At the Qi family's residence.
In the study, Qi Yuanyuan was reading a medical book when a knock sounded at the door. Aunt Fang entered and asked,
"Eldest Miss, when will our special medicine be officially launched?"
Qi Yuanyuan looked up and was startled by Aunt Fang's appearance.
Aunt Fang's cheekbones were already prominent, and she was thin. In the past half a month, her dark circles had become severe, her complexion was haggard, and her hair had thinned considerably. She looked rather frightening.
"The medicine has been sent to the drug administration for approval. Once it passes, it can be listed for sale," Qi Yuanyuan replied with a smile.
Ever since Zhao Wei announced that the special medicine was nearing its launch, the Qi Corporation's stock had soared, and countless people flocked to hospitals and pharmaceutical companies daily to seek the medicine.
Even Aunt Fang, who was on leave, couldn't help but inquire, demonstrating the immense fame of this special medicine.
"Then Eldest Miss, do you still have any samples of the special medicine on hand? Could you give me some more?" Aunt Fang pleaded.
Lately, she didn't know what was wrong, but if she didn't take the special medicine given by Eldest Miss for a day, she felt unbearable discomfort throughout her body, unable to even concentrate on her work. She had taken half a month's leave to rest, but there was no improvement. She constantly craved Eldest Miss's medicine.
Seeing the plea in her eyes, Qi Yuanyuan opened a drawer and tossed a bottle to her.
Aunt Fang, like a dog catching a frisbee thrown by its owner, was overjoyed. "Thank you, Eldest Miss, thank you, Eldest Miss."
She then opened the bottle on the spot. Perhaps due to excessive excitement, her hands trembled violently, and the pills scattered on the floor. She quickly crouched down, picked up one pill, and put it in her mouth. Her demeanor was like that of a beggar who had starved for days finally receiving a delicious meal.
Qi Yuanyuan frowned deeply. "You may go now."
"Yes, yes, yes." Aunt Fang swept her hands, collecting all the pills from the floor. As she excitedly left, she nearly bumped into Julie, who was knocking and entering.
Julie was startled by Aunt Fang's appearance. She entered the study and asked, "Sister Yuan, why has Aunt Fang become like this? Has she been doing drugs?"
Upon hearing this, Qi Yuanyuan's frown deepened. Lost in thought, her gaze flickered uncertainly.
"Sister Yuan?" Julie called out again when she didn't receive a response.
Qi Yuanyuan came back to her senses. "What is it?"
Julie felt that Sister Yuan had been very strange lately, often spacing out inexplicably, or laughing in a chilling manner.
She placed an invitation card on Qi Yuanyuan's desk.
"Sister Yuan, Dean Xiang sent someone with this invitation. The Chinese Medicine Association is preparing to hold a seminar on the Thirteen Needles of the Ghost Gate in the capital at the end of the month and has invited you to be the keynote speaker. I accepted on your behalf and scheduled it into this month's itinerary."
"Who told you to accept it?!"
Qi Yuanyuan's voice suddenly sharpened, startling Julie.
She explained:
"The Chinese Medicine Association holds significant prestige in the domestic medical field. Our Qi family has always been in the Western medicine domain, with limited exposure to Chinese medicine. Moreover, with the special medicine about to be launched, this is a perfect opportunity to meet more friends in the Chinese medicine circle and promote the special medicine within that community."
"Please decline on my behalf. I have personal matters that day and cannot attend," Qi Yuanyuan said.
She had only grasped the superficial aspects of the Thirteen Needles of the Ghost Gate. To lecture in-depth in front of numerous Chinese medicine experts would surely expose her lack of knowledge.
"But I heard that if you don't go, they will invite Physician Yu. Rumor has it that she also knows the Thirteen Needles of the Ghost Gate."
Julie continued to persuade her. "Ever since Physician Yu's clinic opened, it has siphoned off many of our hospital's VIP patients. If this continues, Physician Yu's clinic in the capital will overshadow our Qi family."
"The Qi family possesses a hundred-year reputation and heritage as a medical dynasty, how can it be compared to her newly opened clinic? It's merely a fleeting trend."
Qi Yuanyuan's retort silenced Julie for a moment. She began to realize she understood Sister Yuan less and less.
Why would she miss such a good opportunity and give it away to a competitor?
"Also, the person Lord Qin Seven brought from the Nevernight Pavilion that evening eventually went to Physician Yu's clinic. That person might be Yu He," Julie added.
Yu He?
It was her?!
Qi Yuanyuan clenched her fist under the table, her nails digging into her flesh, unaware of the pain.
She forced a smile befitting her status as the eldest young lady and said, "I understand."
"Furthermore, Physician Yu is a senior in the field of Chinese medicine. Medical research achievements should not be used for comparison but for the benefit of society. In the future, do not speak of overshadowing others. As fellow physicians, if Physician Yu can cure patients we couldn't, it means we should learn from her," Qi Yuanyuan explained gently.
Hearing this, Julie couldn't help but sigh, "Sister Yuan, you are truly too kind. Even an angel from heaven is not like you."
Qi Yuanyuan smiled. "If that's all, you may go. I'll read for a while longer."
"Alright."
As soon as Julie left, the smile vanished from Qi Yuanyuan's face.
What she had not finished saying was that if the patients were cured, it was due to their skill; if they were not cured, it was because the patients were seeking the wrong treatment, and the doctors were incompetent.
---
Ye Zi had been in the capital for two days. On Sunday evening, she was driven back to North City by her chauffeur, as she had school on Monday.
Yu He's semester didn't start until the second half of the year. She had initially planned to feign studying over the weekend and then stop pretending on Monday after Qin Beiting went to work.
However, Qin Beiting was enthusiastic. He said mornings were when memory was best, and he woke her up at six o'clock.
Yu He had a temper when woken up, but under his passionate kisses and teasing, even the worst of it was dispelled.
If she didn't get up, something unspeakable would happen. She could only get up and read with him for an hour.
Chen Dong arrived at seven-thirty with breakfast and was surprised to find both the boss and Miss Yu engrossed in reading.
Was the boss developing some new skill?
He put down the food container and stepped closer to look. It was the basic version of computer programming language.
Chen Dong: "..."
Boss, as a top hacker, do you really need to read this book???
After breakfast, Qin Beiting went to work.
Yu He went to the South Wing to open the clinic. She coincidentally received a call from Qiao Qiao, who said Grandma Yu had caught a cold last night and had a slight fever today.
Yu He told her grandmother to rest at home and not to come over, saying she would be on duty today.
The clinic was limited to ten patients a day. Yu He hired two nurses with some foundation in Chinese medicine and one cleaner. Along with the Qiao siblings, her days were not too busy.
It wasn't until ten o'clock that the first scheduled patient slowly arrived.
She was a noblewoman in her fifties, wearing a mink coat and pearls, holding an American bulldog.
The noblewoman had been recommended. It was said that Physician Yu's treatments were extremely effective, and she only saw ten patients a day. She had gone to great lengths to secure an appointment and wanted to see for herself.
As soon as she entered, she saw a girl of seventeen or eighteen. The girl was wearing a white winter cheongsam, which made her skin appear luminous. Her jet-black hair was casually styled into a French braid, and she exuded a cool aura, as beautiful as a fairy descended from heaven.
The noblewoman sneered. She wondered if the clinic, with such a beautiful nurse, was genuinely for treating illnesses or engaged in improper activities under the guise of medical practice.
She swaggered to the consultation desk, but not seeing the doctor, she raised her voice and asked, "Where is the doctor? Why aren't they here?"