Dr. Rowan Lin listened, then stared at Nathan Ye’s shiny bald head. His face instantly turned green.
Baldness—now that’s the king of all medical mysteries!
So many middle-aged men lose their hair, so many heroes end up bald!
But honestly, nobody has a cure!
Dr. Rowan Lin put his hands behind his back, didn’t even bother to check Nathan’s pulse, turned away and said, “Nope. Can’t fix it. There’s no hope.”
Nathan Ye’s face turned green too.
Seriously? That was way too blunt!
Nathan’s voice trembled as he clung to his last shred of hope: “Dr. Lin, couldn’t you at least check my pulse? Maybe—maybe there’s still a chance…”
“No need. Minister Ye, you may go.” Dr. Lin refused, quick and clean.
Nathan Ye’s face fell. Dr. Rowan Lin was the best doctor around. If even he said there was no hope, then was he really… beyond saving?
Nathan Ye walked out, disappointed. He absentmindedly touched his forehead, then gazed up at the sky with a sigh. "Is this it? Am I destined to spend the rest of my life bald, unable to find a wife?"
While Nathan was wallowing in misery, he suddenly heard someone cough nearby. Turning around, he realized he was standing right outside a room.
Inside, April stood awkwardly at the doorway, staring at him.
Nathan’s heart sank. He’d been talking to himself right outside her room—had she heard everything?
Oh no, his image was ruined!
"Minister Ye, I—I wasn’t trying to eavesdrop, I’ve been in here the whole time..." April said, just as embarrassed, having overheard Nathan’s secret.
Both of them stood there, awkwardness on top of awkwardness, pretending nothing had happened as they exchanged glances. A flock of crows seemed to fly overhead...
"April, did you find what you were looking for?" came Margaret Evans’s voice from nearby.
April snapped back to reality and quickly bowed to Nathan Ye. "I have something to do, Minister Ye. I’ll take my leave."
She dashed away, disappearing down the corridor.
Nathan watched April’s petite figure vanish, feeling more embarrassed than ever. He braced himself against the doorframe, lightly banging his forehead against his hand. "What was I even saying? And she heard it all! So humiliating!"
Nathan Ye awkwardly left the Lin household and regretfully relayed Dr. Rowan Lin’s verdict to Princess Jade Hayes.
"Looks like there’s no cure for my hair loss," Nathan sighed in defeat. "I’m already in my twenties and still haven’t married. With this bald head, what girl would ever want me?"
Princess Jade Hayes could only offer a few words of comfort as she watched Nathan leave, looking utterly dejected.
That evening, Belle sat inside, mending clothes while Connie Evans snored away nearby.
April pushed open the door and called, "Sis."
"Ah, April, you’re here. Have a seat," Belle said with a smile, welcoming her sister in while continuing her sewing.
April asked, "Sis, what did you need me for?"
Belle smiled. "The toughest part of building the Modern Academy is done. Now comes the actual construction, and the money comes from the Queen Consort’s private funds—not the national treasury. So we have to keep track of every detail ourselves. I’ve been swamped lately, so I’m passing this job to you. Be careful—don’t mess it up."
"Leave it to me!?" April was thrilled. "Don’t worry, Sis! I’ve trained under you for years. I promise I’ll get it done right!"
Belle chuckled, "Of course I know how capable my own sister is! Now, April, I need another favor—your sewing is better than mine. My favorite dress has a little tear from Connie. Can you patch it up for me?"