Chapter 72 Visiting the Doctor: "Auntie, Grandma?"

Chapter 72 Visiting the Doctor: "Auntie, Grandma?"

The roses are clustered on the balcony.

Zhou Ti leaned over and watched Tao Tao get into the car. Cheng Zhao helped close the car door and then went around to the other side to get in.

Just as Tao Tao came downstairs, Zhou Ti naturally witnessed Cheng Zhao taking the ring. Fortunately, Tao Tao shook her head and refused, preventing Cheng Zhao from succeeding.

If Ye Weizheng weren't here, he would definitely have been invited upstairs for a chat.

Zhou Ti watched the Rolls-Royce drive away, somewhat surprised that Cheng Zhao could drive such an impeccable car.

Judging from Cheng Zhao's behavior on the show, she thought he would drive a Koenigsegg or a Lamborghini.

It was 11 a.m., and the sun was shining brightly.

Cheng Zhao drove his car out of the residential area gate, glanced at the van that flashed by in the rearview mirror, and then looked away.

There was a moment of silence inside the car as Ye Hantao gripped her bag strap tightly.

This was their first real-life meeting since Cheng Zhao confessed his ill-fated arranged marriage over the phone.

Ye Hantao glanced at the box on the back seat, then at him in the driver's seat, and changed the subject, asking, "What are we going to eat later?"

"It was supposed to be kept secret, but you wanted to know beforehand?"

"think!"

Ye Hantao prepared to search online for dishes that netizens highly recommended.

"Sure," Cheng Zhao said lazily, "Try on the ring first."

Ye Hantao's upturned lips disappeared.

This is something we really can't avoid!

Of course, Ye Hantao herself was also a little guilty.

She had promised Cheng Zhao that she would return all the rings to him after he tried them all on, but she ended up leaving one ring unworn.

Ye Hantao turned her head away from him, saying, "I don't usually like to wear rings."

This is the truth.

In her jewelry box, she had acquired more than a dozen earrings and bracelets over time, but only two rings.

Cheng Zhao's eyebrows twitched slightly. "Okay."

Outside the car window, the plane trees were layered with pale yellow leaves, their branches strong and vigorous, and the shade of the trees along the long street shielded the summer heat.

In the distance, the POL store sign came into view.

Ye Hantao pointed and said, "Cheng Zhao, this is the dessert shop I said was really delicious."

Cheng Zhao saw it.

It was only noon when POL closed the store, hanging a sign that all the desserts in the store were sold out.

He swallowed his answer about where he planned to eat lunch, then changed the subject, "Next time I'll have to come earlier and try to catch it when it's open."

next time?

What will you do next time?

Ye Hantao turned back to look at him again, and suddenly, a golden bracelet fell from his finger.

Cheng Zhao stopped the car at the red light.

He held the steering wheel with one hand and carried the custom-made gold bracelet in the other.

Sunlight shone on the pendant of the golden gourd, and Ye Hantao's eyelashes trembled slightly as she saw a full golden bead embedded in the gourd, with silver diamonds of varying sizes adorning the intertwined chains on both sides.

"A gift," Cheng Zhao said.

Ye Hantao's lips twitched slightly, but before she could speak, Cheng Zhao had already started recording a message on his phone.

Ye Hantao's voice rang out from inside the car, "I can accept any gift you send, whether it costs thousands or even tens of thousands."

"I extracted this sentence from the default recording settings."

"...Why was it extracted separately?"

Cheng Zhao tilted his head to look at her, "I'm afraid you won't accept it again."

Ye Hantao gave a soft snort and snatched the gold bracelet from his fingers.

Although it was called a robbery, Cheng Zhao didn't pull hard at all.

Ye Hantao was wearing a long-sleeved blouse today, with only a pair of pearl earrings on, but no bracelet, which she was now wearing.

Cheng Zhao watched as Ye Hantao draped the gold chain over her wrist. Just as he was about to offer to help her with the clasp, Ye Hantao easily fastened it with one hand.

"..."

He had no use for his skills.

Ye Hantao raised her wrist to Cheng Zhao, her almond-shaped eyes curving slightly. "Not too loose, not too tight, thank you."

The golden gourd swayed with the movement, its pendant brushing against the fair wrist, the diamonds inside sparkling with fragmented light.

That severed wrist was more dazzling than any diamond.

Ye Hantao followed Cheng Zhao's gaze and looked at her wrist.

Suddenly, a horn blared.

Ye Hantao snapped out of her embarrassment and slapped Cheng Zhao's arm with her left hand, which had just been adorned with a gold chain.

A crisp snap.

The light is green!

Cheng Zhao started the car.

Ye Hantao looked down at her hands. "Did I use a bit too much force just now?"

"Not much," Cheng Zhao retorted. "Did your hand hurt from clapping?"

Reminded by him, Ye Hantao did indeed feel a slight tingling sensation in her fingertips.

She preemptively accused him, saying, "Your arm is too hard."

Cheng Zhao suppressed a laugh, "Then why don't you film it a few more times to punish it?"

Ye Hantao wouldn't stand for it. Was that punishing his arm? It was clearly punishing her own hand.

"I want to play some music."

"Let it go."

Ye Hantao turned on the car's music player, and the first song was one she had listened to on repeat many times.

Ye Hantao scrolled through the songs again, and each one resonated with her own style.

She remembered that this was the playlist she had shared with Cheng Zhao.

To the sound of cheerful music, the car drove into the city center.

Ye Hantao chatted with Cheng Zhao, occasionally fiddling with the gold chain on her wrist.

When she touched the clasp, she noticed the two subtle patterns on it.

A peach-shaped ornament.

A cross.

Can a peach and a cross be designed together?

Ye Hantao suddenly looked up and stared at Cheng Zhao's cuffs.

There's a gold cufflink on it, with a cross design in the center.

Ye Hantao pretended not to notice and lowered her eyes, even taking out her phone to browse the web to distract herself.

This time, I saw people I knew.

"Cheng Zhao, I saw the announcement." Ye Hantao didn't even bother to show her phone to the person driving, and read aloud, "Ji Changtu conspired with bank insiders to fabricate false loan purposes and forge financial statements..."

Ye Hantao found the reading too long and decided to go straight to the conclusion.

"He actually managed to get a loan of 50 million using this method."

Thinking back to how Ji Changtu struggled to buy the ornament from the police, Ye Hantao knew he must have recognized it as an old mine glass jadeite.

Both Shi Yue and Cheng Zhao suspected it was an old mine glass jadeite, and warned her not to sell it, but Ji Changtu only wanted to spend a few hundred thousand to buy it.

Cheng Zhao wasn't interested in Ji Changtu's fate, but he still asked, "Based on your experience, do you think he'll be sentenced?"

"Yes, and it will be a serious offense," Ye Hantao said. "This is already considered a fraud case involving an exceptionally large sum of money, which should carry a sentence of at least ten years in prison."

In the comments section, netizens could only offer sarcasm and sighs.

So his tea shop and jade store are both misnamed?

[It's obvious you weren't reading carefully; the jade shop no longer belongs to him.]

[Didn't you see the inside story? He gets a commission on each piece of jade he sells. No wonder he keeps talking about jade on the show, trying to entice us viewers to buy it.]

[I know Liao Jiayue's fans buy tea, but surely no one would be foolish enough to buy jade?]

[Seriously, a few people laughed and said they bought Ji Changtu's jade pendant after hearing Liao Jiayue praise its smooth and translucent quality. Several people on her social media were posting pictures of their purchases, saying it was indeed worthy of the quality Yueyue had praised.]

[Actually, the fans' purchases aren't necessarily fake, but the prices have increased almost tenfold.]

Ye Hantao scrolled through a few comments and then looked back at the announcement. This part wasn't in the plot provided by the system at all, which showed that the plot was indeed unreliable.

Thinking about it this way, Ye Hantao stared blankly at the three words "Liao Jiayue" in the comments section.

Liao Jiayue is also different from the female lead described in the system.

"arrive."

Cheng Zhao's voice brought Ye Hantao back to her senses.

The car had come to a stop, and Ye Hantao was still unbuckling her seatbelt when this person leaned over to help open the car door.

Ye Hantao paused slightly in her breath as the cool, woody scent suddenly approached.

Sunlight streamed in through the car window, and from this angle, Ye Hantao could clearly see his drooping eyelashes.

My heart skipped a beat.

Ye Hantao said subconsciously, "You...you're wearing perfume."

On previous occasions, Cheng Zhao always smelled of the bitter scent of soapberry.

"The taste is very strong?"

"It smells nice."

Cheng Zhao resisted the urge to turn his head, as that would be too close.

He sat back in the driver's seat with a serious expression, his gaze sweeping over the buttons under the dashboard.

Actually, you can open the passenger door from the driver's seat using a button.

Ye Hantao got out of the car.

She had never been to this place before, but she recognized it at a glance.

“I received their manager’s business card at a food tasting event.”

The manager of this restaurant initially said they would offer a 50% discount, but later, when many managers offered the same discount, the manager of this private kitchen restaurant said that she and her family could come to the restaurant for a free tasting.

Cheng Zhao knew that Ye Hantao had received a lot of business cards at the tasting event and was listed as a guest of honor by the managers of several restaurants, but he did not know that this restaurant was among them.

"This meal is on me," Cheng Zhao said. "If you come with your family, you can use the discount they gave you."

Over the past few days, Cheng Zhao has also noticed that Ye Hantao's family is not short of money, but they are very frugal in some aspects.

The shop entrance is hidden deep in the old alley.

The doorman led the way, and when Ye Hantao and Cheng Zhao arrived at the private room, he used the walkie-talkie to call the manager.

He knew Ye Hantao; she was a distinguished guest whom the manager had repeatedly instructed them to treat with utmost care.

The manager said that whether they could defeat that private restaurant in Dongcheng depended entirely on Ye Hantao.

Ye Hantao flipped through the menu and found that most of the dishes were light in flavor.

Cheng Zhao: "I think it's advisable to eat a light diet before taking someone's pulse."

After speaking, he asked cautiously, "I'm not very familiar with Yuncheng. Could you recommend me next time?"

Ye Hantao: "Why didn't you ask me for a recommendation this time?"

Cheng Zhao: "Then there's no excuse for saying next time."

"..."

You think you're so smart.

Ye Hantao stopped looking at him completely and continued flipping through the menu.

Looking at the price, a serving of vegetable soup costs 688.

688.

Looking at it again, it's still 688, not 68.8.

Despite her brother's annual salary of tens of millions, Ye Hantao was still shocked by the price of 688.

Ye Hantao carefully examined the ingredients in the vegetable broth and was quite certain that there were no expensive ingredients in it.

If you insist on saying it's expensive, then it's just a bunch of vegetables labeled organic.

Let's look at the next dish, silverfish soup, number 1688.

What kind of silverfish is so expensive?

The king of silverfish.

The menu does mention wild Taihu Lake silverfish.

"The prices at this restaurant..." Ye Hantao said with a heavy heart, "are even more expensive than the Jinwan Hotel."

Once the dishes were served, Ye Hantao didn't bother to comment on the prices anymore.

The vegetables are sweet and crisp, and the broth is rich and flavorful without being greasy.

The quality of the ingredients is no different from that of the school cafeteria, but the chef's skills are very experienced, so the taste is several levels higher.

Ye Hantao scooped up another spoonful of silverfish soup. The first bite was moistened by the chicken broth, and the fish meat was tender and not fishy at all.

Before leaving, Ye Hantao gave the manager two suggestions based on her own tastes.

After the manager left, Ye Hantao whispered to Cheng Zhao, "The chefs at this restaurant, like the chefs at Jinwan, have all gone out to gain experience."

“I’ve had the same silverfish soup before,” Ye Hantao said. “The chef only sells it for 38 yuan a serving outside.”

Cheng Zhao, who made the payment: "..."

He wasn't heartbroken, but lamented that the chef still had to pay for his own training.

Ye Hantao had just reached the car when Cheng Zhao told her to wait a moment.

Then he walked away into the distance.

The alley was long and deep, barely wide enough for one car to pass through. Cheng Zhao actually pulled a paparazzo holding a camera out from around the corner!

Ye Hantao's eyes widened. When exactly did this person hide there?

She couldn't hear what the two were saying, but she saw the paparazzi hand something that looked like a memory card to Cheng Zhao with a pained expression, and then run away without looking back.

"He's been hiding there all along?"

"To be precise, they're hiding at the entrance of your residential compound."

Cheng Zhao tossed the memory card he had just stolen, saying, "He followed us all the way here after he saw us come out."

As he was leaving the neighborhood, he noticed paparazzi. When he went outside just now, he saw that the paparazzi were so afraid he wouldn't see them that half of their bodies were exposed.

Ye Hantao noticed that Cheng Zhao stared at her intently after he finished speaking, his eyes fixed on her.

What are you doing?

"Her face is still too beautiful."

As if to confirm this statement, Cheng Zhao handed the memory card to Ye Hantao, saying, "He took so many pictures."

Ye Hantao glared at him, walked past him, and got into the car.

When she was spotted by two fans at the train station, she told Cheng Zhao in front of him that she shouldn't wear a mask to cover her pretty face.

After Cheng Zhao got into the driver's seat, he tentatively asked, "Did I just say something wrong?"

Ye Hantao deliberately avoided looking at him, "Yes!"

"...It really is beautiful."

"!!!"

Ye Hantao snapped, "Shut up!"

Cheng Zhao shut up.

He started the car with his mouth shut, and drove it out of the alley with his mouth shut.

Until they were swept into the traffic, I don't know who couldn't help but burst out laughing first.

The next second, the car was filled with laughter.

Ye Hantao couldn't help but laugh, but she also felt that the two of them were like lunatics.

At that moment, Chen Xiaofeng made a voice call.

Before Ye Hantao could even ask what was wrong, Chen Xiaofeng's gruff voice boomed from the receiver, "Taotao! Are you with Cheng Zhao?!"

Ye Hantao was confused. "Yes, he's right next to me."

"Damn it! I called him four or five times, and he pretended not to hear me!" Chen Xiaofeng complained angrily, not forgetting to ask, "When are you two breaking up?"

Ye Hantao: "???"

Cheng Zhao looked displeased.

He drove without looking to the side, saying, "Chen Xiaofeng, have you been walking your dog for too long and can't speak like a human anymore?"

Chen Xiaofeng let out a sound of surprise, and suddenly realized that his words just now were not quite right.

Before Cheng Zhao could catch up with the person, he asked when they had separated.

"The breakup I'm talking about isn't this kind of breakup!"

[Hahaha, which one were you talking about that broke up!]

[I joined the crowd to see Liao Jiayue visit Chen Xiaofeng's place, and I even stumbled upon Cheng Zhao and Ye Hantao's gossip?!]

Have these two already started dating secretly?

[That doesn't sound like it.]

Anyway, Ye Hantao and Cheng Zhao are together!

Worried that Cheng Zhao might blame him for failing to win her over, Chen Xiaofeng hurriedly explained, "Didn't you have something to do this afternoon? You can't bring Ye Hantao with you, can you?"

He heard from Lu Yiyan that Cheng Zhao had asked him to make an appointment with an old traditional Chinese medicine doctor. He asked Lu Yiyan what kind of problem he had, but Lu Yiyan stubbornly refused to say.

Chen Xiaofeng thought about it and realized that Cheng Zhao might have developed a problem that he couldn't talk about in front of others, which was why Lu Yiyan kept quiet about it.

Is there anything more enjoyable than watching your brother get humiliated?

He immediately flew from the port city to Yuncheng.

No matter what illness Cheng Zhao has, he certainly can't take Ye Hantao to see a traditional Chinese medicine doctor, right?

Ye Hantao looked at Cheng Zhao, "Are you busy this afternoon?"

"There's only one thing this afternoon," Cheng Zhao said, "something we'll do later."

Audience: [???]

Is this something we can hear?

What are you two doing?!

People who only leave half their sentences unsaid are the most annoying!

[Old Chen! I order you to follow them!!!]

Unfortunately, Cheng Zhao helped Ye Hantao hang up Chen Xiaofeng's call.

They had registered for 3 p.m., and it was still a bit early when they left the private restaurant.

Ye Hantao made the decision, and they spent half an hour at the arcade before heading to Yuncheng Central Hospital.

On the way, Cheng Zhao said, "Dr. Zhou has been at Yuncheng Central Hospital all week, which saves us the trouble of flying to Beijing for treatment."

Ye Hantao responded and looked down at the messages she received on her phone.

[Liao Jiayue: Taotao, what time is your great-aunt free tonight?]

[Liao Jiayue: Would you mind if I brought Director Chen along?]

There's nothing to mind.

Ye Hantao replied.

The car was parked in the parking lot of the Traditional Chinese Medicine Hospital, where people coming and going were all seeking medical treatment and their accompanying family members.

After replying to Liao Jiayue, Ye Hantao turned around and spoke to her great-aunt.

[I might bring two people, or maybe three, tonight.]

After sending the message, she added with concern, "[No need for a prescription, just take my pulse and apply the plaster.]"

Ye Hantao drank quite a few powdered medicines made with Chinese medicinal herbs at her great-aunt's house.

Over the years, I haven't developed any health problems from drinking it.

However, if anyone helps prescribe medicine, and problems arise, even ten mouths won't be able to explain the situation.

[Great-aunt: Don't worry, I don't prescribe medicine for anyone other than relatives.]

Ye Hantao was relieved.

Thinking about it again, it's true. My great-aunt didn't even give acupuncture at home, but at a clinic run by a friend nearby.

Because it wasn't during the show's regular broadcast time, Auntie didn't know that Ye Hantao had briefly appeared in Liao Jiayue's live stream.

The two chatted for a while, and she casually asked, "[Great-aunt: Tao Tao, what are you doing?]"

Ye Hantao and Cheng Zhao have already entered the building of the Traditional Chinese Medicine Hospital.

Cheng Zhao had made preparations beforehand and led Ye Hantao to Zhou Shumiao's clinic with practiced ease.

Zhou Shumiao's schedule is long, with only one patient per hour.

Therefore, there are almost no people queuing around the consultation room.

[My friend made an appointment to take me to see a doctor for low blood sugar.]

After replying, Ye Hantao suddenly remembered that Liao Jiayue was live streaming, which had an effect on the persona feedback.

So, Ye Hantao edited the message again and sent it to Liao Jiayue: [My great-aunt is amazing, no less so than Professor Zhou Shumiao!]

[Disease progression: 38.6%]

It really works.

This also shows that Liao Jiayue shared the chat content with all the viewers in the live stream.

Ye Hantao was looking down at her phone and thus missed the electronic information board at the entrance of the clinic.

The doctor above has a bowl cut with bangs and wears a pair of non-prescription glasses.

Next to the photo is the doctor's name: Zhou Shumiao.

Cheng Zhao pushed open the door and the first thing he saw was the doctor sitting behind the table.

Her long hair was tied up, she was wearing a white mask, and she was replying to messages on her phone.

The moment the doctor put down his phone, Cheng Zhao heard Ye Hantao's phone buzz.

What caught Cheng Zhao's attention even more was that the doctor in front of him suddenly widened his eyes and gasped when he saw them.

Cheng Zhao knew that traditional Chinese medicine emphasizes observation, listening, questioning, and palpation.

Could it be that Zhou Shumiao had already discerned a serious problem simply by looking at it?

Cheng Zhao subconsciously reached out to grasp Ye Hantao's wrist, but Ye Hantao walked past him, took two steps, and stopped in front of the table.

Ye Hantao bent down and got closer to the doctor who was wearing a mask.

A moment later, Cheng Zhao suddenly heard Ye Hantao exclaim with a mixture of uncertainty and surprise.

"Auntie, Grandma?"

Cheng Zhao: "...?"

-----------------------

Author's Note: Great-aunt: I dare not open my eyes—

--Randomly dropped small red envelopes [droopy-eared rabbit head]--