Normally, a call from his brother-in-law wouldn’t have warranted his personal involvement. But the moment he heard it concerned his father-in-law’s most beloved granddaughter, he didn’t dare delay and rushed over immediately.

  After all, if he wanted to climb higher, he still needed his father-in-law’s connections to grease the wheels.

  "This clinic is suspected of using counterfeit drugs and must be thoroughly investigated. Unrelated personnel, please leave!"

  As soon as the health bureau staff entered, they slapped the clinic with a not-too-small accusation.

  The patients in the clinic didn’t leave immediately after being ushered out. Instead, they crowded at the entrance to watch the commotion.

  "Director Deng, this is a misunderstanding! Our clinic has always complied with the law—how could we possibly use fake drugs?"

  The clinic director, Sun Feng, hurried out as soon as he heard the disturbance. Bowing slightly, he offered Deng Chengbin a cigarette while forcing a smile, though inwardly, he was puzzled. He had just sent this deputy director two boxes of ginseng a couple of days ago—why was he being investigated now?

  Deng Chengbin pushed the cigarette away coldly. "Don’t try to cozy up to me. Today, we’re handling this strictly by the book. I heard there’s a doctor here named Jiang Yan who nearly killed a child due to improper medication?"

  "Nonsense! I prescribed medication based on the condition!" Jiang Yan couldn’t hold back her anger. She stepped out from the crowd of doctors and nurses, glaring icily at Deng Chengbin. She could guess that this was likely Wu Jianguo’s brother-in-law from the health bureau.

  When Deng Chengbin saw Jiang Yan, his expression noticeably faltered, clearly stunned by her beauty. But he quickly regained his composure and said coldly, "Whether it was proper medication or not, we’ll investigate. Come with us."

  "Director Deng, that’s a bit extreme. Dr. Jiang is a well-known physician in this area," Sun Feng said with a forced smile. "Besides, the child left our clinic in stable condition."

  "Old Sun, don’t blame me for not giving you face. If you keep dawdling, I’ll take you in too." Deng Chengbin shot Sun Feng a frosty glance.

  Seeing Deng Chengbin was dead serious, Sun Feng didn’t dare argue further, silently cursing him for being ungrateful.

  Deng Chengbin signaled to two of his subordinates, who immediately moved to apprehend Jiang Yan. But Lin Yu had somehow appeared in front of her, his voice cold as he addressed Deng Chengbin: "As far as I know, the health bureau doesn’t have the authority to arrest people."

  "What the hell are you? Whether I have the authority or not is none of your damn business!" Deng Chengbin fumed. "Sun Feng, is this one of your clinic’s doctors too?"

  "No, he’s Dr. Jiang’s husband," Sun Feng replied, shooting Lin Yu a warning glance to stand down.

  "Oh, so it’s him. I heard he treated my niece too. Does he have a medical license? Let me see it." Deng Chengbin gave Lin Yu a disdainful once-over. His brother-in-law had mentioned this guy on the phone and seemed to have a grudge against him.

  "He’s not a doctor—he doesn’t have a license. Director Deng, don’t take it to heart. I heard he was the one who saved your niece earlier," Sun Feng said hurriedly, trying to smooth things over.

  "Practicing medicine without a license is illegal. Take him in too. I’ll call the police to pick him up later," Deng Chengbin sneered.

  "More trouble than you’re worth," Jiang Yan muttered under her breath, shooting Lin Yu a sharp glare before pulling out her phone to call her father. She needed his help to pull some strings before this idiot actually got arrested.

  Just as the two staff members were about to forcibly take Lin Yu away, a jeep came barreling down the street and screeched to a halt outside the clinic. Two figures rushed out—Wu Jinyuan and his son, both looking frantic.

  Seeing his father-in-law and brother-in-law, Deng Chengbin brightened, thinking this was perfect timing to show off his efforts.

  "Dad, you came at just the right time. I was about to shut this clinic down and arrest these two quacks," Deng Chengbin said eagerly, stepping forward.

  Wu Jinyuan ignored him, striding up to the crowd and asking urgently, "Which young friend was it who treated my granddaughter’s strange illness earlier?"

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  "Dad, it’s him!"

  Wu Jianguo spotted Lin Yu in the crowd and pointed at him.

  Wu Jinyuan quickly approached, speaking respectfully, "Young friend, my granddaughter’s illness has relapsed. She’s hanging by a thread at the hospital. Please, save her. This old man would be eternally grateful."

  "Director Wu, you’re here." Sun Feng’s eyes lit up, but seeing Wu Jinyuan’s deference to Lin Yu, his heart sank. This freeloader didn’t know the first thing about medicine—he’d just gotten lucky earlier.

  Hearing Deng Chengbin and Wu Jianguo address the old man, Lin Yu realized who he was.

  "I’m sorry, sir, but I can’t treat her," Lin Yu said with a bitter smile. "I don’t have a medical license. Your son-in-law just accused me of illegal practice and was about to call the police on me."

  "You fools! Get over here and apologize!"

  Wu Jinyuan glared furiously at Deng Chengbin, then pointed at Wu Jianguo and barked, "You too! Both of you, apologize now!"

  Deng Chengbin exchanged a confused glance with Wu Jianguo, utterly lost.

  Seeing Wu Jianguo pale and silent, Deng Chengbin didn’t dare ask questions. He followed his father-in-law’s order and approached Lin Yu. "Young man, I’m sorry, earlier—"

  "The apology isn’t for me. It’s for my wife."

  Lin Yu cut them off before they could finish.

  He inwardly sighed—this was the first time he’d ever called Jiang Yan "wife," and it felt awkward as hell.

  "Dr. Jiang, I’m sorry. I was too anxious earlier and spoke out of turn. Please don’t hold it against me," Wu Jianguo said earnestly, a far cry from his earlier arrogance.

  "Dr. Jiang, my apologies. I acted without understanding the situation, leading to this misunderstanding. Please forgive me." Though inwardly resentful, Deng Chengbin had no choice but to comply with his father-in-law’s demand.

  "It’s fine." Jiang Yan waved it off magnanimously, then turned to Lin Yu with an indescribably complex look in her eyes. For some reason, she caught a whiff of masculinity from this good-for-nothing—how was that possible?

  "Young friend, would you be willing to come to the hospital now to treat my granddaughter?" Wu Jinyuan asked pleadingly.

  "Director Wu, I’m sorry, but he doesn’t know medicine. He just got lucky earlier," Jiang Yan interjected, though she wished Lin Yu could save the girl, she knew it was impossible.

  "Yes, Director Wu, you’re overestimating him. He graduated from a technical school—what does he know about medicine?" Sun Feng chimed in. "Desperation shouldn’t lead to reckless decisions, especially when this guy isn’t even a doctor."

  "Sir, they’re right. I’ve never formally studied medicine." Under He Jiarong’s identity, Lin Yu had to admit the truth.

  Hearing this, the hope in Wu Jinyuan’s eyes dimmed, his weathered face twisting with grief.

  "Dad, see? I told you this kid was a fraud." Now that Lin Yu had admitted he wasn’t a doctor, Deng Chengbin regained his confidence, scoffing disdainfully.

  Lin Yu ignored him and turned to Wu Jinyuan. "Director Wu, though I haven’t studied medicine, I’ve read many medical texts and know a bit about rare diseases. Your granddaughter’s condition happens to be one I’ve seen in an ancient medical book. If you trust me, I’m willing to try."

  "Of course, of course!" Wu Jinyuan’s dull eyes lit up again as he eagerly took Lin Yu’s hand and led him to the car.

  Wu Jianguo didn’t dare delay either, rushing to drive them.

  "Dad, how can you believe a con artist?!"

  Deng Chengbin was frantic. Seeing his brother-in-law had already driven off, he hastily called for his subordinates to follow in another car.

  "That lunatic!" Jiang Yan stamped her foot in frustration before driving to the hospital as well.

  When Wu Jinyuan and Lin Yu arrived at the emergency room in a whirlwind, Li Haoming hurried over. At the sight of Lin Yu, he froze—he’d expected a young man, but this was *too* young.

  The little girl in the ER was deathly pale, her face, hands, and feet all waxen, her body barely twitching. The monitor showed her blood oxygen saturation had plummeted to 40%.

  Li Haoming sighed inwardly—in his eyes, the girl was already beyond saving.

  "Doctor, do you have any fine needles? I’ll need a few," Lin Yu said as he stepped forward to check the girl’s pulse.

  "You’re planning to use acupuncture? That’s... impossible, isn’t it?" Li Haoming was taken aback but quickly instructed a nurse to fetch the needles.

  Several internists in the room exchanged doubtful glances, privately scoffing at Lin Yu’s arrogance. Their hospital’s advanced equipment couldn’t diagnose the illness, and he thought a few silver needles would cure it?

  "He Jiarong! Do you have any idea what you’re doing?!"

  Jiang Yan and Deng Chengbin’s group had caught up. Jiang Yan stared coldly at Lin Yu—in her eyes, his pretense of medical knowledge was tantamount to murder.

  "Saving a life." Lin Yu’s voice was soft but firm.

  Jiang Yan was about to retort when Lin Yu suddenly stepped forward and took her hand. She stiffened slightly, feeling his palm warm—almost scalding.

  "Trust me." Lin Yu met her gaze, his voice gentle, though inwardly, he was panicking at the softness of her hand.

  Jiang Yan yanked her hand back, her cheeks faintly pink, the rest of her words dying in her throat.

  A satisfied smile tugged at Lin Yu’s lips as he discreetly palmed the red-string peach-pit bracelet he’d just slipped off her wrist.

  Once the nurse brought the needles, Lin Yu swiftly inserted them into the girl’s back at the Dazhu, Fengmen, and Feishu acupoints—all critical for respiratory function. But the girl’s real illness wasn’t there. These needles were partly to aid her breathing and partly to throw off observers.

  Next, Lin Yu needled the Quchi and Taichong points.

  As he worked, his hand hovered over the girl’s abdomen, silently reciting the Soul-Shattering Spell. His palm grew searingly hot, and a dark mist rose from the girl’s body, coiling around her.

  The girl let out a soft moan, then began breathing deeply, her complexion gradually returning to normal.

  "She’s better!"

  "Her breathing’s back!"

  "This is unbelievable!"

  The doctors outside who understood what was happening couldn’t help but cheer.

  Li Haoming was baffled—how had a few seemingly random needles cured such a bizarre illness?

  Wu Jianguo and his wife, along with the girl’s grandmother, wept with joy. Even the worldly Wu Jinyuan had tears in his eyes.

  Jiang Yan, meanwhile, stood stunned, staring at Lin Yu’s calm demeanor in disbelief. For a moment, she hardly recognized the useless man from her memories. Was this really him?