C14 Tcm's Reputation Professor

"Hey Wang Xiao, why the rush? I've got something to discuss with you!"

At that moment, Elder Dong burst out of the room, grabbed Wang Xiao's hand with a gleam in his eye, and said.

Feeling the intensity of Elder Dong's piercing gaze, Wang Xiao squirmed uncomfortably. Clearing his throat, he addressed Elder Dong, "If you've got something to say, just say it. No need for all this tugging."

"Wang, how about joining my hospital as an honorary professor? You'd only work four days a month, and I'll pay you fifty thousand."

Elder Dong's grip on Wang Xiao's hand only grew tighter, as if fearing that Wang Xiao would escape the moment he let go.

"Fifty thousand a month?" Second Aunt Chen Feng's face went pale upon hearing this.

Tong Bin's face felt as if he'd been slapped hard, especially after just declaring Wang Xiao good for nothing but his medical skills.

But in a blink, Wang Xiao had become the honorary professor at a prestigious hospital!

Before Tong Bin could recover from his shock, Wang Xiao's response baffled him once more.

"Sorry, I'm not interested in any honorary professorship. I plan to attend university."

Wang Xiao declined with a calm resolve, his eyes earnest.

"But Wang Xiao, this is the People's Hospital we're talking about. Many renowned doctors would kill for this position!" Tong Bin exclaimed, his voice tinged with frustration.

"Big Brother Wang Xiao!"

Tong Waner tugged gently at Wang Xiao's hand, her beautiful eyes imploring him.

"Are you sure you won't reconsider?"

Elder Dong, seemingly anticipating the refusal, still pressed on with a desperate hope in his weary eyes.

Wang Xiao simply smiled, responding with silence.

"Alright then, here's my card. If you ever change your mind, come find me."

Elder Dong handed over the business card with a look of dejection, then turned and walked away, his slumped figure a poignant sight.

"Hmph, a poor kid will always be a poor kid, never knowing how to seize an opportunity!"

Tong Bin seized the moment to mock and jeer before turning on his heel to leave.

"Big Brother Wang Xiao, why didn't you accept Grandpa Dong's offer? If you became an honorary professor, Second Aunt and the rest wouldn't look down on you anymore!"

Once Tong Bin, Chen Feng, and the others had gone, Tong Waner turned her head, stomping her foot adorably. She pouted and posed her question to Wang Xiao with a hint of dissatisfaction.

"Because I'm lazy!"

Wang Xiao shrugged, his chuckle light and easy.

Tong Waner rolled her eyes at Wang Xiao's response.

"Don't worry, Waner. Even without the title of honorary professor, I'll still win over your family. Look how much your grandpa likes me," he reassured her, noticing the worry in her eyes and taking her hand in his.

Finally, his gaze settled on Tong Waner's elegant form, and with a mischievous grin, he teased, "Your grandpa's already urging us to marry and start a family soon. When do you think we should..."

Blushing at Wang Xiao's words, Tong Waner shyly lowered her head and murmured, "No, we're still too young!"

With that, she blushed deeper, spun around, and dashed away.

"She's such a sweet, innocent thing," Wang Xiao mused, a smile playing at the corner of his mouth as he watched her retreat.

After ensuring Dong Yuan was alright, Wang Xiao and Tong Waner left Elder Tong's residence and headed back to their villa.

...

The following day, Tong Waner awoke bright and early, summoned by her high school to collect her college acceptance letter. Wang Xiao, feeling a bit bored after lounging at home for a while, decided to step out and found himself at a nearby bar.

Despite the early hour, the bar had its share of patrons. The tranquil atmosphere and dim lighting gave it an almost timeless quality.

He approached the bar, ordered a vodka, and settled into a chair to enjoy his drink.

"Handsome, you've got quite the look about you. Is this your first time here?"

Just then, a glamorously dressed, sultry woman sauntered over, sending a flirtatious wink Wang Xiao's way and greeting him with a seductive laugh.

The cheap perfume she wore was overpowering, and as Wang Xiao caught sight of the sexy woman's heavily made-up face, he couldn't help but frown. He ignored her question and kept sipping his drink.

"Oh, playing the cool, handsome type, I see?"

The sexy woman noticed Wang Xiao's indifference. A flicker of annoyance crossed her eyes, but she maintained her coy smile. "I'm curious, would the aloof, handsome guy here care to buy me a vodka?"

"Of course, beautiful women everywhere are entitled to certain privileges," Wang Xiao replied, finally breaking his silence with a smirk.

A smile spread across the sexy woman's face at his words. She had thought this young man would be tough to crack, but his next comment made her smile freeze.

"Except you're not a beauty, so you don't get the privilege of a vodka on me."

Wang Xiao's gaze was serious as he spoke plainly to the sexy woman.

A glass of vodka wasn't cheap. Back when he lived on the mountain, he'd only ever sneaked a few sips from Elder Dong's underground wine cellar.

"You!"

The sexy woman's face clouded over with anger at Wang Xiao's blunt words. Her polished fingernail pointed accusingly at him as her body shook with rage.

"If you have something to say, say it. Otherwise, don't interrupt my drinking," Wang Xiao said firmly, addressing the sexy woman with a stern voice.

Her face, coated in makeup, shifted between expressions before she managed to force out another seductive smile. She latched onto Wang Xiao's arm, pressing her ample chest against him, and cooed, "Cold, handsome guy, if you don't want to buy me a drink, that's okay. We're all adults here. Maybe we could find a hotel and... do something else."

She ended her proposition with a suggestive wink at Wang Xiao.

"Sorry, I'm not interested in you," Wang Xiao replied curtly, his tone laced with aversion.

"You!" The sexy woman's face twisted with fury. She hissed through clenched teeth, "You'll regret this!"

With that, she released Wang Xiao's arm and stormed off, her hips swaying provocatively.

Wang Xiao offered only a faint smile in response to the sexy lady's threat, seemingly unfazed.

As he neared the bottom of his vodka glass, a commotion erupted behind him.

"Hubby, this punk was hitting on me!"

The sexy lady clung to a Bald Man as they approached swiftly, pointing an accusing finger at Wang Xiao. Trailing the Bald Man were three or four thugs.

"Uh..." Wang Xiao's eyebrows lifted at the sight.

"Kid, you're the one who harassed my wife."

The Bald Man loomed over Wang Xiao, his glare fierce as he confronted him.

"Her? I wouldn't take her if she were free, let alone harass her."

A smirk of disdain played across Wang Xiao's lips as he gazed at the Bald Man with a mix of pity and amusement, wondering just how oblivious the guy was.

"What's that? You harassed my wife and still have the nerve to be cocky?"

The Bald Man's fist tightened, and he let out a contemptuous snort. His cronies quickly formed a circle around Wang Xiao.

The other patrons of the bar kept their distance, and even the bartender sought refuge to one side, clearly intimidated by the Bald Man and his crew.

"What's it going to be?"

Wang Xiao's gaze swept over the gangsters before settling on the Bald Man, his tone cool.

"It's simple. You disrespected my wife. Without a 20,000 yuan payment for emotional distress, you're not walking out of here."

A sly grin crept across the Bald Man's face as he wrapped an arm around the sexy lady's waist, his hand wandering as he spoke to Wang Xiao.

The sexy lady let out a few coquettish protests but made no move to escape the Bald Man's grasp.

"Twenty thousand? You call this anything but extortion?"

Wang Xiao's mouth quirked into a slight smile, setting his glass down on the bar.

"And what if it is!"

The Bald Man huffed, his posture one of brazen defiance, as if to say, "No pay, no way out."

"And what if I refuse?"

Wang Xiao met the Bald Man's stare with a calm, even gaze.

"Then don't be surprised when we stop playing nice."

The Bald Man released the sexy woman's waist and clenched his fists, his knuckles popping as he sneered at Wang Xiao.

"Amusing. I'm actually curious to see how you lot plan to show me your discourtesy!"

Wang Xiao scoffed, flashing a mocking smile at the Bald Man.

Upon hearing Wang Xiao's response, the Bald Man's expression turned grim, and he erupted in anger. "If you're refusing to compensate, then it's on you. Let's go!"