Climbing The Ranks As The Best Doctor

Chapter 4: A Day to Remember.

Mai was visibly shaken, beyond shaken. She had been ignored by Rosa Han? For Shen? It defied all logic.

She turned to look at Rosa walking up to Shen and saw her talk to him so casually.

Like they were friends.

Mai felt like spiralling.

But she held it back. This had to be a big misunderstanding, right?

Straightening her shoulders, the bride marched over to Rosa with determination. "Lady Han, with all due respect, I believe you've mistaken this man for someone important. This 'Shen' is nothing but a leech. Please, be careful," Mai said, trying to maintain her composure.

Rosa turned, raised an eyebrow, and then ignored Mai again. 

Mai felt like she had been sucker punched. 

A wave of pure terror washed over her. 

She felt weakened at her knees like she was about to fall.

This disgrace was overwhelming, and suffocating.

Then Mai felt a strong hand holding her firmly, she turned to look at her groom. 

Tomoe gave her a reassuring look.

"Calm yourself. I know Lady Han. I'll warn her about this…gremlin. Give me a moment," The man said, with forced confidence. Letting go of Mai, he approached Lady Han and bowed swiftly at a perfect forty-five-degree angle.

"Good day, Lady Han. I appreciate you gracing our wedding. You might remember, years ago, we were invited to the Han family for dinner. My father has many dealings with the Han Group," Tomoe began after he straightened, puffing out his chest.

"We're influential, though not as prominent as the Han family. But, are you sure you know who that man is?" Tomoe asked, his voice dripping with concern.

Lady Han visibly bristled. She turned to Tomoe, a scowl twisting her features. "Who *are* you again?" she asked, her tone dismissive.

Tomoe visibly stuttered, unable to believe she wouldn't recognise him. 

He glanced at Shen, who was snickering beside the heiress. "I'm T-Tomoe, from the Tomoe Group. We have influence in the…"

Lady Han flicked her hand dismissively, cutting him off mid-sentence. "Never heard of you. If I haven't heard of you, you're not important," she stated as if it were a simple fact.

Tomoe gasped, along with half the guests. Even the servants dropped trays in shock.

The only one who remained unfazed by it all was Shen, the man cackling loud enough for everyone to hear.

"Stop that!" Lady Han smacked Shen's arm playfully.

"Ooh, let me be, woman!" Shen chuckled, wiping a tear from his eye.

Tomoe staggered back, utterly humiliated. He had nothing left to say, barely able to meet Mai’s eyes. 

He had seriously underestimated Shen. 

Maybe Shen really was Lady Han’s secret plaything, the reason he acted so brazenly. Tomoe cursed quietly as he withdrew.

“Let’s get out of here. We have much to discuss,” Rosa said, pulling Shen along.

Shen smiled, very much enjoying the ride.

“Yes ma'am.” He whispered mischievously before he turned back to Mai and Tomoe, blowing them a mocking kiss.

"Happy married life!” he called out to the stunned couple, laughing as he was dragged from the hall.

The hall fell into a heavy silence as the doors slammed closed.

 Not a single soul dared move or blink. They stared in horror.

The man they’d mocked as a peasant was with Lady Han—the most beautiful, most powerful woman in East City. 

They had laughed at him, mocked him and belittled him and now they stood shamed and disgraced.

Suddenly, a loud crash shattered the silence. 

Mai had hurled plates to the floor, screaming in frustration before storming up the stairs. 

Tomoe followed close behind.

---

The sleek luxury car roared through the city streets, effortlessly cutting through traffic.

Shen sat back in the plush leather seat, unbothered by the speed. 

Other cars parted like the Red Sea around it.

“Why weren’t you answering your ring? I pressed the button like you said,” Rosa complained, frowning.

“Well, as you saw, I was busy handling some business,” Shen said, suspicion creeping into his voice. “But why did you come looking for me personally? Must be pretty important for someone of your status.”

A vein ticked in the woman's forehead at his impertinent tone but all she did was take a deep breath and shift her gaze. 

“I need your help,” Rosa said, voice tight. “After my father called he told me that Grandfather’s condition suddenly turned…. terminal. If he doesn’t get help soon, he might as well be dead.”

Shen cocked his head. “Why not just take him to a hospital?” he asked curiously.

“Because I don’t trust those quacks! You healed me— with acupuncture, no less—and I’ve never felt more whole. I need you to do the same for my grandfather,” she pleaded, eyes large on her face.

Shen studied her briefly, then shrugged. “Well no problem, as long as you feed me then I have no problem whatsoever.”

Rosa let out a relieved breath.

“Thank you.” The man only nodded, giving her a small wink.

“Anything for you.”

Yet even as he agreed, Rosa couldn't help but eye him curiously. 

Nothing about Shen added up.

He healed her with acupuncture, yet he acted so casual about it. He was engaged to a powerful suburban family but didn’t seem to care. Now, she asked him to save the most powerful man in the East and his reaction was so... Tactless? Something was definitely wrong with him.

“Who are you, really?” she asked.

Shen smiled faintly. “What do you mean?”

“Don’t play coy. How do you know so much about medicine? You don’t look like a med student.”

“Maybe I’m a dropout,” he said with a shrug.

“What prefecture?”

“Can’t remember,” Shen laughed. He couldn’t tell her who he really was, well, not yet anyway. 

And maybe, just maybe, that was the part he liked most.