C17 The Illness of the Superintendent.

Hsiao Rann was about to sneak off when he realized there was nothing left for him to do, but Zhang Yan called out to him.

"Hold on a second."

Puzzled, Hsiao Rann turned to her and asked, "What's the matter, Police Sister?"

"You can't go just yet," Zhang Yan replied.

"Why can't I leave? I need to get back and prepare some medicine," Hsiao Rann feigned ignorance. He was aware that even as a victim, he was required to provide a statement. His real intention had been to avoid the hassle by slipping away unnoticed.

"The police say you stay, you stay," interjected a young police officer. But after scolding Hsiao Rann, he turned to Zhang Yan with an ingratiating smile.

"Here's the situation: you need to accompany us to the station to make a statement, so you're not free to leave at the moment. It won't take too long, I assure you," Zhang Yan explained.

Convinced by Zhang Yan's assurance that it wouldn't be a lengthy process, Hsiao Rann resigned himself to going with them to the station to provide his statement. He paid no mind to the young officer's earlier remark.

So, Hsiao Rann set off for the station with Zhang Yan to complete the paperwork. The eager young officer scurried behind them, while the more senior officer stayed behind to wrap up the remaining issues.

Ultimately, Lyu Bin was held accountable for the pharmacy's compensation.

No sooner had Hsiao Rann departed than someone was on the phone to Young Master Jiang.

Upon reaching the station, Hsiao Rann found himself in an unfortunate position; the meeting room was adjacent to the superintendent's office, which was unusually open. Consequently, Hsiao Rann overheard the conversation.

"Young Master Jiang, are you saying that a criminal named Hsiao Rann will be arriving shortly?"

"Understood, I'll make sure he gets a lesson he won't forget, as payback on your behalf."

"You can count on me, Young Master Jiang."

Hsiao Rann only caught the superintendent's side of the conversation, but it was enough for him to piece together the situation. Jiang Tian had phoned the superintendent with instructions to sabotage him at the station. Clearly, Jiang Tian was already aware of the incident at the Benevolence Hall pharmacy.

But what difference did it make if Jiang Tian knew? Hsiao Rann wasn't the same person he used to be.

Did the superintendent and Jiang Tian actually believe they could teach him a lesson?

Once Zhang Yan escorted Hsiao Rann to the police station, she was promptly assigned to other tasks. The superintendent took over responsibility for Hsiao Rann.

Since Hsiao Rann wasn't a suspect, merely there to provide a statement, Zhang Yan led him to the conference room.

Meanwhile, the superintendent had devised a plan. He intended to falsely accuse Hsiao Rann of theft, giving him grounds to hold Hsiao Rann for 24 hours. During this time, Hsiao Rann would inevitably be in the detention center.

Once Hsiao Rann was behind bars, the superintendent would have his chance to teach him a lesson.

With his plan in mind, the superintendent made his way to the conference room.

The others were puzzled by the superintendent's unusual decision to personally record Hsiao Rann's statement that day.

No sooner had the superintendent stepped through the door than Hsiao Rann was sizing him up thoroughly.

While scrutinizing the superintendent, Hsiao Rann let out a sigh.

Seeing Hsiao Rann's demeanor, the superintendent was perplexed and asked, "What are you staring at? Take a seat."

"What a shame!" Hsiao Rann let out another long sigh.

"A shame? What are you talking about?" As expected, the superintendent couldn't resist asking, playing right into Hsiao Rann's hands.

"You're the one who's ill," Hsiao Rann told the superintendent.

Infuriated, the superintendent banged his hand on the table and retorted, "You're the one who's sick!"

"Calm down. I'm not wrong; you really are ill. You suffer from erectile dysfunction. It must be quite distressing, right?" Hsiao Rann pressed on.

The superintendent was stunned by Hsiao Rann's blunt accusation. His impotence was indeed a sore point, often lamented by his wife. Despite trying numerous remedies, he could barely last a minute during intercourse. This issue had long plagued the superintendent, and he had never confided in anyone about it. So when Hsiao Rann brought it up out of the blue, the superintendent was understandably taken aback.

"What exactly are you implying?" the superintendent asked with a hint of hesitation.

"I've been quite clear. You've had this condition for a while now. Without treatment, there's a real chance you might never be able to engage in sexual activity again," Hsiao Rann stated with a calm assurance. At this point, the superintendent was the one feeling the urgency.

"Could you elaborate? What exactly is my condition?" The superintendent would never discuss such matters with outsiders. He was also acutely aware of his wife's temperament. She frequently aired her grievances about this issue to him, but she would never dream of confiding in anyone else. Thus, when Hsiao Rann pinpointed the issue so accurately, the superintendent couldn't help but regard him with a newfound respect.

He hadn't forgotten the task Young Master Jiang had assigned to him, but with his health at stake, he had no choice but to treat Hsiao Rann with courtesy. He had sought help from numerous doctors to no avail.

"Have you tried a variety of medications for your condition?" inquired Hsiao Rann.

The superintendent nodded eagerly.

"The causes of premature ejaculation are varied, but they fall into two main categories: psychological factors, which account for about 80% of cases, and physical damage to the reproductive organs," Hsiao Rann explained.

This was a common diagnosis, and the superintendent nodded in agreement, finding Hsiao Rann's explanation credible.

"So, knowing these causes, did the doctors prescribe both traditional and modern medicines, and also recommend psychological counseling? Did they give you dietary guidelines as well?" Hsiao Rann asked with confidence.

Indeed, the superintendent had secretly consulted a psychiatrist, always fearing discovery. Being outed as a patient of mental health could lead to misinterpretations that might jeopardize his position as superintendent.

Moreover, he had an array of medications at home, none of which had made a dent in his condition.

"You're absolutely right. Do you have a method to cure my ailment?" the superintendent asked, his tone now filled with respect.

Hsiao Rann certainly had the means to cure the superintendent's illness. The pills he possessed were potent enough to treat not just impotence but even ailments as serious as cancer and AIDS, provided he could concoct the appropriate remedy.

"Of course I can cure your illness," Hsiao Rann declared with confidence.

He was brimming with self-assurance.

Upon hearing this, the superintendent's excitement surged, but it was quickly tempered by the memory of Jiang Tian's words. Torn, he was caught between his fear of offending the powerful Eldest Young Master Jiang and his desperate desire to heal himself. He was at a loss for what to do.

Hsiao Rann noticed the superintendent's hesitation and understood his concerns, but he remained silent.

After much deliberation, the superintendent chose to heed Young Master Jiang's advice. He couldn't risk crossing someone of Jiang's stature. Regretfully, he would have to disappoint Hsiao Rann, but he resolved to make it up to him later. For now, his priority was to persuade Hsiao Rann to treat him.

"Please, save me. I'll give you whatever reward you ask for. If it's within my power, I'll make it happen," the superintendent implored.

"I'll write you a prescription right now. Truth is, I ended up here after being mobbed, so I'd like to request that the police sister, Zhang Yan, escort me home. I'm a bit of a coward and fear running into trouble on the way," Hsiao Rann said with a light-hearted smile.

The superintendent was taken aback, not expecting such a request from Hsiao Rann!

But his focus was on obtaining the prescription. He quickly agreed, "Certainly. It's the police's duty to protect citizens. I'll have Zhang Yan accompany you home shortly to ensure your safety. Now, may I have the prescription?"

Hsiao Rann smiled knowingly. Once he handed over the prescription, he anticipated the superintendent would look for more excuses to target him.

Nevertheless, Hsiao Rann had his own strategy for dealing with the superintendent. He picked up a pen and paper and began to write the prescription.

Watching Hsiao Rann's pen glide across the paper, the superintendent felt a rush of hope. He had consulted countless doctors to no avail. Despite his youth, Hsiao Rann had instantly recognized the superintendent's ailment. This gave the superintendent confidence in Hsiao Rann's exceptional medical expertise. Moreover, he intended to have a trusted doctor verify the validity of the prescription.

The superintendent clung to any sliver of hope for his own cure.

Hsiao Rann, who had been busy writing a prescription, abruptly halted his pen, lost in thought.

"What's the matter?" the superintendent inquired, noticing the pause.

"Sorry, I've forgotten the most crucial Medicinal Usher. I need to go home and check my notes. Could you have Zhang Yan take me back? Once I'm there, I'll inform Zhang Yan of the final Medicinal Usher to relay to you, if that's alright?" Hsiao Rann feigned a look of distress.

It was a reasonable request, yet the superintendent had been set on giving Hsiao Rann a stern reprimand. Now, with Hsiao Rann claiming he needed to retrieve information from home before disclosing a vital Medicinal Usher, the superintendent wavered. Should he let Hsiao Rann go?

Torn, the superintendent wrestled with the decision internally, while Hsiao Rann continued his thoughtful charade.

After much deliberation, the superintendent consented to Hsiao Rann's request, prioritizing his health above all else. He figured he could easily placate Young Master Jiang's demands later on.

"Fine, I'll have Zhang Yan escort you home now," the superintendent declared, heading towards the door.

Had Hsiao Rann not overheard that phone call, he might have genuinely believed the superintendent to be a decent man. But now, his opinion had shifted. Regardless, Hsiao Rann intended to honor his word and treat the superintendent's ailment.

Soon after, Zhang Yan was summoned.

"Zhang Yan, you're tasked with escorting Hsiao Rann home and ensuring his safety," the superintendent announced, deliberately assigning the duty in Hsiao Rann's presence to make a good impression. He also harbored concerns about Hsiao Rann reneging on his promise once home.

"I assure you, the task will be completed," Zhang Yan declared with conviction, her voice resonating pleasantly with Hsiao Rann.

With Zhang Yan's arrival, the superintendent allowed Hsiao Rann to depart. Though he hadn't required a recorded statement from Hsiao Rann, Zhang Yan assumed the superintendent had already done so, which is why she believed Hsiao Rann was being released.

So, Zhang Yan and Hsiao Rann exited the police station side by side. Zhang Yan accompanied Hsiao Rann on his way home, ensuring his safety.