Chapter Nineteen: The Ruse of Self-Sacrifice

Yan Yuanqing frowned slightly.

“You came to see me today just for this?”

Yuan Hongyu was momentarily taken aback. A sense of foreboding crept into his heart, for he sensed Yan Yuanqing seemed somewhat displeased.

“Yes.”

“Then please leave. I have absolutely no interest in taking up a position at the hospital.”

“I prefer a quiet, low-key life. If I go to the hospital, sooner or later I’ll become famous, and that would disrupt my life.”

“It would also affect my wife’s life. If someone truly needs my help, they’ll find me regardless. My presence at the hospital or elsewhere makes no difference.”

As soon as Yuan Hongyu sensed trouble, he had already anticipated Yan Yuanqing might refuse him, but he hadn’t expected such bluntness.

“Master, please reconsider! I came today with a sincere invitation from Cangzhou Central Hospital, hoping you’d agree to consult for us!”

Yuan Hongyu clasped his hands and bowed slightly, his manner deeply respectful.

“Do you need me to repeat myself? Since you call me ‘Master,’ you should understand the rules.”

Yan Yuanqing’s piercing gaze fell upon Yuan Hongyu, filling him with a subtle sense of pressure.

Yuan Hongyu’s heart skipped a beat.

It seemed his master’s level was even higher than he had imagined.

If they truly failed to invite his master to the hospital, it would be an enormous loss for Central Hospital.

Yuan Hongyu made a silent decision—no matter what, he must put everything on the line to obtain his master’s consent.

Noticing Yuan Hongyu didn’t move, Yan Yuanqing turned back to his medical texts.

“If you want to keep standing there like that, go ahead. If you wish to leave, do so at once. I’ll pretend nothing happened. But as for your request, I will not agree!”

“Then I’ll remain here until you do, Master!”

Yan Yuanqing’s hand paused as he turned a page, but then resumed reading in a smooth, natural motion.

Time ticked by, minute after minute. An hour passed. When Yan Yuanqing looked up, he found Yuan Hongyu still standing exactly as before, unmoving. Only now, his face was pale, and beads of sweat glistened on his forehead.

Sigh.

Why put yourself through this?

Whether I go to the hospital or not—how much does it really matter to you?

Summoning his last reserves of strength, Yuan Hongyu spoke with difficulty.

“I can’t bear to see even a moment of Master’s talent wasted. Even if you can’t accept my original terms—”

“—I beg you, Master, to come to Central Hospital just one day each week, on Sundays! I swear only those most in need will be allowed to see you!”

“Not a drop of your energy will be wasted!”

Staring at this stubborn man before him, Yan Yuanqing sighed once more.

He walked over to Yuan Hongyu and gently helped him straighten up. Yuan Hongyu instantly let out a pained, ragged breath.

“You’re not young anymore, yet you still resort to such desperate measures. Fine, I agree. As you said, one day a week, Sundays. But you must guarantee the patients I see are truly in need.”

“If you make me deal with headaches and the common cold, don’t blame me if I turn hostile!”

“Thank you, Master!”

Yuan Hongyu was overjoyed. He began to bow in gratitude but was halted by a sharp stab of pain in his lower back, crying out involuntarily.

“That’s enough. Go get some rest. Don’t exert yourself for the next couple of days, or you’ll risk injuring your muscles!”

The two of them made their way to the living room, but Yan Yuanqing glanced around and did not see where Shi Yurou had gone.

He didn’t insist on looking for her. After all, whatever Shi Yurou chose to do rarely had anything to do with him.

Yan Yuanqing knew Shi Yurou had always been a fiercely independent woman, and of course she had her expectations of her husband.

Ever since she’d lost all hope in him, their interactions had dwindled to almost nothing. In truth, this was just the way of things.