Chapter 716: Chapter 619: Endless Pestering

Tang Haocheng trusted his father to look after his mother, so he never gave Wu Xiaowen his address or phone number from abroad. However, he would write her letters periodically to say hello and give her a brief update on his life. Because of this, Wu Xiaowen knew Tang Haocheng was about to return to the country, which meant Xiao Man would once again have to deal with her pestering.

Because Wu Xiaowen and Lin Aizhen were constantly harassing her at school, Xiao Man had once set up an Avoidance Talisman against them. However, talismans have an expiration date, and it was impossible to be on guard at all times. Wu Xiaowen and Lin Aizhen hadn’t appeared for a long time, and Xiao Man had assumed they’d gotten scared, tired, or simply seen reason and would never bother her again. The peace had been refreshing. But then she suddenly spotted the mother and daughter walking arm in arm across the Medical College campus. Xiao Man highly doubted they were there to see anyone else, so she altered her course to keep her distance. Who would have thought that the very next day at De Ren Hospital, she would see Wu Xiaowen again? The woman had registered as a patient and was now sitting right in front of her. Xiao Man was instantly and utterly exasperated.

Wu Xiaowen looked more haggard than before. She had lost a significant amount of weight, and her expression was doleful and pitiful. Xiao Man sneered inwardly. ’Did she get herself into this state for Bai Lihua? How deeply devoted. Too bad Bai Lihua doesn’t give a damn about her. He must have loved her sincerely enough when they were young, but the moment disaster struck, he decisively abandoned her to marry another. Now, in middle age, Bai Lihua claimed he couldn’t forget his old flame and started hooking up with Wu Xiaowen. Wu Xiaowen actually went and got a divorce, but Bai Lihua just stayed true to form. He didn’t marry his old lover. Instead, he chose someone who could help him secure greater benefits. He didn’t even tell Wu Xiaowen he was getting married. I heard from Luo Chunxiang that Bai Lihua’s new wife is already pregnant.’

Sometimes Xiao Man felt she just couldn’t figure Wu Xiaowen out. ’Wasn’t she so shrewd around Tang Qingyun, always full of schemes? How did she become so brainless—so unbelievably stupid—whenever Bai Lihua was involved? Was it because of Tang Yaxuan? Did Tang Yaxuan give her wisdom and strength? What a joke!’

The thought of Wu Qin, back at the Mo Family Courtyard in Gongdao Village, still fantasizing that Bai Junfan would ride in on a colorful cloud to marry her, made Xiao Man feel sick.

Wu Xiaowen felt awful seeing Xiao Man’s cold, detached expression. The girl took her pulse and asked questions in a rigid, professional manner, acting as if they were complete strangers. But Wu Xiaowen had learned her lesson this time. Remembering her mother’s warning, she cooperated, quietly listening to Xiao Man’s health assessment. Xiao Man explained that she didn’t need medication; she just needed to rest, cultivate peace of mind, avoid overexertion, and eat some nourishing foods to recover gradually. Wu Xiaowen, however, complained of a poor appetite and frequent dizziness, asking the doctor to prescribe some kind of restorative tonic.

Other patients often made similar requests, so Xiao Man wrote out a prescription for a mild tonic. She handed it to Wu Xiaowen and told her to get it filled at the hospital’s pharmacy.

But Wu Xiaowen didn’t leave. Her eyes welled with tears as she gazed at Xiao Man. "Manman, let Mom keep you company while you work. We can have lunch together in a bit, okay?"

The people waiting in line behind her were stunned. A moment ago, it had seemed like a normal interaction between a doctor and a patient. How had they suddenly become mother and daughter?

Xiao Man beckoned the next patient forward and spoke to Wu Xiaowen in a frigid tone. "This is a hospital, and I’m on the clock. I need to concentrate on my work and be responsible for my patients. Your consultation is finished. Please stop joking around and leave."

The one who walked over and sat down was an older woman. Upon hearing Xiao Man, she immediately glared at Wu Xiaowen. "Doctor Xiao Tang is highly skilled, famous, and approachable. Everyone wants to claim a connection to her, but you can’t be like this! The first thing you say is that you’re her mom? In that case, I’d like to be her grandma! That’s enough! If your appointment is over, hurry up and leave. All of us back here have been waiting for half the day, and her shift is almost over. Stop making a scene and wasting everyone’s time!"

The people in the long line outside began to speak up. Some condemned her, others jeered. A few hot-tempered individuals even shouted to call hospital security and have the disorderly woman dragged out. Xiao Man was worried that Wu Xiaowen was about to start screaming that she was her biological mother, determined to make a huge scene before she’d leave. Instead, Wu Xiaowen just shot Xiao Man a resentful glare, lifted her chin, and strode away on her high heels.

Xiao Man couldn’t help but be surprised, but she had no time to dwell on it. There were simply too many patients to see today. She was already overwhelmed and would likely have to work through lunch.

By afternoon, Xiao Man had finally finished up. She changed her clothes, put on her backpack, and prepared to head back to school. The moment she stepped out of the duty room, she saw Wu Xiaowen and Lin Aizhen blocking the doorway. Behind them stood Sun Yiming, who gave her a helpless shrug.

Wu Xiaowen wore a stiff smile, but Lin Aizhen’s eyes were brimming with affection. She said with a grin, "Manman, dear. Grandma and Mom didn’t want to bother you while you were working. We specifically waited for you to get off your shift. We came today to share some good news with you!"

"If you’re here to tell me Tang Haocheng is coming home, don’t bother. I already know." Xiao Man shot them a cold glance and tried to sidestep them.

Wu Xiaowen quickly blocked her way. "Manman, there you go being disrespectful again! Your... your superior is right here! Why don’t you ask Yiming if he would dare treat his own mother and grandmother like this?"

Xiao Man’s eyes widened as she glared at her. "I have my own mother and grandmother. Who are you to stand here pointing fingers and questioning my manners? In that case, I’ll ask you to inquire with Mr. Sun Yiming: just how do *his* mother and grandmother treat *him*? You and the lady next to you need to stop your incessant pestering and harassment. It’s incredibly annoying, you know? What you two should really be doing is some soul-searching—ask yourselves if you’re even qualified to be someone’s mother and grandmother!"

Once again caught in the crossfire, Sun Yiming could only look at Xiao Man, not knowing whether to laugh or cry. He wanted to leave but felt it would be improper, so he just stood there, trying to make himself invisible.

Wu Xiaowen looked on the verge of tears. "Manman, how can you be like this? You’re so cold and heartless!"

"I don’t want to be. I told you a long time ago not to come near me. You insist on bringing this humiliation upon yourselves, so I’m just obliging. I’m in a decent mood today, so I won’t hit you. Otherwise, you might end up with bashed and bleeding heads, which would be convenient since you could get patched up right here at the hospital before you go."

Wu Xiaowen suddenly seemed to remember Xiao Man’s bizarre abilities—how she had not only hurt her without mercy but had also made her mute on several occasions. Her face instantly turned pale, and her lips trembled as she stumbled backward. Lin Aizhen signaled to her not to be afraid, implying that Xiao Man wouldn’t dare try anything in public with so many people around. But Wu Xiaowen still didn’t dare approach Xiao Man. Lin Aizhen’s eyes darkened, and she gave her daughter a sharp pinch, frustrated by her cowardice.

Seeing that the two sides had finally fallen silent, Sun Yiming quickly interjected, "This hallway is quite busy, and other doctors need to use the duty room. Why don’t we all head downstairs? Or we could talk in my office?"

"That won’t be necessary. I’m not close with them, and we have nothing to say." Xiao Man tightened the straps of her backpack and strode forward.

"Manman, wait!" Lin Aizhen couldn’t help but shout. She pinched Wu Xiaowen again, dragging her along to catch up with Xiao Man. Sun Yiming shook his head and followed them as well.

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