In contrast to Luo Xiu, Li Zihan was perfectly composed and showed no signs of awkwardness.

She walked over and extended her hand, smiling. "Mister Luo, I didn't expect we would meet again so soon."

"Haha... This must be fate." Luo Xiu chuckled dryly and reached out to shake her hand.

Li Jiuzhen, who was beside them, looked on curiously. "Judging by the way you two are, did you know each other before?"

"Yes, Grandpa. Mister Luo is my—"

Before she could finish, Luo Xiu quietly pinched her, signaling her not to continue.

If Li Jiuzhen knew that he, the great and mighty Great Healer Luo, had to go to a men's clinic... would he have any face left?

"Ahem, Teacher Li, let's continue our discussion," Luo Xiu said, changing the subject. "Regarding that matter of selling medicine you mentioned, I think it's worth a try."

The discussion lasted until sunset.

In the end, Luo Xiu and Li Jiuzhen agreed to establish a pharmaceutical company. As for the necessary documents and licenses, they could just ask He Dang Gui to handle it.

"Young friend Luo, it's already time for dinner. Why not come to my place for a meal before you go back? I mentioned it to Han Han before she left and told her to prepare a few extra dishes."

Luo Xiu didn't stand on ceremony and smiled. "Then it would be rude to refuse."

Li Jiuzhen's home wasn't far from Wan Yao Hall, just a five or six-minute walk away.

The old man's residence wasn't large and was a bit dated, but it was kept neat, tidy, and impeccably clean. In the small courtyard, a fountain trickled endlessly.

Li Jiuzhen led Luo Xiu to the side of a small pond, saying with a hint of pride, "Young friend Luo, let me show you something special."

Curious, Luo Xiu smiled. "I'm looking forward to it."

With a mysterious expression, Li Jiuzhen found a bamboo pole from somewhere and used it to push aside the lotus leaves floating in the pond.

Luo Xiu glanced over and froze.

Soaking in the water was a large, shimmering, gelatinous object. It was blood-red and slightly translucent, like a faceted ruby.

"Is this... Taishui?" Luo Xiu asked, startled, turning to look at Li Jiuzhen.

Li Jiuzhen laughed heartily, stroking his beard. "You have a good eye, young friend, a very good eye indeed!"

"Blood Jade Taishui," Luo Xiu said. "It's a true rarity. This piece of yours, Teacher Li, I estimate it's worth tens of millions."

Li Jiuzhen said generously, "If you like it, it's yours!"

But Luo Xiu shook his head. "A gentleman does not take what others cherish."

"Alright then. I was just joking, anyway."

Hearing this, Luo Xiu's mouth twitched, and he was left speechless.

Li Jiuzhen continued, "I couldn't bear to actually give it away. I've been raising it since it was small, for several decades now. When I pass on, I plan to leave it to Han Han, and she can continue to pass it down."

Just then, Li Zihan, wearing an apron, came up behind them. "What are you two muttering about over here? Dinner's ready!"

Luo Xiu turned around and exchanged a smile with her.

With her apron on and her hair pinned up, she looks just like a virtuous housewife, he thought. He couldn't help but recall how she was at the hospital. The difference is just too vast; she's like a completely different person.

When they sat down at the table, Luo Xiu couldn't help but marvel inwardly at the spread of dishes before him.

As expected of a family of physicians; even the food is full of medicinal ingredients. There's yam and angelica beef soup, Chinese yam stewed with hen, stir-fried daylilies with cured meat... the selection is endless. Even the plain white rice has a few goji berries in it. This is practically a medicinal feast. That said, Li Zihan's cooking is truly amazing.

"Young friend Luo, please, start eating. Try Han Han's cooking. Don't be polite at all, just treat this place as your own home."

Li Jiuzhen's words were somewhat redundant. When it came to eating, Luo Xiu was never shy; he picked up his chopsticks and dove right in. Perhaps because of how infectiously enthusiastic Luo Xiu was when he ate, Li Jiuzhen also ate quite a lot that night.

After the meal ended, they chatted for a while. It was already past nine in the evening when Luo Xiu headed back.

「At the entrance of the Sea City Riviera Villa District.」

Luo Xiu opened the car door and said to Li Zihan, "Doctor Li, thanks for the ride."

"It's no trouble. I was going this way anyway." Li Zihan gave Luo Xiu a playful wink. "Luo Xiu, we should keep in touch. After all, your type is hard to find. I'd hate to lose contact with you just like that."

Luo Xiu gave a dry chuckle. "Aren't you afraid your husband will find out?"

"So what if he finds out." Li Zihan rolled her eyes. "Who knows if he's fooling around overseas. The fact that I haven't come home with another man's child is already doing right by him."

Luo Xiu waved his hand. "Alright, you should head back. Get some rest."

...

As Luo Xiu leisurely returned home, he sensed something was wrong the moment he stepped through the front gate.

His heart sank, and he immediately ran into the living room.

The next moment, he froze.

In the spacious living room, Sun Li, Su Shanyue, Xu Qianqing, and Wu Xin lay motionless on the floor.

Luo Xiu rushed over to check on them and found that they had only been knocked unconscious. He breathed a sigh of relief.

But then his nerves tensed up again.

Where's Lin Xiyue?

"Lin Xiyue!" Luo Xiu shouted.

He searched all over upstairs but found no sign of her.

As he was about to leave a room, he suddenly noticed a piece of paper on the door. It was pinned firmly in place by a single leaf. Luo Xiu took the paper down and saw it only had a phone number written on it.

It was then he realized someone had broken into his home and abducted Lin Xiyue.

But they took Lin Xiyue and still left a way to be contacted. This must be aimed at me. And if it's aimed at me, then Lin Xiyue should be safe for now, because they haven't achieved their goal yet.

With this in mind, Luo Xiu took out his phone and dialed the number without hesitation.

A moment later, the call connected.

"Luo Xiu, I thought you'd be hiding like a scared little turtle." A voice Luo Xiu knew all too well came through the phone.

It was Cao Hong.

Suppressing the rage in his heart, Luo Xiu said coolly, "Kidnapping someone from my home... Cao Hong, you've got guts. I'll say this only once: not even God himself can save you this time."

Cao Hong scoffed. "Heh, who are you trying to act tough for?"

"Hick, if you have the guts, come to the outskirts alone. Right now! I'll send you the exact location immediately!"

"I'm fucking asking you if you dare to come!"

Luo Xiu hung up.

Before long, he received the location info from Cao Hong, along with a short video.

In the video, Lin Xiyue was tied to a tree with her clothes in disarray. Cao Hong's scarred face loomed in front of the camera, sporting a ferocious grin.

"Hick, I'm giving you half an hour. If you're a minute late, I'll strip Lin Xiyue naked and let my brothers have a good time."

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