Dr. Chi’s Mission: Seduce Officer Su - Chapter 7

The southern district of Zhouhai City was also known as the affluent area.

Among the shadowy, upscale residences, the Qici Mansion stood out uniquely, with its walls built from artificial green forests.

The designer’s concept was likely to express the idea of “finding tranquility amidst the hustle and living in seclusion within the city.” Ironically, this “tranquility” was entirely built upon immense wealth and power.

Its existence overshadowed the surrounding elite residential complexes, creating an insurmountable class barrier.

The Chi family’s residence was located within Qici Mansion.

The head of the family, Chi Qinian, prided himself on his refined taste and had a deep appreciation for Chinese aesthetics. When he first moved into Qici, he spent an astronomical sum to renovate the house in the style of a Suzhou garden.

Among the eighteen mansions in Qici, the Chi residence stood out as the most tastefully designed.

At that moment, the butler stood waiting in front of the grand double doors made of small-leaf red sandalwood, his hands clasped together as he eagerly looked ahead.

When the Cadillac slowly came to a stop, he bowed discreetly and greeted, “Second Miss, welcome home.”

Chi Jue nodded slightly and stepped directly over the high threshold of the main entrance.

Just inside the entrance was a moon gate screen wall. The opening was decorated with schist to resemble mountains, and the circular opening symbolized a full moon. At the base of the wall stood rustic stone lanterns, complemented by clusters of moso bamboo, evoking an overwhelming sense of Zen.

Walking past the screen wall, the front courtyard featured murmuring streams, stone landscapes, and winding corridors. White walls, gray tiles, and upturned eaves were but a small glimpse of the entire estate.

Stepping into the endlessly winding corridor on the left, one could easily lose themselves in a scene as poetic as a painting. It was unclear whether she complemented the scenery or the scenery complemented her.

If one were to visit during the drizzling rain of spring, the entire residence would feel as if it had been transported to the misty, rainy landscapes of Jiangnan.

By the time she entered the dining hall, Chi Qinian and Qin Wanyi were sipping tea and discussing business matters.

Seated on the other side, Chi Jin was holding her phone, seemingly watching an amusing video, her shoulders trembling slightly as she laughed.

Chi Jue greeted them softly, “Dad, Mom.”

Chi Qinian set down his teacup. Though authority was etched into his bones, his tone was gentle. “Sit.”

He waved his hand, signaling the butler to serve the dishes quickly, and the quiet atmosphere in the room finally grew somewhat lively.

“Have you been very busy lately?” Qin Wanyi poured her daughter a cup of Longjing tea. Though her words sounded caring, they were laced with reproach, reproach that she was too busy, so busy that coming home once was like booking an appointment with a specialist, requiring multiple attempts to succeed.

Chi Jue held her teacup and smiled faintly. “Which day am I not busy?”

“You refused to take over the healthcare center project with the Gu family’s financing, insisting on squeezing into the People’s Hospital, where there’s more work and less pay. Are you punishing your father and me, or are you punishing yourself? The family head’s low and stern lecturing shattered the brief liveliness, returning the atmosphere to its original state.”

Chi Jue stared at the ripples in her teacup and retorted, “Is this a necessary part of every family meal? Do you have to criticize me a few times to feel satisfied?”

“I’m your father. Can’t I say a few words to you?”

Chi Qinian was deeply dissatisfied with his daughter’s career choices. This conflict had persisted for over a decade, and every time the topic arose, it ended without resolution.

Qin Wanyi discreetly tugged at her husband’s sleeve. “Let’s keep the family meal harmonious. Say less.”

Fortunately, the household staff began serving the hot dishes one after another, dissipating the brief tension.

The Chi family’s dining standards had always been simple yet refined: three meat dishes, two vegetable dishes, and one soup, all made with exquisite ingredients.

Qin Wanyi scooped a tender piece of fish and placed it into her daughter’s plate. “Try this steamed giant grouper. I had someone order it from the bamboo rafts at the fish market this morning. Isn’t this your favorite?”

“Thank you, I can help myself,” Chi Jue replied softly, taking small sips of the golden shark fin soup from a delicate bowl.

Her daughter’s polite detachment caused Qin Wanyi’s smile to falter briefly, but she quickly shook her head gently. “Eat more. Living alone outside, there must be times when you don’t take good care of yourself.”

Chi Jue gave a faint hum of acknowledgment and fell into indifferent silence.

Chi Jin finally set her phone aside and leaned closer to her sister, whispering, “Sis, are you free lately?”

As the most cherished youngest daughter of the Chi family, she had a petite, fair face and captivating, crescent-shaped eyes that shimmered like a rippling lake, a bewitching charm that could easily mesmerize men.

Unlike her sister’s cool and reserved demeanor, she bloomed like an exuberant Damask rose, radiant and full of vitality.

Chi Jue smiled faintly and asked in return, “What’s the matter?”

Putting down her utensils, Chi Jin clapped her hands and announced, “I’m in love! I want to bring him to meet you first. If you approve, I’ll introduce him to Mom and Dad.”

“Alright, just decide on the time,” Chi Jue agreed without hesitation, always indulgent toward her younger sister.

Chi Qinian showed no objection to his youngest daughter’s romance, likely trusting Chi Jue’s judgment. Setting down his chopsticks, he added, “Chengxiu and Jiaqin are returning the day after tomorrow. If you two have time, you could go pick them up at the airport.”

“Big brother and Jiaqin are coming back the day after tomorrow? Why so sudden? They didn’t even give us a heads-up,” Chi Jin muttered under her breath, as if the airport pickup clashed with her own plans.

Both Chi Qinian and Qin Wanyi turned their gazes toward Chi Jue, as though the announcement was meant specifically for her.

“I’m not free. I have two surgeries scheduled that day,” Chi Jue remarked indifferently, savoring her soup. At the mention of Jiaqin’s name, her expression turned icy and detached. She didn’t touch the fish on her plate and set down her bowl abruptly, ending the meal. “I’m done eating.”

Qin Wanyi tried to stop her daughter from rising to leave. “Was the meal not to your taste? We haven’t even served dessert yet.”

“No, I need to head back and work on a report. I’ve been swamped lately and don’t have enough time.”

Her daughter’s gentle refusal, however, provoked her father’s anger. “All you care about are surgeries and reports! Your heart is filled with patients, but there’s no room for family. You come home for a meal, show your face, and then rush off, what is wrong with you?”

Chi Jin quickly jumped to her sister’s defense. “Dad, Sis is exhausted from performing surgeries. Why are you yelling at her?”

“Please enjoy your meal. I’ll take my leave now,” Chi Jue said calmly, as if nothing had happened, gently pushing her chair back into place.

Her composed defiance only fueled Chi Qinian’s rage. He slammed his hand on the redwood table, rattling the dishes and utensils.

“Your sister at least knows how to handle her personal life. But you? You keep delaying marriage at your age, show no interest in the family business, and spend all your time at the hospital instead of coming home. Of my three children, you’re the most troublesome!”

Chi Jin protested, “Dad!”

Qin Wanyi pleaded, “Qinian, stop.”

Chi Qinian roared, “If this family means nothing to you, then don’t come back! Don’t ever come back! This household is no different with or without you!”

Chi Jue’s departing footsteps were neither hurried nor slow. The sound of her father’s reproach from behind actually carried a familiar warmth, she had grown accustomed to this form of critical comparison used to belittle her.

When had this rift begun?

Perhaps it was many years ago, when she secretly applied to medical school and was accepted. From that moment, their father-daughter relationship was destined to become a chasm as deep as an ocean trench.

She had long since come to terms with the fact that she was the least favored among the three children.

…

The old urban renewal district, separated from the South District by just a bridge, better reflected the true essence of human life.

One half was a dazzling spectacle built with money, as resplendent as a seductive crimson makeup; the other half was cloaked in darkness, dotted with scattered lights, seemingly on the verge of being forgotten by time.

Night snack stalls lined the streets in neat rows, the clanging of metal spatulas against woks intensifying the bustling atmosphere. Amid the boiling clamor, waves of laughter rose and fell.

Su Qiao wore Dr. Chi’s clothes. Without even checking the label, the texture alone was enough to tell her they weren’t cheap.

Afraid her frame might strain the cotton jacket, she left it wide open, hunching her shoulders against the biting wind.

Her usually upright posture was now slightly stooped. After a long, exhausting day without a single warm meal, hunger had left her unable to stand straight.

Following the rich aroma of stir-fried dishes, she navigated through the lively crowd and stopped at a fried rice noodle stall, ordering a takeaway portion of dry-fried beef hor fun.

The main street was flanked by unplanned old red-brick buildings, layered in a way that formed narrow, winding alleys. These alleys sprawled in all directions like a labyrinth within the city.

Carrying her takeout bag, she slipped into one of the inconspicuous alley entrances.

Inside the alley, the long-neglected streetlights flickered with a feeble glow, as if clinging to their last breath, uncertain when they would finally burn out.

Despite having a relatively respectable job, Su Qiao’s family was not well-off. She lived in a unit allocated to her grandmother by her former workplace.

The old-era apartment had little to offer in terms of environment, no elevator, no hallway lights, and the air always carried a musty scent mixed with dust.

Yet, compared to the towering concrete structures elsewhere, this place was imbued with the warmth of human connections accumulated over time. The harmonious relationships among neighbors felt like an intangible treasure.

Using her phone’s flashlight, she slowly climbed to the seventh floor. For most people accustomed to elevators, this would undoubtedly be a strenuous effort, breathless in winter, drenched in sweat by summer.

Su Qiao paused deliberately in front of the security door.

Suppressing the throbbing pain in her shoulder, she straightened her back as much as possible, a bright smile spreading across her lips. She mustered her most vibrant energy to greet her warm home.

Pushing the door open, she called out cheerfully toward the living room, “I’m back.”

The two-bedroom, one-living-room layout with a small balcony was visible at a glance. The decor and furniture exuded a distinct late-20th-century vibe, but the space was meticulously tidy, radiating a humble cleanliness, with a faint scent of laundry detergent lingering in the air.

Noticing her grandmother engrossed in a TV drama on the sofa, she slipped into her slippers and walked over with a smile. “Binge-watching again?”

The elderly woman, munching happily on a handful of sunflower seeds, glanced at the takeout bag in Su Qiao’s hand and chided, “I already saved a meal for you, and yet you’re eating that unclean street food again.”

“I’ll just grab a quick bite, so we can save the rest for your lunch tomorrow.” Su Qiao sat on the floor, placing the takeout containers on the coffee table before eagerly grabbing a pair of disposable chopsticks. She buried her head and began wolfing down her food.

“You’re just lazy, didn’t even wash your hands.” Her grandmother patted her head, scolding lightly while busily peeling an apple for her.

Su Qiao rubbed the back of her head and grinned mischievously, her eyes catching the roses on the table. “Hey, where did these flowers come from?”

“Old Lady Zhang from upstairs had her granddaughter’s wedding today. I asked for a few stems to bring some festive cheer home.”

Ugh, wrong question!

Her grandmother’s reply made Su Qiao freeze, and she wished she could slap herself. “Uh… really?”

The spirited old lady set down the peeled apple, picked up the roses, and started plucking the petals.

Su Qiao hurriedly tried to stop her. “Hey, hey, what are you doing? They were perfectly fine!”

Holding a handful of petals, her grandmother asked knowingly, “What are these?”

Su Qiao, busy slurping up her stir-fried noodles, mumbled with her mouth full, “Petals, obviously.”

The old lady smacked her head again. “Flowers have petals, but you don’t have a partner!”

Su Qiao had expected this. She made a funny face at her grandmother. “Oh, I’ll find one, I will!”

“Don’t brush me off! I’ve been asking all the neighbors and everyone in the building to set you up. I finally managed to arrange a few blind dates for you, but you’re either out on a call or on your way to one. You’re doing it on purpose!” The more her grandmother spoke, the angrier she got, finally shoving the apple into Su Qiao’s mouth.

Su Qiao took a big bite, crunching loudly. “I’m busy with work, sometimes I really can’t manage it.”

“You always say you’re busy when it comes to dating. You’re not even in the Criminal Investigation Division anymore. I’m already halfway into the grave, you’ve got to bring someone home to give me some peace of mind.”

Mention of the Criminal Investigation Division made Su Qiao freeze. She took a few more hurried bites of the apple, swallowing back the news about her reinstatement.

She didn’t want her grandmother to worry about her job anymore, so like a child caught misbehaving, she quickly wrapped her arms around her grandmother’s waist and whined, “Don’t say such unlucky things! You’re still strong and healthy!”

This family had dwindled down to just the two of them, grandmother and granddaughter, relying on each other.

Su Qiao wasn’t afraid of death, but she dreaded being left alone in this world.