"Rainbows can be eaten?" Qian Xiao asked, surprised, his mouth agape.
Xu Lai glanced at him. "You can’t eat them, so don’t you try any later. They’re all for my girl."
Qian Xiao was dumbfounded.
Wow, Uncle Xu, you must be the devil, deceiving even kids!
A minute later, Qian Xiao and Xu Yiyi were each holding a colorful lollipop, their faces brimming with blissful smiles.
There were thousands of delicious clouds to be found, but a fascinating rainbow was one in a million.
With just one bite, seven different flavors burst simultaneously in the mouth. One couldn’t help but marvel, how could a rainbow taste so good? The soft and chewy flavor was yellow, the sour one was green, the sweet one was orange, the salty one was blue...
"Boo hoo hoo... Uncle Xu, have you ever eaten a rainbow?" Qian Xiao wept as he ate. "This tastes like first love!"
Xu Lai was speechless.
You said the same thing the last time you ate clouds. Besides, why are you so emotional about first love? Can’t you just be a normal kindergartener?
Xu Lai spent a little more time with the two children before heading off to work at Dongli University.
In the infirmary, Li Shouzhong and the other two new doctors were incredibly dedicated and earnest. They arrived early every day and were always the last to leave. Li Shouzhong was practically living there day and night, all for the chance to discuss medical arts with Xu Lai. This led Liu Nanwei and Zhou Feng to marvel at the same thought. A medical fanatic is a terrifying thing! ᴛʜɪs ᴄʜᴀᴘᴛᴇʀ ɪs ᴜᴘᴅᴀᴛᴇ ʙʏ Nov3lFɪre.ɴet
Xu Lai was also getting a headache. As soon as he walked in, he felt the intense gazes of Li Shouzhong and his colleagues. Although they were silent, their silence was sometimes even more unbearable.
Alright, fine. I’m afraid of you fanatics.
Shaking his head, Xu Lai simply told them to gather Lin Qiu and the others so he could lecture and answer their questions in the university’s large auditorium.
As the sun set, another fulfilling day came to an end. For him, it had been a day spent entirely lecturing about medicine.
Li Shouzhong and the others watched Xu Lai leave reluctantly before plunging into a heated discussion. Xu Lai’s medical theories were simply too advanced, and his techniques were incredibly progressive. They stood in stark contrast to the relatively conservative medical practices of the day.
Just the theory of ’altering human genetics with medicine’ was enough to stun the world.
It could... change the world!
The following days were exceptionally tranquil, and Xu Lai thoroughly enjoyed the slower pace of life.
Of course, Ruan Lan was very unhappy, because she had received a phone call from her eldest uncle, Ruan Qingshan.
"Ruan Lan, your sister has tarnished the family’s reputation, and now you have too! You’re a disgrace to the Ruan Family!"
"Uncle, what do you mean?" Ruan Lan asked, her voice tinged with dissatisfaction.
"Are you staying at Haitang Court?"
Ruan Qingshan was seething. Two days ago, his son, Ruan Jin, had been swindled out of 200,000, thinking he could stay at Haitang Court for a day. Instead, his scheme backfired, and he ended up at the police station. The past two days had felt like an eternity for them, and by the time they left, they felt utterly humiliated. After all, they considered themselves elites of high society, where reputation mattered. Moreover, their family had been fiercely berated by the patriarch, Ruan Su.
"How did you know?" Ruan Lan was a bit surprised. She had never told anyone she was living in Haitang Court.
"I saw it with my own eyes!" Ruan Qingshan said angrily.
The phone was on speaker, and Ruan Su, Ruan Yinshan, and the others were all listening in.
While Song Ru felt jealous, she couldn’t help but say bitterly, "Ruan Lan actually managed to live in Haitang Court? She must be the Eighth Master’s mistress!"
Realization dawned on Ruan Jin. No wonder. No wonder the Fang Family suddenly canceled the arranged marriage. No wonder the Eighth Master of Liu City rallied the major wealthy families to besiege the Ruan Family. It turns out Ruan Lan hooked up with the Eighth Master... He even bought her a 500 million yuan mansion!
A wave of envy, jealousy, and hatred washed over them.
Ruan Jin couldn’t help but say sarcastically, "Second Uncle, Second Aunt, you really have impressive methods of raising a child."
Ruan Yinshan’s expression turned grim.
Meanwhile, Zhu Fen’s eyes flickered. Although she felt humiliated, she didn’t think her daughter had done anything wrong. As long as her daughter seized this opportunity, it wasn’t impossible for her to become his official wife.
Listening to the various sarcastic remarks on the phone, Ruan Lan lost her temper too. "Is Ruan Jin’s mom nuts or something? She’s the mistress! Her whole family are mistresses!"
"You!" Song Ru was so angry her nose was practically crooked.
"Ruan Lan, how can you speak to your aunt like that!" Zhu Fen was secretly thrilled, feeling a sense of triumph, but she kept a stern face and scolded, "Apologize right now."
"Those who insult others will always be insulted themselves," Ruan Lan replied coolly. "Besides, Haitang Court is the house my brother-in-law bought for my sister. That’s all. I’m hanging up."
Could the Eighth Master have taken a fancy to Ruan Tang?
Everyone was confused again.
Ruan Jin whispered, "This ’brother-in-law’... could he possibly be... Xu Lai?"
The room fell into silence.
Ruan Qingshan was the first to shake his head, sneering, "That guy is clearly just some poor kid. Never mind paying five hundred million in full, it would be flattering him to think he could even cough up five million."
"Yes," Song Ru, who also didn’t believe it, added, stoking the flames. "Dad, whether it’s Ruan Tang or Ruan Lan, they moved into Haitang Court and didn’t even notify us... They’re clearly looking down on our family."
Ruan Su remained silent.
Seeing her father-in-law’s expression, Song Ru’s lips curled into a smile. "Dad, I don’t mean anything else. I just feel that, since they bear the Ruan name, they shouldn’t forget their roots, whether they make it big or not, right?"
"That’s right," Ruan Su nodded.
"Perfect timing. In a week, it’s your seventieth birthday. Let the sisters come back, bow their heads, and admit their mistake. Then we can forgive them."
Song Ru had her own little scheme in mind. That was Haitang Court, after all! She wondered if it was registered under Ruan Tang’s or Ruan Lan’s name. If it was, they could find a way to transfer it to the Ruan Family. Then, when her husband Ruan Qingshan or her son Ruan Jin became the Family Head, wouldn’t it all be theirs?
"It’s settled then," Ruan Su said gravely. "Yinshan, you’re responsible for informing them."
"Father, they’re both very stubborn. I’m afraid..."
Before Ruan Yinshan could finish, he caught his father’s icy glare, and the rest of his words died in his throat. He hurriedly added, "I... I’ll do my best."
Ruan Lan tossed her phone aside and flopped onto the sofa, grumbling, "Sister, our eldest uncle’s family knows we live here now. They’re definitely scheming against us again."
Ruan Tang had firsthand experience of her eldest uncle’s family’s greed. After her last visit to the Ruan residence, her heart had been completely broken, and she no longer had any desire to return to the Ruan Family.
She replied calmly, "I have nothing to do with them anymore."
"That’s easy for you to say," Ruan Lan pouted. "You can be merciless toward Grandpa and our eldest uncle’s family, but what about Mom and Dad?"
Ruan Tang fell silent.
Xu Lai chimed in at the right moment, "Iron Plate Starfish, Sautéed Sea Deer, Steamed Kunpeng Egg, Roasted Phoenix... The food is ready, let’s eat!"
"Brother-in-law, I’m not trying to criticize you, but these dish names are way too fancy," Ruan Lan muttered, but she was quicker to wash her hands and get to the table than anyone. She chuckled, eyeing the dishes, feeling ecstatic about getting to freeload every day.
"Too fancy?" Xu Lai took off his apron and smiled. "You can always choose not to eat. Don’t force yourself."
Ruan Lan pretended not to hear and picked up a piece of fish with her chopsticks. Her eyes narrowed into happy slits.