Chapter 853 — Meeting Again

So when it came to treating Shen Yuxi, Yang Ce was highly confident—one might almost say he could do it with his hands tied behind his back—which was why Yang Shuoxuan was in no hurry to go upstairs.

Guan Xiaoxiang would probably be back any moment, and once Yang Ce went up he would still have to come back down; Shen Yuxi would have only just been reunited with Yan before being separated from him again, which would surely leave her feeling unhappy. Better, then, for Yang Ce to keep her in the dark for now and go up a little later, so he could spend a bit more time with Shen Yuxi.

Since Yang Ce had already decided to accept Shen Yuxi, he naturally ought to treat her a little better and could not bear to disappoint her again.

"That works too," Guan Xuemin nodded. "Do you have a good way to treat Yuxi's legs?"

"Yes. Brother Lin has passed all of his medical skills on to me," Yang Yanzhou said. "As for treating Shen Yuxi, I am quite confident. Brother Lin said as much himself: with Yuxi's legs, using a medicinal liquid that stimulates and repairs the nerves, together with acupuncture, it is basically a sure thing."

"Ah, acupuncture is a profound and vast discipline. I know of the method myself, but I could never carry it out, and besides, I cannot compound that kind of medicinal liquid either. I hear it contains several extremely rare herbs that are very hard to buy unless they are specially cultivated," Guan Xuemin sighed.

"That is true. We grow those herbs ourselves in Lanyue Valley," Yang Yanzhou said. "And one of them must be used fresh—its juice has to be extracted while it is still fresh. Once it is dried, the effect is gone."

The two of them were talking when the doorbell rang outside the villa. Mother Liu went to answer it; it was Guan Xiaoxiang, back with his girlfriend Xiaolan.

Guan Xiaoxiang walked into the villa with his head lowered, cautiously holding Xiaolan's hand. Seeing Yang Ce sitting on the sofa, he was a little afraid and did not dare lift his head. "Boss."

"Huh? Your girlfriend is pregnant?" Yang Ce looked at Xiaolan in some surprise. Xiaolan's belly was already very large; by the look of it, she was about to give birth. He had not expected that after one trip away, Guan Xiaoxiang was about to become a father.

Yang Ce wondered whether he ought to make an effort himself. Liu Yu and Yiyi, Feng Yan and Xiao Susu—one friend after another around him was about to become a parent, and only he had no prospects?

Still, he supposed he would have to wait until the business with the Center and Dr. Ban Lin was settled. Otherwise Yang Shuoxuan would not be able to set his mind at ease.

"Yeah... Boss..." Guan Xiaoxiang had been worrying over what to say, and now that Yang Ce had brought up Xiaolan first, he seized the opening. "Boss, didn't you say you wanted to arrange a betrothal between me and Xiaolan's child? Our child is a little princess—has your disciple been born yet?"

"Heh, not yet." Only then did Yang Cenbin remember that he had once said this to Guan Xiaoxiang; if Guan Xiaoxiang had not brought it up, Yang Ce would almost have forgotten. Recalling how Fang Tian had once gotten the better of him, Yang Shuoxuan thought he would get the better of his own disciple, so Yang Ce said, "But it's settled, just like that. I'm reserving her first."

"Of course, no problem!" Guan Xiaoxiang nodded.

"Let Xiaolan sit down and rest first." Seeing that Xiaolan was pregnant, Yang Ce could hardly say much to criticize Guan Xiaoxiang, so he only said, "I hear you have not been coming home lately?"

"Thank you, Boss." Xiaolan thanked him shyly, then sat down on the sofa nearby and said somewhat helplessly, "Xiaoxiang is just being stubborn. I did try to talk him round..."

"Look at that—you are not even as magnanimous as your girlfriend, or I suppose I should call her your wife now," Yang Yanzhou said. "What do you think about all day long? When Uncle Guan refused to let you use his name to do business, it was for your own good—he was afraid you would be cheated! You had no capital and no skills; did you think a name alone would let you carve out a place for yourself? You are in business now too, so you should have felt it for yourself, haven't you? If Baolin and the others had not helped you along, how many detours would you have had to take?"

"That..." Guan Xiaoxiang actually knew that Yang Yanzhou was right, and he truly was conflicted—but this knot in his heart was not something that could be untied just because someone said so.

"All right, think it over carefully yourself. When you have nothing else to do, come back and see your father more often. If you still acknowledge me as your boss, then do as I say," Yang Yanzhou said.

"Fine, I understand!" Guan Xiaoxiang nodded.

Yang Ce could tell that Guan Xiaoxiang still had some knot in his heart, but he did not press him further. He had said what needed to be said; the rest was for Guan Xiaoxiang to work out on his own. This was as much as Yang Ce could do. As the saying goes, even an upright official finds it hard to judge family matters—this was a family matter between Guan Xuemin and Guan Xiaoxiang, and Yang Shuoxuan truly had no way to intervene.

"All right, I am going upstairs. Talk with your father. You are not a child anymore—come back and sit with him more often when you have time, and show some care for your elders!" Yang Yanzhou said.

"Heh heh, I understand." Guan Xiaoxiang nodded. "By the way, Boss, could you help Xiaolan and me give our daughter a name? Our little princess still does not have one!"

"A name? I say just call her Guan Xin—a constant reminder to you to show more care for your father!" Yang Ce said offhandedly.

"Guan Xin?" Guan Xiaoxiang was taken aback. "Guan Xin, Guan Xin—that is a good name. Then it is settled."

Yang Shuoxuan paid him no further attention, turned, and went upstairs, leaving time and space to Guan Xuemin and Guan Xiaoxiang.

Mother Liu led Yang Ce upstairs and brought him to the door of Shen Yuxi's room. She pointed at the door and tactfully withdrew.

Yang Ce knocked, and Shen Yuxi's voice came from inside: "Please come in!"

Because Shen Yuxi was a young woman, even though she was Guan Xuemin's patient, Guan Xuemin always knocked before entering, lest she be inconvenienced.

Yang Ce pushed the door open and walked in. He saw Shen Yuxi lying on her side on the bed, holding a thick book and leafing through it. The bright sunlight fell across her face, making her look especially delicate and lovely.

She was a pretty, clean girl. Even bedridden with illness, she kept her appearance and hygiene immaculate; she looked lovely.

In that moment, Yang Ce's heart truly stirred.

Sometimes a heart stirs just like that—without reason, without warning.

Seeing Shen Yuxi as she was now, Yang Ce felt an urge to possess her and protect her.

"Godfather, why are you so early today..." Shen Yuxi thought it was Guan Xuemin coming to help her do the exercises that prevented her leg muscles from wasting away, but when she looked up, she froze. "Yang Ce?"

"Heh heh, it's me, Yuxi."

Yang Hengye nodded.

"Ah! Yang Ce, you're back—you really came back safe and sound! Wonderful..." Shen Yuxi looked at Yang Ce excitedly...