“Whatever I do is none of your business.” Frank snorted.
He could not care less about Ferdy. Not only was he lacking as a doctor, but his only concern was also money and his own vanity-there was no virtue of a traditional Draconian healer in him at all.
“You have a problem with me?” Ferdy scowled, seeing that Frank remained ever pompous.
“Calm down, Ferdy. He’s not worth it.” Jim quickly tried to smooth things over just as they were about to get out of hand again.
This was his family’s business, and any trouble here reflected badly on them.
“I’d be straightening you out if not for Jim.” Ferdy pointed at Frank as he snapped, his fingers almost touching Frank’s face. “Do you really think you’re tough? Strutting around when you don’t even have a medical license?”
Frank still ignored him, standing impassively with his eyes fixed on the front entrance, as if waiting.
“Whatever.”
Seeing that Frank remained unresponsive, Abel sighed and said, “I’ll be waiting inside, Mr. Lawrence.” “Yeah.” Frank nodded noncommittally.
Abel then turned toward Jim, “You stay here with Mr. Lawrence, and don’t be rude!”
“Okay.” Jim nodded, though he was a little aggrieved even as he watched his grandfather leave.
After a moment of silence, he looked up at Frank and asked, “Mr. Lawrence, my grandfather said you’re well-versed in traditional Draconian medicine and could save a man from the brink. How could you have misdiagnosed a common cold?”
“Misdiagnose?”
Frank turned and glanced at him calmly, shaking his head. “No, I didn’t.”
“Still being stubborn? Why do I get the feeling your mouth would remain even after you’re cremated?”
Ferdy scoffed, and soon laughed when he realized something. “Wait, you’re expecting that woman and her daughter to come back?”
“Yes.” Frank nodded calmly, not bothered to hide it.
“Hahaha!!!”
Ferdy laughed so hard that he was wheezing and clutching his stomach. “What can I even say about you? How thick-skinned could you even get… Well, how about making a bet?”
“A bet?” Frank asked, finally turning toward Ferdy.
“Let’s bet if that woman will return with her daughter!” Ferdy grinned. “If they don’t, you’ll kowtow to me and bark like a dog!”
“Dr. Zeller!” Jim frowned at him-that was too much, especially for his grandfather’s guest!
However, Frank agreed to it without hesitation while staying impassive. “Sure. And what would you do if that girl’s condition worsened because of your prescription?”
“What, me?” Ferdy laughed. “No chance. But if the girl really gets sick from that soup, I can kowtow to you and bark like a dog!”
“No,” Frank said, shaking his head. “If you lose, you’ll give up on your practice permanently.”
Frank’s solemn demand left Ferdy frowning, and he felt an uneasy feeling in his gut.
Could he have missed something?
Impossible!
