Those Who Were Briefly Mentioned

Lu Chenyuan sat in his study, his fingers tapping rhythmically on the desk, producing a dull sound.

He remembered clearly that, according to the original timeline of events, his younger brother Lu Chenxiao was about to face an unexpected storm.

A seemingly accidental medical incident, which was in fact a carefully orchestrated conspiracy, would push Lu Chenxiao into the eye of a public controversy, ultimately leading to his suspension and even the ruin of his medical career.

The incident stemmed from Lu Chenxiao treating a patient who had suffered a sudden car accident.

At the time, the situation was critical, and there was no time to contact the patient’s family. Without hesitation, Lu Chenxiao made the decision to proceed with the surgery immediately.

However, fate was cruel—perhaps by some twist of destiny, the surgery ultimately failed.

Six months later, the deceased’s family suddenly launched a public attack in the media, accusing Lu Chenxiao of negligence and medical malpractice.

Public outrage erupted, and a flood of accusations and insults drowned Lu Chenxiao completely.

Afterward, Lu Chenxiao had reviewed the surgery and believed that if the patient had arrived at the hospital just a little earlier, there might have been a sliver of hope.

But Lu Chenyuan knew that the crises faced by his younger brothers were not merely personal—they were part of a larger conspiracy targeting the entire Lu family.

In the original storyline, Li Jinchuan had seized this opportunity to smear the Lu family’s reputation and undermine their standing in Jingzhou City.

With this in mind, Lu Chenyuan dialed Lin Yuan’s number and instructed:

"Lin Yuan, arrange for our people to be stationed near Chenxiao’s hospital. Keep a close watch on any recent traffic accidents, especially emergency vehicles heading to Chenxiao’s hospital."

Lin Yuan responded immediately, "Understood, Mr. Lu. I’ll handle it right away."

A few days later, the skies over Jingzhou City turned gloomy, as if foreshadowing the coming storm.

An ambulance blared its siren, weaving swiftly through congested streets as it raced toward Jingzhou First Hospital, where Lu Chenxiao worked.

Just as the ambulance was about to reach the final intersection before the hospital, a black sedan suddenly darted out from a side road and slammed violently into it.

The impact sent the ambulance lurching violently, its body tilting with a screech of metal.

Yet, unexpectedly, there was another ambulance trailing behind it.

Days earlier, Lu Chenyuan had anticipated potential sabotage and arranged for an empty ambulance to pose as a patient transport, serving as a decoy to mislead the conspirators.

Sure enough, they had taken the bait.

While the black sedan crashed into the "decoy" ambulance, the real ambulance smoothly entered Jingzhou First Hospital through an alternate route.

The moment the patient was wheeled into the operating room, Lu Chenxiao immediately mobilized his medical team for emergency treatment.

Several hours later, the operating room doors finally swung open.

Lu Chenxiao stepped out, removing his surgical mask. His face was weary, but his eyes shone with clarity.

When Lu Chenyuan received Lin Yuan’s report, he knew his strategy had worked once again.

At the same time, he grew intrigued by the patient who had been in a car accident—only to suffer another collision while en route to the hospital.

In the original storyline, this had been a nameless casualty mentioned only in passing. But now, it was clear the person had been deliberately targeted...

With this thought, Lu Chenyuan said to Lin Yuan over the phone, "Look into this patient."

A few days later.

Lu Chenyuan held a detailed file on the patient in his hands, his brow furrowed.

The records revealed that the victim, Zhang Qi, was no ordinary car accident casualty. He was a promising young law graduate who had dedicated himself to providing legal aid to migrant workers, helping them reclaim unpaid wages.

"No wonder this happened—he was standing in someone’s way," Lu Chenyuan thought, understanding dawning on him.

The file also indicated that Zhang Qi’s accident occurred while he was handling a high-stakes wage dispute case for migrant workers.

The opposing party was a powerful real estate developer, willing to resort to underhanded methods to swiftly resolve the matter.

"Shengtian Real Estate? So, 'you’ve' already made your move," Lu Chenyuan mused with a cold, silent smirk.

Yet, Zhang Qi had caught his attention.

Zhang Qi was well-versed in the law, responsible, principled, and unwavering in his integrity.

Most impressively, despite having no connections of his own, Zhang Qi had managed to advocate for the underprivileged in a city like Jingzhou—a place teeming with influential figures—proving his undeniable competence.

And beyond his righteousness…

Lu Chenyuan hadn’t expected the opposition’s methods to be this ruthless.

With that thought, he picked up his phone and dialed a number.

"Hey, Chenxiao, how’s everything at the hospital?"

On the other end, Lu Chenxiao’s voice was as icy as ever. "All normal."

"How’s Zhang Qi’s condition? Did the surgery go well?" Lu Chenyuan asked.

"The surgery was successful. He’s out of danger," Lu Chenxiao replied flatly, though Lu Chenyuan could detect a faint trace of satisfaction in his tone.

"Good." Lu Chenyuan relaxed. "Chenxiao, I appreciate your hard work."

"...I’m hanging up." Lu Chenxiao paused slightly at his brother’s words before ending the call.

Lu Chenyuan looked at his phone and shook his head helplessly.

His younger brother was always this distant.

But he knew—Lu Chenxiao simply struggled with expressing himself.

Deep down, he cared deeply about his family.

Thinking of Lu Chenxiao reminded Lu Chenyuan of Lu Qianqian.

His sister, whom he had sent to the community cafeteria to "experience real life"—he wondered how she was doing now.

Lu Chenyuan sighed silently.

Spring Breeze Community Cafeteria.

Lu Qianqian sat in a corner, listlessly pushing the food around on her plate.

Today’s lunch was braised chicken with potatoes, but she had no appetite.

Ever since her argument with Lu Chenjin days ago, she hadn’t spoken to any of her brothers.

She felt wronged, as if everyone had betrayed her.

"Miss, why are you eating so little? Doesn’t the food suit your taste?" Sister Li approached, carrying a plate of dishes, her voice full of concern.

Lu Qianqian shook her head, forcing a weak smile. "Sister Li, I’m fine. Just a little tired."

"Of course you’re tired. You’ve never done this kind of work before," Sister Li said sympathetically.

"Why don’t you take the day off? I’ll let Mr. Lu know."

"No need," Lu Qianqian quickly replied. "I’ll push through. Big Brother said I should properly experience life."

Sister Li sighed, sensing the young lady’s inner turmoil. After a moment, she said,

"Miss, why don't you skip the vegetable sorting this afternoon and come with me to deliver meals to the elderly in the community? It might be a nice change of pace."

Lu Qianqian's eyes lit up. "That sounds great! I’ve been wanting to get out for a while."

In the afternoon, Lu Qianqian changed into comfortable clothes and followed Sister Li, carrying insulated meal boxes as they went door-to-door delivering food to the elderly in the neighborhood.

Most of these seniors were living alone, struggling to make ends meet.

When they saw Lu Qianqian, they greeted her warmly, holding her hands and thanking her repeatedly.

"Thank you, young miss! You’re such a kind soul!"

"The Lu family has done such a wonderful thing! Without this community kitchen, we old folks wouldn’t know what to do."

"Miss, you’re so beautiful! Like a fairy from the heavens!"

Hearing their heartfelt compliments, Lu Qianqian felt a warmth in her heart.

She suddenly realized that what she was doing truly mattered.

When they arrived at a particularly rundown house, an elderly woman emerged, leaning on a cane.

"It’s you! Come in, come in!" the old woman urged warmly.

Lu Qianqian and Sister Li stepped inside to find a sparsely furnished home with only the bare essentials.

The old woman shakily pulled some fruit and candies from a cabinet and handed them to Lu Qianqian.

"Grandma, please don’t trouble yourself. We can’t take these," Lu Qianqian quickly protested.

"Go on, take them! It’s just a small token of my gratitude," the old woman insisted, pressing the treats into Lu Qianqian’s hands.

Looking at the deep wrinkles on the old woman’s face, Lu Qianqian felt a pang of sadness.

"Grandma, do you live here alone?" she asked.

"Yes, my husband passed away years ago, and my children work far away. They only visit once or twice a year," the old woman sighed.

"Grandma, I’ll come visit you often from now on," Lu Qianqian said earnestly, clasping the old woman’s hands.

"Oh, that would be wonderful! I adore sweet girls like you!" The old woman beamed, her smile stretching wide.

Leaving the old woman’s home, Lu Qianqian felt lighter somehow.

She began to see that life had so many dimensions, so many stories beyond her own.

Even beyond her parents and four brothers, there were countless other people and experiences waiting to be discovered.