Chapter Fifty-Seven: Doubt

Passing through a stone path that felt like a dreamscape, surrounded by lavish buildings, Lu Hao finally entered the heart of the estate. Inside the enormous modern villa, which combined Western design with an air of Eastern mystique, everything blended seamlessly together—the pristine white floors, ceilings, and walls gave the impression of stepping into paradise.

There was not a trace of the mundane world here. If someone told him this was a movie set, especially for a film steeped in myth and fantasy, Lu Hao would not have doubted it for a moment. And yet, this was merely one of Shang Yunjie’s many residences.

“This place was specially renovated to help stabilize Miss Shang’s condition. It serves as both her sickroom and recovery suite. If you find it difficult to adjust, Dr. Lu, please forgive us,” said Miss Long.

Lu Hao was startled. What? This place wasn’t meant for everyday living—it was for convalescence? The lives of the wealthy were indeed “plain and unadorned.” He had never seen anything like this in his life. The estate was enormous, easily spanning over a thousand acres—used as a sickroom?

The last time, treating Miss Shang in the familiar setting of Peach Blossom Village Clinic, Lu Hao had felt no pressure. But now, standing in Shang Yunjie’s domain, his nerves tightened.

Miss Long led him to the third floor of the villa, stopping outside an elegant room. She placed her hand on the smart lock, ready to scan her fingerprint to enter. But before she did so, she turned and looked Lu Hao over with caution.

“Dr. Lu, before you treat Miss Shang, I must warn you about something.”

Lu Hao nodded. “Please, go ahead, Miss Long.”

“It’s just that Miss Shang is very upset about your treatment methods. Her mood isn’t good right now, so please be careful.”

As Miss Long finished speaking, the door suddenly swung open. Immediately, a vase flew out and smashed on the floor.

“You foreign devil! Get lost! If I listened to you, I’d have died eight times over!”

At that moment, a foreign doctor stumbled out, the vase shattering at his feet.

“God! God! Miss Long, I can’t treat your Miss Shang—her temper is too eccentric, she won’t even cooperate for examinations,” complained the blond, blue-eyed, bearded doctor in halting Chinese.

“I am the best dermatologist in all of Germany, and she doesn’t believe a word I say! It’s simply absurd!” The doctor, past fifty, yanked his stethoscope off and stormed away. As he left, Lu Hao noticed a conspicuous bump on the back of his head—clearly Miss Shang’s handiwork.

“So Miss Shang’s temper is so gentle and amiable…” Lu Hao wiped the cold sweat from his brow, recalling how boldly he’d scolded Shang Yunjie in the village clinic. He must have been truly fearless.

Miss Long addressed the departing German doctor, “Alright, Mr. Seth, if you can’t help Miss Shang, you may return home. Thank you for your trouble. You’ll receive your full fee, not a penny less.”

Then she opened the door a crack again.

Bang, bang, bang!

A pile of objects was thrown out—small stools, dolls, cups, pillows, and more.

Immediately, four or five young foreign nurses, clad in white stockings and nurse uniforms with matching caps, hurriedly pushed carts out. They seemed to have assisted the German doctor, but were forcibly evicted by Shang Yunjie.

These buxom, tall, golden-haired women, each with red lips and voluptuous figures, especially their busts that rivaled each other in size, still wore cheerful smiles. When they saw Lu Hao at the door, their eyes lit up and one exclaimed in broken speech, “Dragon Country little man?”

“Dragon Country little man, you look so good, I like you!”

Foreigners didn’t understand the subtlety of Chinese, so their words were blunt and unrestrained. Their exuberance and boldness made Lu Hao uncomfortable. As the group of nurses tried to approach him, Miss Long, somewhat helpless, hurriedly ushered them away.

“These foreigners are close with Miss Shang and don’t understand our Dragon Country culture. If they offend you, Mr. Lu, please don’t take it to heart.”

Lu Hao merely shook his head in response. Miss Shang couldn’t be truly bad, or else the nurses wouldn’t be laughing after having things thrown at them.

“Alright, Dr. Lu, please come in with me now,” said Miss Long, entering first.

She called out, “Miss Shang, Dr. Lu is here, waiting outside.”

“Oh? He’s here? Have her go out first, I need a moment to prepare,” came Miss Shang’s voice from within.

Lu Hao, about to enter, was held back by Miss Long. Two or three minutes later, Shang Yunjie’s voice called out again, “Come in.”

Lu Hao stepped inside.

Even as a sickroom, the space was vast, divided into six or seven sections. He made his way to the innermost chamber and opened the door.

There, sitting on the bed in pink pajamas, was Shang Yunjie. She was slimmer than before, likely due to her injuries.

Her neckline was drawn very low, displaying her most voluptuous side openly to Lu Hao. Like the snowy flesh of a pineapple, there was a sweet allure tinged with sensuality.

Miss Shang’s figure was exquisite—her curves graceful, hips and thighs rounded, calves slender—she had the proportions of a model.

Especially her delicate, beautiful feet, like sheep’s-fat jade, exposed and stunning.

Lu Hao gazed at her face and saw a flush on her cheeks. Her hair was styled in carefully arranged waves. Two crystal earrings hung from her lobes, highlighting the petite, fair beauty of her ears.

Her almond-shaped eyes, charming and full of emotion, glanced at Lu Hao, then quickly dropped, only to rise again to meet his gaze. There was a new allure about her.

“Dr. Lu, you’re here.”