Just as Zhong Jixiang and the elder Zhong were excitedly preparing to entertain representatives from the major medical families of the province, the alluring and mature Xu Nan, the charming Bai Jiao, and Shen Qiang were already seated in a restaurant by the river.

However, at this moment, the sweetly smiling Bai Jiao had no interest in the river view outside the restaurant. Her bright eyes were fixed on Shen Qiang as she said, "I never expected that not only are you unparalleled in Spiritual Medicine in the Cultivation World, but your Acupuncture Technique is also surprisingly strong."

Shen Qiang said a bit awkwardly, "That was an accident. I originally thought that Zhong Yongxi, no matter how unskilled, was at least the true inheritor of the Small Leaf Plum Blossom Acupuncture. A competition with him was supposed to be harmless, but unexpectedly, it turned out they were all outsiders, a complete waste of time."

Bai Jiao's eyes curved into a smile as she said, "It's because you're too strong. The Zhong Family's Small Leaf Plum Blossom Acupuncture has been passed down for thousands of years, but who would have thought it couldn't match an outsider like you?"

Shen Qiang sighed helplessly.

Xu Nan, sitting beside them, smiled and said, "Speaking of which, it really is surprising. If you had used another Acupuncture Technique to win against Zhong Yongxi, I would have just thought you were very capable, but to use the Small Leaf Plum Blossom Acupuncture to defeat him, that is somehow unbelievable."

Shen Qiang laughed, "If I said I knew over seventy sets of Acupuncture Techniques, would you believe me?"

Bai Jiao paused, then laughed, "Over seventy sets? How is that possible?"

At the same time, Shen Qiang raised his eyebrows, while Xu Nan said, "I believe it."

Bai Jiao immediately became a little unhappy, but soon just laughed it off and changed the subject with a smile, "Thinking about those people's shocked expressions makes me still want to laugh, especially when you had that foolish boy dance, it's hard to imagine how you came up with that."

Shen Qiang sighed helplessly, "I had no choice, I was compelled. They were setting traps for me; I couldn't just not fight back."

Bai Jiao laughed.

At that point, Xu Nan spoke up, "Alright, your competition with Zhong Yongxi has concluded. If I'm not wrong, at least now the people from the medical families within the province are aware of your presence. So, what do you plan to do next?"

"You don't really plan to just honestly stay working at the Medical University Affiliated, do you?"

Shen Qiang arched his eyebrows and said, "As for how to proceed, I'm not quite sure yet, but one thing for certain is that I will remain at the Medical University Affiliated for the next three weeks. Solely defeating Zhong Yongxi holds no practical significance for me.

"Apart from proving that I am indeed more skilled than him, I have gained nothing substantial."

Bai Jiao paused, "How can you say you gained nothing? At the very least, the major medical families in the province now know about your existence. If you decide to open a medical clinic in the future, you would have a much easier path."

Shen Qiang laughed, "Are you suggesting I continue challenging others? I don't find it challenging. Plus, to be honest, I don't like staying in one place to treat people, so let's forget about that for now, at least in the short term, I have no such plans."

"What about your antique shop? When will it open?" Xu Nan asked.

Shen Qiang replied, "I'm still lacking a suitable professional manager."

Upon hearing this, Bai Jiao's eyes lit up, "Regarding a professional manager, Cheng Xinyi knows many."

Before she could finish, Shen Qiang smiled and interjected, "Forget about it. It's just a small shop. I don't want the shop to be too deeply involved with Cheng Xinyi, Wan Xin, and Shengyou, so there's no rush."

Upon hearing this, Bai Jiao laughed, "Oh, are you afraid we'll get too involved? No worries; I can help you find a manager who has no ties with Cheng Xinyi through other channels.

Shen Qiang smiled wryly, feeling somewhat unable to refuse, and finally said with a smile, "Alright then, I'll trouble you with that."

"What trouble is there in that." Bai Jiao smiled sweetly.

At that moment, Xu Nan frowned and said, "Starting to offer help when no one asked, Bai Jiao, we all know the score, why not just openly state your intentions?"

Upon hearing Xu Nan's words, Bai Jiao smiled insincerely and said, "What schemes could I possibly be plotting? I don't know about them; I'm just like you. Shen Qiang has great Medical Skill, good character, and has Spiritual Medicine; he truly is a worthwhile friend to make."

"Aren't you the same, or do you have other plans in your heart?"

Xu Nan smiled, "We've both been sly foxes for a millennium, why play games now? Bai Jiao, we've been at odds for almost ten years, and you've never beaten me, so rest assured, I know exactly what you're thinking."

"Then go ahead and reveal what I'm thinking," Bai Jiao smiled as she looked at Xu Nan, "If we had a falling out, it might not be a good look for you."

Xu Nan chuckled, "The prettier the woman, the more adept she is at lying. Sometimes, I really admire you."

"Admire me for being prettier than you?" Bai Jiao raised an eyebrow.

Xu Nan grinned, "It's your ability to lie without even blushing."

Bai Jiao laughed, "Oh, it's the same thing. You, being such a tomboy, not as pretty, can only talk sour."

"Princess Taiping, flat as an airport, a blank slate figure," Xu Nan smiled.

"Tomboy, has your ordered razor arrived yet?" Bai Jiao continued with a smile.

Sitting beside the dinner table, Shen Qiang watched the two of them banter back and forth, unsure of what to do.

You see, both of them had visited the Zhong Family Medical Center today for Shen Qiang's sake.

They also had business transactions to handle.

Looks aside,

emotionally, Shen Qiang was undoubtedly more familiar with Xu Nan than with Bai Jiao, and he felt a deeper connection.

But in this situation, Shen Qiang couldn't really interject.

Picking up a full glass of Baijiu, Shen Qiang attempted to divert the topic, "Today, you both went through a lot for my sake. This drink is for the two of you. I'll finish my glass, and you two do as you wish."

With a gulp, he chugged down the Baijiu.

Bai Jiao, with a beaming smile and her hands as delicate as freshly peeled spring onions, picked up a glass and said, "A woman's hands should be delicate, fair, and slender to be considered beautiful."

"Someone who has to stuff air cushions even in the smallest size bra to fill it out has the nerve to talk about beauty?" Xu Nan laughed snidely.

Bai Jiao's smile froze.

After pouring his own drink, unable to either smile or speak, and feeling helpless, Shen Qiang picked up his glass again and interjected, "I'll finish this, you two do as you wish."

"Bigger than a cow's?" Bai Jiao chuckled.

Xu Nan coolly replied, "The Princess Taiping who can walk into a men's bathhouse bare-chested without anyone finding it odd always comforts herself with such excuses."

Just as Shen Qiang was about to top off his glass, he hurriedly lifted it again, "I'll finish this, you two do as you like."

Bai Jiao raised an eyebrow, "You've done that before?"

Xu Nan said, "I'm just stating a fact. If you were to play Hua Mulan, you wouldn't even need to bind your chest, no one could tell."

Bai Jiao, infuriated, thumped the table and stood up suddenly.

Seeing that Shen Qiang was about to erupt like a volcano, he banged on the table, laid his head on it, and pretended to snore, acting as if he had drunk too much.

Seeing this, Bai Jiao stomped her foot in anger, "Xu Nan, don't be too proud. The person who laughs last, laughs best."

With that, she ignored Shen Qiang and turned to leave.

Then, leaning back in his chair, Xu Nan, with a stern expression, kicked Shen Qiang's chair, which was still snickering on the table, and said, "Alright, stop pretending. You're not planning to pretend to be drunk to skip the bill, are you?"

Sitting upright, Shen Qiang looked at Xu Nan's serene and cold demeanor, and said with a straight face, "I really didn't hear anything."

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