As soon as Fang Jie and her daughter left, two burly men immediately closed the medical room door behind them. Old Peng, looking even more anxious than before, slumped down onto the chair in front of Guan Xing.
"Doctor Guan, you have to help me this time," Old Peng said, his voice filled with desperation.
Guan Xing's expression tightened. In Kyoto, if Old Peng couldn't handle something, it was likely no small matter. But why was Old Peng seeking his help? He was just a small-time doctor working for Feiyang Corporation. What could he possibly do?
"Old Peng, are you sure you've got the right person? What could I possibly help you with if you can't handle it yourself?" Guan Xing asked, his voice calm but laced with concern.
Old Peng gave a helpless smile, beads of sweat trickling down his forehead, which he didn't even bother to wipe off.
He spoke two words: "Godfather."
"You've offended him?" Guan Xing asked, his voice level.
Old Peng's face grew even more awkward, and he nodded sheepishly. "Sigh... Yun Tian is a top figure in Kyoto, a force to be reckoned with in both the legal and illegal worlds. But like all powerful people, he grew too proud, which led to trouble. You know, I'm not the supreme leader of Yun Tian, so there are things I can't control."
Guan Xing kept his eyes on the computer in front of him, not looking at Old Peng. "If you can't control things, why bother getting involved? You're getting older, and your health isn't great. Wouldn't it be better to just take it easy?"
"Doctor Guan, I would love to, but since that surgery, I've been in semi-retirement, mostly staying out of things. But this time, Yun Tian's people messed up big time. They intercepted a shipment belonging to the Godfather. There's no turning back now. The Godfather won't accept an apology, and a kill order has been issued."
Old Peng's voice cracked with frustration as he spoke, as if he could cry. The people involved were fools, grabbing anything they could without thinking. They didn't realize that the Godfather wasn't just a title—he was the head of the world's most powerful crime syndicate. Messing with him was tantamount to courting death.
"But I'm related to Yun Tian through marriage, and I can't just let them suffer because of my daughter. I have to step in and help him."
The Yun Tian Alliance was the dominant criminal force in Kyoto, while the Yun Tian Group was one of the top ten corporations in the city, wielding immense influence both legally and illegally.
Once Old Peng explained, Guan Xing quickly understood. Yun Tian must have intercepted this shipment thinking it was a routine black-market deal, but they didn't realize it was from the Godfather's network, which was a huge mistake. Now, it was clear: Yun Tian was in deep trouble, and Old Peng had to step in to try to clean up the mess.
But Guan Xing wasn't keen to get involved. His recent encounter with Qian Bao and the thugs had already made him wary of the underworld. The last thing he wanted was to get embroiled in the shady business of Kyoto's criminal syndicates.
"Old Peng, you've got the wrong person. I'm just a doctor. I'm good at what I do, but if you're looking for help in matters like this, you should go to the police. The law is fair, and people who do wrong should face consequences. Don't you agree?"
Old Peng stood up abruptly, his face filled with urgency. "Doctor Guan—"
Guan Xing stood up too, cutting him off with a smile. "Sorry, I can't help. You've done me two favors, and I'm grateful for them, so I'll return the favor if you need me to help with your health. But on this matter, you'll have to handle it yourself. Now, please, leave."
Old Peng looked at Guan Xing for a moment, then shook his head helplessly, as if realizing something. With a sigh, he nodded, and without saying another word, he turned and left. The six burly men followed closely behind.
As they left Feiyang, a large, burly man stepped forward and whispered into Old Peng's ear, "Old Master, this person doesn't know what's good for him. Should we teach him a lesson?"
Old Peng's expression shifted, and his eyes flashed like a blade. His previously slow and shaky body suddenly turned with lightning speed, and he slapped the man across the face with a force that made the air crackle.
"If you want to die young, keep thinking like that. With his connections to the Godfather, one word from him, and the entire Feiyang Corporation will vanish. Understand? Go back and tell Yun Tian's people to settle everything, and keep their eyes wide open."
The burly man was stunned, not expecting such a reaction. He quickly nodded in fear.
Old Peng didn't say another word. He turned and coldly instructed, "Go to Yun Tian Tower."
Guan Xing was still lost in thought, pondering what Old Peng had said. He wanted to ask more about the shipment—whether it was drugs or weapons—but he refrained from asking. The Godfather's organization only dealt in the most profitable commodities, and those two items were top contenders. Guan Xing had made it clear before that he didn't want drugs to be distributed in China, especially not from the Godfather's network.
But for fear of misunderstanding Old Peng, Guan Xing held his tongue. However, if it was drugs, he would have to deal with John and give him a proper lesson. It wasn't something Guan Xing wanted to see.
"Doctor Guan, are you okay?" The soft, hurried footsteps grew louder, and a fragrant scent filled the air. It was Hua Ruying, the elegant beauty who had clearly been dressing herself up more recently. Her delicate, pink cheeks were flushed, and her eyes sparkled with concern as she rushed in.
Hua Ruying had just encountered Fang Jie and heard that Old Peng had come to see Guan Xing. Without thinking twice, she rushed over to check on him.
Guan Xing felt his mood lift. Last night's passion had finally given him a sense of release from the pent-up desires of the past several months. Sun Yiran's charm was truly something that left him wanting more. But seeing Hua Ruying now, he couldn't help but feel a bit guilty. He knew she had developed feelings for him over the past few days.
If it weren't for the three accidental encounters, if Sun Yiran hadn't gone through her heartbreaking experiences, Guan Xing might have been more open to Hua Ruying. But now, it seemed like they were just ships passing in the night.
He forced himself to be calm, smiling at Hua Ruying as he stood up. "It's Manager Hua. I'm fine, thank you for your concern. Old Peng just came to ask me a few questions."
At that moment, Qin Yunlu's silhouette appeared. She wore sleek, black boots that accentuated her long, slender legs. Her flowing hair and fashionable suit highlighted her modern, city-chic style. Compared to Hua Ruying, she was more vibrant and spontaneous. As soon as she entered, she immediately asked, "Doctor Guan, I heard a bunch of black-suited men barged into the medical room. Are you okay?"
While she didn't express affection as Hua Ruying had, Qin Yunlu had already come to consider Guan Xing a friend.
Guan Xing laughed, his usual humor creeping in. "Don't worry, beautiful. Have you forgotten who I am? I can handle ten of them without a problem."
Qin Yunlu burst into laughter. "Pfft, so full of yourself. Alright, well, I'm glad you're fine. I just came to check. Now, the rest of the soft-hearted consolation can be left to our Manager Hua!" She gave a playful look at Hua Ruying before leaving.
By now, it was clear to Hua Ruying, Qin Yunlu, and the others: Guan Xing was with Hua Ruying, whether he acknowledged it or not. But if it weren't for Sun Yiran, Guan Xing might have thought so too.
Guan Xing's smile faded as his usual aloofness returned. Hua Ruying, though, sensed something was off. She opened her mouth to say something, but before she could, Guan Xing already spoke. "Manager Hua, it's nothing. You should return to work."
"Alright then, Doctor Guan. I'll leave you to it." Hua Ruying gave a warm smile, but as she turned to leave, a wave of sorrow flashed across her face. She realized, perhaps for the first time, that Guan Xing was deliberately distancing himself. The way he spoke to her now, compared to his easygoing conversation with Qin Yunlu, was clearly different.
Does he really not like me? Hua Ruying's thoughts spiraled, and in that moment, she couldn't help but feel a wave of sadness. Guan Xing hadn't even noticed the impact of his unintentional coldness.
The day passed quietly, filled with treating employees and chatting with Ning Ning. During lunch, Guan Xing even took Ning Ning and Fang Jie out, making up for Fang Jie's absence last time. The little girl, happy as ever, held onto Guan Xing's hand, calling him "Uncle" affectionately.
After lunch, Guan Xing bought Ning Ning a delicate doll. By the time they returned to the medical room, Ning Ning was still clinging to him, planting kisses all over his face. Several female