"Nie Yuming? It's actually him!"

An Kexin furrowed her brows into a knot and said worriedly, "I've heard of him, known as one of the Four Young Masters of the Capital City, a real rogue who will use any means necessary to achieve his goals."

"No wonder Han Wenbin would back off."

She pondered and said, "The Han Group has quite a few weaknesses for people to exploit, and Han Wenbin doesn't dare to use unconventional means on someone with a deep background and complicated connections like Nie Yuming. The only option is to back down to avoid trouble."

Lin Miao asked concernedly, "Kexin, will Brother have any trouble for refusing him so bluntly?"

"Sister, do you have any solutions?" An Kemeng asked with worry as well.

An Kexin squeezed out a smile to comfort them, "You don't have to worry too much. Ah Jie is not like ordinary people."

"His unparalleled medical skills are his protective charm. Anyone with a little sense wouldn't risk public outrage by using excessive means against him."

Despite her words, An Kexin still said solemnly, "Ah Jie, just to be safe, you should contact someone from the Fu Family right now. People like Nie Yuming won't heed my and my father's kinship."

"For now, only the Fu Family's influence and connections can make Nie Yuming tread carefully."

Even though it was eleven o'clock, An Kexin's earlier introduction and her serious tone made Lin Jie uneasy. He picked up his phone and dialed Fu Xiuyuan's number.

After a few rings, just when Lin Jie thought no one would answer and was about to contact Fu Hechang instead, the call was picked up.

"Expert Lin, hello. Calling at this hour, is something up?"

Detecting a hint of fatigue in Fu Xiuyuan's voice, Lin Jie apologized, "I'm really sorry to disturb your rest. Something just happened, and I need to discuss it with you and hear your opinion."

Lin Jie could hear a yawn and the sound of drinking water from the phone, then Fu Xiuyuan's voice came again, "I haven't had much rest since yesterday, and tonight I still need to pull an all-nighter to prepare some materials."

"If not for your call, I might have fallen asleep."

Fu Xiuyuan's voice suddenly became more energetic, "Expert Lin, just get straight to the point. I might as well clear my head and wake myself up."

At this moment, Lin Jie didn't have the mind to ask why he was staying up to prepare materials. He recounted in detail about Nie Yuming's phone call just now.

"So it's Nie Yuming!"

"He's also starting to get involved in the medical industry and has set his sights on you?"

Detecting surprise in Fu Xiuyuan's tone, Lin Jie asked softly, "Are you familiar with this Nie Yuming?"

"He said I'm the first person to refuse his meeting invitation and reschedule, and also the first to reject his offer. I feel his words carry a threat, as if there's more to come?"

At this, a faint chuckle escaped from the phone.

"Expert Lin, all that 'first this, first that' talk is nonsense, don't let him scare you."

"He's just bluffing and trying to measure people before making a move."

Fu Xiuyuan paused and said, "Even though Nie Yuming is also a descendant of a founding hero and one of the Capital City's Four Young Masters, his level in the circle of those young masters is not even second-rate, maybe third-rate at best."

"The truly powerful and capable young masters are quietly developing in a low-profile manner, unlike him, who flaunts himself high-profile, afraid others wouldn't know he exists."

Feeling Fu Xiuyuan's disdain for this person, Lin Jie and the listening An Kexin gently sighed in relief.

"I heard that Nie Yuming acts quite recklessly?" Lin Jie inquired again.

Fu Xiuyuan laughed quietly, "It's not that he acts recklessly, it's just that he has a thick skin, dares to talk big, and is a bit cunning and sly."

"People choose not to engage with him typically, given his connections in the background, some trivial benefits are given up."

"If he really crossed the line, with the current strict governing, he would have been invited for tea somewhere already."

"The rumors you heard about him, many are exaggerated, maybe even spread by himself on purpose."

Fu Xiuyuan's tone turned solemn, "Expert Lin, so-called young masters, some are nurtured with elite education from a young age and guided by parents and elders."

"Those people are truly formidable, thinking ten steps ahead with each move, and their actions carry significant meanings that we can't match."

"But most of the rich kids are just average, only achieving something by being showered with their parents' aura and connections. Without their background, they are nothing."

"They can be misled, used, or even become tools in someone's hands."

Fu Xiuyuan said gravely, "Considering Nie Yuming's past displays of cleverness, if he knew your exact situation and our Fu Family connection, he probably wouldn't treat you like this."

"Expert Lin, I suspect there might be someone stirring trouble behind the scenes."

"It must be Qiao Hongzhen then."

Lin Jie then explained to Fu Xiuyuan how Qiao Hongzhen tricked his project verification patient and then deceived the patient into surgery, later suppressing the matter with a hefty compensation.

"Recently, the young patient's father, Xu Bin, informed me that Qiao Hongzhen is active and looking to set up a sports trauma research center."

"Now, even though Nie Yuming claims to be fully operating this project, Qiao Hongzhen is certainly its initiator."

"Later, the management and operation of this center should also be Qiao Hongzhen's responsibility."

"I understand."

Fu Xiuyuan said coldly, "After the incident with cousin Jing Lan, since that guy didn't continue causing trouble, we adopted the approach of avoiding unnecessary issues and didn't do anything to him."

"So this guy has focused all his attention on you, trying to use this so-called sports injury research center to appropriate your research results for himself."

"Expert Lin, don't worry about this matter!"

Fu Xiuyuan confidently said, "Tomorrow morning, I'll inform the elder about this. For someone like Nie Yuming, when the elder speaks, and gives a warning through his elders, one word from him is more effective than a hundred from me."

"As for that troublemaker Qiao Hongzhen, I'll think of a way to make him suffer the consequences."

"Thank you! Thank you, for both you and the elder's efforts."

Seeing a solution in sight, Lin Jie felt relieved and asked, "Can I ask, if you're also in the noble circles of the Capital City, what level are you at?"

Fu Xiuyuan laughed heartily and said, "Roughly at the second level, but at the bottom rung. This level is mostly due to the Fu family's standing, because I've achieved nothing myself, and shown no performance at all."

Although he claimed to have "achieved nothing," Lin Jie didn't detect any hint of grievance or complaint.

Thinking about his earlier mention of staying up late, Lin Jie's heart stirred, and he asked, "Mr. Fu, are you planning to step out and prove yourself?"

Fu Xiuyuan responded modestly, "It's not exactly about proving myself; the elder just wants me to gain some experience through practice. In a few days, you'll have definite news."

After hanging up the phone, Lin Jie, who had been looking relaxed, turned pensive again.

Seeing this, An Kexin reassured him once more, "Ah Jie, with the Fu family involved, the problem will surely be solved. Don't worry."

Lin Jie shook his head and said, "I'm not worried about that, I just..."

He sighed and remarked, "What seems like an insurmountable issue to us can be resolved with just a few words from them. That makes me feel a bit uncomfortable."

An Kexin also sighed in agreement, then smiled and said, "The Fu family earned their status and voice in society through historical accumulation and the elder's lifetime of hard work."

"Ah Jie, you just need three to five more years to make a name for yourself, and fully showcase your talents, and you'll have a reputation and status no less than the elder's."

"I hope so," Lin Jie said with a hint of longing.

Nothing more was said that night...

The next noon, Lin Jie took a car to Binhai University Medical School, preparing to teach a class.

As he got out of the car, he unexpectedly saw someone who made him gnash his teeth with hatred.

"Qiao Hongzhen!"

"Lin Jie!"

Qiao Hongzhen walked over with a smile, but was stopped by Qin Gang.

Lin Jie said softly, "Let him come over, I want to hear what kind of bullshit he'll say."

Qin Gang stepped aside, and Qiao Hongzhen moved closer to Lin Jie, looking him up and down, saying, "Honestly, the more I learn about you, the more I'm amazed. Your medical skills leave me in awe."

"If there wasn't such a serious conflict of interest between us, I think even if we couldn't be friends, we could become collaborators, complementing each other's skills in medicine."

Lin Jie snorted coldly, "You're too optimistic. I wouldn't want to associate with someone of your character."

Qiao Hongzhen replied nonchalantly, "You may disdain my methods, but in today's world, people like me are the ones who stand smiling in the end."

"Sigh, Lin Jie, you know too little about Mr. Nie..."

He said mockingly, "I can predict that you will eventually succumb and accept his invitation, which means you will work under me."

Qiao Hongzhen moved closer to Lin Jie and lowered his voice, "At that time, the results of your research will be my results. Your achievements will be my achievements."

"But..."

He boasted, "The real fame and honor that comes from this research center will be mine alone."

Lin Jie scoffed and mocked, "Qiao Hongzhen, be careful that your joy doesn't turn into sorrow..."

Qiao Hongzhen interrupted Lin Jie's words with a laugh, "Joy turning into sorrow?"

"You seem very confident, so I guess you've asked someone to intervene, right? Let me guess..."

"The Fu family!"

Qiao Hongzhen said disdainfully, "Do you really think I couldn't guess you'd ask the Fu family to intervene? But, honestly, Mr. Nie is just pushing things along."

He flaunted, "The real big shot behind this, the Fu family can't handle."

"And that big shot has a very close relationship with me."

"Let me tell you one more thing, this sports injury research center is just a small part of that big shot's plan, but it's a very crucial one, and it can't be mishandled."

Watching Qiao Hongzhen leave with a smug look, Lin Jie's heart sank. Was Qiao Hongzhen bluffing, or was there truly a big shot behind him that even the Fu family couldn't deal with?

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