Where's my golden core? Did you think I removed a kidney stone?

After seeing Su Chen off, Su Ye returned to his residence. The first thing he did after closing the door was to let out a long sigh.

The room wasn't big.

A bed, a pair of tables and chairs, a small wardrobe, and a cramped kitchen that's barely big enough for cooking—that's all there is in this studio apartment.

1200 a month.

That's already considered cheap.

The landlord was a nice person. He knew that Su Ye was a doctor undergoing residency training at the hospital and that he had a regular get off work schedule, so he gave him some leeway in terms of rent. In other houses around here, a clean single room like this would cost at least two or three hundred more.

Su Ye stood in the room, looking around, and felt more and more heartbroken.

"Only today have I discovered a major problem with my work."

He threw his schoolbag on the table and stood there, his expression complicated.

"I'm fucking poor!"

This isn't being pretentious.

They are truly poor.

He used to manage on his own, but now that Su Chen has come, he's realized for the first time that his salary is simply not enough to live comfortably in a place like Jiangcheng.

The salaries of resident trainees are what they are.

He only has so much each month to cover food, rent, and daily expenses. Plus, his appetite has increased significantly since he started cultivating, so his food expenses have almost doubled. Today, he spent the whole day with Su Chen in the city, buying things, having hot pot, and buying household supplies. When he came back and did the math, his wallet was almost empty.

If he lived in a nicer place, like a two-bedroom apartment, Su Chen wouldn't have to live in the school dormitory. The two brothers could live together and take care of each other.

But the problem is.

What will we live in?

Su Ye leaned against the table and pinched the bridge of his nose.

We need to make money.

These three words kept swirling in his mind, giving him a headache.

He used to only think about becoming stronger.

It now seems that becoming stronger and making money are both indispensable.

Otherwise, if something really happens in the future, and you have all the skills, but you can't even afford to move your family to a new place, that would be really messed up.

Thinking of this, Su Ye sighed again, picked up his phone, and was just about to see if there were any legitimate side hustles available when the phone rang.

The caller ID reads: Zhou Jingtang.

Su Ye straightened up and immediately answered the call.

"Old Zhou."

On the other end of the phone, the old man's voice was calm and gentle.

"Get ready to come out with me tonight."

"go out?"

"There's a banquet going on in Jiangcheng. It's not very formal, but everyone who's supposed to go will be there. Come with me and we'll meet the people."

Su Ye remained silent for a moment, then suddenly felt a surge of warmth in his heart.

He certainly understood what this meant.

A banquet that Zhou Jingtang personally attended was no ordinary dinner party. Most of the people sitting there were truly influential figures in Jiangcheng: the dean, people from the bureau, business owners, celebrities and dignitaries, and possibly even a few from the provinces.

Old Zhou took him there.

This goes beyond simply mentoring someone.

This is clearly leading him down the path of becoming a "successor".

"it is good."

Su Ye composed himself and agreed earnestly.

After the call ended, he stood there for a long time without moving.

A slight warmth filled my heart.

The old man truly treated him like one of his own.

……

night.

The banquet was held at a long-established club in Jiangcheng.

The place isn't extravagantly luxurious, but it's understated. It looks quiet from the outside, but once you go inside, you realize it's a different world altogether. The lighting is warm, the furnishings are exquisite, and even the waiters walk quietly. It's clearly the kind of place that caters specifically to "acquaintances" and "insiders."

Su Ye followed Zhou Jingtang inside.

really.

Almost none of the people sitting in the hall were simple.

There were well-dressed, smiling hospital leaders, people who spoke slowly and deliberately and were clearly in high positions, and wealthy business owners with watches on their wrists and shiny leather shoes on their feet. But as soon as Zhou Jingtang walked in, they got up faster than anyone else.

"Old Zhou is here!"

"Old sir, you're really hard to get a hold of."

"Come, come, sit here."

That respect wasn't feigned.

Who doesn't experience birth, aging, sickness, and death?

Who doesn't have elderly people or children in their family?

People like Zhou Jingtang may seem unassuming on ordinary days, but when it really comes down to it, they are the kind of people who can lend a helping hand and save lives.

So when he appeared, the focus of the entire banquet seemed to subtly shift in his direction.

Then, many people's eyes naturally fell on Su Ye.

young.

Handsome and refined.

She possesses an extraordinary temperament.

He stood calmly beside Old Zhou, showing no signs of unease.

Soon, someone spoke up with a smile.

"This must be Su Ye?"

"You have the highest medical license in the province, and you were personally mentored by Dr. Zhou after his return to practice. We've all heard of you."

"These young people are amazing."

"Jiangcheng hasn't produced someone like you in so many years."

"His future is limitless."

Similar phrases came one after another.

That's not an exaggeration.

But it's definitely not light either.

Su Ye responded politely on the surface, but he couldn't help but feel a little shaken inside.

He always felt he had been very low-key.

It turns out that it had already been in the sight of many people for a long time.

So much has happened lately: the medical licensing exam, Zhou Jingtang's return to the profession—everyone knows Jiangcheng has produced another medical genius.

A new medical genius!

The next medical giant to emerge.

Whether he likes it or not, this label has already been attached to him.

Su Ye chuckled, realizing he was still too naive.

Next, I'll say what needs to be said.

Offer the toast that is due.

He was neither arrogant nor humble, and he handled the situation with great tact.

Zhou Jingtang saw this but said nothing, only occasionally glancing at him with a hint of satisfaction in his eyes.

This child is more than just talented.

She has a good temperament and isn't stage-frightened.

That's how banquets are. In the end, they're just a group of rich and powerful people using a suitable setting to talk about things they all understand but don't really know. Medicine, policies, projects, resources, personal relationships—it's all wrapped up in smiles and wine glasses. A light clink of glasses is all it takes to settle things.

Su Ye simply followed quietly.

Listen more.

Say less.

Put yourself in a very suitable position.

……

The banquet ended close to night.

Zhou Jingtang was old and didn't like crowds, so he got up and left after sitting for a while. Su Ye followed him into the car, and as soon as the door closed, most of the noise outside was shut out.

The car was quiet.

Only the air conditioner was blowing a gentle breeze.

Zhou Jingtang leaned back in his seat and casually chatted with Su Ye for a few minutes. They talked about his medical experience, such as when to be decisive and when to leave room for maneuver. Patients see doctors not only for medical treatment but also for the doctor's eyes and attitude. In some cases, the outcome is not determined by the hand but by the mind.

Su Ye listened attentively.

These things are not in the book.

Only someone like that could speak so lightly of what he had learned through decades of medical practice.

The car drove out of the clubhouse and along the street in the night.

The city of Jiangcheng remained brightly lit at night, with tall buildings receding into the distance and neon lights leaving blurry streaks on car windows. But at a certain moment, Su Ye suddenly frowned.

wrong.

He turned his head and looked out the car window.

The night was deep.

The wind was also still.

But a strange, uneasy feeling welled up inside him.