Top-tier Unruly Master

Ding Fan had been repairing his body these past two days and had consumed a great deal of energy; he now needed a lot of food. After pulling his chopsticks from the white rice, Ding Fan wolfed down his meal.

The meal Zhou Ruoran brought was simple white rice, with stir-fried greens and tofu that had only a few strips of meat.

The Ding Family had fallen into decline, their finances were frozen, and Zhou Ruoran had already spent all her savings on Ding Fan's hospital bills. She simply couldn't afford to buy him nutritious food like meat and fish to help him recuperate.

Even ensuring this simple meal of white rice and vegetables wasn't guaranteed every time.

After cleaning the room, Zhou Ruoran leaned against the door and watched Ding Fan devour his food with detachment. These days, she felt she hardly recognized him.

Had it been before, with just white rice and vegetables, Ding Fan would certainly have clamored for something tastier. Said poorly, Ding Fan would have lashed out with his fists—ever since Zhou Ruoran would rather disfigure her face than let him touch her, Ding Fan had always treated her like a servant.

But these past three days, Ding Fan hadn't once complained about the food; he just silently ate, giving Zhou Ruoran an unfamiliar feeling.

"Cough, cough…"

Perhaps because he was eating too hastily, Ding Fan started to cough.

Zhou Ruoran poured a cup of boiled water and handed it over.

Ding Fan took the water and drank a sip to calm his cough.

"Thank you..."

Thank you?

From the former Young Master of the Ding Family, who would throw punches if served too slowly, when had such polite words ever escaped his lips?

But, none of that mattered now…

Although nominally, Zhou Ruoran was still Ding Fan's fiancée, the two had not registered their marriage. Even though Ding Chengyi had plans for them to marry after graduating from university, Zhou Ruoran had never considered actually marrying Ding Fan.

While she respected Ding Chengyi like a father, how could she marry someone who had hurt her so deeply?

Zhou Ruoran entered the Ding Family at thirteen, and now at twenty-two, she had always been an outstanding student with the dream of becoming a lawyer.

Her dream was now just one step away.

Through her own efforts, Zhou Ruoran had scored remarkably well on a new postgraduate entrance exam, attracting the attention of a prestigious academy both in Huaxia Country and around the world—the Central Institute of Politics and Law.

In half a month, if she passed the final round of interviews, she would enter the gates of the Central Institute of Politics and Law. From then on, she would no longer be the ugly duckling, but a master's graduate of the Central Institute of Politics and Law, a figure of universal admiration.

At that time, Zhou Ruoran planned to leave Ding Fan. It wasn't that she was opportunistic. In the power struggles of large families, how could the Ding Family's rival families allow someone they had trampled on to have any chance of turning the tables?

Staying by Ding Fan's side would be the real harm to him.

As for when to leave the Ding Family, Zhou Ruoran was in no rush. To someone who had disfigured her, she originally had no fondness or attachment, but she now stayed and took such careful care of Ding Fan mainly to repay Ding Chengyi's decade-long kindness in raising her.

In Zhou Ruoran's view, Ding Fan was nothing but a wasteful son of no worth!

If she left him now, he would only have a dead-end road ahead of him.

What she could do now was to mend an environment, before she left for the Central Institute of Politics and Law, in which Ding Fan could still manage to survive, without quickly ending up on the streets.

With her intelligence, even with her disfigured face, Zhou Ruoran would surely be an outstanding figure in the future, and Ding Fan was destined to be just a passerby in her life.

Ding Fan quickly finished his meal.

"How's your body feeling now?"

Zhou Ruoran asked, a rare occurrence. She felt that it might have been that thank you that made her unable to resist showing a bit of concern.

"There's nothing seriously wrong anymore; I can be discharged. Please help me with the discharge procedures," Ding Fan's body had almost completely recovered, and he didn't need to waste any more time here.

Discharged?

Zhou Ruoran was stunned for a moment, then looked Ding Fan up and down.

How could that be possible?

Was this man who had been issued a death notice three days ago really ready to recover?

When Ding Fan was first brought into the hospital, his injuries were extremely severe, and the doctors had said before surgery that they couldn't guarantee he would wake up.

But for that slight glimmer of hope, Zhou Ruoran had resolutely spent all her savings, which she had intended for the tuition and living expenses at the Central Institute of Politics and Law.

Zhou Ruoran hesitated, "Maybe...I should still call the doctor to check on you again."

"No need, I'm really alright," Ding Fan insisted, having reached the First Level of Qi Cultivation, he was very aware of his own bodily condition.

Ding Fan lifted his arm and waved it in front of Zhou Ruoran, "See, I'm really fine."

"Then... I'll go ask the doctor, if possible, we should be discharged," Zhou Ruoran said before turning and walking out of the ward.

The tremendous cost of hospitalization and medical expenses was simply not something they could afford at the moment. If it turned out to be feasible, leaving the hospital might be for the best, considering she could also take care of him at home.

Ding Fan watched Zhou Ruoran's retreating figure with a touch of emotion in his heart. This woman was truly loyal and devoted. After the Ding Family's downfall, most of their old acquaintances kept their distance, yet she remained by his side, steadfast and unwavering.

Whether in the Cultivation World or on Earth, there were plenty who would add flowers to the brocade, but few who would offer help in the snow.

Although Zhou Ruoran's appearance was marred, Ding Fan could easily determine that without the scar, she would unquestionably be considered a peerless beauty, even carrying an air of an unparalleled furnace...

Such a pity...

But then again, not a pity at all!

If he could cultivate to the Third Level of Qi Cultivation, then he might be able to help her restore her appearance, if necessary...

On this side, as Zhou Ruoran walked out of the ward and down the corridor, two nurses just happened to pass by her.

"Look, that woman is quite beautiful..."

"Hehe, you must be looking at her right side? Her left side could scare you to death, a proper ghost face!"

"No wonder... with that kind of freakish ugliness, she's indeed a perfect match for that spendthrift, hee hee..."

Zhou Ruoran acted as though she hadn't heard, accustomed to such gazes. She walked unflinchingly to the doctor's office and knocked before entering.

Four people were sitting inside.

Among them, one was a middle-aged female doctor on duty, while the other three were nurses killing time during their lunch break.

Since Zhou Ruoran had been the one paying and caring for Ding Fan over the past few days, everyone recognized her.

Zhou Ruoran ignored the various looks of disdain and scorn around her, and spoke earnestly, "Doctor He, I would like to trouble you to examine Ding Fan's condition to see if there's a possibility for discharge."

"Look, look, didn't I say the Ding Family had run out of money? It's only been three days and they can't take it anymore, anxious to be discharged!" A nurse said with a sneer, proudly boasting to her companion.

"Not only can't they afford the hospital stay, but they also can't afford to hire a caregiver, coming every day to clean the ward themselves..."

"But his man was given the death notice just three days ago. Being discharged now, isn't that seeking death..."

...

The various comments made in her presence, without any fear that she might hear, caused Zhou Ruoran's face to burn, but she still maintained her composure.

"Ahem..."

At that moment, Doctor He, who had been silent, coughed. The chattering nurses immediately fell silent.

Doctor He looked to be in her forties, with glasses on, and an expression tinged with seriousness, "Do you realize how serious the patient's condition is? He has twenty-seven fractures alone, not to mention the thirty-three subcutaneous hemorrhages! If you take him out of the hospital now, you are essentially signing his death warrant!"

Zhou Ruoran had read Ding Fan's medical report before, so she was aware of his condition. She wouldn't have asked the doctor to carry out the discharge procedure if she hadn't seen a significant improvement in Ding Fan's spirits today.

Doctor He pushed her glasses up and said with grave concern, "I know you don't have money right now, but I can give you time. I will apply for assistance from the hospital, and you should also make an effort to raise funds. I absolutely do not recommend discharging before recovery!"

"Exactly, exactly. Do you know what Ding Fan looked like three days ago? Doctor He was almost ready to issue a death notice! If it weren't for our Director He's exceptional medical skills, Ding Fan would probably be long gone by now!" a nurse chimed in opportunely, flattering.

"You are quite heartless, woman. Even if your man was unspeakable in the past, you can't choose to take revenge at such a critical time... That's just too cruel!" another nurse said, rolling her eyes.

Zhou Ruoran hesitated, then explained, "His complexion has indeed improved a lot, and he himself has asked for the discharge. Doctor He, could you please perform another full examination on him?"

"...Pfft..."

A nurse couldn't help but laugh out loud, "What a joke! We are not gods, how could that Ding Fan possibly recover so quickly? Someone who was nearly dead three days ago, able to hop around after three days? I've been a nurse for five years and have never seen, no, I've never even heard of such a miracle in my life!"

"I think, miss, that you're being too cruel to him, aren't you? If you hadn't pressured him, how could he possibly apply for discharge before he's well?"

...

Zhou Ruoran couldn't help but give a wry smile inside, being painted as a heartless woman, but at that moment, she had no way to defend herself. After all, no one would believe that someone who nearly died three days ago could be discharged in the blink of an eye.

"Ahem..." A gentle cough came from the doorway.

All eyes in the room turned thereupon, and when they saw who stood at the door, their mouths fell open in astonishment.

"Much thanks to you all, I'm feeling very well now. Judging by my current state, I should be far from dead," the figure at the door spoke.

The man standing there was none other than Ding Fan.

The nurses in the room, even with their own eyes, still couldn't believe it; it simply seemed impossible.

Ding Fan leaned against the door frame with his right hand, his complexion rosy, his eyes bright and spirited... A slight smile graced his face, casual and unruffled...

This was nothing like the dying man from three days prior; even a healthy person might not possess the vibrancy visible on Ding Fan's face at this moment.

Could this really be the same man who was on the brink of death just three days before?