"Dean Guo, I’ve come precisely because I couldn't wait any longer, sincerely hoping to have an exchange with Dr. Zhang Yang, the intern here at your hospital," Park Young-joon added, deliberately emphasizing the word 'exchange.'

"Come, Doctor Park, please try this first. This is Da Hong Pao, a very famous tea in our Huaxia," Dean Guo Yong said with a broad, cheerful smile to Park Young-joon as Xiao Xiao finished brewing and brought in the tea, completely ignoring what Park Young-joon had just said.

"Thank you."

Park Young-joon took the tea from Xiao Xiao's hand and smiled at her. He was well aware of his sunny, handsome face, so his smile was filled with confidence.

It was a pity that Park Young-joon's charming smile only earned him an eye-roll from Xiao Xiao. She set the tea down on the low table and looked at Guo Yong with a questioning gaze.

Guo Yong waved his hand dismissively. There was nothing for her to do here.

Receiving Guo Yong’s signal, Xiao Xiao immediately left the courtyard office, not sparing the Korean Doctor Park a second glance, a stark contrast to the smile she wore when she first entered.

Inside the office, Guo Yong and Park Young-joon raised their cups, slowly sipping the tea. A quiet moment settled between them.

Guo Yong’s office contained its own tea supply, meaning there was no need to trouble anyone else to fetch tea from another doctor’s room. Guo Yong’s intention in doing this was, naturally, part of his larger strategy. In fact, the timing of Xiao Xiao bringing in the tea was perfect.

He was certain that with the gossip speed of these young nurses, within half a day, everyone in the hospital would know that a doctor from Seoul's Eunsan Hospital had traveled a thousand miles to Jinghe Hospital specifically to spar in medical skills with an intern from Jinghe.

Once this news spread, it would immensely boost the reputation of Jinghe Hospital. Thinking of this, Guo Yong couldn't help but feel a surge of self-satisfaction, a cunning smile creeping onto his face as he held his teacup.

Such a free publicity opportunity was far more effective than spending a fortune on television advertising. Furthermore, once Zhang Yang inevitably won against this foreign visitor, Jinghe Hospital would surely become even more famous throughout Changjing.

An exchange of learning, after all, inevitably reveals a hierarchy. As for the outcome, Guo Yong hadn't even considered the possibility of Zhang Yang losing; he held a blind faith in Zhang Yang.

Guo Yong truly deserved the moniker of "old fox" that Zhang Yang had whispered about him. Many people, including Zhu Daoqi from Changjing Medical College, were likely deceived by his honest and unassuming exterior.

Guo Yong's smile, however, left Park Young-joon utterly bewildered. As both maintained an unusual silence, the Dean of Jinghe Hospital seemed increasingly profound and inscrutable to the Korean doctor.

Guo Yong was naturally oblivious to this; otherwise, he would have been even more triumphant.

Guo Yong had not underestimated the gossiping nature of the young nurses at Jinghe Hospital. As soon as Xiao Xiao left the Dean's office, she was immediately surrounded by those bold nurses who had been waiting, bombarding her with questions about what had just transpired in the office.

"Xiao Xiao, hurry up and tell us, is that Korean doctor really handsome?"

"Yeah, Xiao Xiao, tell us, is he really Korean?"

"Right, Xiao Xiao, why was he in our Dean's office? I heard he’s a doctor from Korea’s Eunsan Hospital?"

Hearing the flurry of questions from her colleagues, a hint of annoyance crossed Xiao Xiao’s face. She pushed aside the nurses crowding around her and said, "Stop gossiping. What’s handsome about him? He’s not even as good as our little Dr. Yan, let alone the new Dr. Zhang!"

"Really? Xiao Xiao, are you kidding us?"

"Oh dear, if that’s true, what a shame."

"Well, it makes sense though. Our new Dr. Zhang drives a Benz to work; he must come from a wealthy family, otherwise, Dean Guo wouldn't allow him such flexible working hours."

The nurses surrounding Xiao Xiao chattered amongst themselves. Xiao Xiao then broke into a smile and said, "You all definitely don't know—this Korean guy is here specifically for our new Dr. Zhang?"

"What’s going on?"

"Yeah, Xiao Xiao, tell us quickly! What’s the story?"

Xiao Xiao let her sisters stew in suspense for a moment before finally revealing, "He, it seems, is here specifically to exchange medical skills with our Dr. Zhang Yang!"

Xiao Xiao recalled the smile the Korean man had given her when she brought in the tea. To be honest, the Korean man was quite handsome. If she hadn't overheard him mentioning seeking out Zhang Yang for a medical exchange just before entering, her favorable impression would have vanished instantly. Otherwise, if that Korean man had smiled at her, she certainly would have blushed with excitement.

It had been Xiao Xiao who was responsible for caring for that elderly person and child, which was why the newly arrived intern, Zhang Yang, had instantly become her idol on his first day.

With that context, the Korean man, who in Xiao Xiao's eyes was specifically here to challenge Zhang Yang, naturally didn't seem quite so dashing anymore.

"Xiao Xiao, you’re being unfair. Everyone knows you treat our new Dr. Zhang as an idol, but you don’t have to belittle that handsome Korean visitor like that."

The speaker was a young woman with heavy makeup who had drifted over when she saw the crowd around Xiao Xiao. After hearing Xiao Xiao’s words, she retorted, then adopted a starry-eyed expression and continued, "He’s a top student from Eunsan Hospital, young, handsome, and rich. If I could be his girlfriend, I’d be ecstatic."

Xiao Xiao glanced at the speaking nurse, an undisguised look of distaste crossing her face. This nurse, Liu Qianqian, had been assigned to Jinghe Hospital after graduating from nursing school last year. Relying on her looks and her knack for performative makeup, she enjoyed some popularity in the hospital.

Xiao Xiao knew that Liu Qianqian had been pursuing Dr. Yan for a while, but ever since Zhang Yang drove his Benz into the hospital, she had declared her intention to pursue Zhang Yang, adopting the persona of a lovesick fool who would marry no one else. Xiao Xiao certainly wasn't going to offer her any pleasantries.

So, Xiao Xiao just smiled and walked away with her close friends, already whispering amongst themselves about the visiting Korean doctor, completely ignoring Liu Qianqian.

Liu Qianqian, left red-faced, stomped her foot in anger, shot a disdainful look at Xiao Xiao and her group, muttered something under her breath, and then turned to leave.

In his office, Guo Yong, of course, knew nothing of the drama unfolding outside. For him, the only crucial thing was ensuring the news of Park Young-joon’s visit to Jinghe Hospital got out.

"Dean Guo, could you perhaps introduce me to the doctor named Zhang Yang? Since arriving in Changjing from Korea, the person I’ve heard mentioned most frequently has been this Zhang Yang." Park Young-joon, seeing Guo Yong remain silent, grew a little impatient and broke the stillness first.

"Is that so!" Upon hearing Park Young-joon’s words, Guo Yong immediately put on an expression of sudden realization, then apologized profusely to Park Young-joon. "I am truly sorry, Doctor Park. Although Zhang Yang is an intern at our hospital, he is rather unique. He only works half a day per week at Jinghe Hospital, so unfortunately, he is not currently here."

"What!" Surprise flashed across Park Young-joon’s face. Only half a day a week? Such treatment at Eunsan Hospital was usually reserved for renowned professors and senior physicians with international reputations.

Before coming, he knew Zhang Yang was just an intern. An intern having such privileges? This instantly sparked jealousy in Park Young-joon toward this intern he had never even met.

"I am very sorry; it seems you will have to visit another time," Guo Yong said, standing up courteously. "Or perhaps wait until the formal Sino-Foreign Medical Exchange event officially begins, and then you can arrange a medical exchange with Zhang Yang then."

Park Young-joon’s face cycled through shades of green and white, his expression shifting rapidly. He had never anticipated his visit would end this way.

He had presumed that as a doctor from Korea’s largest Eunsan Hospital, his willingness to come to a relatively unknown, ordinary facility like Jinghe Hospital was already a grand gesture to their Dean, which was why he had come straight to Guo Yong's office.

Yet, the result was that Guo Yong had offered neither the elaborate reception he expected nor shown any sense of deference. He had merely dismissed him with a cup of tea, and now, this suggestion was tantamount to an eviction notice.

Park Young-joon paused in silence for a moment, stood up, his tone hardening, and continued in broken Mandarin, "If that is the case, it seems my timing was truly unfortunate. Dean Guo, I apologize for disturbing you."

Anyone could see that Park Young-joon’s mood had soured significantly.

It was unclear what Guo Yong was thinking, as he seemed entirely oblivious to Park Young-joon’s displeasure, maintaining a smiling, apologetic demeanor. "I am genuinely sorry, Doctor Park, to have made you travel to Jinghe Hospital for nothing."

"It’s fine, I will return," Park Young-joon said. He didn't want to stay a moment longer, then took his leave of Guo Yong. "Then, Dean Guo, until next time."

"Yes, yes, certainly, Doctor Park, allow me to see you out!" Dean Guo maintained his amiable smile, saying cheerfully, "We welcome your next visit."

After seeing Park Young-joon off, Guo Yong returned to his office and immediately called his old classmate, Zhu Daoqi.

"Old Guo, what is it this time?"

"Daoqi, you know about the upcoming Sino-Foreign Medical Exchange event, right?"

"Of course, it’s basically finalized. The higher-ups are just confirming the dates and the itinerary now. Once the details are set, it will be announced publicly. Why are you asking about this all of a sudden?"

"Then, do you happen to know a Korean doctor named Park Young-joon, from Eunsan Hospital?"

"Park Young-joon? Yes, I do. He’s one of the most outstanding young talents representing Korea in this upcoming exchange."

"He came to our hospital to see me today."

...RS