081 What is not "about"?

"Uh..."
Naturally, this man had never expected that the legendary "poor little thing" would actually be so domineering and direct. Her voice was gentle, but her attitude left no room for doubt. Now that Mu Qingcheng had shattered his prejudiced lens, he realized that the girl before him was the very embodiment of aristocratic grace in every aspect.

"Doctor Xu, Qingcheng is my most cherished granddaughter. Speak freely."
With a casual remark, Old Master Mu established an irreplaceable position for Mu Qingcheng. This had never happened before. Even the several young masters of the Mu family had never received such affirmation from the old man. It was clear just how important the Fifth Miss was in the Mu household.

At once, Doctor Xu nodded, rubbing his palms nervously as he replied,
"The Second Young Master's illness is an old ailment; it's rather complicated to cure completely."
"And what caused it this time?"
"It's... probably because of his weak constitution. We need to run more tests to be sure."
"Probably?"
Hearing this, Mu Qingcheng frowned, scrutinizing the man before her. She noticed that Doctor Xu's forehead was already beaded with cold sweat. His words were hesitant, every statement left open, lacking any definitive conclusion.

According to Uncle Ji's introduction, Mu Qing was a long-term patient here, and the staff should be very familiar with his condition. Judging by the history of his treatments, they ought to be able to make a clear diagnosis and administer proper care.
Moreover, it had been nearly four hours since Mu Qing was admitted. Given the standard of this hospital, at the very least, they should have reached a rough conclusion by now.
So why, after all this time, was there still such uncertainty?

Sensing something amiss, Mu Qingcheng had no intention of letting the matter rest. She cut straight to the point,
"Doctor Xu, may I ask, what can you say with certainty at this moment? Why, after my brother has been treated here for so long, is the cause of his illness still undetermined?"
Doctor Xu was instantly stunned. He looked up in surprise at the Fifth Miss, then glanced at the old master beside her. His eyes flickered, then shifted to a look of helpless grievance, as if he were being deliberately put on the spot.
"Miss Qingcheng, you do not practice medicine, so it's understandable for you to be anxious about your brother. But this illness cannot be diagnosed with just a few words. There are many complicated factors, and the root cause is complex as well. The situation requires careful analysis."
"So, are you saying I don't understand medicine?"
"No, I wouldn't dare."
Doctor Xu bowed his head even lower, the very picture of submission and humility.

Mu Qingcheng fell silent. Just then, a gentle, low voice came from the room—it was Mu Qing himself:
"Qingcheng, come to your brother."
"Yes, Second Brother."
Casting a deep glance at Doctor Xu, who still kept his head down, Mu Qingcheng did not enter the room immediately. Instead, she suddenly changed her tone and asked lightly,
"Doctor Xu, is it true you are a descendant of the Xu family by Lake Tai?"
"How did you know...?"
But Mu Qingcheng did not answer him. As Doctor Xu stared in utter disbelief, she turned calmly and entered the ward.

****

On the other side

After settling matters and temporarily entrusting the base to Si Bei, Si Qingchen, accompanied by Si Nan, began the journey back to the old house. All the way, Si Qingchen kept his eyes closed, resting while a heavy, oppressive air hung about him. It was impossible to tell what was on his mind.

In truth, when Si Nan and Si Bei found him, he had been sitting alone on a rock by the water, taking a break. His combat uniform was shredded at the back, but the wounds were already half-healed. His vital signs were good—he was only a bit fatigued.

Si Qingchen offered no explanation for any of this. Given the dark, thunderous look on his face, neither Si Nan nor Si Bei dared to ask. They simply brought him straight back to the base.

Still, they nervously informed him that after the young man from "Wuhen" helped them forcibly activate the communicator, he had seized the chance to escape in the chaos.

Yet, the expected outburst did not come. On the contrary, Si Qingchen actually seemed relieved.

But at this moment, Si Nan, still simmering with frustration, finally couldn't hold back and muttered,
"Hmph, next time I see that damned woman and that brat, I'll give them a good beating! A cannon blast would be the only way to vent my anger!
Ow—Boss, why did you kick me?"

All he got in return was a merciless kick from Si Qingchen, which sent him yelping in pain.