A sophisticated hunter often appears in the guise of prey.

Doctor Tang chuckled gleefully, covering her mouth with her hand, thoroughly amused at the sight of a scumbag getting caught red-handed by his young girlfriend.

But... her laughter didn’t last long.

As Doctor Tang shifted her gaze with a smile, she accidentally locked eyes with the icy stare of the girl perched behind Ye Cheng.

Doctor Tang: "..."

Silently, she retracted her grinning teeth.

Why was this young lady here too?

Could this guy have some kind of special charm, exclusively targeting high-profile girls? His game was strong!

After her initial surprise, Doctor Tang began reassessing Ye Cheng. She might have misjudged him based on appearances—after all, the most skilled hunters often disguised themselves as prey.

Perhaps Ye Cheng was exactly that kind of predator: harmless on the surface, but deliberately preying on noble young ladies to climb the social ladder.

With just a brief exchange of glances, Doctor Tang understood the girl’s silent message. After a moment of hesitation, she spoke up.

"Come closer, Miss Lin. Let me see where you're hurt."

Ye Cheng crouched down, preparing to let the girl off his back.

But the girl didn’t budge. The infirmary fell into an awkward silence for half a minute.

She showed no intention of getting down. Instead, she tightened her grip on Ye Cheng with her uninjured hand, only extending her wounded one for Doctor Tang to examine.

Doctor Tang: "..."

"Uh, miss, this might make it hard to check properly. Maybe you should come down?" Doctor Tang suggested tentatively.

"No," the girl replied bluntly.

Ye Cheng, ever "considerate," swiftly turned her "no" into a reluctant "fine."

With zero gentlemanly grace, he pried her clinging hands off him.

Good news—he succeeded!

Bad news—only halfway!

The upper-body lock was broken, but her legs immediately coiled around his waist like a vice.

Ye Cheng remained unfazed.

"Wow, such a huge mosquito!" he exclaimed suddenly.

Then—

Smack!

"Ow, that hurts..." The girl winced in pain and instinctively retracted her legs, finally freeing Ye Cheng, who stood up triumphantly.

"Why did you hit me?" Her voice turned pitiful, her eyes wide and teary as she stared at him.

Ye Cheng stayed cool as a cucumber.

"There was a mosquito."

The girl blinked, glancing down at the red handprint on her thigh—no sign of any mosquito.

"Where’s the mosquito?"

"It flew away. But I stopped it from sucking your blood. No need to thank me—what are bros for? Just doing my duty." His face didn’t even twitch, his shamelessness rivaling a fortress wall.

For Ye Cheng, lying through his teeth was second nature—effortless.

The girl looked at the glaring red mark on her fair skin. Not a trace of a mosquito.

She pouted. "Oh... thanks, I guess."

"Don’t mention it, bro. Anyway, call me if you need anything. Gotta run."

Ye Cheng prepared to bolt. Sure, the girl had said she’d cover the costs, but trust was the flimsiest thing between people.

He didn’t believe a word from this scam artist.

As for "call me"? Yeah, right!

They hadn’t even exchanged contact info. His words were just empty politeness.

As the saying went: Bros in spirit, but good luck reaching me.

Ye Cheng, the ultimate slippery eel, made sure to leave no traces. After speed-running his "disclaimer," he vanished without looking back.

The infirmary was left with two women staring at each other in silence.

Finally, Doctor Tang broke the ice.

"Miss Lin, what brings you here? Shouldn’t you be buried in company work instead of playing student?" she teased, picking up an alcohol-soaked cotton swab with tweezers.

"This might sting. Feel free to scream—I’ll close the door."

"No need. Just get it over with." The girl’s earlier vulnerability was gone, replaced by eerie calm.

Doctor Tang paused.

Wait... was the real hunter actually the prey here?

"Miss Lin, how did you end up like this? Your father would be heartbroken." She shook her head, pressing the cotton to the wound.

A sharp pain shot through the girl’s palm. Her brows twitched, but she showed no further reaction.

"I fell," she answered absently, still staring at the door where Ye Cheng had left.

"He’s long gone," Doctor Tang sighed, wrapping the injury with gauze and finishing it off with a neat bow.

The girl remained fixated on the doorway, as if in a trance.

Doctor Tang smirked. "What, do you like that unreliable guy?"

"Yes," the girl admitted.

"Pfft, as if—wait, what?"

Doctor Tang froze. That... wasn’t the expected response. Shouldn’t she deny it or laugh it off?

Did she just stumble upon a bombshell?

Was she about to be silenced?

"You’re serious?" Doctor Tang eyed her skeptically while securing the bandage with a perfect butterfly knot.

The girl finally turned, tilting her head. "Do I look like I’m joking?"

Her unblinking gaze was unnerving.

Doctor Tang: "..."

"Ugh, talking to you rich girls is exhausting. Why be so cryptic? If you like him, go after him before someone else does."

At this, the girl’s eyes dimmed slightly. She might be late, but it didn’t matter—in the end, her brother would belong only to her.

Doctor Tang studied her with interest. "Aren’t you curious who these 'others' are?"

The girl shook her head.

"It doesn’t matter. They don’t have the power to shape their own futures. But I do." Her voice dripped with confidence, an unshakable arrogance radiating from her.

Doctor Tang was stunned.

Seriously? Kids these days were going all-in for love?

Betting their entire fortunes to win a man?

Was that little brat really that special? Why hadn't she noticed anything unusual about him? She'd have to take a closer look next time.

The young woman stared unblinkingly at the other person and said, "Doctor Tang, aren't you doing the same thing yourself?"

Doctor Tang froze for a moment at the question, then adjusted her gold-rimmed glasses with a bewitching smile.

"Don't call me 'Miss Tang' or anything like that. I've cut ties with my family. I'm just an ordinary person working to make ends now—nothing like you high-society young ladies."

As if recalling something, Doctor Tang added,

"I'm only giving you youngsters some advice as someone who's been through it all. Think carefully before you act—don't just rush into things on impulse..."

"Do you regret it, Doctor Tang?" The young woman interrupted with a smile.

Doctor Tang's face twisted into a pitiful expression. "Regret? I regret it so much I could die! Ugh, the life of a wage slave is too miserable, wuuu..." She put on an exaggerated, childish act, sniffling as if drowning in regret.

The young woman chuckled. "I can help you go back. In return, you just have to keep today's matter a secret. Deal?"

Doctor Tang shook her head like a rattle-drum.

"No way! I'm perfectly happy slacking off here every day. Why would I go back?" she muttered under her breath.

The young woman smirked. "Doctor Tang, are you the type who preaches but doesn't practice?"

"Alright, alright, I can't win against you, Miss Lin. Do whatever you want. I'll pretend today never happened, okay? No more lectures, please! Being an overworked drone is exhausting enough as it is—spare me, wuuu..." Doctor Tang pouted pathetically, completely shedding her usual cool, mature demeanor.

After a brief silence, the young woman spoke again.

"Who was that other person earlier?"

Doctor Tang arched an eyebrow, her expression turning mischievous. "Oh? I thought you didn't care, Miss Lin. Why the sudden interest?"

The young woman flushed slightly and turned her face away. "I might pay the Tang family a visit later..."

Doctor Tang's smile instantly stiffened.

"Miss Lin, what are you planning?!" she gasped in horror.

"Nothing much. Just dropping by for a chat—maybe discuss investment opportunities in healthcare, China's declining birth rate, solutions for unmarried women reluctant to settle down, and..."

Doctor Tang: "..."

Her scalp prickled as she hastily cut in, "Fine, fine! You win, I surrender! No more!"

"The person who came earlier was the young master of the Shen family. You've met him before. Now will you let me off the hook?"

The young woman pondered this before nodding thoughtfully.

"He has personality flaws, though. How could it be him?"

"How should I know? I was surprised too. I suspect that kid might have some kind of succubus charm—specifically targeting high-society girls like you." Doctor Tang grinned slyly, nodding to herself.

"Good to know. Thanks." The young woman smiled, having gotten the answer she wanted, and quickly left.

Bang.

The infirmary was quiet again, leaving Doctor Tang alone.

But now, she had no mood left for her drama. The apple in her hand suddenly seemed tasteless, and she tossed it aside.

"Who's an unmarried old maid?! You're the old maid! Your whole family's full of old maids!"

Gritting her teeth, she clenched her fists and unleashed a flurry of punches on her poor pillow.

After a long while, the assault finally stopped.

"I'm a perfectly youthful woman in my mid-twenties!"

"Haven't you heard? Older sisters have more charm! What do little girls like you know?!"

Muttering to herself, her lips curled into a smirk as some thought crossed her mind, her smile turning almost... wicked.

Adjusting her gold-rimmed glasses, she purred,

"Don't underestimate an older sister's appeal to younger boys, heh..."