towards Chen Xiao filled with even greater reverence.
"You... you... you you you..."
Lin Meiqiao was so furious she couldn't speak, clutching her burning, aching cheek. She glared at Chen Xiao with bared teeth, her expression filled with murderous intent. "How... how dare you hit me? Do you even know that my father is Lin Zhengyang, the largest wholesale merchant of Chinese medicinal herbs in the provincial capital, Longdu? My husband is Long Bangguo, the chairman of Longlin Group! And my father-in-law is the commander of the Northern Border..."
"Slap—"
Accompanied by an even louder slap, Chen Xiao didn't wait for Lin Meiqiao to finish speaking. He swung his hand back and delivered another slap.
"Ah!!!"
Lin Meiqiao completely lost it, screaming hoarsely at the dozen bodyguards surrounding Chen Xiao, "You bunch of useless idiots, what are you standing there like fools for? Hurry up and cripple this guy's hands and feet for me..."
Chen Xiao remained unfazed, a cruel sneer on his face. "To be frank, even Nangong Yi is helpless with your son's injuries. If you cripple my hands and feet, wouldn't that indirectly mean killing your own flesh and blood? Also, are you deaf or have I beaten you silly? Didn't Deputy Director Zhou say that your father-in-law still needs my treatment?"
The dozen bodyguards exchanged glances. Not only did they not dare to move against Chen Xiao, but they instinctively took a few steps back.
Coincidentally, at that moment, the electrocardiograph monitor connected to Long Xiaolin suddenly emitted a "beep beep beep" alarm.
Lin Huichun's face turned pale with shock, and he exclaimed, "This is bad! The patient's vital signs are suddenly plummeting. If effective rescue measures are not taken immediately, his life could be in danger at any moment!"
Despite his words, he and Zhou Wannong had no intention of intervening. Seeing that some of the other doctors and nurses were preparing to act to curry favor with Lin Meiqiao, he even shot them a subtle glare.
As for Nangong Yi, he continued to kneel on the spot as if no one else was there, not even glancing at Long Xiaolin on the examination table.
"You... you guys..."
Lin Meiqiao became frantic, stomping her feet and urging them, "Since his life is in danger at any moment, why aren't you all rushing to rescue him? Do I have to kneel down and beg you?"
Chen Xiao sneered, "Even if you kneel and beg them, it's useless. Besides me, they are all helpless!"
"You..."
Lin Meiqiao trembled with rage, wishing she could pounce on Chen Xiao and tear him apart.
However, the urgent alarm from the electrocardiograph monitor tormented her like a death knell. In less than half a minute, she could no longer hold back. Her knees buckled, and she knelt at Chen Xiao's feet, reluctantly pleading, "Dr. Chen, I know I was wrong. Please, with your benevolent heart, save my son first. If he can live, I'll do anything you ask."