Gold-Medal Lawyer Alpha and Her Doctor Jiang - Chapter 3: Completely Broken

Chapter 3: Completely Broken

Cen Qingyi was not bad at heart, but she suddenly faced a drastic change in life. She thought about her terminal illness and no longer wanted to be a good person.

It was like giving up entirely. At the end of her life, she wanted to do everything she had never done before.

In the end, Jiang Zhiyi truly cried, but Cen Qingyi still refused to let her go.

Cen Qingyi actually wanted to cry too, but she held back tears with red eyes. Jiang Zhiyi squinted her eyes and could not see genuine happiness on this person’s face.

Rather than happiness, it was more like venting.

At dawn, Cen Qingyi finally grew tired. The last time, she wanted to leave the warm world but had no strength.

At that moment, Jiang Zhiyi suddenly hugged her. Cen Qingyi’s body lacked strength and collapsed into the warm embrace.

After a short while, Cen Qingyi fell into a deep sleep. The mental stress of recent days nearly crushed her, and even in sleep, she frowned.

She slept until evening. When Cen Qingyi woke up, she was alone.

Cen Qingyi’s head hurt terribly. She tossed and turned for a long time before getting out of bed. Her body and mind felt heavy.

While showering, she kept her eyes closed almost the entire time. The hot water stung her body, marking the wounds from last night.

Cen Qingyi wrapped herself in a bath towel and sat by the window, staring blankly. Her foggy brain signaled hunger when her stomach growled. She was hungry and needed to eat.

Yes, she still had to eat before she died.

Cen Qingyi cooked a bowl of noodles. Halfway through eating, she glanced at her phone on the floor. When she turned it on, missed calls and WeChat messages popped up.

The director of Tiancheng Law Firm and her assistant had called her. Lin Yuanzhi and Qin Zhen had sent WeChat messages.

Cen Qingyi ate the noodles tastelessly. She called Director He. Before she could use her prepared excuse, Director He got to the point. He said, “The Bar Association is selecting a new president. You are one of the candidates. Be cautious with your words and actions recently. I will discuss the details in person when I return from my trip.”

Assistant Qin Chuan called because someone wanted Cen Qingyi to take their case. Cen Qingyi had said she would not take new cases recently. Qin Chuan cautiously asked if he could take it instead.

Cen Qingyi sent Qin Chuan a message: Wait a moment. I will review the case details. If it is too difficult, it is not suitable for you to handle alone.

Qin Chuan thanked her profusely, sent a smiling emoji, and replied: The boss is still the best.

She responded to Lin Yuanzhi’s concern and opened Qin Zhen’s message. Qin Zhen asked who she went home with last night and told her to call back after turning on her phone.

Cen Qingyi tossed the phone aside. She did not have a court hearing today, so she decided to stay home and clean.

If not for the lingering scent of nine-mile fragrance in the air, Cen Qingyi almost treated last night as a dream.

While cleaning near the bed, she found a sticky note on the floor. It had neat handwriting and a phone number.

Cen Qingyi looked at it for a few seconds, shook her head with a light smile, crumpled it into a ball, and threw it into the trash.

**

After cleaning, it was twilight. She spent the whole day cooped up at home. Cen Qingyi changed clothes and went out.

While changing, she inevitably saw the scratch marks on her body. What a wild woman, with more strength than expected. Perhaps this was what made a top-tier omega different from ordinary people.

Cen Qingyi’s room still carried the faint scent of nine-mile fragrance. She closed her eyes, took a deep breath, and found it quite pleasant.

Before leaving, Cen Qingyi opened the window slightly for ventilation.

At twilight, the air felt chilly. Cen Qingyi went downstairs and felt clearer-headed.

After a night of recklessness, she had to keep moving forward. Or perhaps she could quit her job and travel? Cen Qingyi pondered as she slowly walked out of the neighborhood.

Qin Zhen, not getting a call, actively called Cen Qingyi. It took two tries before she answered. Cen Qingyi lazily said, “Hello.”

“Your temper has grown these past two days,” Qin Zhen said. She did not know what was wrong with Cen Qingyi. In the past, she had small moods but always listened.

“Is something up?”

“Can’t I call you if there’s nothing?”

“Isn’t the big star busy?”

To Qin Zhen, Cen Qingyi’s words meant she was still upset about Qin Zhen’s constant busyness and lack of time to spend together. In a rare good temper, Qin Zhen coaxed, “Alright, I didn’t mean it. It’s just work. I’ll try to make time for you.” Her words ended with helplessness.

Cen Qingyi looked wistfully at a row of lit streetlights and said meaningfully, “You don’t need to worry. This problem will soon disappear completely.”

“What do you mean?” Qin Zhen recalled something and asked with slight joy, “Are you finally deciding to quit and join our studio?”

Cen Qingyi felt too lazy to explain. She said, “If you have nothing, I’ll hang up.”

Qin Zhen wanted to ask about last night. Cen Qingyi brushed it off, saying a friend sent her home. Qin Zhen asked, “Which friend? Xiao Ji said she didn’t recognize them.”

Before Cen Qingyi could answer, Qin Zhen added, “I don’t even know you have real friends you’d bring home, aside from work-related socializing. You’re always alone.” Qin Zhen didn’t dare say she knew everyone Cen Qingyi interacted with, but she knew most.

“Miss Qin, are you checking my household registration?” Cen Qingyi’s tone turned cold. Qin Zhen sighed and relented, “Alright, alright, I won’t ask. I’m just concerned about you.” Qin Zhen rubbed her temples. “I’m flying to Germany for a film festival Monday night. Come to the airport. We haven’t seen each other in a while. Don’t you miss me?”

“Big stars aren’t the only ones who are busy.”

“Such attitude,” Qin Zhen teased. She heard a hint of complaint, meaning Cen Qingyi still cared about her. “Come, I have something for you. I meant to give it to you last night, but you made a fuss and I forgot.”

**

Over the next two days, despite it being the weekend, Cen Qingyi went to work as usual. She assigned Qin Chuan and An Ge a relatively simple bigamy case. She said, “You two work together. Support each other. If you have questions or doubts, ask me.”

Cen Qingyi did not take new cases, so she was less busy than before. As for the Bar Association presidency election, she feared causing delays and expressed her stance to Director He on WeChat: The Bar Association presidency should go to someone else.

Director He replied: If there’s a problem, solve it. Don’t throw a tantrum.

Cen Qingyi responded: What if it’s an unsolvable problem?

Director He wrote: I’m in a meeting. I’m really busy these days. We’ll talk when I’m back.

The next day, Cen Qingyi got ready early and took a bus to Tanhua Temple in the center of Jiang City. Master Huiyuan was away, unfortunately. After eating vegetarian food, she drove aimlessly for a while, heading toward a nearby village.

About ten kilometers from Jiang City was a village called Xiaonan Village, home to dozens of households. One elderly couple there was Cen Qingyi’s old acquaintance.

Xiaonan Village sat near mountains and rivers, with a pleasant environment. In winter, it was covered in white snow, exuding a unique beauty.

The Chen couple warmly welcomed the sudden visit from Cen Qingyi. They said, “You kid, why didn’t you call ahead?”

“I came by on the way,” Cen Qingyi said. She carried rice, flour, and oil from her car. “It’s cold and the roads are slippery. If you need anything, tell me. Don’t trouble yourselves.”

“We don’t lack anything,” Mr. Chen said with a beaming smile. “It’s just that the old lady misses you when you don’t come.”

“Qingyi, you came at the right time,” Mrs. Chen said. She brought out a basket of free-range eggs and two bags of dried home-grown vegetables from the inner room. “If you hadn’t come, I was planning to have someone deliver these to you.”

Here, it felt like home to Cen Qingyi. She sat on the warm kang bed. She said, “Auntie, keep the good stuff for yourselves.”

In front of the Chen couple, Cen Qingyi was like a cherished child. Mr. Chen lit a pipe. Mrs. Chen pushed him and complained, “Go smoke outside. It’s too strong.”

Mr. Chen didn’t mind. He chuckled and said, “Kid, stay for dinner tonight.”

“Hmm,” Cen Qingyi said with a smile. “I’m craving Auntie’s hand-rolled noodles.”

The elderly couple had no children. Cen Qingyi was like their own daughter. They busied themselves in the kitchen while Cen Qingyi sat on the kang, looking out at the snowy white world.

She sighed. If her health really failed, she needed to make arrangements for the couple. But since she wouldn’t come for a while, what excuse could she use?

That evening, Cen Qingyi ate a warm bowl of hand-rolled noodles with egg sauce. The handmade noodles were chewy and delicious.

“Qingyi, you’ve gotten thinner,” Mrs. Chen said with concern. “Eat more to stay healthy.”

“Kids these days work too hard,” Mr. Chen said. He served Cen Qingyi more noodles. “No matter how much money you earn, it’s not worth ruining your health. Don’t overwork yourself.”

Only now did Cen Qingyi realize how important health was, but it was too late.

That night, Cen Qingyi did not stay over. Before leaving, the couple insisted on giving her a basket of eggs.

As her car drove along the quiet mountain road, Cen Qingyi left the window slightly open. The cold air rushed in, making her exceptionally alert.

If she could live her life again, would she still work so hard to make money? Perhaps she wouldn’t push herself so much.

The night-blue sky was studded with twinkling stars. For the first time, Cen Qingyi felt nature was quite beautiful.

**

Over those two days, many people called Cen Qingyi, mostly admirers of her reputation. She rejected them all without exception.

As days rose and fell, no one knew the anxiety Cen Qingyi felt inside. She should have gone to the hospital for surgery earlier. Maybe she could have lived a few more years.

But thinking of the long, painful treatment and such a low-quality life, she felt it was better to leave with dignity.

In the dead of night, Cen Qingyi lay in bed, recalling that passionate night. The air seemed to still carry the scent of nine-mile fragrance pheromones. Her body felt faintly uncomfortable.

She wondered how that woman was doing. As an alpha, Cen Qingyi felt sore. The woman she had thoroughly overwhelmed was probably even more exhausted.

It was a reckless night. Cen Qingyi’s body stirred as she recalled it. It was her first taste of forbidden fruit, so it was normal to linger on it, right?

For a moment, she wickedly thought, if she hadn’t thrown away that sticky note and called the number, would they “rekindle the flame”?

Cen Qingyi didn’t want to, but she still called the hospital to ask about cure rates and post-surgery effects.

The nurse transferred her to a doctor. The doctor seemed to have forgotten her. She gave her name, and the doctor said, puzzled, “Malignant tumor? No, it’s not.”

Not cancer? Cen Qingyi thought she misheard and confirmed with the doctor multiple times. The doctor asked her to wait.

Five minutes later, the doctor called back. He said, “You must have misheard. It’s not a malignant tumor. Preliminary judgment suggests a benign fibroma.”

Whether it was a misdiagnosis or a misunderstanding, Cen Qingyi didn’t pursue it further. Not having cancer was a godsend, but she could no longer trust this hospital.

Cen Qingyi searched hospital rankings online. Jiang City’s Xiehe Hospital was a nationally authoritative general hospital.

Cen Qingyi drove to the hospital immediately. She arrived too late, and there were no appointment slots left. She adjusted her mask, hesitating whether to ask for help. But she didn’t want people around her to know she might be ill.

The staff at the payment window glanced at Cen Qingyi and kindly said, “If you can’t get a slot, ask the doctor if they can add you. If the doctor agrees, come back to pay.”

By chance, someone nearby tugged at Cen Qingyi. The person asked, “Which department do you need?”

“Br3ast surgery.”

The woman smiled warmly. She said, “Take this then. My daughter can’t come today and won’t make it. Try using this slot.”

Cen Qingyi returned the registration fee to the woman and thanked her.

Near lunchtime, the outpatient clinic was still packed with patients.

The door was slightly ajar. Cen Qingyi peeked into the office. It was empty. She asked, “Where’s the doctor?”

An omega nearby sized up Cen Qingyi’s striking features, sniffed the pleasant scent, and eagerly answered, “In the restroom.”

“Excuse me,” someone said, tapping Cen Qingyi’s arm. She turned around and froze.

It was the woman from that passionate night!

In a white coat, tall and composed, their eyes met as she passed by. Cen Qingyi felt recognized but thought her mask might prevent it.

Cen Qingyi stood awkwardly in place. Was it too late to leave?

“Number 100, please enter Clinic 1!” a mechanical female voice announced from the machine at the door. Cen Qingyi looked at her number. It was 100.

No escape now…