Chapter 197: Even if it kills him, even if his hand is crippled, he will never lower his head and beg...

Seeing the person in front of her, Fang Wanrong was instantly reminded of her old nightmares.

Yes, although Granny Sang appeared gentle and kind, she was Fang Wanrong’s worst nightmare.

She remembered back when she had just married Sheng Xinhao, she was so excited and eager to clear Sheng Zexi out of the way to make room for her own future son.

So, when she made her move against Sheng Zexi, she didn’t hold back at all.

She nearly cost Sheng Zexi his life.

Of course, even after doing all that, she managed to wash her hands clean of the matter, and even Sheng Xinhao believed her.

He even thought Sheng Zexi had done it on purpose, just to frame his stepmother.

But Sang Yuwan, Sheng Zexi’s mother, stood firmly on Sheng Zexi’s side.

She took Sheng Zexi back to the Sang family and protected him fiercely.

She even personally went after Fang Wanrong. Even without evidence, once this old lady decided it was her, she was determined to make her pay.

That incident nearly cost Fang Wanrong her own life.

From then on, Fang Wanrong was terrified of this old lady from the Sang family, and she completely reined herself in.

Over the years, although both families lived in the capital, Fang Wanrong always avoided the old lady from the Sang family whenever she could.

She never expected to run into her again now.

Fang Wanrong instinctively felt her confidence falter.

And in the next second, when she heard the doctor she’d invited call the old lady “Grandma Sang” and saw how close they were, Fang Wanrong’s eyes widened in shock.

Who could call the Sang family’s old lady “grandma”?

It seemed that, apart from Sheng Zexi, only his wife could.

So this female doctor in front of her was...

“You, you are...”

Gu Jianing saw that Fang Wanrong had guessed, and blinked her innocent eyes as she confirmed, “Mrs. Sheng, Sheng Zexi is my husband.”

Fang Wanrong dug her fingernails into her palm to stop herself from crying out. So it really was her!

Granny Sang looked at Fang Wanrong with a hostile expression. “What are you doing here? What are you up to this time?”

Meeting Granny Sang’s unfriendly gaze, Fang Wanrong was so frightened she took several steps back, then fled as if chased by a dog.

“Ningning, are you alright? She didn’t hurt you, did she? Oh, right, you probably don’t know yet—she’s that stepmother of little Xi, the one who’s sweet on the outside but bitter inside...” Granny Sang looked at Gu Jianing with concern.

Gu Jianing quickly shook her head. “Grandma, I’m fine...” Then she explained how Fang Wanrong had just tried to invite her to treat Sheng Xinhao.

“Hmph, that old man is sick? I bet he’s faking it. Ningning, don’t fall for it, and don’t let them trick you. If you see people like that in the future, just pretend you don’t know them and keep your distance.”

“Okay, Grandma, I understand.” Although Gu Jianing thought Sheng Xinhao might really be sick and in need of treatment, she had no intention of running over to help him.

“Grandma, let’s go home.”

“Alright. Are you hungry? Why don’t we eat at the state-run restaurant first, then head home after?”

“Sounds good.”

...

Meanwhile, Fang Wanrong returned home in a complete mess.

At home, Sheng Xinhao was waiting anxiously. His arm pain had flared up again and was becoming unbearable.

He was just waiting for the doctor to arrive and treat him.

He waited for hours, but only Fang Wanrong came back.

“Where’s Dr. Gu?” Sheng Xinhao asked.

Fang Wanrong’s face was grim. “She’s not coming.”

“What happened? Did you not invite her, or did she refuse to come?”

“How could I not invite her? There wasn’t even a seat when I got there, so I stood and waited for hours. My legs are killing me—I can barely stand now.” Fang Wanrong quickly poured out her grievances.

“So, the doctor refused to come?” Sheng Xinhao frowned, his expression darkening.

“Honey, you’ll never guess who Dr. Gu is! She’s actually that country bumpkin Sheng Zexi married—Gu Jianing!”

The living room instantly fell silent.

Sheng Xinhao’s expression cracked.

It took him a while to recover. “Are you sure? How could that be possible!”

Sheng Xinhao didn’t believe it. He absolutely refused to believe it.

The woman Sheng Zexi married was just a country girl, in his eyes uneducated, incompetent, and with no background.

How could she possibly be the highly skilled, award-winning doctor who became Elder Chen’s only disciple?

Impossible. Absolutely impossible!

But no matter how much Sheng Xinhao refused to believe it, Fang Wanrong shattered his last hope.

“Honey, why would I lie to you? It’s her, even though I hadn’t met her before.”

“But she admitted it herself, and she was with that old lady from the Sang family, so...”

So, there was no way she was mistaken.

She’d rather have been mistaken—it would have saved her so much embarrassment.

At this moment, Sheng Xinhao remembered something.

That morning, when he went to find that country girl, they were just about to go out and said they had something important to do.

At the time, Sheng Xinhao wondered, what important business could a country bumpkin have in the capital?

But if she really was Dr. Gu, then her important business was giving a lecture at Beijing High School. That was indeed important.

Just then, Sheng Xinhao recalled something he had overlooked.

His old friend had said that Dr. Gu had come to the capital from the Northwest Military District.

And that country girl had followed his eldest son to the Northwest with the army.

Now she was in the capital too.

And his old friend had said the doctor’s name was Gu Jianing.

It was exactly the same name as the country girl—why hadn’t he thought they could be the same person?

But how could a country bumpkin possibly be such a renowned doctor?

No matter how much Sheng Xinhao didn’t want to believe it, the truth was right in front of him—he had no choice but to accept it.

“Hiss...”

Just then, another sharp pain shot through his arm, making Sheng Xinhao suck in a breath. His face instantly turned pale.

“Honey, are you alright...” Fang Wanrong noticed something was wrong and hurried over to check on him.

“This won’t do, we need to call a doctor.”

With that, Fang Wanrong started dialing the doctor’s number.

Meanwhile, Sheng Xinhao collapsed onto the sofa in pain.

Thinking back to the harsh words he’d said to Gu Jianing at the Sang family’s house that morning, his face grew even uglier, as if he’d swallowed a fly.

No, Sheng Xinhao would never go back on his word.

Even if the pain killed him, even if his hand was crippled, he would never lower his head and beg that country girl to treat him.

It’s fine—there are plenty of skilled doctors in the world.

Didn’t his contact at the railway department say they were close to finding that acupuncture master?

Gu Jianing? He absolutely refused to ask her!

He’d just find someone else!

Gu Jianing: That “someone else” is also me. Surprise!"