After finishing the recruitment of doctors, Jiang Fei spent some time chatting with his former university advisor, Tian Shanshan. Amidst Tian’s nostalgic sighs, heartfelt praises, and words of pride, Jiang Fei finally managed to extricate himself after what felt like an eternity.
However, instead of rushing off, Jiang Fei decided to linger on campus. He headed to a student café he hadn’t visited in a long time, ordered a pot of tea, and settled in to wait for someone. As he waited, his phone suddenly rang. The caller ID showed an unfamiliar number.
“Hello, who’s this?” Jiang Fei asked casually, not particularly concerned. He often received calls from strangers these days, most of them seeking medical help. He had no idea how his phone number had gotten out, but ever since he gained fame as a “miracle doctor,” his phone had been ringing nonstop. It was starting to feel like he was running a hotline for fake IDs!
Jiang Fei had already decided that once his private clinic opened, he would change his number. Otherwise, his quality of life would take a serious hit. Even doctors needed rest and personal time, right? Patients could just call the clinic’s official number, where a dedicated staff member would handle inquiries.
“Is this Dr. Jiang Fei?” a middle-aged woman’s voice came through the line.
“Yes, it’s me,” Jiang Fei replied, a bit grumpily. The moment he heard the title “Dr. Jiang,” he knew this was another medical request. Since his clinic was closed today, he figured the caller had gone there, found it closed, and decided to call him directly.
But Jiang Fei was only half right this time. While the caller did want him to treat someone, they had no intention of visiting his clinic.
“Dr. Jiang, do you have time right now? We’d like you to come to the Jin Cheng Grand Hotel. There’s a young lady here who needs your help,” the woman said politely, but her tone carried no hint of a request. Instead, it sounded more like an order, as if Jiang Fei had no choice but to comply.
Her tone was icy and arrogant.
Jiang Fei couldn’t help but chuckle at the woman’s tone, reminded of how Ye Yuanyuan had initially approached him to treat her grandfather’s legs. But at least Ye Yuanyuan had been somewhat polite at first. This woman was even more domineering!
“What’s the issue?” Jiang Fei asked, though his mood was already soured. Still, his duty as a doctor compelled him to inquire.
“She’s having throat discomfort and has lost her voice. We’d like you to come and treat her,” the woman replied, still speaking as if it were a given that Jiang Fei would drop everything and rush over.
Jiang Fei’s irritation grew. Throat discomfort? You want me to travel all the way to a hotel just to treat a sore throat? Who do you think you are—the Goddess of Mercy or the Queen Mother of the West?
Do you think I, the so-called “King of Acupuncture,” have nothing better to do than run around treating sore throats? I’m a busy man!
As he sipped his tea and listened to the soothing music playing in the café, Jiang Fei fumed internally.
“If it’s just a sore throat from inflammation, take some anti-inflammatory pills. If it’s tonsillitis or pharyngitis, get some lung-clearing and intestine-moistening medicine. Or just go to any pharmacy and get some medication. I don’t have time to go to a hotel for something like this. Thank you!” Jiang Fei said, trying to keep his patience, and was about to hang up.
But the woman quickly interjected, “We’ve already tried other doctors, but they couldn’t help quickly. This isn’t a simple inflammation—it’s a vocal cord injury! That’s why we need you to come to the Jin Cheng Grand Hotel!”
“If it’s a vocal cord injury, then she needs to rest her voice, avoid fatigue, and maintain a proper diet with plenty of water and vegetables. That’s all. Goodbye,” Jiang Fei said curtly and hung up.
Jiang Fei was generally easygoing. If someone treated him with respect, he would return it tenfold. Even after becoming a renowned doctor, he had never been harsh with patients who came to him sincerely. But he had a firm rule: he didn’t respond well to arrogance or demands. This woman’s tone had rubbed him the wrong way.
Not even half a minute after hanging up, the phone rang again. It was the same woman.
“Do you know who I am?” she asked, her tone even colder and now laced with anger. Clearly, being hung up on hadn’t sat well with her.
“How would I know who you are?” Jiang Fei replied gruffly.
“I’m Qiao Yiyi’s manager! I’m asking you to come to the Jin Cheng Grand Hotel to treat Qiao Yiyi!” the woman said, raising her voice.
“Qiao Yiyi?” Jiang Fei was momentarily stunned by the name.
“Yes! So hurry up and come to the hotel. Otherwise, I’ll just call another doctor!” the woman said smugly, clearly expecting Jiang Fei to apologize and beg for the opportunity.
But instead, Jiang Fei’s anger flared. “What does it matter if you’re Qiao Yiyi’s manager? If you can call another doctor, then why are you bothering me? Do you think I have nothing better to do? If you want treatment, come to my clinic. Otherwise, don’t waste my time!”
With that, he hung up again and set his phone to silent mode.
Although the name Qiao Yiyi sounded vaguely familiar, Jiang Fei didn’t dwell on it. To him, every patient was the same. If someone wanted his help, they needed to approach him with respect. Just like when he treated Ye Zhennan’s legs—it wasn’t until Ye Zhennan personally asked him politely that Jiang Fei agreed.
Someone like this manager, who tried to bully him into compliance, would never get his cooperation.
“Hey, who’s got our little Fei so worked up? How dare they!” a playful female voice chimed in from behind Jiang Fei.
“Who else? Probably our ‘most beautiful reporter,’ Bai Ruoxi,” a male voice teased in response.
Jiang Fei turned around and saw a couple walking toward him. “Ugh! It’s been so long, and you two are still as annoying as ever!” he joked.
The couple, Zeng Tong and He Yuxuan, were both wearing glasses. Zeng Tong was about the same height and build as Jiang Fei, while He Yuxuan was petite, barely reaching 1.6 meters. Together, they embodied the term “height difference couple.”
Zeng Tong had been Jiang Fei’s roommate and best friend during university. After graduation, Zeng Tong had been admitted to the university’s graduate program and later stayed on as staff. Jiang Fei had specifically called him out to catch up during his visit to the campus.
Jiang Fei stood up, and Zeng Tong left He Yuxuan’s side to give Jiang Fei a hearty hug.
“Hey, hey, hey! Can you two not be so touchy-feely in public? Even if I don’t mind, you should at least consider the onlookers!” He Yuxuan teased with a laugh.
Despite her small stature, He Yuxuan had a mischievous personality and a bit of a fangirl streak. Having been with Zeng Tong for so long, she was comfortable joking around with Jiang Fei.
“Your wife’s jealous,” Jiang Fei said, pushing Zeng Tong back toward He Yuxuan.
He Yuxuan dodged playfully, pretending to be upset. “Of course I’m jealous! Usually, when I come to see him, he finishes his work before paying attention to me. But today, the moment you called, he dropped everything. Sigh… I never thought I’d lose out to a man.”
Zeng Tong and Jiang Fei exchanged amused glances. They were used to He Yuxuan’s antics.
The three of them sat down, and Jiang Fei poured tea for everyone. Zeng Tong brought up the earlier phone call. “So, who got you so upset earlier? Wasn’t it Bai Ruoxi?”
“Nope! I haven’t talked to her in ages,” Jiang Fei said, glancing at the couple, who were now cuddling shamelessly. He continued, “It was some probably deranged person who called, demanding I go to a hotel to treat some woman’s sore throat. And the worst part? The tone was more arrogant than the National Security Bureau!”
“Treating a sore throat at a hotel?” Zeng Tong gave Jiang Fei a meaningful look and smirked. “Bro, was it a ‘lady of the night’ calling?”
He emphasized the term “lady of the night,” making his implication clear.
These two were truly a match made in heaven—both equally shameless!
Jiang Fei glared at Zeng Tong and continued, “I don’t know. She said it was for someone named Qiao Yiyi. She even threatened me. Honestly, there’s no shortage of crazy people these days…”
Before Jiang Fei could finish, Zeng Tong and He Yuxuan both exclaimed in unison, “Qiao Yiyi?”
“What, do you know her? Is she an old friend or classmate? No wonder the name sounded familiar…” Jiang Fei asked, puzzled.
If this person was an old acquaintance who had been joking with him, then her earlier tone might be excusable.
“Qiao Yiyi, the hottest singer of the past two years! Fei, don’t tell me you’ve never heard of her? She’s He Yuxuan’s favorite singer right now…” Zeng Tong said, exasperated.
He Yuxuan widened her eyes in disbelief. “It can’t be Qiao Yiyi. Why would she call you…”