Chapter 68

Chapter 68

The man's symptoms were very similar to hypoglycemia: palpitations, tremors, and profuse sweating.

Seeing that he still had basic awareness, Shen Tingzhou asked him a question to confirm it was indeed hypoglycemia causing his dizziness and weakness, and quickly instructed Qin Shiyao to find some sweets.

After the man's symptoms subsided, Shen Tingzhou helped him sit down in the lounge area of the lobby.

The man pressed his pale, dry lips together and thanked Shen Tingzhou, his voice somewhat weak.

Qin Shiyao hinted, "Are you a guest at our hotel? Would you like us to escort you back to your room?"

Only then did the man seem to remember something, his face turning anxious as he asked Shen Tingzhou, "Excuse me, have you seen my..."

Before he could finish, his phone suddenly vibrated in his pocket.

Hearing the special ringtone, he hastily pulled out his phone and answered the call.

"Where the hell have you been! I sent you out to buy lunch, and you went to feed penguins in Antarctica? Do you know how hungry I am right now? You have two minutes to get back here, or don't ever come back!"

Even without the speakerphone on, Shen Tingzhou could clearly hear the person on the other end shouting.

Shen Tingzhou could feel Qin Shiyao's heels itching to move. He glanced over, and sure enough, she had raised her toes, her expression changing rapidly.

The man endured his cough and said, "I'll be right back."

The person on the other end didn't care about his response and hung up immediately.

The man wasn't angry; he seemed used to the other person's bad temper. He put away his phone and tried to stand up to deliver the food, but his head spun again.

Shen Tingzhou supported him, "You should rest for a bit longer."

Qin Shiyao smiled, "Delivering food, right? I can help you with that."

Shen Tingzhou felt a tingle at the back of his neck, "…Maybe I should go instead."

Qin Shiyao raised an eyebrow and looked at Shen Tingzhou.

The man politely declined, "That would be too much trouble. It's fine if I wait a bit longer."

Qin Shiyao asked, "Is the person on the phone a guest at our hotel?"

The man hesitated, then nodded.

Qin Shiyao said, "Since they're staying at our hotel, we can send it via robot. We have delivery robots here. Don't worry, they don't hit people."

Shen Tingzhou: ...

He could only say thanks to the tech geniuses for not inventing robots that hit people.

Within the two-minute limit, the robot delivered the meal.

But the recipient was still unsatisfied and called again.

The man exuded a scholarly air, and when he spoke, he didn't come across as submissive. Instead, he seemed like a cultured elder dealing with a misbehaving child, exerting a sense of authority despite his young age.

"Where the hell have you been!"

"I'm in the hotel lobby. Is there anything else?"

"Where's the spoon? How am I supposed to drink the soup without a spoon?"

"Tell Xiao Li to open the blue bag; there are clean chopsticks and a spoon inside."

"You want me to do your work? Who pays whom? I don't care, I need the spoon right now!"

Shen Tingzhou thought he had a good temperament, but this person's temper was truly terrible.

Qin Shiyao obviously shared the same sentiment. After the man hung up, she asked, "Does your boss need to be fed?"

The man replied, "…No, he just has a bad temper, but he's actually quite nice."

Qin Shiyao openly poached, "I think you handle stress well. Are you interested in working for us?"

The man smiled and sent a message to his assistant Xiao Li to bring the spoon. Then he said to Qin Shiyao, "Maybe someday. I plan to take a break for a while."

Qin Shiyao's eyes lit up, "You're resigning?"

The man nodded, "Yes, I want to travel and relax."

Shen Tingzhou saw Qin Shiyao reach out as if to pinch him but then withdrew her hand.

After her excitement subsided, she regained her composure, "Does he know?"

The man shook his head, "Probably not. He doesn't handle personnel matters."

Qin Shiyao screamed inwardly and encouraged him, "Then you should tell him."

"Do I need to?" The man's previous job was vastly different from his current one. He turned to Shen Tingzhou, asking, "Do I need to?"

Shen Tingzhou didn't dare to speak rashly because Qin Shiyao was staring at him.

Qin Shiyao affirmed, "Of course! It's basic courtesy. You must tell him. Didn't you inform your superior when you left your previous job?"

The man hesitated, and then Xiao Li sent a message saying the person in the room was throwing a tantrum and needed him to return quickly. The man sighed, feeling helpless.

No wonder his heart isn't doing well. With such a temper, it's a miracle his heart is still functioning.

The man got up and said to Qin Shiyao, "Alright, I'll go back and let him know. Thank you both for today."

Qin Shiyao: "Wait a moment."

The man looked at Qin Shiyao in confusion as she went to the front desk and asked for a gift bag. This was something the hotel prepared for each guest checking out, containing perfume and small snacks.

Qin Shiyao handed a small snack to the man.

The man was taken aback, took it, and said thank you. His phone vibrated.

Assistant Xiao Li sent another message, saying that someone had already gone down to look for him and seemed very angry.

Qin Shiyao caught a glimpse of the message content, and her smile widened subtly.

The man showed a pained expression, seemingly unable to understand how such a trivial matter could make the other person so furious as to risk coming downstairs to find him.

Thinking of the other person's temper and profession, the man didn't dare let him come down and hurriedly bid farewell before taking the elevator back.

Shen Tingzhou was about to head home when Qin Shiyao grabbed his wrist and followed him into another elevator.

Shen Tingzhou: "…"

Qin Shiyao made a cross over her chest in front of Shen Tingzhou, "May the melon god bless us with hot food!"

Shen Tingzhou, who no longer wanted to explain, smiled slightly, "Bless you."

The elevator dinged open.

Qin Shiyao knew their room numbers and led Shen Tingzhou forward stealthily.

-

There were very few rooms on this floor—only two presidential suites, both booked by a top male star.

The top star, boasting eighty million fans and having reached the peak since his debut, stood in the hallway, berating the man in front of him.

"If you don't want to work anymore, get lost today!"

The man still felt the aftereffects of low blood sugar, his head dizzy from the volume of the other person's voice, but he still said calmly, "Don't be angry; it's bad for your heart."

The other person became even angrier, "If you did your job well, would I need to waste my time with you? Do you know how much a minute of mine is worth?"

Qin Shiyao took out her phone and tapped a series of numbers on the calculator, finally arriving at an accurate answer, "One thousand four hundred and something per minute."

Shen Tingzhou was surprised, "How did you figure that out?"

Qin Shiyao exited the calculator app and opened the timer, "Let's see how much money he wastes chasing his wife today."

Shen Tingzhou was stunned, "…He's not chasing his wife, is he?"

"Bold!" Qin Shiyao wouldn't allow Shen Tingzhou to say that, "If he didn't have feelings for him, would he come down looking for him?"

So good at finding hints?

In this situation, Shen Tingzhou usually assumed the person had… anger issues.

This top male star's behavior was very much like someone with anger issues—

Unable to control his emotions, getting enraged over minor things, falling into a manic state—very typical of anger issues.

The man seemed aware of his personality flaw and tried to placate him, "I'm sorry, it's my fault. I've already told Sister Amy about resigning. Once she finds a new assistant and we complete the handover, I can leave."

The top star scoffed, "If you want to leave, just go. Don't think I'll hold you back; I won't fall for your tricks."

The man nodded amiably, "I understand. Let's go back and eat. We have work at two this afternoon."

The man took out his notes and checked the schedule.

After confirming everything was clear with Assistant Xiao Li, the man looked up and said, "I've taken the afternoon off. Xiao Li will be with you."

Qin Shiyao exclaimed excitedly, "He should be worried now, he should be worried."

Shen Tingzhou: "…"

The top star's handsome face darkened, "Who said you could take the afternoon off? Did you tell me?"

The man replied, "I told Sister Amy."

The top star retorted, "Is she your boss or am I your boss?"

The man fell silent for a moment, showing a hint of fatigue, "I know you're dissatisfied with me. If my presence causes such emotional swings, then I'll resign this afternoon."

The other person sneered, "Stop pretending to be innocent. I've never liked you, so why didn't you leave earlier?"

Seeing that communication was impossible, the man said nothing and returned to his room to pack.

The star followed behind him, sneering, "Speechless because I exposed you? Let me tell you, I hate people like you who lurk in the shadows, prying into others' private lives. I'll crush one whenever I see one. You're brave enough to apply to my studio."

The man stopped, turned around, and explained again, "Mr. Ling, I'm really not a stalker fan. If I were, Sister Amy wouldn't have kept me."

Qin Shiyao raised an eyebrow, "I said this kid's temper seemed familiar. Turns out he's Ling Yun's brother with heart problems."

Shen Tingzhou: "!"

You're right; this young master's temper does resemble Ling Yun's.

Lingzhan: "That's because Amy was fooled by you, but you can't escape my keen eyes!"

The man opened his mouth but decided against it, only whispering, "Mr. Ling, I've never harbored any ill will towards you and sincerely hope you stay healthy and happy."

He stared at Lingzhan's chest, his gaze momentarily unfocused, and his hand unconsciously lifted.

Lingzhan crossed his arms in front of his chest and took a big step back, glaring angrily at the other person.

"How dare you say you're innocent! Do you think I don't know that on your first day here, you touched me while I was sleeping? You're not just a stalker fan; you're even worse than them! They only fantasize about my body, but you actually acted on it!"

This remark hit Qin Shiyao's funny bone. She silently patted Shen Tingzhou, laughing so hard that her voice was delayed, muffled in her throat.

Shen Tingzhou had a body and will as strong as steel.

The man hurriedly dropped his hands, wanting to explain but not knowing how to start.

Seeing his helpless and frustrated expression made Lingzhan even angrier.

"You'd be a real waste if you didn't act! Let me tell you, my house has cameras, and I have all the evidence of what you did to me. I can sue you for sexual harassment anytime!"

Looking at Lingzhan's furious face, the man's lips moved slightly.

There were things he didn't want to say, but if he didn't say them now, he might never get another chance. He also didn't want Lingzhan to mistreat his own body.

"The original owner of this heart was named He Yu," the man said softly. "He was my... lover."

Lingzhan froze. He had undergone heart surgery two years ago but didn't know who the donor was.

Qin Shiyao stopped laughing. "Wow."

Shen Tingzhou deeply admired the donors and those who contributed to organ donation.

"Sorry, I just..." The man's voice choked up. "I miss him. It wasn't intentional."

Lingzhan looked at him with suspicion and then shook his head, saying with a grim expression, "Impossible. Donors and recipients never know each other's identities."

The man replied, "I studied medicine."

After He Yu and Lingzhan completed the surgery, He Yu left the hospital half a year later. With his excellent credentials and work experience, he joined the Human Organ Donation Management Center and found out the recipient's identity.

Lingzhan gasped, "So you've been staying with me these past few months because I have someone else's heart?"

The man remained silent.

This violated medical ethics, and every day he spent with Lingzhan was filled with pain and conflict.

Now he decided to let go and no longer disturb Lingzhan's life.

Seeing the man's tacit admission, Lingzhan covered his chest, breathing heavily and speaking hoarsely, "Get out!"

"Are you okay?" The man panicked and rushed to support him. "Is your heart uncomfortable?"

Lingzhan pushed his hand away, refusing to look at him, and said irritably, "Seeing you makes me feel uncomfortable. Get out!"

Knowing his temper, the man had no choice but to leave. Then he called Xiao Li, asking him to take Lingzhan to the hospital for a checkup.

After the man left, Lingzhan covered his tightening chest and slowly squatted down.

Qin Shiyao asked, "Is he okay?"

Shen Tingzhou's face was grave. "No."

Qin Shiyao was full of questions. "He seemed fine when he was throwing a tantrum. This heart disease is quite romantic."

Shen Tingzhou quickly walked over and dialed the emergency center.

-

After Lingzhan's heart surgery, everything had been fine for two years without any rejection issues. Thus, he entered the entertainment industry six months ago and quickly became popular due to his looks.

News of his heart disease relapse immediately trended on social media.

Fans flooded the forums with prayers and heartfelt messages.

"As long as my brother gets better, I'll eat vegetarian for the rest of my life and do good deeds."

"As long as he's safe, I'll pray at every temple and kneel before every deity. Please."

"No wonder he's so kind and always smiling. He must have endured so much pain."

That night, Lingzhan, known for his good temper, posted a tweet that shook the entertainment world.

"Wait for me to die. After I'm gone, donate my corneas, liver, kidneys, and lungs."

"Fuck!"

"Fucking world!"

Lingzhan was the first celebrity to publicly announce donating organs and the first top star to curse using his main account during his peak popularity.

Six of the top ten trending topics that day were related to Lingzhan.

"Lingzhan Hospitalized for Heart Disease"

"Lingzhan Wakes Up and Tweets"

"Lingzhan Announces Organ Donation"

"Lingzhan Curses Out Loud"

"How Explosive Were Lingzhan's Three Tweets"

"Lingzhan Gives the Entertainment Industry a Tiny Shock"

Upon seeing this, Ling Yun stormed into the ward and slapped him twice.

Lingzhan looked at Ling Yun with bloodshot eyes, completely losing it. "If you can, kill me. Then push me into the operating room and take all my organs."

Ling Yun was also furious and was about to continue slapping him.

Shen Tingzhou quickly stopped her, "His body hasn't recovered yet."

Ling Yun's anger hadn't subsided, "After you die, I'll send you to the medical school as a..."

Seeing Ling Yun stumble over her words, Shen Tingzhou reminded her, "Anatomy teacher."

Ling Yun angrily said, "Be an anatomy teacher, so all the medical students can see how small your... best to take a photo and share it with your fans for them to observe!"

Shen Tingzhou: ...

Lingzhan: ...

-

Shen Tingzhou didn't expect that going to Qin Shiyao's place to pick up some fruits would lead to such a big incident.

Lingzhan's matter had been trending for several days. Journalists with cameras surrounded the hospital, all wanting to get the first-hand news.

Despite not wanting to follow the developments, Shen Tingzhou received plenty of firsthand information.

Ling Yun sent him a message: "Doctor Shen, did he hit his head when you brought him to the hospital? He's been talking nonsense lately, always shouting about redoing his heart surgery."

Qin Shiyao also messaged him: "I found out, I found out, He Yu actually... Oh my God..."

Ling Yun: "Should we find him a psychologist? I'm really going to be driven mad by him..."

Qin Shiyao: "I found out more..."

Every day, they sent Shen Tingzhou a flood of messages. Shen Tingzhou thought about putting them in a group chat.

Amidst this chaos, it was finally the weekend when Xu Xun was to meet his aunt.

Because Xu Xun had been tutored by Fu Yunyun, he knew Shen Zhiyun's preferences well.

Although Shen Tingzhou knew that the person he chose wouldn't be wrong, he was very satisfied with Xiao Xu, who looked good, had high emotional intelligence, and was diligent.

While cooking lunch, the two chatted happily in the kitchen, and Shen Tingzhou was even chased out when he tried to help.

Looking at Xu Xun picking vegetables, Shen Tingzhou smiled.

Fu Yunyun walked over and chuckled, "Don't worry, Brother, you should trust that a great teacher produces great students."

Shen Tingzhou placed his hand on Fu Yunyun's head, "Thank you, great teacher."

Feeling his brother's hand pressing harder, Fu Yunyun raised her hand to push it away, "How dare you treat a great teacher like this?"

Knowing Fu Yunyun's character well, Shen Tingzhou asked, "Tell me, how much red envelope did you receive from Xiao Xu?"

Fu Yunyun huffed, "Do you think so little of me? I didn't ask for a red envelope; I just asked Xiao Xu for a set of Felicity's autographs."

Shen Tingzhou was puzzled, "Who is that?"

Fu Yunyun dodged Shen Tingzhou's grip, "The hottest boy band. You don't follow celebrities. Do you know Lingzhan? He used to be part of this group but left because of his heart condition, and his family didn't allow him to sing and dance anymore."

Shen Tingzhou was extremely familiar with Lingzhan; he had been surrounded by this name for half a week.

Fu Yunyun continued, "I heard he's leaving the entertainment industry. I wonder if it's true. It's a pity; I quite liked him."

It was true.

His family didn't want him to stay in the entertainment industry, and currently, he only wanted to have another heart surgery and donate his body after death.

Shen Tingzhou couldn't say anything and silently went into the kitchen.

Shen Zhiyun suddenly asked, "Does Xiao Xu eat celery?"

Shen Tingzhou: "No."

Xu Xun: "Yes."

Shen Zhiyun looked over in confusion, "Does he eat it?"

Xu Xun remained silent.

Shen Tingzhou knew he wanted to appear non-picky in front of Shen Zhiyun and nodded, "I remembered wrong; he eats it."

-

At lunch, health enthusiast Shen Zhiyun said, "Xiao Xu, eat more celery; it's good for your health."

Fu Yunyun couldn't stand her constant talk about "health" and "good for the body," and complained, "In your eyes, any vegetable is good and healthy. Celery has no flavor, and you use less oil and salt."

Shen Zhiyun scolded, "Only you are picky. Look at your brother; he doesn't say anything about the same dish."

Fu Yunyun had heard this too many times. If she said everyone had different tastes, her mother would say she only loved junk food, making communication impossible.

Shen Tingzhou, used to being a peacemaker, quickly calmed the potential conflict.

Xu Xun hesitated but still picked up a piece of celery.

Shen Tingzhou put a piece of meat in his bowl and naturally took away the celery.

Only Fu Yunyun, the keen observer, noticed this and secretly laughed, continuing to eat quietly.

After they finished lunch, Fu Yunyun's father arrived by plane.

"The flight was delayed due to rain." Fu Dad dragged his luggage in and praised, seeing Xu Xun, "This is Xiao Xu, isn't he? Handsome and talented, it's good judgment by Little Zhou."

Shen Zhiyun was also pleased, "He's also diligent and considerate. He helped me in the kitchen all morning. Most importantly, he doesn't smoke or drink."

Fu Dad, who smoked and drank, quickly changed the subject, "What does Xiao Xu do?"

Xu Xun was very modest, "Helping out at home."

Father Fu changed his shoes and asked casually, "Is your family in business?"

Xu Xun replied, "We do physical businesses."

Father Fu sighed, "Physical businesses are tough these days."

He was about to discuss business strategies with Xu Xun when Shen Tingzhou interrupted, "Uncle, have you eaten yet?"

Shen Zhiyun said, "There's leftover food in the kitchen."

Father Fu rolled up his sleeves and sighed, "Old bacon, can't compete with you young studs anymore."

Shen Zhiyun glared at him, "Nonsense! Come in and reheat your food."

Father Fu whispered, "Back when she was chasing me, she wasn’t like this."

After he went into the kitchen, Shen Tingzhou whispered to Xu Xun, "In my aunt’s mouth, it’s always that my uncle shamelessly clung to her."

Xu Xun responded in the same low voice, "Don’t worry, I’ll tell our cat the truth: it was me who pursued you."

Shen Tingzhou’s ears tingled slightly as he softly said, "Mm."

Then he turned to see Fu Yunyun peeking out from her room, staring at them with a mischievous glint in her eyes.

Shen Tingzhou: ...

-

After lunch at Shen Tingzhou’s aunt’s house, they left directly for Xu Xun’s grandmother’s place.

Although it was his second visit, last time he hadn’t been dating Xu Xun, so Shen Tingzhou felt a bit nervous. After all, Xu Xun’s grandmother had a silver tongue just like the Steward.

Now it was Xu Xun’s turn to reassure Shen Tingzhou, "Don’t worry, she already knows."

Upon arrival, they saw Fu Huaifei and Steward Xiao Sang kissing in the courtyard, which shocked him more than anything else.

True love prevails... no, how could they be so open in broad daylight?

Shen Tingzhou looked again, confirming that their lips were indeed touching, not just blowing eyelashes or something.