Chapter 140: Still Not Quite There Yet

Five days later, Sun Simin delivered the medicinal herbs Qin Tian needed to his home.

After preparing the “Restore My Beauty Pill,” Qin Tian went straight to Tang Jiawen’s shop.

However, he found the shop in a bit of disarray, as if it had just been tidied up.

“Auntie, what happened here?” Qin Tian asked.

“It’s nothing,” Tang Jiawen replied with a smile, shaking her head.

Qin Tian sensed something was wrong and immediately asked, “Did they come looking for trouble again?”

“Them” naturally referred to Xiong Yushi’s group.

Tang Jiawen sighed but said nothing.

“Auntie, here’s fifty thousand in this card. Use it to pay the rent first,” Qin Tian said, handing over a bank card.

“That won’t do, I can’t accept this,” Tang Jiawen quickly declined.

“Auntie, I’ll charge the lowest bank interest,” Qin Tian smiled.

He knew Tang Jiawen wouldn’t take money from him without a reason, so this was the best way to help.

“Charge interest? When will I pay you back?” Tang Jiawen asked.

“Anytime is fine,” Qin Tian answered.

“Then I’ll accept it,” Tang Jiawen said, taking the card. Given her current situation, she truly needed this money to get by. There was no way she could secure a bank loan.

To Tang Jiawen, this money was a lifeline.

Qin Tian smiled to himself. Helping these two strangers was, in a way, an act of compassion.

Although he had initially been somewhat drawn to them by appearance, now his intention was purely to assist this unfortunate mother and daughter.

Qin Tian wasn’t a saint, but since fate had brought them together, he would help within his means.

“Where’s Xiaorou?” Qin Tian asked.

“She’s inside. I’ll take you in,” Tang Jiawen said.

Behind the snack shop was a small room, less than ten square meters, containing only a small bed and a cabinet—this was the mother and daughter’s humble refuge.

When Qin Tian entered, Tang Jingrou was looking in the mirror. Upon seeing him, she quickly turned her head away, hiding the mirror behind her back.

“Come, let me see,” Qin Tian approached.

“Don’t come closer, I don’t look good,” Tang Jingrou waved her hand shyly.

“It’s alright,” Qin Tian said, moving closer, trying to gently lift her hand from her face to better assess her condition.

But Tang Jingrou was surprisingly strong, and despite several attempts, Qin Tian couldn’t pull her hand away.

It wasn’t that Qin Tian lacked strength; one had to be gentle with her.

“Xiaorou, your benefactor is here to help with your facial problem. Show your benefactor, please,” Tang Jiawen coaxed.

“Mom, it’s hopeless. We’ve seen so many doctors. Don’t waste the benefactor’s time,” Tang Jingrou shook her head.

Qin Tian was helpless. Without her cooperation, he couldn’t proceed with treatment.

“Then trust me and take this pill,” Qin Tian said, offering the Restore My Beauty Pill.

No matter what, she would have to take it sooner or later. Better to start now.

After swallowing the pill, they could observe the effects and plan next steps accordingly.

Tang Jingrou hesitated, peeking through a narrow gap between her fingers to look at the pill in Qin Tian’s hand. After a moment, she took it and swallowed.

“I’ll come back tomorrow to check on the results,” Qin Tian said, turning to leave.

Once the pill took effect, Tang Jingrou would be astonished when she looked in the mirror tomorrow, and then she would allow him to treat her properly.

After returning, Qin Tian asked Sun Simin to gather additional complementary herbs, preparing everything that might be needed.

The next day, after school, Qin Tian greeted Jiang Yingying and Shen Xiaoqing briefly before heading straight to Tang Jiawen’s snack shop.

Upon entering, he saw Xiong Yushi’s three henchmen again.

“It's you again!” The three men were startled to see Qin Tian.

Qin Tian narrowed his eyes, and the three shrank their necks instantly.

“Let’s go,” one waved them off, and they left.

Qin Tian noticed they were holding a good amount of cash—Tang Jiawen had already paid the rent.

“Auntie, are you alright?” Qin Tian asked.

“It’s fine. The rent’s covered. Sigh, but who knows what we’ll do in two months. Business is tough,” Tang Jiawen sighed.

Qin Tian was silent for a moment, then resolved to see his kindness through. He hoped to improve the lives of Tang Jiawen and her daughter in the future.

“By the way! Xiaorou’s face has improved quite a bit!” Tang Jiawen said excitedly.

“Is that so?” Qin Tian nodded, pleased it was working.

He went into the small room, where Tang Jingrou was again looking in the mirror. Compared to yesterday, she seemed more confident.

“Benefactor, my face...” Tang Jingrou’s face bore a rare and long-lost smile.

Qin Tian smiled faintly—she looked quite beautiful when she smiled.

Tang Jingrou had great potential—an absolute beauty in the making. She had a good figure, a lovely face shape, but her flaw was the scars and pockmarks on her face.

“Now you’re willing to let me treat you properly?” Qin Tian asked with a smile.

“Yes!” Tang Jingrou nodded firmly.

Qin Tian examined her face closely, causing Tang Jingrou to feel shy and look down several times.

“Not bad. I’ll prescribe some additional herbs. Take them for a week, and you’ll be basically healed,” Qin Tian said.

“Thank you, benefactor!” Tang Jingrou nodded happily.

No girl dislikes being beautiful. Tang Jingrou had lived years burdened by insecurity; now, she finally had a chance to hold her head high.

Qin Tian returned home, organizing the herbs into seven different formulas—one for each day. After the week, Tang Jingrou would regain her true appearance.

On the eighth day, when Qin Tian returned, he was stunned by Tang Jingrou’s face.

Her beauty was breathtaking—she was a peerless beauty, a stunning vision.

For the first time, Qin Tian understood why so many ancient emperors would forsake kingdoms for a woman.

A true, incomparable beauty could indeed make a man abandon everything to seek the warmth of love.

“I’ll never be a girl who keeps her head down again!” Tang Jingrou’s eyes curved like crescent moons, her cheeks adorned with two little dimples.

Qin Tian was so stunned he nearly drooled.

Yet he noticed Tang Jiawen still seemed somewhat troubled.

“Auntie? Is something still wrong?” Qin Tian asked.

“No, it shouldn’t be like this,” Tang Jiawen said.

“Shouldn’t be like what?” Qin Tian inquired.

“There’s still something missing,” Tang Jiawen replied.

“Missing something?” Qin Tian was puzzled.

“This girl must have inherited some bad genes from her father; otherwise, she would be even more beautiful. Compared to how I looked when I was young, she’s still lacking a bit,” Tang Jiawen said seriously.

Qin Tian nearly stumbled, thinking: she’s already stunning—how beautiful must Tang Jiawen have been in her youth to be so critical of her daughter’s looks?