From Evil Sect Leader to Doctor

Su Qing enlarged the image, examined it repeatedly, and tears glimmered in her beautiful eyes. After a long while, she looked up: "It’s... it’s my dad! But... he... he..."

When she left today, her father still lacked autonomy. Even with crutches, he could only move less than three meters. Yet, there he was in the footage, driving a car—unbelievable unless seen with her own eyes.

Lu Qi said, "This is a video screenshot from the intersection of Jinfu Road and Kunlun Road. The specific time is 7:10 tonight. I can confirm that the driver has normal motor abilities."

Su Qing shook her head and said, "Impossible. My dad has been paralyzed for years. Although his condition has improved, he can’t walk freely without crutches, let alone drive... Besides, he never even got a driver’s license! He can’t drive!"

Lu Qi and Xu Chunliang exchanged a glance. They both believed Su Qing wasn’t lying. It just proved she didn’t understand her father well, making the matter even more puzzling and mysterious.

A patient paralyzed for so long suddenly stood up and managed to evade home and community surveillance, driving a car without a license, with his whereabouts unknown.

Xu Chunliang had long known Su Tianyu harbored many secrets. He helped Su Tianyu simply because of Su Qing.

Yet even he didn’t expect that after clearing the toxins from Su Tianyu’s body, the man would first choose to leave. From this perspective, he was partly responsible for the father-daughter separation in the Su family.

Everyone has feelings. Su Qing’s dedication over these years couldn’t go unnoticed by Su Tianyu. Why was he so determined to leave? The most reasonable explanation was that he didn’t want to continue burdening his daughter.

Lu Qi said, "Miss Su, may I take a look at your room?"

Su Qing pondered for a moment, but then her eyes suddenly became determined: "I’m sorry!"

Su Qing’s refusal was unexpected for Lu Qi, but he didn’t force it. After all, he was only helping; he wasn’t the officer in charge of the case. The situation was basically clear now—Su Tianyu left on his own, and it wasn’t a home invasion or kidnapping.

Lu Qi glanced at his wristwatch and said, "It’s late. I’ll head back first. I’ll have a friend follow up on Mr. Su’s situation. I believe there will be results soon." In today’s fast-informing world, Lu Qi was confident that a person wouldn’t just vanish without a trace, even if Su Tianyu hid himself, he would eventually leave clues.

Su Qing felt a bit sorry in her heart and got up to see him out.

Lu Qi said, "No need to see me out."

Xu Chunliang said, "I’ll go with you." Though he knew Su Qing must be feeling bad, he wasn’t suitable to stay, so he said to Su Qing, "Will you be okay alone?"

Su Qing replied, "It’s alright, as long as my dad is okay." A thought suddenly sprouted in her mind—how great it would be if he could stay with her now—but she realized that was impossible.

Xu Chunliang nodded, now pretty certain that Su Tianyu was safe, making Su Qing’s mood presumably much better than before.

The two urged Su Qing to stay while they took the elevator downstairs. Lu Qi observed the elevator’s camera and said to Xu Chunliang, "Have you met Su Tianyu?"

"Yes, I introduced Zheng Peian to him for rehabilitation and always accompanied him."

Lu Qi said, "Su Tianyu probably left when the nanny was asleep. He deleted the surveillance footage and walked down the emergency stairs. We are currently examining the entry and exit records of vehicles in the community."

Xu Chunliang said, "Do you think he could do this alone?"

Lu Qi said, "I also suspect he had help."

Outside the building, Lu Qi examined the positions of the surveillance cameras around and doodled a simple diagram in his notebook, marking key spots.

Xu Chunliang took out a box of cigarettes and handed it to him.

Lu Qi smiled wryly, took one, and Xu Chunliang helped him light it.

Lu Qi inhaled and asked, "Since when do you carry cigarettes with you?"

"Always dealing with supervisors, this tool is essential. It can ease awkward moments."

Lu Qi gestured at the garage entrance ahead. This was one of the first batches of communities built in the New City District. The design could not achieve complete separation of pedestrian and vehicle traffic.

The two entered the garage along the driveway and found Su Qing’s parking spot. Lu Qi circled the Beetle and took several photos with his phone.

Xu Chunliang asked, "You don’t suspect Su Qing, do you?"

Lu Qi replied, "Su Tianyu’s departure was quite sudden. From Su Qing’s reaction, she seemed unaware. Su Tianyu hid his recovering ability to walk very well, keeping Su Qing in the dark. That’s why she immediately reported it. After proving through traffic department videos that Su Tianyu left on his own, Su Qing must have remembered something."

Xu Chunliang said, "You mean Su Tianyu had a backup plan?"

Lu Qi crouched to check under the Beetle. "I can’t rule out that possibility. My guess is Su Tianyu might have told Su Qing some things long before he got sick. Her reaction to my room request confirmed this."

Xu Chunliang said, "You’re quite sly."

Lu Qi stood up, dusted off his hands, took another drag, and then walked off into the distance, with Xu Chunliang following. "I don’t get it. Su Tianyu’s recovering health is a good thing, allowing him to live comfortably with his daughter. Why choose to leave?"

Lu Qi said, "There must be unknown reasons. By the way, did you ask Director Zheng about how serious Su Tianyu’s condition truly was?"

Xu Chunliang said, "He was in a wheelchair; how could it not be serious?"

Lu Qi asked, "Could he have been faking it all along?"

Xu Chunliang was stunned. Faking it all along? How did he not think of that? But he had examined Su Tianyu’s meridians. Could Su Tianyu have fooled him? Impossible! If true, Su Tianyu’s abilities would be far beyond his expectations.

However, Lu Qi’s hypothesis made sense. Though Su Tianyu couldn’t speak, he knew the whole time that it was Xu Chunliang treating him, not Zheng Peian. Maybe he realized he couldn’t hide his martial arts skills any longer, or perhaps he sensed danger and made a timely exit.

Lu Qi patted Xu Chunliang’s shoulder and said, "This shouldn’t be considered a missing person case—at most, it’s someone leaving home. Su Tianyu is an adult capable of making his judgments. How he acts is his choice." Actually, there were many points to investigate, but Lu Qi saw no need to pursue them.

Xu Chunliang said, "It depends on what Su Qing wants."

Lu Qi nodded, "Maybe Su Tianyu left a letter or email. I wanted to ask, but it’s a private matter, and it’s not appropriate to bring it up. You can learn slowly over time."

Xu Chunliang said, "I’m just a regular friend of hers. It’s not right for me to ask about private matters."

Lu Qi said, "You might see her as a regular friend, but she may not see you that way."

From an outsider’s perspective, he noted Su Qing’s responses. Whenever she had difficulty answering, she’d instinctively look to Xu Chunliang, a natural reaction to seek help, usually directed at the most trusted and closest person.

The meeting by the Huayuan Group’s Health Division was not held at Changxing Hospital. Tang Jinglun chose the Marriott Hotel where he was staying.

Several vice presidents of Changxing Hospital were invited, but not Secretary Gao Xinhua. Director Zhao Feiyang was in Europe at this time and couldn’t attend the meeting.

Tang Jinglun’s choice of attendees indicated his purposeful detachment from Changxing in the health field.

Three board members from Huayuan Group attended, all aligned with Tang Jinglun, having played a role in his ascent to Group CEO.

Though they supported Tang Jinglun, they weren’t entirely confident in his health industry concept. Their visit to Dongzhou was to assess firsthand.

Changxing was represented by Vice Presidents Qin Guoliang and Geng Wenxiu. Xu Chunliang attended the meeting as the director of the Huanyan Health and Elderly Care Hospital construction office.

Xu Chunliang was surprised to see Tang Tianyi as his father’s special representative at the meeting, having recently witnessed his drunken mischief. The uncles and nephews could sit together peacefully now.

It seemed among relatives, lasting benefits outweighed perpetual animosity.

Tang Tianyi avoided eye contact with Xu Chunliang as he feared and resented him. His visit was arranged by his father, Tang Jingwei, encouraging him to learn from Uncle Tang Jinglun. Privately, his father indicated the visit’s intent was also to monitor Tang Jinglun.

Since Tang Jinglun became CEO of Huayuan Group, Tang Tianyi felt a heightened sense of crisis, realizing it was time to assist his father.

The meeting was hosted by Dong Changhao, head of Huanyan Health, focusing on introducing the health and elderly care hospital project—content Xu Chunliang was already quite familiar with, as everyone had materials, which Xu Chunliang skimmed to find few new details.

Dong Changhao habitually used slides for the project briefing, which were quite impressively done.

Xu Chunliang jokingly dubbed it "slide building"—all talk but no action, yet this was not the case today. They intended to turn plans into reality, implementing the health and elderly care hospital project.

Dong Changhao said, "According to the board’s decision, the first phase of the health and elderly care hospital project will fully commence by the end of this month, with an initial investment of 300 million and a total planned investment of 500 million..."

Xu Chunliang looked up, with Geng Wenxiu and Qin Guoming also taking notice. The abrupt announcement had caught them off guard.

Geng Wenxiu first thought of the High-Tech Zone Hospital. She had heard from her brother about Huayuan Group’s current situation. If the health and elderly care hospital project commenced, Huayuan Group would find themselves fighting on three fronts. Could their current finances support such efforts?

Requesting monthly votes! Portal monthly tickets!