Yan Feifan felt like he’d been set up, and he wasn’t happy about it.
But facing the camera, he still managed a polite, faint smile.
"Mr. Yan, I’m so sorry to take up your precious time."
The flirtatious woman apologized first, then introduced herself. "I’m a self-media creator, Qiaoyan from ’Qiaoyan’s View of Binhai’..."
As she spoke, she made a show of batting her eyelashes flirtatiously at Yan Feifan.
Her gesture was tacky and frivolous, but objectively speaking, from Yan Feifan’s professional perspective, Qiaoyan’s eyes were indeed her most striking feature.
Her almond-shaped eyes held a certain charm as they shimmered.
"And this pretty young lady is Lee Wenwen, who just finished her college entrance exams this year!"
After introducing the young woman, Qiaoyan’s voice turned slightly somber.
"When Wenwen came home after her exams, she learned that her father had been diagnosed with an intraspinal tumor four or five months ago."
"To avoid affecting her exam preparations, her father kept it from her and only underwent conservative treatment."
"Now that the exams are over, her father needs surgery. But after an examination, the doctors said the tumor is large and complex. The operation is extremely difficult and carries a high risk of causing lower-body paralysis."
"Their only hope for a successful recovery is to come to the Affiliated Hospital, to come here and ask you, Mr. Yan, to perform the surgery."
Hearing this, Yan Feifan knew what they were after.
He didn’t let them continue, cutting them off directly. "I sympathize with Lee Wenwen’s father’s situation."
"However, I must make one thing clear."
"My surgical schedule for patients with intraspinal tumors is already booked for the next four months."
"Every single tumor patient on that waiting list has a family behind them, a whole world that revolves around them."
"Cutting in line is not allowed here."
"Not only would it be unfair to the other patients, but once we make an exception, it could trigger many unpredictable chain reactions."
"I hope you can understand."
Then, irresponsibly passing the buck, Yan Feifan added, "You could try to find the patients at the top of the list and see if they’re willing to give up their spot."
At that, not giving the two a chance to plead or play the victim any further, Yan Feifan said, "I have something important to attend to, my apologies," and broke away, practically fleeing into the emergency hall at a trot.
Yan Feifan returned to the teaching and research office, showed the special-appointment expert certificate to Mrs. Qin and Yu Suye, and briefly explained his encounter with the influencer’s livestream.
Yu Suye was clearly more interested in the livestreaming influencer and immediately picked up her phone to search for "Qiaoyan."
"Whoa, this woman is no joke. She’s a major influencer with over a million followers on Douyin."
Yu Suye showed Yan Feifan the information she found on her phone.
"Feifan, some influencers like to create controversial content just to get views and stir up buzz."
"Don’t let them trick you into saying the wrong thing!"
Yan Feifan recalled what he had just said and stated with certainty, "I don’t think I said anything out of line."
Qin Ying snorted. "We doctors make a living with our medical skills. As long as you have the ability to heal the sick and save lives, you have nothing to worry about."
"These days, with that Douyin, Xigua, and what’s that other one... Bilibili..."
Qin Ying shook her head. "I just can’t appreciate any of it."
"A lot of the girls on there wear revealing clothes and just wiggle around. It’s an eyesore."
Yu Suye chuckled. "Mrs. Qin, their main user base is teenagers, so of course it’s full of handsome guys and pretty girls..."
Soon it was twelve noon. As Yan Feifan and Yu Suye were going to lunch together, they ran into Qiaoyan and Lee Wenwen again.
This time, they weren’t livestreaming.
Lee Wenwen grabbed Yan Feifan’s sleeve, her face pleading. "Mr. Yan, I was wrong. I was wrong. I shouldn’t have gone live without asking for your permission."
"Mr. Yan, I did intend to guilt-trip you. The main reason is... the main reason is..."
As she spoke, Lee Wenwen’s voice started to break with sobs.
"I really don’t have any other choice."
"I’ve begged so many people, tried to offer money, but no one would take it. I don’t want my dad to become a paraplegic."
"Mr. Yan, I’m begging you, please..."
As she said this, the tear-streaked Lee Wenwen began to sink, her knees bending as if to kneel before Yan Feifan.
Yu Suye grabbed her, stopping her from kneeling.
"What do you think you’re doing?"
Yu Suye demanded sternly, "You say you’re apologizing for ambushing him with that livestream, but now you’re trying to kneel in public and continue the guilt-tripping?"
"No, no, that’s not what I meant!"
Lee Wenwen quickly stood up straight, wiped her eyes, and explained in a panic, "Mr. Yan, Mr. Yan, I just don’t know what else to do."
"I’m just a student who recently finished her college entrance exams. I don’t know how to ask for favors."