Qi Lin was no stranger to Yu He's cold and distant attitude; they had met at international medical conferences before.
At that time, she had been an anonymous divine doctor, wearing a mask and a cape. Grant, the president of the International Medical Information Society, had paid her special attention and had always wanted her to stay and serve as vice president of the society, but Yu He had coldly refused.
He had admired the anonymous divine doctor then, one who dedicated herself to medical research, unmoved by fame or fortune. He had even tried to invite her to the Qi Corporation, but had never been able to contact her.
It was only later, when he learned that the anonymous divine doctor was Yu He, that he felt a complex emotion he couldn't quite describe.
"Heh, not exactly," Qi Lin said with a laugh, then continued with a serious tone, "I've been attending a medical conference in Country S and was unaware of all the trouble my disobedient son has caused you. The Great Wind Novel Network.
"I'm mainly here today to apologize for the rash actions of the Qi family towards you. We have failed in our upbringing, and I offer my sincerest apologies."
As he spoke, Qi Lin took out a contract from his bag. "This plot of land is on the Fourth Ring Road in the capital. The Qi family bought it previously for a planned traditional Chinese medicine hospital. However, the Qi family has no talent in this area. As a form of compensation, I'll transfer this land to you, and I hope you can accept the Qi family's apology."
Yu He paused her pig-petting action, looked up, and cast a suspicious glance at the land transfer contract in his hand.
She had heard about the land on the Fourth Ring Road; the Qi family had spent over two billion to acquire it.
It was rumored that construction was scheduled to begin this year, but after her exposure of Qi Yuanyuan's fake identity, the project had been halted.
What game was the Qi family playing now?
To suddenly show up, apologize, and offer such a significant asset, those who understood would see it as a sincere apology and a desire for cooperation; those who didn't might think—
"Are you trying to bribe me?"
"Please don't misinterpret my intentions," Qi Lin explained. "Healing and saving lives is a shared mission for us doctors. The ancestors of the Qi Corporation originally practiced traditional Chinese medicine. As times changed, our family has completely shifted to Western medicine. I've always wanted the Qi family to rediscover and promote traditional Chinese medicine, to shine the light of Chinese medicine on the world, but I haven't succeeded.
"Transferring the land to you is the best way I can think of for the Qi family to contribute to Chinese medicine. I hope you'll accept it, expand your clinic, propagate the glory of Chinese medicine, and benefit humanity."
He spoke so eloquently, but his true intention was for him to provide the land and Yu He to establish a Chinese medicine hospital, allowing them to forget past grievances and collaborate to make money.
Yu He raised her hand, interrupting his "speech." "Let's not talk about these empty words. If you are truly sincere, then give me the medical records and contract for the vocal cord polyp excision surgery performed on Mrs. Qin's fourth wife at Renren General Hospital first."
Qi Lin was stunned. His first thought was, she doesn't want the over two billion worth of land, but just surgical records?
The anonymous divine doctor was indeed upright and incorruptible, unmoved by money or fame, dedicated solely to medical practice.
His second thought was to desperately recall the surgical records of Mrs. Qin's fourth wife that she mentioned. He was suddenly shocked. How did she know about this?
The surgery performed on Madam Huang was confidential, and very few people knew about it.
"This..." Qi Lin hesitated for a moment.
"Qi Lin, what are you doing here?"
Just then, Grandma Yu emerged from the consultation room with a patient. Upon seeing Qi Lin, her previously smiling face stiffened slightly. She asked Xiao Qing to take the patient for medicinal meals, then walked over with a somber expression.
"Xiuxiu..." Seeing Grandma Yu, Qi Lin's eyes were filled with a complex mix of emotions: three parts joy, three parts restraint, and four parts helplessness.
Yu He rarely saw her grandmother like this. Her gaze flickered between them, as if sensing something.
"I've come to apologize to Miss Yu on behalf of the Qi family," Qi Lin replied truthfully.
Grandma Yu knew something about Qi Suilin pushing someone in Yu He's operating room, but she was unsure if Qi Lin's apology was about this or about Qiao Qiao's incident.
Regardless of which it was, anything the Qi family caused was bound to be trouble.
"I've stated my request. You can decide what to do," Yu He continued petting the pig, her tone indifferent.
Qi Lin neither refused nor agreed. "I'll go back and check first."
To see if the items were still there.
"You are not welcome," Yu He directly dismissed him, giving him no face at all.
Qi Lin turned his gaze to Grandma Yu. "Xiuxiu, can I have a word with you?"
Just then, the next patient hadn't arrived yet. Grandma Yu looked at Yu He. Seeing that she didn't object, she went out with him.
The waiting driver, seeing Qi Lin and Grandma Yu emerge, quickly opened the rear car door. Qi Lin was about to invite Grandma Yu into the car to find a place to sit and talk properly, but she refused.
"I still have patients coming soon and can't leave. If you have something to say, say it here," Grandma Yu stated.
Her tone was distant, as if she were treating him as a complete stranger.
Qi Lin felt a sense of disappointment. "Xiuxiu, it's been a long time. You've changed, and yet you haven't.
"I'm happy to see you open your clinic and congratulate you on achieving your dream. I always remember you wanting to open your own traditional Chinese medicine clinic. Back then, we..."
"Excuse me, my patient is arriving soon, and I don't have much time for pleasantries. If there's nothing else, I'll be going in," Grandma Yu interrupted him, not wanting to hear him reminisce, and turned to leave.
Qi Lin quickly stopped her. "I'm sorry, Xiuxiu."
Grandma Yu paused.
They had parted on bad terms years ago, and she had been waiting for him to return and apologize. Then she would have forgiven him and, despite his family's objections, insisted on being with him, even if it meant death.
But in the end, what she received was news of his marriage to Guo Shaofen.
After decades, hearing him utter those three words, Grandma Yu's feelings were complicated. She turned to look at him.
Qi Lin had many things he wanted to say, but only managed to get out: "I heard Shaofen came to cause you trouble before. I'm sorry for the distress it caused. Please don't take it to heart. You know her personality, she's very strong-willed and fiery, but she doesn't have any ill intentions..."
Grandma Yu thought he was going to explain something, but instead, she heard these words.
She shook off Qi Lin's hand. "I don't know if she has bad intentions or not, but I just want to say that if the Qi family has any issues, they should come to me. Don't hurt Nannan."
Qi Lin saw how much she cared about Yu He and said apologetically, "I'm truly sorry. From now on, I will keep a close eye on the Qi family and prevent them from causing you any further harm.
"We are both at an age where one foot is already in the grave. We'll see each other less and less. Whether for harmony or cooperation, can we be friends again?"
Grandma Yu was somewhat moved. "Can you guarantee that the Qi family will no longer trouble Nannan?"
"I guarantee it!" Qi Lin said.
Grandma Yu: "Alright."
Qi Lin smiled.
Unbeknownst to them, their actions were being photographed by paparazzi hiding in the shadows and sent to Madam Qi, Guo Shaofen.