Chapter 457: Chapter 457

"See that? That’s Cafeteria Number One, the farthest and largest one. Generous portions, but the taste isn’t good. Ahead is Cafeteria Number Three, closest to where I live, but its taste is just so-so. This old man prefers the private Cafeteria Number Four. It’s a bit pricier, but the food is better. I’ll take you there for lunch today."

Zhou Bapi continuously introduced Jing Shu to the various buildings and functions of the massive villa district, acting as if he were the host. This completely deflated Li Yuetian’s aggressive determination to retrieve his supplies. He even felt a bit uneasy—would they have to go through this guy to get the supplies back?

It was then that Jing Shu learned that the ’old codger’ Zhou Bapi often mentioned, Gold Dominator’s father, was named Jin Tianci. His name, meaning ’Heaven-sent,’ implied he was a precious, hard-won child; indeed, he had been sickly and weak since his youth. Rumor had it that Jin Tianci’s father-in-law had agreed to the marriage because Jin Tianci had once saved their entire family, and his daughter had fallen madly in love with the gentle, talented, and scholarly Jin Tianci. Check latest chapters at 𝙣𝙤𝙫𝙚𝙡•𝙛𝙞𝙧𝙚•𝙣𝙚𝙩

The villas in the district were largely similar, but Jin Tianci’s residence was clearly much more upscale. Its size alone was equivalent to six or seven surrounding villas combined, resembling a manor. The grand, retro decor was eye-catching, filled with antique rosewood furniture that was both quaint and somewhat imposing—perhaps the owner was an old-fashioned connoisseur.

This grand manor befitted Jin Tianci’s current status. After all, in ancient times, a county magistrate’s residence was measured in acres. As Wu City’s de facto leader, his inherent importance was evident.

The villa’s interior was vast and bright, like the lobby of a five-star hotel, yet it retained a retro charm. Jin Tianci lay on a medical bed in the large living room, with several nannies and nurses bustling about. The atmosphere was somewhat oppressive. It felt much like a scene where an old, wealthy man is on his deathbed, with everyone eagerly anticipating their share of the inheritance while feigning grief.

However, if there was truly one person distressed, it was undoubtedly Mrs. Jin.

When Jing Shu saw him in person, she was amazed. So, people like those in movies and TV shows really do exist! He was the kind of man who, even in a coma, wore gold-rimmed glasses, his hair parted in the middle, and dressed in a gray Zhongshan suit, exuding an air of gentle elegance and intellect.

It’s just like seeing a young heartthrob from the Republic era transformed into a charming, middle-aged man!

Although Jin Tianci, lying comatose, was pale and emaciated, his naturally gentle smile made one feel as if spring had arrived. No wonder Mrs. Jin married him, Jing Shu thought. He possessed an irresistible combination of looks and aura. Jing Shu was reminded of the actor Chen Kun; their demeanors were strikingly similar.

Li Yuetian was a bit nervous. Things were going much smoother than he had anticipated. What should he say? He couldn’t just blurt out, ’Your son, taking advantage of your impending death while you’re still Wu City’s highest official, has seized many people’s supplies! This includes the one million in sponsored materials I gathered, and the batch of supplies this lady beside me brought from the United States. Even if you’re on your deathbed, you can’t let your son get away with such outrageous behavior!’

Unlike Li Yuetian, who was grappling with his dilemma, Zhou Bapi’s mouth never stopped moving. He incessantly told Jing Shu about Jin Tianci’s illness, as if she had come to take over the treatment. This misunderstanding had stemmed from Jing Shu’s earlier message, where she had inquired about Jin Tianci’s condition after the initial use of Honeysuckle.

"That old codger has a peculiar constitution with extremely poor immunity. Once he falls ill, it’s incredibly difficult for him to heal. For example, even a common cold or a fever could be life-threatening. A few years ago, he suffered from carbuncles for years. It was only by chance during the apocalypse that your Honeysuckle completely cured him. In medical terms, this condition is called pseudo-cancer."

"Cancer, caused by various tumorous changes, prevents cell repair. Regardless of the type of cancer, if the body then contracts a minor illness—like a cold, low fever, or cough—no medicine will bring about recovery. In other words, if someone around you has a minor illness that persists for half a month, or even a full month, without improvement, it’s highly probable that a tumor is preventing the medication from treating the minor ailment. This is commonly known as developing cancer.

"And that old codger is drug-resistant; he can’t absorb 99% of medications. Furthermore, his body’s healing processes are dozens of times less efficient than an ordinary person’s. So, while an ordinary person might recover from an illness in a few days, he takes a very, very long time, or might never fully recover."

It was only then that Jing Shu understood why Su Malie and Zhou Bapi had requested so much Honeysuckle and treasured it so dearly. This man’s constitution is truly problematic, she thought.

"Old Jin hasn’t had a sip of water in two months," Zhou Bapi continued. "He’s kept alive daily by nutritional fluids and various medications. No one knows how much longer he can last. Recently, during the few hours he’s lucid each day, he has started drafting handover documents and has submitted a report to his superiors requesting a replacement."

That sounds quite serious.

"So what illness does he have?"

"It’s the sickness of old age," Zhou Bapi shrugged. "He’s exhausted most of his life force and energy. After all, when I first met him, I predicted he wouldn’t live past 50, yet he’s 57 now. One must admit the medicine from the United States had some effect, but unfortunately, it’s completely stopped working recently."

Perhaps hearing the commotion, Jin Tianci frowned slightly and opened his eyes. The caretaker immediately called out, "Quickly, go get Mrs. Jin and the young master!"

Everyone knew that each time Jin Tianci awoke, it could be his last.

Before long, Mrs. Jin hurried over. She was a woman who, despite the bitter cold, still wore a cheongsam and high heels. Appearing to be under 40, she had wavy curls and exuded a strong Shanghai socialite vibe. However, Jing Shu could sense her assertiveness. She must be a formidable woman, Jing Shu thought.

Gold Dominator trailed behind Mrs. Jin in a careless and leisurely manner, looking every bit the part of a spoiled scion. He bore only a slight resemblance to his father, taking after his mother in seven parts to three, with a touch of her flamboyance.

Standing beside Gold Dominator was a corpulent, middle-aged man in a suit, looking like someone long accustomed to a position of power. He somewhat resembled Mrs. Jin. Probably Gold Dominator’s uncle, Jing Shu guessed.

Zhou Bapi introduced Jing Shu. "Old Jin, you’re awake! Perfect timing. Let me introduce you all. This is Vice Chairman Jing from the Wu City Pharmaceutical Association. It’s thanks to her that Wu City made it into the top ten of the entire Medicine Association’s national rankings. She’ll also be leading a team to the Imperial Capital for a competition in the latter half of the year. A very experienced Pharmacist, the last batch of Honeysuckle came from her."

I wasn’t aware I was supposed to go to the Imperial Capital for a competition in the second half of the year...

Gold Dominator’s uncle scrutinized Jing Shu from head to toe, his gaze eventually lingering on her legs. There’s a vulgar saying: ’A novice looks at the chest; an old hand looks at the legs.’ He swallowed, clicking his tongue with a "tsk tsk."

Gold Dominator, however, focused on Li Yuetian. I just cleaned out his warehouse yesterday. Why is he here today? To snitch? Gold Dominator made a throat-slitting gesture, a clear threat.

Li Yuetian snorted coldly. Facing such a threat, he found he was no longer afraid.

Mrs. Jin’s attitude warmed considerably upon hearing about the Honeysuckle. She introduced her son, Gold Dominator, who reluctantly nodded in greeting.

Jing Shu’s lips curled into a smile as she slowly said, "Oh, I’ve heard about you. I heard you’ve recently been helping your father manage supplies, exceeding your target fivefold, and adding a great deal of food to Wu City’s reserves. The people of Wu City are grateful to you, and other departments are singing your praises."