C28 Zhang Xiaoyus Gambling Father!

"Xiaoyu, what's going on?"

Ann Lan's heart softened at the sight of Zhang Xiaoyu's tear-filled eyes after she ended the call, and she reached out with concern.

"Director Ann, Brother Lin, the doctor just called to say my mother's condition is critical!"

Zhang Xiaoyu's voice was choked up, her eyes rimmed with red.

"Xiaoyu, let's get to the hospital quickly!"

Upon hearing her words, Lin Chen sprang into action.

He had promised to help with her mother's treatment when he first hired Zhang Xiaoyu as his secretary, but the matter had slipped his mind amidst the busyness of the past two days.

Lin Chen would feel remorseful if anything happened to Zhang Xiaoyu's mother.

"Crazy lady, don't bother going back to the company right now. Just wait here for me."

"I'll return shortly."

Before departing, Lin Chen made sure to caution Ann Lan.

With the directors of Ann's Group in a state of panic, he worried about leaving her to fend for herself.

Watching Lin Chen and Zhang Xiaoyu walk away, Sun Lili whispered a warning to Ann Lan, "Lanlan, be wary of this Zhang Xiaoyu."

"She's attractive and well-shaped; Lin Chen might not withstand the temptation..."

Ann Lan was aware of Sun Lili's concerns about Lin Chen getting involved with Zhang Xiaoyu.

Yet, she simply smiled at the thought.

"If he's that kind of man, it just means we in the Ann family misjudged him."

"Besides, I trust that he wouldn't do such a thing."

Trust Lin Chen?

Might as well believe pigs can fly!

"Lanlan, think about your child, if not yourself."

"Don't forget, this man was always talking about finding 'misses' to have fun with, and now he's hired a pretty secretary..."

Before Sun Lili could finish, Ann Lan shook her head.

She might not be certain about Lin Chen and Zhang Xiaoyu, but she had faith in her grandfather's discernment.

And even if they all misjudged Lin Chen, Ann Lan wouldn't hold a grudge.

After all, she couldn't blame Lin Chen for the child she was carrying.

...

Half an hour later, Lin Chen drove Ann Lan's car, with Zhang Xiaoyu alongside, to the No.1 People's Hospital in A City.

Lin Chen hastily parked his car and was about to head toward the hospital when Zhang Xiaoyu intercepted him.

"Big Brother Lin, my mom's in that clinic over there."

Lin Chen's gaze followed Zhang Xiaoyu's pointing finger to a lavishly decorated small clinic adjacent to the hospital.

He couldn't fathom why anyone would choose a modest clinic over the established hospital.

Shortly after, led by Zhang Xiaoyu, they briskly made their way into the clinic.

"You heartless quacks, my wife was perfectly fine yesterday, and now suddenly she's on death's door!"

"You're clearly out to rob and harm us!"

Lin Chen and Zhang Xiaoyu had just entered the ward when they encountered a disheveled middle-aged man berating several doctors.

"Mr. Zhang, please try to stay calm."

"The reason your wife is in this condition is that she removed her oxygen mask on her own accord."

"The only person to blame for this is your wife for her reckless actions!"

A doctor, clad in a white coat and mask, retorted icily to Zhang Tiesheng.

"That's nonsense! Even if my wife did remove the mask, doesn't the hospital bear any responsibility?"

"Remember, we entrusted her to your care, and it's your duty to ensure her safety!"

"Listen up, if you don't cough up a million, I'm dragging you all to court for your callous disregard for life!"

At Zhang Tiesheng's threat, panic flashed in the eyes of the middle-aged doctor in the white coat.

Though they hadn't caused the patient's death, their unethical practices with medication and exploiting families were undeniable.

If Zhang Tiesheng took them to court, an autopsy would surely follow!

"Zhang Tiesheng, the patient isn't completely gone. We can commit to doing our utmost to revive her."

"Furthermore, we'll offer you a compensation of fifty thousand yuan."

"If you insist on pursuing this, then we'll see you in court."

After a moment's hesitation, the doctor finally spoke through clenched teeth.

"Well, what are you waiting for?"

"Get the money, now!"

"And don't bother trying to save my wife, that doomed soul."

"I want every last yuan from her account returned to me."

The mention of fifty thousand yuan ignited a fiery gleam in Zhang Tiesheng's eyes.

"Give you a full refund?"

"What if the patient dies..."

The middle-aged doctor paused, taken aback. He hadn't considered that Zhang Tiesheng would refuse even the free life-saving treatment.

"If she dies, just take her to the crematorium, right?"

"I'll sign for you after I get the money."

Zhang Tiesheng stated, his impatience evident.

The doctor was now fully at ease with Zhang Tiesheng's response.

If Zhang Tiesheng wasn't going to make an issue of it, the patient's fate was of no concern to them, was it?

"No, I don't accept this!"

Zhang Xiaoyu, trembling with rage, witnessed the exchange.

She let out a furious cry and strode forward.

With clenched teeth, she confronted them, "This morning when I left, my mother promised she would follow the doctor's orders."

"She said she wanted to be there to see me get married and have children."

"Therefore, there's no way she would remove her oxygen mask on her own!"

Zhang Xiaoyu's intervention threw the doctors for a loop.

They had thought this situation was about to be resolved, but Zhang Xiaoyu's disagreement spelled trouble.

"Miss Zhang, are you suggesting our hospital intentionally removed your mother's oxygen mask?"

"Remember, the hallway is under surveillance. Since your father entered her room, not a single doctor or nurse has gone in!"

The middle-aged doctor retorted with a hint of annoyance.

No medical staff had entered since her father did?

Upon hearing this, Zhang Xiaoyu's gaze snapped to Zhang Tiesheng.

The panic in his eyes was all the confirmation she needed.

"Did you remove my mother's oxygen mask?"

Zhang Xiaoyu's accusation came with bloodshot eyes and fists clenched in her clothes.

She knew her father too well; for gambling money, there was nothing he wouldn't do.

The middle-aged doctor's eyes brightened at her accusation.

How had they overlooked this possibility?

It could very well have been Zhang Tiesheng who removed the oxygen mask!

If proven true, they wouldn't have to pay any damages, and they might even profit from the situation!

"You're spouting nonsense!"

"Zhang Xiaoyu, I'm your father. How could you accuse me of such a monstrous act?"

Zhang Tiesheng was seething with rage after being called out by his daughter.

Before Zhang Xiaoyu could even respond, he pressed on, "So, I've heard you've cozied up to some rich guy recently?"

"Just like my daughter, using what you've got to rake in the cash."

"Well then, hand over 100,000 yuan as a token of gratitude for all the years I've raised you!"

His words cut deep, stabbing Zhang Xiaoyu right in the heart.

Since her mother became ill, she had been getting by on just four hours of sleep a night, all to scrape together a bit more money for the family.

And her father?

His lack of understanding was one thing, his gambling another, but now he had the audacity to accuse her of selling her body, and in front of others, no less!

"Smack!"

"You good-for-nothing, didn't you hear me?"

"Hand over the money, are you deaf?"

Zhang Xiaoyu's tear-streaked face was met with a harsh slap from Zhang Tiesheng, who was growing impatient.

He was eager to get his hands on the money to recoup his losses, and he had no time to dilly-dally.

"Miss Zhang, our hospital has just reached out to a miracle healer."

"If you're willing to pay 500,000 yuan for the treatment, there's a very high chance your mother could be saved."

The middle-aged doctor interjected, concerned about Zhang Xiaoyu's predicament.

They didn't want to see all of her money end up in Zhang Tiesheng's pockets.

So, they were determined to secure a substantial fee by any means necessary.

Naturally, if Zhang Xiaoyu was short on cash, they implied she could always settle the debt with her body.