Chapter Seventeen: Reluctant Admiration

Thud—a beautiful young nurse burst in, out of breath, her face frozen in an expression of utter disbelief.

“Zhang Min, what’s with the panic?” President Luo’s face was cold as he snapped at the nurse who had barged in. The atmosphere in the meeting room was already tense due to the dispute over Lin Yang’s score. Now interrupted, the irritable President Luo’s tone grew even colder.

“Um, um, the patient in Room 16 insists on getting out of bed to thank the doctor who treated him,” the nurse reported breathlessly, her eyes darting around, searching for the young man who had saved the patient.

“What?”

“What?”

Several members on the hospital’s side who were voting shot to their feet in shock. The government officials present didn’t know the specifics of Patient 16’s case, but the hospital staff knew all too well. The injuries had been so severe—forget about getting out of bed; even waking up within a day would have been remarkable. At first, they’d thought Lin Yang’s surgery was just a bit more skillful, perhaps some showy tricks. But now, as they all turned to look at the composed Lin Yang, their eyes were filled with astonishment.

The meeting room was plunged into a brief, deathly silence—the sound of breathing became loud and clear.

“And where is the patient? You didn’t really let him get out of bed on his own, did you?” President Luo took a deep breath, frowned, and questioned coldly.

At his words, the others immediately turned suspicious gazes toward the young nurse.

“I—I couldn’t stop him. He insisted on getting out of bed,” she stammered nervously, afraid she’d be blamed. She’d worked so hard to get this job—if she were fired over this, it would be a disaster.

“Nurse, nurse, where is my benefactor? Where is he?” Just as President Luo was about to lose his temper, a weary but eager voice sounded in the meeting room.

Everyone turned to look. A thin, pale man with bandaged legs and a flush on his cheeks hobbled in.

“I think… I think it’s him,” the nurse said uncertainly, pointing at Lin Yang, who was smiling calmly. She’d only glimpsed his back earlier, so she wasn’t sure.

“It was you who saved me? Thank you, thank you!” The man was a migrant worker from another province, supporting a family of five on his meager earnings. That day, a gas pipe exploded at the construction site. He was closest to the blast and was thrown far by the explosion; shrapnel from the pipe struck his thigh, and blood loss plus concussion left him unconscious.

His coworkers rushed him in, but his injuries were grave, and with no one to pay the hospital fees, the hospital kept delaying treatment. Then Lin Yang, who had entered the competition under special circumstances, was assigned this difficult patient—President Luo’s way of testing him. No one expected Lin Yang not only to succeed but for the patient to recover so quickly that he could come here himself. It was nothing short of a miracle, though not one President Luo was happy to witness.

“Thank you, thank you, benefactor!” Seeing Nurse Zhang Min point at Lin Yang, the man hurried forward and was about to kneel in gratitude. He knew that even one extra day spent in a hospital bed meant no income and more bills, putting his family’s survival in jeopardy. To him, Lin Yang hadn’t just saved his life—he’d saved his entire family.

The hospital staff, meanwhile, looked at the man as if they’d seen a ghost. Considering how easily he moved his previously injured leg, the extent of his recovery was astonishing. At that moment, an image flashed through President Luo’s mind—Lin Yang holding up a jade bottle to the surveillance camera.

“Could it have been that powder? What was it? How could it be so miraculous?” Questions swirled in President Luo’s mind, refusing to be banished.

The same question haunted many others present.

“Brother, there’s no need for that. Saving lives is my duty,” Lin Yang said modestly, stepping forward to help the man up before he could kneel.

The man, now standing, wanted to thank the hospital as well, but Lin Yang interrupted with a laugh, “Ha ha, brother, I’m not a doctor at this hospital.”

That was a ruthless blow—an open slap in the face. President Luo nearly fell out of his chair in anger.

Now that the patient could walk by himself, the truth was plain to see. No matter how the hospital tried to justify things, it was useless. In the end, they had no choice but to reluctantly award the championship title to Lin Yang.

When the contest concluded, Lin Yang and his companions didn’t linger. After a busy day, it was time to eat. Fierce Tiger suggested they go out for a meal both to apologize for his earlier rashness and to welcome Lin Yang, their new leader.

After saying goodbye to Guo Xiaoxiao, the three of them left calmly, watched by countless curious eyes.

Fierce Tiger, who knew everything about Jinhai, proposed several famous restaurants: Jiangnan Pavilion, Peach Garden Hall, Dream Fate Gathering, and other high-end hotels.

“So many? Which one is the best?” Cold Nini’s eyes sparkled as she pouted, her brows furrowing in a look of endearing distress.

“Having trouble deciding?” Lin Yang, knowing her well, shook his head helplessly. Her reputation as a foodie was well-deserved, and what baffled him most was that she never gained any weight no matter how much she ate. So she always indulged without restraint.

“Yeah, it’s hard to choose.”

“Do you want them all?”

“Of course!”

“Let’s go to Dream Fate Gathering, then.”

“Why?”

“The name is elegant.”

“That’s your logic?”

“All you need is a reasonable excuse, right?”

Fierce Tiger, watching from the side, could only sigh. The more time he spent with these two, the more he realized how extraordinary they were—sometimes he couldn’t even follow their conversations.

“Well, that’s true. Fine, Dream Fate Gathering it is.” With the decision made, all worries vanished. Cold Nini skipped happily to the car, plopped into the passenger seat, and with a commanding grin, called to Lin Yang, “Let’s go—Dream Fate Gathering!”

“At your service!” Lin Yang, agile as ever, leapt into the driver’s seat. The engine roared, he hit the gas, and the car sped away, leaving behind a flurry of gossip.

In the wake of their departure, scattered voices drifted through the air.

“What a charming woman.”

“She’s a real stunner.”

“If only she wore a bit less…”

“Even a toad like me can’t help but go wild.”

“What a figure!”

“But that car is nothing special,” someone muttered, ignoring the beauty inside.

With a screech of brakes, the car stopped in front of a towering building. From inside, one had the illusion that the roof was lost in the clouds; it was at least two hundred meters high. The central structure soared upward like a mountain peak, flanked by lower wings that embraced the core, giving the distant appearance of a trident.

What drew the eye most was the entire outer wall of glass—sunlight poured in, making the interior visible at a glance. One could even catch glimpses of couples entwined in intimate moments.

Looking down, three striking golden characters spelled out “Dream Fate Gathering.” In the dazzling light, it looked as if the words were cast in pure gold.

“This is Dream Fate Gathering?” Lin Yang, for a moment dazed, couldn’t help but ask, though the name on the building made it obvious.

“It’s nothing compared to Xuanyuan Pavilion,” Cold Nini said with a sigh, pouting in disappointment. So this was what passed for a famous hotel?

Fierce Tiger, overhearing, could only sweat inwardly—children from prominent families were indeed different. Despite her dissatisfaction, the three of them still made their way to the entrance. Whatever the hotel’s reputation, they couldn’t let their stomachs suffer.

“Welcome,” greeted a young, elegantly made-up hostess. Lin Yang couldn’t help but reflect that all luxury hotels were the same, hiring hostesses whose beauty could rival that of second-rate celebrities. No wonder they were always busy—a pretty face was, after all, pleasing to the eye.

“A private room, please,” Cold Nini said with practiced ease.

“How many in your party?” the hostess asked sweetly.

“One, two…” Nini counted, pointing to the two beside her like bodyguards, then herself. Her smile was so radiant that the hostess, proud of her own looks, felt outshone.

“Just a moment, I’ll check,” said the hostess, leading them to the front desk.

After a brief conversation with the receptionist, she turned back apologetically. “I’m sorry, all the private rooms are booked during peak hours, but…”

“But what?” Cold Nini’s brows knitted again.

“But Room 312 on the third floor is reserved for six o’clock. Would you be able to finish your meal by then?” The hostess asked nervously. Such requests were usually taboo for diners.

“Oh, that’s fine. We’ll be out by five,” Cold Nini replied cheerfully, her frown vanishing. She wasn’t the unreasonable type.

With a thousand thanks, the hostess led the three of them upstairs.

They were seated, ordered, and everything proceeded smoothly. For the three of them, the meal was extravagantly lavish—bird’s nest, bear’s paw, shark fin, giant lobster. Cold Nini ordered whatever was most expensive. Lin Yang, however, had little enthusiasm; after months of plain fare, he found himself preferring simplicity.

“Nini, that’s too much. It’ll go to waste,” he said helplessly as she looked ready to order more.

“Pff, if you think it’s wasteful, don’t eat. You’re not paying, so why complain?” Cold Nini retorted, unladylike, as always when it came to food.

Having grown accustomed to this, Fierce Tiger quietly embraced his role as the third wheel, venting all his frustrations on the delicacies before him.

“What? Someone’s eating in my room? What is this nonsense? I clearly made a reservation, and you gave my room to someone else? Go throw them out immediately! Otherwise, your hotel might as well close down!” A harsh, imperious voice cut through the restaurant.