Chapter 336: Chapter 335: Taking an Interest

The dinner hosted by Dr. Qiu Ge had a few more guests than expected, but it went exceptionally smoothly.

From the start at 7:00 p.m. until the banquet ended close to 9:00, none of the attending physicians received any emergency calls from the hospital.

After a satisfying meal, the group left the Thousand Islands Restaurant, chatting and laughing. As soon as they stepped out of the hotel, they split into three groups.

Dr. Qiu Ge and her husband were in one group, and Tan Xiao was in another.

Liu Jin, Qin Ying, Chen Yu, Wang Chuan, Yan Feifan, Yan Ziruo, and Yu Suye made up the third group.

Liu Jin casually made conversation, keeping his group gathered at the hotel entrance until Dr. Qiu Ge and her husband, along with Dr. Tan, had left in their cars.

Then, Liu Jin cleared his throat and announced, "Everyone, I’d like to invite you back into the hotel for tea. There’s something I need your help with."

Qin Ying said bluntly, "Mr. Liu, if there’s something you need to say, just say it here. It’s not like any of us are outsiders."

"Let’s just skip the tea."

Seeing Chen Yu and Wang Chuan nod in agreement, Liu Jin said with a hint of resignation, "Fine, let’s talk in the hotel lobby. It wouldn’t be right to discuss business out here with all the traffic."

The group turned back into the hotel lobby and was surprised to find the sofas in the lounge area all empty. They headed over and took their seats.

"Here’s the situation..."

Liu Jin said softly, "The role of Hospital President, under the leadership of the hospital’s Party Committee, is a bit like a professional manager..."

Wang Chuan added, "More like the Municipal Party Secretary and the Mayor, wouldn’t you say?"

Liu Jin chuckled. "In any case, this president is the one who handles the day-to-day operations, serving our medical and nursing staff."

"I’ve learned that the higher-ups are planning to conduct an opinion poll."

"So, I’m asking for your help."

As he spoke, Liu Jin stood up, cupped his hands in a formal gesture, and pleaded, "Mr. Chen, Mr. Wang, Dr. Qin, please lend me your full support."

Chen Yu asked curiously, "Mr. Liu, are they holding a public election for the hospital president position?"

Wang Chuan shook his head. "No."

"The information I have is that they’ll put forth three candidates and conduct an opinion survey, which will just be used as a reference for the final decision from above."

"Of course, if your approval rating is too low or there are too many complaints and objections, you’re definitely out of the running."

Chen Yu let out a soft "oh." "So that’s how it works," he said.

"Mr. Liu, don’t you worry. You definitely have my support, and I’ll rally my friends to support you as well."

"The same goes for me," Wang Chuan declared.

Qin Ying also nodded, showing her support.

Liu Jin said happily, "Thank you, all of you. Once the dust settles, I’ll be sure to properly show my appreciation."

He then turned to Yan Feifan and advised, "Feifan, you don’t need to get involved in matters like this. Just focus on your studies and on honing your medical skills."

"Oh, and publish a few more influential papers..."

Liu Jin smiled. "If the live demonstration and seminar we’re holding for you generates enough buzz, I’ll ride that momentum and see if I can push for an exceptional promotion for you to associate attending physician..."

With that matter settled, Liu Jin, Chen Yu, and Qin Ying each got into their cars and left.

Wang Chuan, however, stayed behind, saying he wanted to walk back to the hospital with Yan Feifan, Yan Ziruo, and Yu Suye.

This thoroughly annoyed both Yan Ziruo and Yu Suye.

Yan Ziruo and Yu Suye exchanged a glance, and Yan Ziruo spoke up bluntly, "Mr. Wang, is there something you need to talk to Feifan about?"

"If you have something to say, just say it. I was hoping Feifan could come with us to the mall to do some shopping."

"Or... you could come shopping with us?"

This made Wang Chuan feel awkward.

He quickly replied, "Ah, yes, I do have something to discuss."

"Feifan, well... you know by now that the revenue target for our plastic surgery center has increased significantly."

"As Mr. Liu said, we need to put our best resources where they count most. I was thinking of having you take on some cosmetic surgeries for our high-end clients."

Yan Feifan replied without hesitation, "No problem, Mr. Wang. Just make the arrangements."

Wang Chuan then asked tentatively, "And the disabled children from the welfare institute?"

Yan Feifan said quickly, "Mr. Wang, we can’t stop their surgeries. We should do our best to maintain the frequency of two operations per week."

"I’ll do one, and Su Ye will do one, until the dedicated funds run out."

He added, "Mr. Wang, you can schedule the surgeries for the high-end clients on Friday evenings or Saturdays."

"Sundays could also work, but that would have to be every other week..."

Yan Feifan then remembered Zhao Xiaoting’s call. "I also received a call this evening from a former patient," he said. "She wanted to recommend an A-list celebrity to me, but I turned her down, saying I didn’t have time."

"I’ll contact her again in a bit."

Wang Chuan nodded. "Alright, we’ll do it your way."

At this, Yan Ziruo cut in. "Listen, Mr. Wang, Feifan already has to fly to Jingcheng every two weeks for freelance surgeries."

"He has to perform operations in neurosurgery, and he has to study and practice with Mrs. Qin and Mr. Chen."

"And there’s that nerve... whatever... cultivation project of yours."

"My Feifan isn’t made of iron, you know."

Wang Chuan said with a serious expression, "Ziruo, Feifan is the only hope for Yanyan’s recovery. Please believe me when I say my concern for his health is not much less than your own."

"I will also stay in close contact with Mr. Lo, Dr. Qin, and Mr. Chen to ensure that our respective workloads for Yan Feifan don’t become too concentrated at any one time."

Yan Ziruo said with satisfaction, "I believe you, Mr. Wang!"

Having said his piece, Wang Chuan carefully ventured, "You know, shopping can be very tiring, especially for a man."

"How about you and Su Ye go shopping together, and let Feifan head back early to get some rest?"

"Absolutely not!"

Yan Ziruo linked her arm through her brother’s and huffed, "I still need to buy Feifan clothes and shoes. He can’t go home yet."

"Mr. Wang, Feifan is my dear little brother. I wouldn’t have the heart to let him get worn out."

"Was there anything else, Mr. Wang?"

Seeing her obvious intention to shoo him away, Wang Chuan hastily excused himself and left...

Yan Ziruo was true to her word. As she and Yu Suye browsed the shopping mall, she really couldn’t bear to tire Yan Feifan out.

Every time they entered a store, they first had Yan Feifan find a seat in the rest area and wait patiently.

Getting a little bored, Yan Feifan took out his phone and called Zhao Xiaoting again. He pretended that, as a favor to her, he was willing to squeeze in the time to take on the A-list celebrity’s surgery after all.

The surgery, he said, could be scheduled for the following week.

His words, naturally, were met with an excited response from Zhao Xiaoting, who even blew him several enthusiastic kisses over the phone.

Upon learning that Zhao Xiaoting and the A-list celebrity were both currently in Jingcheng, Yan Feifan made an appointment with them.

They would meet this Sunday at Baining Hospital in Jingcheng, where he would first conduct a preliminary examination of the celebrity.

Not long after he hung up with Zhao Xiaoting, Yan Feifan received a call from Mrs. Xia.

"The landlord came by to apologize in person. He even lowered the rent by a quarter for the remainder of the lease as a gesture of his sincerity."

"Mr. Yan, thank you so, so much."

Yan Feifan replied politely, "There’s no need to thank me, Mrs. Xia."

"To be honest, your new landlord is the nephew of one of my former medical research patrons."

"As for the trouble he caused, I have to ask you to just let it slide."

Liu Xia’s charming laughter came through the phone. "Oh, Mr. Yan, you’re flattering me."

"I never would have dreamed of such an outcome."

"A quarter of the rent, over two or three years, adds up to a few hundred thousand yuan."

"Since I’ve benefited so much from this, I absolutely must show you a token of my appreciation."

After a brief pause, Liu Xia added, as if casually, "Mr. Yan, that uncle of yours... he’s quite handsome, a smooth talker, and a Binhai local, too."

"Why did he end up becoming an ocean-going sailor? It seems so dangerous and dull."

Hearing her ask this, Yan Feifan knew she had taken an interest in his uncle.

’This is great news.’

’Now that she’s interested in getting to know him, combined with my uncle’s shameless, thick-skinned persistence, the rest should be predictable.’

’But how should I answer Mrs. Xia’s question?’