Chapter 3: Did You Get That, Mr. Dummy?

Terrance Lyson strode back to his seat. Anson Hauk trailed right behind him, step for step, like a lackey afraid to lose his master. After lifting the curtain to confirm the mother was safe, Nora Scurr followed too, her face full of questions. The Anson Hauk everyone revered on campus had his back bent and a fawning smile plastered on his face. "Little Miracle Doctor, was that what you used just then… the legendary Divinos Needles? I've seen it mentioned in old medical texts. They say it can bring the dead back to life…" "Old man." Terrance cut him off, impatient. He lounged back with one leg crossed over the other and shot him a sidelong glance. "If you want to butter me up, send your granddaughter. And speaking of which…" His eyes lit up. He pointed at Nora beside him. "Is your granddaughter as pretty as her? That's my bare minimum. If she can't beat her, I'll get laughed out of my village." Only then did Anson notice Nora. He blurted, stunned, "My granddaughter is one of Tenos's three great beauties. She's also the Medical University's campus belle! Huh? Miss Scurr, do you two know each other?" Nora eyed them both, suspicious. "Professor Hauk… he really delivered the baby just then?" "Absolutely!" Anson nodded so hard it looked like his neck might snap, his eyes shining with worship. "Little Miracle Doctor's skills are beyond miraculous. It was truly breathtaking." He rubbed his hands together, careful as he spoke. "The truth is, I have a favor to ask…" Terrance yawned and sank deeper into the seat. "Spit it out. Don't waste my time while I'm trying to build rapport with Miss Scurr." As he spoke, he inched closer to Nora. She rolled her eyes so hard it was almost an art form. The atmosphere in the carriage turned oddly delicate. Nora pressed a hand to her forehead. What was wrong with this Terrance? Build rapport? They'd known each other for less than half a day. What shocked her more was this: the titan of Tenos's medical world, Professor Hauk, was hovering around Terrance like a sidekick. Anson's expression flickered between pale and dark. In the past, even city officials treated him with respect and called him "Professor Hauk" with a smile. Yet this brat dismissed him like dust. But for his granddaughter's illness, he had no choice but to swallow his pride. "Little Miracle Doctor, my granddaughter has a strange disease… Western medicine can't do a thing, and even a Master of Traditional Medicine has seen her…" Terrance lifted a brow, a teasing curve at his lips. "Oh? Even a vice president of a hospital can't handle it? So you're admitting your skills aren't good enough?" Anson gave a bitter smile and shook his head. "This illness… it's beyond the scope of modern medicine. I saw how extraordinary Little Miracle Doctor's methods were, so I thought perhaps…" Nora noticed Terrance's gaze sharpened, the laziness draining out of him. To make a medical authority humble himself like this, the illness had to be serious. What surprised her even more was the eager glint that surfaced on Terrance's face. This weirdo seemed to love impossible cases. "Let's hear it." Terrance sat up straighter, suddenly energized. "The stranger, the better. I'm not interested in ordinary headaches and fevers." He stroked his chin, excitement flashing in his eyes. "If it's too easy, I'll be too embarrassed to brag when I get back to my village!" … For a beat, both of them fell silent. So he only got interested if someone was practically dying? "Fine." Terrance waved a hand, putting on the air of someone making a sacrifice. His fingers tapped lightly on his knee. "Since you're being so sincere, and since she's some campus belle, some… whatever belle, I'll make time to take a look." He leaned back again. "But I've got something urgent to handle first. After I'm done, we'll talk." "No problem! Absolutely no problem!" Anson's voice trembled with excitement. He fumbled for his business card and pulled up his WeChat QR code. "Little Miracle Doctor, if you need anything in Tenos, just say the word!" He rubbed his hands, eyes full of hope. "Then… about my granddaughter's illness…" Terrance scanned the code, then stuffed the card into his pocket like it meant nothing. "Yeah, yeah. I got it. Go on back." After Anson finally walked away, Nora studied Terrance from head to toe with a strange look, her rosy lips pressed into a thin line. "What's with that look?" Terrance shifted, uncomfortable under her gaze. Nora gave a small snort. "You agreed before you even knew what disease it was?" Her slender fingers idly curled a strand of hair. "Miss Hauk's illness has even stumped foreign specialists." Terrance straightened, pride flashing through his eyes. "You've got to be kidding. In front of Skilled Hands, there's no such thing as an untreatable disease!" He started counting on his fingers. "Meridians running backward, I can set them right. Qi and blood flowing wrong, I can tune them. Even if someone's got one foot in the grave…" He lowered his voice and leaned in, conspiratorial. "I can yank them back." "Enough, enough. Keep bragging and your big talk will split open." Nora waved him off, disbelief written all over her bright eyes. Could this slacker really be the Miracle Doctor who'd just performed a miracle? Terrance only grinned wider. "Xiaoqing…" "Stop!" Nora bristled like a startled cat, nearly springing out of her seat. "Who said you could call me that?" "It's only a matter of time." Terrance leaned closer, shameless, his gaze lingering on her porcelain-white cheeks. "You know my fiancée, right? Got a photo of her?" He pulled an exaggerated face. "She's not… weird-looking, is she?" "In your dreams!" Nora turned her face away, but she couldn't hide the faint red at the tips of her ears. They bickered back and forth like a couple flirting without admitting it. Across from them, a chubby man watched, shaking his head, sourness pooling in his chest. So that was how it was. Bad boys really did attract girls. Guys like him, the honest type, were just destined to be single? The train finally arrived. On the platform, an ambulance that had been waiting flashed blue lights. Medical staff quickly transferred the mother. Terrance and Nora followed the crowd out of the station. At the exit, a gorgeous girl with a high ponytail stood beside a wine-red Porsche. Her long legs were so pale in the sunlight they almost dazzled. She waved toward them. "Sister Muqing! Over here!" When they got closer, the girl's picky gaze swept Terrance up and down. "Don't tell me this is your new boyfriend?" She curled her lip, not bothering to hide the disdain in her eyes. "Your taste has really gone downhill." Nora shot Terrance a disgusted glance. This guy, with his tacky clothes and nonstop nonsense, looked like he belonged in a different universe from Joy Lashbrook, who was all cold elegance. If Nora hadn't seen that yellowed marriage contract with her own eyes, she would have rather died than believe this hillbilly was her cousin's fiancé. "Don't talk nonsense. I just met him." Nora hurried to draw a clear line, yanking open the back door and urging, "Get in, quick!" Terrance bent to climb in, but the door slammed shut with a sharp "Bang!" "Sister Muqing, are you insane?" The girl's eyes widened dramatically. "You're letting him into my car? He's so dusty and country-looking. What if he gets my leather seats dirty?" She blinked, mischievous. "Unless… you admit he's your boyfriend. Then I might consider it." "He's… complicated. I'll explain later." Nora lowered her voice and tugged at her friend's sleeve. "Just drop him at your place first. I'll pay for the car wash!" The short-haired beauty eyed Terrance skeptically. No matter how she looked, he seemed painfully ordinary. "Hey. What's your name?" Terrance straightened, chin lifted. "I am Skilled Hands, Terrance Lyson. In the jianghu, they call me-" "Pfft! What kind of dirt-cheap nickname is that?" The girl cut him off without mercy, covering her mouth as she laughed. "You're better off being called something more… down-to-earth." "Cough, cough…" Nora nearly choked on her own saliva. If this girl knew the man in front of her might be her future brother-in-law, would she still dare to be this wild? Terrance waved it off like it didn't matter. "We already have a guy called Dummy in my village. That kid's built like a bull." He smiled and countered smoothly, "And what's the name of this beautiful young lady?" The girl lifted her chin proudly, like a peacock spreading its tail. "I am Liana Lashbrook, the beloved second miss of the Lashbrook family in Tenos!" She dragged out the last words on purpose. "Did you get that, Mr. Dummy?"