"Thank you."
Tian Yu trembled as she took a small piece of crimson spirit mushroom with her trembling hands, her gratitude beyond words.
"I'm leaving. If anything comes up, find me at the clinic."
Lin Fan turned to leave.
After stepping out, he glanced back, a sense of melancholy washing over him.
Having practiced medicine for so long, he had gradually come to understand a truth.
In this world, there weren't so many illnesses to begin with; ultimately, it all boiled down to poverty.
He had seen too many minor ailments turn into serious illnesses, and serious illnesses into terminal diseases, simply because families couldn't afford proper care.
He had also witnessed too many families plunged into despair by the exorbitant cost of medical treatment.
"I really can't help everyone," Lin Fan sighed.
Although he had money now, the suffering in the world was immeasurable. To help and save each individual would require him to be split into eight pieces and still not be enough.
Beep beep beep!
A harsh horn blast sounded.
Wang Ying got out of the car, playfully chiding, "Little fool, what are you thinking about? You didn't even see me, hmph~"
If Lin Fan hadn't been lost in thought and failed to notice her, she would have already thrown herself into his arms.
"You're here, why didn't you call me?"
Lin Fan set aside his somber mood and walked forward with a smile.
"Mmm, it smells so good~ As expected, you're my little Ying Ying."
Every time they met, Wang Ying would dress herself up meticulously, and today was no exception.
She wore a white velvet top and washed-out white jeans, looking youthful and vibrant, like a girl in the throes of new love.
As Lin Fan approached her, he caught a faint, pleasant scent.
"Get away, what's that smell on you? It's stinky."
Wang Ying wrinkled her nose, feigning disgust.
"You dare to find me stinky?"
Lin Fan chuckled, then suddenly scooped her up with both arms and spun her around.
"Ah!"
"Xiao Fan, put me down quickly!"
"Don't do this, I'm getting dizzy!"
Wang Ying let out a scream, a mixture of excitement and fear, and repeatedly hit Lin Fan's strong shoulders.
After spinning her around for over a dozen times, Lin Fan finally set her down.
She lost her balance and stumbled into his arms, reluctant to let go.
His broad, solid chest always offered her a sense of security and happiness.
"Why don't you find me stinky anymore?"
Lin Fan reached out a hand, gently tucked her hair behind her ear, and cupped her small, delicate earlobe.
"You stinky fool!"
Wang Ying raised her small, pink fist and lightly punched Lin Fan's chest a few times, her voice soft and sweet.
"Still stinky?"
Lin Fan applied a little more pressure, lifting her slightly.
Wang Ying, like a little white rabbit whose ears were being held, tilted her head and scolded again, "Little fool!"
"Hahaha..."
Lin Fan burst into laughter, understanding now why men liked younger women.
They were indeed so amusing!
"What are you laughing at?"
Wang Ying looked up, pouting her cherry-like lips. "You haven't come to see me in so long."
"It's not just you who's busy, I've been busy too, alas~"
Lin Fan sighed and patted his medical bag. "Didn't you see I just finished a house call?"
Wang Ying, recalling the faint scent of medicine on him, immediately believed him.
"We'll talk about it later."
After Wang Ying started the car, she chattered incessantly, recounting her recent monotonous life and trivial matters at work.
She even spilled a lot of other people's private secrets, like who was keeping a mistress and who was involved in ambiguous relationships, like pouring beans from a bamboo tube.
"That lady, she already has a husband but is involved with a construction boss. I accidentally saw her while shopping the other day, guess what?"
Wang Ying's expression was animated, her hands gesturing wildly. "She was embracing and kissing a young man who could be her son at the street corner! Ugh~ So disgusting!"
"Sister Wang Ying, how much longer until your appointment?"
Lin Fan had been under strict supervision lately, and the subtle fragrance in the car was making him restless.
"Another hour and a half. We'll have lunch together."
As Wang Ying spoke, she lowered her head and found a hand sneakily reaching out.
"What are you doing?"
"What do you think I'm doing?"
Lin Fan's eyes burned with desire.
"You can't be serious, with so little time."
Wang Ying said irritably, her eyes also alight with passion.
"You know the time is short too, so hurry up. Turn left, then left again, there's a road there that not many people use."
Lin Fan, impatient, pointed to a fork in the road ahead.
"You..."
Wang Ying was torn between laughter and tears.
"Hurry up."
Lin Fan urged.
Wang Ying's face flushed, her heart pounding wildly, as she drove into the side road.
Her mind went blank, and she simply drove forward along the bumpy path.
"Almost there, it'll be a mountain road further ahead, and the car can't go any further."
Lin Fan said. Wang Ying slammed on the brakes, her heart beating even faster.
On the left was a steep cliff face, and on the right was a level patch of farmland. From a glance, not a soul was in sight.
"We... we'll be seen in the car, right?"
Although Wang Ying doted on her little fool, she was still a bit reluctant to do anything in such an environment.
"I told you no one comes here, and besides, my hearing is very good."
Lin Fan wrapped an arm around her slender neck and supported her legs, intending to pull her into his embrace.
"No..."
Wang Ying's face was flushed with embarrassment. She glanced out the window and saw a cave in the cliff face, half-covered by corn stalks. She guessed it might be a place where the farmer rested or stored tools.
So she suggested, "Let's go into that cave."
She pointed to the cave with her slender jade fingers and gestured upwards.
"A cave?"
Lin Fan shuddered, and the tragic scene of Wan Anfu flashed in his mind.
In an instant, it was as if a bucket of cold water had been doused on him.
"No, no, I'm not going into a cave. It'll be like a rotten chicken's nest."
"What nonsense are you talking about?"
Wang Ying felt utterly bewildered.
"Oh, just don't worry about it."
Lin Fan, like a great wolf, pounced on the fair and tender Wang Ying.
...
Eleven o'clock noon.
"Little fool."
Wang Ying lay on Lin Fan's lap, her face flushed, radiant as a peach blossom, and gently called her lover's name.
"You dare to call me that again? Are you..."
Just as Lin Fan was about to make a move, Wang Ying pinched his thigh hard.
"Why are you like this?"
Wang Ying rolled her eyes charmingly. "I wanted to rest for a bit, and you're still restless."
"Didn't I tell you, if you call me 'little fool' one more time, I'll hit you."
Lin Fan raised his hand.
"If you dare to hit me again, I'll..."
Wang Ying sat up and thought, but couldn't come up with any threatening words.
"You'll what?"
Lin Fan found it amusing.
"I'll bite you!"
Wang Ying bared her teeth and clawed, like a little kitten, pouncing towards Lin Fan.
As a result.
Lin Fan easily caught her, pulled her into his embrace, and tasted her cherry-like lips.