chapter 5 It's not your turn here ===

"I can take on the world myself, lad, and no one can save you." Eddie Zou roared, "In Fengling City, I decide who lives and who dies."
"Fengling City is not yours to rule." The door swung open, and Adolf Lin walked in with a group of bodyguards.
A large group of men crowded the room, making it packed like sardines. Bulges at their waists suggested they were armed with guns.
"Master Lin?" Eddie Zou was dumbfounded, forgetting the pain in his hand.
"Clear the room. The Dynasty Club is closed for the day," Adolf Lin commanded in a deep voice.
"Yes, sir." One bodyguard quickly left.
"Mr. Chen, I'll handle the situation here." Adolf Lin bowed slightly to Thorpe Chen, then turned to Eddie Zou, "Eddie Zou, have you grown tired of living?"
"Master Lin, who is he?" Eddie Zou hesitated, then bravely asked.
The Lin family of Fengling is one of the four major families, with deep roots and substantial wealth.
Rumours have it that Lin's family supports him, which he never denied. Over the years, he's taken advantage of their influence, but he knows he has no real connection with the Lin family.
Given Adolf Lin's status, even the mayor of Fengling would show him respect. Yet Adolf came personally today, for a gambler?
"He is an honoured guest of the Lin family, Eddie Zou. I have all the evidence of your illegal activities over the years: drug trafficking, arms dealing, forcing women into prostitution." Adolf Lin presented some documents. "Do you think you'd still be alive if I handed these over?"
"Master Lin, what do you mean? We've always stayed out of each other's way," Eddie Zou's vision began to blur.
Given the Lin family's influence, if they said they have evidence against him, they indeed do. Not to mention their power in Fengling, the second master of the Lin family holds great power at the border. Killing Eddie would be easy.
"He holds my father's life in his hands. Can you guess why?" Adolf Lin said coldly, "If you don't want to die, then you'd better know what to do."
With a wave of his hand, Adolf's men stepped forward, weapons drawn and aimed at Eddie Zou. Several men were thrown into the room, all of Eddie's men from the club were beaten and lying on the floor.
"Master Lin, I didn't know he was your honoured guest. Please, spare me!" Facing the threatening weapons, cold sweat dripped from Eddie Zou's forehead.
The situation was clear. Adolf Lin didn't need to turn in the evidence. Killing Eddie Zou would only take a moment.
"I don't think it's that simple," Adolf Lin smirked.
Eddie Zou clenched his teeth and knelt down, knowing his only way out was to swallow his pride. Otherwise, he wouldn't leave the club alive.
"Whether or not you get a chance depends on Mr. Chen." Adolf Lin turned to Thorpe, "Mr. Chen, what do you think?"
"It's not a big deal," Thorpe Chen frowned, "But he touched my wife. Break one of his arms as a lesson for him to learn, so that he won't forget."
"Aren't you going to thank Mr. Chen?" Adolf Lin ordered.
"Thank you, Mr. Chen. Thank you." Eddie Zou repeatedly knocked his head on the floor, then took a golf club, placed one hand on the table, gritted his teeth, and violently hit himself.
With a crack, Eddie Zou broke his own arm, biting back screams of pain, sweat pouring from his brow.
"Mr. Chen, regarding my father's illness, I beg you not to intervene." Adolf Lin breathed a sigh of relief, just hoping Thorpe Chen wasn't angry.
"The illness is not a major issue. You go home first. I'll take my wife home and then we'll discuss," Thorpe Chen said.
Thorpe Chen checked Gloria Ye's pulse and found her and the unborn child were fine, which eased his worry.
After some thought, he pressed her forehead several times.
Already exhausted, Gloria Ye quickly fell into a deep sleep.
"She's been working and working overtime even while pregnant. She's truly exhausted. I'll help her relax and get some sleep," Thorpe Chen thought.
"Mr. Chen, your wife seems to have been traumatized. How about this: I can arrange a premium room for her at the Dawn Hospital, so she can rest and recover for a few days?" Adolf Lin suggested.
"That sounds good," Thorpe Chen considered for a moment, "Our home isn't ideal. Gloria does need some rest."
“Arrange it immediately.” Adolf Lin said.
“Yes.” One bodyguard stepped forward and bowed. Several bodyguards brought a stretcher, taking Gloria Ye away.
Arriving at the hospital, Thorpe Chen laid Gloria Ye on the bed. She was exhausted and Thorpe Chen helped her sleep. She would probably sleep for a long time. After tucking her in, Thorpe Chen left the room to visit Mr. Lin's ward.
Just as he walked out, a voice called out, “Thorpe Chen?”
Thorpe Chen turned around and saw a man and a woman standing behind him. He didn’t recognize the man, but the woman was his wife’s cousin, Carina Wang.
“Cousin, it’s you,” Thorpe Chen was a bit surprised. Because of him, Gloria Ye and her maternal family rarely had contact, and he hadn't communicated with these relatives for a long time.
“Thorpe Chen, what are you doing here? Do you know where you are?” Carina Wang, upon confirming his identity, took on a condescending demeanour.
“Your cousin is recuperating here,” Thorpe Chen replied calmly.
“My boyfriend, Jason Wang,” Carina Wang laughed, “Honey, this is the Thorpe Chen I told you about, my cousin-in-law.”
“The one you said who wasted all his family’s fortune on gambling and games after graduating from medical school and then cut ties with his family?” Jason Wang said, feigning sudden realization.
“Exactly. My sister stopped communicating with our family because of him. Thorpe Chen, what did you just say? Your wife is recuperating here?” Carina Wang asked in surprise.
“Yes,” Thorpe Chen nodded.
“Hahaha, I haven’t seen you in years, and you’ve become quite the braggart. Thorpe Chen, this is the best and most expensive private hospital in Fengling City.”
“Staying in a regular room here costs tens of thousands per day. These high-end VIP wards start at ten thousand per day. Can you afford that? Are you eligible?”
“I…” Thorpe Chen was somewhat speechless. Given his past, it was normal for these relatives to look down on him.
“What? Did I say something wrong? In the end, it's my poor cousin's fate to marry such a loser like you.”
“My Jason is different. His family runs a company. When my mom got sick, he immediately arranged for her to be in the VIP section here. He also contacted the famous Ghost Doctor Sam Xu from Sheng City. Doctor Xu will personally examine my mom later.”
Carina Wang said with a mocking face, showcasing her superiority. In her eyes, Thorpe Chen was utterly worthless.
“Carina, don’t poke at people’s sore spots,” Jason Wang laughed, “Let him brag in peace, okay?”
“I can’t understand why my cousin chose someone like you,” Carina Wang sneered.
“Carina, rest assured, I'll make her happy in the future,” Thorpe Chen responded seriously.
“Happy? Haha, stop joking, Thorpe Chen. A leopard can't change its spots. Even if you change, what can you do? Can you earn money? Can you give my cousin happiness?”
“She's pregnant and her health isn’t good. Can you afford for her to stay in such a luxurious ward? Can you get the famous Ghost Doctor from Sheng City Hospital to ensure her pregnancy is safe?”
“Gloria is staying right here. If you don’t believe it, that’s fine. I don’t need to prove anything to you,” Thorpe Chen replied with a furrowed brow, not wanting to continue this conversation.
“Here? Haha, stop bragging. These rooms that start with the number 8 are the special care sections of the high-end wards. These are reserved for VIPs. Even if you had the money, you might not be able to get in.”
Jason Wang looked mockingly at Thorpe Chen, who, in his view, was becoming more and more ridiculous.
At that moment, the door to room 866 behind Thorpe Chen opened, and a somewhat panicked Gloria Ye walked out.
“Honey, why am I in a hospital? What happened?”
“Cousin, you... you're really staying here?” Carina Wang was stunned. “How is this possible? How can you two afford a room here?”
But indeed, the VIP patient uniform that Gloria Ye was wearing, and the special care staff following closely behind her, were undeniable.