"Doctor Zhang is truly our lucky star! We'll have high salaries from now on!"
"With this money, I can pay off my mortgage sooner."
"This is wonderful. My two sons' university tuition and living expenses are also covered. I don't know how to thank Doctor Zhang enough."
...
Everyone was deeply grateful to Jiang Yi.
Meanwhile, Jiang Yi was leisurely drinking tea in his office.
"Knock knock..."
A knock echoed from outside the office.
"Come in..." Jiang Yi called out.
The office door was pushed open, and Li Qing walked in.
"Doctor Zhang, you're amazing!"
Li Qing looked at Jiang Yi with admiration. "The Vice Director has agreed to your proposal. Starting this month, everyone in the hospital will receive double their salary. Everyone is overjoyed right now. Your prestige in the hospital probably surpasses even the Director's."
Jiang Yi smiled slightly.
His initial intention in making that suggestion was to make things difficult for the Vice Director, but he hadn't expected such a pleasant surprise.
"It was just a small gesture, nothing significant!" Jiang Yi said with a slight smile.
"Your small gesture has greatly helped everyone," Li Qing chimed in with a smile.
"Is there something you need me for?" Jiang Yi asked.
"I almost forgot. The Director just found me and said she'd like to treat you to a meal later," Li Qing replied.
Jiang Yi raised an eyebrow.
He was just about to look for Shen Lu, and now she was coming to find him.
At twelve noon, Jiang Yi prepared to leave the hospital.
As he reached the main entrance, he saw Shen Lu waiting by a car.
Seeing Jiang Yi approach, Shen Lu's face lit up with a smile.
"Doctor Zhang, let's go!"
Shen Lu opened the car door.
Jiang Yi didn't stand on ceremony and got into Shen Lu's car, taking a seat in the passenger seat.
Shen Lu started the car, heading towards Jiang City's finest restaurant.
Jiang Yi subtly glanced at Shen Lu's left arm. She was wearing a shirt, making it impossible to see if she had a scorpion tattoo on her arm.
Only by finding Shen Lu's scorpion tattoo could he confirm if she was the female assassin he was looking for.
If Shen Lu were a man, this matter would be straightforward.
But Shen Lu was a woman!
He couldn't exactly strip her clothes off to check for a scorpion tattoo, could he?
"Doctor Zhang, may I ask which medical school you graduated from?" Shen Lu inquired.
"My skills were not learned in medical school, but from a divine doctor," Jiang Yi replied.
Jiang Yi knew Shen Lu was probing his identity.
He was using the fake name Zhang San at the hospital.
Anyone with a bit of sense would know that Zhang San was a pseudonym.
Shen Lu was cautious and didn't press further, changing the subject to discuss some medical topics with Jiang Yi.
Jiang Yi gradually realized that Shen Lu possessed considerable skill in medicine.
An hour later, the car stopped at the entrance of the lobby.
Once in the private room, the food and drinks began to be served.
This spread of dishes was easily worth hundreds of thousands.
"Doctor Zhang, please!"
Shen Lu raised her wine glass.
Jiang Yi raised his glass and took a sip.
"Director Shen, is it just the two of us? All this fine food and drink, it would be a waste if we can't finish it," Jiang Yi said deliberately.
"I have something very important I want to discuss with you, Doctor Zhang, so it's not convenient to have anyone else present," Shen Lu's expression became serious.
"May I ask what matters you wish to discuss with me, Director Shen?" Jiang Yi feigned curiosity.
"I want to cooperate with you!"
Shen Lu stated, "You have astonishing medical skills, and I have resources. If the two of us collaborate, we can defeat all the hospitals in Jiang Province and earn countless money."
"Director Shen, you jest. By working at your hospital, I am essentially helping you earn money; cooperation or not, it's all the same," Jiang Yi said with a smile.
"It's not the same!"
Shen Lu countered, "By working at my hospital, you can only earn a fixed salary of twenty million per month. But if you cooperate with me, I can offer you fifty percent of the profits."
Fifty percent of the profits was a very significant temptation.
This meant Jiang Yi would receive half of the hospital's earnings.
"I've decided. From now on, the hospital will only treat people from high society. People of high society are wealthy and influential. Treating them will not only bring in a fortune but also expand our hospital's connections. Within three years, our hospital will undoubtedly become influential and powerful," Shen Lu said with a smile. "Doctor Zhang, aren't you tempted?"
Jiang Yi couldn't help but sneer inwardly.
Dongfang Mei was right; Shen Lu's ambition was indeed immense.
"Seeking money and power is not your true objective!"
Jiang Yi looked at Shen Lu. "Director Shen, if you tell me the truth, I might consider it. Otherwise, there's no room for discussion regarding cooperation."
Jiang Yi wanted to see if Shen Lu was willing to tell the truth.
Dongfang Mei had investigated Shen Lu and told Jiang Yi everything about her, so Jiang Yi was very clear about Shen Lu's situation.
Shen Lu's face showed hesitation.
After a moment, Shen Lu took a deep breath.
"I am the eldest daughter of the Shen family!"
Shen Lu declared, "But I grew up facing discrimination from my clan. Because I am the illegitimate daughter of the Shen family patriarch, I was not well-received. I know that only by becoming powerful can I erase the shame brought by my family."
"Is that all?" Jiang Yi asked.
"I want revenge, to destroy the Shen family!"
Shen Lu downed a glass of wine abruptly and continued recounting her background.
It turned out that when Shen Lu was three years old, she witnessed her own mother's death at the hands of Shen family members.
Her father, the Shen family patriarch, knew everything but chose to ignore it.
Shen Lu suffered abuse from the Shen family members since childhood; it was a miracle she survived to this day.
Shen Lu had endured everything silently, aiming to avenge her mother one day.
Shen Lu's past was truly tragic.
Jiang Yi looked at Shen Lu, noticing her pretty face flushing, already a little tipsy.
Shen Lu had drunk quite a bit while recounting her life story.
"Doctor Zhang, if you can help me get revenge, after it's done, I will give you whatever you want, including myself," Shen Lu said, looking at Jiang Yi.
Just as Jiang Yi was about to speak, the private room door was kicked open.
Following that, a masked man walked in.
The masked man held a sharp dagger and lunged directly for Shen Lu's throat.
The event happened too quickly for anyone to react.
Just as the masked man's dagger was about to reach Shen Lu's throat, Shen Lu suddenly grabbed the man's dagger-wielding hand and then grabbed a bottle of wine from the table, smashing it towards the masked man's head.
The masked man's skills were also good; he was clearly well-trained. He took a step back, dodging the wine bottle Shen Lu threw.