The fitness trail on Phoenix Tail Mountain was remarkably well-made.
The path, over two meters wide, was paved with blue and white anti-slip gravel. On either side, the dense branches of the trees stretched out and intertwined high overhead, creating a canopy that let only dappled sunlight filter through.
Yan Feifan and Yu Suye strolled along the wooded fitness trail, soaking in the natural atmosphere and enjoying this rare, leisurely moment.
"Feifan!"
"Hm?"
"Feifan!"
"Mhm!"
"Feifan!"
"Mmm..."
After this back-and-forth went on for more than a dozen times, Yu Suye suddenly giggled.
Yan Feifan merely glanced at Yu Suye, whose face was lit up with a brilliant smile for no apparent reason. He didn’t ask why, simply continuing to hold her hand and swing it widely as they ambled forward.
"Feifan, it would be so blissful to live here—it’s so quiet, with so few people, and everything is beautiful. Waking up naturally every day... how wonderful would that be?"
Yan Feifan chuckled softly. "You’re right. Places in Binhai that are this scenic, quiet, and peaceful are few and far between."
"It’s just a bit too far from the Affiliated Hospital."
Yu Suye hummed thoughtfully, then said with anticipation, "It would be perfect if Baining Hospital and the Affiliated Hospital worked together to build a branch right around here."
Yan Feifan agreed. "If that happened, the two hospitals could specialize in different areas. The Affiliated Hospital downtown could focus on admitting emergency patients and serving the local residents."
"And the hospital built here could focus on major cases, teaching, and research, allowing for effective patient distribution."
He then asked, "Any news from Baining Hospital?"
Yu Suye sighed softly. "They’re still arguing nonstop."
"Besides, even if they decide to build a branch, there’s no guarantee they’ll choose Binhai."
Yan Feifan just said, "Oh," and added, "Well, we shouldn’t worry about it. It’s not something we have any say in."
Yu Suye grinned again. "Once Extraordinary Medical Technology is a success, maybe we’ll be able to fund a hospital of our own."
Yan Feifan was less optimistic. "Building a major hospital? The initial investment alone would be at least a billion, wouldn’t it?"
"Besides, the doctors are the most important part!"
"Skilled doctors are prized assets at their hospitals. They aren’t easy to recruit."
Yu Suye declared playfully, "Then you should hurry up and win a Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine! With that kind of prestige, you’d have people flocking to you."
Yan Feifan gave her a sidelong glance and laughed. "You make it sound so easy, as if the Nobel committee is part of our family."
Yu Suye linked her arm with his, rested her head on his shoulder, and giggled. "I have faith in you."
"Who knows, you might even get it within ten years."
Yan Feifan laughed. "Let’s hope that day comes sooner rather than later..."
After that, the two fell silent, walking slowly onward, snuggled close to one another...
A few moments later, they heard a dog barking. WOOF WOOF.
Immediately after, Yan Feifan saw the dog, Helen, dart out from a bend in the path ahead.
She had grown to her adult size now, standing over forty centimeters tall at the shoulder.
Although she wasn’t a large dog, she was very sturdy—perhaps from being well-fed and frequently running wild in the mountains.
Helen ran to Yan Feifan’s side like the wind, grabbed his pant leg in her mouth, and started pulling him forward with all her might.
Caught off guard, Yan Feifan was nearly pulled to the ground.
He bent over, picked up the surprisingly heavy dog, and held her by her front paws to scold her. "Helen, since when did you learn to bite people?"
"You want a spanking, is that it?"
"WOOF WOOF..." Helen squirmed restlessly in Yan Feifan’s arms, barking nonstop.
Just then, Yu Suye ventured a guess. "Feifan, you don’t think something happened to Yanyan and Xiaoyu up ahead, do you?"
Under the guidance of her fitness coach, Yanyan trained twice a day, once in the morning and once in the afternoon, for about an hour and a half each session.
But because Yan Feifan and the others had arrived, and Yanyan’s mother was due to arrive at noon, she had told her coach not to come today.
Even without the coach, Yanyan was still disciplined enough to do her exercises.
A half-hour run on the wooded fitness trail was an important part of her routine.
Tian Yu had volunteered to accompany her and had dragged Yan Feifan and Yu Suye along as well.
But as they ran, Yan Feifan and Yu Suye, who were lagging behind, got sidetracked and their run turned into a leisurely stroll and chat.
Hearing Yu Suye’s guess, Yan Feifan immediately dropped Helen and broke into a run.
He had only taken a few steps before four-legged Helen overtook him and shot ahead. An instant later, Yu Suye passed him too.
Yan Feifan pushed himself to speed up and caught up with Yu Suye.