"Hehe~ Brother Lin, I wasn't wrong, was I? She's really cold, right?" Thomas Xu stood next to Jack, grinning slyly.
"Yes, indeed a cold-faced lily!" Jack smiled as he sat on the stool, then reached into his waist bag and pulled out a number of pills, handing them to William Qian beside him, saying, "Nurse, these are the pills I've collected, some are antibiotics and some I don't know what they're for. If you can use them for my friend, please do; if not, just keep them for yourselves!"
"Thank you! I will show them to Dr. Qin later!" William Qian smiled as she took the pills from Jack, glanced through them, and continued, "We are really short on medicine here, especially antibiotics. Dr. Qin is reluctant to prescribe medicine unless it's a serious illness, fearing that we won't have any medicine when we catch a little cold in the future!"
"The supply of medicine will only get tighter in the future, Thomas…" Jack said only one sentence before stopping. He didn't want to discuss such a heavy topic with a young girl, so he changed the subject and asked with a smile, "So you and Dr. Qin were colleagues before?"
"That's not true, I haven't even graduated from nursing school yet, how could I be a colleague of Dr. Qin!" William Qian shook her head and said boldly, "But I can be considered half a professional; Dr. Qin was too busy here, so she asked me for help. We met at the gathering place!"
"Hehe~ that's true. By the way, what specialty does Dr. Qin practice? Is she really an obstetrician?" Jack, leaning against the wall and feeling bored, asked William Qian with a smile.
"How could that be? Dr. Qin is actually a attending physician in cardiology; she only sees gynecological patients out of necessity since she's the only doctor here!" William Qian immediately shook her head and then looked at Jack curiously, asking, "Big brother, you look unfamiliar. You and that sister who went in to see the doctor don't seem to be from our gathering place, right?"
"Qian, bring the wash from the table in here!"
Just as Jack was about to answer, Dr. Qin's voice came from inside. William Qian didn't dare to delay and immediately picked up a bottle of gynecological wash from the corner cabinet and hurried inside.
"Lin, do you think Dr. Qin might really be a lesbian? I've never seen her show a good face to any man!" Seeing William Qian enter the inner room, Thomas Xu leaned in sneakily, handed a cigarette to Jack, and said with a mischievous smile, "Lin, are you interested? Who knows, if you make a move, this little beauty might just be within your grasp!"
"I won't do something so pointless!" Jack lit a cigarette, took a puff, and smiled faintly.
"Yeah!" Thomas Xu shook his head in disappointment, thought for a moment, and said, "This woman is stunning, with a goddess-level aura, delicate and weak yet with a hint of intellect, but why is her personality so strange? Come to think of it, she and her brother haven't smiled since they came to our gathering place; they always have a serious face. Could it be that there's something wrong with her facial nerves? Is she perhaps suffering from facial paralysis?"
"I feel like you're just saying sour grapes because you can't have them?" Jack looked at Thomas Xu with amusement and then asked curiously, "What? Dr. Qin has a brother?"
"Yes, she does, and he's her biological brother. They are both named Qin Yu , but her brother's 'Yu' means feather, while hers means rain!" As he said this, Thomas Xu also laughed, shaking his head and saying, "Their parents are really lazy; even the pronunciation of their names is the same!"
"What about Qin Yu's brother? Why haven't I seen him?" Jack asked curiously.
"That kid is notoriously stubborn. He says he doesn't want to be supported by his sister, so he followed Ryan Qiang and is working under him. But Lin Ge, you know, this twenty-something guy hasn't even graduated from school yet. What skills can he have? If it weren't for Ryan Qiang looking out for him because of Qin Yu, that kid would probably have been a living corpse by now!" Thomas Xu said, shaking his head with a disapproving expression.
"Who told you to smoke here?"
Just as Thomas Xu was chatting animatedly with Jack, the blue curtain in the inner room was suddenly pulled aside, revealing Qin Yu, who was wearing a pair of rubber gloves and standing behind the curtain with a frosty expression, looking at the two with extreme anger. She said, "Do you have any sense of public morality? This is a clinic, and there are patients and pregnant women present. Can't you think about others?"
"Sorry, we'll put it out right now!" Jack stood up somewhat awkwardly, quickly opened the door, and threw the half-burnt cigarette outside, while Thomas Xu also awkwardly tossed his cigarette out, realizing that smoking in a clinic was indeed quite immoral.
Qin Yu frowned, clearly disgusted as she waved her hand to fan away the smoke in front of her, and coldly said, "You two wait outside; don't disturb our treatment here!"
The tigress was angry, and Lin and Thomas had no choice but to leave the room in defeat. Leaning against the wall outside, Thomas Xu pulled out another pack of cigarettes, intending to light one for the two of them, but after thinking it over, he put the cigarettes away and tilted his head to Jack beside him, saying, "Lin Ge, I didn't expect this woman to be so imposing when she gets angry. Just one glare from her made me feel a bit guilty. No wonder not many of Tiger's men dare to bother her; those bastards probably feel ashamed just standing in front of her!"
"It's better for women to have a strong attitude nowadays; that way, they can protect themselves. But this Qin Yu gives me the feeling..." Jack leaned against the wall, glanced at the front door, and after a moment of thought, said, "I think her mental state isn't very good, and her coldness doesn't seem to be just her personality!"
"So you mean to say that Qin Yu is deliberately putting on a cold front?" Thomas Xu scratched his head, somewhat confused as he asked.
"Not exactly!" Jack gently shook his head and said, "She seems to be somewhat mentally exhausted. Look at the things she's brewing in her cup; they're all calming herbs. Plus, when she was angry with us just now, she was gripping the door frame with her left hand very tightly, clearly unable to control her emotions. That's why I find it strange; even if we were smoking, she shouldn't have been that furious!"
"She... wouldn't be like Number Six, would she?" Thomas Xu pointed to his own head in surprise, speculating whether Qin Yu might also have a mental illness, as irritability is a typical symptom of mental disorders.
"That shouldn't be the case, but who doesn't have some mental or psychological issues these days? I'm no exception!" Jack shook his head helplessly, not wanting to continue the topic. Smoking in the clinic was already quite inconsiderate, and gossiping about others behind their backs would be even more vulgar.
About twenty minutes later, Lu Jia and Number Six walked out one after the other. Thomas Xu hurried over to support Lu Jia and asked urgently, "How is it? Sister-in-law, is the baby okay?"
"Well, Dr. Qin said the baby's heartbeat is normal, but my nutrition might be a bit lacking; my belly is still too small!" Lu Jia gently touched her belly, looking somewhat helpless. She then turned to Jack and said, "Brother Lin, you don't need to worry too much. Although her condition is a bit serious, she can still recover with proper care!"
Jack nodded, looking at Number Six, who was holding several packets of medicine like a robot. He could only sigh helplessly in his heart.
...
The sun was gradually setting in the west. Although the clock showed six o'clock, the sunlight was still stubborn and harsh, causing a slight stinging sensation on people's skin, making everyone feel like the sun was becoming more and more like the "never-setting sun."
Jack and Thomas Xu walked slowly on the asphalt road with several women. Since it wasn't far, they didn't need to drive. Behind Jack were definitely three women: Bai Ru, Cao Mei, and Jiao Jiao. This wasn't him trying to show off by bringing three beauties; if possible, he would have preferred to take only Bai Ru. However, looking at the eager expressions of the other two women before leaving, Jack felt overwhelmed and decided to just say, "Let's go eat," and the three already dressed-up women immediately followed him in unison, obediently like three little kittens.
Walking alongside Jack, Thomas Xu was carrying several high-end gifts. He didn't dare to bring Lu Jia along, fearing others would gossip, so he only brought Bing Bing and Chen Jie, who had been chattering all the way, leading everyone slowly towards Ryan Qiang's residence.
After about five minutes of walking, they turned a corner and arrived in front of a rather large building. Although this building was only one story high, the ceiling was quite tall, and the entire exterior was made of reflective blue glass. Several golden-framed glass doors looked very grand, and two imposing stone lions were placed at the entrance. According to Thomas Xu, this used to be the developer's investment office, and aside from the high-end restaurant occupied by Tiger and his crew, this investment office was the largest building in the area.
Perhaps someone had reported their arrival, as the golden door was slowly pushed open. A group of people stood on the steps waiting for Jack and the others. As they approached, a strong middle-aged man walked down the steps under Biaozi's guidance and came to Jack. Biaozi respectfully nodded to Jack and introduced, "Brother Lin, this is my boss Ryan Qiang. Qiang Ge, this is Thomas Xu's boss, surname Lin!"
"Thank you very much, Brother Lin, for gracing my humble abode tonight. Ryan is truly honored!" Ryan Qiang said with a subtle smile, extending his hand to shake Jack's lightly, his gaze subtly assessing Jack.
Jack also smiled as he looked at Ryan Qiang, noticing that Ryan Qiang not only had a strong presence but was also in his forties, which is the most charming age for a man. He was dressed in a well-fitted black suit and had a slicked-back hairstyle. However, his slicked-back hair did not give off the impression of a nouveau riche like Hu Laoda; instead, it added to his aura of dominance. Moreover, this man's facial features were sharp and distinct, with a hint of the charm typically found in Europeans.
Jack and Ryan shook hands firmly before letting go of Ryan's somewhat rough hand, smiling as he said, "Brother Ryan, you're too polite. It's only right to come and pay a visit!"
Ryan nodded, neither proud nor flattering, simply stating in a calm manner, "I heard from Thomas and Biao that Brother Lin is quite a capable person, able to take man around Jiangcheng. That's really something to be proud of; you know our entire gathering place doesn't even dare to touch the outskirts of Jiangcheng!"
"It's just good luck!" Jack smiled faintly, brushing off the matter. He understood the principle of keeping things light in conversation; even though Ryan's unpretentious attitude gave him a good impression, he only said something ambiguous. If he said too much, and Ryan turned out to be the type to take advantage of the situation and asked Jack to take them to Jiangcheng again, it would be difficult for Jack to refuse in front of so many people.
"Brother Lin, don't be too modest. Everyone knows that luck is unreliable now; real skills are what matter for survival!" Ryan smiled again, but this time his smile carried a bit more sincerity.
Just as Ryan and Thomas were about to say something more to Jack, a dignified-looking lady descended the steps. The woman was in her early thirties, with a graceful and beautiful appearance. She wore a green backless long dress that trailed on the ground, likely dressed up for the evening dinner. Her long black hair was neatly styled at the back, and she wore light makeup. A necklace of the same style as her long dress, made of emeralds, hung elegantly on her prominent chest, making her look both noble and pleasing to the eye.
The lady walked gracefully to Ryan's side, taking his arm and lightly saying, "Brother Qiang, how can you let the guests stand at the door to talk? It won't take much time to go inside and chat, right?"
"Haha~ I indeed overlooked that!" Ryan slapped his forehead in realization, then pointed to the woman beside him and introduced, "Brother Lin, let me introduce you. This is my wife, Luo Yudie! Xiaodie, don't you want to greet Brother Lin?"
"Brother Qiang, you think too highly of me! Do you think I'm still eighteen? I can't bring myself to call someone a young man; that would be too embarrassing!"
Luo Yudie playfully rolled her eyes at Ryan, then gently extended a small hand to Jack, shaking his hand and smiling, "Our Brother Qiang is a person of character. Looking at you, Brother, you seem quite generous as well. I bet after tonight's drinks, you'll become good friends. If you don't mind, just call me sister-in-law; let's support each other more in the future!"
Luo Yudie clearly embodied the role of a wise and capable partner, and her cleverness was not off-putting. Her eloquence showcased her wisdom and generosity, without any hint of the small-mindedness typical of rural women. In just a few sentences, she created a sense of closeness, so Jack didn't want to disrupt the friendly atmosphere she had carefully cultivated. After lightly touching her hand, he immediately let go, nodding and smiling at Luo Yudie, "Brother Ryan is truly fortunate to have a capable partner like Sister Luo!"
"Little brother's luck is not worse than our family's strong brother!" Luo Yudie smiled charmingly as she glanced at the several beautiful women behind Jack, and said to Ryan Qiang beside her, "Let's go inside and chat, but the place is simple, so please forgive us if the hospitality is lacking!"
As she spoke, Luo Yudie and Ryan Qiang led everyone into the hall. The hall had probably been cleaned up long ago, looking neat and refreshing, with quite simple furnishings. Apart from some genuine leather sofas placed around, a large round table in the center, capable of seating twenty people, was particularly eye-catching.
It was evident that Ryan Qiang was not a talkative person. After Luo Yudie arranged for Jack and the others to sit down, Ryan Qiang handed a cigarette to each of the men and then sat at the main seat, chatting with Jack about some experiences. On the other hand, Luo Yudie was a woman who knew how to liven up the atmosphere, pulling Bai Ru and the others into conversation, occasionally drawing the men's attention to them, making the men laugh heartily.
At the large table, more than half of the seats were filled with Jack's people. Apart from the couple, Ryan Qiang and his wife, even Biaozi did not come to the table. After everyone had been seated for a while, Thomas Xu noticed that Ryan Qiang had no intention of starting the meal and asked, "Qiang Ge, is there anyone else coming?"
"Oh, apart from Xiaodie, everyone here is just a bunch of rough guys, so I asked Xiaohong to invite Doctor Qin over to keep us company. She should be here soon!" Ryan Qiang explained casually while smoking.
Sure enough, not long after, Thomas Hong rushed in with Qin Yu. However, both women had changed into a new set of clothes. Qin Yu had taken off her white coat from the afternoon and was now wearing a V-neck white blouse and beige casual pants, her hair casually draped over her shoulders. At this moment, she appeared less cold and more fresh. Upon seeing the full table of people, she showed little expression, merely nodded at Ryan Qiang as a greeting, and gracefully sat down at an empty spot at the large table, with no one on either side.
As for Thomas Hong, although she had also changed out of her extremely revealing outfit from the afternoon, her new attire was not much more modest. She wore a bright red tank top and tight black three-quarter leather pants, her wavy hair cascading over her round, bouncy chest. When she walked to the table and saw Jack across from her, she didn't say anything but gave him a flirtatious glance, then smiled and sat down next to Ryan Qiang, actively pouring him a cup of tea.
"Xiaohong, I told you to dress appropriately for receiving distinguished guests tonight. What are you wearing? Hurry up and change your clothes!" As soon as Thomas Hong sat down, her ample bosom practically spilled onto the table. Ryan Qiang didn't say much, but Luo Yudie immediately became displeased and turned to quietly scold Thomas Hong.
"Yes, elder sister!" Thomas Hong pouted a bit in frustration but could only helplessly stand up. After throwing Jack a sultry glance, she turned and walked towards a doorway in the hall.
"Sigh~" Luo Yudie looked at Thomas Hong's exposed thong with a speechless expression, frowning slightly while casting a complex glance at her husband, as if there were many unspoken concerns within her.