When Du Heng finished speaking, Wu Shengnan's father froze for a moment. Ever since Du Heng had last explained the reason the eldest son and his wife weren't having children, they knew it wasn't their daughter-in-law's fault but their own son's problem. They also learned that their eldest son had been undergoing treatment, but the effects were poor. So, when they heard Du Heng was treating their son, they were hopeful but, given past experiences, didn't allow their expectations to soar. After all, the greater the hope, the greater the disappointment. This family had excellent emotional control.

But now, with Du Heng's words, Wu Shengnan's father couldn't help but feel excited. After a pause of three to five seconds, he asked eagerly, "Is my son's health better now?"

Du Heng smiled faintly. "Almost. There's no major issue anymore. In early July, I checked on Big Brother and told them they could start trying for a child. It's been a month since then, so I'm not sure what the outcome is yet."

For the first time, Wu Shengnan's father lost his composure in front of Du Heng, his excitement palpable as his hands rubbed together ceaselessly. "That rascal! He still hasn't told the family." Though his words were a complaint, the old man couldn't hide the joy in his voice.

After speaking, Wu Shengnan's father looked at Du Heng with deep appreciation. "You're a good kid, truly a lucky star for our family. You saved Sir, you saved Nannan's leg, and you treated my elder son's condition. Now, I still need your help. I truly don't know how to thank you enough."

Seeing his father-in-law's sincere expression, Du Heng wasn't sure if he was being entirely truthful, but since they were about to become family, he decided to take his words at face value.

Du Heng then said earnestly, "Uncle, it's kind of you to say, but you're the one who raised such an excellent daughter. She's not only knowledgeable and sensible but also very respectful to Big Brother and Sister-in-law. She genuinely cares for my niece and nephew too. And you, Sir, Auntie, and Big Brother and Sister-in-law have never looked down on me, a poor boy from the village, and were willing to marry such an outstanding daughter to me. It is I who should be thanking all of you."

Whether Du Heng's words were entirely heartfelt or not, they certainly resonated positively with Wu Shengnan's father. His pleasure was evident on his face, but he refrained from further sentimentalities. Instead, he glanced at his watch and said, "It's almost time. Come with me."

"Alright, Uncle," Du Heng agreed readily, standing up and waiting for Wu Shengnan's father to lead the way.

They were headed to an old-looking residential complex. Upon entering, the environment became quiet. The area was filled with low-rise buildings, and the landscaping was even better than a public park's. Wu Shengnan's father led the way without offering any explanations, and Du Heng didn't ask, merely glancing around casually before focusing on following his father-in-law respectfully.

Soon, Du Heng was led into a home. Upon entering, he saw that the living room was packed with people. 𝒇𝒓𝙚𝒆𝔀𝓮𝓫𝒏𝓸𝙫𝓮𝓵.𝓬𝙤𝙢

However, among them, Du Heng immediately recognized the patient he was there to see, primarily due to the patient's strikingly distinct features.

The patient's emaciated frame looked as if it held no flesh at all, merely skin and bones. His sunken cheeks and high, prominent cheekbones made his eye sockets appear exceptionally large, giving him a somewhat terrifying appearance at first glance. What caused Du Heng to frown most, however, was the patient's waxy, sallow complexion—a yellow so pronounced it was startling: jaundice!

Involuntarily, Du Heng glanced at his father-in-law. Was this mid-stage liver cancer? Was this a patient who hadn't received any treatment? Du Heng mused. With this appearance, he wouldn't believe it if someone told him the patient hadn't undergone chemotherapy at least three times.

Suddenly, Du Heng felt that his usually reliable father-in-law seemed very unreliable at this moment. For a fleeting second, he even had the disquieting thought that the old man was setting him up.

However, when Wu Shengnan's father spoke, Du Heng realized he had judged a gentleman by his own petty standards and felt acutely embarrassed by his misjudgment.

As soon as Wu Shengnan's father entered, he also saw the patient in the middle of the sofa and immediately frowned, taking two steps forward. "Old Bai, it's only been three or four days since we last met. How have you changed so much?"

The patient on the sofa attempted a smile. At any rate, given his withered cheeks, only a slight upward turn of his lips was visible. "Hey, I don't know why, but it suddenly got worse these past two days. It's nothing. Sit down, let's chat while sitting."

At this moment, a man beside the patient, appearing to be around Wu Shengnan's father's age, said with a frown, "How can you still say it's 'nothing'? The condition has deteriorated rapidly. In the past five days, the cancer cells have spread several times faster than before. My opinion is that he must be hospitalized immediately for monitored treatment. We should use special medicine to suppress the spread of cancer cells while concurrently employing chemotherapy and biotherapy to buy time. As soon as a suitable liver source is found, a liver transplant surgery should be performed."

Then, a bald man sitting next to this middle-aged man also chimed in, "The ineffectiveness of conservative treatment is clear now. Not only was it useless, but it also accelerated the progression of his condition. Therefore, I also agree with Professor Wang's opinion: he needs to be hospitalized immediately."