Chapter 647: Worldly Wisdom

Outstanding Youth, it is not that Ji Xiang does not care, but he must take it one step at a time.

Just as he was thinking this, a "Ding-dong~" sound suddenly rang in his ears.

【Congratulations on unlocking Long-term Main Quest I—Obtain the National Science Fund for Distinguished Young Scholars.

Quest Content: This is the necessary path to becoming an Academician, and it is the most recognized path among the many routes to reaching the summit. So, please work hard.

Quest Duration: 3 years.

Quest Reward: Unlock Long-term Main Quest II, reward of 30 Free Attribute Points, and the System Mall will open up enhancement-type drugs.】

Ji Xiang looked at the quest content in the top right corner of his field of vision; he felt no particular surprise, nor any particular astonishment.

He just didn't understand how terms like National Science Fund for Distinguished Young Scholars and Academician could appear in a System Task.

The key was that what he wanted to do was somewhat contradictory to the quest.

With a flash of thought, Ji Xiang had just arrived at the System Operating Room; at the very last moment, he vaguely saw Bai Chuzhang's expression shift, as if his act of "cheating" to enter the System Operating Room right in front of Bai Chuzhang had been "seen" clearly.

Although he knew it was unlikely, out of caution, Ji Xiang still said a word to the System NPC, then immediately left the System Operating Room.

"Xiao Ji?" Bai Chuzhang looked at Ji Xiang sternly.

"Yes, what is it, Bai Chuzhang?" Ji Xiang's heart tightened, knowing that Bai Chuzhang might have noticed some clues.

"What about the signed jersey I asked you to get for me? You didn't forget, did you?" Bai Chuzhang beamed and asked a question that had nothing to do with the worries in Ji Xiang's heart.

Phew~~~

Ji Xiang let out a long breath and smiled, "Zhao Ge brought them. Most are regular jerseys, but for you and Liu Zhuren, I got the signed jerseys worn by Neymar in his last few matches before he was injured and retired."

"!!!"

Bai Chuzhang hadn't expected Ji Xiang to do such a thing!

The way this was handled was exquisite, polished to the Extreme Point.

He stared at Ji Xiang with wide eyes, as if looking at a little monster.

In Bai Chuzhang's perception, Ji Xiang was not that kind of person, yet he had gone and done exactly that.

"Do I have flowers growing on my face?" Ji Xiang touched his own face and asked helplessly.

"I didn't expect you to still be thinking of me while you were over there." Bai Chuzhang smiled faintly.

"I know who treats me well."

Bai Chuzhang nodded slightly.

"Xiao Ji, that was a well-placed flattery!" Liu Zhuren joked.

"I'm telling the truth," Ji Xiang said. "Liu Zhuren, you didn't ask for one, but I brought a similar jersey for you too, just a small token of my appreciation."

"Too kind, too kind, we're all our own people, there was no need," Liu Zhuren said, though he was beaming with joy inside.

"Are you going to eat? Or going straight home?" Bai Chuzhang asked.

"I want to arrange a place for Lin to stay first."

Ji Xiang guessed that perhaps Lin Jiuze had been forgotten by everyone again; this was truly a very strange thing. In Ji Xiang's eyes, Lin Jiuze had nothing strange about him, yet he was always being forgotten by others, whether intentionally or unintentionally.

Bai Chuzhang was startled and immediately remembered what he had forgotten.

He turned his head and searched for 3 seconds, using all his might before his gaze finally landed on Lin Jiuze.

It was just that his head felt a bit dizzy when looking at Lin Jiuze, which made Bai Chuzhang very uncomfortable.

"Doctor Lin, hello, I am the Director of Medical Affairs at the Second Affiliated Hospital. I just heard you say you wanted to come for further studies?" Bai Chuzhang looked at Lin Jiuze with a slightly "cross-eyed" gaze and reached out his hand.

His hand was a bit off, but Lin Jiuze reached out and shook hands with Bai Chuzhang.

"I saw that Doctor Ji Xiang's surgical level and diagnostic level are very high, and I felt a yearning, so I wanted to come and learn for a period of time. I wonder if it is convenient for you here?"

"It is convenient. Have you processed the paperwork for the further studies?"

"Not yet."

"Then I will contact you tomorrow. You don't mind, do you?" Bai Chuzhang said politely.

"Thank you, Bai Chuzhang. I had been worried about the further study procedures at your esteemed hospital. If you can help, that would be wonderful!" Lin Jiuze also used polite formalities, even revealing a faint surprise.

After arranging a place for Lin Jiuze to stay, Bai Chuzhang acted extremely normal, even occasionally whispering with Lin Jiuze, with laughter breaking out from time to time.

After dropping Ji Xiang off at home, Bai Chuzhang collapsed into the back seat as soon as he got into the car.

"Lao Bai, what's wrong with you?" Liu Zhi asked.

"Damn it!"

Hearing Bai Chuzhang swear, Liu Zhi knew there must be a problem this time, and a big one at that.

"That guy named Lin Jiuze is simply haunted," Bai Chuzhang said. "Every time I try to look at his eyes, there is a force that makes me shift my gaze away."

"Oh?"

Liu Zhi did not understand, because in his gaze, Lin Jiuze did not exist at all.

"An Expert from Massachusetts General Hospital, already about to have his own medical team—why did he come here? And acting so weirdly," Bai Chuzhang muttered to himself.

"To learn techniques from Xiao Ji."

"Heh."

"Where to?" Liu Zhi asked.

"I'm going home. You drive, I'll rest. Talking to Lin Jiuze is too tiring, more tiring than handling three cases of major Medical Malpractice."

Liu Zhi drove in silence, not disturbing Bai Chuzhang.

After a long time, Bai Chuzhang suddenly said softly, "Dazhi, I'm worried about Xiao Ji."

"Worried about what?"

"Do you remember Zhang Xiaoping?"

"The one from the 601 Institute?"

"Yes." Bai Chuzhang closed his eyes, his Spirit looking a bit better—at least not as exhausted as when he had just gotten into the car.

"When at the Institute, Zhang Xiaoping's annual salary was 120,000, which wasn't low, but relative to his technical level, it was definitely not high." Bai Chuzhang spoke as if chatting with Liu Zhuren, yet also as if talking to himself.

"Later, he was poached by a private enterprise, and the leadership signed off without the slightest hesitation. And the result? They discovered that once Zhang Xiaoping left, many tasks could not be carried out; the 2020 launch failures of the Long March 7 and Long March 3 satellites were primarily due to problems from the Institute."

"There are too many people like this in the hospital; those with high levels and good skills have no interest in scheming, and at most, they only become grassroots department directors." Liu Zhuren said, accustomed to it, "Are you worried that Xiao Ji will be buried? Rest assured, that's impossible."

"You certainly are full of confidence in Ji Xiang."

"I originally thought Ji Xiang wouldn't forget about the signed jersey, but I absolutely didn't expect him to bring back jerseys with even more commemorative significance for you and me. How should I put it regarding Xiao Ji? He belongs to that type of young person who is single-mindedly focused on moving forward, yet doesn't forget the ways of the world."

"Similar young people are bound to have a bright future, so I'm not worried at all. I think you're overthinking things; have you developed persecution mania from working in the Medical Affairs Department for too long?"

"Heh." Bai Chuzhang nodded slightly; he seemed to approve of Liu Zhuren's statement.

"What surprised me most is that Xiao Ji actually agreed to the application for the National Outstanding Youth Science Fund. To tell you the truth, no matter who the hospital applies for this for, they have to run around for several years repeatedly, and being able to obtain the hospital's support is absolutely a massive favor. But as for Xiao Ji, he's a bit special."

"Never mind that, keep an eye on Lin Jiuze when you have the chance in the future; there is more to this person than meets the eye."

(End of chapter)