Chapter 15: 15. Chapter 15

Chapter 15

Ten fingers vary in length; it is understandable that parents cannot always treat their children with perfect equality! However, Qin Yike felt that since they had raised them, they should be responsible for them and try their best to keep that scale balanced!

Qin Jianqiang and Wang Tiemei were both from working-class backgrounds and lacked much education, but as parents, they certainly hoped their sons would become dragons and their daughters would become phoenixes! In the hearts of this couple, their eldest son was exceptionally capable, wealthy, and talented, and had even produced a grandson—points that Qin Weiming could never match, no matter what.

In their minds, Qin Jingming was the very definition of excellence; they intended to rely on him to support them in their old age!

As for Qin Wenjing, there was even less to say. As their only daughter, she was their "little padded jacket," and as the only college student in the family, her social status was something Qin Weiming could not touch. Although Qin Wenjing was a married daughter, in the hearts of Qin Jianqiang and Wang Tiemei, she was perfect in every way, far superior to Qin Weiming.

What did Qin Weiming have? A wife from the countryside whose mother and brother were all troublemakers, and not even a son. He spent his whole life revolving around the kitchen stove; how could such a son ever amount to anything? Just mentioning him felt embarrassing!

In the eyes of the elder Qins, Qin Weiming was a failure.

Did Qin Weiming not know this himself? He wasn't a fool; could he not feel his parents' disdain?

But what could he do? They were his father and mother. Even if they looked down on him, what could he possibly do? If elders were unkind to their children, others might say something, but it wouldn't be too harsh; conversely, if children were unkind to their elders, outsiders would drown you in their spit.

"Dad, don't be sad. I'll go with you. I want to see if they actually dare to do anything to you."

Looking into his daughter's eyes, Qin Weiming was momentarily speechless. How much of a failure was he as a man that he now had to rely on his daughter to shield him from the wind and rain?

Qin Weiming went back to work. He had only taken a two-hour leave, and the lunchtime rush was approaching; he had to get back to stir-frying dishes.

Qin Yike had originally intended to sit in the small park for a while to pass the time, but then she received a call from an unknown number.

"Hello, is this Miss Qin Yike?"

A female voice. For some reason, it felt familiar, as if she had heard it somewhere before.

"It's me!" Qin Yike thought for a moment. "Who is this?"

"My surname is Bai. I visited your home before! Are you home? I have something I'd like to discuss with you."

Surname Bai!

Oh, she remembered. The daughter-in-law of that old man who had fainted! The woman who had come to her house before to find her and offer her things.

No wonder she sounded familiar!

But what did she want to talk about? Had something happened to the old man again?

"I'm not home. May I ask what this is about? Has the old man's condition worsened?"

"Oh, no, it's not that. Um, if it's convenient, let's meet. Some things are better discussed in person."

Qin Yike found it baffling. What was there to discuss? However, since she was idle anyway, meeting up didn't matter much.

"I'm at the Street Heart Park. If you insist on meeting, come find me there. I'm by the rockery."

Bai Yanhua immediately replied, "Wait for me. I can be there in about ten minutes." She hung up and said calmly to her driver, "Drive. Street Heart Park."

Bai Yanhua found Qin Yike quite easily.

"If you don't mind, please sit!" Qin Yike patted the other side of the stone bench. "What is this about?"

Bai Yanhua didn't bother with formalities and sat directly on the stone bench. She didn't look at Qin Yike, instead staring at the ducks on the surface of the distant artificial lake. "Fate is strange; sometimes it's just so inexplicable."

After saying this, Bai Yanhua turned to look at Qin Yike. "Hong Dexi is my son." She already knew the whole story.

No matter how resourceful Qin Yike was, she could never have imagined the world would be this small—so small that in just a few days, she had encountered three generations of the Hong family.

"Heh, so are you here to demand an explanation?"

Bai Yanhua shook her head. "I am here to thank you."

Oh?

She really hadn't seen that coming! It seemed she was actually a strict mother? If that were the case, how could she have let her son turn out so useless?

"You might not believe me, but we always thought Dexi was a good boy."

Qin Yike nodded, not knowing whether the woman believed her or not.

"My son isn't a bad person. It's just that our family circumstances improved a bit. Regarding his behavior outside, I know some things and I don't know others. I once thought those girls were just after his money, flocking to him one after another to marry him or gain some benefit."

At this point, Bai Yanhua couldn't help but sigh. "We were too busy and didn't manage him well. As a result, things ended up like this." Her voice carried a tone of self-reproach; she was clearly regretful.

But it was too late for regrets.

Qin Yike gave a light laugh. "What do you mean by telling me all this?"

"We are people of standing. In his situation, if he went to a hospital, it would certainly... be difficult to say."

"I understand. Reputation! But your Hong family is wealthy; I'm sure many private hospitals and clinics would be willing to treat him."

Bai Yanhua shook her head. "We wouldn't feel at ease."

"Then why did you come to find me?"

"I want you to treat him."

Upon hearing this, Qin Yike suddenly burst into laughter. "Mrs. Hong, that is a very funny joke."

"I am serious! Name your price!" Bai Yanhua displayed the shrewdness expected of a businesswoman. "I know this is abrupt, but I am coming to you with sincerity."

"I know the Hong family isn't short on money, but I am just a recent graduate! You think too highly of me! This kind of illness is a complex medical mystery; even experienced senior doctors might not be able to cure it, let alone me."

Bai Yanhua smiled slightly. "Ambition is not limited by age. You only had a brief encounter with my son, yet you dared to assert that he has this illness. This shows you have your own brilliance! Furthermore, you saved my father-in-law earlier. You called for emergency services before he even lost consciousness. Doesn't all of this prove something?"

This young girl was definitely not simple.

Qin Yike also smiled. "It makes sense that the Hong family could become the wealthiest in the county. At the very least, Mr. Hong has a capable wife!" She was impressive and very resourceful.

"Do you agree?"

Qin Yike remained silent.

"Five hundred thousand!" Bai Yanhua had come prepared. The Hong family was wealthy; as long as her son could be cured and the family's reputation preserved, she was willing to pay even more.

"If I may be so bold, how much did Mr. Hong agree to pay Qin Jingming?"

Bai Yanhua understood instantly. "One million!"

Qin Yike smiled. "Deal."

(End of Chapter)