Chapter Twenty-Seven: Meeting Bai Lan Again

Professor Chen looked crestfallen. Lin Chen thought for a moment and said, "Why don't you take down my phone number? You can ask me if you encounter anything you don't understand in the future, or call me if you come across a condition you can't treat. However, I can't guarantee that I will be able to help."

If Lin Chen had said this to Professor Chen before demonstrating his medical skills, the professor would likely have been trembling with rage. But now, upon hearing this, Professor Chen’s face lit up with joy.

"Yes, yes, of course! Then, Divine Doctor Lin, please give me your number. I promise I won't bother you unless it's necessary."

Although Professor Chen was disappointed that Lin Chen was unwilling to teach him traditional Chinese medicine, he felt that being able to befriend someone with such god-like medical expertise was an incredible stroke of luck.

After Lin Chen gave him his number, An Xueyao asked, "Lin Chen, why are you in such a hurry to leave? No one is chasing you out. You saved me; how about I treat you to a meal as a token of my gratitude? What do you think?"

Lin Chen replied, "You have already paid the medical fees, so there is no need for a meal."

An Xueyao pouted in dissatisfaction. "Lin Chen, do you have any idea how many men are lining up to take me to dinner, and I don't even bother with them? I am personally inviting you now—are you really going to show me such little respect?"

With that, she looked at him with hopeful eyes.

Lin Chen still shook his head. In his view, it was completely unnecessary. They weren't that close; he had simply treated her for money.

"Xueyao, Lin Chen probably has other things to attend to. If he doesn't want to, let it be. We can invite him another time if there’s an opportunity," Sister Hong interjected. Her expression then turned uneasy as she added, "We should hurry and hire some capable bodyguards. I don't feel entirely at ease. Even though that woman who threw the sulfuric acid claimed she did it purely because she hated you, I feel like there’s more to it than that."

An Xueyao nodded, also feeling a lingering fear. "You’re right, we should hire some stronger bodyguards. If I hadn't met Lin Chen this time, my life would have truly been ruined."

Lin Chen raised an eyebrow and suddenly asked, "If you are looking for bodyguards, what do you think of me?"

"You want to be my bodyguard?"

Both An Xueyao and Sister Hong looked at Lin Chen in surprise.

An Xueyao scanned him for a moment and laughed. "With your build, you don't look like you have much muscle. I can't hire you as a bodyguard; otherwise, I wouldn't know if you were protecting me or if I should be protecting you."

Sister Hong nodded with a smile, clearly agreeing with An Xueyao. Though An Xueyao’s remark was a bit hyperbolic, Lin Chen didn't look like a bodyguard at all—at most, he looked like an average, healthy man.

Lin Chen didn't argue. He just gave a faint smile and picked up a chair from the floor.

The legs of the chair were made of iron. Lin Chen gripped one and, with a quick exertion of force, bent the iron leg into a U-shape.

Then, he asked with a smile, "You seemed to imply just now that I didn't look very strong. Now, do you think I have enough strength to be your bodyguard?"

"This..."

An Xueyao and the others were stunned. Although the iron of the chair leg was hollow, bending it directly with one's hands was impossible. No ordinary person possessed such strength.

An Xueyao exclaimed excitedly, "Lin Chen, so you're a master! That’s perfect. I’m willing to hire you as my bodyguard. What is your salary expectation?"

"I want quite a bit," Lin Chen said. "I need 10 million."

He had one million now, which was enough for the medicinal herbs he needed for the time being. However, he remembered Su Xiran saying that her dream was to own a flower shop. He had looked into it, and purchasing a large-scale flower shop in a bustling area of Yuehai City would cost approximately 10 million.

An Xueyao, Sister Hong, and the others were taken aback. Lin Chen was truly opening his mouth like a lion. Even for an annual salary, that was astronomical. The most professional bodyguards earned at most a million or so a year; Lin Chen was asking for ten times that.

Sister Hong said with a wry smile, "Lin Chen, your salary requirements are a bit too high."

Lin Chen said nonchalantly, "If you think it's too expensive, then forget it."

In truth, 10 million meant nothing to An Xueyao. But the fact that Lin Chen demanded it upfront made him seem mercenary and greedy. This feeling left her convinced that she had been deceived.

When Lin Chen saved her like a god descending from the heavens during her most desperate moment, pulled her into his arms, and used his miraculous medical skills to save her face—combined with his sharp-featured, handsome face and a certain indescribable aura—he had appeared as her "Prince Charming" who had ridden out of her dreams to rescue her.

But now, Lin Chen was essentially saying: "If you give me 10 million, I'll be your bodyguard; if not, I'm done."

A woman’s heart, especially a young woman's, is incredibly sensitive. In an instant, the image of the "Prince Charming" she had built up for Lin Chen collapsed.

An Xueyao felt a sense of bitter disappointment and said angrily, "Your services are too expensive; I can't afford you. You can leave!"

Lin Chen nodded indifferently and walked out the door, disappearing shortly after.

Seeing that Lin Chen had actually left, An Xueyao stomped her feet in frustration and gritted her teeth. "That jerk, that money-grubber! He actually left! How can someone be so greedy? Couldn't he just be cool and detached? Couldn't he just be a perfect idol? He’s infuriating! Ugh, I’m so annoyed!"

Sister Hong looked on in bewilderment. An Xueyao was usually dignified and graceful, and she typically held men in disdain. Why was she acting so out of character today? Even if Lin Chen seemed mercenary, it shouldn't have been any of their concern.

Lin Chen left the hospital. It was nearly noon, so he found a nearby restaurant to eat.

Just as he sat down, he saw a familiar face, and that person looked back at him in surprise.

"Brother Lin Chen, why are you here?" the girl ran over, her face full of pleasant surprise.

This girl was Bai Lan, whom he had met earlier when she was singing on the street and being harassed by a group of thugs.

Looking at the pure and beautiful Bai Lan, Lin Chen smiled. "What a coincidence. I'm here to eat, of course. Are you working here?" He had just seen her serve a dish to another table and politely tell the customers to enjoy their meal.

Bai Lan smiled shyly. "Yes, I'm a waitress here."

Lin Chen nodded and asked, "Have you been singing on the streets lately?"

"I have," Bai Lan replied, "but I don't go to that place anymore. I've chosen areas with more people; that way, I don't have to worry about running into thugs."

"Places with more people don't guarantee that you won't encounter thugs. Besides, if the thugs are vicious, there’s no guarantee that anyone will step in to help you. Whenever you go out to sing in the evenings, no matter where you are, you must be careful for your own safety."

Although they weren't very close, Lin Chen had a good impression of this pure, lotus-like girl, so he offered a few words of advice.