Chapter Thirty-One: Does Removing the Stitches Not Hurt?

Mo Cai noticed something was amiss and said, “Young Master... A-Liu was just fine a few days ago.”

Yu Hualiang held A-Liu in his arms and asked, “What’s wrong? Is it a headache?”

A-Liu nodded, “I’m so tired... I just want to sleep.”

Yu Hualiang quickly draped a cloak over A-Liu’s shoulders, bent down in front of him, and said, “Come on, I’ll carry you to see the doctor.”

A-Liu refused with a smile, “Hualiang... I’m just too tired, that’s all...”

“No, you’ve already slept for half a day! You must be ill. Come on.”

Mo Cai couldn’t stand it anymore, “A-Liu, just listen to the Young Master.”

“But Hualiang, what about your injury?” A-Liu asked worriedly.

Mo Cai thought for a moment—this young master had just recovered, and if he relapsed, the Seventh Prince would surely take his life! Why did he suddenly think of the Seventh Prince?

“Young Master, let me do it.”

Mo Cai carried A-Liu on his back, with Yu Hualiang following behind. The three hurried out of the residence, found a carriage, and Yu Hualiang instructed, “Take us to Doctor Wang’s house!”

The driver looked confused, “Which Doctor Wang?”

Mo Cai knew whom Yu Hualiang meant and added, “Doctor Wang Hao.”

The driver understood and soon drove them there.

Doctor Wang’s house was not called Wang Mansion, but Ji’an Hall.

Yu Hualiang questioned the driver, “Did you bring us to the wrong place?”

Mo Cai, embarrassed by Yu Hualiang, explained, “Young Master, Doctor Wang’s ancestral home is outside the city, but he currently resides in Ji’an Hall.”

The driver gave him a look as if he were mentally deficient before leaving. Yu Hualiang sighed; every time he dealt with carriage drivers, nothing good ever happened...

Fortunately, two pharmacy assistants at the entrance quickly led them into the courtyard.

“Please, this way, sir...” The assistant guided Yu Hualiang and his companions inside. Ji’an Hall was quite large, resembling a modern hospital, with various clinics inside.

All patients first passed through the main hall, where the chief doctor would assess their condition and direct them to the appropriate clinic.

Yu Hualiang found the main hall oddly familiar... Wasn’t that Doctor Wang’s son?

Wang Ruosheng looked up, surprised to see Yu Hualiang, and upon noticing the patient carried by Mo Cai, he stood up and said, “Xiao Wu, call Qin Shuo to help with the main hall. I’ll see to this young man’s illness myself.”

For the first time, Yu Hualiang was glad to have acquaintances in the hospital. He followed Wang Ruosheng, quietly expressing his thanks.

Wang Ruosheng led them to a room, examined A-Liu, and asked, “Have you eaten anything unusual?”

Yu Hualiang wondered if it could be food poisoning, but that was impossible—they all ate the same food.

A-Liu shook his head, “Just a headache, and tired... Nothing else.”

Yu Hualiang said worriedly, “Yes, he’s been sleeping half the day and still isn’t better.”

“Don’t worry, his body is not seriously affected. This condition resembles the aftereffects of taking sleepless medicine.”

Sleepless medicine? Isn’t that just a sleeping pill? Could A-Liu have taken it because he feared insomnia?

A-Liu said, “I haven’t taken any sleepless medicine.”

Wang Ruosheng was surprised, “That’s odd. Did you sleep well last night?”

Mo Cai remained silent... Yu Hualiang anxiously watched A-Liu, who replied, “I slept fine.”

Wang Ruosheng was about to ask if Yu Hualiang had put him in a room with strong odors when he suddenly noticed the red marks on Yu Hualiang’s neck and coughed dryly.

Yu Hualiang, puzzled by his reaction, asked, “Doctor Wang... What’s wrong?”

Wang Ruosheng’s cheeks flushed slightly, “It seems this young man has no major issues; a few days’ rest should suffice.”

Yu Hualiang was about to thank him when Wang Ruosheng suddenly patted his shoulder, and Yu Hualiang understood everything. He turned to explain, “Hey! Don’t misunderstand, it’s not what you think!”

“Mm... I won’t inquire further into your affairs, Yu Hualiang. I only treat illnesses, and the young man’s condition is not serious,” Wang Ruosheng replied.

Yu Hualiang smiled wryly—his explanation only made things worse. But, truth be told, everyone knew he preferred men.

And he really was too close to A-Liu.

Seeing Yu Hualiang so dejected, Wang Ruosheng laughed and asked, “The young man is fine, but Yu Hualiang... you’re still wounded, and the stitches should be removed.”

Remove stitches? Yu Hualiang touched his abdomen and seriously asked, “Will it hurt?”

Wang Ruosheng replied helplessly, “No.”

A-Liu looked at Yu Hualiang with guilt, “I was thoughtless, Hualiang is still injured...”

“It’s fine, as long as you’re alright,” Yu Hualiang replied casually.

Mo Cai was used to their displays of affection, but poor Wang Ruosheng had to endure this toxic dose of romance.

He laughed, “Yu Hualiang, take off your shirt.”

A-Liu suddenly perked up. Yu Hualiang sensed his unusual gaze and raised his hand, “Mo Cai, help A-Liu outside to wait.”

Mo Cai carried a reluctant A-Liu out. Yu Hualiang quietly undressed. Wang Ruosheng chuckled, “Why so shy, Yu Hualiang?”

“Who’s shy? Just be gentle, Doctor!”

Wang Ruosheng saw that Yu Hualiang was quite slim, his skin delicate as jade, almost like a woman, with prominent bones—he must have lost weight from his recent illness.

The wound had healed fairly well, though the initial stitching had left a rather fierce scar on his abdomen.

When Wang Ruosheng touched his skin, Yu Hualiang flinched and, upon looking up, saw his eyes tightly closed. Wang Ruosheng laughed, “Don’t be afraid, Yu Hualiang. Relax.”

Yu Hualiang tried to relax as instructed, but he developed a phobia of Wang Ruosheng.

Who said removing stitches didn’t hurt!

After a while, Yu Hualiang was helped out by Wang Ruosheng, looking aggrieved. Wang Ruosheng said, “It really doesn’t hurt...”

Mo Cai quickly supported him, and A-Liu helped as well, worried, “Hualiang, are you alright?”

Yu Hualiang gritted his teeth, “I’m fine...”

“Brother Yu!”

Yu Hualiang recognized the familiar voice and turned to see the elegant Ji Yuyun and the smiling Ji Yuzhe.

This fellow had brought his younger brother out again!

“What a coincidence, running into you here, Brother Yu.”

Sorry, Yu Hualiang did not appreciate such coincidences at all. He smiled, “Just a minor illness, came to check it out.”

“That’s good... Have you seen Doctor Wang? I heard he went out on a call this morning,” Ji Yuzhe looked around.

“Brother, let’s wait for him,” Ji Yuyun said, leading his brother to a quiet spot, as heart patients indeed needed peace.

Wang Ruosheng smiled, “If you don’t mind, would you let me examine you?”

Ji Yuzhe asked curiously, “Are you a doctor as well?”

“I am... Anything wrong with that?” Wang Ruosheng replied.

Ji Yuzhe shook his head, “I’ve never seen a doctor as handsome as you.”

“Brother...” Ji Yuyun couldn’t take it anymore and pulled Ji Yuzhe behind him, saying, “This doctor is too young. My brother’s illness is rather special. We’d better wait for Doctor Wang.”

Doctors aren’t always experts from the start; one shouldn’t only trust veterans and never give newcomers a chance. Besides, Yu Hualiang owed his life to Wang Ruosheng, knowing his medical skills were indeed superb.

“Actually, this young Doctor Wang is Doctor Wang’s son. He treated my injury, and his skills are quite good. You could give it a try,” Yu Hualiang spoke up for him.

Two sharp gazes bore into him, making it hard to breathe. Ji Yuzhe seemed oblivious to how fierce his brother was.

Yu Hualiang always felt this younger brother was a bit overprotective.

“Young master, you may let me examine you. I’ll diagnose, but won’t prescribe medication.”

Wang Ruosheng’s words met Ji Yuyun’s sharp gaze, but Wang Ruosheng stared back unafraid, earning Yu Hualiang’s admiration.

He quickly surrendered and slipped away, “We’ll head back then. Goodbye, Doctor Wang. Goodbye, Ji brothers.”

Ji Yuzhe tugged at him, “Brother Yu, you must visit our house someday. I’ll prepare good wine...”

“Brother, you can’t drink.”

“Then good tea... You must come, Brother Yu.” Ji Yuzhe was like a man henpecked by his wife, eager to invite a friend home to bolster his courage.

Ji Yuyun threatened with his gaze, urging Yu Hualiang to agree. Not one to court disaster, Yu Hualiang nodded, “Certainly, certainly.”

After Yu Hualiang left, Wang Ruosheng led Ji Yuzhe into a small room. Ji Yuyun watched Wang Ruosheng’s every move warily, fearing he might steal Ji Yuzhe away.

Wang Ruosheng took Ji Yuzhe’s pulse, “Hmm... Do you sometimes feel short of breath, with a rapid heartbeat?”

Ji Yuzhe nodded, “Yes.”

“When startled or emotionally unstable, does it get worse?”

“Exactly.” Ji Yuzhe’s eyes lit up.

“Your pulse is unstable and your qi and blood are deficient. It seems you’ve been ill for a long time, but your recuperation has been good.”

Ji Yuzhe looked suddenly at Ji Yuyun and smiled, “That’s all thanks to my younger brother.”

The iron-hearted Ji Yuyun’s face flushed slightly. He looked away, saying, “Brother, don’t be so formal. This is what I should do.”

“In a couple of years, you’ll come of age, marry and have children, and should do the same.”

“I’ll wait for you, brother. If you don’t marry, neither will I,” Ji Yuyun said resolutely.

Ji Yuzhe smiled wryly, “Silly brother.”

Wang Ruosheng advised, “Young master, best not to dwell on such sorrows, lest your condition worsen.”

Hearing this, Ji Yuzhe smiled again, “I won’t think about it, I won’t.”

“May I see the prescription my father wrote?”

Ji Yuzhe took the prescription from Ji Yuyun and handed it to Wang Ruosheng. Seeing Wang Ruosheng carefully studying it warmed Ji Yuzhe’s heart, and he felt completely at ease.

While reviewing the prescription, Wang Ruosheng noticed Ji Yuzhe’s increasingly pale hands and was struck by inspiration—perhaps adding another herb would better treat his condition.

“Doctor Wang?” Ji Yuzhe asked, noticing his distraction.

Wang Ruosheng looked up and met a pair of pure, limpid eyes that made one feel intoxicated. His heart raced, and he quickly lowered his head, silently wondering, “Can heart disease be contagious?”

Ji Yuzhe sensed something was wrong and asked, “Doctor Wang, are you alright?”

Wang Ruosheng dared not meet his gaze, looking elsewhere, “It’s nothing, I just suddenly remembered something.”

“Doctor Wang, I advise you not to dwell on it, lest it delay my brother’s treatment...” Ji Yuyun said coldly.