As Mi Xue and the others were talking, Director Zhao's wife approached, holding a plate of freshly washed apples, warmly treating them.

Hu Xin was the least reserved. He took an apple, thanked her, and immediately took a huge bite, walking straight to the ward while crunching the apple, cautiously peeking through the window.

Inside, Zhang Yang was continuously applying needles. The needles already inserted were vibrating slightly, creating faint afterimages. Several needles were quivering simultaneously, giving off an indescribably eerie sight.

Gu Cheng and Xiao Dai also crowded over, watching Zhang Yang perform the acupuncture through the glass. What they witnessed this time was even more astonishing than when Zhang Yang treated Aunt Zhou previously.

"I didn't realize Zhang Yang was keeping his true abilities hidden!"

Xiao Dai murmured softly, her eyes filled with deep admiration. For those studying medicine, they clearly understood what such medical skill signified.

In that moment, Xiao Dai seemed to grasp Zhang Yang a little better. He rejected the hospital's special recruitment offer for the sake of freedom. With this level of medical skill, he wouldn't have to worry anywhere he went, which was certainly much better than being tied down to a hospital job.

If she possessed such skill, perhaps she too would dare to refuse the special offer—that was true confidence.

Of course, these were just thoughts; she didn't have Zhang Yang's capital. If a hospital truly offered her a special recruitment, she would probably be too excited to sleep.

Inside the ward, Zhang Yang took a towel to wipe the sweat from his brow and sat down on the nearby sofa.

He had finished the needling for Old Master Zhao. The internal energy he had recovered, which was less than half restored, had been mostly depleted again. Fortunately, he only needed to perform the needling once today, unlike yesterday when it required continuous sessions, or he definitely wouldn't have managed.

"Old Wu, remove the needles after one hour. I will return tomorrow!"

After resting briefly, Zhang Yang stood up again, first speaking to Wu Youdao. Having Wu Youdao present saved him a lot of trouble; at least he wouldn't have to wait around for the needles to be pulled out.

Waiting an hour doing nothing would be dreadfully boring.

"No problem. You head over to Director Zhu's office; he's probably getting anxious waiting for you!"

Wu Youdao nodded with a chuckle. Watching Zhang Yang perform the needling over the past two days had given him considerable inspiration. He might as well mull over it now, and perhaps gain more insight when removing the needles later. He was happy to do the task.

Zhang Yang agreed, stood up, and left the ward. Director Zhao followed outside, offering many more words of gratitude before finally letting Zhang Yang depart.

Upon exiting, the way Hu Xin, Gu Cheng, and the others looked at Zhang Yang had shifted again.

They were all deeply impressed. Zhang Yang had done something beyond their imagination in just one day apart. They wondered how many more such feats he would accomplish in the future.

Zhu Zhixiang was genuinely waiting for Zhang Yang, having pushed aside all other work to finalize the agreement with him.

After Kingdom Hai reminded him, the more Zhu Zhixiang thought about it, the more plausible Kingdom Hai’s suggestion seemed. If he were in that position and knew someone had saved his superior's life, he too would rush to recruit that person into his ranks.

Having this person meant possessing the favor of Director Zhao, which could be extremely useful at a critical juncture.

Precisely because he understood this logic, he was unusually nervous. He was well aware that if he delayed in such a matter, someone else would surely act first, and then no matter how many favorable terms they offered, they might still lose out.

"Director Zhu!"

Just as he was thinking, the office door opened, and the person he had been waiting for finally walked in from outside.

Not long after, Zhang Yang left the office. Zhu Zhixiang was smiling triumphantly, holding the signed agreement. Zhang Yang was now officially part of their hospital. Next, he would arrange for someone to handle Zhang Yang’s early internship procedures at the school, after which Zhang Yang could fulfill the agreement by working one day a week at the hospital.

In truth, even if Zhang Yang didn't show up for work, Zhu Zhixiang wouldn't let him go; keeping someone like that on staff, even for free, was a win.

…………

"Kaisuan Lou, lunch is on me!"

Leaving the hospital, Zhang Yang suddenly laughed and announced loudly, "Kaisuan Lou, lunch is on me today!"

Kaisuan Lou was the finest and most expensive restaurant at their university. A simple meal there usually cost at least three to four hundred yuan. For their group, even a modest meal would likely run five or six hundred, and anything slightly better could easily exceed a thousand.

Even five or six hundred yuan represented two or three months of living expenses for many students. For them, this place was a luxury, a venue only visited by graduating seniors who would go Dutch for one extravagant meal to commemorate the end of their university life.

"Zhang Yang, did you strike it rich? Why are you suddenly treating us there?"

Hu Xin leaped in front of Zhang Yang, staring intently at him with his wide eyes.

"Not rich, but I made a small fortune today. Since we missed out on barbecue, we’re going to Kaisuan Lou!"

Zhang Yang grinned sheepishly and pulled out a thick brown envelope from each of his side pockets. Both envelopes were bulging, filled with portraits of the four elders.

This was the bonus Director Zhu gave him directly—twenty thousand yuan, not a penny less. Zhang Yang didn't stand on ceremony with Director Zhu; this was compensation he deserved, especially since he genuinely needed the money right now. It was the perfect remedy for his immediate lack of funds.

However, he truly didn't value twenty thousand yuan that highly. In his past life, consultations for wealthy magnates and dignitaries always started at six figures; he wouldn't bother with minor ailments.

"My God, that's so much money! Quickly put it away, don't flash it around here, it’s dangerous!"

Hu Xin was startled by the two stacks of cash Zhang Yang displayed and hurried forward to cover Zhang Yang's hands. Hu Xin came from an ordinary family and had never seen so much money at home.

"It’s fine, let's go, Kaisuan Lou!"

Zhang Yang chuckled. This wasn't intentional showing off; his nature used to be this way. He treated money lightly. Not spending money when you have it was idiotic; only by spending money could you earn more.

The group hailed two more taxis and headed straight for Kaisuan Lou.

They arrived exactly at noon. Looking at the luxuriously decorated main entrance and the hostesses in cheongsams standing guard, Hu Xin couldn't help but swallow hard.

Unfortunately for him, Xiao Dai noticed this action, and the result was predictable: the two immediately reignited a brawl right outside Kaisuan Lou. This time, Hu Xin was purely running, while Xiao Dai chased relentlessly behind him.

"I thought I would only get a chance to come here when I graduated, but it happened sooner!"

Gu Cheng pointed ahead and chuckled softly. He had passed this place many times and often fantasized about walking in and out of such an establishment with confidence, being served attentively by the staff, and then leaving satisfied, picking his teeth.

But he also knew such thoughts were unrealistic. It would only be after graduation, pooling money with a few close friends, biting the bullet, and having one magnificent meal here to give his university life a perfect ending.

"Mi Xue, why are you here?"

As the others waited for Hu Xin and Xiao Dai to calm down, a familiar voice sounded from nearby. Hearing it, everyone couldn't help but frown. They disliked the person whose voice it was intensely.