Seeing the young man in the immaculate suit eagerly opening the car door for Liang Jingyue, Liu Hui’s expression shifted, a flicker of unease stirring in his gut.

The attentive man opened Liang Jingyue’s door, but she made no move to step out. Catching sight of Liu Hui standing nearby, a bright smile bloomed on her face, and she beckoned him over quickly.

Liu Hui’s mind settled. He walked over with an easy smile, and under the stunned gaze of the other man, gently took Liang Jingyue’s small hand. Leaning on Liu Hui for support, Liang Jingyue stepped out of the car submissively. Watching her comply so readily, the man’s face soured slightly, though the look swiftly morphed back into a polite smile.

“Jingyue, who is this?” the man asked her, though his eyes were fixed on Liu Hui.

“This is Liu Hui I told you about. He’s my boyfriend now, and we’re actually planning to get married!” Liang Jingyue looped her arm through Liu Hui’s and leaned against his shoulder. Liu Hui offered the man a slight nod with a serene smile.

“Oh, so you really have a boyfriend. I thought you were just trying to brush me off,” the man admitted, sounding slightly disappointed. He then extended his hand toward Liu Hui. “I’m Lin. You can call me Lin Dao. Jingyue and I grew up as neighbors; we’ve known each other since we were children.”

Liu Hui shook Lin Dao’s hand and chuckled. “Pleased to meet you! But honestly, your name is rather unique.”

Lin Dao looked a bit crestfallen but managed a smile. “Can’t be helped; my elders named me. They’re devoted to Taoism, so they picked it. Nothing to be done about it now.”

“Lin Dao, I’m home now, you should head back by yourself,” Liang Jingyue said, clearly displeased.

“Oh, come on! Already ditching me? You used to cry and say you were going to marry me when we were little!” Lin Dao put on a show of being deeply hurt.

“Childhood promises are hardly worth taking seriously! I also said I was going to be the State Chairman when I was little,” Liu Hui retorted, deliberately swinging Liang Jingyue’s hand in front of Lin Dao.

“Heh heh, you two aren’t married yet. Love is fair to everyone. I’ll be back,” Lin Dao said, fixing Liu Hui with a meaningful smile.

“Heh heh, then you’re welcome to come to our wedding! I’ll make sure to send you an invitation,” Liu Hui replied with an equally bright smile.

“We’ll see who ends up sending the invitation to whom. Jingyue, I’m leaving now. I’ll come see you again!” Lin Dao nodded curtly to Liu Hui, then waved to Liang Jingyue.

Liang Jingyue ignored him. Lin Dao, feeling rather put out, got into his car and drove away dejectedly. Once his vehicle cleared the boundaries of Hantang Hospital, he pulled out his phone and dialed a number. The call was answered almost instantly.

“Second Uncle, I need all the information on one person. His name is Liu Hui, and he owns Hantang Hospital. Yes, the sooner the better. Contact me as soon as you have anything.”

Lin Dao ended the call, and the smile vanished, replaced by a sullen expression. He muttered under his breath, “Heh heh, stealing my woman. I wonder if he even has the right qualifications?”

Liang Jingyue and Liu Hui entered the hospital. She looked at Liu Hui with worry. “Ah Hui, I’m sorry. I had no idea I’d run into him. I might have caused you trouble.”

“Who exactly is he? I’ve never heard you mention him before,” Liu Hui asked, equally puzzled.

“He grew up next door to me; we played together constantly as children. He was adorable back then. Then they moved away, and I hadn’t seen him for ages, though I heard things about him through friends. He started a company, supposedly a huge success, but his private life is rumored to be a complete mess—lots of girlfriends, and close ties with some actresses. When I went back to visit my grandmother recently, I ran into him. He immediately started pestering me. Neither my father nor I like him. Dad told me to come back early and avoid him. I never expected he’d follow me here,” Liang Jingyue explained, frustrated.

“I see. That puts my mind at ease. A handsome stranger suddenly appears, and my poor heart was thumping away!” Liu Hui admitted, sheepishly rubbing the back of his head.

“Lin Dao’s family are high-ranking officials in the capital. Rumor has it his grandfather holds considerable influence there. I’m afraid he might seek revenge on you later,” Liang Jingyue worried aloud.

“Heh heh, for you, I’m afraid of nothing. Besides, I’m not as weak as I look. If he really comes looking for trouble, we’ll see who ends up losing out!” Liu Hui laughed.

“I’m worried sick, and you’re not scared at all?” Liang Jingyue chastised him with her gaze.

“Heh heh, you women. You should all live happily. Leave the worrying and troublesome business to us men to handle!”

“Forget it then. Just be careful about Lin Dao in the future,” Liang Jingyue conceded with resignation.

“Oh, right, how is everything going with your grandmother’s affairs?” Liu Hui quickly steered the conversation away, unwilling to dwell on Lin Dao.

“It’s being handled according to the customs there. It’s a pity Lin Dao interrupted; I had to rush back early.” Liang Jingyue’s eyes turned slightly red again.

“Then I’ll accompany you next time to pay proper respects to her,” Liu Hui comforted her.

“Why don’t you take me home to rest first? I’ve been exhausted lately, and being hounded by that Lin Dao is just too annoying.” Liang Jingyue yawned.

“Alright, I’ll take you home.” With Lin Dao lurking outside, Liu Hui wasn’t about to let Liang Jingyue travel alone.

Liu Hui drove Liang Jingyue home, telling her about his family during the trip, especially recounting the thrilling, dangerous story of the girl from the Cloud Mist Valley, which made Liang Jingyue incredibly anxious. After dropping her off and having dinner with her, Liu Hui rushed back to the hospital. On the way, he stocked up on bread and other food items. Then, heading to the basement, he activated the planar trade device and initiated contact with Zerg.

Zerg seemed perpetually available; he was always online the moment the trade device was activated.

“Esteemed Lord Liu Hui, what business brings you here today?” Zerg knew Liu Hui’s personality; he wouldn't bother chatting unless there was a purpose.

“Esteemed Lord Zerg, it’s like this: I wanted to inquire. Regarding that body evolution fluid from last time, can it still be used if it's diluted?” Liu Hui immediately asked the question he most wanted answered.

“That evolution fluid can certainly still be used when diluted, though the effect won't be as potent as the original concentration.”

“Lord Zerg, I plan to use the body evolution fluid to enhance my team. However, I fear they might leave me, resulting in heavy losses. Do you have a solution for this concern?”

“Hmm, theoretically, your request can be addressed. But I will need time for experimentation to confirm the method. Give me some time; I will devise a way,” Zerg sounded genuinely intrigued by the prospect and prepared to start testing immediately.

“Very well, I entrust everything to you, Lord Zerg.” Liu Hui thanked him with a smile. He didn't mention the magic plane at all to Zerg; planar trade coordinates were absolute secrets among traders. He was certain that even if Zerg found new planar traders, he wouldn't share that information with Liu Hui—monopoly wasn't just an Earthling concept.

Ending the call with Zerg, Liu Hui immediately initiated a call to Alexander in the magic plane. After a short wait, Alexander answered.

“It is the esteemed Mr. Liu Hui! I was just about to look for you!” Alexander sounded delighted to see him.

“My dear Alexander, how is your plan progressing?” Liu Hui was keen to hear about the plan Alexander proposed the day before.

“Esteemed Mr. Liu Hui, my plan is proceeding excellently. I told them I obtained food from another Elf Lord; if they agree to work for him, they will receive sufficient provisions. They are all willing to do your bidding,” Alexander sounded excited. It was his first time leading a group, and the feeling seemed marvelous.

“Heh heh, you’re quite clever! I’ve already prepared some of the food you requested. I’ll give it to you first!” Liu Hui produced the bread he had just purchased and traded it to Alexander. This amount of bread was enough to sustain a hundred people.

“Thank you so much, esteemed Mr. Liu Hui. With this bread, we can prevent many people from starving,” Alexander said, looking gratefully at the loaves. Those who have never known true hunger can never grasp the importance of grain.

“This food is for today. You can use it to recruit some reliable people first. I will supply you with more food later,” Liu Hui smiled.

“But how should I recruit them? I have no experience whatsoever!” While Alexander was thrilled, he knew his current capabilities were insufficient to command respect.

Alexander was just a minor slave; he hadn't received any education and likely couldn't even read. Leading these miners abruptly would be quite challenging. Liu Hui tapped his chin, contemplating a solution. Suddenly, his eyes lit up, and he pulled a book from his storage space.

“My dear Alexander, if you are willing, I can teach you knowledge, which includes methods for handling these situations,” Liu Hui told him with a smile.

“Esteemed Mr. Liu Hui, please teach me!” Alexander was overjoyed. As a mere slave, he was forbidden the right to learn; knowledge was the exclusive domain of the Elf Lords. Now that Liu Hui offered to teach him, he was more than willing.

“In that case, let’s begin now.” Seeing Alexander’s eagerness, Liu Hui immediately started lecturing.

“I have a piece of knowledge here called Thick and Black Theory (Hou Hei Xue). It can teach you how to conduct yourself in society and how to become a true hero.”

“Then, Teacher, please teach me immediately!” Hearing that this doctrine was so powerful it could turn a person into a hero, Alexander eagerly demanded to learn, even changing his form of address for Liu Hui.

“Conducting oneself in the world absolutely requires the art of being ‘thick.’ If one is introverted and timid, unable to endure the various humiliations encountered in social dealings, and overly concerned with one's own vanity, one cannot interact effectively with friends or enemies, much less seize opportunities to display oneself. Even possessing exceptional intellect, one will be buried among the masses. This is a great pity…”

Liu Hui opened the copy of Hou Hei Xue he bought at the bookstore, read aloud, and then rephrased Earth-specific terminology into concepts Alexander could grasp. Alexander listened intently, but perhaps due to the novelty of this knowledge, he appeared somewhat bewildered.

After reading a chapter, Liu Hui asked Alexander, “Did you remember what I taught you?”

Alexander replied respectfully, “I have memorized everything Teacher taught, but I haven’t fully grasped some parts.”

“Then recite back what I said,” Liu Hui doubted Alexander could truly commit it to memory and was looking forward to indulging his desire to be a teacher by lightly punishing Alexander.

“Teacher taught us about Hou Hei Xue. The content is: Conducting oneself in the world absolutely requires the art of being ‘thick.’ If one is introverted and timid, unable to endure the various humiliations encountered in social dealings, and overly concerned with one's own vanity, one cannot interact effectively with friends or enemies, much less seize opportunities to display oneself. Even possessing exceptional intellect, one will be buried among the masses. This is a great pity…” Alexander recited everything Liu Hui had said, word for word.

“This… how is this possible? You memorized what I said in such a short time?” Liu Hui was astonished. This Alexander was too incredible; he had only said it once, and he could recite it perfectly. If he hadn’t known Alexander wasn't from Earth, he would suspect him of having studied Hou Hei Xue before.

“Teacher, what you said is very easy to memorize. It’s just that the knowledge itself is difficult, and I still haven’t fully comprehended it!” Alexander looked at Liu Hui with wide, curious eyes, as if possessing prodigious memory was the most ordinary thing in the world.

“En, very good. You’ve retained the knowledge I’ve imparted well. You need to slowly absorb this knowledge through daily life to truly understand its essence. First, distribute the food to everyone. I will explain the rest of the knowledge to you tomorrow,” Liu Hui arranged calmly, though his heart was churning wildly. This Alexander was clearly a genius. If Liu Hui gave him just a little help, coupled with his planar trade device, Alexander might achieve unimaginable success.

“Yes, Teacher. I will distribute the food immediately and will reflect on the knowledge you taught me in my daily life,” Alexander responded respectfully.

Closing the planar trade device, Liu Hui felt a surge of emotion. The name "Alexander" was significant on Earth; he found it amusing that a name like "Alexander" from another planet was also so remarkable. It seemed he needed to work harder too.

That evening, Liu Hui, along with Zhou Tengyun, studied Xing Yi Quan under Wu Yuanjia. With correct and systematic guidance, Liu Hui’s personal strength was steadily improving.

Time passed quickly; a week flew by. This week had been quiet at Hantang Hospital. The media reporters staking out the area had significantly decreased, as global news constantly shifted focus, and people wouldn't remain obsessed with just the AIDS medication story. The renovation of Hantang Hospital's second floor was nearly complete; it would soon accommodate one hundred patients, finally alleviating the current situation where patients still had to queue.

During these days, the man named Lin Dao did not reappear, and the revenge Liu Hui had worried about never materialized. Liu Hui maintained a strict routine. Every evening, he first practiced martial arts with Wu Yuanjia, and then he would explain Hou Hei Xue to Alexander in the magic plane. Alexander, too, proved to be a genius, quickly mastering the entire book and even applying it in practical situations. The humans in the magic plane, being slaves to the elves, generally lacked insight. Alexander had thoroughly confused them with his Hou Hei Xue tactics. Coupled with the consistent supply of tasty food, they followed Alexander’s every word, and he quickly became their new leader.

Liu Hui had recently begun looking into acquiring a logistics company. He had to provide massive amounts of food to Alexander daily, and without a private warehouse as cover, it was easily traceable. Therefore, he planned to purchase a logistics firm and use the gaps between warehousing entries and exits to supply the magic plane.

One day, Mei Peng was patrolling the hospital. When he reached the main lobby, he noticed several luxury cars parked outside the entrance. Several beautiful women were standing in front of the vehicles. He couldn’t help but stop, admiring the women.

“Hmm, the one at the front, an L-cup, great figure. Wait! A baby face with huge assets? I can’t take it—I’m going to get a nosebleed,” Mei Peng gawked with a lecherous expression.

“Heh heh, the one behind her is nice too—a completely adorable, petite loli. And the one in the middle has a pair of beautiful legs, in heels and stockings! Forget it, I’m going to die,” Mei Peng grew more excited the longer he stared, showering them with compliments.

“Hey, brother, you like that style too?” A young man approached from nearby, seeing Mei Peng exclaiming, and asked with a smile.

“Heh heh, what man doesn't? Look, there’s a sophisticated older woman in the car too—my absolute favorite! And check out that bodyguard—that black uniform, I can’t stand it! I have a thing for uniforms, actually.”

“Since you like them so much, why don’t you try chatting them up? Maybe they’ll fall for you?” the young man next to him chuckled.

“Hmph! They look like mistresses kept by some rich pig. I wonder which bastard is the lucky one. Are all the good cabbages being eaten by pigs?” Mei Peng was self-aware enough to know these women belonged to someone wealthy, so he just sighed in envy and offered a curse toward the unseen man.

“Say, brother, where are you from? I’ve never seen you around here before,” Mei Peng looked at the young man beside him. The young man was dressed in an ordinary jacket and a pair of sneakers, looking utterly unremarkable.

“Heh heh, just passing by. Saw the beauties here and decided to take a look. Since you’re a man of similar taste, I struck up a conversation,” the young man said with a smile.

“Brother, not to brag, but I have a whole system for appraising beautiful women. Look at that older woman in the car—her complexion is pale; she clearly has circulatory issues. And that L-cup white-collar worker upfront, the one with the baby face and huge assets—look at that look of unsatisfied desire on her face. I suspect they’re looking to cheat. It’s a real waste not to make good use of such resources. Heh heh, I hope that bastard gets a few green hats planted on his head,” Mei Peng delivered his professional assessment, concluding with a venomous curse.

“Whoa, brother, don't be so malicious!” the young man laughed.

“Brother, you don’t understand. Beautiful women are a rare resource in this world, and those sons-of-bitches hog so many of them. They deserve to be cursed, so he won't dare keep so many girls next time,” Mei Peng grumbled, still indignant.

“Oh, right, brother, why are you here? This is a restricted hospital area. How did you get in?” Mei Peng suddenly hit upon the crucial point.

“Oh, that’s easy. I actually came with them,” the young man pointed to the group of women and laughed. “Actually, I’m the bastard you were just cursing. My name is Wei Chao.”

Qian Yu thanks the reader Ben Beng for the generous tip. Speaking of which, starting this week, the book’s clicks, recommendations, and collection stats have been quite lackluster. If readers have any good suggestions or comments, please leave them in the message section. Qian Yu sincerely hopes to write a work that satisfies everyone!

Furthermore, yesterday Qian Yu failed to meet reader Zi Jie’s expectations by not completing the 12,000-word update. My apologies for that!

I hope all you readers will offer more support, recommendations, and collections!