Chapter 7: The Cure for Infertility

Suddenly, Gu Xiangnan withdrew his hand.

Bai Huabing was startled. She opened her eyes and asked, "Why did you stop?"

"It's done!"

With that, Gu Xiangnan stood up and left the room.

Bai Huabing touched the spot herself—sure enough, the pain was gone. "It really doesn't hurt anymore. This is incredible!"

"I told you the person I recommended was good, didn't I? His skills are unmatched!" Wu Meiyu didn't forget to take credit from the side.

Bai Huabing sat up with a jolt, straightened her clothes, and wanted to go look for Gu Xiangnan.

He had been massaging for so long just now; he must have needed a break and probably went to practice his craft. She thought about it and decided she might as well go help him.

Unexpectedly, Gu Xiangnan walked back in, dragging his large suitcase behind him.

He set the suitcase down, opened it, and inside were all sorts of bottles and jars, like a miniature traditional medicine shop.

He pulled out a small scale and began weighing herbs from his little boxes and jars.

He sat casually on the floor and started preparing the medicine.

Bai Huabing stared intently from the side.

In her eyes, Gu Xiangnan had become a magician.

He mixed various flowers and herbs—and some things she couldn't even recognize—and somehow, they could cure illness.

After a long while, the medicine was finally ready.

Gu Xiangnan divided it into three portions and wrapped them in paper.

"Sister Bai, the medicine is ready. Let me explain how to decoct it: first, soak it in water for thirty minutes to an hour, then... Are you following?"

Bai Huabing listened to the latter part and forgot the beginning.

She was straightforward by nature and hated dealing with such complicated things.

"How about this? Xiangnan, you handle the decocting too. I'll pay you extra," she suggested.

Wu Meiyu also helped persuade him, "Xiangnan, just help her out. If the medicine isn't prepared properly, won't it affect the efficacy?"

That made sense, so Gu Xiangnan agreed.

Bai Huabing was smiling and about to thank him when her phone rang.

She glanced at the caller ID and her expression darkened.

"It's me... hmm, hmm... What? Which tramp? Damn it, follow her, and remember to report to me at once."

She hung up furiously.

Wu Meiyu, seeing her displeasure, didn't dare ask for details, afraid of getting on her bad side. Her best friend was known for her fiery temper.

Gu Xiangnan calmly reminded her, "Sister Bai, your illness is caused by anger and anxiety. If you want to recover, you need to adjust your state of mind."

Perhaps because of the treatment earlier and the physical contact, Bai Huabing found herself opening up to him. "Xiangnan, you don't know what I've been through. All these years of marriage, I've never gotten pregnant. As time goes by, I get more anxious. I'm afraid my husband will marry someone younger."

"That's why I have people secretly following him. If another woman shows up, I'll deal with her immediately. I know it's not right, but I'm desperate. If some little vixen gives him a child, do you think I won't be kicked out?"

Wu Meiyu, listening on the side, was nearly moved to tears. Women understand women's hardships.

"May I take your pulse?" Gu Xiangnan said calmly.

What? Did he mean he could treat infertility too?

A spark of hope lit up in Bai Huabing's heart.

She gave him her hand.

Gu Xiangnan carefully took her pulse for a while, then switched to her other hand.

After that, he checked her tongue and the underside of it.

Throughout the process, Bai Huabing watched Gu Xiangnan's subtle expressions anxiously.

If he nodded, she would feel relieved; if he frowned, her heart would leap.

At last, Gu Xiangnan told her firmly, "Don't worry. I can cure you."

To Bai Huabing, these words were like a royal pardon to a condemned prisoner—years of mental torment melted away in an instant.

She broke down in tears, her makeup running.

Immediately, she knelt down and made a formal vow of siblinghood with Gu Xiangnan.

"I, Bai Huabing, from this day forth, am your sworn sister. From now on, whether in joy or sorrow, riches or poverty—"

Wu Meiyu interrupted her, "You're swearing siblinghood, not getting married!"

Bai Huabing quickly changed her words, "Anyway, that's the idea. From now on, whatever concerns Xiangnan concerns me."

She took off the ring from her thumb and forced it onto Gu Xiangnan's finger.

"This is my token for you. Keep it. This ring represents me."

Gu Xiangnan looked at the ring.

It was crafted from pure silver, intricately engraved, and set with a piece of obsidian at its center.

He looked up and asked, "Sister, isn't this too valuable?" He tried to remove the ring, but Bai Huabing stopped him.

"Xiangnan, are you looking down on me if you don't accept the ring?"

"Alright, I'll accept it then. Thank you, sister. I'll prepare medicine for your infertility now."

He rummaged through his large suitcase but finally sighed. "Sister, I'm sorry, I'm still missing a few ingredients. Only when I find them can I treat you."

"What ingredients? We'll buy them from the pharmacy, no matter the cost."

So close to a cure, and now it was slipping away—how could Bai Huabing be willing to give up?

"They're very special. You can't buy them outside."

Wu Meiyu suggested, "Xiangnan, why not ask your senior sister?"

Seeing Gu Xiangnan's confusion, she explained, "Our company not only develops herbal medicines but also manages several mountains for cultivating medicinal herbs. Maybe we have what you're looking for."

What a coincidence!

"Alright, I'll check when I get back. Don't worry, sister. For now, I'll decoct the medicine to cure your nodules."

Wu Meiyu fetched the earthenware pot, and Gu Xiangnan began to prepare the medicine.

Two or three hours later, the decoction was ready.

Bai Huabing pinched her nose and drank a portion, taking the rest away in a bottle.

"To celebrate my and Xiangnan's sworn siblinghood, let's go to the Oscar Bar tonight—my treat!"

Bai Huabing's little calculations were clear in her mind; if she got Gu Xiangnan drunk, she'd have free rein.

Gu Xiangnan knew his senior sister would worry about him going astray and certainly wouldn't approve of him frequenting such places.

He instinctively wanted to refuse.

Before he could say anything, his phone rang.

Seeing an unfamiliar number on the screen, Gu Xiangnan answered.

"Gu Xiangnan? This is Wang Jinquan," the voice on the other end began.

Wang Jinquan had somehow gotten his number.

"Mr. Wang, what can I do for you?"

"Brother Gu, I was out of line before. I want to apologize in person. We fought, but that makes us friends, doesn't it?"

Wang Jinquan was very polite.

"No need. My senior sister doesn't like me associating with you."

Sensing Gu Xiangnan's reluctance, Wang Jinquan quickly changed his tone.

"That's impossible. By the way, brother Gu, your senior sister's formula has a problem. Come over—let's talk it over."

The old man was insistent, probably up to no good.

If he didn't go, the Wang family might cause trouble for his senior sister.

Gu Xiangnan didn't hesitate any longer. "Where should I find you?"

"Come to the Oscar Bar, private room number one on the second floor."

It was the Oscar Bar again.

"Alright."

He hung up and agreed to Bai Huabing's invitation. "Let's go to the Oscar Bar. I have a friend there too—I'll meet him while we're at it."

The three of them got ready and headed out.

Wu Meiyu drove.

Bai Huabing sat in the passenger seat, enthusiastically introducing the place to Gu Xiangnan.

Oscar was the most luxurious bar in Jiangning City.

Naturally, its prices matched its status.

Workers like Wu Meiyu had only been there twice, both times at Bai Huabing's invitation.

Inside, the music was deafening.

Strangers—men and women—crowded the dance floor, swaying to the DJ's rhythm.

Gu Xiangnan's eyes were dazzled by the scene.

He couldn't help but marvel—city folks really knew how to have fun!

Once inside the private room Bai Huabing had booked, and with the door closed, the music faded to a dull hum.

Wang Jinquan called again to ask if he had arrived.

"White Sister, Wu Sister, I'm going to private room number one on the second floor. Someone is looking for me," Gu Xiangnan said.

"Room number one? Who's looking for you?" Bai Huabing was surprised.

The number one suite was top-tier, a place only the truly wealthy could afford. How did Gu Xiangnan know people like that?

"I'll tell you when I get back," he said, and left.

The second floor was the VIP area.

There were guards at the stairs.

Apparently, they had been informed in advance.

After confirming his name, the guard led Gu Xiangnan directly to the door of suite one.

He pushed open the door. The room was spacious and lavishly decorated, but inside it was quiet.

Two men were seated on the sofa, deep in conversation.

One was Wang Jinquan.

The other looked close to fifty, with a resolute face and deep-set eyes. Every movement spoke of a composed confidence.

On either side of the sofa stood dozens of subordinates, standing straight with their feet slightly apart—clearly well-trained.

As soon as Gu Xiangnan stepped in, the door closed behind him.

The subordinates drew their guns, all aimed at him.