The old lady was displeased. "Didn’t you co here to see the patient?"
The old whiner grumbled, "Him? Not a chance! He’s just hoping I’d die. He even tried to barge into my surgery to stop Xichen from saving . He’s so wicked, utterly heartless! Zhou Yu did well to divorce him."
Min Xin’s expression was priceless. Wang Yuan, standing beside him, felt sorry for his master but could do nothing. He spoke softly, "Why don’t you just read a passage? Let’s consider this matter over."
Over? Min Xin looked at Wang Yuan, his gaze dark and inscrutable.
However, he actually did start reading. Sitting next to the old man, he flipped through the French romance novel, reading it aloud for him to hear.
The old whiner, a spoiled old fellow, listened to a few sentences and then grumbled, "There’s no emotion at all."
Min Xin’s face darkened. His French was impeccable, but to read such sappy lines with emotion... to say "I love you" to an old man? And King Jingyao’s father, at that! Min Xin felt like he was suffocating.
Wang Yuan flipped a page of the book and coughed lightly. "It’s a short story."
Min Xin shot him a glare and continued reading.
The old whiner listened with keen interest, no longer making a fuss, and lay there obediently.
When Min Xin felt he had read enough, he closed the book and said to the old lady, "Uncle has probably fallen asleep. I’ll take my leave now."
The old lady, her anger apparently subsiding, nodded. "Alright. You’re injured too."
Min Xin forced a smile and was just about to get up when the man on the bed started groaning, a mix of real and feigned pain, "Oh, it hurts... It hurts so much I can’t sleep..."
Damn it! Min Xin fud internally.
Wang Yuan also cursed under his breath.
The old lady, however, gently tried to soothe the patient, "Alright, alright. If Min Xin doesn’t want to read to you, I’ll read to you. Even though I’m old and don’t have much energy, if I were to collapse, at least we’re already in a hospital..."
Damn it, again! Min Xin raged silently. So they really thought they had him cornered, huh?
But he was clearly in the wrong about today’s events, and leaving now wasn’t an option. So, still cursing internally, he picked up that nauseatingly cheesy French romance novel and began to read again, articulating each word with perfect clarity and rich emotion.
The old man sighed in satisfaction, and the old lady, too, had her eyes narrowed in enjoynt.
Min Xin felt sowhat aggrieved.
Wang Yuan was even more heartbroken. This was Master Min, powerful and influential, now reduced to such a state... Truly, words failed him.
Just then, King Jingyao arrived. He brightened upon seeing Min Xin and walked over to shake his hand. "Jingchuan said you were reading a love story to the old man, and doing a splendid job. I didn’t quite believe it, but now I see it’s true!"
He continued with a chuckle, "Well, well, Min Xin, I never knew you had such a talent. No wonder I lost to you back then, and Zhou Yu chose you. It’s just a sha Zhou Yu isn’t here; otherwise, we could all properly reminisce about the old days."
Min Xin’s face turned utterly black.
The older man, knowing when to quit while ahead, said, "Alright, you carry on reading. I have to go; I’ve got work tomorrow. Don’t forget the banquet tonight. Oh, and by the way, I’ve received your gift. Zhou Yu quite likes it too."
Min Xin gritted his teeth. "As long as she likes it."
King Jingyao took a step forward and whispered, "Read well. The old man loves hearing it. If he’s happy, I’ll probably be happy and get to sleep earlier. Otherwise, I might not be able to sleep and might just have to pull Zhou Yu into doing... well, what do you think we should do?"
Min Xin enunciated each word with deliberate slowness, "I will take good care of the old man. Please rest assured."
The older man looked touched. "From now on, my parents are your parents. Younger Brother Min, your magnanimity is truly remarkable... remarkable indeed!"
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