Campus Ace Girl-Chapter 444 - 445 Sorry! I only see you as an elder 3200 words
The secretary hesitated for a moment before running off to fetch a small blanket. King Jingyao personally draped it over An An, chuckling. "The old lady intends to adopt her as a goddaughter, you know. This young lady is quite good-looking, very endearing," he commented.
The secretary dared not make a sound. And here you were, thinking Dr. Jiang Chaoge was so presentable and distinguished just a while ago... However, the Secretary-General would never dare say such a thing to his superior, so he merely stood by silently.
After a while, King Jingyao said softly, "Alright, you can go and rest now. I’ll stay with Old Wang." He sighed lightly. "Come to think of it, it’s been a long time since I’ve properly spent time with him like this."
The Secretary-General, however, felt it was inappropriate. The doctor sleeping soundly while King Jingyao stayed to accompany her—this was truly unseemly.
King Jingyao sensed his thoughts but paid them no mind. "The old lady wants to adopt her! It’s only natural for the child to get some rest." Saying this, he sighed. "Speaking of which, she’s only in her early twenties, still just a kid." His gaze rested on the young woman, a hint of warmth in his eyes.
The Secretary-General was rather shocked again. His perception changed so quickly... It wouldn’t be right to leave abruptly now. So, he said in a low voice, "I heard Dr. Jiang Chaoge is returning to France."
"Is that so?" King Jingyao replied calmly. "She really should pursue further studies. Otherwise, how could she be inferior to a kid in her twenties?"
The Secretary-General thought to himself, This is rather unfair to Dr. Jiang Chaoge. So he reminded him, "This is no ordinary young woman. I’ve heard some confidential information..."
King Jingyao frowned. "What confidential information?"
The Secretary-General leaned in and quietly relayed the stories circulating about Gu Yuanshan’s family.
King Jingyao burst out laughing. "A ’demon spawn sent from heaven’? What kind of outdated folklore is that? And people actually believe it?"
The Secretary-General added cautiously, "One can’t entirely believe it, nor can one entirely disbelieve it. In any case, I heard that Gu Yuanshan has been deeply regretting his actions lately."
King Jingyao just smiled. "He certainly should regret it. Losing such a treasure... In the end, it’s his lack of good fortune."
The Secretary-General chimed in from the side, "Yes, indeed. A man without good fortune."
King Jingyao gave him a cool look, and the Secretary-General knew it was time for him to leave. After a few parting words, he withdrew.
「In the dead of night, the patient’s room became utterly silent.」
King Jingyao casually picked up a nearby magazine and began to flip through it. It was a medical journal, in its original language, and he could only grasp bits and pieces due to the extensive professional terminology.
After flipping through it for a while, he lost interest. His gaze drifted to the other side of the room, settling on the sleeping young woman.
He found it truly impossible to see her as an ordinary doctor. She was too young, had a bad temper, and her words, though outwardly respectful, were laced with barbs—truly unlikable!
However, Old Wang and the old lady were extremely fond of her. He, on the other hand, didn’t mind being a little kinder to her, considering it a token of gratitude for the surgery she performed on Old Wang.
He had also secretly heard that the old lady had given her a piece of jewelry from her own dowry. Its priceless value aside, its significance was extraordinary. Such items were traditionally passed down to the matriarch of the Wang Family. The old lady was truly becoming more and more unreasonable, giving things away so casually.
King Jingyao had a plan in mind; there was also a check in his pocket.
As he sat there in the quiet, starting to feel bored, An An woke up. She hadn’t woken up naturally; rather, she had set her phone to vibrate, and she woke as soon as it went off.
She rose quietly, not noticing his presence, and directly put on her mask to check on Old Wang. Her movements were gentle, her gaze intensely focused.
King Jingyao couldn’t help but follow. "How is he?"
An An seemed unsurprised by his presence. Without turning around, she replied softly, "All vital signs are normal."
King Jingyao nodded. "That’s good."
An An spent about five minutes in total. After finishing her checks, she returned to the sofa but showed no intention of going back to sleep.
King Jingyao turned his face away. "Why aren’t you sleeping?"
An An’s reply was indirect: "Actually, Mr. Wang, there’s no need for you to stay overnight."
A faint smile touched King Jingyao’s lips. "Old Wang is getting on in years; he’d want his son by his side. I’ve been busy all these years, often neglecting..." He paused. "Why am I even telling you this?"
Then he recalled something else. "I hear the old lady is particularly fond of you and even gave you a valuable gift. However, this item holds a different significance for our Wang Family. So, if you quietly return it to me, I won’t let you lose out."
He took a check from his pocket and handed it to An An. An An took it and glanced at it. Then her eyes widened slightly. The Wang Family was truly wealthy and influential! What an extraordinary gesture. Nine zeros followed the leading digit.
"Alright," she agreed readily, casually pulling the item out of her pocket.
King Jingyao’s expression darkened. Couldn’t she be a bit more careful? This is their family heirloom!
An An carefully tucked the check away. Money really is good; it warms you right up just holding it.
King Jingyao accepted the item and watched her silently for a few moments before saying, "Since you’re someone the old lady favors, I naturally have to show you some regard. You’re young... so get some more sleep. I’ll keep watch."
An An just said, "Oh," pulled up the small blanket, and actually lay down, completely disregarding his status.
The prominent figure was quite annoyed. "Hey! Do you even know who I am?" She showed no restraint in his presence.
An An’s voice came muffled from under the small blanket: "I know, you’re a big shot. But hey, you still have to listen to the old lady!"
Hmph, a man in his forties... to her, his gender was practically irrelevant! Why bother with restraint? So what if he had high status? Here, wasn’t he still subject to her authority? He’d better not get sick in the future. Otherwise, if he fell into her hands, she’d still...
King Jingyao was naturally very perceptive and understood the many implications in her words. However, this young woman was indeed quite interesting; the old lady had good judgment.
Inevitably, his thoughts turned to Jiang Chaoge. It wasn’t that he was particularly attached to her, but he couldn’t help making a small comparison. If Jiang Chaoge were here with him now, even if they had a somewhat private understanding, she wouldn’t dare to sleep so openly, would she? She would still be concerned about her image and such.
But this An An even dared to take off her shoes and curl up under the blanket, as unceremoniously as if she were in her own home. And besides, he was, after all, a man! Was she really treating him as if he were insignificant?
Perhaps sensing what the prominent figure was thinking, An An’s voice came coolly, "I know you’re a big shot, but I’m the doctor, and you’re the patient’s family. In that regard, we’re equals! Besides, I already said you don’t have to stay. If you weren’t here, the sofa would be more spacious! Uncle Wang."
Uncle Wang... King Jingyao was absolutely furious.
Although he held a high position and wasn’t one to get close to people, let alone just any woman, anyone who had interacted with him couldn’t deny that he was well-maintained, knowledgeable, witty, and handsome.
He was about to say something, but then he heard soft, even breathing. Had the little rascal fallen asleep?
He leaned closer and gently pulled back a corner of the small blanket. Indeed, she was sound asleep, looking peaceful and sweet. His expression softened unconsciously. She was rather adorable.
If the old lady truly likes her, whether as a granddaughter or a daughter, he wouldn’t mind having another sister or even another daughter...
The old lady was standing at the doorway of the small bedroom. She had intended to check on her husband but happened to witness this scene instead. She frowned slightly, then slowly went back to lie down.
Jingyao... it seems like a long time since he’s liked someone this much. He must be lonely too, in such a high position, with no one beside him. No wife, no children.
The old lady thought about the young woman. Originally, she felt age wasn’t particularly important, but the girl... she already has someone, doesn’t she? And it was that person who taught her medical skills, the skills that saved Old Wang.
The old lady thought and thought, but in the end, she could only let out a soft sigh...
「The next morning, Old Wang awoke, his condition stable.」
After An An finished her work, she prepared to go home for a shower and to sleep for the morning. With Director Hao there, she felt at ease.
After she left, King Jingyao also had matters to attend to and was preparing to leave with the Secretary-General when the old lady called out to him, "Jingyao, I need to talk to you."
"Mom, I have an important schedule. Can we talk tonight?" King Jingyao thought to himself, When I get downstairs, I need to have the driver take the young woman home. She must be exhausted.
The old lady’s expression hardened. "Can’t you spare even a few moments?"
King Jingyao smiled. "Alright, alright. Whatever the old lady says, goes."
He gave a meaningful glance to his Secretary-General, an experienced aide who had been with him for over a decade. The Secretary-General understood the signal instantly and excused himself.
The old lady gave a cool, dignified smile. "If you want to talk, then talk. Why were you signaling your Secretary-General?"
King Jingyao rubbed his nose and chuckled. "Nothing really gets past the old lady, does it! Alright, yes, I was going to have the driver drop off... Dr. Gu. But it was only out of consideration for you, old lady. Didn’t you say you wanted to adopt her as your goddaughter?"
The old lady smiled. "Really? Just out of consideration for me?"
She walked back, sat down on the sofa in her bedroom, and took a sip of tea. Her son followed and sat beside her, saying gently, "Mom, what are you getting at? Do you know, that young woman called me Uncle Wang last night."
The old lady burst out laughing. "Serves you right! She’s wary of you. You see a woman, you want her. You saw Jiang Chaoge was beautiful and educated, so you desired her. After a few days of ambiguous involvement, you then lay eyes on this one who is younger, prettier, and has an interesting personality. You may not say it, but don’t think you don’t have ideas about her in your heart! That young lady is very clever. Calling you ’Uncle’ was her way of telling you to respect yourself. Don’t you dare be shameless enough to mistake it for some kind of flirtatious banter!"
King Jingyao rubbed his nose. "How could I dare think that way? Isn’t she Xichen’s girlfriend? Besides, she’s far too young. The woman by your son’s side should be of a comparable age; otherwise, people will say your son is improper."
The old lady sneered. "Listen to you, claiming you’re not interested, yet you’ve considered every angle! I don’t care. I’m determined to have her as my god-granddaughter."
King Jingyao gave a wry smile. "Old lady, realistically, shouldn’t the correct approach be to cut off contact? That would be better for your son. Being this close, seeing her under my nose every day, wouldn’t it be an eyesore?"
The old lady laughed. "Finally, you’re speaking the truth."
King Jingyao just smiled. "I was just trying to make you happy! Whatever the old lady wants to hear, I’ll go along with it."
He paused for a moment. "If the old lady forbids me from having any ideas, then I’ll put them away. From now on, I’ll treat her like a child. Will that do?"
After much probing and prodding, the old lady was finally satisfied. "Alright. You’re busy too. Go on, get to your work!"
King Jingyao thought for a moment. "Very well. I’ll come again tonight... but I won’t stay over, lest the old lady find fault with me again."
The old lady gazed at her son, then suddenly sighed. "Jingyao, when you have some free time, find a woman to keep you company."
King Jingyao was silent for a moment, then smiled faintly. "I haven’t found the right person yet."
