The Sickly Beauty Gives Up Struggling [Rebirth] Chapter 138

Since Jiang Xunwei might know the truth, they would inevitably have to trouble Jiang Zheng again.

After hanging up the video call, Li Rong finished the remaining noodles in just a few bites. He licked the corner of his lips, which still had some broth on them, looking satisfied. “I’m full.”

Cen Xiao followed closely, finishing his last bite. He pulled out a tissue to wipe his mouth and asked, “Was it good?”

Li Rong nodded approvingly. “You’ve got quite a knack for cooking.”

It truly was delicious, though part of it was because he had been starving.

Cen Xiao stood up and placed the dishes into the dishwasher. “Since it’s Saturday today, Jiang Xunwei probably isn’t seeing patients. I’ll ask Geng An to contact Jiang Zheng so we can go and talk to him.”

After putting away the dishes, Cen Xiao turned around, only to see Li Rong standing with his arms crossed, looking at him with a teasing, enigmatic smile.

Cen Xiao paused for a moment, his gaze flickering. “What’s the matter?”

Li Rong raised his eyelids slightly, sighed lightly, and maintained a relaxed expression. His tone, however, carried a hint of annoyance. “Oh, nothing.”

Cen Xiao was just about to breathe a sigh of relief when Li Rong added nonchalantly, “If I ever find out that you’re hiding something from me…” He didn’t finish his sentence, merely looking at Cen Xiao meaningfully, his words laden with unspoken threat.

Of course, Cen Xiao wasn’t the type to be easily intimidated.

He walked out of the kitchen, wrapped his arms around Li Rong’s waist, and brushed his lips against Li Rong’s in a playful manner. “Alright then, you can settle the score with me later.”

Li Rong pressed his lips into a thin line, turning his head to avoid the kiss. Internally, he thought, It seems Cen Xiao is determined not to speak.

Unfortunately, even though he could read people well, he couldn’t extract anything from Cen Xiao’s tightly guarded defenses.

Li Rong took a deep breath and pushed Cen Xiao’s shoulder. Irritated, he said, “Let’s go. Time to find Jiang Zheng.”

Cen Xiao chuckled softly and pinched Li Rong’s waist. “Didn’t I say you could hold me accountable however you like? Why are you still mad?”

Li Rong snorted lightly. “Well, you’d better watch out. I hold grudges, and I’m ruthless. When the time comes, I’ll lock you up somewhere, strip you down, and whip you.”

Cen Xiao raised an eyebrow, his Adam’s apple bobbing slightly. His voice dropped to a low pitch. “You can start now if you want.”

As the sun set, a brilliant orange glow stretched across the horizon. The snow that had been shoveled off the roadsides finally stopped melting as it waited for the stillness of the deep night.

With Geng An’s help, Jiang Zheng wasn’t too difficult to arrange a meeting with.

However, this time, Jiang Zheng seemed a bit resistant.

Looking at the three people in front of her, Jiang Zheng furrowed her brows and clutched her bag strap tightly. With caution, she said, “Didn’t I already tell you I can’t give you the evidence right now?”

She hadn’t expected Geng An to seek her out again the very next day. She thought she had made herself clear the previous day, and she needed time to process her own chaotic emotions.

Geng An gestured toward Cen Xiao. “This is my direct superior, the leader of the Ghost Eye Unit. He’s also the son of District Three’s President. If we’re going to help you, it’ll mainly be through him.”

Jiang Zheng pursed her lips, taking a longer look at Cen Xiao.

She was somewhat surprised. Cen Xiao was so young—at least ten years younger than Geng An—and yet he was already the leader of the Ghost Eye Unit.

Whether he earned his position through skill or by having a powerful father, it at least proved that Geng An hadn’t lied to her. They indeed had the ability to take down Han Jiang.

Jiang Zheng didn’t care whether Cen Xiao wanted to bring down Han Jiang for justice or personal gain—it wasn’t her concern. The enemy of her enemy was her friend.

With that in mind, Jiang Zheng’s expression softened a bit. She extended her hand. “Hello.”

Cen Xiao shook her hand briefly, his demeanor controlled and measured. His fingers barely touched hers before pulling back quickly, leaving Jiang Zheng momentarily stunned.

Although she was much older than Cen Xiao, she was undeniably a beauty by general standards. Given that Cen Xiao didn’t seem to have a woman in his life, even without ulterior motives, she hadn’t expected him to be so distant.

Clearing her throat, Jiang Zheng said, “I’ve already told you everything I can.”

Geng An glanced at Cen Xiao and Li Rong before turning back to Jiang Zheng with a cheerful smile. “Old classmate, did Han Ying contact you yesterday?”

Jiang Zheng remained silent. Geng An took her lack of response as confirmation.

“Actually, you could pretend to rekindle your relationship with him. If you could get him to let his guard down and reveal something, it’d be even better.”

Jiang Zheng swallowed hard. “Of course I know that.”

The truth was, there was another reason she couldn’t openly explain.

She had pressed Han Ying about whether he was married, divorced, and how he had been living abroad these past years.

At first, Han Ying deflected the questions. Later, cornered by her persistence, he vaguely hinted that he was currently single and even showed her the ring he wore on his index finger.

Her last shred of hope was crushed. Seeing Han Ying’s blatant lies, she felt only disdain.

Moreover, Han Ying told her that his return to the country was due to his grandmother’s serious illness. She was on her deathbed, and he had come back to care for her—and because he missed Jiang Zheng.

Jiang Zheng saw through him. Han Ying was not a responsible person, nor someone who valued emotional connections. 

If he could flirt with her daily while his grandmother was gravely ill, it was clear that even family meant little to him, let alone an outsider like her.

After a brief exchange on familiar topics, it was Cen Xiao’s turn to steer the conversation.

Cen Xiao spoke seriously. “Actually, the main reason we’re here is to meet your father, Jiang Xunwei.”

Jiang Zheng froze, immediately frowning. “My father wouldn’t hand over the evidence to you either, and he doesn’t even know about this matter.”

Cen Xiao shook his head. “It’s not about this matter—it’s something else.”

Jiang Zheng looked puzzled.

Li Rong, who had been quiet all along, suddenly spoke up. “Do you know why your father declined the rehiring offer from Jiajia Central Hospital?”

Jiang Zheng was momentarily stunned.

She didn’t want to admit it, but ever since their last meeting, Li Rong had an inexplicable air of intimidation that made her instinctively avoid offending him.

“Of course, it’s because private hospitals offer better compensation. Why are you asking about this?”

Li Rong lowered his eyes slightly, the corners of his lips curling into a faint smile. “Really? Then, with Jiang Xunwei’s medical skills and experience, why has he never become a department head?”

Jiang Zheng had never carefully considered these questions.

After graduating, unable to pursue further studies abroad, she had no choice but to leave the field of biochemistry. At first, she obtained a teaching qualification and became a teacher. After a few years, she realized that the promotion opportunities for female teachers were limited, so she resigned and ventured into the fashion business. Over the years, with ups and downs, she managed to stay on track.

Because her expertise revolved around running a small business, she only had a superficial understanding of hospital operations and organizational structures. She also never thought about these matters from her parents’ perspective.

But with just one sentence from Li Rong, her heart began to waver.

Could there really be something more to this?

Could it have to do with the abortion her parents secretly arranged for her back then?

“This… must be because of my dad’s personality, right? He’s a stubborn man with a temper. When patients ask irrelevant or unprofessional questions, he doesn’t like explaining, which often causes conflicts. He’s also rigid and unwilling to compromise, so he doesn’t have many friends in the department. Since being selected as a department head requires not just skills but also leadership and networking, I don’t think he has many supporters. What else could it be?”

Jiang Zheng was flustered, fearing that she had indeed affected her parents’ careers. She vaguely sensed that her father cared deeply about becoming a department head.

Cen Xiao knew that Li Rong didn’t have all the answers, but his comments were calculated to plant seeds of doubt in Jiang Zheng’s mind, making her uneasy. This way, even if they didn’t actively seek out Jiang Xunwei, Jiang Zheng would push for it herself.

After all, when it comes to one’s family, no one can remain entirely indifferent.

“For a prestigious hospital like Jiajia, humanistic care for doctors is usually a given. When department heads or deputies retire, the hospital will issue a polite rehire offer. But whether it’s genuine or just for appearances is evident from the terms of the offer. Do you think Director Zhai really doesn’t recognize Jiang Xunwei’s value? If they truly wanted to keep him, wouldn’t they have made an irresistible offer?”

Li Rong’s expression was calm, and his tone was composed. But it was precisely this serenity that made Jiang Zheng increasingly uneasy.

After what happened all those years ago, Jiang Zheng had become deeply suspicious and sensitive. Li Rong’s remarks convinced her that there was indeed more to her father’s rehire situation.

Just as her parents couldn’t bear to see her suffer injustice, Jiang Zheng couldn’t bear the thought of her parents being wronged.

After much deliberation, Jiang Zheng took a deep breath and finally relented. “My dad just returned from lecturing in a nearby city today. He’s at home now. I’ll… ask him.”

Li Rong suddenly added, “Ask if he’d be willing to come over regarding the Luyinxu case.”

Jiang Zheng stiffened, her confusion evident, but she bit her lip and walked away, gripping her phone tightly.

Making sure she was far enough for her conversation to remain private, she lowered her head and cautiously dialed the number.

About fifteen minutes later, Jiang Zheng returned from her corner. She looked directly at Li Rong, her expression a mix of surprise and inevitability.

“My dad said he’ll come right away.”

Li Rong nodded but didn’t let his guard down.

Jiang Zheng stared at him with increasing intrigue, finding him more and more peculiar.

So young, yet seemingly knowing so much.

He knew how much Xu Tanghui had suffered, knew there was more to the old lab incident, and even knew about Luyinxu.

Jiang Zheng remembered mentioning Luyinxu last time, connecting it to Li Qingli. She suspected Han Jiang was targeting Li Qingli in retaliation.

But that had been her speculation, and Li Rong hadn’t reacted at the time.

Now, however, he seemed certain that her father would come because of Luyinxu.

When Jiang Zheng cautiously asked her father if he’d come for the Luyinxu case, she thought he might not even remember what it was. But to her surprise, after a moment of silence, Jiang Xunwei simply said, “I’ll come.”

Though the matter had happened two years ago, Jiang Zheng hadn’t known her father was aware of the details of Luyinxu.

But given Jiang Xunwei’s upright yet eccentric nature, his willingness to come signaled that there was indeed something fishy about Luyinxu.

The trials back then had ended hastily and left much unresolved.

They were at a Japanese restaurant near Jiang Zheng’s home.

The private dining room offered great privacy, though the tatami layout was slightly inconvenient.

While eating wasn’t their primary purpose, Geng An still ordered a platter of assorted sashimi and some tempura to maintain appearances.

Dry ice wafted dramatically from vents, forming a cloud of mist over the fresh, glistening sashimi, creating an ethereal atmosphere. But no one picked up their chopsticks.

The room remained quiet until, forty minutes later, Jiang Xunwei arrived.

At sixty, Jiang Xunwei’s hair was nearly all white, with only a few stray black strands standing out.

His facial features were striking, and his stern expression commanded respect, giving him an aura of authority.

Even now, traces of his youthful handsomeness could be seen—thick eyebrows, large eyes, a straight nose, and well-shaped lips. Jiang Zheng’s appearance clearly inherited much from him.

When Jiang Xunwei entered and saw the unfamiliar faces, all of them much younger, he frowned deeply.

He had assumed it would be some significant figures looking into the Luyinxu case, which was why he had come.

But it was just a group of kids. Jiang Xunwei regretted his decision, feeling this trip was unnecessary.

Li Rong finally moved. He raised his head and gave Jiang Zheng a warm, polite smile. “Miss Jiang, could I trouble you to step out for a moment? The matter we need to discuss with Dr. Jiang has nothing to do with the Han family.”

Jiang Zheng was momentarily dazed.

Such a rude request should have warranted a firm rejection, but looking into Li Rong’s eyes, she found herself unable to say no.

This man was too enigmatic and cunning, capable of both understanding and influencing people’s emotions. Even though she knew she shouldn’t comply, his gaze made her feel that leaving the room wasn’t such a big deal after all.

Though ten years older than him, she still found herself drawn into his magnetic presence.

Moreover, even Jiang Xunwei didn’t object.

Jiang Zheng glanced at Jiang Xunwei and noticed that he also seemed unwilling for her to know anything related to Luyinxu.

Jiang Zheng pursed her lips, grabbed her belongings, stood up, and slid the door open.

Seeing this, Geng An immediately followed her. “Hey, old classmate, let me join you for a cup of sake.”

Jiang Xunwei shot a less-than-friendly look at Cen Xiao and Li Rong before removing his coat and sitting where Jiang Zheng had been. “You two young kids…”

Li Rong interrupted him calmly, his tone composed. “Allow me to introduce myself. I am Li Qingli and Gu Nong’s son. My name is Li Rong.”

Jiang Xunwei’s eyes widened abruptly, his lips slightly parted, but no words came out for a long moment.

Li Qingli? Gu Nong?

Those names were from so long ago, barely mentioned anymore.

He had never expected that one day he’d find himself sitting in a Japanese restaurant, discussing events from two years ago with the son of Professor Li.

Jiang Xunwei didn’t doubt Li Rong’s identity. By now, the only people still holding a grudge over what happened back then were bound to be blood relatives.

This realization brought a pang of sorrow to Jiang Xunwei.

It turned out that no one had pursued the investigation further. The person sitting in front of him, following the trail, was merely a young man still wet behind the ears.

No matter how accomplished the Li couple had been in life, in the eyes of many, their legacy was nothing more than yesterday’s fleeting news.

Jiang Xunwei massaged his throat and cautiously asked, “Did Professors Li and Gu suspect something back then?”

He hadn’t realized that his tone had grown gentler when speaking to Li Rong.

Li Rong shook his head slightly. “I don’t know. At the time, it was like the sky had fallen on my parents. Swept up in relentless waves of malice, they didn’t even dare to step outside. Nobody could maintain clarity of thought under such circumstances. Their photos were plastered everywhere, not even the newsstands outside our residential complex spared. Every day, I had to go out to buy food and bring it home, coaxing them to eat, though none of us had much appetite.

The most frequent activity back then was self-doubt—not questioning the trial itself but questioning themselves and the world around them. We tried to reassemble our shattered worldview, to make it at least presentable. But no matter how we pieced it together, it always looked grotesque, like a collection of monsters and demons.

We even attempted to understand and analyze our mistakes to make sense of the situation. Otherwise, it was impossible to accept—how could a lifetime of kindness and good deeds lead to such an end?”

Even recalling those days brought a visceral sense of nausea.

Fortunately, time had dulled the pain, allowing Li Rong to add, “It’s all in the past.”

Cen Xiao gently held his hand, his warm palm comforting his cool one. Li Rong finally managed to pull himself out of the whirlpool of memories, focusing his attention back on Jiang Xunwei. “Dr. Jiang, you were in pediatrics at the time. Can you tell me what you know?”

Jiang Xunwei lowered his head heavily.

He was a stubborn and upright man, more obstinate than a mule. His deep sense of justice made it impossible for him to ignore Li Rong’s account of the past.

“I wasn’t in charge of the first-phase trials of Luyinxu. Such an important project was assigned by Director Zhai Ning to Department Head Zhou Hong. I’ll admit, I felt a bit resentful about it, thinking Director Zhai was playing favorites. Even after the incident, I wondered whether my personal bias against Zhou Hong had influenced my perception of him. To avoid letting these thoughts consume me, I didn’t want to stay at the hospital any longer. Coincidentally, Jiajia Hospital didn’t seem keen on keeping me either. After my rehire request was declined, the director didn’t push the issue.”

“What did Zhou Hong do to make you suspicious?” Cen Xiao asked.

Jiang Xunwei sighed. “At our hospital, each department head has an office near the wards. Zhou Hong’s office was directly across from mine. As you might know, patients often visit outside of regular consultations to discuss their conditions or request specific doctors for surgeries. In addition to patients, there are also…”

Li Rong calmly completed his sentence, “Pharmaceutical representatives.”

Jiang Xunwei let out a bitter laugh. “Exactly. About five or six years ago, it wasn’t uncommon for reps to visit offices directly, but regulations have tightened since then. Most people are careful now, afraid of losing their jobs. That’s why I found it odd to see people from Suhe Biotech lingering outside Zhou Hong’s office. They didn’t identify themselves and wore plain clothes, but after so many years in the field, I can recognize them when I see them.”

Jiang Xunwei paused to gauge Li Rong and Cen Xiao’s reactions. Seeing no surprise on their faces, he realized they had already uncovered Suhe Biotech’s involvement.

He continued, “At the time, Zhou Hong was entirely focused on the first-phase trials of Luyinxu. Many of his regular duties fell to me. I couldn’t help but think that if Luyinxu succeeded, it would pose a major threat to Suhe Biotech’s Jiaketing drug.

I’m not saying Suhe Biotech necessarily did anything, but Zhou Hong maintaining close ties with them during such a critical period seemed inappropriate.”

Li Rong listened quietly, piecing together the puzzle as yet another key figure—Zhou Hong—emerged.

As more names came to light, the mystery grew increasingly clear.

Jiang Xunwei rubbed his temples and said, “What I’ve told you is just offhand observations, nothing conclusive. But everything changed after I participated in an emergency case.”

Li Rong narrowed his eyes slightly, instinctively tightening his grip on Cen Xiao’s hand.

By now, the dry ice in the sashimi platter had completely evaporated. Without its ethereal mist, the fish and shellfish looked rather forlorn.

Staring at the wall of the private room, Jiang Xunwei seemed lost in his memories. “I’ve read Professor Li’s paper on the treatment mechanism of Luyinxu. Theoretically, it’s entirely feasible, building upon his earlier hypothesis for optimizing CAR-T therapy. Animal trials were successful, leaving only one question—whether the human body, especially in children whose development is incomplete, could adapt to it and whether there would be side effects. 

Because Luyinxu was an injectable drug, and Jiajia Hospital had limited bed space, children participating in the trial would only stay for two or three days under observation after receiving their dose. Then they’d go home, returning about ten days later for the next dose. It was during those ten-day intervals that problems arose.”

Jiang Xunwei couldn’t help but sigh, “That night, I happened to be on duty. A child was brought in at 3 a.m., already in shock from a high fever. As you might know, most of the twenty children who had incidents were from the orphanage. Orphanages have limited staff, so it’s impossible to watch over the children like parents do. Some kids are introverted and don’t voice their discomfort. By the time it’s unbearable, it’s already too late.

“I did everything I could to save him, but it was still too late. In fact, the child was already in critical condition when the resuscitation began. That child was a volunteer, so the hospital had his full medical history. Yet, as we followed the case details during the rescue, an unexpected complication arose. Later, the head of the orphanage hesitated but admitted the child had a pre-existing condition.”

Cen Xiao frowned, “The Phase I drug trials only recruit children without pre-existing conditions when safety and efficacy aren’t fully guaranteed. I remember the media coverage back then clearly stated that only children without such conditions could participate.”

Jiang Xunwei nodded, “I don’t know if it was a false report or another oversight. The child I tried to save, as well as the other orphans who died, all had pre-existing conditions to varying degrees.”

Li Rong lowered his gaze, his voice tinged with fatigue. “Luyinxu will eventually need to be tested on children with pre-existing conditions. I remember my parents mentioning that Phase I trials impose stricter criteria for safety’s sake.”

Jiang Xunwei shook his head. “I can’t say for sure, but those children had severe infections and neurological damage. Those with strong immune systems could pull through, but those with pre-existing conditions and weakened immunity couldn’t. At the time, I suspected it might be a drug quality issue. But everyone was focused on the fact that Luyinxu showed no positive effects on bacterial progeria, and no one questioned whether the drug itself was clean. When the scandal erupted, the hospital clammed up, even banning private discussions. To be honest, I’ve always had a theory…”

At this point, Jiang Xunwei turned his gaze to Li Rong, hesitating to speak.

Li Rong’s expression turned mocking, and he let out a low laugh. “Jiajia Central Hospital wasn’t even using Luyinxu. It was administering a counterfeit knockoff of Jiaketing.”

Just as he thought!

Jiang Xunwei felt a chill run down his spine.

Because it wasn’t Luyinxu, it had no efficacy against bacterial progeria. And because it wasn’t even authentic Jiaketing, it lacked any inhibitory effects.

The drug’s production environment was questionable, leading to fungal infections in the treated children. The realities of the orphanage masked these abnormalities, making the children with pre-existing conditions the perfect evidence against Li Qingli.

Jiang Xunwei felt his scalp tighten, his heart pounding with terror.

In broad daylight and under the public eye, these people dared to commit such heinous crimes—and succeeded!

The most ironic part was that the involved parties included a pharmaceutical company supposedly fighting rare diseases, a hospital meant to save lives, and an orphanage claiming to care for children.

Each took one misstep for profit, culminating in this absurd and appalling case. That’s why it became a heavily guarded secret, impossible to unravel.

Jiang Xunwei slammed the table hard, his eyes bloodshot, teeth clenched as he trembled with anger. “It’s a shame I couldn’t keep any evidence. At the time, to avoid suspicion, I deliberately stayed away from the project. Otherwise, I’d have caught Zhou Hong’s wrongdoing!”

Li Rong was much calmer than Jiang Xunwei. He suddenly asked, “What do you think of Zhai Ning?”

Jiang Xunwei was a man of integrity, so Li Rong spoke to him with a polite tone.

Jiang Xunwei picked up the teapot, poured himself a cup of matcha, and sipped it to steady his emotions.

“I know you suspect Director Zhai. Zhai Ning is, after all, Zhou Hong’s cousin. To be honest, I also had concerns about her appointing Zhou Hong as a department head. But objectively, Director Zhai is a competent doctor and a decent person. Maybe you haven’t noticed, but after decades in the hospital, I’ve seen things. Sometimes, the hospital receives desperate patients with no money. According to protocol, we can’t treat them and must turn them away. It’s not heartless; it’s reality. But for cases where a high-level surgery could save a life, Director Zhai always tries to arrange it. She’s helped many over the years. I don’t believe she’d sacrifice these orphans for money.”

Li Rong said nothing.

He had seen Zhai Ning dining with Zheng Zhupan. At the very least, Zhai Ning must have known about it.

Jiang Xunwei noticed Li Rong’s reserved attitude and understood.

“Of course, Director Zhai might have a side I don’t know about. At the very least, her order for everyone to stay silent after the incident was suspicious.”

Jiang Xunwei shared all he knew, adding that if Li Rong ever needed his testimony, he’d be willing to help out of respect for Professors Li and Gu.

“I’ll take my leave now. I don’t know how you know my daughter, but she’s completely unaware of this matter. My wife and I felt it was too serious to tell her back then. Please don’t mention our conversation to her.”

Li Rong raised an eyebrow. “Jiang Zheng is already in her thirties. You can’t hide everything from her.”

Jiang Xunwei spoke gravely, “Parents won’t let their children be entangled in trouble. My wife and I are still here. We just want her to worry less.”

It was a subtle warning, hoping Li Rong wouldn’t involve Jiang Zheng.

Jiang Xunwei knew that the Luyinxu case was a tangled web, and anyone drawn into it couldn’t escape unscathed. He was willing to risk himself for justice but refused to let Jiang Zheng get hurt.

Li Rong wasn’t intimidated by Jiang Xunwei’s warning, but his words struck a chord.

So this is what parents think.

This is what it means to still have parents around.

At 25, Li Rong realized he no longer had a safe harbor.

He collected himself and smiled at Jiang Xunwei. “Alright.”