A Bad-Hearted Doctor is Unbearably Beautiful - Chapter 99

Lu Xiao followed the group, walking briskly toward the central stage. Behind them, the massive doors of the banquet hall slowly groaned shut.

Aside from Lu Xiao, only two men and one woman remained. All three seemed intensely interested in these “genetically superior” children. In an instant, the vast hall felt cavernous, occupied only by this small group. The haunting melody of a cello played on loop, and the overhead lights turned the glass of the display case into a pool of stagnant amber.

Inside, the boy and girl looked like tiny insects trapped in that amber—doomed to become permanent ornaments because they could never escape.

One of the men walked ahead of the others, clutching a walking stick. If Lu Xiao wasn’t mistaken, the shaft was carved from a solid piece of ivory. The children watched the approaching figures with vacant, terrified eyes, as if bracing for an impact they had felt many times before.

The man stopped at the display case and tapped the glass with the tip of his ivory cane, much like someone tapping on a pet shop window to wake a puppy. “You two, spin around twice for me. Let me see.”

The doll-like girl gave an involuntary shiver, her lips trembling. The boy beside her squeezed her fingers, gritting his teeth. He leaned in and whispered something that looked like “Don’t be afraid.”

Obediently, the two lowered their heads and began to rotate. The girl’s snowy white dress swayed gently; she looked like a figurine on a music box—stiff, mechanical, yet practiced.

“Hmm, not bad.” The man leaned his black eagle-beak mask closer to the glass. “A bit thin, though. Are you not eating well?”

The girl bit her lip and swallowed hard. Finally, she summoned the courage to plead through the glass: “Please… please adopt me.” Her eyes were rimmed with red, her small palms pressed flat against the transparent barrier.

The man burst into a laugh that echoed sharply against the high vault of the ceiling. “You haven’t learned how to beg with a smile yet. Come on, be a good girl and give me a smile. The prettier you look, the more Uncle will want to take you home.”

The moment those words left the man’s mouth, Lu Xiao had to fight the urge to cave the guy’s skull in with a single kick.

The girl’s gaze flickered. She clutched her skirt tight and looked up again, forcing a fawning, hollow smile. She had no idea what the outside world was like, but as long as she could escape this world, even for a day, it would be enough.

“Move it, move it! You’re hogging the view, how’s anyone else supposed to see?”

Lu Xiao sauntered over, his broad shoulders shoving the man aside, nearly knocking the eagle-mask wearer off balance.

“What do you think you’re doing?!” The man’s leather shoes skidded on the marble floor; he only stayed upright by bracing himself with his ivory cane.

“What am I doing? Have you paid for them yet? You’re acting awfully possessive. You done looking? If you’re done, beat it! The three of us haven’t had a turn yet!” Lu Xiao brushed him off with the disdain of a petulant, arrogant second-generation heir.

The host, standing aside with hands folded, watched the scene and spoke up: “Distinguished guests, there is no need to rush. You may clarify any doubts during this phase. After all, everything we do is for the sake of the transaction.” A cold, mechanical smile remained fixed on his face.

“I have a question. If I’m not satisfied after the adoption, can I return or exchange them?” asked a middle-aged man in a black suit with a steady gait.

A woman in a gold silk backless dress fanned herself with a velvet fan, her red lips curling. “You think you’re buying clothes? Returns and exchanges?”

Host: “The contract specifies risk disclosures and follow-up protection plans.” His voice dropped slightly. “But once the surgery is performed, there are no refunds. After all, what you’d be returning to me is a corpse…”

“And the surgical guarantees?” the black-suited man pressed.

“This gentleman may not be familiar with our service. We provide massive insurance claim services. If you or your relative experiences an accident leading to death or other risks during the operation, we have very satisfactory compensation packages.”

The middle-aged man frowned, looking anxious. “So, you can’t guarantee a 100% successful transplant?”

“Correct. But the probability of success has been significantly increased. These two are the top individuals from our recent batches. After eight years of drug matching and regulation, their compatibility has reached the theoretical limit,” the host explained with a shrug.

Lu Xiao chimed in coldly, “So I’m essentially buying a life, right?”

The host smiled cryptically. “Two lives.”

“Theory is just theory. I only want to minimize the risk…” the middle-aged man muttered to himself. Lu Xiao noted his desperation; this man likely had a family member at death’s door. He would be an excellent lead to investigate later.

The woman with the fan asked, “Their bodies have been regulated by drugs for years. If we use them, will those drugs enter our systems?”

“As you can see, these children are incredibly healthy,” the host replied confidently. “Our advanced medical methods will not harm your body. We’ve conducted tests; drug residue in key organs is less than one part in ten thousand.”

“Enough talk, we haven’t discussed the price. How does the deal go down?” Lu Xiao picked up a glass from a nearby tray and took a careless sip.

“Bidding mode,” the host smiled. “Of course, if you are a long-term client, your history adds ‘points’ to your bid, significantly increasing your chances of success.”

Lu Xiao blinked. So even having money isn’t enough to spend it here.

“We provide a guide price. How much you add on top of that depends on your sincerity.”

Lu Xiao observed the others. No one seemed surprised by the bidding system—clearly, he was the only “outsider” to the protocol. He subtly raised his forearm, the camera in his sleeve sweeping over the bidders and the helpless children in the case.

Suddenly, a chill ran down his spine. He felt as if a cold gaze was boring into his back.

Lu Xiao didn’t turn around. He maintained his arrogant posture, staring at the children. However, the host’s expression shifted. Lu Xiao saw him press a finger to the earpiece hidden in his ear canal.

When the host spoke again, his tone was different. “Our banquet for today is over. The rest of you may leave. Sir—” He looked directly at Lu Xiao. “—please come with us.”

Lu Xiao’s back broke into a cold sweat. The host was looking straight at him.