Chapter 716 - 248: No Medical Ethics

Luckily, Young Master Qiao’s beloved was loyal enough to take a knife for him. Otherwise, he would have lost his life.

"He’s this badly hurt. What now?" Jie Jingchen asked coldly.

Brother Xiong wiped away his sweat. "I’ll cover his medical expenses."

"And after he’s discharged?" Jie Jingchen asked.

’Of course you’ll have to arrange that yourself,’ Brother Xiong thought. ’I’ll make sure he’s healed, but after he’s out of the hospital, it’s Young Master Qiao’s problem.’

Jie Jingchen turned to Qin Mei and asked, "Will it leave a scar?"

Qin Mei froze for a moment. ’How am I supposed to answer that? Scar or no scar?’ Improvising required chemistry, and it was obvious she and Jie Jingchen had none.

’And Jie Jingchen... can’t he just pretend I’m invisible? Then I could slip away quietly.’

"Young Master Qiao, if this leaves a scar... will you get tired of me?" Qin Xiang asked, feigning distress.

Jie Jingchen sank into deep thought.

"I’ll take responsibility for him," Brother Xiong volunteered.

"You dare covet what’s mine?" Jie Jingchen’s gaze turned frigid, his eyes brimming with killing intent.

"A misunderstanding! Young Master Qiao, you’ve misunderstood me. I meant that after he’s discharged, I’ll take him with me. I’ll use any treatment necessary, no matter how unorthodox, to get rid of his scars." Brother Xiong had no such confidence, of course; he was just trying to placate him for the moment.

Qin Mei glanced at Brother Xiong. ’Where is he getting this confidence? Even I’m not sure I could get rid of the scars on Jie Jingchen’s body.’

"Get rid of the one on his ass. The others on his body, you don’t touch," Jie Jingchen said, his face cold.

"Why?" Brother Xiong asked, curious.

Jie Jingchen shot him a cold glare. "I’m the one who gave him those scars."

’So that’s their game,’ Brother Xiong thought. ’They really play rough.’ He had seen the wounds on Qin Xiang’s body—knife wounds, even gunshot wounds. The bullet wounds in particular had made him question the man’s identity, but now, hearing what Jie Jingchen said, he felt he’d just been overthinking it.

’The games rich people play... each one crueler than the last. They beat someone half to death, nurse them back to health, and then start all over again.’

’In that context, gunshot wounds weren’t so strange after all.’

Qin Mei couldn’t help but let out a laugh. Both Jie Jingchen and Brother Xiong turned to look at her. Qin Mei bit down hard, trying to stifle her giggles.

"Something funny?" A menacing edge crept into Jie Jingchen’s low voice.

Qin Mei lowered her head, silent.

"Get out," Jie Jingchen snarled.

Qin Mei flinched, then turned and fled, sobbing.

"Easy there, Young Master Qiao. Look, you’ve scared the pretty doctor into tears," Brother Xiong said good-naturedly.

Jie Jingchen pursed his lips, saying nothing. Brother Xiong’s gaze shifted between Jie Jingchen and Qin Xiang, full of scrutiny. After a long moment of hesitation, he finally asked, "Young Master Qiao, if you don’t mind my asking, how long has he been with you?"

"Almost ten years," Jie Jingchen replied.

"Almost ten years?" Brother Xiong exclaimed.

"What? Got a problem with that?" Jie Jingchen’s eyes narrowed, a hint of anger brewing in their depths.

"Not at all." Brother Xiong shook his head, stealing a few more glances at Qin Xiang. "You’re a faithful man, Young Master Qiao."

"Only to him," Jie Jingchen said, reaching out to pat Brother Xiong’s shoulder. "I’m leaving him in your hands. If he gets hurt again... even I don’t know what I’m capable of."

"This was an accident. I’ll take him with me, and I guarantee that when you ask for him back, he’ll be returned to you without a scratch." Brother Xiong’s lingering doubts were completely erased by Jie Jingchen’s words.

Some of the scars on Qin Xiang’s body were old. If he’d gotten them *before* he was with Jie Jingchen, his identity would be questionable. But they’d been together for nearly ten years. Clearly, the man had been a blank slate when he first joined Jie Jingchen, meaning all his scars were Jie Jingchen’s handiwork. Brother Xiong couldn’t help but pity Qin Xiang, cursing Jie Jingchen in his mind.

"Remember your promise." Jie Jingchen was finally satisfied. He looked over at Qin Xiang, his gaze deep and his voice gentle. "You lay low at Brother Xiong’s place for a while. Once I’ve handled things here, I’ll come take you home."

Brother Xiong’s pupils contracted. ’Take him home? Is he making him an official part of the family?’ He looked at Qin Xiang. ’Can he really do that? Would the Qiao Family actually accept him?’ Brother Xiong had his doubts.

"Okay. I’ll wait for you," Qin Xiang said, his face pale, looking like some tragic beauty.

Jie Jingchen walked out of the room. Brother Xiong sat down by Qin Xiang’s bed, his appraising gaze sweeping over him. Pale-faced and devastatingly handsome, it was no wonder he’d kept Young Master Qiao’s attention for nearly a decade.

"What did Young Master Qiao mean by that?" Brother Xiong asked.

"Mean by what?" Qin Xiang played dumb.

"About you laying low at my place until he ’handles things’ and comes to take you home," Brother Xiong said gruffly. ’Still playing dumb with me.’

Qin Xiang was silent for a few seconds before giving Brother Xiong a bitter smile. "His wife found out about me. She won’t tolerate my existence, so she’s sending people to... get rid of me, secretly."