Chapter 114: Picking Him Up in a Moment

At the hospital, Amanda Vance performed the final acupuncture session on the old headmaster. After removing the needles, she breathed a deep sigh of relief. She stepped outside the room and saw the headmaster’s wife pacing nervously. With a smile, she said, "It’s done."

The headmaster’s wife asked in pleasant surprise, "Does this mean he’s completely cured now?"

Amanda had said that one more session would completely clear the cancer, but the woman couldn’t help but ask again, desperate for a definitive answer.

Amanda Vance nodded. "Yes, he’s completely cured. Let the headmaster rest well today when he wakes up. Tomorrow, you can take him for a scan to double-check."

"Yes, yes, of course."

It wasn’t that she didn’t believe her, but the images from a scan would be more concrete.

"He might sleep a little longer this time, but don’t worry. When he wakes up, I’ll check his pulse and write a prescription. After that, he can be discharged. He’ll need to focus on recuperating, and it’s better to do that at home."

They had only come to the hospital in the first place because she was also caring for Mr. Ford, and they, feeling for her, didn’t want her to have to rush between two locations. Now that the headmaster was recovered, he only needed to come in for his prescription refills. He could rest much better at home.

After all, a hospital is a busy place, filled with people suffering from pain and illness. Seeing too much of that can’t help but affect one’s mood.

The headmaster’s wife thought about it and agreed. "Alright, I’ll talk it over with him when he wakes up."

"Good. And don’t worry about the follow-up; I’ll handle everything."

"Then we’ll be counting on you, Megan."

Amanda Vance shook her head and took the woman’s hand. "There’s no need to be so formal with me."

The headmaster’s wife smiled.

After giving a few more instructions, Amanda Vance departed.

The hospital knew she would be using the Nine Revolutions Needle today, a technique that was incredibly draining. They had intentionally cleared her schedule, leaving the rest of the day for her to use as she saw fit.

She stopped by Mr. Ford’s room. His condition had also improved significantly.

His vitals had stabilized. As long as there were no accidents, no major shocks, and no unexpected developments, the next phase would be focused on recovery and management.

Lifting her fingers from his wrist, Amanda repeated her advice to him. "Don’t get worked up over things. Stay relaxed, and your body will heal much faster."

"I will." Mr. Ford smiled, looking quite agreeable.

Amanda was relieved that he wasn’t a difficult or ill-tempered man.

Just as they were speaking, Mr. Lynch and Samuel Ford entered the room.

Mr. Lynch was making his rounds. When he saw Amanda was also there, his eyes lit up. "Master, you’re here too? I thought you’d have gone home to rest."

"Not yet. I’ll be heading back soon."

Mr. Lynch nodded. Seeing her there, he guessed she had come to check on Mr. Ford. He nodded to himself in satisfaction. ’Not only are her medical skills superb, but she also genuinely cares for her patients. She never misses her morning and evening rounds, always keeping a close eye on their conditions.’

Samuel Ford felt the same way. He had run into her several times when he visited. ’And that time Colt was sick,’ he recalled, ’she was so patient, even when I contacted her late at night.’

’She’s a good person.’

’How could anyone have the heart to frame her like that?’

The memory of those words surfaced unbidden, and his expression darkened.

Amanda noticed the shift in his mood, but she could tell it wasn’t directed at her, so she didn’t press the matter.

She had Mr. Lynch check Mr. Ford’s pulse as well. After listening to his diagnosis and his proposed treatment plan, she corrected him on a couple of points before nodding. "That’s acceptable. No major issues. You can work on this when you have time. You just need more practice to master it."

Mr. Lynch agreed wholeheartedly. "Yes, Master. I’ve been practicing every day."

Amanda nodded.

As it was now lunchtime, and Amanda wanted to wait for the old headmaster to wake up before she left, she decided to stay at the hospital a while longer. Seeing this, Mrs. Ford suggested, "Megan, why don’t you join us for lunch? It’s always livelier with more people."

Amanda was about to decline, but Samuel Ford added, "Please, join us. We’ve been meaning to treat you to a proper meal to thank you anyway. I just hope you don’t mind that it’s a bit simple."

Since they had put it that way, Amanda found it hard to refuse. "Alright. Thank you, then."

"It’s no trouble at all! We’re just happy to have you, as long as you enjoy the food, Dr. Vance."

Since Mr. Ford was still in the hospital, they couldn’t very well abandon him to go out for a lavish meal.

So, they brought the feast to the hospital to enjoy right in front of him.

Mr. Ford inhaled the overwhelming, delicious aroma, sniffing the air deeply. Then he looked down at the plain white congee in front of him, and his mood instantly soured.

The meal was from The Five Spices Kitchen and had been delivered immediately after it was prepared, so the flavors were unaffected. It tasted as if it had just come out of the kitchen.

There was a table in the room, and it was piled high with a bit of everything.

Mrs. Ford said, "We weren’t sure what you like to eat, Megan, so we just ordered a little of everything. I hope it’s to your liking."

Amanda nodded. "I’m not a picky eater."

"Oh, good, good! The food from this restaurant is quite good, so eat up. You’re just too thin." Mrs. Ford said warmly, placing more food onto Amanda’s plate with a tone of fond concern.

Amanda could feel her goodwill and ate the food she’d been served with a smile.

Samuel Ford had also invited the headmaster’s wife to join them. The headmaster hadn’t woken up yet, so she came alone.

Everyone at the table knew one another, so the atmosphere was quite congenial.

Mrs. Ford and the headmaster’s wife flanked Amanda on her left and right. Samuel Ford took the only remaining seat, on the same side as Mr. Lynch, which put him directly across from her. He only had to lift his gaze to see her. She sat with her eyes slightly lowered, looking exceptionally poised. Whenever someone spoke to her, she would incline her head to listen, her eyes filled with concentration.

Samuel Ford glanced at her before continuing to eat in silence.

As they chatted, the conversation eventually turned to Jean Vance. Mrs. Ford asked, "Megan, how old is your son?"

"Five years old."

"Oh, that’s the same age as Colt!" As she spoke, she glanced up at Samuel Ford.

Amanda followed her gaze, her eyes meeting his. They locked for a moment, and she felt a brief jolt before she gently averted her eyes. She smiled and said, "Jean and Colt actually go to the same school."

This was the first Mrs. Ford had heard of it. "Well, that’s an even bigger coincidence!"

Amanda nodded, agreeing that it was quite a coincidence. She said, "Colt is a very sweet and devoted boy. In fact, before I ever met Mr. Ford, I had already seen his medical records. It was Colt who brought them to me."

Mrs. Ford had no idea about this part of the story. Even Mr. Ford, who was sitting up in bed drinking his congee, looked over in surprise. When he saw Samuel nod in confirmation, he couldn’t help but break into a wide grin.

"I knew I wasn’t spoiling that boy for nothing."

Mrs. Ford was even more effusive in her praise. "Of course! Our Colt is the absolute best. So cute and well-behaved." She faltered slightly at the "well-behaved" part and quickly corrected herself. "I mean, so cute and *lively*. There’s no better child out there."

Then, remembering Amanda’s child, she quickly added, "Tied for first place with Megan’s son, of course."

Amanda couldn’t help but smile. Mrs. Ford had never even met Jean, yet she was already giving him such high praise.

But then again, what mother would ever turn down a compliment about her child?

And in this, Amanda was no different.

The thought of his grandson sparked a longing in Mr. Ford. "Where is Colt? Why haven’t you brought him by lately?"

The question was naturally directed at Samuel Ford. "I’ll pick him up after school and bring him over later."