309: Chapter 309 To save or not to save, it all depends on one's conscience!

As soon as Director Li Aihua spoke, the consultation room fell silent for a moment.

It wasn't because the million-dollar annual salary was particularly shocking.

But rather... because of Director Li Aihua's identity.

As the Chief of Oncology, she was a renowned figure in the entire Southeast Continent's oncology academic circles.

However, that was her least noteworthy label.

Her true identity was the wife of the legendary "King of Hell's Rival," Zhang Sansheng.

Who was Zhang Sansheng?

He was a living fossil of the Dragon Kingdom's Traditional Chinese Medicine World, with supernatural mastery of the Golden Needle Acupoint technique. It was said that in his youth, he had entered Zhongnanhai to treat a retired veteran chief.

Although he had lived in seclusion and rarely appeared in public in recent years, those in the industry knew that the name Old Mr. Zhang carried immense weight.

And right now, Zhang Sansheng's wife was sincerely inviting a young man in his early twenties to practice at the hospital.

With an annual salary of a million.

This was an incredibly huge gesture of respect.

"Director Li actually spoke up personally..."

"Is this young man really that amazing?"

"Didn't you see that report? He brought someone back from the dead using only Silver Needles! Late-stage liver cancer, cured on the spot!"

...Whispers spread like a rising tide.

The directors and deputy directors who had been urgently summoned looked at Ye Chen with eyes that had shifted from shock to awe... However.

Ye Chen put away his phone and looked up, his face showing no sign of being overwhelmed by the favor.

He simply shook his head politely.

"No need."

"I'm used to being a free spirit; I can't handle the constraints of a desk job."

He paused.

Then he added another sentence.

"Besides, I'm currently working as a driver for someone, and I can't go back on my word."

Hum—

The air in the consultation room seemed to freeze for an instant.

A driver?

He said... he's working as a driver???

The Deputy Director of Oncology, a Middle-aged Man in his fifties, was holding a CT scan. His hand trembled upon hearing this, and the film almost slipped out.

He instinctively adjusted his glasses, doubting if something was wrong with his ears.

The Director of Hepatobiliary Surgery next to him was more direct, blurting out, "A driver? Little brother, with your medical skills that can bring back the dead, you're going to be a driver???"

That tone!

That expression!

It was as if he had seen someone using the Jade of He to prop up a table leg.

Ye Chen nodded with a serious expression.

"Yes, driving for someone."

"The pay isn't high, but the freedom is worth it."

"The boss is also quite nice, and occasionally I can get a free meal."

Everyone: "..."

Wait... what kind of divine driver is this?

Is your boss the Jade Emperor???

Director Li Aihua was also stunned.

In her half-lifetime of practicing medicine, she had seen arrogant geniuses, Experts who were indifferent to fame and fortune, and eccentrics who viewed money as dirt.

But she had never seen... someone with extraordinary skills who could cure terminal illnesses at will, who, when personally invited by her, would confidently say, "I'm working as a driver for someone."

She fell silent for two seconds, shaking her head with a bitter smile.

"Little brother, with your medical skills, being a driver... is such a waste of talent."

There wasn't a hint of mockery in her tone, only heartfelt regret.

Ye Chen looked at her and smiled.

"A waste of talent?"

"I think it's quite good."

"Driving for someone, I can go wherever I want. I don't have to look at anyone's face, and I'm not bound by rules."

"When I meet someone I can help, I give them a hand."

"When I'm done helping, I pull out the car keys and go home for dinner."

"Isn't that much more..."

"...carefree than sitting here every day facing miserable patients and mountains of medical records?"

Director Li Aihua opened her mouth, unexpectedly finding herself unable to argue.

She instinctively looked around.

In the consultation room, many of those usually stern directors actually lowered their heads quietly at this moment.

Indeed.

They left early and returned late every day, performing one surgery after another, seeing patients until their throats were parched, dealing with research, teaching, administration, promotions... Who still remembered that initial intention of "saving lives and helping the injured" from when they first started studying medicine?

Yet this young man before them, barely in his twenties, had already seen through the truth that they had spent half their lives trying to grasp.

Medical skill is just a means.

Being carefree is the goal.

Director Li Aihua took a deep breath, wanting to speak again.

However.

Ye Chen had already waved his hand, interrupting her.

"Director Li, you don't need to persuade me."

"I really have no interest in taking a position here."

"However, if the hospital has any particularly difficult patients in the future..."

"You can contact me."

"If I can help, I will lend a hand."

He didn't completely shut the door.

Nor did he keep her at a distance.

Director Li Aihua's eyes lit up, the disappointment on her face instantly replaced by surprise.

"Good!"

"That's enough!"

The directors behind her also breathed a sigh of relief.

Although they couldn't hire him, having this promise was equivalent to the hospital having a secret trump card that no one knew about!!!

Ye Chen nodded slightly.

He never considered himself a particularly good person.

When it came to killing, he never hesitated.

He wouldn't let a single person who threatened him go.

But... in the [Thick Earth Inheritance], there was a passage he always remembered.

A practitioner seizes the creation of heaven and earth and encroaches upon the mysteries of the sun and Yi Yue.

If one has no merit to protect them, the day will eventually come when karma entangles them.

Accumulating good deeds isn't about becoming a saint.

It's to allow oneself to go further and live more freely.

Therefore.

If he could save someone, he would.

If he could help, he would.

He didn't need to be bound by the monument of "a doctor's benevolent heart," nor did he need to deliberately pursue boundless merit.

It all depended on his heart.

If his heart felt he should save them, he would.

If his heart felt it was a hassle, he would ignore it.

It was quite good this way.

"Director Li."

Ye Chen retracted his thoughts and walked toward the door. As he passed Director Li Aihua, he stopped.

"Let's keep today's matter within the hospital."

"That Miss Yan should have family members coming later; don't let them worry too much."

"Just say the resuscitation was timely and she was lucky."

Director Li Aihua was stunned for a moment, then nodded solemnly. "I understand."

She was also someone who had seen much of the world and naturally understood Ye Chen's meaning.

Bringing someone back from the dead, curing a terminal illness.

If such things got out, it wouldn't necessarily be a good thing for the hospital, for Ye Chen, or for Yan Lingling herself.

Some miracles should be allowed to happen quietly and then end quietly.

"Then I won't disturb you any further."

Director Li Aihua bowed slightly, her tone carrying the respect one would show a peer rather than the condescending attitude of an elder. "Little brother, until we meet again."

With those words.

She turned and waved gently to the group of directors who were still in a daze.

"Let's go, stop crowding around him."

"Collect all the films and get back to your work."

The directors snapped out of it, responded one after another, gathered their respective films and medical records, and filed out... Soon, Yan Lingling was transferred to a general ward.

She lay on the snow-white hospital bed, eyes open, staring at the ceiling.

She still hadn't fully figured out what had happened.

She only remembered walking to school with Sophie, and then her stomach suddenly hurt so much she couldn't breathe.

And then... everything went black.

When she regained consciousness, there were blinding surgical lights overhead and strange, busy figures in white around her.

There was also a face.

Very familiar.

A classmate from high school.

What was his name... Ye Chen?

As she was trying to remember, the ward door was gently pushed open.

Sophie walked in carrying a glass of warm water.

Seeing that she was completely awake, Sophie's eyes reddened, and she almost burst into tears again.

"Lingling..."

Yan Lingling looked at her, somewhat dazed. "Sophie, what happened to me?"

Sophie walked over, placed the water glass on the nightstand, and took her hand.

"You're okay now, Lingling."

"You... are better."

Yan Lingling was stunned. "Better?"

She looked down at her thin body wrapped in the hospital gown.

The dull pain that had been relentless day and night in the area of her liver was now gone, as if it had never existed.

She touched her abdomen.

It didn't hurt.

It really didn't hurt anymore.

She looked up at Sophie.

"Was it that classmate named Ye Chen... who saved me?"

Sophie nodded vigorously, her tears finally sliding down.

"Yes."

"It was him."

Yan Lingling fell silent for a few seconds.

She turned her head and looked out the window.

The setting sun was peeking out from behind the clouds, staining the sky a gentle orange-red.

Her eyes slowly reddened... Ye Chen didn't enter the ward.

He stood by the window at the end of the corridor, watching the patients and their families walking in the garden below.

Yi Yue stood quietly beside him.

"A-Chen."

"Hmm?"

"You saved Lingling's life."

"Yes."

"Sophie said Lingling's family isn't well off. They've already borrowed a lot of money for her treatment. Her younger brother has the college entrance exam next year, and he was planning to drop out to work..."

Ye Chen turned his head. "You want to help her?"

Yi Yue bit her lower lip and nodded gently.

"I want to pay the medical bills anonymously and leave her a sum for her subsequent recovery and nutrition."

"Will you... think I'm being nosy?"

Ye Chen looked at her and smiled gently.

"No."

He reached out and ruffled Yi Yue's hair.

"Do whatever you want to do."

"I'm here."

Yi Yue's eyes warmed, and she nodded vigorously. "Okay, thank you, A-Chen. It's so good to have you."

Ye Chen gave a hearty laugh and was about to say something... when suddenly!

His phone vibrated.

He paused and answered it.

The next second.

White Charm's voice came through: "Master, that group of suckers has arrived."