TRWSB – Chapter 49 A Good Deed a Day

Sensing that Qi Shaorong wasn’t dangerous, Furong peeked out from behind Zhuang Ling, curiously observing him. As Qi Shaorong met the innocent gaze of the young girl, a hint of softness crept into his heart.

Qi Shaorong reached out, gently tilting the girl’s chin. Startled, she grabbed his hand and retreated several steps as if frightened.

Suddenly, the little girl began coughing again. Seeing how severe it was, Zhuang Ling’s expression grew tense.

Qi Shaorong extended his hand, tapping lightly on a few acupoints on the girl’s body. Her gut-wrenching cough stopped abruptly.

“Furong, how do you feel?” Zhuang Ling asked anxiously.

The little girl blinked her wide eyes, looked at Qi Shaorong curiously, and said, “I feel much better.”

Standing upright, Qi Shaorong said, “Instructor Zhuang Ling, I’ll be leaving now.”

Zhuang Ling nodded. “All right.”

Shortly after Qi Shaorong left, Sun Lin returned to the office after class.

“Mother!” Furong ran toward Sun Lin.

“Furong, are you okay? Are you still coughing?” Sun Lin asked.

“I’m fine now. A young man pressed a few spots on me, and I feel much better,” Furong replied.

Sun Lin turned to Zhuang Ling with a puzzled expression. “Did someone come by?”

“I called Qi Shaorong to discuss his situation. Since arriving at the academy, he hasn’t attended any classes,” Zhuang Ling explained.

“This Fourth Young Master Qi is no ordinary person,” Sun Lin said with a mysterious smile.

“What do you mean?” Zhuang Ling inquired.

“I saw him in the advanced library section earlier. Even the areas open to instructors are limited, but he had access to the restricted section there. Those books were written by practitioners who went astray. While they hold some value, their content often teeters between being beneficial and harmful. Few at the academy have clearance for that section. After investigating, I discovered the principal granted him the highest level of access,” Sun Lin explained, her tone tinged with envy.

“How is that possible?” Zhuang Ling exclaimed in surprise.

“Didn’t you know? I later found out that Qi Shaorong spent 100,000 gold coins to purchase reading rights for the advanced section. Who knows where he got that kind of money? While the Qi family is wealthy, most of the money is controlled by the older generation. Qi Shaorong is still so young,” Sun Lin added.

Zhuang Ling fell silent. While 100,000 gold coins was a fortune to ordinary people, it wasn’t much for an unscrupulous physician. Those in the trade had unparalleled money-making skills.

“Let’s not dwell on that,” Sun Lin said, shifting the topic. “Zhuang Ling, do you have any leads on the infamous healer?”

Zhuang Ling pondered for a moment. “I’ve thought of a way to contact him. I’ll do my best.”

Hearing this assurance, Sun Lin beamed with joy. “Thank you so much, Instructor Zhuang Ling!”

By the time Qi Shaorong returned to his residence, Qi Shaofu and Qi Shaoru had already left.

“Young Master, you’re back?” Qi Heng greeted.

Qi Shaorong nodded. “Yes. You don’t look so good—what’s wrong?”

Qi Heng hesitated before replying, “There’s been some trouble. Word has spread that the infamous healer is keeping you as his ‘companion.’ Now, everyone at the academy knows about your relationship with him!”

“Oh, is that so?” Qi Shaorong said nonchalantly as he sat on the sofa, fanning himself. “Although gossip spreads fast, the speed this time suggests someone’s deliberately fueling it.”

Qi Heng nodded. “That’s true. I’ve investigated—it was your sister.”

“That girl really doesn’t know how to behave,” Qi Shaorong said with a sneer. “She likes Zhuang Hao, and an opportunity to ruin the infamous healer’s reputation is too tempting to pass up. Besides, she’s always hated me.”

“Young Master, I’ve also heard that your father is very displeased about this arrangement,” Qi Heng added.

“Qi Yao values his reputation above all else. Having a ‘useless’ son already embarrasses him. Now that this ‘useless’ son is rumored to be kept by someone, his face will be utterly disgraced. If I’m not mistaken, I’ll soon be kicked out of the family,” Qi Shaorong mused, lounging on the sofa.

“Do you think that will really happen?” Qi Heng asked curiously.

“Who knows?” Qi Shaorong shrugged.

“By the way, Young Master, what did Instructor Zhuang Ling want from you? Was it about Zhuang Hao?” Qi Heng asked, still wary of Zhuang Ling after discovering Qi Shaorong’s true identity.

“It wasn’t about Zhuang Hao. It was about a young girl with tuberculosis,” Qi Shaorong replied.

“Tuberculosis? Is it treatable?”

“It’s treatable, but it’ll take perseverance. The girl’s mother has already spent all her savings on quack doctors. She doesn’t have much left. Well, I’ll treat her—it’s a good deed for the day, I suppose,” Qi Shaorong said with a tinge of regret.

“Young Master, doing good deeds will earn you gratitude from others,” Qi Heng suggested.

Qi Shaorong rolled his eyes. “What’s the point of gratitude? It’s not like I can eat it.”

Qi Heng fell silent.