"Shouldn't you be going back?" Li Wan'er asked, withdrawing her hand from Li Xuan's as they stepped out of the elevator. She turned to look at him, her face slightly flushed.
It was the first time in many years that a man had held her hand, and Li Wan'er couldn't explain why she hadn't felt any repulsion when Li Xuan had held hers earlier.
"I'm actually visiting your company for the first time. Shouldn't you at least invite me in for a bit?" Li Xuan surveyed the surroundings, finding them simple yet elegant. He then smiled at Li Wan'er and gestured towards the office deeper within.
"You... Fine, suit yourself," Li Wan'er felt a pang in her chest but relented. With that, she turned and walked directly towards the office.
Li Xuan smiled at this and followed her. The office was mostly filled with employees at this point. Upon seeing Li Xuan enter the office after Li Wan'er, they exchanged surprised glances.
They knew Li Wan'er's personality well; few people dared to get that close to her. What surprised them even more was that after entering the office, they actually drew the curtains.
"Make yourself comfortable. I need to start working," Li Wan'er said, gesturing to the sofa before walking to her desk and sitting down.
Li Xuan shrugged and his gaze shifted towards the door. Based on his calculations, someone would likely arrive soon.
Knock, knock, knock.
Indeed!
As soon as Li Xuan finished thinking, three knocks echoed.
"Come in," Li Wan'er said slowly, her eyes still fixed on the computer screen.
"Chairwoman, those six... those six suppliers just called saying our company hasn't paid the full amount for their goods. Starting today, they will cease supplying us. Chairwoman, how should we handle this?"
A capable-looking white-collar woman entered. She paused briefly upon seeing Li Xuan sitting casually on the sofa. However, likely due to her professionalism, she quickly composed herself and reported to Li Wan'er.
"This Zhuo Xian really can't wait a moment, can he?" Li Xuan's lips curled into a cold smile as he listened to the woman's report. This move was clearly Zhuo Xian's doing.
Li Xuan's reason for staying at Li Wan'er's company was to confirm Zhuo Xian's magnanimity. Furthermore, Li Xuan wanted to see if Li Wan'er's company had the capability to sustain itself. If it showed potential, Li Xuan wouldn't mind offering his help.
"Don't we always pay sixty percent upfront to these six suppliers and settle the remaining balance next quarter?" Li Wan'er frowned slightly, her head lifting. This news had clearly given her a headache.
"Chairwoman, from their tone, it seems they've already found other companies. Not only can they pay upfront, but the price they're offering is also twenty percent higher than ours," the woman hesitated for a moment before finally speaking.
"It must be Liu De Group," Li Wan'er sighed, rubbing her temples. After a moment of thought, she said, "Xiao Cai, go gather everyone for a meeting. This time, it seems we have no choice but to accept being acquired."
"Chairwoman!" the woman by the door exclaimed anxiously but was stopped by Li Wan'er's wave.
"Wan'er, you don't need to make such a quick decision. Hmm, give me some time, and I'll figure something out," Li Xuan said, standing up as the woman named Xiao Cai was about to leave.
"You?" Li Wan'er frowned again and then shook her head slightly. "Li Xuan, the company's cash flow is cut off, and the suppliers have refused to deliver. In this situation, I have no other options. I appreciate your kind intentions, but this is not something you can get involved in. You should go back and let me have some quiet time alone."
"Alright. I'll leave for now, but don't make a decision too quickly. How about this, give me two hours. If I can't resolve it, you can make your decision then," Li Xuan said with a wry smile. Li Wan'er still looked down on him.
However, Li Xuan didn't mind. After all, he truly had no background. If Li Wan'er had immediately believed him, that would have been strange.
"Li Xuan, you should go back," Li Wan'er said, waving him away with a bitter smile. Even a full day wouldn't be enough for her to secure the necessary capital injection. And yet, Li Xuan wanted to resolve it in two hours.
If she didn't know Li Xuan, Li Wan'er might have believed him. But knowing him well, Li Xuan's words were undoubtedly wishful thinking.
"It seems you still don't believe me. Fine, you wait and see," Li Xuan said with a smile, seeing through Li Wan'er's thoughts. He then took a business card from the table and turned to leave.
"Chairwoman, should we still hold the meeting?" As Li Xuan departed, the woman named Cai asked Li Wan'er.
"Yes..." Li Wan'er started to say, then stopped. "Never mind, let's wait for two hours."
"Yes, Chairwoman." Xiao Cai nodded and then turned to leave, closing the door behind her.
"I really am bewitched," Li Wan'er said with a wry smile, leaning back in her chair. She then sighed and stared out the window, lost in thought.
Hangcheng Traditional Chinese Medicine Hospital. Pedestrians flowed past like a river. At the hospital's main entrance, Li Xuan closed his eyes briefly before slowly opening them.
"It is indeed here. This way, I might have a solution." Li Xuan withdrew his divine sense and headed directly towards the inpatient department.
"Dean Qi, is there really no hope for my father's condition?" Outside a VIP ward, a middle-aged man, about forty years old, asked an elder with white hair. His expression was clearly tinged with sorrow.
"Mr. Li, I have done my utmost. With Elder Li's condition, I am truly helpless. For the time being, Mr. Li, you should spend more time with Elder Li," Dean Qi said with a sigh and a bitter expression.
"Dean Qi, if he were to be treated abroad, is there any possibility of recovery?" The middle-aged man seemed unwilling to give up and asked again.
Dean Qi hesitated for a moment before shaking his head. "Elder Li's body cannot withstand movement. And going abroad would inevitably involve flying. Any turbulence could worsen his condition."
"This..." The middle-aged man sighed helplessly. He looked through the ward's window at the elderly man inside and tears began to stream down his face.
"If I can cure your father, how will you repay me?" Just as the middle-aged man was about to speak, a voice suddenly cut in. The speaker, naturally, was Li Xuan.
"Who are you?" Dean Qi and Li Enzhong both turned their gazes towards the source of the sound. Upon seeing Li Xuan, Li Enzhong asked.
Based on Li Xuan's attire, he didn't seem like someone of high status. Nor was he wearing a doctor's uniform, which made Li Enzhong somewhat puzzled.
"I am Li Xuan. You are the dean of Hangcheng Traditional Chinese Medicine Hospital, and you are the general manager of Hangcheng Li De Group. Naturally, you wouldn't know me. However, I happened to see the newspaper advertisement about Mr. Li seeking medical help. May I ask if the condition you mentioned, 'any request I can fulfill,' is still valid?" Li Xuan said with a smile, looking at Li Enzhong.
"If you can cure my father, as long as it is within my ability, I will agree to any condition!"
Hearing this, Li Enzhong suddenly recalled the advertisements on television and in newspapers seeking folk healers to treat his father. Seeing Li Xuan's confident demeanor, he nodded in agreement.
"Good. With your word, Mr. Li, I can proceed. I hope Mr. Li will honor our agreement then. If you go back on your word, since I can cure your father, I can also ensure he remains in this state. Mr. Li, please lead the way."
Li Xuan nodded slightly and gestured.
Hearing Li Xuan's words, Li Enzhong's reservations lessened. If Li Xuan were merely seeking a favor, Li Enzhong might have suspected him of being a mercenary or a fraud.
But Li Xuan's confidence made Li Enzhong believe him a little more. If his father could be cured, Li Enzhong would spare no expense, even his entire fortune.
"This way, sir, please." Li Enzhong said, pushing open the door.
"Mr. Li, this person's origins are unknown. If he acts recklessly, Elder Li's condition..." Dean Qi tried to intervene as Li Enzhong agreed to let Li Xuan treat him.
What a joke. He had already made his professional judgment, and Li Enzhong, as the general manager of Li De Group, had the right to doubt him. But now, this young upstart claimed he could cure him? Wasn't that a direct slap in the face?
Seeing Dean Qi's obstruction, Li Enzhong's expression turned cold. "Dean Qi, if your hospital cannot treat my father, are you preventing me from seeking help elsewhere? Don't worry, your hospital will bear no responsibility for any consequences to my father. And I will not cause trouble for your hospital."
Li Xuan smiled without fear as Li Enzhong's last words were directed at him. He then strode forward, pushed away Dean Qi's hand, and walked straight in.
Dean Qi had no choice but to stop at this point. Watching Li Enzhong enter the ward, Dean Qi inexplicably followed him in.
Since this young man claimed he could cure Elder Li, he might as well see what he was capable of. If he turned out to be a charlatan, Dean Qi would surely have his way.
Li Xuan paid no mind to Dean Qi's thoughts. After entering the ward and examining Li Enzhong's father's bed, he sent out his divine sense.
"All five internal organs have failed, and life force is almost extinguished. If not for these machines, he would have long since passed away. Dean Qi was right; with their hospital's level of expertise, they indeed cannot save your father."
Li Xuan paused and then spoke slowly.
"However, I can save him."