Chapter Thirty-One: Insatiable Greed

“Mr. Ye, Miss Liu, there are rumors outside that the Zhang family has cut off all business ties with Ye Qiu Group. A number of companies that previously worked with the Zhangs have also announced they’re severing relations with Ye Qiu Group.”

Before Ye Qiu could respond, he heard Yun Yan’s voice through his earpiece: “Yes, Master, the secondary market is currently dumping Ye Qiu Group shares at a frenzied pace. In less than five minutes, the stock will hit its lower limit.”

Just then, Liu Yiran’s phone rang. The moment she answered, a shareholder’s furious voice erupted: “President Liu, our stock has already hit the limit down! If you can’t come up with an effective solution, and tomorrow brings another limit down, our losses will be catastrophic!”

“I understand,” she replied coolly, and hung up without further ado.

No sooner had she set down the phone than another shareholder called: “President Liu, what’s the meaning of this? Everyone’s waiting for you at the company. You should really come back.”

“If you’re so easily spooked by the slightest stir, I suggest you sell your shares,” Liu Yiran answered, ending the call and promptly switching off her phone.

“Mr. Murong, thank you for your warning.”

Murong Xiaofeng still didn’t know why the elder had personally called and instructed him to relay this harmless piece of news to Ye Qiu. No matter how he looked at it, there was no apparent connection between this young man and the old master. But since Murong Yuan had personally given the order, he dared not take it lightly. He nodded politely. “It’s just a trifling matter, not worth mentioning. If necessary, our Murong family has several small firms that could collaborate with Ye-Liu Group.”

“Mr. Murong, your kindness is appreciated, but these petty maneuvers were already within my brother’s expectations,” Liu Yiran said softly, glancing at Ye Qiu.

She imagined that when her little brother drove out Zhang Jun and handed Yun Yan’s source code to her, he had already predicted Zhang Jun’s retaliation. Now, as long as they released the good news about their artificial intelligence breakthrough, not just a dozen consecutive limit-ups, but even dozens or hundreds would be possible.

“Oh, then I’ve overstepped,” Murong Xiaofeng replied with a slight nod.

Meanwhile, Young Master Liu, who’d overheard their conversation, quietly slipped out.

“Hello, Young Master Zhang? If your plan was merely to cause Ye-Liu Group’s stock to plummet, I have to tell you, they were already prepared,” he said, not giving Zhang Jun a chance to reply before hanging up. After a moment’s thought, he opened his own trading account and began frantically buying up shares of Ye Qiu Group. He blasted through the lower limit, pushing the price from negative ten percent up to negative five percent. When he stopped, it dropped back to negative nine percent.

With just a few rounds of buying, by closing time Young Master Liu had scooped up nearly half a million shares from retail investors.

Satisfied, he returned to the hall. Xiao Yurou had just come out of the operating room, and everyone was gathered around a girl offering their warm congratulations. Yet Xiao Yurou’s gaze was fixed on Ye Qiu. This boy was truly blessed with women’s favor.

Young Master Liu made his way to Liu Wenhong’s side, joining the chorus of compliments with practiced ease.

Bai Yiheng, moved by her talent, spoke loudly: “Doctor Xiao, your medical skills are wasted in cosmetic surgery. If you’re willing, you could join us at Taishan Hospital. Saving lives is a doctor’s true calling, and you’ll grow far faster at Taishan.”

“Doctor Xiao, don’t listen to old Bai. If you’d like, I’m willing to break precedent and take you as my final disciple,” Wang Yizhan said, unwilling to let Bai Yiheng claim her uncontested.

The two elders argued back and forth, leaving Duan Jijin, Doctor Wu, and the others in utter shock.

This was the director of Taishan Hospital, and Wang Yizhan was known as the father of modern medicine. To think these two giants were competing to take Xiao Yurou as their disciple! Regardless of whom she chose, her future would be limitless.

Doctor Wu was beside himself with regret. Had he known Xiao Yurou’s background, he would never have risked his own position just to curry favor with Duan Jijin.

What was Duan Jijin worth, after all? With a word from Wang Yizhan, half the doctors in China could drown Duan Jijin with their spit.

“Yurou, we’ve known each other far longer than these two. Our lineage from the Divine Farmer is nothing to be scoffed at. I’ve only ever taken two disciples in my life—if you’re willing, you’ll be my third,” Xuanyuan Datang interjected.

“Old Xuanyuan, what nonsense are you spouting?” Wang Yizhan retorted, unafraid of Xuanyuan Datang’s reputation. “You traditional doctors do nothing but shut yourselves away, treating only the wealthy. Doctor Xiao is a surgeon—she’ll only realize her potential in a hospital.”

“You’re the one talking nonsense, Wang Yizhan!”

Within moments, these two titans of the medical world were at each other’s throats, with Xuanyuan Datang resorting to outright cursing. Xiao Yurou, never having encountered such a scene, looked from one to the other, unsure how to respond.

“Gentlemen, my second sister is but one person. No matter how you argue, you can’t split her in two,” Ye Qiu interjected. “How about this? All of you are devoted to advancing medicine, and each of you possesses unique skills. If these are lost, it would be a lifelong regret. Why not all three become my second sister’s mentors? Perhaps she could combine Eastern and Western medicine and blaze a new trail in the medical field.”

The three elders, who had been trading barbs, now turned as one to stare at Ye Qiu.

Though Ye Qiu was accustomed to grand occasions, being scrutinized by these three made his skin crawl, as if his entire body had become an anatomy lesson.

The others were equally stunned by his suggestion.

Especially Lin Wan’er—when Xuanyuan Datang expressed his intention to take Xiao Yurou as his disciple, her heart clenched with anxiety.

Now, however, Lin Wan’er breathed a sigh of relief.

This fellow was simply too greedy.

Her master had always despised insatiable ambition.

Any one of these three was a titan in medicine; to become the disciple of even one would be a blessing earned over several lifetimes. Yet here was someone hoping to have his cake and eat it too.

Poor Xiao Yurou, with such a promising future, yet blessed—or cursed—with a brother who dug a pit for her at every turn.

Ah. Indeed, a sister’s brother is not to be married.

While Lin Wan’er was still lamenting Xiao Yurou’s fate, Bai Yiheng spoke first: “I have no objection.”

Wang Yizhan snorted, “Hmph, though your Taishan Hospital is still no match for the capital’s, for the sake of my disciple Yurou’s future, I’ll begrudgingly let you serve as her second master.”

Xuanyuan Datang declared, “Seniority matters! I’m the chief master here—both of you fall in line behind me!”

Lin Wan’er…

Xiao Yurou…

The entire room was struck dumb…

At this point, the emotions on Doctor Wu and his colleagues’ faces could no longer be described as envy—they were pure, unadulterated jealousy.

Lin Wan’er’s jaw dropped and stayed there.

Her master had always claimed to despise greed above all else—yet here he was, willing to share a disciple with his old rival.

How could this be?

Master, you’ve changed.

Wan’er was jealous.

Hmph.