RYEY -Chapter 489 Public Exam (4)

Early the next morning, Wu Hongxin sat in the courtyard, watching clouds roll across the sky, his mind at the Medical College auditorium. He couldn’t attend personally, or he’d have taken Cheng Qiao home immediately.

“Someone, bring Li Huan up here.”

“Yes, sir.”

The orderly turned, only to run into Yao Peng, who was already looking for trouble. Hearing Wu Hongxin wanted Li Huan brought up, he grew wary.

“Old Wu, why bring this man here? Planning to hold him hostage to coerce Cheng Qiao into the special department?”

“You old fool, what are you doing here so early? I’m inviting Li Huan for a meal—he’s my granddaughter’s future father-in-law.”

Yao Peng said nothing, but the corner of his mouth curled in sarcastic disdain. One can fool oneself, but it’s laughable to speak it out loud.

Wu Hongxin felt a sting from Yao Peng’s tone—it was infuriating. After all these years, this old man still couldn’t leave him alone.

“Fine, I’ll wait here and see what you’re up to.”

“I’m inviting him for a meal.”

“Oh? Even a stingy old rooster is willing to pluck a feather. You don’t mind if I join too?”

“I do mind. Of course I do.”

“Then I’ll just wait for your meal…”

The two old men shot each other a glare before setting up their chessboard, bickering and scheming to pass the time quickly.

—

Li Huan was meditating at home, about to break through his sixth movement. These movements were incredibly complex—simple on paper but extremely difficult to execute.

When he exhaled his final breath, sweat drenched his body. Unlike normal sweat, it was whitish and frosty, lowering the room’s temperature.

“Good thing my wife left me hot water.”

Li Huan’s room had a large stove with a big pot on top, heated by coal. The pot contained “space water,” maintained at sixty degrees Celsius.

He immersed himself in the special iron pot. Anyone watching would be shocked—someone actually trying to cook themselves!

The cold body met the hot water, and Li Huan exhaled, relaxing fully. The water’s heat instantly cooled but, thanks to extra coal, it quickly heated up again. Golden light from the water entered his body, dispersing the white energy in his dantian.

Feeling ready, Li Huan climbed out, dried off, and dressed. Only then did he hear voices outside.

“Fu Bo, who’s there?”

Fu Bo had been Ye Jun’s loyal gatekeeper. After the Ye family fell, he returned to his hometown, only to be spurned by relatives. He then came here on a whim and, by luck, became the Ye family’s gatekeeper again.

Upon hearing knocks, he saw several soldiers—Wu Hongxin’s trusted aides—come to fetch Li Huan. Knowing his condition, they patiently waited until he appeared.

“Comrade Li Huan, General Wu requests your presence.”

“I’m picking up my wife, no time.”

“Comrade Li Huan, your wife is taking an exam and cannot be disturbed. Also, General Wu said he has something good for you.”

Li Huan frowned. He didn’t want Cheng Qiao joining any special department, but for now, she was under the protection of Hu Lata and Hantong. It was a difficult choice.

“I want to wait and go together with my wife after her exam.”

The two soldiers exchanged a glance. One stayed behind to wait, while the other went up the mountain to report. Before reporting, he first stopped by the school auditorium to inquire about the situation—he couldn’t just go there knowing nothing.

These service soldiers naturally had their own sources of information. After getting firsthand news, respect showed in their eyes, and they hurriedly went up the mountain to report.

“They’re back. Where’s Li Huan?”

“Reporting, General. Li Huan insists on coming together with Cheng Qiao. We cannot force him, so we are reporting to you first.”

“Oh, any news today?”

“Yes. Of the twenty patients yesterday, fifteen have already recovered. The remaining five should recover today and can leave by tonight.”

“Cheng Qiao really is Cheng Qiao. I knew she was capable. How are the twenty patients today?”

“Reporting, General. Today’s twenty patients all have various tumors or advanced-stage cancers. Cheng Qiao said that if given six months, she could cure them all.”

“Really?”

“Originally, Cheng Qiao said late-stage cancer was untreatable. But the principal told her that these patients were all scientists, writers, decorated veterans, or family members of martyrs.

These people contributed so much to the country, yet were left to suffer with illness, with no one able to save them. Only after learning this did Cheng Qiao say she needed six months to cure them.”

“That’s wonderful. Truly the child I have confidence in. Since Li Huan insists on waiting for Cheng Qiao, let them go together. Issue the orders. Today, I, Old General Wu, will host a banquet for guests.”

The service soldier saluted and left, muttering to himself, “Wow, a banquet for guests… Although it’s not the highest honor, the people General Wu invites can be counted on one hand.”

Yao Peng exhaled deeply. He supported Ye Chengying; Cheng Qiao should be protected, not sent into some special unit. But now, it seemed too late. He wondered what attitude Li Huan would take.

Li Huan leisurely put on his clothes, greeted Uncle Fu, and rode his bicycle to the Traditional Chinese Medicine University. A service soldier followed at a cautious distance—it was his mission to ensure Li Huan got up the mountain today.

Li Huan, familiar with the route, entered the auditorium backstage and sat beside Ye Jun, recounting what had just happened.

Ye Jun tensed, stood up, and was about to go find Ye Chengying—but Ye Chengying had already received the news and rushed over.

“Brother, sometimes it’s luck, sometimes misfortune is unavoidable. We knew this outcome long ago. Even if you’re far away, it doesn’t mean you’ve returned to where you started.”

Ye Jun took a deep breath, saying nothing. This matter was for Cheng Qiao to decide herself; he was just her master and could not determine her future.

Cheng Qiao did not know that Li Huan and Ye Chengying had also arrived. Her eyes fell on an elderly woman across from her—she recognized her. It was the lady on the train she had diagnosed with stomach cancer.