Baining Medical Technology was willing to pay five million for the technical collaboration.

In exchange, Yan Feifan would need to provide at least one hundred treatment protocols for intraspinal tumor ethanol injections. This data would be used by Baining Medical Technology’s technicians to build an analytical model.

During the surgical robot’s testing phase, Yan Feifan would also have to act as an expert consultant, pointing out any problems or deviations in the procedures and results so the technicians could make corrections.

The terms of the collaboration gave Yan Feifan a bit of a headache.

It meant he would have to dedicate a massive amount of time and energy to performing intraspinal tumor resections, on top of his work for this collaborative project.

Yan Feifan told Yu Youlian he would need to give it serious consideration.

Afterward, an enthusiastic Yu Suye drove him away from the High-Tech District in a BMW sedan.

“Feifan, you must be hungry, right?”

Yu Suye asked as she drove, “Is there anything you’re craving? Like roast duck?”

“Just focus on driving!”

Yan Feifan reminded her nervously, “It doesn’t matter what we eat. You just have to focus on driving.”

Yu Suye muttered to herself, “Roast duck is a bit too greasy, and it’s overrated anyway.”

“Lamb hot pot… that’s a little out of season…”

Seeing her lost in thought, so distracted while driving, made Yan Feifan genuinely nervous.

“I don’t even care if we just get fast food.”

“Yu Suye, if you don’t start driving carefully, believe me, I’ll head straight for the high-speed rail station and go back to Binhai right now.”

The stern warning made Yu Suye realize how nervous Yan Feifan was, and she quickly pulled the car over to the side of the road.

“Feifan, what’s wrong?”

“Are you having a panic attack?”

Yan Feifan shook his head. “No, I’m just a little on edge. As long as you concentrate on driving, I’ll be fine.”

He explained, “I’ve been in accidents, both major and minor, in Chuanzhong, and while my sister and the reporter, Xiao Man, were driving.”

“The common denominator is always the same: a female driver who wasn’t paying attention.”

“I’m practically traumatized.”

Yu Suye let out a sound of understanding. “Oh. Feifan, you don’t have to worry. I’ve been driving for four or five years. I’m a seasoned driver…”

Seeing his disbelieving expression, Yu Suye quickly added, “Okay, okay. From now on, I won’t talk. I’ll just focus on driving.”

“How about I treat you to some imperial court cuisine for dinner?”

Yan Feifan replied nonchalantly, “Sure. I’m not too picky about food. As long as it’s clean and hygienic, I’m fine.”

Yu Suye giggled. “My uncle, the hospital director, said he’s covering the bill tonight.”

“So I’m going to take advantage of the situation and make him splurge…”

Yu Suye first called to make a reservation, then pulled the car back into the main traffic lane.

This time, Yu Suye drove with her full attention, not saying a word. But before long, she began to find it unbearable.

She never felt uncomfortable driving alone in silence before.

But today, forcing herself to stay quiet felt incredibly stifling.

She thought about putting on some music to relax, but a sharp look from Yan Feifan stopped her.

This feeling of being controlled and restrained was pure agony.

Especially since the person beside her wasn’t just anybody; it was Yan Feifan.

At one point, Yu Suye’s phone rang.

She glanced at the caller ID, then peeked at Yan Feifan’s expression out of the corner of her eye and immediately rejected the call.

After another ten minutes, Yu Suye couldn’t take it anymore and once again pulled the car over to the side of the road.

“Are we there?” Yan Feifan asked, looking at the buildings outside his window.

Yu Suye said with a huff, “Nope. I just couldn’t keep quiet any longer. I’m stopping so we can talk for five minutes.”

Yan Feifan let out an “oh,” sat up straight, and said, “Alright. Go ahead and talk. I’m listening.”

Yu Suye eagerly opened her mouth, only to suddenly realize she didn’t know what to talk about.

After a moment’s thought, she began in a slow, deliberate tone, “Feifan, let me tell you about my family.”

“Even though we’re considered part of the main branch of the Yu Family, we don’t have much of a presence.”

“My grandfather was a practitioner of traditional Chinese medicine, but his skills were mediocre. Before he retired, he was in charge of preparing medicinal herbs at the pharmacy.”

Pausing, Yu Suye twisted open a bottle of water and handed it to Yan Feifan. Then she opened another one for herself and took a sip.

“I have an aunt, my dad’s older sister. She studied Western medicine and was very talented. She went abroad for school and never came back.”

“She’s currently a cardiothoracic surgeon at New York-Presbyterian Hospital.”

Yan Feifan asked softly, “Did she leave after a falling out?”

Yu Suye nodded lightly. “Apparently, my aunt was furious that my grandfather kept meddling in her life and trying to make decisions for her.”

She shook her head with a wry smile. “You know, Feifan?”

“The family originally wanted to send me abroad for my studies, too, but the plan was dropped because my grandfather opposed it.”

Yu Suye took another small sip of water. “My dad works in the government…”

“So he gave up medicine for a career in politics?” Yan Feifan asked curiously.

Yu Suye gave a dry laugh. “After all these years in politics, my dad is still just a section chief for the district, mainly in charge of sanitation.”

“He had high hopes back then, thinking he could use the family’s connections for a smooth ride all the way to the top.”

“But in the end, you still have to have what it takes.”

“I have an older brother who graduated from Harvard Business School. Impressive, right?”

When Yan Feifan nodded in agreement, Yu Suye continued with a sigh, “My brother really is brilliant. Both my grandfather and my father had high hopes for him. It’s just that…”

Yu Suye sighed softly. “The family’s major industries have already been carved up and claimed. No one’s going to willingly give up their piece of the pie.”

“It doesn’t matter how capable you are if there’s no place to use your talents. You can only ever be an assistant, part of the brain trust.”

Yan Feifan asked curiously, “If your brother is so capable, but they don’t give him any real authority and are always on guard against him, why doesn’t he just strike out on his own?”

Yu Suye huffed. “Why else? They’re all too obsessed, fantasizing that one day they’ll be the ones holding all the power.”

Yan Feifan said, “Oh.” Then he heard Yu Suye continue, “Feifan, I’ve told you about my family. Now it’s your turn to tell me about yours.”

“I have to talk about mine?” Yan Feifan asked reluctantly.

“Of course! This is how we get to know each other better.”

Yu Suye urged, “Come on, tell me. Hurry up and tell me.”

Yan Feifan said with a hint of resignation, “My family situation isn’t a secret at the hospital. A lot of people already know.”

“But I want to hear it from you!” Yu Suye insisted.

Yan Feifan said glumly, “Fine, I’ll tell you.”

“My mom is a Binhai local. My dad was from out of town.”

“They divorced when I was very young, and they both started new families and had other children.”

“After that, nobody wanted my sister and me, so we went to live with our maternal grandparents and our younger uncle.”

“My grandparents passed away, one after the other, while I was in college. My uncle is a seaman on long-haul voyages now, so he only comes home once a year, at most.”

“And that’s pretty much it for my family situation.”

Yu Suye was silent for a moment before saying carefully, “Feifan, I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have brought up such painful memories.”

Yan Feifan just waved a hand dismissively. “It’s fine. It’s been so many years. It doesn’t upset me anymore.”

“The most important thing is that my sister and I are doing very well now.”

Just then, Yan Feifan’s phone rang.

It was a call from Zheng Ling.

Zheng Ling had driven Yan Feifan over since he was staying at Baining Hospital for the night, and she had performed a guest surgery while she was there. She called to let him know that she wouldn’t be waiting for him and was heading back to Binhai on her own.

Yan Feifan had just hung up with Zheng Ling when he got a call from his sister. He started chatting with her and Xiaoyu.

Seeing this, Yu Suye pulled the car back into the flow of traffic…

At 6:10 in the evening, they finally found the place.

It was an old district of traditional courtyard homes.

Yu Suye parked the BMW smoothly in a designated spot in one of the alleyways.

She turned off the engine, pulled the handbrake, and said with a hint of triumph, “See, Feifan? Not all female drivers are…”

Before Yu Suye could finish her sentence, someone appeared out of nowhere, lunged onto the hood of the car, and let out a huge retch.

The contents of their stomach gushed out.

Chunks of it splattered all over the front windshield, almost making Yu Suye and Yan Feifan sick themselves.

But a moment later, the expressions on both their faces changed.

The next substance to splatter against the windshield was a vivid red—a huge splash of red…

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep