Chapter 123: Kowtowing to Acknowledge a Master

Just as Hong Chen’s lips were about to brush against that smooth, fair cheek, Lin Yuxin suddenly tossed her hair. As her swan-like neck turned to the other side, Hong Chen missed his mark, and as she turned back, her hair swept across his face.

The hair was soft, carrying a pleasant and enchanting fragrance. It didn’t hurt at all as it struck his face, yet Hong Chen sat bolt upright as if he had been punched, inadvertently tugging on Lin Yuxin’s small hand.

Lin Yuxin cast a sidelong glance at him with her beautiful eyes before turning her gaze back to the giant screen. The image on the screen had changed; the sky was blue, the sun was bright, and the manor was filled with blooming flowers and lush greenery.

Hong Chen smiled silently, though his mood was not as pleasant as the scenery on the screen. Holding hands was permitted, but a kiss was refused—this was clearly how she defined their current relationship.

If they were a couple who had just started dating and were seeing a movie for the first time, holding hands—while not exactly surprising—should have been enough to be satisfied with. However, Hong Chen and Lin Yuxin were husband and wife. Even if it was a marriage of convenience, they still shared the history of sleeping in the same room for over seven hundred nights. Being denied a kiss left Hong Chen feeling somewhat lost and disappointed.

In the two-plus years of their marriage, they had done more than just share a room; they hadn't even shared a single kiss. It was a shame that, tonight, that zero-breakthrough remained unrealized.

What he didn’t know was that Lin Yuxin’s hair-tossing movement had been purely accidental. After Hong Chen pulled his face back, she realized his intentions with a belated awareness, feeling a mix of amusement and helplessness.

They spoke of starting over, but life experiences are not so easily erased. She and Hong Chen had known each other for a long time and had even moved past the initial adjustment period. "Familiar strangers" or "familiar acquaintances"—they were effectively standing on either side of an emotional threshold. One could say they were worlds apart, or one could say they were only a step away.

Now that she had decided to accept Hong Chen, she had effectively stepped across that emotional threshold. How, then, could she resist his small gestures of affection?

Of course, like Hong Chen, Lin Yuxin had no experience with a proper romance. To expect her to be as proactive as she was in the business world would be asking too much of her. Thus, she chose to ignore the situation and remained silent.

For the next hour or so, Hong Chen made no further overstepping attempts. He held Lin Yuxin’s hand properly and watched the movie with peace of mind.

It was past ten o'clock when they left the theater. Hong Chen suggested getting a late-night snack, but Lin Yuxin declined. Tomorrow was Monday, and there was a senior management meeting at nine in the morning. Hong Chen didn't press the matter and drove Lin Yuxin home.

Half an hour later, the BMW pulled up under their apartment building. Lin Yuxin didn't rush to get out. She hesitated and said, "Are you renting a place or staying in a hotel now... Why don't you move back in?"

Hong Chen’s expression was obscure and difficult to read. He wanted to say, "Why don't you move out and live with me?" but his reason ultimately forced him to swallow the words. It wasn't that he felt the need to hide the fact that he owned a villa, nor was he unwilling to share a higher quality of life with Lin Yuxin. It was simply that in the coming period—with the power struggle in the Qing City entertainment industry, the Medical Saint Tournament, and the takeover of the Luo family’s assets in Nan City—there were so many things to juggle. He needed to be able to manage his time freely, and living alone was more convenient.

"Let's talk about it after a while."

Lin Yuxin didn't force the issue. After a moment’s thought, she took a credit card out of her purse and handed it to him. "You’re on your own out there; you should always have some money for emergencies. This card has a credit limit of one hundred thousand."

Just as Hong Chen raised his hand to decline, Lin Yuxin emphasized, "It’s not for you to squander; just keep it as a backup."

Seeing that familiar expression of hers—the "I have decided, say no more"—Hong Chen took the card, glanced at both sides, and chuckled. "You used to give me only three thousand a month. When did you become so generous?"

Lin Yuxin narrowed her eyes, her gaze turning dangerous. Hong Chen stopped teasing and tucked the card into his pocket.

"Alright, I'm going up. You should get some rest, too." Waving goodbye, Lin Yuxin pushed the door open and stepped out. Hong Chen watched her walk into the building, took out the bank card again to look at it, shook his head with a smile, and then started the car to reverse.

...

Two days later.

Hong Chen got up early, washed up, ate breakfast, and walked out of the villa complex. Finding a secluded spot, he put on a hat, black-rimmed glasses, and a mask before hailing a taxi to the exhibition center.

Today was the second round of the Medical Saint Tournament: the Top Ten to Top Three.

He arrived at half-past nine and went straight to the changing room to put on the competition uniform provided by the organizers, then headed to the exclusive lounge for the Baojian Clinic. Before long, Qi Gang arrived.

"I can't hold on much longer," Qi Gang complained as soon as he saw Hong Chen. "The five Baojian Clinic branches are seeing triple the number of patients daily compared to before. The three doctors and I haven't had a day of rest since last week. Those forty appointment slots you gave me? They were snapped up in less than ten minutes after I posted them on the website. Those who didn't get one are cursing in the comment section—there's a long string of over five hundred messages..."

Hong Chen patiently waited for him to finish his grievances and said calmly, "Good business is a good thing. You can handle the daily operations as you see fit."

Qi Gang almost spat blood; this "hands-off boss" approach was truly thorough.

"Fine, let’s set aside the daily operations. But there is one thing that can no longer be delayed. So far, fourteen families have extended an olive branch, including the Jiang family, the Lu family, and three quasi-first-tier families. After today's match, once you advance, you must make a decision."

Seeing the grave look on Qi Gang’s face, Hong Chen knew the pressure from those families must be significant. This kind of cooperation might seem like he held the initiative, but in reality, he was being forced into a choice. A handshake would become a boost, but refusing one would become an obstacle.

In the previous round, it was Hong Chen’s debut. No matter how impressive it was, those families still held onto their chips to observe. Once this round was over, it would be time to place their bets. He had to give a clear answer: accept or reject.

Hong Chen pondered for a moment, then simply nodded and said, "I have it under control."

Since Hong Chen said he had it under control, Qi Gang didn't press further. He glanced at his watch. "Let's enter in about five or six minutes."

Hong Chen had no objections. He tossed a cigarette to Qi Gang, lit one for himself, and after smoking, they left the room together.

The layout of Hall No. 1 was similar to the previous match, though there were over a hundred more seats in the audience, and the dozens of temporary booths on stage had been replaced by ten large rooms that were double the depth and width.

Hong Chen and Qi Gang entered low-key, but they were still quickly noticed.

"Divine Doctor Hong! It’s Divine Doctor Hong!" A high-pitched, excited female voice rang out. Then, everyone’s gaze shifted, and a dozen men and women rushed over like hungry wolves.

This unexpected scene left Hong Chen baffled. Qi Gang’s expression shifted slightly as he scanned the crowd and recognized the faces in the front—they were the two men and two women who had pestered Hong Chen to take them as apprentices at the first clinic and had even taken a group photo with him.

Qi Gang’s face darkened. He stepped forward and shouted, "Zhang Qiang, Zhao Xin, Wang Rui, Ma Lan, what do you think you’re doing?"

Three meters in front of Qi Gang, the four of them skidded to a halt, and the dozen or so people behind them also stopped. Zhang Qiang gestured to the people behind him and reported loudly, "Chief Qi, they are all my classmates. Like me, they want to join the Baojian Clinic!"

"Which medical skill in China is the best? The Baojian Clinic in Qing City, X Province!"

"To die without seeing Divine Doctor Hong is to have lived a hundred years in vain!"

As soon as he finished, the dozen people shouted in unison!

The previously noisy venue suddenly became very quiet. Everyone looked at each other with expressions that were indescribably strange.

Hong Chen’s gaze swept slowly over their serious faces before landing on Qi Gang. Qi Gang’s skin turned a bit red, but his eyes sparkled with excitement. He gave Hong Chen an awkward laugh and scratched his head. "Well, those four students last time passed the test and officially became assistant doctors at the clinic. I told them to scout for more good talent at the school. The clinic needs to expand, and our reserve strength must keep up."

Hong Chen was silent for a few seconds before saying softly, "Then you deal with it."

Qi Gang nodded without hesitation, then straightened his expression. With the aura of a clinic manager, he scanned the crowd with electric eyes and said sternly, "Joining the Baojian Clinic requires passing an assessment. This is a competition venue—return to your seats!"

Zhang Qiang responded, but he didn't retreat immediately. He looked at Hong Chen with awe and said in a booming voice, "Divine Doctor Hong, according to your requirements, I have passed the Baojian Clinic’s test and officially become an assistant doctor. Please take me as your apprentice. Master, please accept your disciple’s kowtow!"

Saying this, he dropped to his knees and began to kowtow to Hong Chen.

"And me! And me! And me..." Zhao Xin and the others acted quickly, kneeling one after another. As if they didn't feel pain, they slammed their foreheads against the marble floor, creating a sound like a beating drum.

The crowd was stunned, and Hong Chen was stunned too. What was this? When had he agreed to take apprentices?

"Brother Chen, you said it yourself last time: to learn from you, one must join the Baojian Clinic as an assistant doctor. They are all top students from the five-year Traditional Chinese Medicine program at the Medical University. They meet all the qualifications. I let them be assistants because they haven't graduated yet. In four months, when they officially graduate, they can be promoted to attending doctors. Since you’ve already said it, even if you don't care about the empty title, you have to consider the reputation of the Baojian Clinic. In front of all these people, you must not break your word."

The whisper, kept low enough for only the two of them to hear, reached his ears. Hong Chen turned his head, looked deeply at Qi Gang’s earnest and sincere face, and after a slight silence, he suddenly smiled.

"You’re quite something. It wasn't in vain that you put in so much effort. From now on, you are their senior apprentice brother. I’ll just lead them through the door; the careful training will be up to you."

With that, Hong Chen patted Qi Gang on the shoulder. It looked like a light tap, but it made Qi Gang’s lips twitch, and he gasped several times in pain.