C2 Poisoned

Standing beside the woman was an elderly man dressed as a butler.

Upon noticing Xiao Qiufeng's awakening, the old man leaned in and whispered to Lau Qingmei, "Miss, he's come to."

Lau Qingmei turned, and her stunning visage caught Xiao Qiufeng's gaze, leaving him momentarily taken aback.

She appeared to be in her early twenties, with a delicate face and skin as pale as snow. Tall and poised, her every gesture radiated an air of aristocratic chill.

In all his years, Xiao Qiufeng had never laid eyes on such a breathtaking woman.

Next to her, his ex-wife Zhou Ruoxue seemed utterly plain.

But Xiao Qiufeng's thoughts quickly shifted as he grasped the situation, asking softly, "Was it you who brought me to the hospital?"

He had blacked out at the hotel, and it stood to reason that these were the people who had taken him to the hospital.

"I am Lau Qingmei. We've come from the capital specifically to dissolve your engagement," she stated calmly.

"Dissolve the engagement?" Xiao Qiufeng was perplexed.

He had been brought up by his foster mother and had never been told of any fiancée from the capital. Had he known, he would never have married Zhou Ruoxue.

"You're unaware?" Lau Qingmei's brow furrowed.

"Two decades ago, my grandfather and the Xiao family arranged our engagement. However, it's clear now that we're not meant to be together. If you agree to annul the engagement, feel free to name your price," Lau Qingmei said, gazing at Xiao Qiufeng on the hospital bed, her voice tinged with regret.

Had Xiao Qiufeng been a more remarkable man, she wouldn't be seeking this annulment.

"Agreed! I want nothing. Just tell me what needs to be done," Xiao Qiufeng responded promptly.

He felt indebted to Lau Qingmei for her help, and with the recent revelation of Zhou Ruoxue's betrayal, his spirits were low. He had no desire to entangle himself with someone of Lau Qingmei's distinguished standing.

"What?" Lau Qingmei was momentarily taken aback.

She had thoroughly reviewed Xiao Qiufeng's background. He was a delivery man with a gravely ill mother to care for. She was convinced that Xiao Qiufeng could see the vast difference between their social standings.

She had braced herself for Xiao Qiufeng to demand a hefty sum of money when the opportunity arose. Surprisingly, he made no such request. It would have been simpler for her if he had just asked for money.

Glancing at Xiao Qiufeng, she murmured, "I've taken care of your mother's medical bills. I'll be in town for a bit. Once you find the marriage contract at home, bring it to me."

Xiao Qiufeng paused, then gratefully responded, "Thank you!"

Lau Qingmei gave a nod. "I'll be around for a while. If you need anything, feel free to reach out. Should you encounter any trouble down the line, Uncle Liu is your man. He'll be in J City for the coming years."

She then turned to the butler at her side.

With a smile, the butler presented a business card to Xiao Qiufeng. "Here's my card, Mr. Xiao. Please keep it safe."

Xiao Qiufeng accepted the card, which bore the title of Chief Butler of the Lau family from the capital.

"Rest up. I'll stop by in a few days to collect the marriage contract," Lau Qingmei said, preparing to exit the room.

Relieved by Xiao Qiufeng's willingness to break off the engagement, she felt a weight lift off her shoulders. Her visit to J City wasn't just about the engagement; there were other matters to attend to.

But as she started to leave, darkness clouded her vision. Lau Qingmei stumbled, lurching forward.

"Miss!" Butler Liu exclaimed, reaching out to steady her.

Yet Xiao Qiufeng was quicker. He caught Lau Qingmei by the waist before she hit the ground.

"How did I move so fast?" Xiao Qiufeng was astounded.

He had acted on instinct, not expecting to so effortlessly catch Lau Qingmei.

Her heart racing, Lau Qingmei's cheeks turned a rosy hue. It was the first time in over two decades she had been this close to a man her own age.

Lau Qingmei quickly regained her composure and spoke softly, "Thank you, you can release me now."

Xiao Qiufeng, upon hearing her, became aware of their rather close proximity and promptly released her.

He furrowed his brow slightly, and after a brief pause, he spoke gently, "Miss Lau, you've been poisoned."

Xiao Qiufeng felt uncertain, but as soon as he had touched Lau Qingmei, a flood of ancient medical knowledge filled his mind, as though he had devoted centuries to studying the healing arts. He recognized the symptoms all too well.

Clearly, Lau Qingmei had been poisoned by a mix of Mandara Flower and Snake Line Grass.

Such a poison would cause dizziness in the early stages, followed by frequent vomiting of blood after six months. A year later, the poison would infiltrate their bone marrow, leading to certain death.

Yet, Xiao Qiufeng couldn't be sure if the knowledge in his mind was accurate.

Lau Qingmei's brow creased as she countered, "You're saying I'm poisoned? I'm just anemic. I've been dealing with this for several months."

Indeed, her symptoms had started four months prior, and she had been examined at a major hospital in the capital, which diagnosed her with common anemia.

Xiao Qiufeng softly inquired, "May I examine your symptoms further?"

Just then, a young doctor entered, carrying gauze, and cautioned, "Miss Lau, don't fall for his deception. This man is no doctor. How could he possibly cure anyone?"

Chen Yan watched Xiao Qiufeng with a cold smirk. He had been the one to greet Lau Qingmei when she brought Xiao Qiufeng in, and he had been immediately captivated by her beauty, even indulging in fantasies of starting a family with her.

Now, having learned from hospital leadership that Miss Lau hailed from an aristocratic family, Chen Yan saw Xiao Qiufeng, clad in a delivery man's attire, and smiled, "Miss Lau, he's merely a delivery man. How could he possibly treat illnesses? Perhaps you should consider a comprehensive check-up at our hospital?"

Xiao Qiufeng's expression remained unchanged as he disregarded Chen Yan, turning his attention to Lau Qingmei instead.

He wouldn't have gotten involved if Lau Qingmei hadn't covered his foster mother's medical bills to the tune of half a million. Yet, the final say in the matter still rested with Lau Qingmei.

With an icy tone, Lau Qingmei commanded, "Shut up and leave!"

Chen Yan's smile seized up. Despite his inner reluctance, he had no choice but to turn and walk away.

Chen Yan seethed internally, "I refuse to believe that a mere delivery boy like you has any medical expertise! I'll find someone to debunk your lies."

In a hushed tone, Lau Qingmei inquired, "Are you certain it's poison?"

"I'm about 90% sure," Xiao Qiufeng affirmed.

"Then examine me, please," Lau Qingmei requested.

"Of course."

With that, Xiao Qiufeng extended his hand, gently placing two fingers on Lau Qingmei's wrist, noting the softness of her skin.