Chapter 7: The Lab Rat

Qiao An’s heart tightened. If Li Zecheng forced her to leave the hospital, the hospital wouldn’t dare to stop him. And his intention of bringing her home was only to carry on the family line.

Her body was bound to suffer his ravages. He only wanted the child. He wouldn’t care about her safety.

Qiao An looked at Li Xiaoran in fear. At this moment, she really hoped that Li Xiaoran could help her block Li Zecheng’s improper thoughts.

However, she found it funny. Li Xiaoran was Li Zecheng’s uncle. Why should he help her?

Li Xiaoran slowly treated Qiao An’s leg injury and carefully put down her pants. Then, he looked straight at Qiao An. He saw a trace of fear in Qiao An’s deer-like eyes, which surprised Li Xiaoran.

“Zecheng, Qiao An is in no condition to be discharged for the time being.”

“How long will that take?” Li Zecheng asked impatiently.

“Three months,” Li Xiaoran said leisurely.

Li Zecheng looked at Qiao An’s rather plump face. Although it wasn’t as plump as before, she looked even more attractive.

Li Zecheng looked at Li Xiaoran suspiciously and said, “Uncle, she’s clearly recovering well.”

Li Xiaoran said, “She’s my new class research subject. The research time is a full 90 days. You know that I risked half my life to save her. There’s no reason for me to transfer my scientific results to you so easily, right?”

Li Zecheng said with a dark expression, “I’ll give you money. You can buy many scientific papers. I’ll definitely take Qiao An with me.”

Li Xiaoran looked at him with a faint smile. “You want to take my patient away from my hospital. Zecheng, do you think I’m easy to bully?”

Li Zecheng laughed contemptuously.

He really looked down on Li Xiaoran.

Li Xiaoran was an exception in the Li family. He did not like to do business and insisted on being a doctor. The old man almost vomited blood from anger when he chose this specialization.

Ever since Li Xiaoran chose to become a doctor, the old man no longer had high hopes for him. Li Xiaoran’s status in the Li family was deteriorating.

Every month, he relied on the Li family’s meager financial support to maintain his dignity as a good-for-nothing young master.

Therefore, if Li Zecheng wanted to take Qiao An away from Li Xiaoran’s hospital, he would not face much resistance at all.

Qiao An sighed. It seemed she wasn’t going to get away with this.

Unexpectedly, Li Xiaoran stood up to Li Zecheng. “Li Zecheng, if you have the guts, try taking Qiao An away.”

Li Zecheng looked at Li Xiaoran’s suddenly sinister expression. The usually lackadaisical person suddenly became sinister, and his expression was especially terrifying.

Li Zecheng was actually a little stunned.

“She is my wife. I have the right to take her.”

Li Xiaoran said, “But you signed a contract and promised to give her to me for research.”

‘I reneged. Can’t I pay you the penalty?’

“There’s no such thing as a penalty.” Li Xiaoran was furious. “If you go back on your word, I’ll definitely publish in all the scientific newspapers that you’ve stopped the development of science.”

After exposing Li Zecheng’s actions in such a serious publication, Li Zecheng’s image would completely collapse.

Li Zecheng gritted his teeth in anger. “Unreasonable.” He left angrily.

Qiao An looked at Li Xiaoran in a daze. He actually chose to fight Li Zecheng because of her. This was really an unwise move for the powerless Li Xiaoran.

“Are scientific results that important? Your future path will be very difficult if you go against the future young master of the Li family for a thesis.” Qiao An was very worried for Li Xiaoran.

Li Xiaoran turned to look at her and smiled. “If I use you as my topic, your naked photo and your organs will be published in the scientific journal. Are you willing?”

Qiao An was dumbfounded.

Then, she protested in exasperation, “I don’t want to be the subject of your research. Li Xiaoran, if you dare to publish my photo and make me famous, I’ll… I’ll cut ties with you.”

Li Xiaoran smiled faintly and said in a charming voice, “Why don’t I pixelate your face?”

“Still.” Qiao An was traditional and particularly shy. She couldn’t accept her body and organs being observed by scholars.

Li Xiaoran pretended to be troubled. “Then what should I do? You’re the research subject I spent a lot of effort to get. There’s no reason for me to let you off for no reason, right?”

Qiao An understood and gave up her pride. She begged Li Xiaoran humbly, “Uncle, I owe you in this life. In the next life, I’ll do anything to repay your kindness.”

Li Xiaoran said, “I’m an atheist. I don’t believe in reincarnation.”

Qiao An said, “Then… in this life, in this life, I repay you. Tell me, how do you want me to repay you? If I can do it, I won’t flinch.”

Li Xiaoran’s eyes lit up. “Really?”

Qiao An nodded eagerly.

Li Xiaoran said mysteriously, “Then it’s settled. When you recover, remember to repay me.”

When Li Xiaoran left the ward, he seemed to be in a very good mood.

Annoyed, Qiao An lay on the bed, frustrated.

Who would have thought that Li Zecheng would suggest to Old Master Xiang that Li Xiaoran had deliberately stopped Qiao An from being discharged from the hospital, purely to destroy their relationship?

The old master had always valued harmony between husband and wife and within the family. Therefore, he was very concerned over this matter. He asked the servant to call Li Xiaoran and ask him to go home.

When Li Xiaoran rushed back to the Li family’s villa from the hospital, it was already ten in the evening.

Usually, at this time, everyone would have gone back to sleep. However, since the old man was still up, the juniors did not dare to sleep. All of them forced themselves to stay awake to accompany the old man in waiting for Li Xiaoran.

Li Xiaoran pushed open the door and saw more than ten pairs of eyes focused on him. Li Zecheng and his mother’s eyes revealed smug expressions.

He slouched over, tossed his car keys on the coffee table, and sat on a stool.

The old man began to lecture him. “I told you not to be a doctor back then and you didn’t listen to me. Now look at yourself. You’re exhausted every day and earn twenty-five cents.”

Li Xiaoran smiled and said, “Dad, not everyone lives for money. People should fight for their dreams.”

The old man knew that Li Xiaoran was a very opinionated person. No one could change his mind.

He gave up arguing with Li Xiaoran about dreams and reality. Instead, he went back to the topic and criticized Li Xiaoran with a black face. “I heard from Zecheng that An’an’s health has already recovered very well. In that case, why don’t you let Zecheng bring her home? Zecheng is very tired from work. Every day, he has to travel between the company and the hospital. You should think about him.”

Li Xiaoran looked at Li Zecheng with a sneer in his eyes.

“Qiao An’s been in the hospital for so long, you can count on one hand, the number of times he’s visited her. Dad, you have nothing to be worried about.”