"How come you're just getting here now?" Sihan asked with a hint of mockery in his voice.
Yichen rolled his eyes at Sihan and turned to greet Madam Hong.
As soon as Haoran saw Yichen, "Yichen, I have great news!" Haoran said, his face glowing with excitement.
"What news?" Yichen asked.
"So you waited for him, you could've just inform me first about that great news..." Sihan's expression showed that he's upset, which made Haoran chuckle. "Well then let's just hear it." Sihan turned to listen.
"My illness, the Pheromone Dysgenesis requires a synthetic pheromone graft, it's an artificial organ perfectly calibrated to the patient's DNA. And I've been selected to receive this new treatment!" Madam Hong shared the news, her face full of joy.
"That's right! Before, because we didn't have the money, my mom could only get by on suppressants. But everything is fine now! And the doctor said the fees have been paid in full!" Haoran started to cry tears of joy as he spoke.
"Paid in full? By whom?" Sihan asked. Everyone's gaze immediately fell on Madam Hong.
"The doctor didn't say who paid..." Madam Hong said with a trace of regret in her voice. "I really want to thank that benefactor in person, but they said that that person wishes to remain anonymous."
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"Young Master Zhou, they have received the news," a doctor reported with a respectful bow.
"Very good." He leaned back in his chair and waved a hand. "You may leave."
"Why did you do this? The allowance the Old Master gives you wasn't enough to begin with, and yet you went and helped them? What if the Old Master finds out you secretly manipulated the treatment slots?! What then?!" Secretary Wu said, sounding both worried and exasperated.
"Weren't you the one who followed the doctor over there under the pretext of 'ensuring accurate communication'?" Qixian explained. "Besides, poor people can only afford suppressants that mask the symptoms. If this disease goes untreated long-term, the glands will calcify or even 'leak,' causing hormone levels to mutate and become toxic. Eventually, they'll lose their secondary gender characteristics and die of organ failure. Do you expect me to just watch my twin brother cry his eyes out for the person who raised him? I'm just returning a favor on his behalf."
Secretary Wu pointed at Qixian, his hand shaking with rage, unable to get a word out for a long time.
Qixian clicked his tongue and let out a small 'tsk'. "It's not your money, and you're not the one getting scolded, so what are you so worked up about?" Qixian eyed him suspiciously. "Wait, you aren't worried I'll dock your salary, are you?!" Qixian gasped in mock shock.
"I am not—" Secretary Wu started to retort, but was silenced by Qixian's laughter.
Secretary Wu glared at him as he thought of something to counter Qixian's joke, "Ah! Is it because you've taken a liking to that young man? What was it... Gu Yichen?!" Secretary Wu burst out laughing in return.
"He just released his pheromones to suppress me! It made me weak all over and so nauseous I wanted to puke!" Qixian interrupted, looking annoyed.
"What? He did what?!" Hearing this, Secretary Wu's laughter stopped abruptly.
"You heard it." Qixian looked away, pretending to search for something.
"Why did you let him get away with that?!"
"Ha... are you serious? He's an S-tier Alpha
" Qixian looked at Secretary Wu like he was an idiot.
"Right... anyway, I have to go. I've got things to do," Secretary Wu said, making a move to slip away.
"Wait, I'm off the clock too." Qixian stood up.
"What? You've only been here for an hour! Didn't you tell your dad you'd work hard here starting today?" Secretary Wu panicked.
"What are you panicking for? It's not like I'm actually going to listen to him. Did you forget what I'm like?"
Sigh "that's true though." Secretary Wu suddenly dropped to his knees with a thud in front of Qixian. "I'm begging you, Young Master, don't make things hard for me. You know how scary the Old Master is. Can't we just stay here?"
"Oh right, I heard your older sister is coming by later to discuss business—"
"Right then, let's get going, Young Master! I'll go get the car. Wait for me at the hospital entrance!" Secretary Wu scrambled up and dashed out like a whirlwind.
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Secretary Wu thought to himself, 'I was just begging him a second ago, so why am I now drinking at a bar with him?' He began to question his life choices. 'Dammit, why did I let him play with me again?'
"I can't believe you played me! Young Master Qixian, I quit!" Secretary Wu complained.
"Sure, go ahead. Though I doubt anyone else will pay you as much as I do," Qixian said with a wicked grin.
Secretary Wu let out a frustrated scream, as if trying to vent all his pent-up annoyance.
Qixian laughed and patted him on the shoulder. "Alright, I'm going to the bathroom. Head home on your own later. Don't touch my car, or I'll kill you, just take a cab."
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A few minutes later, on his way back to the private room, Qixian caught sight of a familiar figure and followed him.
The person entered a room, and Qixian took the chance to peek through the crack in the door. 'Jin Rou? What's he doing here?' Qixian wondered.
"What do you mean? Are you saying this DNA test is real?!" Jin Rou roared at a man, grabbing him tightly by the collar. "That I am not—" Qixian accidentally made a sound. He immediately took off running and ducked into a random empty room. Thank God, no one was inside.
Jin Rou chased out and looked around. Seeing no one, he locked the door to the previous room with a dark expression
"Please don't worry, nobody will know! The family inheritance is still yours!" the man pleaded in a trembling voice.
Jin Rou shoved him away and landed a heavy punch. "It better be. If word of this gets out, I'll fucking kill your whole family!" Jin Rou threatened.