When Zheng Ren opened his eyes, the sun was peeking over the skyline.
Was that what counted as a sleepless night?
After drinking the energy elixir, Zheng Ren felt recharged and energized as if he had just gotten a full night’s sleep.
He smiled and picked up his phone to send a morning greeting to Xie Yiren.
That simple exchange with her was enough to make him happy.
There was no response as Xie Yiren was still asleep.
The giddy smile on Zheng Ren’s face did not falter, however. Mission accomplished, he rolled off the bed and went to take a shower.
When he came out, his phone chimed. He bounced over to pick it up. It was not Xie Yiren.
How disappointing.
He typed out a short reply to Feng Xuhui, then started to plan for the day ahead. He knew Su Yun had to still be asleep. Zheng Ren decided to let the man rest as the latter did not have the same energy elixir he did.
It was surgery day. They were going to complete Qin Liren’s hepatic embolization surgery, then check out Changfeng Microinvasive Surgery’s neuro micro-guidewire. It was important to oil one’s guns before battle and testing the flexibility and elasticity of the guide wire was part of that.
The prostate interventional embolization surgery was scheduled for tomorrow. After that, they could finally go back to Sea City.
Sea City… He wondered if Xie Yiren would pick him up from the airport and hug him…
He was daydreaming again. A knock on the door shook him out of his stupor and Feng Xuhui entered with breakfast.
“Manager Feng, you’re too kind,” Zheng Ren said perfunctorily.
It had become a habit.
Feng Xuhui placed the bag of food on the table, then turned to bow to Zheng Ren. “Thank you, Chief Zheng.”
“Huh?” Zheng Ren did not know what had prompted this.
Feng Xuhui explained, “Yesterday, Chief Kong told me to call my chairman over to draft a supply contract for the hospital’s interventional surgery department. I know you probably had a hand in the arrangement.”
‘Me? I did no such thing,’ Zheng Ren thought.
He said nothing, though, knowing he would owe Department Chief Kong for this favor.
This was how the web of society worked. His acquaintance with Zheng Yunxia had led him to Feng Xuhui and Feng Xuhui had caused him to become beholden to Department Chief Kong.
These favors were hard to keep track of, so he let it be. He had his own principles and would not break them even when a favor was called in.
“It’s no big deal. Come, join me for breakfast,” Zheng Ren said.
“Chief Zheng, can you arrange for a meeting with Chief Kong? The chairman will be here on the earliest flight available,” Feng Xuhui asked gingerly.
“I’ll ask him when I see him and update you via WeChat.”
At this, Feng Xuhui visibly relaxed and enjoyed the rest of breakfast. He had bought mung bean juice this time, but it seemed the young master who craved it was still asleep.
It was a small matter. Following the advice of the restaurant owner, he told himself to stick close to Zheng Ren.
The conversation at the door of Tang Song Restaurant had reaffirmed his beliefs. He would stay true to his course.
Once they finished their meal, Feng Xuhui quickly cleaned the table while Zheng Ren went to change. The two men then paid a visit to the interventional surgery ward.
It was peak hour at the hospital and they waited a long time for the elevator.
As they stepped out of it, Feng Xuhui stopped. “Chairman Ma…”
Zheng Ren glanced to the side and saw an older gentleman standing in the lobby area with unrestrained anger clouding his features. Alongside him was another man with a beard and a rather attractive woman whom Zheng Ren remembered seeing before.
Who were these people?
Zheng Ren could memorize the Comprehensive Mirror in Aid of Governance and the Twenty-Four Histories, but facial features remained elusive to him.
“Feng Xuhui, what’s your excuse?” Chairman Ma asked in a low voice.
Feng Xuhui felt a shiver run down his spine.
“Excuse? I don’t understand.” He was at a loss.
Zheng Ren wanted no part in the drama and excused himself. He headed straight into the interventional surgery department.
When Chairman Ma and the others had arrived, Feng Xuhui arranged for them to rest in their respective accommodations. The group had then made their way to the hospital at 7.00 am.
Feng Xuhui was determined to bring breakfast to Zheng Ren and Su Yun but Chairman Ma had no patience for that. There was only one goal in his mind: to meet Intervention Surgery Department Chief Kong.
As for the junior doctor from Sea City, Chairman Ma would pay him a visit later. The doctor was just a chief resident and should be thankful for a personal visit from a successful business such as himself.
The chairman had not stopped Feng Xuhui from bringing food to the Sea City doctors. Instead, he had brought his two managers to the hospital to meet Department Chief Kong.
However, they had not foreseen being unceremoniously kicked out of the office by the grumpy department chief.
The chief was not pleased to have his much-deserved rest interrupted, not even bothering to ask who they were.
“Little Feng, why didn’t you make the arrangements?” President Peng scolded.
Uncertain as to what he had done wrong, Feng Xuhui lowered his head and stayed silent.
“Did Department Chief Kong ask for me personally?” Chairman Ma asked, his tone controlled despite his brimming anger.
Feng Xuhui could clearly recall the events of yesterday. “Yes.”
At that point, Feng Xuhui’s phone rang.
“Chief Zheng. Yes. Yes. Okay.” Feng Xuhui hung up. His worries crumbled away after that one call. With a smile, he addressed his boss, “Chairman Ma, Chief Zheng says Department Chief Kong is waiting for you in his office.”
The earlier humiliation had left a bad taste in Chairman Ma’s mouth.
However, he swallowed his pride for the sake of his company’s future. Such was the nature of business relationships. If the department chief had spat on him, he would praise the accuracy of the man’s spittle.
Doctors and nurses were rushing all around the wards. Mistakes caught during Department Chief Kong’s ward rounds would result in a haranguing.
The department chief was not mild-mannered to his own staff.
The group strode through the flurry of activity and arrived at Department Chief Kong’s office for the second time that day. Chairman Ma gestured for them to wait.
He adjusted his suit and puffed out his chest.
Then, he knocked on the office door. “Come in,” came the response.
Chairman Ma put on a winning smile as he pushed the door open.
He took in the scene inside as he shut the door behind him.
There were two people in the room. Department Chief Kong was on the bed, yawning. Another figure was at the computer browsing through CT scans.
Zheng Ren had his back to the door. “Manager Feng, did you bring the neuro guide wire?”
“I’m the chairman of Changfeng Microinvasive Surgery, you can call—” Chairman Ma began to introduce himself but was cut short by Zheng Ren.
Facing the group with confusion on his face, Zheng Ren asked, “Sorry, I don’t know you. Where’s Manager Feng?”
