The person who had pressed the doorbell was her black bodyguard. She also had a visitor— Tamao Takeda.

“Miss Joanna, I would like to invite you to dinner. I don't know if you would be happy to accept my invitation.” Tamao Takeda was speaking very politely. He was wearing a smile on his face, making one unable to reject him.

But Joanna said, “Sorry, I'm having supper with my friend here.”

If it had been any other time, she would probably have accepted Tamao Takeda's invitation. After all, Tamao Takeda was a man of some importance. But right now her heart was thinking only of fruits like coconuts and papayas. She was in no mood to attend a banquet.

Tamao Takeda's gaze stared beyond Joanna and landed on Ning Tao at the dining table. For a moment, his stare was cold and hard. But he still maintained that gentle, affectionate smile on his face. “I was wondering if Doctor Ning is around. I would like to have dinner with Doctor Ning too. Would you be willing to join us, Doctor Ning?”

Ning Tao stood up by the table and smiled. “Deeply honored. Thank you.”

When Joanna saw Ning Tao say this, she nodded. “Let me change first. We will go with you.”

Tamao Takeda bowed slightly. “I will be waiting for the two of you at the VIP restaurant on the uppermost floor.” Once he finished his words, he turned and left.

Joanna stretched out her hand and closed the door. She walked towards Ning Tao with a smile on her face. “I thought you would reject him. Because I could see this guy wasn't polite to you when I came. So why did you accept his invitation?”

“There's a woman with him called Lin Qingyu. She's my friend. She might be in danger here and I would like to see her,” Ning Tao explained. He did not hide anything.

“I see. I'm going to change now.” Joanna took two steps and turned back her head with a smile. “Speak up if you have anything you'd like my help.”

Ning Tao smiled and nodded. But he was feeling a headache inside. Joanna was so nice to him partly because he had cured Barnes, but mainly because he had agreed to augment her b.r.e.a.s.t.s. But her small b.r.e.a.s.t.s were no illness. He was trying to find a way to help her, but had not made any headway. Yet he had agreed to help her. If he failed, wouldn't it be a terrible embarra.s.sment?

Joanna had entered her room and locked her door.

After a few minutes, she was still not yet out. Ning Tao decided to sit down on the sofa and try to come up with a “treatment.” He thought of Sacred Needles. But they had only two uses: one, to treat illnesses and two, to kill. Her small b.r.e.a.s.t.s were no illness. Even if he had p.r.i.c.ked her 100 times with those needles, it would only leave her with 100 pinp.r.i.c.ks!

Then he thought of the delicate perfumed cream. Its main use was to remove scars. But her b.r.e.a.s.t.s were only small— there were no knife or bullet scars on them. Using the delicate perfumed cream could only make her skin fairer. It would not be able to enlarge her b.r.e.a.s.t.s.

Try the Sky Clinic shortcut? If she entered, would the good-evil tripod show a grimace? Obviously, this was no solution too.

He mulled and could not come up with any solution. In the end, Ning Tao opened his little medicine chest frustratedly. There are plenty of odds and ends there: the ledger of bamboo slips, Sacred Needles, the Soil-seeking Inkstone, the Mauser pistol, a few porcelain vials, ordinary prescriptions drawn with a blood lock…

Ning Tao's eyes finally landed on the paper talismans. Instantly, a bell tolled in his mind. An inspiration had descended from the heavens!

These were plucking talismans, both the correct version and the erroneous one.

Ning Tao's heart was feeling agitated. “The correct plucking talisman can relieve stagnated blood, toxins and bullets. The erroneous version can undress a person. I did not recite any incantation or use my spiritual power when undressing Qing Zhui. I merely pulled her clothes off casually with my hand. Is it possible for me to pull out Joanne's small b.r.e.a.s.t.s, by reciting an incantation after injecting spiritual power?”

No one knew whether it would succeed. But it was the only method worth trying.

“I can get Qing Zhui to try and pull out her b.r.e.a.s.t.s for her… No, no… hers are already large enough, quite perfect. Any bigger and they will be oversized… How about Bai Jing? I would rather run away than provoke her. But hers are also quite big…” He had settled on the method, but a whole farrago of thoughts started to clutter his mind as he visualized the possible outcomes.

The door opened and Joanna emerged from the room. She was in a pair of tight-fitting black skirt and a white, short-sleeved blouse. Below her blouse, one-third of her thighs were exposed in the air. She was like an artistic figurine sculpted out of ivory. Her tight-fitting clothes showed off her slender, lovely curves— all perfect except for her b.r.e.a.s.t.s.

Joanna's expression on her face seemed quite awkward. “Tao, I have run into some trouble.”

Ning Tao asked curiously, “What's wrong?”

Joanna said, “The zipper on the back of my skirt has got caught. Please help me pull it up.”

Ning Tao was rendered quite speechless. But still he went over to behind Joanna. He saw the troublesome zipper, caught in the white combed cotton fabric. Beneath it was all fair skin and an indistinct Y shape. But he was only embarra.s.sed for a brief moment. Soon, he resumed his equanimity. He stretched out his hand and tugged gingerly at the zipper, pulling it down a little. Then, he pulled the zipper up again.

He had already mastered the art of supreme forbearance before Qing Zhui's body. So what if she should show a little flesh?

The VIP restaurant on the top floor was quite empty. A few people were sitting by a long dining table. On either side of the table were six or seven standing chefs. There were also several food trolleys around.

Except for Tamao Takeda, Lin Qingyu did not recognize any of them. Suddenly, she wanted very much to see that face which could offer her security. But almost instantaneously, she remembered that pair of hanging green panties and bra. She felt jealous, as if she had upset a bottle of vinegar.

“Miss Lin.” Tamao Takeda broke the silence at the table. “When my men went to invite Doctor Ning and Miss Joanna, the two of them were having a meal together. But they have agreed to join us for dinner. Don't be anxious.”

Lin Qingyu said, sulking, “It doesn't matter to me, his presence.”

A barely perceptible smile arose to Tamao Takeda's lips. He continued, “I didn't expect Doctor Ning and Miss Joanna to be such close friends. Miss Joanna was having liquor with Doctor Ning in a negligee.”

Lin Qingyu instantly furrowed her brows. She was already feeling quite upset. His words made her even more unhappy.

A woman started to speak. “Doctor Ning is a man we can't understand. But his medical skills are amazing.”

Lin Qingyu glanced at the woman. She did not know her.

Tamao Takeda introduced them. “Miss Lin, let me introduce you to Madam Zhu Hongqin, the vice director of Grand Dream Company. She is representing Grand Dream Company in the upcoming Asian Technological Forum.”

Zhu Hongqin smiled and nodded at Lin Qingyu.

Lin Qingyu picked up her wretched mood and greeted her. “Pleased to know you, Madam Zhu.”

Tamao Takeda's finger pointed at a bald white man sitting below him. “This is the senior engineer of the American Gerton Company, Mr. Hanks. He, too, is here to attend the Asian Technological Forum.”

Lin Qingyu greeted Hanks too. After a round of introductions, she realized that everyone at this table was a big shot. She also knew Tamao Takeda was the reason why she could get acquainted with these important personages, in a small place like Shan City. One's circle of friends and acquaintances is very important in business.

After Tamao Takeda's introduction, Hanks from the major silicon chip company started to speak. “Mr. Takeda, why have you invited a doctor here? We're discussing the Asian Technological Forum, which is starting tomorrow. Our topics of discussion will revolve around technology. I'm afraid he might be bored.”

Zhu Hongqin said, “Believe me, Mr. Hanks, he is no an ordinary doctor.”

Lin Qingyu added, “Doctor Ning also came at the invitation of Mr. Bai Sheng. He too will be attending the Asian Technological Forum tomorrow.”

Hanks showed a slightly exaggerated expression. “I didn't know a technological forum will send out invitations to doctors. Suddenly, I feel quite disappointed in this upcoming forum. I don't know who else the organizers might have invited. Couldn't be some cab drivers or construction workers, could it?”

He was obviously speaking contemptuously. But everyone at the table merely listened and a few even smiled. Only Lin Qingyu was made somewhat uncomfortable by his remark.

Some white people felt an innate superiority in their bones. They looked down on colored people. To them, no one of a different skin color could do anything right. Even their respiration was wrong.

Just at this moment, a waiter pushed open the j.a.panese-styled door. Ning Tao and Joanna appeared by the door.

Tamao Takeda rose from his dining table and went to them, his face wreathed with affectionate smiles. “Miss Joanna and Doctor Ning, please come in.”

Ning Tao and Joanna took off their shoes and went in.

Lin Qingyu watched Ning Tao and Joanna by his side. The expression in her eyes was very complex. She could not understand why a beautiful woman would always be at Ning Tao's side. Even Barnes's daughter, Joanna, had had liquor with him in a negligee. Wasn't he just a little too attractive to women?

But she had forgotten something. Wasn't she also attracted by Ning Tao's unique personality, remarkable medical skills, and handsome, sunny demeanor? Besides, he also carried with him a mysterious air.

As soon as he entered, Ning Tao's sight landed on Zhu Hongqin's face. He could remember clearly that Bai Sheng had abducted her and then set her free. Now she had appeared at Tamao Takeda's dining table. Had she been given some job by Bai Sheng?

Zhu Hongqin avoided Ning Tao's eyes.

Tamao Takeda brought a chair for Joanna to his side. But there was no place for Ning Tao. No one knew if he had done this intentionally. But Ning Tao did not mind. He picked an empty chair and sat down on it.

After sitting down, Ning Tao s.h.i.+fted his gaze to Lin Qingyu.

Lin Qingyu was glaring at him.

Ning Tao smiled to her in return. Then, he summoned the states of looking and smelling in his eyes and nose…