Volume One, Chapter 49: Zhuang Zhizhi

Yu Mo spoke up.
“I am Yu Mo. How did you find me?”
She had originally intended to review the bounty before deciding whether or not to accept it.
But now, they had come straight to her door.

Zhuang Zhizhi’s assistant, Cheng Tai, introduced himself.
“Miss Yu, my name is Cheng Tai. You developed the AAV1 drug, didn’t you? Mr. Zhuang’s illness matches the field of your research, so we took the liberty of inviting you to treat him.”

He continued, “Miss Yu, please don’t refuse in haste. Mr. Zhuang is willing to pay you a deposit of five million up front. Even if the treatment doesn’t go well, the money is yours. I hope that, for the sake of Mr. Zhuang’s sincerity, you’ll agree to our request.”

Cheng Tai was exceedingly respectful, his sincerity palpable.

Yu Mo was a little surprised.
They had actually discovered she was the one who developed the AAV1 drug.
But given the stature of someone like Zhuang Zhizhi, it wasn’t hard to imagine they could find out.

She thought for a moment.
“Mr. Cheng, I can try to treat him, but I’ll need to know more about Mr. Zhuang’s condition.”
“Of course, I can arrange it immediately. Miss Yu, whenever you are available, I’ll have someone come pick you up in advance.”

Receiving her affirmative answer, Cheng Tai was visibly delighted.

“Let’s set it for this Saturday.”
“Very well.”

Yu Mo hung up and immediately called Chu Xirui to tell her what had happened.

Chu Xirui’s mouth fell open.
“Mr. Zhuang invited you to treat him? Last time he wanted the miracle doctor ‘Xuan Ji’ to treat him, but he never found the person. Now he’s thought of you. Mo Mo, are you hiding something from me? You’re just a fresh graduate, still in graduate school, yet Mr. Zhuang suddenly seeks you out. It’s baffling.”

Yu Mo gave a perfunctory answer.
“Maybe he’s just desperate.”
Chu Xirui didn’t think further about it, and after a few more words, Yu Mo ended the call.

After washing up, Yu Mo had just lain down when she received a message from Chu Xirui—a few screenshots of trending news.

[Heir to the Fu Family, Fu Yanting, announces cancellation of engagement to Lin Hua]
[Young Master Fu and Lin Hua call off engagement; everything the Fu family matriarch said at the ceremony was true!]
[Fu Yanting exposed as a scoundrel: Two-timing Lin Hua while dating Yu Mo, now claims regret and wants to reunite with his ex, Yu Mo. Will Yu Mo take him back?]
[Fu Yanting filled with remorse, begs ex-girlfriend Yu Mo for forgiveness, willing to give anything just for her pardon—will Yu Mo accept his apology?]

Yu Mo scrolled through quickly and finished reading.
Fu Yanting had actually held a press conference to clarify his relationship with Lin Hua and even called out to her.

She let out a cold laugh.
He wanted to win her back?
Only if she were blinded by foolishness a second time.

The Fu Estate.

Fu Yanting stood before the door, showing no intention of letting Lin Hua inside.
He spoke coldly.
“Lin Hua, what are you doing here? There’s nothing between us anymore.”

With that, he moved to close the door.
Lin Hua reached out to stop him, tears glistening in her eyes.
But for Fu Yanting, who now saw her true colors, none of that had any effect.
All that remained was deep disgust.

“Yanting, why did you call off our engagement?”
“Why?” Fu Yanting curled his lips, hatred flashing in his eyes.
At this moment, he wanted nothing more than to tear apart the vile woman before him.
The woman who had played him for a fool.

“Don’t you know? Half a year ago, you orchestrated every encounter, deliberately drawing close to me. Everything was part of your design. I was just one of your many targets. I must have been blind to fall for your sweet words and false displays.”

Their first meeting had been on a rainy day.
Lin Hua had forgotten her umbrella, and he had just come from seeing Yu Mo.
Seeing her looking so delicate and helpless, walking alone in the rain, he couldn’t help but offer her his umbrella.

Afterward, she used the excuse of returning the umbrella to see him again.
Every time he went to see Yu Mo, he would ‘coincidentally’ run into Lin Hua.
So many times, and he had never suspected a thing.

As Fu Yanting spoke, Lin Hua’s gaze grew darker, but she was unwilling to be cast aside so easily.
Clutching her lower abdomen, she gambled that he would care about the child she claimed to carry.

“But I’m pregnant with your child.”
“Get rid of it.”

Fu Yanting’s voice was cold, as if speaking to a stranger.
Lin Hua staggered, nearly losing her balance.
Fu Yanting didn’t move to help; instead, he slammed the door shut.

Bang!

As the heavy door closed, the vulnerability in Lin Hua’s eyes vanished, replaced by a cold expression.
Her hands clenched tightly at her sides.

“Scum,” she muttered under her breath.

Saturday.

Yu Mo had just stepped outside her apartment building.
Cars lined the curb; she looked closely and realized they were all McLarens, an odd sight in this neighborhood.

She couldn’t help but give them a second glance.
A middle-aged man exited one of the vehicles and approached her, nodding politely.

“Miss Yu, please, get in the car.”

Yu Mo recognized Cheng Tai by his voice.
He opened the door for her with such deference that Yu Mo felt a bit overwhelmed.
Could it be that they had uncovered her true identity?

She got in.
The convoy started up, eighteen McLarens in all, pulling away from the apartment complex.

On the way, Cheng Tai handed Yu Mo a file.
“These are Mr. Zhuang’s medical records from over the years.”

Yu Mo leafed through them carefully, inwardly shocked.
Mr. Zhuang had been suffering from this illness for seventeen years.
And the symptoms were almost identical to those her mentor had experienced.

Yu Mo immediately declared herself unable to treat the disease.
“I’m sorry, Mr. Cheng. I’ve never even heard of this illness. I’m afraid...”

But Cheng Tai seemed to have anticipated her reaction and said earnestly,
“Miss Yu, at least meet Mr. Zhuang. Consider it making a new acquaintance. Even if you truly can’t treat him, Mr. Zhuang will bear you no grudge.”

Since Cheng Tai insisted, Yu Mo had no choice but to follow him into the Zhuang family villa.

The villa’s décor was simple, dominated by soft pinks, creating a gentle atmosphere that banished any sense of unfamiliarity or tension.

Cheng Tai led Yu Mo into a study-like room.
Inside, a middle-aged man sat in a wheelchair, a thick, pale cashmere blanket draped over his legs.
Cheng Tai brought her in, then quietly left, closing the door behind him.

Yu Mo stepped forward.
The man’s expression was calm, his features deep-set, exuding a composed dignity.
Though traces of age were visible, one could easily imagine that in his youth, he’d been a strikingly handsome man.

For a fleeting moment, Yu Mo thought the man’s features bore some resemblance to that pretty-faced youth.

“Miss Yu, I am Zhuang Zhizhi. Please, have a seat.”

Zhuang Zhizhi’s manner was solemn, his voice deep and resonant.
He picked up a bank card from the desk and handed it to Yu Mo.

“Miss Yu, there’s ten million on this card. Please accept it. As for my illness, whatever is needed for the treatment, you have only to tell me—I will cooperate fully.”

Yu Mo did not accept the card but fixed her gaze on the man before her.
“Mr. Zhuang, why do you trust me so? You’ve already seen the top experts, and none could cure you. Why do you think I can?”