Chapter 51

Su Fuling studied until midnight, still feeling a stir of excitement. Beyond the sheer intensity of the night's events, the bomb served as a reminder that her own life harbored a ticking time bomb—she too could be written off as cannon fodder at any moment.

And perhaps she would die even more carelessly than Huang Bao.

She closed the book and lay down beside it. "System, if I ran into a situation like that, would I just die outright?"

She could see others' fates but not her own. She could heal others but not herself. Because healing herself earned no Merit Points, she—as the host—wasn't the Merit System's target for assistance.

The Merit System: "Your lifespan still has time. Until the deadline of your original storyline's lifespan, as long as you don't recklessly go after others, this system can provide you with free protection services. If it's outside the storyline—changing your fate—each protection will require payment. So, host, you need to work hard to earn Merit Points. This system does not accept credit."

Hearing this, Su Fuling said, "...Why didn't you say so earlier!"

The Merit System: "Because the initiative in this matter lies with this system. Telling you would have been useless. Previous hosts exploited this loophole, using the system as a tool to attack others. If you want to blame someone, blame your own kind for being too cunning and greedy."

Another predecessor... Judging by the system's tone, its master was indeed full of resentment toward humanity.

Su Fuling seized the chance to clarify: "Protection to what extent? Would you warn me about a bomb like today's?"

The Merit System: "The host has no right to know."

Tight-lipped! Yet Su Fuling felt an inexplicable lightness. At least there was some guarantee. Even if she faced danger later and the system demanded Merit Points for protection—even if she couldn't afford it—she'd at least know her peril in advance and not die so carelessly.

The Merit System suddenly asked: "Those people weren't mission targets. Why did you save them?"

Su Fuling was taken aback. "What do you mean, 'why'? Does saving people need a reason? You're a Merit System—why are you asking me why I save people? I'm actually more curious why you told me to stay away from them."

The Merit System glitched.

Su Fuling couldn't read the garbled symbols. Worried, she asked, "System, System, are you okay?"

The system didn't answer.

But at least its functions seemed normal. She entered and exited the system a few times, and everything was fine.

Could the system not answer the question? Indeed, the system wasn't human and didn't know everything.

The next morning, Su Fuling got up and immediately scanned her entire family.

Good. Everyone was healthy and safe.

After leaving the house, Su Fuling naturally couldn't escape Su Jueming's interrogation.

Su Jueming wasn't worried about much else—he just didn't want his niece to be deceived by those gangsters. He feared an inexperienced young girl might fantasize about being a gang leader's girlfriend and get tricked.

He earnestly recounted yesterday's events, trying to make Su Fuling understand that standing with a gang leader meant no peace. "Fighting and killing every day—no one can endure that kind of life."

Su Fuling rubbed her head. "Little Uncle, what are you thinking? They're all my patients... To be honest, I took that business from you. I treated them before, and they probably found my clinic closer, so they came to me."

Su Jueming hadn't expected this. But he felt no regret over losing the gang's business—in fact, he was relieved. As long as she wasn't being tricked, he could face his sister Su Yunying. Still, he worried, "You'd better not keep this business. You saw yesterday—it's dangerous dealing with them."

Su Fuling said, "They come to the Medical Clinic themselves. I can't exactly refuse them entry. Little Uncle, don't worry—I know my limits. I don't make house calls casually. Don't I come home early every night? Besides, my medical skills are good, so they're all very polite to me. You saw everyone came to help yesterday. And I know a police officer."

Hearing this, Su Jueming recalled how polite Chen Shan had been yesterday—he'd come all the way to help.

And Ah Ling knew a police officer too. With police help, maybe it would be safer.

Su Fuling didn't give him time to dwell on it. She changed the subject: "By the way, Little Uncle, you're not doing business with the Sifang Association in Tsim Sha Tsui anymore, right? Should I ask Mr. Chen to help you inform them?"

"I should let them know... If it's too much trouble, forget it."

"You still want to go?" Su Fuling asked.

Of course not. Su Jueming shuddered.

Su Fuling said, "That's right. Anyway, don't worry about this. Leave it all to me. If it really comes down to it, I still know a police officer."

The police officer did give Su Jueming some sense of security. Though he knew Harbor City police weren't that great, they had to uphold justice on the surface. And the officer he saw yesterday seemed decent.

"By the way, being a police officer is a good profession. Ah Ling, you should make more friends like that..." Su Jueming couldn't help nagging about his niece's affairs again. Even if Ah Ling became a doctor, finding a police officer boyfriend wouldn't be bad.

Su Fuling quickly turned and slipped away.

Because of yesterday's events, Chen Shan came by early in the morning. He mainly wanted to know if Su Fuling needed any further help. Su Fuling said, "No other trouble, but could you please greet that... Mr. Huang for me? My uncle won't be serving as their doctor anymore. It's too far and inconvenient."

Chen Shan nodded. "No problem. He wouldn't dare make things difficult for Dr. Su's uncle."

With that worry off her mind, Su Fuling felt lighter and smiled. "Thank you for yesterday."

Chen Shan said, "Dr. Su, you're too kind. You've helped me a lot. Several times, if you hadn't warned me, I would have suffered greatly. Yesterday, you also saved our Sifang Association brothers. We should be the ones thanking you."

Su Fuling replied, "That only works if you follow medical advice. If someone doesn't listen, a doctor's words are useless. And Mr. Chen, think more about Shasha. If you have a chance, make some changes."

What if one day Chen Shan faced something like yesterday and she couldn't save him? Chen Shasha would be orphaned.

Chen Shan glanced at his sister Chen Shasha standing nearby. "I will. I won't disturb Dr. Su any longer."

After Chen Shan left, Chen Shasha approached. "Dr. Su, how did it go yesterday? My brother won't say a word when he comes back."

Su Fuling said, "Very smoothly. Everything's fine. Don't worry about it."

Zhao Facai was boiling medicine on the side and chimed in, "Young people shouldn't be too curious. It'll make you age fast."

Chen Shasha shot him a sidelong glance. "Old geezer, we know you're old. Just do your work."

...

As soon as Chen Shan returned to his office, he saw Huang Bao sitting there.

The man was in a wheelchair, smoking a cigar.

Seeing Chen Shan, he straightened up immediately. "Chen Shan, tell me the truth. What happened yesterday? How did you know there was danger in the car? Did you get some information in advance? Well, well—you had information and didn't notify me."

Huang Bao had thought all night. He couldn't believe that doctor had seen it from someone's complexion. He was convinced Chen Shan had gotten intel and made up an excuse.

"You have a wide network. Last time during the negotiation with the Longhu Association, you got news quickly too. And you used that doctor as an excuse again. Do you take me for a fool?"

Chen Shan said, "You're not a fool—you're always being betrayed. If it wasn't one of your own people, who could have planted something in your car?"

Huang Bao: "..."

Why were there so many traitors around him trying to kill him?

"We're all in the Sifang Association. You don't want to see me die a violent death, do you?"

Chen Shan said, "What can I do? You won't believe me anyway."

"Believe what? That female doctor?"

Chen Shan tapped the table. "I advise you to show some respect to Dr. Su. Don't say I didn't warn you—whether your dog life can be saved might really depend on Dr. Su."

Seeing Chen Shan's expression and attitude, Huang Bao, even if unwilling to accept the fact, began to believe it a little. He didn't trust others' words, but he trusted Chen Shan's.

"So it really was that... that doctor who saved me? Do you think I can really see something in my complexion?"

Chen Shan said, "Does it matter? As long as you were saved, isn't that enough?"

Huang Bao naturally thought of the mystical arts. "You mean..."

Chen Shan said, "I didn't say anything."

"Fine, keep it to yourself. Then I won't give you a gift—I'll give it to the doctor."

Huang Bao clapped his hands, and someone entered with a tray. Stacks of cash piled high—looked like ten thousand. "I was going to thank you for saving my life, but since it wasn't you, I'll leave you out. Is this enough?"

Chen Shan glanced at it. Quite a lot. Though Huang Bao was rough in his ways, he was generous. And he should be—several lives were at stake. This kid spent lavishly and probably didn't have much money left. Coming up with this much showed some thought.

"You're sensible. Dr. Su didn't ask, but we should be sensible ourselves."

Huang Bao said, "Do I need you to tell me? My life is worth a lot. And from now on, Dr. Su's business is my business."

Hearing this, Chen Shan looked at him, knowing full well Huang Bao wasn't just repaying a debt of gratitude.

Anyone who wasn't a fool would see the benefit of getting close to Dr. Su. "You'd better go at noon."

Chen Shan reminded him.

Huang Bao asked, "Why? Shouldn't I go early to show sincerity?"

"I'm afraid you'll scare off Dr. Su's patients. She won't be happy."

Su Fuling was busy all morning, pondering how to generate income. She hadn't been in a hurry about money before. Even without exchanging Merit Points for cash, the money she earned from checkups and treatments was enough to live on. She had little desire for material things.

She just wanted to earn Merit Points quickly and change her fate as cannon fodder.

But now that her uncle had risked danger for the family, she had to reconsider the importance of money in this place.

Life back home had taught her that money didn't matter much, but Harbor City was clearly different.

Su Fuling wasn't aloof—it was just her upbringing and education that had given her few material desires, and she didn't want to cultivate many. She only wanted to save herself, fulfill her aspirations, master her medical skills, promote the traditional Chinese medicine she loved, and let more people encounter good practitioners.

"But I still need to solve the food problem first. At least make life easier for my uncle's family."

So after the morning rush, while Zhao Facai was chopping vegetables and cooking, she sought his advice on making money. Not for herself, but to see how to increase her uncle's household income.

She believed in teaching a man to fish rather than giving him a fish.

Zhao Facai thought to himself, with skills like yours, why worry about making money? It would be a snap.

"Master, if you ask me, your checkups alone could make a fortune. Just charge more when you examine rich people—they're willing to pay. Money means nothing to them."

Su Fuling said, "If the fees aren't standardized, wouldn't I be a crooked doctor? I can't stand that kind of thing. How could I do it myself?" Just thinking about charging different rates to people like He Li and Sun Zhonghao made her feel awkward when dealing with them later.

Besides, checkups weren't a long-term solution. The system would eventually leave. What mattered most was improving her medical skills.

Zhao Facai: "..." Those people would have to be bold to offend a master of mystical arts. The master was still too young, too straightforward.

"So, Master, what do you want to do?"

"Never mind. You probably wouldn't understand." Su Fuling glanced at him. She felt she'd been fooled by Uncle Afa's usual cleverness. He was smart, but he really didn't know how to make money. If he did, would he be here as a con artist?

Zhao Facai immediately felt insulted. He hacked at the meat on the cutting board. "How would I not understand? I don't have a specialty. If I did, I'd start a legitimate business, work hard on promotion, and money would roll in."

Chen Shasha was picking vegetables nearby and chimed in, "Isn't conning people your specialty? I don't see you getting rich."

Zhao Facai said, "Con artistry is all fake—not real skill. I'm talking about real skill, true ability." Like the master's checkup ability.

Su Fuling raised an eyebrow. "A specialty? Does making sweet soup count?"

Zhao Facai immediately perked up. "Of course it does! Look at all the Sweet Soup Shops on the street—so many people eat it. Master, can you make sweet soup?"

Su Fuling said, "My aunt-in-law makes better sweet soup than any of them."

"Open a Sweet Soup Shop," Zhao Facai suggested. "Master, don't worry—I'll help you put up ads. And you can send business her way. When patients come to see you, recommend they go eat sweet soup."

Su Fuling thought it was a great idea. Her aunt-in-law stayed home to take care of the child. But if she opened a shop, she could bring her little cousin out to earn money.

"But opening a shop takes a lot of money," Su Fuling said.

Zhao Facai said, "True. My shop is too small. It definitely wouldn't be enough for making sweet soup."

Su Fuling nodded. There was another reason: if her aunt-in-law was too close to her, she'd learn too much.

Chen Shasha said, "Oh, Dr. Su, don't worry about the shop. My brother manages lots of properties. You can rent one first and pay the rent after you start earning. We're all friends here—don't be shy."

Su Fuling considered whether this was feasible. She'd have to discuss it with her uncle when she got home. But the thought of her uncle's family earning more money lifted her spirits.

"Dr. Su, we meet again!" Huang Bao suddenly appeared, pushed into Su Fuling's shop by someone.

Seeing him, Su Fuling's smile vanished completely.

After all, this man had nearly gotten her uncle hurt. Saving his life was a matter of principle, but that didn't mean she enjoyed dealing with his kind.

She nodded in greeting.

Chen Shasha worried he might cause trouble and said, "Brother Bao, this is our Yau Ma Tei Hall's territory. Don't start anything."

Huang Bao said, "Look at you—just like your brother, clueless and rude. I'm here to thank Dr. Su, not cause trouble. Kids, stay out of it."

With that, he showed his sincerity, signaling someone to place a tray on the table in front of Su Fuling.

He personally lifted the red cloth, revealing the stack of cash.

For a moment, everyone in the room was dazzled.

Zhao Facai: "..." So much money!

Chen Shasha: "..." Wow, wow, wow!

Su Fuling: "..." A sugar-coated bullet!