Chapter 600: Reduced to Beggar
Xu Xiangbei sighed lightly, "Tell me what exactly happened?"
Qian Duoduo’s expression revealed an indescribable sadness and regret, "Brother Xu, you don’t have to care about me. This is my retribution. You don’t need to pity me either."
"I’m not pitying you; I want to help you. If you consider me a brother, don’t leave. Tell me what happened."
Xu Xiangbei lit another cigarette and handed one over. Qian Duoduo took it and took a light drag before finally telling Xu Xiangbei what happened.
Qian Duoduo sighed lightly, "A few days ago, I made a mistake. My dad wanted to punish me and cut off all my credit cards. We had a big fight, and I cursed at him. As a result, he was so angry that he had a stroke and fell unconscious. His stroke isn’t the main issue; all my bank cards were stopped, and I was kicked out by my stepmother. I had a million in cash on me, but I got robbed and stabbed. You know, when I was Young Master Qian, people would flatter me, wanting to be my friend. Now that I’m broke, none of them recognize me when I asked to borrow money. I was so hungry just now that I stole some buns, and that’s when I met you."
Remembering that Qian Duoduo had helped him before, Xu Xiangbei couldn’t bear to let him continue wandering, "Your wound hasn’t healed yet. You need to keep changing the dressing, or it could get infected and be life-threatening. Stay at my place for now. Once your dad is better, apologize to him, and you can still be Young Master Qian."
Mentioning his dad, Qian Duoduo started to cry sadly, "I just want my dad to wake up so I can tell him I was wrong. I don’t even know if he’ll wake up."
Sometimes, it’s only after losing something that one realizes its value. Qian Duoduo used to resent his dad’s control, but now that his dad is comatose and unable to control him, he finally realizes how much he needs him.
Xu Xiangbei gently patted his shoulder, "Which hospital is your dad in? I’ll go take a look. I know a bit of medicine, maybe I can help him wake up sooner."
Hearing Xu Xiangbei’s words, Qian Duoduo remembered that Xu Xiangbei was a doctor and immediately perked up, "My dad is hospitalized at Jiangcheng First People’s Hospital. Come with me now."
"Do you really think you can see people looking like this? If your dad wakes up and sees you like this, he might faint from anger again. Come to my place, take a shower, and change your clothes. Leave your dad’s affairs to me."
Hua Ji and his group exited after eating buns and saw Xu Xiangbei sitting on the curb chatting and smoking with a beggar.
Hua Ji laughed, "Brother Xu, you’re so compassionate now, giving a beggar cigarettes."
Xu Xiangbei smiled bitterly, "He’s Qian Duoduo. Didn’t you hold up his seafood truck last time? I went with him to ask you for the truck back, remember?"
Hua Ji looked at Qian Duoduo in surprise, "Brother Qian, what happened to you? Did you lose love or lose your mind?"
Qian Duoduo glared at Hua Ji, "You lost your mind. My dad had a stroke. He used to give me money, but now no one gives me money anymore, and I ended up like this."
Hua Ji sympathetically told Lu Xiaomei, "See, relying on others is unreliable. You have to rely on yourself. Otherwise, without support, you’re finished."
Even though Qian Duoduo became a beggar, he still cared about his dignity. Hearing Hua Ji discuss him, he grumbled unhappily, "Alright, stop making me a negative example."
Xu Xiangbei said goodbye to Hua Ji and Lu Xiaomei, "Lu Xiaomei, do you still want to go back to Earth Sea?"
Lu Xiaomei pouted, looked at Hua Ji, and without saying anything, Xu Xiangbei understood Lu Xiaomei’s thoughts. This girl was lovestruck; she had no intention of going back to Earth Sea.
Xu Xiangbei smiled, "Gu Xinyan is almost able to walk now and doesn’t need your care. Stay in Jiangcheng and be Hua Ji’s wife."
Lu Xiaomei pretended to take leave but didn’t go to help Gu Xinyan. Instead, she came to meet Hua Ji, deceiving Xu Xiangbei, making her feel a bit guilty.
Hearing that Gu Xinyan no longer needed her care, she felt relieved and gave Xu Xiangbei a happy hug, "Thank you, Brother Xu."
Xu Xiangbei laughed, "When you two get married, you must let me know. I’ll give you both a big red envelope."
Ding Keke also laughed, "Make sure you tell me too. I want to eat your wedding candy."
Qian Duoduo followed Xu Xiangbei to the courtyard. There were many rooms, and Ding Keke couldn’t occupy them all alone.
Qian Duoduo took a shower, changed his clothes, shaved, returning to his original plump self, but his mood was still low, no longer as arrogant and smug as when he was Young Master Qian.
Seeing the blood-stained gauze wrapped around Qian Duoduo’s arm, Ding Keke instinctively judged, "There’s still so much blood. Your stitches might have torn. You need to change the dressing, or it will get infected."
Xu Xiangbei laughed, "Nurse Ding is one of the top ten nurses at the First People’s Hospital, a genuine white angel. Let her change your dressing, or she won’t be able to sleep tonight."
Knowing Xu Xiangbei was teasing her, Ding Keke lightly punched him on the shoulder, "I thought you were praising me, but you’re kidding me."
Qian Duoduo showed a grateful expression, "Thank you, Nurse Ding."
Ding Keke had a medical kit at home, complete with scissors, gauze, and antiseptics, enough to perform a small surgical procedure.
She put on a white uniform, washed her hands, her slender snowy fingers glistening under the light.
Ding Keke carefully cut off the blood-stained gauze and threw it into the trash.
After cutting off the gauze, a finger-length knife scar was revealed, still oozing blood, with over a dozen black stitches.
First, she wiped away the blood with a cotton swab; Qian Duoduo gritted his teeth to endure the pain. Ding Keke turned her head slightly, carefully treating the wound.
Her neck was slender and delicate, covered with fine hairs, and her pretty face carried a faint smile. This smile made Qian Duoduo feel a warmth.
The light shone on her profile, making her facial contours appear profound and beautiful, her skin shimmering clear and transparent, her demeanor gentle and focused.
Qian Duoduo was enraptured, feeling that Ding Keke truly looked like an angel in white.
Qian Duoduo had seen many beauties but never someone so pure and extraordinarily beautiful.
While bandaging Qian Duoduo, Ding Keke’s fingers occasionally brushed against his arm. Qian Duoduo felt her fingers were a bit cool, especially smooth.
The slender fingers were as tender as scallion segments, more beautiful than any of those resembling hands.
After bandaging Qian Duoduo, Ding Keke carried the medicine box away; Qian Duoduo, in awe and reverie, said, "Thank you, Nurse Ding."
Ding Keke’s smile was sweet, "No need to thank me. Thank your Brother Xu instead."
Xu Xiangbei tapped Qian Duoduo’s head lightly, "Dazed, aren’t you? Regain your senses. Nurse Ding has already gone back to her room."
