I Conquer the Entertainment Industry with My Medical Skills - Chapter 31

Now that she had internet access, An Ningqing found herself bored and restless. She pulled out her phone and began scrolling through videos, mostly medical popular science and stories of groundbreaking medical contributions. She was engrossed until a gentle knock echoed at the door—three soft taps, as if afraid to disturb her rest.

After a moment of surprise, An Ningqing walked barefoot to open the door. She even wondered how she would communicate if it were the Filipino maid. But as soon as she opened the door, someone threw themselves into her arms. Caught completely off guard, she nearly stumbled backward.

One retreated, the other seized the opportunity, and Xie Anran kicked the door shut behind them.

An Ningqing inhaled the sun-drenched scent clinging to the person in her arms. She pushed gently, and a pitiful whisper reached her ear: “An Ningqing, it hurts so much~”

So pathetic.

Her hand froze mid-push. “Third Miss, I had someone send you medicine.”

A topical ointment would heal the superficial wounds quickly.

As for the pain… well, there was bound to be some.

Mentioning the medicine only fueled Xie Anran’s anger.

She abruptly pulled her head out of An Ningqing’s embrace. “When you were injured, I personally applied your medicine. Now that I’m hurt, you try to fob me off with some Filipino maid? An Ningqing, you have no conscience!”

Her accusations were laced with a hint of grievance she couldn’t quite articulate.

“…”

If she’s so heartless, why bother getting medicine for me? Why not just poison me?

An Ningqing sighed softly. She had long since grasped the Third Miss’s temperament. If you crossed her on anything, you’d be the one suffering in the end. But if you stroked her ego, she’d purr: “Alright, alright, I’ll apply the medicine myself. Happy now? Let me see where you’re hurt.”

Xie Anran’s entire body ached, with injuries concentrated on prominent areas like her elbows and knees.

When she lifted her clothes, a shocking tapestry of bruises—purple, blue, and green—covered her skin.

An Ningqing gasped. “Were you beaten? Who dared to lay a hand on you?”

Hearing the urgency in An Ningqing’s voice, Xie Anran’s heart bloomed with secret delight. This woman may act tough, but she still cares deep down. “Yes, I was beaten. And you’re only asking now? What have you been doing all day?”

An Ningqing fell silent.

Is the focus really on what I did all day?

The real question was: who in this place would dare harm Xie Anran? Even Li Xianzong, she suspected, wouldn’t dare touch a single hair on the Third Miss’s head.

The dense network of bruises was far too extensive for the two tubes of ointment to cover. Moreover, these bruises needed to be dispersed; otherwise, they would be even more painful tomorrow. An Ningqing instructed her to lie down on the bed. “Take off your clothes.”

Xie Anran was wearing athletic wear and hadn’t had time to shower, so she wasn’t exactly fragrant and was even a bit sweaty. She regretted not showering before coming over.

But her hands moved quickly, and she soon stripped off her outer layers. “Do I need to take everything off?”

“No, just leave your underwear on. Don’t take everything off.”

What would it look like if she were completely naked?

But her words couldn’t keep up with Xie Anran’s speed. She was already nearly undressed, confident in her figure but self-conscious about the bruises marring her body’s beauty. Fine, I won’t let An Ningqing see this time.

With a touch of modesty, she left her underwear on.

An Ningqing washed her hands and saw Xie Anran lying obediently on the bed. “You have injuries on your back too, likely from the fall. The same goes for your shoulder blades. If we don’t apply ointment tonight, you might not even be able to get out of bed tomorrow.”

Xie Anran couldn’t see her back, but she had felt a slight stinging there when she sweated earlier. Still, An Ningqing’s serious tone made her wonder if it was truly severe. No wonder I feel pain everywhere.

This bed is so comfortable.

Last night, she had tossed and turned on the downstairs bed, unable to fall asleep, and eventually ended up dozing off on the sofa. The air still carried An Ningqing’s scent. Xie Anran lowered her head to inhale the familiar fragrance—the familiar quilt, the familiar bed, and the familiar person.

An Ningqing clapped her hands together, her brow furrowing.

“I might be a bit rough later, Third Miss. Please bear with it.”

“Rough? How rough? With your strength? Augh—”

Xie Anran, like a beached salted fish, nearly leaped off the bed before An Ningqing pinned her back down with both hands. An Ningqing straddled her waist, her knees hovering on either side, and began rhythmically slapping her back. “These bruises need to be massaged out.”

With each slap, rub, and press, Xie Anran felt like she was about to be sent to the afterlife. The pain made her vision blur. An Ningqing’s strength was no longer like a kitten’s scratch; when had she become so forceful? “An Ningqing, are you trying to murder me?”

An Ningqing chuckled softly. “If I murdered the Third Miss, wouldn’t I have to pay with my life? An eye for an eye.”

She spoke the most tender words while delivering the most brutal treatment.

Slap, slap, slap.

The rhythm was almost hypnotic.

Soon, Xie Anran’s intermittent cries and muttered curses filled the room. Naturally, her curses were directed at the bodyguards. It turned out she had been bored earlier that day and, seeing the bodyguards practicing their drills, had joined in for fun. When they hesitated to strike her, Xie Anran flew into a rage, mocking them relentlessly, and… well, this was the result.

An Ningqing found the situation both amusing and exasperating. The Third Miss had brought this upon herself, so she showed no mercy. “If the Third Miss truly has nothing to do, she should practice two sets of Five Animal Frolics daily. It’s good exercise and helps with recuperation.”

Xie Anran howled for a while. “Do you think I’m eighty years old? I’m still young! I’d never learn those old people’s exercises.”

An Ningqing sighed inwardly. She’s impossible to reason with.

The massage lasted a full half-hour, leaving An Ningqing herself breathless. It was physically demanding work, and she hadn’t done it in ages. Her fitness level was clearly lacking; she was exhausted after such a short time. I need to start exercising again tomorrow, she thought. After resting briefly, she climbed off the bed to fetch Xie Anran’s ointment. “Third Miss, you—”

Xie Anran lay sprawled on the bed, clearly already asleep, still whimpering softly in her dreams.

An Ningqing gently finished applying the ointment to the back of Xie Anran’s elbow and sat on the sofa for a while.

Looks like Third Miss Xie wants to sleep it off?

Does this mean we’re sharing a room again today?

An Ningqing felt like a cat she had raised had stormed out in a huff yesterday. Before she could even start looking for it, the pampered feline had strutted back home, demanding food. She couldn’t help but chuckle. Third Miss must never know this, or she’ll definitely bristle up.

Xie Anran was truly asleep.

She had initially just been lying down, too tired to move. But after the pain subsided, a wave of relaxation washed over her. Combined with An Ningqing’s peculiar massage techniques, she drifted off into a deep slumber, sleeping soundly until dawn.

The bed was empty, and the sofa was neatly made.

Xie Anran almost had the illusion that An Ningqing hadn’t slept in the room at all last night. But when she pushed open the window, she saw An Ningqing exercising below, each movement slow and deliberate, like practicing Tai Chi. The movements were rather comical. After watching for a while, Xie Anran burst out laughing. “An Ningqing, are you putting on a monkey show?”

An Ningqing remained unfazed, as if she hadn’t heard the mocking remark. She calmly completed the entire set of Five Animal Frolics, drenched in sweat and breathing heavily.

“Is this the Five Animal Frolics you mentioned yesterday?”

“Mm-hmm.”

Xie Anran noticed An Ningqing’s flushed cheeks, sweat-dampened hair, and eyes shining brighter than usual. It seemed she genuinely enjoyed this peculiar exercise routine. “It actually looks quite interesting. I’ll try it next time.”

An Ningqing didn’t take her seriously. She went upstairs to shower.

After their usual meal and post-dinner digestion, she went to check on the tiger cub she had rescued the previous day. The anesthesia had worn off, and the cub bared its fangs and claws, crouching low in an aggressive posture whenever anyone approached.

Fortunately, the cub was restrained with straps. An Ningqing examined its wounds and prescribed a new herbal remedy.

“These Chinese herbs don’t seem to be in the warehouse. And would a tiger even drink herbal medicine?”

“They grow in the forest.”

An Ningqing blinked lightly. “But if you think there’s a better alternative, we can substitute it.” She couldn’t resist correcting, “Tigers live in dense forests. When they’re poisoned or sick, they instinctively seek out medicinal herbs nearby. They’re even smarter than humans in this regard, knowing which herbs best heal wounds, which are poisonous, and which are safe to eat.”

Dr. Jiang remained silent, finding her reasoning surprisingly sound.

Yet the image of a little tiger drinking Chinese medicine still struck him as utterly absurd.

Having made her case, An Ningqing left the decision to him. She had long observed that Mr. Li relied heavily on Western medicine and imported medical equipment, rarely employing traditional Chinese remedies. It was a tragic waste—like possessing a treasure island and discarding its herbal riches like worn-out shoes.

What a pity, she thought. If only this island were mine.

For the next few weeks, An Ningqing personally gathered medicinal herbs, brewed them into decoctions, and administered them to Anne for detoxification. Anne grumbled incessantly, claiming even a little tiger wouldn’t drink such foul-tasting concoctions. Yet, pinching her nose, she swallowed every dose. Meanwhile, Xie Anran relentlessly sought out the bodyguards, returning each day bruised and battered, a sight that made An Ningqing frown.

Daily massages became a mandatory ritual in their room.

But before the day could end, a frantic knocking echoed at the door.

“Dr. An, something’s happened! Dr. Jiang urgently needs you!”

“What is it?”

Xiao Mi glimpsed someone dressing on the bed. Before he could get a clearer look, An Ningqing blocked his view. He noticed her flushed cheeks and a light sheen of sweat on her forehead, as if she had just finished exercising… Recalling the person on the bed, Xiao Mi realized he had interrupted something. Embarrassed, he wished he could dig a hole and disappear. “I’m sorry to disturb you, but something has happened to Mr. Li.”

An Ningqing turned back. “Third Miss, you should stay in your room and rest. Don’t move around.”

Her old wounds hadn’t healed, and now she had new ones. Her body was covered in bruises, and the medicinal ointment reeked of camphor. An Ningqing marveled at her own stubbornness, insisting on learning martial arts with a group of rough men. She closed the door and followed Xiao Mi to the medical department. On the third floor was an operating room she had never understood the purpose of—until now.

The light outside the operating room was lit.

Anne stood outside the operating room, waiting, so absorbed in her thoughts that she didn’t even notice An Ningqing’s arrival. Xiao Mi dutifully explained the situation to her.

It had started as a minor incident. During dinner, Mr. Li had coughed, perhaps choking on his food, and bl00d had come up. Li Xianzong, already nearing the end of his life, occasionally coughed up bl00d and hadn’t paid much attention to it. But that evening, after returning to his room with Anne, he had collapsed.

“The Boss is hemorrhaging severely from his lungs. We can’t stop the bleeding. Prepare for a transfusion.”

“Xiao Mi, get me a surgical gown. I’m going in to check on him.”

“Yes, Sister An.”

Fortunately, the medical facilities here were well-equipped. They had ample reserves of both Li Xianzong and Anne’s bl00d types, so the transfusion could begin immediately. When An Ningqing arrived, Dr. Jiang, the chief surgeon, was already operating. The monitor displayed a magnified view of the bloody chest cavity.

An Ningqing stood silently at the back, observing. If it were her decision, she wouldn’t have recommended surgery at this stage. Despite Li Xianzong’s seemingly vigorous demeanor, most of it was a facade—or rather, the result of skillful makeup. A man in his seventies, no matter how robust, couldn’t possibly maintain the vitality of his youth.

Moreover, Li Xianzong’s combative past had left him with numerous internal injuries, each organ harboring hidden damage. These accumulated wounds had lain dormant for years, waiting for the day they would finally turn on him, claiming his life.

“Dr. Jiang, the bleeding won’t stop! What do we do?”

“Check his heart rate—”

An Ningqing didn’t bother listening to their panicked chatter. She turned and walked out of the operating room, standing before Anne. “Miss Anne, your husband’s heartbeat is about to stop—”

Before she could finish, Anne collapsed. An Ningqing swiftly grabbed her arm, preventing her from falling completely. “But I have a way to temporarily save his life.”

Anne’s eyes widened. “Save him.”

An Ningqing: “I need you to make a decision.”

Beep—

The heart monitor flatlined.

Dr. Jiang stood frozen, his hands covered in bl00d. He couldn’t comprehend how things had deteriorated so rapidly. Just moments ago, the examination had only revealed hemoptysis. Before he could even question his own competence, Anne, trembling violently, ordered her bodyguards to clear the room.

“Miss Anne, the Boss—”

“Get out! All of you, get out!”

As Dr. Jiang was being pushed out, he brushed past An Ningqing. “Miss An.”

In the end, even Anne retreated, leaving An Ningqing and Li Xianzong alone in the operating room.

An Ningqing glanced at the medical equipment still in place. She pulled out her silver needles, arranging them in neat rows. “I didn’t expect to need you so soon.”