Chapter 32: A Modest Display of Medical Skill

"Classmate? Would you bring an ordinary male classmate home? Liang Shanbo and Zhu Yingtai were classmates too, and look where that ended—they ended up sharing a bed," Ling Tian retorted, clearly unwilling to settle for being just a classmate.

"That's nonsense! Liang Shanbo didn't know Zhu Yingtai was a woman at the time. What exactly is it you want, anyway? Just don't call me your wife in front of my parents, or I'll really be angry with you," Lin Youya warned, genuinely anxious that Ling Tian would blurt out something inappropriate. Even if two people were dating, calling each other husband and wife before marriage—especially in front of one's parents—would be considered improper upbringing. Lin Youya had always been strictly raised by her parents.

"Then introduce me as your boyfriend, and I’ll call you Youya," Ling Tian replied with a mischievous grin, his eyes fixed on her. As long as she acknowledged him as her boyfriend in front of her parents, he would have legitimate status.

Lin Youya knew exactly what Ling Tian was up to. Though she might use him as a stand-in boyfriend later to fend off other suitors, now wasn’t the right time. She thought for a moment and said, "No, the most I'll say is you're a classmate who's pursuing me, but I haven't agreed yet."

"Alright, then I'll just have to make a good impression on your parents and win their approval first." Seeing how adamant she was, Ling Tian could only compromise. Still, their relationship had grown much closer.

"That depends on your ability. But with how you look today, I doubt it—you look just like a newly rich upstart."

Lin Youya couldn't resist teasing Ling Tian; she felt quite pleased with herself. After all, she no longer disliked him. In that life-or-death moment, he had acted like a true man and saved her. Yet seeing his smug expression, she couldn't help but poke fun at him.

The two bantered as they walked, erasing the lingering fear in Lin Youya's heart.

About an hour and a half later, they arrived at a villa district. The flat road was lined with French plane trees, and the green belts were dotted with rare flowers and plants. Every house was a spacious standalone villa, each with its own small garden, adding an elegant charm to the neighborhood. Lin Youya's family home was evidently exceptional, though still smaller in scale compared to Ling Tian's own family estate.

Their villa was by a lakeside—an artificial lake within the complex, yet vast enough to glow beautifully under the setting sun.

"There are only my parents and me living here, plus two housekeepers. We used to live with my grandfather and other relatives, but we eventually moved out to avoid family disputes," Lin Youya explained as she scanned her fingerprint to open the gate.

Ling Tian nodded. Many prominent families were like that—impressive from the outside, but full of internal strife and lacking in freedom. His own parents had moved out for the same reason.

"Mom, Dad, I'm home!"

Upon entering, Lin Youya’s parents were both in the living room. She greeted them quickly, and Ling Tian offered a polite, courteous smile.

Her parents appeared similar in age to Ling Tian’s own. Her mother wore a sapphire blue silk velvet cheongsam with a mandarin collar, adorned with pearls at her neck and ears, her hair pinned up in an elegant bun—a woman of both beauty and grace. Her father wore gold-rimmed glasses and home clothes, his demeanor kindly.

In Ling Tian's eyes, Lin Youya’s parents seemed admirable; but in their eyes, Ling Tian was rather unconventional.

He wore a long-sleeved casual T-shirt, jeans, and sneakers—not designer brands, but clearly inexpensive from the stitching and style, with a few wrinkles and stains (acquired during his scuffle with the criminals). Judging by his clothes alone, he seemed like a boy from a modest background. Yet, oddly enough, he sported a thick gold chain around his neck and five diamond rings on his fingers. Was he from an ordinary family or a nouveau riche household?

After a brief observation, Lin Youya’s parents silently concluded that Ling Tian was likely one of those so-called "upstarts"—the new rich. Even they knew the term "upstart" had become popular, though it carried a neutral connotation now rather than the negative one from their youth.

"Youya, who is this?" Her mother asked, recovering from her surprise and taking the initiative.

"This is my classmate Ling Tian. He helped me a great deal today, so I invited him home for dinner as a thank you. Ling Tian, these are my parents."

Lin Youya introduced them, secretly amused by her parents’ astonished expressions. Ling Tian certainly made a memorable impression.

"Hello, Uncle. Hello, Auntie!" Ling Tian greeted them with great politeness.

"Hello, hello! Ling Tian, please have a seat!"

Upon learning that he had helped their daughter, Lin Youya’s parents quickly overlooked his appearance, warmly inviting him to sit while the housekeeper prepared tea.

For a while, Lin Youya’s parents chatted cordially with Ling Tian. When they asked about his parents, Ling Tian simply replied that his family was in business, he was an only child, and he had enjoyed martial arts and traditional medicine from a young age—especially Chinese medicine, in which he claimed some proficiency. Lin Youya rolled her eyes, thinking he was boasting, though recalling his use of silver needles against those thugs, she found herself half-believing him.

Her parents listened with polite smiles, though inwardly they found his claims a bit exaggerated. Even someone adept at fighting might be believable, but to assert expertise in Chinese medicine at his age sounded like bravado.

Chinese medicine, after all, was a heritage spanning thousands of years—a true national treasure. Even veteran doctors in their seventies or eighties would hesitate to call themselves experts, let alone a teenager. True masters were rare in history—legendary figures like the Yellow Emperor, Bian Que the Miracle Doctor, Hua Tuo, Zhang Zhongjing the Sage of Medicine, and Sun Simiao the Medicine King; who else dared claim mastery?

"Auntie, do you sometimes sweat at night while sleeping? Uncle, have you noticed any decline in your eyesight recently?" Ling Tian shifted the conversation, having noticed their polite skepticism.

"Yes, sometimes I do sweat at night—it's been worse these past two days," Lin Youya’s mother replied in astonishment. She hadn't told anyone about this, yet Ling Tian guessed it.

"That's right, my eyesight has indeed worsened, and continues to get worse. Ling Tian, how could you tell?" her father asked, equally surprised.

"Uncle, Auntie, you can just call me Ling Tian or Xiao Tian—'classmate' sounds too formal. Actually, I'm pursuing Youya, though she hasn't agreed to be my girlfriend yet," Ling Tian replied, sneaking a glance at Lin Youya who glared at him, before answering their questions in earnest. "Traditional Chinese medicine relies on observation, listening, inquiry, and pulse-taking. Auntie, your complexion is a bit flushed, which suggests kidney deficiency and rising heart fire—you must have been troubled by something lately. Uncle, your complexion is tinged with blue, indicating mild liver issues. The liver is linked to the eyes, so overwork or late nights have affected your vision. Both of you should relax and get plenty of rest."

Ling Tian spoke with such authority that Lin Youya was stunned, and her parents’ eyes lit up. He had not only diagnosed their symptoms accurately but pinpointed the causes—one stressed and irritable, the other overworked and sleep-deprived. They had always thought these were minor issues, never suspecting a link to their internal organs.

"Xiao Tian, you've truly impressed us! You must visit often and share more of your medical knowledge. Should we take any medicine or try acupuncture?" her mother asked, now finding him entirely likable. She had thought he was exaggerating or guessing, but it seemed he was genuinely skilled—a rare thing.

"As long as you stay positive and rest well, your health will soon improve. After dinner, I can give you both acupuncture, which will help you recover faster," Ling Tian promised, grateful for his medical skills. Who would have thought they’d come in handy for winning over future in-laws? He hadn’t discovered this advantage in his previous life—mainly because he’d never courted anyone before.

"Thank you so much! By the way, Xiao Tian, Youya said you helped her a lot today. What exactly happened?" her mother asked, now fully convinced of Ling Tian’s abilities and curious about the help he had given her daughter.

At the mention of the incident, Lin Youya’s face turned pale, and Ling Tian's expression grew grave. The ordeal they had faced today had been horrific—malice beyond imagination. Compared to an ordinary kidnapping, this was a hundred times worse. If not for Ling Tian, who knew what would have happened to her?

Sensing her daughter's trembling, Lin Youya’s mother pulled her into a tight embrace. As a woman, she could be fragile, but as a mother, she was strong. Anyone who dared harm Lin Youya was cutting into her very heart—she would never allow it.

"This matter must be investigated thoroughly!" Lin Youya’s father's voice trembled with shock and anger. He had never imagined someone would target his daughter with such cruelty. He would find the mastermind—he would not rest until he did.