Chapter 6: I Am Already Engaged

Lin Yu sneered coldly; even at this point, Ding Chunqiu was still trying to deny it.

Su Ruoxi spoke in an icy tone, “Tell me, did Wang Wan deliberately send you here to harm my father?”

At these words, Ding Chunqiu’s face changed dramatically.

“This... This man was found by Young Master Wang, there shouldn’t be any problem...” Su Xuanhao’s face had turned deathly pale.

“I’m innocent!”

Lin Yu tightened his grip, making Ding Chunqiu gasp in pain.

“Speak the truth, unless you want both your hands crippled!” A ruthless glint flashed in Lin Yu’s eyes.

“Wait, I’ll talk, I’ll talk! I’m just a charlatan from the streets. Young Master Wang promised me a sum of money if I came, regardless of whether I cured anyone or not. Truly, Master Lin, I failed to recognize your greatness. Please, be merciful, I won’t dare do such a thing again.” Ding Chunqiu knelt at Lin Yu’s feet, begging for mercy.

With a thud, Su Xuanhao landed a punch on Ding Chunqiu’s face, sending blood spurting from his nose.

He cursed furiously, “You dog, you dare come to the Su family to harm my father? Don’t think you’ll leave here alive! Someone drag him away and chop him up for the dogs!”

“Bastard! You nearly hurt my family!” Perhaps one punch wasn’t enough for Su Xuanhao, for he rushed forward and began to rain blows and kicks on Ding Chunqiu, roaring with each strike.

The two bodyguards who had been seen at the door earlier entered the room and dragged Ding Chunqiu away.

“Young Master Su, spare me! Spare me!” Ding Chunqiu continued to plead as he was hauled off, but Su Xuanhao paid him no mind and let him be dragged away.

No one could say what fate would await Ding Chunqiu, but given the Su family’s status in Jinling, making him disappear forever would be a simple matter.

“Ruoxi.”

A feeble voice came from the sickbed—Su Tianteng had awakened.

“Dad, you’re all right now. I thought...” Su Ruoxi could not finish her sentence, tears streaming down her face as she threw herself at Su Tianteng’s bedside.

“Haha, look at you, crying like a little kitten. That’s not a pretty sight,” Su Tianteng teased gently.

Though his voice was still weak, his state of mind seemed good, as he spoke to Su Ruoxi with fond affection, even reaching out to gently wipe the tears from her face.

Seeing Su Tianteng safe and sound, the entire Su family was overjoyed; the shadows that had loomed over them vanished in an instant.

“Dad, this is the miracle doctor Lin Yu, whom I’ve told you about. He’s the one who saved your life!” Su Ruoxi, having composed herself, introduced Lin Yu.

“Doctor Lin, truly a hero in his youth. My life is yours, and if you have any request, speak it—I will do all in my power to fulfill it!” Su Tianteng struggled to sit up from the bed.

Lin Yu hurried to restrain him.

“Master Su, there’s no need for formality. Healing the sick is the duty of all who study medicine. You have just recovered from a serious illness; you must not strain yourself.”

At Lin Yu’s urging, Su Tianteng refrained from getting out of bed.

“I will now remove the silver needles,” Lin Yu continued.

Su Tianteng nodded and lay quietly. Lin Yu deftly removed the silver needles from his body, using each withdrawal to guide the flow of energy and further clear the patient’s meridians, enhancing recovery.

“How do you feel now?” Lin Yu asked after the last needle was withdrawn.

Su Tianteng’s face was radiant. “I feel a surge of strength within me. I even feel as if I’ve grown younger.”

“That’s right. Previously, the black blood had invaded your system. Now that it’s been expelled, your recovery will be swift. Moreover, I have cleared your meridians, removing lingering minor ailments. It is only natural you feel this way,” Lin Yu explained with effortless grace.

Suddenly, as Lin Yu finished speaking, Su Ruoxi knelt before him.

“Doctor Lin, as I said before, if you could save my father, I would serve you with all my heart, as a servant would a master.”

“Miss Su, please rise... This—” Lin Yu was startled by her sudden gesture.

“Well said, well said! You are indeed my daughter. In three generations of business, the Su family has always prized integrity and keeping our word. Since you have made a promise to Doctor Lin, it must be honored,” Su Tianteng exclaimed with pride. Growing more enthusiastic as he spoke, he declared, “Since Doctor Lin and Ruoxi are of similar age, and if Doctor Lin is not yet betrothed, why not seize this opportunity to form a blessed union? It would be a story for the ages!”

Lin Yu was taken aback, astonishment written all over his face. He had never imagined Su Tianteng would suggest such a thing.

The rest of the Su family were equally stunned.

“Father, my sister has suitors lined up all over Jinling. Isn’t this too hasty? Marriage is a serious matter, not something to be decided on a whim,” Su Xuanhao protested immediately.

Su Tianteng shot him a glare. “Doctor Lin is a young hero. To have him as our son-in-law would be the Su family’s good fortune. What do you know?” Then, smiling, he turned to Lin Yu, “Doctor Lin, what do you think?”

“This... This is rather inappropriate, I think.”

“What’s inappropriate about it?” Su Tianteng glanced at Su Ruoxi. “Or do you mean to say that Doctor Lin has no regard for Ruoxi?”

“Of course not. Miss Ruoxi is beautiful and... in every way admirable.”

“Ruoxi, do you have any thoughts or objections to my arrangement? The Su family has always valued our word—we do not make promises lightly,” Su Tianteng asked his daughter.

She could not have imagined her father would say such a thing, offering her hand to Lin Yu.

Su Ruoxi glanced at Lin Yu’s profile. On closer inspection, he was quite handsome; to have him as a husband might not be a bad thing.

Blushing deeply, she voiced her own feelings.

“Marriage is a matter for my parents to decide. I leave everything to you, Father, so long as Doctor Lin does not disdain me.”

Her words were equally astonishing.

Lin Yu looked at Su Ruoxi earnestly. There was no denying it: Su Ruoxi was a great beauty, a woman who would score ninety-eight out of a hundred. Her face was exquisite, her figure exceptional, and even in their brief acquaintance he could sense her fine character—a virtuous wife and loving mother in the making.

At that moment, their eyes met.

Those limpid, shining eyes—who could resist falling for them?

“If both parties are satisfied, what is there to hesitate about? The Su family hasn’t had cause for celebration in a long time. Let’s seize this opportunity and hold a grand wedding, the most splendid in all of Jinling, so that everyone will know the worth of my son-in-law,” Su Tianteng grew more excited, as if he would hold the wedding at once.

“A fine son-in-law! No time like the present. Let’s begin preparations tomorrow. What do you say?”

Helplessly, Lin Yu replied, “Thank you for your generous offer, Uncle Su, but I am already betrothed.”

“What? Is this just an excuse? Or do you really look down on Ruoxi?” Su Tianteng’s face darkened at once.

“Certainly not. Please don’t misunderstand, Uncle Su, Miss Su. I do have a prior engagement—my fiancée is Xu Qingcheng of the Xu family.”

Seeing that Su Tianteng was about to organize his wedding with Su Ruoxi, Lin Yu had no choice but to reveal the whole truth.