Volume One, Chapter 10: Do Not Call Her Mrs. Ji
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Shu Xingruo never disclosed the diagnosis. She merely asked them to retrieve Gan Jinlian’s medical records. As she leafed through them, she saw that Gan Jinlian had suffered paralysis because a cerebellar hemorrhage had compressed her brainstem.
This was essentially the same as Shu Xingruo’s own diagnosis. The condition was extremely difficult to treat.
Shu Xingruo was far from certain of success.
“If the corticospinal tract has sustained permanent damage, even an immortal would be powerless to save her. If not, then acupuncture combined with medication and prolonged recuperation may offer some hope of recovery.”
Ji Guangtong was willing to give it a try. He asked Shu Xingruo, “How much will the treatment cost?”
“According to Xingzhi Hall’s rates, acupuncture costs one hundred per session, and prescribing a formula costs two hundred. You can purchase the medicine yourselves.”
Ji Guangtong had never expected that someone with such remarkable medical skill would charge so little. His favorable impression of Shu Xingruo deepened.
“Mrs. Ji, please treat my mother without worry. Even if she cannot recover, I won’t blame you.”
Shu Xingruo disliked being addressed as Mrs. Ji and corrected him. “Please don’t call me that. You can call me Miss Shu, or simply use my name.”
Ji Guangtong immediately understood. With Ji Yanli having cheated on her, it was only natural that Shu Xingruo would hate the title of Mrs. Ji.
Shu Xingruo then administered acupuncture to Gan Jinlian and prescribed her medicine. It took nearly two hours before she finished.
By then, it was lunchtime. Wei Ying and Ji Zhixu were already waiting for her at the resort restaurant.
After Shu Xingruo sat down, Wei Ying asked about Gan Jinlian’s condition.
“The old lady suffered a cerebellar hemorrhage brought on by complications from diabetes,” Shu Xingruo said. “I’m not completely confident that I can cure her.”
She looked at Wei Ying and urged her, “Mom, you really must eat fewer sweets.”
Wei Ying loved sweet foods and disliked exercise. Shu Xingruo had repeatedly urged her to cut back, but Wei Ying simply could not control her appetite.
In the past, Shu Xingruo had regularly prescribed dietary therapy for her, and Wei Ying’s health had remained quite good over the years.
Wei Ying smiled. “With you looking after me, I’ve always been healthy.”
Ji Zhixu leaned over and added, “Mommy is our guardian angel.”
They were still laughing when Wei Ying suddenly rolled her eyes.
Following Wei Ying’s gaze, Shu Xingruo saw Ji Yanli entering the restaurant with He Xin. He Xin had her arm looped through Ji Yanli’s, and she passed by Shu Xingruo with an air of arrogance.
Shu Xingruo did not even look at her. She lowered her head and placed some food into Ji Zhixu’s bowl.
Ji Zhixu glared fiercely at Ji Yanli. Ji Yanli paused mid-step, and He Xin quickly said, “Yanli, I want Australian lobster.”
“All right. Whatever you say,” Ji Yanli replied.
Then he strode away on his long legs.
Shu Xingruo treated the two of them as if they were invisible and continued eating in peace.
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Wei Ying let out a long sigh. She knew that Shu Xingruo had always been strong-minded. In her current state, their marriage would not last much longer.
After lunch, Shu Xingruo changed into casual clothes and took Ji Zhixu to the amusement park. It was filled with space-themed attractions, especially the simulated spacecraft cabin, which sent Ji Zhixu spinning around in excitement.
Shu Xingruo practiced the Eight Pieces of Brocade every day, so she was in excellent physical condition. She accompanied Ji Zhixu as he climbed up and down, playing with him for two whole hours. Mother and son had an immensely enjoyable time.
Ji Zhixu even asked the staff to take numerous photographs of them together. In the pictures, Shu Xingruo’s smile was radiant, and she looked both beautiful and gentle.
Even the staff praised them. “You two are easily the best-looking guests at the resort. And both the child and his mother have incredible stamina.”
Ji Zhixu said proudly, “Of course. My mommy is the most beautiful woman in the world.”
His sweet words delighted Shu Xingruo, and she blossomed with happiness. “You can’t praise yourself like that.”
After returning to their room, Ji Zhixu posted on his social feed:
“Had a wonderful time exploring the space amusement park with Mommy. It was just a little regrettable that Daddy wasn’t there!”
He attached a nine-picture collage, all of them photographs of mother and son together.
Ji Yanli saw the post while eating dinner. He was certain that Shu Xingruo had prompted their son to publish it, and he sneered at her behavior.
A cold laugh sounded in his heart. “Only a calculating woman like her would use her son as a tool.”
He would never fall for it.
After posting the message, Ji Zhixu waited a long time for Ji Yanli to respond. When no response came, he became so angry that he no longer even wanted to play on his tablet.
He hid on the balcony and called Ji Yanli. After composing himself for a moment, he finally spoke in a choked voice.
“Daddy, are you going to abandon me?”
Ji Yanli’s expression stiffened. “Why would you say that?”
“Mommy took me to the amusement park, but you didn’t come with us. Do you not love me anymore?” Ji Zhixu said, his voice thick with tears.
Ji Yanli coaxed him. “Of course I do. Daddy was busy today. I’ll take you out to play next time.”
“No! I’m sad today, so you have to make it up to me,” Ji Zhixu continued to sob.
“What do you want?” Ji Yanli asked patiently.
Ji Zhixu’s voice instantly brightened. “Send me a red envelope.”
Ji Yanli transferred one hundred thousand to him.
Ji Zhixu knew that Shu Xingruo was short of money, so he decided to ask his father for as much as he could, taking every opportunity to ease his mother’s burden.
When Shu Xingruo discovered the transfer on Ji Zhixu’s phone, she could only shake her head at her mischievous little boy. She had no idea how someone so young could be so cunning.
Fortunately, his heart was entirely devoted to his mother.
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The next morning, Shu Xingruo had to go treat Gan Jinlian, and it would be inconvenient to bring Ji Zhixu along.
Wei Ying had matters to attend to and had already returned home the previous evening.
After hesitating for a while, Shu Xingruo finally called Ji Yanli.
When Ji Yanli saw Shu Xingruo’s name on his phone, his brow twitched. She had not called him in a very long time.
He answered, and Shu Xingruo’s cold voice came through the phone.
“I have something to do this morning. Can you look after our son?”
Ji Yanli agreed without hesitation. “All right. I’ll come and pick him up. Give me your room number.”
After Ji Yanli took Ji Zhixu with him, Shu Xingruo carried her medical bag to Gan Jinlian’s room.
A man in a white shirt was sitting inside. He wore gold-rimmed glasses and had strikingly handsome features.
When Shu Xingruo entered, he rose and walked over. He looked her up and down, a barely perceptible trace of contempt in his eyes.
“So you’re the traditional Chinese doctor?”
Shu Xingruo was about to ask who he was when Ji Guangtong entered. He introduced them enthusiastically.
“Miss Shu, this is my nephew, Su Rongze. Rongze, this is Doctor Shu Xingruo.”
Su Rongze showed no warmth toward Shu Xingruo. He assumed that his uncle had hired some charlatan.
“I hope you’re not here to swindle us out of our money.”
Shu Xingruo replied calmly, neither humble nor overbearing, “Mr. Su, you look so well dressed. I never would have guessed you were so ignorant. Do you really think I would come all this way just to cheat you out of a hundred for acupuncture?”
“One hundred?” Su Rongze asked awkwardly.
Ji Guangtong shot him a glare. “Miss Shu is a genuine traditional Chinese doctor, not some wandering fraud.”
Shu Xingruo told Su Rongze and the others to leave. Once the door was closed, she began administering acupuncture to Gan Jinlian.
Gan Jinlian had already begun taking the formula Shu Xingruo prescribed the day before, but there was still no noticeable change.
Shu Xingruo remained uncertain in her heart.
After the acupuncture session, Ji Guangtong left to attend to some business, while Su Rongze waited in the corridor.
He asked Shu Xingruo, “How is my grandmother?”
She answered honestly, “For now, she’s still in the same condition.”
Su Rongze frowned. “Then what exactly have you been treating?”