As Saira was running back, she accidentally bumped into someone.
"Sorry," she apologized without looking up.
"Saira, it's me." Christian's voice came from above her head.
Saira looked up and met Christian's concerned eyes. Tears that had been welling up in her eyes suddenly poured out like a breached dam.
Seeing her cry, Christian panicked, his voice urgent. "What's wrong? Who bullied you? Tell me, and I'll make sure they pay."
Saira shook her head, refusing to say anything.
The more she refused to speak, the more anxious Christian became, desperate to know what happened.
"Tell me, who dared to bully you? Was it her?" Christian's voice was especially gritted and fierce when he mentioned "her."
"No, it wasn't her. Brother, please don't ask anymore. I don't want you to get scolded by Mom and Dad again."
Even though Saira didn't name Zuri, anyone could tell that she was implying it was her.
Christian was furious. "I'm going to find her right now. She really won't stop, will she? Is her life so miserable that she has to bully you to get by?"
Saira clung tightly to his arm. "Brother, don't go. Today is not the right time."
The underlying meaning was clear: they could deal with her another day.
Faced with his sister's earnest plea, Christian temporarily suppressed his anger. "Alright, I'll listen to you. I won't confront her today, but once we leave, I'll find a chance to teach her a lesson."
Zuri was really too much.
All this time, he had tolerated her because she was their parents' biological daughter. He never thought that their forbearance and efforts to keep the peace would only make her more audacious.
This time, he was determined to set her straight and make her understand that she couldn't run the Lin family however she pleased.
At the banquet, guests had already discussed everything there was to talk about, but the main person they wanted to see had yet to appear, and their murmurs of discontent grew louder.
"Do you think Adam's not coming?"
"The banquet is halfway over. If he doesn't show up soon, it will be over."
"Could it be that the Lin family spread a false rumor and Adam isn't coming at all?" someone questioned.
Many shared this suspicion.
"That's unlikely," someone else said, skeptical.
"Did you notice? The old secretary and those few elders nearing the end of their days are all here for Adam. If the Lin family used this news to boost their anniversary celebration and offended so many big shots, it wouldn't be worth it," someone analyzed calmly.
Most people, holding onto this reasoning, remained patient and continued to wait.
Adam's medical skills and standing in the medical field were worth the wait.
The guests grew restless and distracted, waiting anxiously, and the Lin family was not having an easy time either. The news of Adam's return was a double-edged sword.
Used well, it would benefit the Lin family and elevate their status.
Used poorly, the Lin family would be resented by everyone.
In the backstage lounge, the atmosphere was tense.
Old Master Lin's wise eyes swept over his three sons and he asked gravely, "Have you contacted Adam?"
Eldest son Lin Tianxiao replied, "His phone has been off the whole time."
"What about his assistant?"
Javier reported cautiously, "His assistant said Adam left the hospital long ago. By right, he should be here by now. But…"
But the result was that he still hadn't shown up.
"Tianyou, send someone to find him. Don't come back until you do," Old Master Lin ordered.
Javier reluctantly took on the task.
As time passed, the guests at the banquet were ready to leave disappointed.
"Tsk tsk, the Lin family really mishandled this. They're destined to disappoint everyone," Azura commented idly.
Zuri chimed in at an inopportune moment, "This 'everyone' shouldn't include me."
"You're heartless," Azura pushed her away in disgust.
Zuri smiled and accepted the judgment. "I'm going to the restroom."
"Go, go."
But instead of heading to the restroom, Zuri went upstairs to the guest lounge. She walked from room to room, pausing for a few seconds at each door.
When she reached the innermost room, she heard a woman's soft moans. Zuri quickly stepped forward. The door was ajar, and through the gap, she could see inside.
A voluptuous woman was facing her direction. Opposite the woman stood a tall, straight figure in a white shirt and black pants, which accentuated his long legs.
Even without seeing the man's face, from his back and the aura he exuded, it was clear he must be good-looking.
Zuri glanced inside and, confirming it wasn't the person she was looking for, was about to leave when she heard the woman inside call out sweetly, "Adam, I feel so uncomfortable. Can you help me?"
Adam?!!!
Zuri froze in her tracks, looking at the tall figure inside with surprise.
So this was Adam!
While everyone outside was waiting endlessly for him, this guy was here having a tryst with a beauty.
His behavior was truly disappointing.
"I can't undo my buttons. Help me," the woman coquettishly pleaded, her eyes full of allure, her red lips slightly parted, exuding an irresistible charm.
After her initial shock, Zuri was about to turn away when she heard the man's deep, slightly hoarse voice.
"Your face has been shaved, your nose is augmented, you had double eyelid surgery, corner of the eyes extended, forehead filled with hyaluronic acid, lips enhanced, your chest is silicone, and your waist and other areas have all undergone various degrees of surgery. Do you think I would be interested in a silicone doll who's had work done all over?"
Wow!
Zuri was shocked again.
How could he expose her so bluntly in front of her face? Wasn't he afraid of retaliation?
The beautiful woman's face turned pale, her fingers trembling as she pointed at the unsympathetic man.
"You…"
She raised her hand, aiming for his handsome face.
Adam caught her hand, "If you move too much, any strenuous activity could compress the silicone, causing it to explode inside your body."
The beauty was so frightened by this that she didn't dare to move. "You're despicable."
Adam let go of her hand, ignoring the furious woman.
He turned around, his deep eyes behind gold-rimmed glasses locking onto Zuri outside the door.
Zuri looked at the man before her. Although she had expected him to be handsome, she hadn't anticipated his features to be so refined. His deep-set eyes, well-defined contours, and a few strands of slightly long hair falling over his gold-rimmed glasses gave him a scholarly yet somewhat cold and aloof look, creating an inexplicable sense of restrained allure.
Their gazes met in midair, silently assessing each other.
Adam stepped forward, opening the door, his sharp eyes piercing through the lenses as they settled on Zuri's face. As he walked past her, a faint scent of mint wafted through the air.
This fragrance wasn't from any perfume but was rather pleasant.
He took a few more steps before stopping and turning around to look at her. "You have beautiful eyes."
Zuri was taken aback.
"If you're looking for that slightly disheveled couple, you might as well give up. They've already left the banquet. That man is no good," Adam warned.
Adam studied her eyes, finding an uncanny resemblance to his lost sister.
Anyone with such beautiful eyes shouldn't be involved with someone like that man.
"How did you know I was looking for them?"
"Besides us, they were the only ones on the second floor. I heard your footsteps when you reached the third room. You paused in front of each room for a few seconds, indicating you were searching for someone. Five minutes ago, a disheveled couple left. It wasn't hard to piece it together."
"Clap clap clap…"
Applause broke out.
"A genius indeed, with such keen ears."
He had heard her footsteps from the third room. That level of hearing was remarkable.
"It's a pity you became a doctor. If you joined the military, you'd be the top soldier," Zuri remarked absentmindedly.
Adam paused.
That sounded familiar!
Ten years ago, his father had said the same thing.
"Do you have family?"
The question surprised Adam, but then he smiled thinly. Perhaps he was still under the influence of seeing his mother earlier, leading him to imagine everyone as his sister.
Zuri smiled. "Of course."
But it was a family she didn't need.
Adam turned to leave but then looked back again. "Your eyes are truly beautiful."
"Thank you."
Being complimented twice in one day made Zuri a bit embarrassed. If his eyes hadn't been so clear and calm, she might have thought he had feelings for her.
As she watched him leave, a small smile curved her lips.
He was certainly interesting.
So this was the legendary genius doctor, different from what she had imagined. She had expected a bookish or scholarly type, not such a stoic and handsome man. Especially with his gold-rimmed glasses, he exuded an inexplicable allure.
Ling Tianxiao emerged from a room, his eyes widening with joy at the sight of the approaching man.
"Dr. Adam, you're here!" Ling Tianxiao greeted him excitedly.
"Where's Mr. Ling?"
"My father is inside."
Ling Tianxiao opened the door, leading him in.
Inside, reactions varied from confusion to joy as they saw Adam. Ling Tianxiao's stern face broke into a smile. "Dr. Feng, long time no see."
The younger generation in the room stared, amazed. The man who looked like a movie star was actually the renowned genius doctor. It was almost unbelievable.
"I'll examine Mr. Ling first. Please step out for a moment," Adam requested.
The Ling family complied, leaving the room.
As soon as they exited, news of Adam's arrival quickly spread to the banquet hall.
"Holy! Adam is really here?" Azura asked excitedly.
"The second house of the Ling family confirmed it. He's upstairs examining Mr. Ling," Farida whispered.
"When he comes down, we'll see if he's really as handsome as they say, and if he can match my Owen," Azura said.
"Come on! Owen's good looks are top-tier in the entertainment world, but Adam's success is based on skill, not looks," Farida countered.
"My Owen is skilled too," Azura argued, defending her idol.
Farida rolled her eyes and stopped talking.
Ten minutes later, Adam handed a card and a bottle of medicine to Ling Tianxiao. "Mr. Ling's health is relatively good. Take care of him, and he should be with you for a few more years. If his condition worsens, give him one pill. Remember, only in critical situations."
"This card belongs to that person."
If it weren't for that person's request, Adam wouldn't have wasted his time here. This favor was now repaid.
Having explained everything, Adam prepared to leave.
Ling Tianxiao quickly intervened. "Dr. Feng, please have some fruit and snacks downstairs before you go."
The esteemed guests were waiting for him. He couldn't just leave.
"No, thank you. I prefer quiet environments."
Adam left without looking back.
Colin approached his father. "Dad, are you just going to let him leave?"
Ling Tianxiao sighed. "What else can we do? We can't force him to stay. He's not someone we can afford to offend."
The only reason he visited was because of that person's request. Otherwise, he wouldn't have come at all.
"What about the guests downstairs?" Colin asked.
"There's nothing we can do. He's gone."
Downstairs, the guests continued to wait, unaware that the person they were anticipating had already left.
When Zuri returned, she overheard Farida and Azura talking excitedly about Adam.
"Zuri, you're just in time. Adam is upstairs examining Mr. Ling. He's supposed to come down after. I'm so excited," Azura gushed.
Farida laughed. "You're such a looks fanatic."
"I love good looks, and I'm proud of it," Azura replied, her chin lifted proudly.
Zuri couldn't help but say, "Don't get your hopes up. He might not come."
Farida and Azura both stared at her.
"How do you know he won't come?"
"Just a feeling."
Although she had only met him once, she sensed his aversion to the noisy banquet. If not, he wouldn't have slipped in quietly and gone straight to the second floor.
"I think he'll come," Azura said with a smile.
"By the way, Lila saw Rhea and Miles leaving together. I heard Miles is a playboy who changes women like clothes."
"She's throwing herself away," Azura said disdainfully.
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