Jingcheng University.
Shao Garden.
Historically, this was once a garden built by a Ming Dynasty calligrapher. Inspired by the phrase “a spoonful of Haidian”, it was named Shao Garden (Spoon Garden). By the late Ming Dynasty, it had already become a famous, tranquil retreat in the western suburbs. Later, during the early Qing Dynasty, the famously romantic Emperor Qianlong renamed it Jixian Garden (Garden of Gathering Talents), transforming it into a lodging place exclusively for receiving Western diplomatic missions.
Unfortunately, the once-magnificent imperial garden has long since become part of Jingcheng University. Modern high-rises now stand on its former grounds. After centuries of change, Shao Garden has once again become a place for hosting foreign guests, earning the nickname “Little United Nations.”
Today, the first stop of the Sino-Western Medical Exchange was set here. In a way, this Western medical delegation could also be considered a diplomatic mission.
After asking a few students for directions, Jiang Fei and Bai Ruoxi made their way to the venue.
Outside Shao Garden, security personnel were already on duty, and a group of elegantly dressed women from the etiquette team, draped with banners, welcomed journalists and guests.
Entry required credentials—press passes for reporters, guest passes for attendees.
It was unclear whether the Chinese Medical Association or the Western delegation had orchestrated it, but the atmosphere around today’s exchange was unusually intense. Not only had The Journal of Traditional Chinese Medicine published multiple previews, but even People’s Daily had given it prominent coverage the day before. Relevant authorities had also notified major media outlets to send reporters for live coverage.
This was why Bai Ruoxi had mentioned earlier that some of her colleagues would be here.
Of course, these were all state-affiliated journalists—not tabloid reporters chasing gossip. This event belonged to the political and civil affairs section, not entertainment.
As Jiang Fei and Bai Ruoxi arrived at Shao Garden’s entrance, Cui Xiuping hurried over.
“Jiang Fei, you’re finally here! I thought you overslept. I was about to call you!”
“I came an hour early,” Jiang Fei said with a smile. “I took a stroll around the campus to see what my dream university looks like. By the way, do we really need passes to get in? My girlfriend wants to come in later—is that okay?”
Bai Ruoxi, standing beside him, shook her head gently. “If the entry requirements are strict, I don’t have to go in. I don’t know much about medicine anyway.”
“No problem at all,” Cui Xiuping said quickly. “All guest passes are issued by the Chinese Medical Association. I’ll have someone bring one right away.”
In no time, a temporary pass with a green lanyard was delivered.
You’re practically the next president of the Chinese Medical Association. Your girlfriend might as well be the First Lady. Of course she can get in!
If not for Jiang Fei’s sudden involvement, Cui Xiuping would have been under immense pressure today—bearing the brunt of the competition against the Western delegation.
But now that Jiang Fei was here, most of the responsibility had shifted to him. Cui Xiuping felt a mix of disappointment and relief. He had seen Jiang Fei’s skills firsthand and had absolute confidence in him. Even as the renowned “Young Master Cui, the Miracle Doctor,” he found Jiang Fei’s techniques unfathomable.
Today, he was eager to see Jiang Fei showcase his abilities and restore traditional Chinese medicine’s glory.
The three quickly entered Shao Garden, which had been temporarily converted into a medical demonstration hall. Reporters and guests filled the seats below. Before Jiang Fei could join the main Chinese medical team, a man and a woman intercepted them.
The man carried a camera on his shoulder, while the woman held a microphone with an earpiece. The press pass around her neck identified her as a reporter from Bai Ruoxi’s workplace—the country’s largest state-run newspaper.
“I thought I recognized you from behind! So it really is you, Ruoxi!” the woman said brightly. “Didn’t you say you were spending time with your boyfriend? Why are you here?”
Her sharp eyes quickly noticed something unusual. “Wait—you’re not here to report. You have a guest pass? You’re attending as a guest?”
Bai Ruoxi sighed inwardly. She had known about her newspaper’s coverage of the event for days, which was why she had jokingly told Jiang Fei not to embarrass her in front of her colleagues.
But she hadn’t mentioned that her boyfriend would be the center of today’s exchange—she wasn’t one to show off.
The reporter, answering her own question, glanced between Jiang Fei and Cui Xiuping. “So, your boyfriend is one of these two, right?”
Jiang Fei grinned. “Who do you think it is?”
Without hesitation, she pointed at Jiang Fei. “Obviously you!”
“Why?”
“Because you’re better-looking! Our top beauty reporter has high standards.”
Jiang Fei burst out laughing. “State media journalists really do have integrity—always telling the truth!”
Cui Xiuping’s expression darkened. Was that really necessary?
Admittedly, Jiang Fei did look natural in traditional robes, effortlessly outshining him despite this being his first time wearing one.
But did they have to say it out loud?
First, he couldn’t compete in medical skills—now even his looks were being insulted?
Bai Ruoxi rolled her eyes. The reporter chuckled. “Your boyfriend’s quite the character, Ruoxi. I was just teasing, but he ran with it.”
“That’s just how he is,” Bai Ruoxi said dryly.
The reporter extended a hand. “I’m Xu Ziqi, Ruoxi’s colleague.”
Jiang Fei shook it. “Jiang Fei. Ruoxi’s boyfriend.”
“I’ve heard about you—the man who won over the most beautiful reporter in the industry. Finally meeting you in person.” Xu Ziqi’s gaze lingered on their robes and badges. “Wait, you’re representing Chinese medicine today?”
Before Jiang Fei could answer, Cui Xiuping cut in, still miffed. “Yes. And this handsome guy here is our main representative—the one carrying the entire weight of the competition.”
Xu Ziqi’s eyes widened. “Ruoxi, you never told me your boyfriend was a miracle doctor! I heard only the best of the best are participating today—the elite of Chinese medicine!” She turned to Jiang Fei. “After the event, can I get an exclusive interview?”
“Of course,” Jiang Fei said.
“Thank you! But… you’d better win. This Western delegation seems aggressive—like they’re here to crush Chinese medicine. If you lose too badly, I might have to cancel the interview.”
Jiang Fei smirked. “Don’t worry. I didn’t come here to lose.”
With time running short, Jiang Fei and Cui Xiuping excused themselves. Bai Ruoxi joined her colleagues in the guest area, while the two doctors headed backstage.
Once they were alone, Jiang Fei’s cheerful demeanor faded. His eyes narrowed thoughtfully.
“Something’s off today. I smell a conspiracy.”
Cui Xiuping’s expression turned serious. “I noticed it too. The scale of this event is… unusual.”
Jiang Fei chuckled. “Seems the Western side is confident they’ll win. They probably want to humiliate Chinese medicine in front of the entire media.” He paused. “Besides surgery, what else are we competing in?”
Surgery had been the first confirmed event—a deliberate choice by the Western delegation, knowing it was Chinese medicine’s weakest area. The Chinese Medical Association had initially protested, but Jiang Fei had agreed without hesitation.
Let them have their advantage.
Chinese medicine had pioneered surgical techniques centuries before the West—like the legendary “scraping poison from bone” or the ancient anesthetic Mafeisan. Though much of that knowledge had been lost, Jiang Fei, with his Level 8 mastery, knew it all.
“They’ve decided on one more,” Cui Xiuping said. “But I don’t know what they’re plotting. They want to compete in treating localized blood stasis and congestion.”
