Chapter Twelve: Boss, You Can't Kill This Zhang Fan!

“Is your hospital crazy? Just a few simple stitches and you’re charging me seven hundred and eighty thousand? In dollars, no less?”
“Even scalpers don’t gouge prices this way!”
“This is outright madness!”

Right after John’s surgery, the bill arrived at their home.
A staggering $780,000 — how much would that be in yuan?
At the current exchange rate, nearly six million!

The hospital’s receptionist responded with a chillingly indifferent tone:
“If you can’t afford it, then don’t get treated! Don’t come to America!”
“No money? Tell your husband to have the surgery! Fuck you, bitch!”

Liu Yan trembled with rage, grinding her teeth.
“Although John was seriously injured, in China, a surgery like this would only cost a few thousand yuan.”
“Besides, with medical insurance, at least fifty percent of the surgery fees can be waived, and for rural residents, the waiver is even higher.”
“How could the U.S. be more expensive than China?”

Wasn’t medical treatment supposed to be free in the States?
Liu Yan’s face turned ashen.
If they had to pay this bill, from the twenty million yuan cash she just got in hand, six million would be gone in an instant!
What would happen if they faced a serious illness in the future?
Even if they sold all their shared assets and Wang Hao’s property, this was simply unimaginable — a bottomless pit!

Liu Yan finally understood why there were so many homeless people she saw when she went grocery shopping that morning.
The so-called middle class goes bankrupt at the slightest trouble!

The other side sneered.
“Oh? Then go back to China for treatment!”
“By the way, this only covers your husband’s ICU stay and surgery fees — ambulance fees aren’t included.”
“It’s 1,200 yuan per kilometer from your husband’s residence to our hospital, totaling 84,000 yuan.”

Gasp!
Liu Yan’s eyes widened.
It really was over six million!
How long could she squander that amount back home?

Her back turned cold. Just as she was about to argue, John’s voice came through.
“Yan, don’t you have money? If not, I’ll pay the bill.”

Hearing this, Liu Yan’s face changed drastically.
She had told John when they married that she had assets worth one hundred million yuan.
Now, her political asylum application had just been filed, her green card hadn’t arrived yet, and she wasn’t officially married to John.
If John found out she had deceived him, he might angrily send her back to China.

First, the moment she got off the plane, she tore up her passport and ID!
Now she was stateless and couldn’t return at all.
Second, she had already posted on social media!
Many friends and relatives back home had blocked her.
Even if she could go back, would she let them laugh at her?

No!
She had to pay this bill!

Liu Yan bit her lip.
“Darling, just focus on your treatment in the hospital.”

“Don’t worry about any expenses. I’ll take care of everything!”

John said a few more words before hanging up.
Liu Yan collapsed onto the couch, her eyes red, on the verge of tears.
Over six million!

If she were in China traveling around, six million yuan would last a long time.
For the first time, Liu Yan regretted coming to America.
No wonder medical staff here make so much money — it’s all from the hard-earned money of ordinary people.
No wonder in American dramas, ordinary folks have to start saving as soon as they have a child.
When faced with serious illness and no money, they can only watch people die.

And this was just surgery!
Not even cancer or something worse...
My God!

Still, she posted the medical bill to her social circle, typing with a heavy heart:
“As expected of America, just as netizens said — a $780,000 bill, but 99% reimbursable!”

Suddenly, those who had never been to America flooded the comments and likes, numbering in the hundreds.
Seeing so many admiring remarks, Liu Yan felt a little comforted.
As for those who knew the truth and cursed her, she blocked them one by one.

She took out her bank card and transferred the payment to the hospital.

Elsewhere,
“That idiot.”

Zhang Fan glanced at Liu Yan’s social media post, nearly laughing from anger.
What a misleading person.
He had been to America many times.
During a six-month business trip, he had witnessed an American attending a conference who fainted from low blood sugar.
When he tried to call an ambulance, the moment the American heard the word “ambulance,” he immediately perked up!
He stood up right away!

Zhang Fan was dumbfounded.
The word “ambulance” was like adrenaline to that guy.
He insisted no ambulance was needed because one trip started at two thousand dollars, and the farther the distance, the higher the cost.
Most hospitals there were private, not government-run.
Meaning, they charged whatever they wanted.
Is the treatment cost higher than market price?
Sue them if you want, but you’ll be tied up in legal procedures for years — they’ll drag you out!

Sitting across from Zhang Fan, Zhu Qing’an stared at him curiously, hearing him curse.
“Brother Zhang, what’s wrong?”
“Something bothering you?”

Zhang Fan briefly explained the situation.
Zhu Qing’an frowned, gently took Zhang Fan’s hand, her face full of sympathy.
“Brother Zhang, you really didn’t deserve this.”
“Thirteen years of effort, only to raise a white-eyed wolf.”

“We have companies in America too. It’s not as great as she claims. I don’t know what her intentions are!”

Zhang Fan shrugged.
“I know her well enough. The moment she saw the bill, she must have been wracked with regret.”
“But she’s also full of pride and loves to show off, so she posted on social media to comfort herself with lies.”
“Don’t bother with her. By the way, Xiao An, you’ve really changed a lot.”

He looked Zhu Qing’an up and down with admiration.
Zhu Qing’an, already nervous before Zhang Fan, nearly spilled her tea as he scrutinized her.
Her face flushed, like the rising sun or evening glow.

“It’s not that much,” she stammered.
“I’m just an ordinary girl.”

Zhang Fan laughed.
“Ordinary? We’re the same age, but I look all worn out.”
“You still look like a girl in her twenties. With that face and figure, you could easily be a star.”

Zhu Qing’an stuck out her tongue.
“No way!”
“Brother Zhang, don’t flatter me, I’m shy.”

Zhang Fan glanced at her hand holding his.
“If you’re shy, why are you holding on to me?”

At this, Zhu Qing’an felt as if she’d been shocked, quickly letting go.
Her bashful expression was like a budding flower, making Zhang Fan smile silently.

“Xiao An, you haven’t dated anyone yet, have you?”

“Ah, I-I have, really!”

“Oh?”

“I, I...”

Zhu Qing’an nearly burst into tears.
She didn’t want Zhang Fan to see her as some clueless, naive girl.
She might not have dated much, but she didn’t want to show weakness!

Zhang Fan just smiled without saying a word.
They talked about memories from middle and high school.

Meanwhile, in secret,
An assassin sent by Ye Long to kill Zhang Fan looked grim.
He took out his phone, voice low and tense.

“Boss, that Zhang Fan is not simple. He can’t be killed.”

On the other end was a rough, angry male voice.

“He’s just some lousy delivery guy. I’ve already dug up everything on him. You’re telling me he’s not simple? Can’t be killed? You’re talking bullshit! If you can’t do it, then get lost!”

The assassin bit his lip, terrified.
“Boss, I’m not lying. Do you know who he’s sitting with?”

Ye Long calmed a bit but was still displeased.
“Who?”