Chapter 30

She showed not the slightest fear when facing a boy twice her size, beating him until he rolled all over the ground and knocking out several of his teeth. Even calling them street thugs would be an exaggeration. Mu Yicheng had already guessed as much, intending to look into it thoroughly after she returned home. Little did he expect that he would be the one to experience the outcome firsthand. Although feeling disgusted at being inexplicably touched by a strange man, Ye Chunxi knew she had been too heavy-handed and reluctantly spoke up, "I can pay for the medical expenses. Judging by your tailored suit, I advise you to act like a gentleman, don't waste such a fine appearance, and don't harbor any delusions of taking advantage of me here." Mu Yicheng, who had been injured and then scolded: "..." Jin Yuchuan let out a soft scoff, his hand tentatively resting on Ye Chunxi's shoulder. "It's fine, he won't blame you." He glanced sideways, his eyes smiling as he looked at Mu Yicheng. "Isn't that right, Ah Heng?" Mu Yicheng's gaze was fixed intently on his hand, and he felt a sharp ache in his chest. Ye Chunxi frowned slightly, turned her head, and questioned, "You two know each other?" Seeming somewhat uncomfortable under Mu Yicheng's overly intense gaze, Jin Yuchuan withdrew his hand and calmly explained, "The Mu family has always funded the Medical Alliance. I was only able to get into this seminar thanks to the favor of the eldest young master of the Mu family." Hearing this, Ye Chunxi looked at Mu Yicheng again, her eyes carrying a trace of disdain. Mu Yicheng knew his previous actions had been presumptuous, especially since his younger sister no longer remembered him, and previously they had barely been considered acquaintances. He secretly adjusted his posture to ease the pain in his chest, pulled back the hand his secretary was holding to steady him, and straightened his lapel. "Let's go inside." His recovery was so fast that Ye Chunxi raised an eyebrow, an indescribable sense of weirdness washing over her. Not thinking too much about it, she quietly followed Jin Yuchuan inside under Mu Yicheng's guidance. Having been knocked to the ground, the back of Mu Yicheng's suit was stained with dust, giving him a weirdly comical look that made the corners of Ye Chunxi's lips curve into a smile. They were guided straight into the conference hall, taking seats in the rearmost corner where they could clearly hear various industry giants sharing their thoughts on Alzheimer's disease and their visions for treatment plans. Ye Chunxi was astonished. This seminar was hosted by the Medical Alliance, the most authoritative medical organization in the country, and everyone present was a top-tier professional in the field. Under normal circumstances, unless personally invited by the Alliance, outsiders shouldn't have been able to get in. Jin Yuchuan noticed her confusion and explained, "The Mu family provides the lion's share of the funding for the Alzheimer's project, and has continued to do so for over a decade." No wonder Mu Yicheng held such immense privilege. Up on the stage, an elderly man seated in the central position was speaking. He was likely the vice president of the Medical Alliance. Several other leaders spoke in succession, followed by a renowned neurology expert who reported on recent progress in the treatment of Alzheimer's disease and elaborated on several new treatment protocols. Just then, Mu Yicheng quietly pushed the door open and entered. He had changed into a fresh suit and restyled his hair. He walked over, sat down beside Jin Yuchuan, and listened in silence. Ye Chunxi showed little interest in this, leaning her body slightly to the side as a trace of weariness crept over her. "Next up is the open discussion session." The moderator of the seminar was an elderly man from the Medical Alliance and a renowned neurology expert. Looking out at the audience, he spoke in a warm voice, "Anyone with fresh perspectives on the treatment protocols should feel free to speak up. Let us pool our wisdom and discuss together." Everyone present consisted of medical specialists who had come well-prepared, and they quickly proposed several plans, though none were entirely comprehensive. In the corner, a fair-skinned, delicate girl listened intently to the speeches on stage, occasionally lowering her head to mark revisions on her manuscript. The elderly man on stage cast a precise gaze toward her, his aged face breaking into a warm, indescribably benevolent smile. "Yue, my girl, do you have any insights to share?" Hearing herself being called, Qiao Tiyue raised her head. Noticing the old man's burning gaze, Qiao Tiyue clutched her manuscript—which already bore several marks of revision—and walked up to the podium with a hint of timidity. "Some humble insights from this junior, still with many shortcomings. I ask all of you to offer your guidance and corrections." Her modest attitude instantly won people over. Her voice was gentle and soothing, and through the microphone, it felt like a gentle spring breeze sweeping by. It swept away all of Ye Chunxi's sleepiness, causing her to look toward the stage. The young girl possessed a tall and slender figure, with a hair stick pinning back her locks while straight, sleek strands fell down, one side resting against her chest. A well-fitted, tailored cheongsam hugged her impossibly slender waist, and its cyan-green hue made her skin look even fairer. Unlike traditional cheongsams that only reached the knees, her skirt had a looser hem where the faint shadows of bamboo stalks were visible. It possessed a classic, fresh, and elegant aesthetic, effortlessly radiating the aura of a well-bred young lady of a distinguished family. She looked somewhat reserved, feeling intimidated in the presence of so many big names. Taking a deep breath to rein in her nervousness, she spoke slowly in a soft voice, "Some humble insights from this junior, still with many shortcomings. I ask all of you to offer your guidance and corrections." Her voice was gentle and soothing, and through the microphone, it felt like a gentle spring breeze sweeping by. It swept away all of Ye Chunxi's sleepiness, causing her to look toward the stage. The young girl possessed a tall and slender figure, with a hair stick pinning back her locks while straight, sleek strands fell down, one side resting against her chest. A well-fitted, tailored cheongsam hugged her impossibly slender waist, and its cyan-green hue made her skin look even fairer. Unlike traditional cheongsams that only reached the knees, her skirt had a looser hem where the faint shadows of bamboo stalks were visible. It possessed a classic, fresh, and elegant aesthetic, effortlessly radiating the aura of a well-bred young family lady. Meanwhile, everyone in the room turned their gaze toward her. Qiao Tiyue expounded on her ideas, integrating the characteristics of Traditional Chinese Medicine, emphasizing syndrome differentiation and holistic treatment, which sparked considerable discussion among the attendees. "That concludes my presentation. I welcome everyone's criticisms and corrections. Thank you all." Having finished her speech, Qiao Tiyue bowed. The others in the meeting room broke into applause. Jiang Huai was not particularly well-versed in this specific area, but during the speech, he noticed those around him deep in thought, whispering discussions and nodding repeatedly, suggesting the presentation was quite good. Based on her insights into Traditional Chinese Medicine and the old man's earlier form of address, Jiang Huai roughly guessed her identity. Once the seminar ended, Jiang Huai went straight up to Qiao Tiyue. "Miss Qiao." She was in the midst of organizing the documents from the meeting when she paused at the sound of this form of address. Turning her head, she met Jiang Huai's gaze. "May I help you with something?" Qiao Tiyue asked calmly, showing not a shred of panic at having her identity pierced. "It truly is a surprise to run into you here." Jiang Huai handed over his business card and generously stated his request, "I have a patient whose condition is critical. We've exhausted every resource just to keep him hanging by a thread, so I was hoping to ask Elder Qiao to step in." When Qiao Tiyue caught sight of the name on the card, her pupils constricted slightly. Jiang Huai was a medical prodigy whose exceptional skills had made him famous across the land at a young age, standing at the very pinnacle of internal medicine. If even he was helpless, the patient's condition must indeed be grave, which explained why he needed to seek out her grandfather. However...