009. Today is your eighteenth birthday

In the evening, Lin Wu received a call from Grandfather Lin.

"Wuwu, I heard from the previous Doctor Fang that you found a new doctor for Grandpa," Grandfather Lin said.

At that time, Lin Wu was in the study, browsing the new information sent by Zheng Qi on her tablet, humming in response while looking at it.

Doctor Fang was the previous chief physician, and since Grandfather Lin was later taken over by Bo Yuting, he no longer took responsibility for Grandfather Lin and simply informed him about the change.

"I haven't met this Doctor Bo yet, but I heard from Doctor Fang that Doctor Bo is very skilled, an expert invited from Beijing. That must have cost a lot of money, right? Did you spend all the money Grandpa gave you on the card?" Grandfather Lin asked with concern.

He had given Lin Wu that card hoping she would use it for university.

If it was spent on finding him a doctor, how could Lin Wu afford university? She certainly couldn't work part-time; how would she focus on studying then? Lin Wu's grades were always the best, and it should not be delayed.

So, Grandfather Lin pleaded earnestly, "Wuwu, you really don't need to worry about Grandpa. Your parents will find a doctor for me. Look, Doctor Fang they previously chose was very good, wasn't he? Just let Doctor Fang continue treating me."

Upon hearing this, Lin Wu glanced at the bank card Grandfather Lin had given her.

In fact, ever since Grandfather Lin was hospitalized, Lin Shenghai and Fang Ruling had only paid some of the hospitalization fees but had not contributed any more money, even thinking that it was the hospital's duty to provide treatment by Doctor Fang for that amount of money.

Latterly, they stopped paying the hospitalization fees altogether.

Seeing that the hospital did not press for payment or hurry Grandfather Lin away, they took it for granted that Grandpa was hiding a large savings from them and didn't need their help at all.

This was something Lin Shenghai and Fang Ruling discussed in the corridor outside the ward, which Doctor Fang happened to overhear and subsequently reported to Lin Wu.

Lin Wu had intended to tell Grandfather Lin directly, but every time she called, she always heard Grandfather Lin nostalgically speak of the Lin Family members who were always too busy to visit him in the hospital.

After hearing this over and over, Lin Wu couldn't bring herself to tell Grandfather Lin about the actions of the Lin Family members.

Considering this, Lin Wu took a photo of the bank card and sent it to Grandfather Lin, saying, "The card is still here, I haven't spent the money inside. Grandpa, your medical bills have been paid up front, so the hospital will naturally do their best to treat you. It just so happens he is a new expert, so the hospital let him have a try."

"You really didn't spend the money?" Grandfather Lin asked, still not reassured.

Lin Wu hummed in agreement.

Only then did Grandfather Lin feel at ease, "That's good then. Wuwu, you must not touch the money Grandpa gave you; use it to complete your university education. If only... Grandpa could see you go to university with his own eyes."

Lin Wu cast her eyes down, "It will happen."

She had already made her plans.

In a month's time, if Grandpa's condition showed no signs of improvement under Bo Yuting, she would arrange for Grandpa to be transferred to a hospital in Beijing.

With more specialists in Beijing, there was bound to be a way to keep Grandpa hanging on until she could bring in Doctor Yang from the medical organization. Besides, travel between Beijing and R Continent was convenient and time-saving.

Grandfather Lin said with relief, "Actually, it's not important whether or not I see it. As long as you make yourself proud by getting into a prestigious university in Beijing, knowing that you will have a bright future would be enough for me to die without regrets."

Lin Wu frowned, "Grandpa, you're not going to die."

Grandfather Lin chuckled, "Silly girl, who doesn't die? Alright, I won't bother you anymore. Continue your work, but remember not to pull an all-nighter, and get to bed early."

Lin Wu hummed silently in response.

After hanging up the phone, Lin Wu looked at the information on her tablet, her brows deeply furrowed.

This was the result of the investigation that Zheng Qi conducted for her last night about the owner of the neighboring villa, number 32.

According to the information, the original owner of villa number 32 was not Bo Yuting at all, but an elderly couple who had moved abroad half a month ago.

This meant that Bo Yuting had only bought the villa half a month ago.

And when she decided to return to Beicheng and bought this villa, it was around the same time.

She thought of her grandfather and pursed her lips, but still opened Bo Yuting's WeChat to send him a message, first to ask him to do his best to treat her grandfather, and second to ask him to keep the medical fee a secret from her grandfather. Whatever the cost, she said to come directly to her.

Regardless of whether her acquaintance with Bo Yuting was truly a coincidence, whether he had come because of the issue that she had been investigating, right now the most important thing was her grandfather's illness.

Now, she only had her grandfather as family.

"Ding", a message alert brought Lin Wu's attention back.

Lin Wu was momentarily stunned by the new message that popped up in the chat box.

[Come out, I'm outside the door.]

Lin Wu looked out of the window, furrowed her brows, took her phone, and went downstairs to find Bo Yuting standing outside the front gate. In the night, there were a few twinkling lights before him, like those of candles, casting faint shadows of something he held in his hands.

She walked over, puzzled, and as she got closer, she could see clearly what was in Bo Yuting's hands, and she stopped dead in her tracks.

Outside the door, the man's handsome face was distinctly visible, framed by the candlelight.

He chuckled softly, his chin tilted up towards the fruit cake he had brought, and said, "I was looking over your grandfather's files this evening, and I noticed that his family column only listed you, and it had your birthdate, which is today."

Lin Wu stared at him.

"Since you won't let me pay back my debt by treating your grandfather and insist on settling the doctor's fee, I thought about it and there was no other way for Bo to express this small gesture and defer repaying the debt for now."

"I wasn't sure what flavor of cake you liked. But with your personality, I guessed you might find cream too greasy, chocolate too bitter, and anything else too sweet or too fancy."

"This fruit cake is just right, give it a try for my sake, hmm?"

Bo Yuting looked through the yard gate at Lin Wu, his voice was especially gentle and deep.

Lin Wu's eyelids drooped slightly, her hand at her side tightened.

Birthday…

She had forgotten.

The Lin Family didn't know.

Her grandfather didn't have the habit of celebrating birthdays.

This was the first time she could remember, and it was from someone who, not long ago, she had suspected as a stranger.

Lin Wu closed her eyes, then looked straight at Bo Yuting, and said calmly, "Did you see the message I sent you?"

Bo Yuting's eyes paused for a moment, then he nodded and made an acknowledging sound.

Lin Wu asked, "Can you do it? You decide the doctor's fee."

For a moment, Bo Yuting wasn't sure what to say. After a while, he said mockingly, "Of course, anything for the birthday girl. But are you sure you don't want to blow out the candles and make a wish first? Who knows, what you wish for might come true."

Lin Wu replied indifferently, "Thank you for the cake, but I never celebrate my birthday, and I don't like cake."

Bo Yuting was taken aback and said, "But today is your eighteenth birthday, the day you become an adult..."

"It's the same." Lin Wu interrupted him, "It's getting late, Doctor Bo, you should go back and rest with your injury."

Having said that, Lin Wu turned and went back to the house.