Reborn in the 1970s — Married a Proud Rough Man

”Young Master Qiao?” Qin Mei’s eyes flickered. She asked, ”Is he from the Qiao family?”

”Scared now? He’s the eldest son of the Eldest Young Master of the Qiao Family’s second branch.” The doctor’s voice was smug and triumphant.

Qin Mei’s brow furrowed slightly. Her cool voice dripped with sarcasm as she said, ”Yes, I’m so scared. You all seem busy, so I won’t get mixed up in this.”

Qin Mei put away her silver needles, deciding not to wade into these muddy waters. If she saved the man, the family’s second branch wouldn’t thank her. If she failed to save him, they would come looking for trouble.

She wasn’t about to do a thankless job.

The doctor watched Qin Mei’s breezy departure, then glared at the nurse beside him and demanded, ”Who hired her into our hospital?”

”I don’t know.” The nurse felt wronged.

”You’re the one who dragged her over here. How could you not know?” The doctor’s expression was grim.

The nurse, feeling guilty, stammered, ”I...”

Qin Mei took off her mask and started unbuttoning her white coat as she walked, almost bumping into someone head-on.

”Eldest Young Madam.” Dean Zhang was quite surprised to see Qin Mei. His gaze was a little odd as he looked at the white coat she was wearing.

Qin Mei had met him before. He was the Qiao Family’s family doctor. She smiled slightly. ”Doctor Zhang.”

’Her maternal grandparents called him Xiao Zhang, but she couldn’t just follow their lead and call him that too. It would be too impolite, especially since he was her mother-in-law’s senior.’

”Eldest Young Madam, are you at the hospital to see your nanny?” Dean Zhang asked with a smile.

’That wasn’t it at all. Qin Mei had thought Jie Jingchen brought her to the hospital to see Doctor Zhang, but it turned out he’d brought her to see that young man.’ Qin Mei forced herself to nod.

”Did you see her?” Dean Zhang asked again.

’See her? She didn’t even know which room the nanny was in.’ Qin Mei gritted her teeth. ”I got separated from Jie Jingchen.”

”Xiao Chen came to the hospital too?” Dean Zhang wasn’t surprised. Jie Jingchen had specifically asked him to look after a special patient. The person’s injuries weren’t serious, but the location of the wound was a bit awkward.

Whether it was stitching, applying medicine, or changing dressings, he had done it all himself.

’He’d left his white coat in that person’s room. And now, by the looks of it, Jie Jingchen’s wife was wearing it.’

”Mhm,” Qin Mei nodded.

”I know where he is. I’ll take you to him,” Dean Zhang said.

”Okay, thank you, Doctor Zhang,” Qin Mei said gratefully.

”Eldest Young Madam, don’t be so formal. I’m the Qiao Family’s family doctor, and also your mother-in-law’s senior.” Dean Zhang’s smile was warm and kind. Yan Qiu couldn’t stop praising this daughter-in-law’s medical skills.

’To be able to cure Xiao Shan’s leg... even their teacher would probably have to admit her skills were superior.’

”Doctor Zhang, you don’t have to call me Eldest Young Madam. Just call me Qin Mei,” Qin Mei said with a smile. ’He’s my mother-in-law’s senior and calls Jie Jingchen ’Xiao Chen.’ It’s too inappropriate for him to call me ’Eldest Young Madam.’’

”Alright then. You don’t have to call me Doctor Zhang, either. Xiao Chen calls me Uncle Zhang.” The more Dean Zhang looked at Qin Mei, the more he liked her. ’No wonder my junior is so pleased with this daughter-in-law.’

”Uncle Zhang.” ’She thought she remembered Jie Jingchen calling him something slightly different, but this was fine too.’

The two chatted as they walked, until Dean Zhang pushed open a hospital room door. Qin Mei saw Qin Xiang lying face down on the bed and froze, stunned. Sitting by the bed was Brother Xiong, a burly, rough-looking man who was currently peeling an apple with a fruit knife.

When Qin Xiang saw Qin Mei, he also couldn’t quite react. ’Didn’t she leave? Why is she back again?’

Qin Mei felt terribly wronged. It was like she had just managed to escape the wolf’s den, only to be led right back to it after a short walk.

’It was all her fault for trusting Doctor Zhang too much. He led the way, and she followed. Didn’t he say he was taking her to find Jie Jingchen? How did he end up bringing her to the young man’s room?’

Hearing the door open, Brother Xiong stopped peeling the apple and turned to look at the entrance.

Qin Mei reacted quickly, pulling on her mask and tugging at the hem of Doctor Zhang’s coat.

”Dean Zhang.” Brother Xiong put down the half-peeled apple and stood up, walking toward Dean Zhang.

’Qin Mei was a bit surprised. He was actually the dean? On second thought, considering her mother-in-law’s status, how could her senior be just an ordinary doctor at the hospital?’

”Brother Xiong,” Dean Zhang also greeted him politely.

’Brother Xiong had brought Qin Xiang to the hospital, yet Jie Jingchen had instructed him to give the patient special care. Jie Jingchen hadn’t told him what their relationship was. Since Jie Jingchen had never asked him to give special treatment to any patient before, this person’s relationship with him was definitely not trivial. Naturally, he paid close attention.’

’However, he was puzzled. Brother Xiong was in the underworld, and the Qiao Family had influence in both the criminal and legitimate worlds, so it wasn’t strange for Jie Jingchen to have dealings with Brother Xiong. What he found strange was that both Jie Jingchen and Brother Xiong were very anxious about the patient before him.’

’Dean Zhang suddenly became curious. What exactly was this young man’s identity?’

”Dean Zhang, are his injuries okay?” Brother Xiong was very respectful toward Dean Zhang. For people like them who lived on a knife’s edge, other hospitals wouldn’t dare treat their injuries. But Dean Zhang dared. He was bold yet meticulous, and tight-lipped.

’Otherwise, he wouldn’t have dared to bring Young Master Qiao’s injured male pet to the hospital for treatment so openly.’

Dean Zhang glanced at Qin Xiang, who was lying face down on the bed, and said to Brother Xiong, ”It’s nothing serious. He can be discharged after a few days in the hospital.”

”Will it leave a scar?” Brother Xiong asked. Seeing Dean Zhang looking at him with a strange expression, Brother Xiong quickly explained, ”Dean Zhang, don’t get the wrong idea. He belongs to Young Master Qiao.”

’Dean Zhang frowned imperceptibly. Xiao Chen’s person, placed by Brother Xiong’s side... the implications were terrifying to consider!’

Qin Mei used Dean Zhang’s frame to hide herself, while Qin Xiang buried his head in his pillow, not daring to glance at Qin Mei, afraid that Brother Xiong would notice something was amiss.

”Where’s Young Master Qiao?” Dean Zhang asked.

”He left,” Brother Xiong replied.

Dean Zhang didn’t ask any more questions. He gave Brother Xiong a few instructions on how to care for the patient, then left with Qin Mei.

Qin Mei breathed a sigh of relief. She followed behind Dean Zhang, and when they reached a corner, Dean Zhang suddenly stopped, forcing Qin Mei to brake to a halt.

Dean Zhang turned, his gaze complex as he stared at Qin Mei. After a moment of deliberation, he asked, ”Xiao Mei, do you know Brother Xiong?”

Qin Mei froze for a second, then thought for a moment before replying, ”We’ve met.”

”Do you know him well?” Dean Zhang asked again.

”Not well.” Qin Mei shook her head. That was the truth.

”Has he taken a liking to you?” Dean Zhang only asked so directly out of an elder’s concern for a junior.

”Huh?” Qin Mei was bewildered. When she thought of Room 209, words failed her.

”You’re afraid of seeing him.” It wasn’t a question from Dean Zhang, but a statement.

’Isn’t that obvious?’ Qin Mei thought to herself. ’I even put on a mask. If I weren’t afraid of seeing him, why would I wear one?’

Qin Mei rubbed her nose and said with a serious expression, ”If he recognized me, it would ruin Jie Jingchen’s plans.”

’Dean Zhang was taken aback for a moment. This girl was really honest. By saying that, she had undoubtedly sold out Jie Jingchen.’

Dean Zhang smiled. He didn’t press for details, but said to Qin Mei with great solemnity, ”Xiao Mei, stay away from Brother Xiong. He’s not a good person.”

”Thank you for the reminder, Uncle Zhang. I’ll remember that.” Qin Mei nodded obediently.

’Dean Zhang’s eyes filled with approval. The young lady understood with just a hint. She was a perceptive person.’

Unable to find Jie Jingchen, Qin Mei decided to leave the hospital. She didn’t take off her mask, but she did take off the white coat and hand it to Dean Zhang. ”Uncle Zhang, I borrowed this white coat from that patient’s room just now. I don’t know whose it is. Could you please help me return it? I expect someone will be looking for it soon.”

Dean Zhang couldn’t help but laugh out loud. He took the white coat and put it on. ”It’s mine.”

”...” Qin Mei was mortified.

’She had the feeling that she’d been parading around the hospital in his white coat, dragging him along with her to swindle people.’

Qin Mei felt she should explain. ”Um... the situation was urgent, so I took the liberty of borrowing your white coat.”

”HAHAHA.” Dean Zhang was amused by her. ’Jie Jingchen’s wife is truly adorable.’

Jie Jingchen was looking for Qin Mei. Hearing Dean Zhang’s laughter, he followed the sound and found Qin Mei with Dean Zhang. His eyes flickered slightly. ”Meimei, Uncle Zhang, what are you two doing here?”