Long Xingyue remained unfazed.
"Of course. In my father's condition back then, no ordinary first-aid method could've saved him. Only the legendary Mu Family Acupuncture could have worked!"
"It's just a legend. You actually believe that?" Xiao Anning frowned slightly, clearly thinking Long Xingyue was exaggerating.
Don't think he couldn't see through Long Xingyue's motives. The Long family had always been eager to push traditional Chinese medicine development at the National Hospital.
Since they couldn't compete with Elder Xiang in research, they were now trying to paint themselves as the saviors of traditional Chinese medicine—just so they could keep clinging to the director's seat at the hospital!
Long Xingyue was simply hopeless. Old Mr. Long might've had his merits, but this son still dared challenge Elder Xiang? What a joke!
"Legends don't emerge from thin air," Long Xingyue said, still speaking in a pleasant tone.
"I know you all have your biases against traditional Chinese medicine, but I stand by my words—what our ancestors passed down over thousands of years is worth exploring deeply."
Xiao Anning clearly didn't agree and opened his mouth to argue again when the inner room door suddenly opened.
The moment Shu Lanzhou stepped out, Xiao Anning's already sour expression turned even more unpleasant.
"Hello, Shu Lanzhou. We meet again," Xiao Anning greeted her with a forced smile that didn't reach his eyes.
Let's see how this girl plans to handle their relationship now. Ungrateful brat hadn't even called him once—did she really think they couldn't do without her?
Shu Lanzhou blinked, surprised. "Assistant Xiao Anning? You're here to see Old Mr. Long? Then you might need to wait a bit—he just finished a round of acupuncture and needs to rest for a while."
"You two know each other?" Long Xingyue stood up and looked between them.
"Oh, we've met," Xiao Anning replied with a smile that was anything but friendly. "Shu Lanzhou was very brave that day. Everyone present was quite impressed."
It sounded like praise, but the tone was dripping with sarcasm. Was he still holding a grudge because she hadn't called him? Seriously?
Shu Lanzhou blinked again, then said lightly:
"Not just that day. Later, Assistant Xiao even contacted me privately, hoping I'd work as Elder Xiang's assistant. But I'm just a senior college student—how could I possibly have the nerve to approach someone like Elder Xiang?"
"Assistant Xiao really overestimates me!"
Her expression clearly said, I'm just a nobody, you big shots please leave me alone, which made Long Xingyue's eyes flash with amusement.
Shu Lanzhou didn't bother reacting to their expressions. She simply walked over to fetch some hot water. "I've still got work to do, so I'll leave you all to it."
Her words were subtle, but the implication was loud and clear: I'm saving lives here. If you've got nothing useful to say, stop getting in the way. This lady doesn't have time for nonsense.
Long Xingyue's shoulders twitched slightly—he nearly laughed out loud.
Elder Xiang's assistant had always been a bit arrogant and barely respectful toward him. If his father weren't still hospital director, that guy's ego would've inflated to the sky by now.
But now, he'd run into a real firecracker. Was it spicy enough for him?
"This girl—" Xiao Anning was so furious he nearly cursed, pointing at the closed door of the inner room.
Elder Xiang gave him a sharp look to stop him. "Arguing with a young girl—don't you feel ashamed?"
Then he turned to Long Xingyue with an apologetic expression.
"Please don't misunderstand. When Old Mr. Long collapsed, we were downstairs. By the time we got up there, that girl had already stabilized him."
"I truly admire her, which is why I wanted to take her on as a student. I didn't expect she might've misunderstood my intentions."
Long Xingyue still wore that polite, genial smile, but his words lost their earlier courtesy.
"I don't see any misunderstanding. The girl clearly rejected your offer. If I were her, I'd do the same—different fields of study. What's the point in going?"
"That's a bit narrow-minded," Elder Xiang waved it off.
"I heard she initially studied cell biology. The switch to another major in her senior year wasn't by choice. At a time like this, a helping hand might make a world of difference for her future."
Long Xingyue also waved his hand lightly. "But cell biology is still different from Elder Xiang's area of expertise. Besides, she's just an undergrad—she wouldn't fit in with your team of PhD students."
"If she ends up marginalized in your research group, just another invisible figure, why not focus on what she's good at now instead?"
Xiao Anning scoffed, "It's a niche field. No matter how good she gets, how much can she possibly achieve?"
This damned girl doesn't know what's good for her! Let's see how bright her future really turns out like this! She'll regret it—just wait!
"The old master says you're all invited in now," the inner room door opened again, and Shu Lanzhou poked her head out and pulled the door open.
Long Xingyue had been just about to retort, but he had to swallow his words.
"Elder Xiang, Assistant Xiao—please," Long Xingyue said, ever the gentleman. His words could sting, but his manners were flawless.
Getting angry and speaking in sarcasm at the drop of a hat—was that even human, or just a petty creature with no self-control?
Elder Xiang gave Xiao Anning a warning glance before standing and leading him inside.
In the hospital room, Old Mr. Long looked sharp and energetic as he rested against the bed. When he saw them, he raised a hand in greeting.
"Come in, have a seat."
Elder Xiang stepped forward to grasp his hand, and the two exchanged some pleasantries before Elder Xiang sat by the bed.
"I heard you didn't want visitors, so I didn't dare disturb you. Why did you call us here today?"
Old Mr. Long gestured to Long Xingyue to bring over a folder.
"These are the handover documents I've been working on these past few months. Originally, I was going to give them to you after the New Year. But my health didn't hold out, so I'm giving them to you now."
Elder Xiang hadn't reacted yet, but Xiao Anning's face lit up with unconcealed joy.
Shu Lanzhou glanced at him, then quietly took a step further away.
"Old Mr. Long, there's no need for this. You're still healthy. As for the position of director—" Xiang Hua was caught off guard, so much so that he didn't know what to say.
But Old Mr. Long didn't give him a chance to improvise. He cut him off.
"I'm already ninety. This time I was lucky to have been saved by the Mu family. Next time, what—do I have to die on the job?"
"My whole life has been devoted to medicine. But I don't have many years left—can't I rest for a few of them?"
"Besides, with you all still here, I have no worries. And as for this director's seat, there's no one more suitable than you. Don't keep declining."
Old Mr. Long gave his hand a pat, then withdrew his own.
"Take the transition documents home and go over them. As for Long Xingyue, he hasn't accomplished much—I never planned for him to be the director."
"The National Hospital is a public institution, not the Long family's property. My only personal wish is to expand the hospital's traditional medicine clinic. So…"
He looked at Xiang Hua. "After I retire, I hope you'll agree to a research collaboration between the National Hospital and the Mu Family Traditional Medicine Hospital?"
"Ah…" Xiang Hua was momentarily speechless.
Meanwhile, Xiao Anning was scowling internally. He knew this old man wouldn't retire quietly—he had to pave a path for his son before leaving.
Collaborate with the Traditional Medicine Hospital? Let's see how far his son can get with that!
"Of course, if you're not willing, that's fine," Old Mr. Long added calmly. "But when the time comes, Long Xingyue will leave with his team. I hope you'll sign the release paperwork without hesitation."