"Miss Long, you can go ahead and attend to your business. We are already very fortunate to have esteemed experts like Professor Ning accompanying us," Li Yang said with a smile.
Professor Ning chuckled, "Mr. Li, you are too kind."
However, he also felt it would be best for Long Lingling to attend to her urgent matters first.
"Secretary Dong, please accompany these guests and inform the staff that regardless of their spending today, they will receive a ten percent discount," Long Lingling nodded slightly and said to a refined-looking man who had just approached. Then, with a "pardon me," she turned and quickly walked towards the elevator, her expression extremely grave.
With a few dings, she emerged from the elevator and then jogged towards a room, her heels clicking. She pushed the door open and saw a group of doctors in white coats gathered around a bed, their faces etched with deep concern. She immediately asked, "What happened to my father?"
"We are truly sorry, Miss Long. We have done all we possibly could, but Master Long's condition has reached its limit. Despite our every effort, we can only sustain his life for another seven days," an elderly doctor wearing reading glasses sighed, his voice filled with helplessness.
Long Lingling's face turned ashen. "What about after seven days?" she asked immediately.
The answer was obvious, yet she couldn't help but ask, in case there was any glimmer of hope.
But the old doctor offered no such hope, his tone becoming even more resolute. "We are extremely sorry, Miss Long. What happens after seven days is beyond our capabilities."
"If there is no one with superior medical skills, then Master Long's lifespan will end on that day."
"Then why aren't you finding someone with superior medical skills for me?" Long Lingling exclaimed in frustration. "This is my father! I don't want him to die so soon!"
"Miss Long, please calm down. Master Long is seventy-five years old; it is not considered dying too soon," the old doctor said in an attempt to soothe her.
Such words of comfort were worse than silence.
Long Lingling was furious. She grabbed his collar with her jade-like hand and said, "Dean Jiang! I don't care what methods you use or who you find. Seven days from now, I want to see my father alive!"
"Otherwise, the three hundred million yuan in sponsorship funds that your hospital receives annually from me will be immediately terminated!"
"This, Miss Long, I will try my best to find someone else for you and Master Long," Dean Jiang's expression changed, and then he said with a sigh.
Only then did Long Lingling release his collar. "I apologize, Dean Jiang. I was overly emotional just now and lost my composure. Please accept my apology."
"I also understand that you and all the specialists have worked very hard for my father's illness. But as a daughter, I truly do not wish for my father to die, so I ask for your understanding of my rudeness and impulsiveness from the perspective of a daughter towards her father."
"Miss Long, you are too kind. We doctors also bear responsibility when we cannot cure a patient," Dean Jiang said, shaking his head. The Long family's annual donation of three hundred million yuan for research into various difficult and complex diseases had been of immense help to them.
They felt a sense of guilt for not being able to cure Master Long this time.
However, doctors were also human, not gods, and they had their limits. There were some illnesses they truly could not cure.
Long Lingling said, "Thank you. You may all leave now. I would like to spend some time alone with my father."
"Yes, Miss Long."
Everyone immediately filed out.
After closing the door, the experts turned to Dean Jiang and asked, "Dean Jiang, Master Long's illness is quite peculiar. For the past six months, we have not only used the most advanced Western medical techniques but also pored over traditional Chinese medical texts day and night. We have exhausted all possible methods, yet there has been no improvement."
"How do you plan to cure Master Long?"
"That..." Dean Jiang forced a smile. Over the past six months, in their efforts to cure Master Long, they had privately contacted many skilled colleagues and received some valuable advice. Yet, they still couldn't cure Master Long!
Now, to extend his life was as difficult as climbing to heaven.
But as the dean, their leader, he could not simply say no. He immediately rallied his spirits and said, "Everyone, do not be discouraged. Miracles often happen on the brink of despair."
"Until the very last moment, no one can give up. Make calls to all your acquaintances. No matter how small a lead it is, do not let it go."
"Yes, Dean Jiang!"
As if heaven favored the diligent, one of Dean Jiang's old friends suddenly mentioned something to him. "Old Jiang, speaking of which, something miraculous happened here a few days ago. An old man was bleeding from all seven orifices and was on the verge of death. He had already stepped into the King of Hell's domain, but he was miraculously saved by a young man with just a bowl of strong tea."
"And the most astonishing thing is that after the old man woke up, his mental state was excellent, and his body was as robust as ever, as if he had become several years younger. It's truly unbelievable!"
"Is that so?" Dean Jiang's eyes sparkled with interest.
It was a well-known fact that the elderly generally had weaker bodies than the young. Sometimes, a minor cold could be as tricky for them as it was for an infant, and could even be life-threatening if not handled carefully.
An old man who had already entered the King of Hell's domain could be saved with just a bowl of strong tea? And become healthier than before?
This defied all medical logic!
But this often represented two words: "Miracle!"
"Quick, tell me, where is that young man? How can I find him!"
"He's very easy to find. Come to Jiangcheng, and I'll take you there directly. You can meet him the same day," his old friend said with a smile.
Dean Jiang was overjoyed. "Excellent, excellent, excellent! I'll head over tonight."
"So soon?"
"Time waits for no one, and lives are at stake. How could I not be in a hurry?" Dean Jiang said immediately. "That's settled, then. I'll be counting on you."
"Don't worry, I guarantee you'll meet him, or I'll smash my head against a wall," his old friend laughed.
Dean Jiang chuckled, "Thank you!"
"You're welcome."
After hanging up the phone, Dean Jiang instructed his assistant to prepare the car and drive to Jiangcheng.
As they went downstairs, they happened to pass by Li Yang and the others, completely unaware that the person they were going to Jiangcheng to find was not in Jiangcheng at all, but was right here, appraising stones.
Li Yang sniffed the air and glanced at their retreating backs. "Such a strong smell of disinfectant."
"What's wrong?" Lin Xiaoyu asked.
"Nothing," Li Yang shook his head. He couldn't help but recall Long Lingling's hurried departure earlier, and a thought struck him. He took out his phone and sent a text message.
"Miss Long, if you are facing any difficulties, you can come to me now."
"Hmm?" Long Lingling, holding her father's hand, was taken aback. She felt a hint of suspicion. Could this Mr. Li know that her father was in trouble?
However, this thought only flickered through her beautiful mind before she dismissed it.
Dean Jiang and the others were very tight-lipped; they certainly wouldn't leak such information. There was no reason for Li Yang to know so much.
She immediately sent a text back: "Thank you, I'm fine."