Chapter 5: As Long as the Money is Right  

Qi Xiaochen’s gaze rested heavily on Dr. Song’s slightly trembling eyes. “Don’t worry, your salary, allowances, and bonuses will still be paid as usual for this house call. If Dean Qin has any objections, I’ll handle it.”  

“Postoperative observation for several hours is standard practice in the industry. Don’t make things difficult for a small-time surgeon like me. There are very few women in surgery—don’t let your selfishness get me delisted.” With just a few words, Song Ziwan firmly rejected the patient’s request.  

Two male nurses responsible for transferring the postoperative patient to the observation room had already appeared at the door of the operating room, pushing a stretcher bed. They glanced inside, hesitating at the threshold when they overheard the patient’s request to be discharged for home recovery, unsure whether they could move the freshly operated patient.  

“Dr. Song, can we transfer the patient now?”  

Before Song Ziwan could answer, Qi Xiaochen waved them over. “Take me out of here!”  

He then casually retrieved his phone from the attending nurse and sat boldly on the operating table to call Dean Qin. Deliberately raising his voice, he spoke in a commanding tone: “Dean Qin! My surgery is over, but I have urgent work to attend to today. I intend to recover at home, so I’d like Dr. Song to come observe me for a few hours…”  

Song Ziwan’s scalp prickled. Was this older man really using his seniority to boss doctors around for house calls?  

In her years of practice, Song Ziwan had made house calls before, following wealthy female patients to their homes for postoperative care. But this patient’s status was far too special, and she wasn’t keen on making a house call while her emotions were already frayed.  

A few minutes later, Dean Qin, who was away in the capital for training, remotely assigned her the new task.  

“Fine. Since Director Qi has work to handle, I’ll escort you home for recovery,” Song Ziwan said coldly, her exquisite face stiff with displeasure, her tone dripping with sarcasm as she instructed the male nurses to transfer the patient to the hospital’s emergency vehicle.  

As long as the house call fee was generous enough, she had no problem with it!  

After secretly dating her boyfriend Zhou Xuyan for seven years, her “pig brain” had never once considered buying property for herself in this big city. Now, she was desperate to rely on her own hands to earn a cozy little home of her own…  

Qi Xiaochen, decisive in his work, had effortlessly persuaded Dean Qin with just a few words, putting him in a good mood.  

As he was moved onto the mobile stretcher, he said reassuringly, “Don’t worry, Dr. Song won’t be shortchanged.”  

Song Ziwan followed them out of the operating room and immediately spotted several young men in black suits and sunglasses waiting outside. The moment they saw Director Qi being wheeled out, they hurried over to greet him.  

The atmosphere and presence of these men instantly made her realize her patient was no ordinary person.  

“Getting cosmetic surgery and still having the nerve to bring assistants?!” Instinctively, Song Ziwan stepped to the side of the corridor, watching as the dark mass of figures followed the stretcher into the elevator.  

She went to prepare her medical kit and boarded the emergency vehicle to Director Qi’s residential complex.  

“Of course it’s Director Qi. The security at his complex isn’t just regular guards—they’re armed sentries…” Peering through the tinted car window, Song Ziwan experienced for the first time what it felt like to enter a neighborhood guarded at the gates by armed personnel.

The residential community was pleasantly landscaped, offering a serene and quiet atmosphere. At a glance, rows of five-story buildings were nestled among the greenery.  

Unlike other neighborhoods where elderly residents danced in squares or practiced tai chi, such scenes were entirely absent here.  

Song Ziwan guessed that this might be the family compound of their provincial department.  

Following the lead of Qi Xiaochen’s assistant’s car, the ambulance stopped in front of a residential building on the northern side.  

Qi Xiaochen lived in a three-bedroom apartment on the top floor. The home was decorated in a simple yet elegant style, fully furnished with all necessities.  

“Help me to the bedroom. The anesthesia is wearing off, and it’s starting to hurt.”  

Director Qi didn’t allow the other medical staff from the ambulance to follow him upstairs, only permitting Dr. Song, whom he had personally requested, to accompany him. As soon as they entered, he pointed toward the bedroom.  

Hearing this, Song Ziwan’s mind nearly short-circuited.  

If she hadn’t known the patient was the top leader of the provincial department, she would have thought a grown man couldn’t handle such minor pain.  

Several assistants followed them inside and quietly went about their tasks under the leader’s instructions.  

They boiled water, prepared a plate of washed fruit, arranged it on a tray, and brought it to the master bedroom. They also set up a camp bed there, complete with an air conditioning quilt.  

“Director Qi, what would you like for dinner? I’ll go prepare it now,” one assistant asked softly from outside the bedroom after finishing the chores.  

Standing by the bed, Song Ziwan adjusted the IV drip speed and, as requested, administered a painkiller injection.  

Holding the disposable syringe, she heard the patient—who was lying on his back and still pulling up his pants—turn to look at her and ask, “Dr. Song, what would you like for dinner? They’re about to order.”  

“Simple home-style Chinese dishes will do! But for the next few days, you should eat softer foods to aid digestion. That way, you won’t strain during bowel movements and aggravate the wound.” Song Ziwan disposed of the syringe, her dark gem-like eyes meeting his as she replied calmly.  

The moment their gazes locked, Qi Xiaochen froze briefly.  

He then instructed his assistant to order dinner from a reputable restaurant.  

After closing his eyes for a moment to rest, Qi Xiaochen heard light footsteps enter the master bedroom. He opened his eyes and said, “The camp bed is for you. You’ve been working all afternoon—lie down and rest for a while. I’ll call if I need anything.”  

Song Ziwan had only come in to check the IV. Hearing this, she glanced at the camp bed and realized it had been prepared for her temporary rest.  

Well, since she was here, she might as well make herself comfortable.  

Pulling out her phone from her pocket, she saw 99+ new messages from her boyfriend, along with over twenty missed calls.  

Since returning home last night, she hadn’t responded to Zhou Xuyan all day.  

The busyness of work had temporarily distracted her from the chaos of her personal life.  

Her voice low, she said, “Rest well. Call if you need anything.”  

With that, she turned and walked out of the master bedroom, settling into the plush leather sofa in the living room. She unlocked her phone to check the messages.  

After reading them, mindful of the patient’s special status and not wanting to disturb him with a call, she replied to her boyfriend via text:  

**”No need to search the world for me. I need work to support myself!”**  

The moment she sent the message, Zhou Xuyan immediately called.  

Song Ziwan quickly answered, keeping her voice hushed. “Don’t call me. I’m working right now.”

“Ziwan, please let me explain. Can I pick you up after work? I’m already at the entrance of your hospital…”

“I’m not at the hospital. Go back!” Song Ziwan hung up before her boyfriend could finish, cutting off his anxious and concerned voice from reaching her ears.

She was afraid she might give in if she hesitated. This Extramural service assignment provided the perfect opportunity to calm herself down and seriously contemplate her future.

Meanwhile, the man lying in the master bedroom rested for a while before picking up his phone to handle work matters.

Hearing no movement in the living room, he couldn’t resist checking the home surveillance feed…