Zhao Siming's question hit Xiao Chen like salt poured on an open wound.
He thought being reborn would let him flip fate, rise above tragedy, and crush his enemies.But reality slapped him before he even stepped onto the stage—actually, crushed him under a two-hundred-pound woman.
So much for protagonist advantage.So much for rebirth privilege.Fate really had a sense of humor.
Of course, the fat lady didn't mean it.And Xiao Chen, as a "broad-minded protagonist," wouldn't blame an innocent passerby.
Instead, he blamed—
"Alex Lin! It's all because of him!" Xiao Chen hissed.
Zhao Siming blinked. "Alex Lin? The guy who called me? What does he have to do with this? The doctor told me he brought you here and even paid your medical bills. Good people like that are rare!"
Xiao Chen glared.His senior brother had been sold and was counting the money for the one who sold him.
In their previous life, Zhao Siming had been outmaneuvered, fired, and forced to leave the Song Medical Group.Xiao Chen didn't blame him, though.
He had been reborn.Zhao Siming hadn't.
"You don't know how cunning he is," Xiao Chen whispered darkly. "He hides his intelligence, pretends to be a spoiled rich brat, waits until everyone relaxes, and then strikes like thunder. Not dirty tricks—strategic traps. He stands on the moral high ground while destroying you."
Xiao Chen's voice trembled with old hatred.
"In the last life, my career vanished. My brothers were ruined. Even the woman I loved left me for him…"
He clenched his fists."Don't be fooled by his face, Senior Brother. Go ask around—he's the heir of the Lin family. A spoiled second-generation rich kid. He cannot be a good man."
Zhao Siming frowned. "Is that true?"
"Why would I lie to you? The man is rotten to the core." Xiao Chen grit his teeth. "But enough about that. I called you here to heal me."
He exhaled shakily.
"I have three broken ribs. They say I need two months to recover. I can't wait that long. Senior Brother, I need you to use the Ghost Valley Divine Needle and restore me quickly."
Zhao Siming straightened proudly. "Junior Brother, you came to the right person. With my skills, you'll be walking within a week!"
Xiao Chen's eyes lit up. "Senior Brother… have you mastered the Seventh Needle?"
Zhao Siming smiled mysteriously. "The Ghost Valley Divine Needle has nine techniques. First to relieve pain, second to expel cold, third to reduce fever, fourth to stop bleeding, fifth to regenerate flesh, sixth to nourish organs, seventh to mend bone, eighth to recall the soul, ninth to pull life from death."
He tapped his bag of needles.
"I have reached the seventh. Bone-mending. Under my needle, a hundred-day injury heals in days."
Xiao Chen's heart surged with hope."Excellent. Treat me now. Lin Alex, just wait. Once I recover, I will make you pay!"
Zhao Siming heated a silver needle over a flame."Bear with the pain."
"I survived last night. This is nothing."
"Good. Here I go."
He thrust the needle—
It didn't pierce.
Frowned, he tried again.
Still didn't pierce.
Junior Brother, did you somehow cultivate inner power?"
"Do I look like I've had time for that?" Xiao Chen snapped. "My skin just… became tough. Try harder!"
"Alright."
Zhao Siming stabbed harder.The needle bent.
He switched needles.Bent again.
He gritted his teeth."I refuse to believe this!"
He grabbed his thickest needle, braced both hands, and stabbed with full strength.
His foot slipped—
He fell.
Xiao Chen tensed. "Senior Brother?"
Zhao Siming went pale. "It went in."
Xiao Chen blinked. "Why don't I feel anything?"
"It went into me!"
Zhao Siming clutched his backside, wailing.
"It hurts! It hurts! Ah—!"
Xiao Chen stared at him.
Silence.
Truly fate was mocking him.