Free Web NovelChapter 242: Chapter 242: Anomaly at the Clinic, Refusing to Let Her Go
Prince Yong said dejectedly, "I think it can still be used if I clean it up."
After a long wait.
Tao Wanxin said softly, "Prince, you can return it to me after you’ve cleaned it."
Zhao Minghong’s eyes lit up.
*
The moment Ji Qingwu stepped into the medical clinic, she staggered back in surprise, almost thinking she had entered the wrong place.
She retreated outside and looked up. It was indeed her clinic.
Ji Qingwu re-entered. The room was filled with greenery and the scent of flowers, and she couldn’t help but sneeze.
Holding a handkerchief to her nose, she walked to the counter and said, "Manager Mi, what’s with all these flowers and plants?"
She looked around, counting at least thirty pots within her line of sight, and guessed, "Did Miss Mo buy all of these? Didn’t we say just a few green plants would be enough?"
A few days ago, they had discussed improving the clinic’s environment, and the task of buying flowers and plants for decoration had fallen to Mo Lingling.
Mi Zhenchuan was also baffled. "Miss Mo hasn’t come in today," he said. "I thought you were the one who ordered these flowers, Fifth Missy."
’Mo Lingling isn’t back yet?’
Ji Qingwu furrowed her brow. She had entrusted her to Duan Mingfeng last night and had completely forgotten about it.
’But if she had the skill to get in, she should be able to get out.’
Ji Qingwu walked closer to the pots for a better look and noticed something strange. Although the flowers were of various colors, they were all the same species.
Those broad, glossy green leaves—weren’t they thousand-year-old orchids?
Ji Qingwu didn’t even need to think to know whose handiwork this was. But before she could grumble a few curses in her mind, his voice sounded from behind her.
"Doctor, what took you so long? I’ve been waiting for you all morning."
Ji Qingwu turned around to see Wei Ting, a carefree smile on his face.
She hadn’t seen Wei Ting yesterday, but she’d heard from Duan Mingfeng that he’d had a drinking contest with Emperor Wu Su. Yet, his face showed no trace of a haggard, hungover appearance.
On the contrary, he seemed even more dashing and full of spirit.
He wore a brand-new robe, white with an indigo collar embroidered with plum blossoms and bamboo. His hair was held up by a jade coronet, and every single strand seemed exquisitely styled, clearly the result of meticulous grooming.
Standing in the doorway, he was like a cluster of graceful Xiu Bamboo, unadorned by flowers or vines—elegant and extraordinarily refined.
Just like when she first met Wei Ting years ago, he looked every bit the cultured gentleman.
But Ji Qingwu was no longer the naive person she once was. She had experienced Wei Ting’s frivolous and reckless side in private.
She no longer dared to see him as the same upright gentleman he had seemed before.
Mi Zhenchuan had also heard the street-corner gossip. Everyone was saying that General Wei and the Ji Family’s Fifth Missy once had a romance, but because of Madam Wei’s disapproval of the marriage and talk of celestial omens...
...the two lovebirds were cruelly separated and had no choice but to part ways.
Mi Zhenchuan cleared his throat and said pointedly, "Fifth Missy, a shipment of goods arrived this morning. Should I sort it now, or wait until tomorrow?"
Ji Qingwu said, "Manager Mi, you can stay right here and continue with your accounts."
Wei Ting had no objection to this. He smiled and asked, "Doctor, do you like these thousand-year-old orchids?"
He recalled, "I remember you once picked a uniquely colored one for me in the desert. It was the most vibrant flower I’ve ever seen."
How could Ji Qingwu not remember?
When she picked that flower, she had fallen into quicksand.
She had tucked the small flower into her robes, but it was crushed to pieces when she fell from her horse. By the time it reached Wei Ting’s hands, it was barely different from mud.
’How could it have been vibrant? Wei Ting must be misremembering.’
Ji Qingwu didn’t want to reminisce with him. "Is this all you came to say, General Wei? If you’re done, you can leave."
Wei Ting took the White Jade Flute from his waist and brought it to his lips.
"I also remember you once practiced a Love Song for me. But the Konghou was too difficult, and you never mastered it. How about this? To return the favor, I’ll play a song for you today on my flute, Doctor."
Mi Zhenchuan’s hands slowed as they moved the abacus beads.
Ji Qingwu said awkwardly, "Manager Mi, why don’t you go upstairs and sort the goods for now. I’ll call you if I need anything."
Soon, only the two of them were left in the main hall on the first floor.
Wei Ting walked in and said, "Are you wondering why I know you practiced the Konghou, even though you never played the Love Song for me?"
Their memories of the past were completely different.
Not wanting to give him the satisfaction, Ji Qingwu said mockingly, "I was just wondering if General Wei has too much time on his hands after his recent demotion, that he has to dig up such old, trivial matters."
Seeing the light in her eyes as she spoke, Wei Ting’s smile grew even brighter.
"Back then, Doctor, you weren’t dedicated in your pursuit, and you were just as careless about hiding your feelings. You’re much more honest now."
Seeing the glint in his narrow eyes, Ji Qingwu felt the uncomfortable sensation of being completely seen through.
She asked, "What do you really want?"
"I want to marry you."
Ji Qingwu’s reply was even more blunt: "Impossible."
Wei Ting wasn’t surprised by her answer, but the smile on his lips still faltered for a moment.
He said, half-joking, "If you reject me so firmly, Doctor, you’ll hurt my feelings."
As he spoke, Wei Ting took a step closer to her.
Ji Qingwu took a step back, looking for something to use as a weapon. All she had on her were abortion prevention pills. She couldn’t very well throw pills at him, could she?
She didn’t know if Si Hai had followed her to the clinic. Even if she called Si Hai out, he might not be able to stop Wei Ting.
’What if those two have a second go-around and wreck my clinic again...’
Seeing her guarded expression, Wei Ting’s smile faded. "Why did you start to fear me?" he asked.
Noticing his smile was gone, Ji Qingwu’s eyelid began to twitch.
In the army, everyone knew that when the smile vanished from General Zhenbei’s lips, someone was in for a world of hurt.
Wei Ting stood his ground and didn’t move any closer.
He said, "Back then, you didn’t truly like me, yet you pretended to be in love with me and pursued me relentlessly. Why?"
A jolt went through Ji Qingwu’s heart. ’So he knew.’
Seeing her avoid his gaze, Wei Ting lost control of his emotions for a moment.
"You only thought of yourself, barging in recklessly and stirring my affections, only to give up halfway through."
Besides the gnashing of teeth, Ji Qingwu heard something more in his tone: deep resentment.
He made her sound like a heartless lover who had abandoned him.
Nearly swayed by his words, Ji Qingwu raised an eyebrow. "If we’re going to put it that way, you didn’t have me in your heart either. At most, what I did was cut my losses in time. You didn’t lose anything."
"Cut your losses, you say!"
Wei Ting stared at her, demanding, "How do you know I didn’t lose anything? Have you ever cut open my heart? Have you ever looked inside to see who’s really in there?"
’His heart is an impenetrable fortress, harder to crack than the Five Finger Mountain that trapped Sun Wukong. Who could possibly get in?’
Ji Qingwu said, "It couldn’t possibly be me, could it?"
Wei Ting narrowed his left eye, looking at her face, which was more delicate than any flower, and scoffed.
"Why don’t you go get a mirror and take a look at yourself?"
His words stung her, and a lump formed in her chest.
"If it’s not me, then why do you keep pestering me every other day?"
"It is you!"
Wei Ting’s three resounding words echoed through the medical clinic.
