C11 Isn't It Just a Stroke??

As Wang Xiao finished dressing and descended to the ground floor of the villa, Tong Waner's anxious voice reached his ears.

"What? Grandpa passed out? Uncle told me to hurry over."

Wang Xiao's eyebrows lifted slightly at the sight of Tong Waner's distressed expression. "Waner, what happened?"

"Big Brother Wang Xiao, grandpa's old illness has flared up again. I need to go see him."

Tong Waner's pale face was etched with concern as she clutched Wang Xiao's hand, her voice quivering.

"I'll come with you!"

The concern in Tong Waner's eyes tugged at Wang Xiao's heart. He had grown fond of the innocent and adorable girl in the short time they'd known each other.

Love for her extended to her family. If Tong Waner's grandfather was in trouble, he couldn't just stand by.

"Okay," Tong Waner agreed, nodding.

They quickly made their way to a villa complex in the southern part of Eastern City. Upon entering, they encountered Tong Waner's second aunt, Chen Feng, and her cousin, Tong Bin.

"Tong Waner, why did you bring him along?"

Chen Feng's frown deepened as she eyed Wang Xiao standing next to Tong Waner.

"Second Aunt, Big Brother Wang Xiao is part of our family. Why shouldn't I bring him?"

Tong Waner's brows knit together as she retorted with irritation.

"Hehe, part of the family? He's nothing but a freeloader who married into the Tong Family, living off our provisions," Tong Bin scoffed disdainfully, his words dripping with scorn.

Wang Xiao's frown deepened. From his conversation with Tong Waner on the way here, he gathered that the Wang Xiao he was impersonating wasn't well-acquainted with these two. Why were they attacking him on sight?

"Exactly. Waner, I'm not trying to criticize you, but in today's world, you need a man with wealth and influence. This man, who wed into our Tong Family, is nothing but dead weight. You should kick him out sooner rather than later. If you're hesitant, I can speak to your father for you."

Second Aunt Chen Feng wore a look of concern, lecturing Tong Waner at length before shifting gears. "That Young Master Li from the Li Group I introduced you to last time is quite impressive. You might want to consider him..."

Wang Xiao caught on to why his meddlesome Second Aunt was singling him out—it was all to curry favor with others through Tong Waner.

"Aunt, I'm fully capable of making my own decisions about my marriage. No need for you to trouble yourself over it!"

Tong Waner's brows knit together as she let out a cold huff toward Second Aunt Chen Feng, her voice firm.

As she spoke, she clasped Wang Xiao's arm and addressed her cousin, Tong Bin, "Cousin Tong Bin, I believe Big Brother Wang Xiao is destined for great things. Unlike what you suggest, he's no freeloader living off the Tong Family's generosity. In fact, it's someone else, well into his twenties with nothing to show for it, who seems to be the real leech of the Tong Family!"

Tong Bin's face darkened at Tong Waner's veiled jibe. His pride wounded, he realized she was mocking him.

Wang Xiao's eyes met Tong Waner's earnest gaze, and a wave of affection washed over him.

This girl was truly worth his care.

"Young lady, watch your words. Your Second Aunt and cousin are just looking out for you. There's no need to speak so harshly," Second Aunt chided, her face twisting into a scowl as she played the victim with a biting tone.

"I..." Tong Waner began, ready to counter.

Wang Xiao gently took her hand, giving her a reassuring shake of his head. "Let's drop it. We're here to visit Grandpa, after all. Let's go inside."

"But... okay."

Hearing Wang Xiao, Tong Waner reluctantly agreed, her nod subdued by the clarity and calm in his eyes.

"Hmph, a loser is always a loser, not even brave enough to defend his woman when she's insulted!" Tong Bin sneered, mistaking Wang Xiao's restraint for fear, and loudly mocked him.

Tong Bin's voice carried easily, and Tong Waner and Wang Xiao, leading the way, could clearly hear him.

"What did you say? Say it one more time!"

Tong Waner's face flushed with anger, ready to confront Tong Bin.

"Waner, let it go. Let them talk," Wang Xiao interjected, gently pulling her further into the villa.

Second Aunt Chen Feng and Tong Bin watched them go, their faces etched with disdain.

"Big Brother Wang Xiao, why did you hold me back? They're mocking you!"

Inside the villa, Tong Waner's fists were clenched in frustration as she turned to Wang Xiao.

"If a dog bites us, should we bite back?"

Wang Xiao offered her a reassuring smile and a pat on the head.

Though Tong Waner felt a sting of reluctance, she recognized the wisdom in Wang Xiao's words.

"Miss Waner."

Upon reaching the villa's second-floor staircase, several Tong Family guards spotted her and bowed respectfully.

"How's Grandpa doing?"

Tong Waner inquired with a nod, her concern evident.

"He's still in a coma. Elder Dong is administering acupuncture," the head guard reported somberly.

"Elder Dong is here? That's a relief!"

Hearing that Elder Dong was attending to her grandfather, Tong Waner's expression softened. She took Wang Xiao's hand and they made their way to her grandfather's room.

Inside, Wang Xiao noticed a middle-aged man standing to one side, his gaze fixed anxiously on something.

The man, Tong Waner's second uncle Tong Tie, merely glanced at them before returning his attention elsewhere, remaining silent.

Wang Xiao followed Tong Tie's gaze to the bed, where an elderly man in a Tang suit lay pale and motionless, his body studded with silver needles.

Beside him, a white-haired old man in a lab coat worked with intense focus, beads of sweat on his brow as he performed the delicate acupuncture.

Tong Waner watched, her face etched with concern, her hands pressed together and her lips moving silently in prayer.

"Sigh..."

Just then, the white-haired elder let out a soft sigh and came to a halt.

"Grandpa Dong, what's wrong with my grandfather?"

Tong Waner's expression grew tense as she noticed Elder Dong's pause. She hurried over and asked with concern.

"Waner, you've arrived..." Elder Dong's face, etched with wrinkles, showed a trace of a bitter smile upon seeing her. "Your grandfather's illness isn't new. His heart and blood vessels have been blocked for a while. Despite my urging for him to undergo surgery at the hospital, he stubbornly refused."

"Now, his cardiovascular system is completely obstructed, causing his blood to stagnate and rendering him unconscious. While I can use silver needles to rouse him, his blood remains immobile, trapping him in this state."

"Elder Dong, what exactly are you saying? You can wake my father, but his blood and Qi remain immobile?"

Before Tong Waner could utter a word, Tong Tie stepped forward with a furrowed brow and respectfully pressed Elder Dong for clarification.

"Sigh..." Elder Dong sighed once more and put it plainly, "Old Tong has suffered a stroke."

"What? That can't be!"

Hearing Elder Dong's explanation, Tong Waner's face tightened, and tears welled up in her luminous eyes as she began to cry, shaking her head in disbelief.

Quickly, she reached out, grasping Elder Dong's hands, pleading desperately, "Grandpa Dong, you have to save my grandpa, please!"

"Waner, stop this nonsense!"

Tong Tie's expression darkened as he admonished her. He wasn't a physician, but he understood all too well that stroke victims, much like those in a vegetative state, rarely had a chance at recovery. They were often confined to a bed for life, until death claimed them.

"Sigh..."

Witnessing Tong Waner's tearful plea, Dong Yuan sighed with a sense of guilt washing over his weathered face. If only his medical skills were more advanced...

"Is it just a stroke? Is it that hard to treat? A few simple needles, and I could have him cured."

At that moment, a nonchalant voice cut through the tension in the room.