Chapter Nine: Qin Zhiqiu

Old Master Luo sat upright, his expression stern and dignified.

“Grandfather, you’re awake?” Luo Qiuyu cried out, her hand covering her mouth in astonishment.

Everyone turned toward the voice, their eyes wide with disbelief and amazement. The old master’s recovery was a slap in the face to all present, but none more so than Zhu Yaotang, whose face now bore a look of utter despair, as if his soul had left him.

Ye Cheng—this insignificant son-in-law—had truly cured the old master? Then what did that make him, Zhu Yaotang, the so-called divine doctor? His woman, his reputation—he had lost them all!

“Thank you, Ye Cheng,” the old master said. Though he had just awakened, he had not lost consciousness during his coma and was well aware of all that had transpired.

“It was nothing, sir. You aided me in my hour of need; it was only right I should repay you.” Ye Cheng’s tone was calm as he continued, “You know what happened today. I came to bid you farewell. There is no longer any place for me in the Luo family.”

“Who says so?” The old master’s expression turned grave, his gaze stern as it fell upon Luo Qiuyu. “Qiuyu, aren’t you going to apologize to Ye Cheng? You and your sister conspired to frame him today—what utter nonsense!”

He paused, realizing his granddaughter was unmoved by authority, and his tone softened in persuasion. “Do you know who Ye Cheng truly is? I have invested so much effort behind the scenes to bring you two together. Why can’t you understand my intentions? Trust me—marrying Ye Cheng is the best choice for you.”

“Grandfather, I will never marry this good-for-nothing!” Luo Qiuyu retorted loudly. “Ye Cheng has eaten our food, used our resources, and turned our family into a laughingstock throughout Liuzhou. I refuse to marry him! If I must marry, I’ll choose someone like Young Master Zhu. He is recognized as a first-class physician by the Yanxia Medical Association and is the future heir of the Zhu family. He’s a thousand times better than Ye Cheng! I would sooner be blind than choose Ye Cheng!”

“Why can’t you see reason?” the old master exclaimed, his heart wrung with pain and disappointment.

“Grandfather, the one who can’t see reason is you. Ye Cheng is worthless—no one in this world would marry him unless she was blind!” Luo Qiuyu scoffed coldly.

“I think you’re the blind one. If you won’t marry him, I will!” A woman stepped in from outside, her hair tied in a simple ponytail. She had a flawless, pure oval face, and her black fitted leather attire accentuated a stunning figure—the very definition of perfection. No man could resist her beauty.

At that moment, her gaze toward Ye Cheng was filled with affection.

“You… you’re Qin Zhiqiu!” Zhu Yaotang was the first to cry out, unable to believe his own eyes.

Zhu Yaotang was a man with an eye for beauty, but he knew his limits. A woman like Qin Zhiqiu was far beyond his reach—not merely because of her beauty, but because she was the heiress of the Qin family, standing even higher than Qin Siyuan. She was a woman entirely out of his league.

The others soon recognized her as well, their eyes wide with shock.

Qin Zhiqiu!

It was truly her!

Qin Zhiqiu, the most beautiful woman in Liuzhou!

And such a peerless beauty was competing to marry Ye Cheng? Meanwhile, Luo Qiuyu despised him and wanted him out of the family!

Heavens! This was madness!

Could it be that Luo Qiuyu truly was blind, unable to see Ye Cheng’s worth? Or was it Qin Zhiqiu who had lost her senses?