It's Wednesday again, time for the weekly natural food tasting event.

This time, the event is organized entirely by Zhang Xiaoxiao.

As her first official event in her new role, Zhang Xiaoxiao was exceptionally dedicated.

In light of the increasingly hot weather, and with Lin Jie's approval, this tasting would take the form of a barbecue, held in the rooftop garden of Xiangtai Apartment.

Simultaneously, she contacted the property management to clean the rooftop pool and refill it with fresh water.

By ten in the morning, Zhang Xiaoxiao reported to Lin Jie that she had arranged for catering staff, barbecue equipment, and all the extra beef, lamb, seafood, and drinks needed.

She also informed him that everyone had been notified to bring their swimsuits.

Lin Jie praised, "Xiaoxiao, you've done a fabulous job. In another year or two, you'll probably outdo British butlers."

Zhang Xiaoxiao snorted and said, "If British butlers were at my level, they'd have had their livelihoods taken by domestic household staff long ago."

She worriedly added, "Ah Jie, the combined costs for renting the rooftop garden, cleaning the pool, hiring the catering company, and buying food and drinks add up to over ten thousand."

"If we do this every week, isn't it a bit too costly?"

Lin Jie waved it off, "It's just that this time the costs are higher; the last few times, hiring a chef only cost over a thousand. Besides, even if every time costs this much, I can afford it now."

Zhang Xiaoxiao asked with concern, "Ah Jie, is your job at the Affiliated Hospital as a special consultant your only source of income? It's essentially a part-time job, so how much can you earn each month?"

Lin Jie chuckled, "Believe it or not, the pay for this part-time job is not bad at all."

"I've checked; my monthly fixed consultant fee for this part-time job is thirty thousand. In addition, if I perform surgeries, consultations, outpatient duties, teaching, etc., there are extra allowances."

"Doing the math, if I perform one or two major surgeries a month, I'll earn at least seventy to eighty thousand..."

At this point, Lin Jie suddenly felt strange.

Before he had his medical license, one surgery could earn him hundreds of thousands, even millions.

Now, with a medical license, his income has plunged drastically.

Comparing this, Lin Jie somewhat uninterestedly said, "Xiaoxiao, you don't need to worry about money. If I really need it, I can just take on a high-paying surgery."

Zhang Xiaoxiao nodded in agreement, "That's true. You're eating through your real skills; as long as you have your craft, you won't go hungry. I'll go check the rooftop to see if there's anything else that needs improvement."

As soon as she left, Chen Shi and Tao Taqing arrived.

"Lin Jie, based on our research topics, Old Chen and I wrote a paper with our respective focuses; take a look!"

Tao Taqing opened his laptop and displayed a paper for Lin Jie.

Lin Jie was surprised, "Dean Tao, you mentioned going public with your research results a few days ago, and you already finished your paper?"

Tao Taqing chuckled, "Of course, we didn't just write it in the past few days. As our research progressed, these ideas took shape in our minds."

"Old Chen and I just took these few days to organize and write down what was in our minds."

Lin Jie read through their papers, noting that Chen Shi's paper focused on the reconstruction of microcirculation, while Tao Taqing's was on the reconstruction of the neural axon system.

He promptly pointed out areas in each of their papers where the expressions were inaccurate, not rigorous, or where the arguments were insufficient.

The three had a heated discussion about how to revise them.

This discussion took three to four hours; even during lunch, they ate while talking.

It wasn't until the afternoon, when visitors arrived, that Chen Shi and Tao Taqing, still engrossed, took their leave.

The visitors were Yu Momo and her mother.

Yu Momo put away her crutches and, with her mother's help, sat on the living room sofa, excitedly saying, "Lin Jie, I know you're hosting a gathering for friends at home today, so my mom and I came over to thank you personally."

"You're too kind. It's inconvenient for you to move around; a phone call would have sufficed!" Lin Jie continued, "Did the boss of that brokerage company come last night? What did he say?"

"He came himself and brought along that February champion."

Yu Momo said with some glee, "That February champion knelt in front of me as soon as she entered the ward, crying and apologizing, saying it was a moment of impulse, a moment of confusion."

She snorted and continued, "Though I know it's mostly an act due to pressure from you and your friends."

"But thinking about my ten years of persistence and effort, I couldn't just let her career end, so I've forgiven her!"

This was Momo's decision, and Lin Jie listened without commenting further.

"That Boss Fan also apologized to me and, on behalf of the company and the February champion, compensated me thirty thousand. They also promised to use their connections to help me achieve a good standing at the year-end finals..."

At this, Yu Momo looked at Lin Jie anxiously and asked, "Lin Jie, those were the terms of the apology and my mom and I accepted them."

Yu Momo rubbed her hands embarrassedly, "I just don't know if it's appropriate or right to do this."

"Without your help, my mom and I probably would've had to go back home."

"Last night, my mom and I agreed to the settlement. When I woke up today, I was clear-headed enough to realize that we should have talked to you first."

Lin Jie smiled gently, "You are the victim and party to this matter, your decision is the final decision, and it's the best one, no need to worry about my thoughts."

Yu's mother also spoke, "Expert Lin, this is the first time Momo and I encountered such a situation, and we may have handled it inadequately. We're truly sorry..."

"Auntie, you're too polite!"

Lin Jie reiterated his stance, "I really have no other thoughts on the matter."

"I'm sure the reconciliation was also what the talent show producers wanted. If it escalated, it would become a scandal, negatively impacting the show and Momo's future in the industry."

Yu's mother smiled relievedly, "Thank you so much, Expert Lin! We can't thank you enough. This is a double-sided embroidery my mother made; please accept it!"

She took a folded silk piece from her handbag and handed it over.

Yu Momo said softly, "My grandmother was a very accomplished embroidery artist. She spent three or four years completing this piece, please make sure to accept it!"

Lin Jie took the smooth silk and unfolded it.

This embroidery was rectangular, about one meter square. One side depicted koi playing in the water, the other a small bridge over flowing water, so lifelike and poetic, clearly a masterpiece crafted with care.

Lin Jie declined, "This is a major work, made with dedication, it's too valuable for me to accept!"

Yu's mother smiled and said, "It's just an embroidery piece. Compared to the help you provided, it's nothing. This is our token of appreciation, please accept it!"

After several refusals, Lin Jie finally accepted their kind gesture.

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