Lin Xiao scrambled to the trash bin, digging frantically through discarded herbs and crumpled papers.
Jiang City Hospital
Daniel stepped through the hospital doors, a thermos of carefully simmered chicken soup in hand, when his phone rang.
"City General Hospital? Understood."
"Yes, Dr. Zhang. We'll await your arrival."
Hanging up, Daniel exhaled deeply—a weight lifted from his chest.
With Zhang Zizhen en route, Elena's recovery was all but assured.
Outside Elena's Room
As Daniel approached the ICU corridor, he found Charlotte and Wyatt pleading desperately with Lin Tong:
"Dr. Lin, you must operate now! Her condition is deteriorating—"
Charlotte spotted Daniel and whirled on him, eyes blazing. "Where's your so-called 'miracle doctor'? Still spinning lies?"
"He's on his way," Daniel replied calmly.
Charlotte scoffed, her patience snapping. "Enough! We know what you really want—MONEY."
She snapped her fingers.
Wyatt nodded, and four bodyguards stepped forward, metallic briefcases in hand.
SNAP—
The cases flipped open in unison, revealing stacks of crisp hundred-dollar bills.
"Take it and disappear," Charlotte hissed. "Before I lose my last shred of mercy."
Daniel barely glanced at the mountains of cash, his voice steady as stone. "I don't want money."
Charlotte's laugh was sharp enough to draw blood. "A million not enough? Fine!" She slammed a blank check onto the nearest table. "Name your price. Fill in any number you want!"
Normally, she'd sooner burn cash than hand it to Daniel. But with Elena unconscious and her family states away, he held the only legal authority to consent to surgery.
Daniel didn't even look at the check. He strode past Charlotte toward the VIP suite.
"Daniel Lockwood!!!" Her scream echoed down the sterile hallway. "What else could you possibly want?! Lin Tong is her only hope now! She's dying —can't you see that?!"
"Even a day as husband and wife binds you to her! Has your conscience rotted to nothing?!"
Daniel froze.
Unconscious?
The word struck like a blade. He quickened his pace, heart hammering—
Inside the VIP Suite
Elena lay motionless, her face paler than the sheets. Monitors beeped erratically, charting her crashing vitals.
Lin Tong stood nearby, smugness oozing. "Ah, Mr. Lockwood. Finally ready to sign the—"
"Get out."
The room fell silent.
"I said," Daniel repeated, "get. Out."
Lin Tong's smirk faltered. "You're condemning her to—"
"The real doctor is here."
As if on cue, the doors burst open—
Dr. Zhang Zizhen strode in, his medical kit clutched like a weapon.
Lin Tong's face drained of color. "Y-You…?!"
He didn't waste a second, bolting straight for Elena's room.
A nurse blocked his path at the door. "Sir, the patient is critical! You can't—"
Through the observation window, Daniel saw her—pale as death, hooked to a ventilator, her chest barely rising. Even a layman could see: she was slipping away.
"See what you've done?" Charlotte hissed, thrusting a surgical consent form at him. "Sign. Now."
"Move."
The arctic fury in his voice froze her mid-step.
Ignoring her, Daniel dialed Dr. Zhang again, his eyes locking onto Lin Tong across the hall.
The smug surgeon smirked, arms crossed. "Changed your mind, Mr. Lockwood? Here to beg?"
His grin widened. "Kneel. Maybe I'll reconsider."
Lin Tong's smirk twisted into a sneer as he blocked Daniel's path. "You think you have options? I'm the only one who can save her now. But begging won't be enough this time."
Daniel paused—then shot him a look of pure disdain, brushing past as though Lin were invisible.
The surgeon stiffened, humiliation burning his cheeks. "You'd rather let her die? No one in this city—no, this province—has half my skill! She might last your precious 24 hours, but when I save her, let's see if she still protects a rat like you!"
Hospital Lobby
Dr. Zhang arrived moments later, clad in a faded Tang suit, Lin Xiao trailing anxiously behind.
Daniel met them urgently. "Dr. Zhang—"
"Where's the patient?" The old physician cut straight to business.
"This way." Daniel led them toward the ICU, ignoring the stares.
Corridor Confrontation
Charlotte eyed Zhang's threadbare attire skeptically. "Dr. Lin, do you know this... person?"
Lin Tong snorted. "I've networked with every reputable specialist in the province. This charity-case quack isn't one of them."
Lin Xiao bristled, but Zhang raised a hand, his voice steely calm: "Reputation is earned at the bedside, not through cocktail parties. Move."
ICU Entrance
Daniel shoved the doors open. Elena lay motionless, her monitors screeching code blue.
Zhang's eyes narrowed. "Atropine, stat. And prep for spinal decompression— we have 15 minutes."
Lin Tong lunged forward, red-faced. "You can't just—"
"Out." Zhang didn't glance up, already gloving his weathered hands. "Or I'll have you arrested for malpractice."
Dr. Zhang wasted no time.
"Lead the way."
Daniel guided him swiftly toward Elena's room.
Corridor Confrontation
Charlotte frowned at Zhang's threadbare clothes. "Dr. Lin, do you know this man?"
Lin Tong smirked, scanning Zhang with open contempt. "I've collaborated with every accredited specialist in the province. This back-alley quack isn't one of them. Be careful—scammers prey on desperation. Money lost is trivial compared to lives destroyed."
Charlotte's face hardened.
She'd seen her share of elite physicians—polished, pedigreed, radiating authority. This shabby old man resembled a street fortune-teller more than a doctor.
Trusting him with Elena's life?
Madness.
"Daniel!" She whirled on him, voice trembling with fury. "President Vanderbilt gambled her life on your promise! And what do you do? Ignore Dr. Lin—a proven expert—for some dirt-road charlatan?! Are you trying to kill her?!"
Before Daniel could respond, Lin Xiao snapped.
"Who the hell are you calling a 'charlatan'?!"