120 Steadfast in Duty

Her day started off with a chaotic interval from the annoying duo…and now she's about to face another troublesome fellow. She heaved a heavy sigh before she bravely knocked on the door. "President Ji…It's Doctor Hou from the Cardiology Department"

It didn't even take a minute for the door to open wide. Huang Xun who had his professional face on earlier flashed her a respectful smile as he welcomed her inside.

"Come inside, Doctor Hou" he greeted quite warmly as he guided her in. Wei Yan bowed respectfully before she allowed herself in. She lingered her gaze around in hopes of finding Ji Li Zhao and finish whatever business he wants with her.

Noticing her lingering her gaze in search of someone, Huang Xun hid his smile and calmly made her sit on the couch. "The President is still on call. While waiting for him, would you like some tea?"

"I'm fine. I don't want to bother Secretary Huang"

Huang Xun who had long known who she is in his Master's life wanted to serve with utmost sincerity. "It's okay, Doctor Hou. My capabilityy in tea making is quite impressive"

"If you insist" she mumbled when she saw the eager glint in his eyes. He looked somewhat excited so she could only respond warmly at him.

After hearing her response, Huang Xun calmly left to prepare the tea in the small kitchen of Ji Li Zhao's office. It took him a couple of minutes to prepare the tea as he placed a great amount of effort into making it. As soon as he walked back with a tea set, the aroma of the tea he prepared warped the place causing Wei Yan to smile.

She could tell that what he said about his tea-making abilities is an understatement. The confidence beaming from his aura was enough to impress her…and she wasn't wrong to trust in her guts.

The tea had a unique flowery aroma in it and she easily guessed what it was as soon as she placed the cup near her nose. "This aroma…is it perhaps Tieguanyin Tea?"

"So Doctor Hou knows something about teas as well" Huang Xung remarked despite knowing the arduous research she did so she could prepare suitable tea for her evening tea time with her husband.

Wei Yan warmly smiled at his words. She and her husband enjoyed this tea because of its distinct aroma that was similar to an orchid.

She had long noticed, from the molding in the ceilings, the decors of the door, and the huge painting in the library, that her husband has deep connections to Orchids. He still hasn't told her why but since it was one of the precious pieces of information she could get about him, she decided to invest her time pleasing him using it.

"Not that well. Someone I know loves orchids so I decided to serve him something with a connection to it. I stumbled upon this while looking for a good tea I could concoct for him"

Her loving gaze, as she looked at the tea cup each time she took a sip, didn't go unnoticed by Huang Xun's hawk eye. Her tender voice as she spoke made him smile knowingly. "A lover is it?"

His sudden question caused Hou Wei Yan to look at her hands. She slowly stroked the ring placed in it before warmly admitting the identity of the man she aforementioned. "Yes…he's my lover"

"What a lucky man" Huang Xun muttered before he smiled at her sincerely. "Enjoy the tea. I will go check on the President"

"Thank you, Secretary Huang" she replied before lingering her gaze around the office. She was unable to look around last time due to Ji Li Zhao's sudden proposal so she took this as an opportunity to find out more about her new boss and learn how to counter him.

The whole room was schemed in white and royal blue giving off a very clean vibe. She could instantly tell how he values cleanliness from the way the furniture was neatly arranged and how polished everything was. It was mostly white which highlighted the royal blue designs.

After staring at the decorations, she couldn���t help but remember what Xing Ru mentioned in the past. He had remarked countless times that if the Xing likes red, the Ji are attached to blue. ---We emphasize blood ties, strength, happiness, and good fortune, that's why we are always compared to red akin to blood. While the Ji Family who place great sincerity in their heraldry, and their quite overbearing confidence made them become associated with royal blue signifying their superiority.

"Is this his way of stating that he's from the Ji Family?" she mumbled to herself after remembering everything Xing Ru said.

"I was told that blue suits me well" someone suddenly said from behind her causing her to abruptly turn around. Ji Li Zhao had a stern look on his face as he said this, however, as soon as she faced him completely, he flashed her a slight smile. "But don't you think Green would suit me best?"

Hou Wei Yan couldn't help but slightly turn her head in confusion. ---Green?

Green suits him best? Is it because he came from the Bei Family who has quite a tie in the military and is often associated with this color? Or are there other reasons why he suits green?

"Whatever pleases you, President Ji" she suddenly mumbled after realizing that she was placing too much thought on such a trivial matter. Whether he's best in blue or green, it doesn't matter to her. After all, it doesn't directly affect her life or whatsoever.

"Why have you called for me?"

Ji Li Zhao reverted to his stern look as he took a seat opposite to her. Once he was settled down, he waved his hands towards Huang Xun who wasted no time and handed her a folder. She curiously opened it up and looked at him seriously upon reading some of the contents in it.

"Tianshi Conglomerate is set to open up a new food factory. As per health protocol, I want all the employees to receive a health check-up before I could approve of it to start production. The factory has already received a high approval rating from the Health Organization. All that's left is this health check-up which I find really necessary" Ji Li Zhao said seriously. There was no hint of cockiness nor mischief so she could instantly tell that this is a very serious business.

He paused for a short while before directly staring at her. "In three days' time, the health check-up will commence and I want you and your team to take charge of it"

Hou Wei Yan wasn't surprised anymore by the sudden request, so she was level-headed enough to remember an important figure in Tianshi Conglomerate. "I believe the company has a doctor…and his name is Mao Chen. Am I wrong, President Ji?"

"Mao Chen has other things to do and because this is a huge project, there are many employees and he alone cannot handle it. He promised to join the team if he arrives on time" he replied with all honesty when he realized that she's going to refuse. After a short while, he heaved a sigh and stared at her as though he was questioning the soul residing within her.

"I know this is incomparable to what you usually do in the surgery room. However, this is important to the employees and the future consumers so I hope Doctor Hou would take on this job"

Wei Yan immediately raised her brows at what he said. She was indeed planning on rejecting the proposal however, it wasn't because the issue is trivial but because she could tell that there are other means for Ji Li Zhao to make this health check-up a success.

The way he said it made her think that there was no room for refusal. If he had wanted to accept her refusal, he could have just done so. There was no need for him to rile her up in such a way.

"President Ji, I don't think that this is a trivial matter…I'm sorry if it seemed that way to you" she muttered before closing the folder. "I'll talk to my team so we could adjust our scheduled surgeries for that day"

"Allow me to handle that. I'll clear your schedules for that day and important scheduled surgeries will proceed as planned. We'll transfer them to the new team we made" he replied to her seriously. "They're mostly composed of our foreign doctors and veterans in Yi Lan Hospital so there's no need for you to worry. They may not be as famous as your team but they are also on top of their game"

"I understand. There's no need for President Ji to compare them with us" Wei Yan answered with a sigh. Her new boss surely knows what he hates and what riles her up to move. "There is no competition in this hospital and I wish for it to remain in such a way.

Ji Li Zhao smiled at her after hearing her confirmation. He wanted her to have a bit of time for herself and realize that allowing others to help with her surgeries will no longer be dangerous. He hired trustworthy people with ethical values in order to avoid complications like what happened when Jiang Yanyan was around.

"Then everything is settled" he said with a composed smile on his face. He was glad what he planned actually happened, however, he cannot reveal a wide smile or Hou Wei Yan will surely back away without delay.

"Please inform your team regarding these arrangements. The company has already prepared an examination room equipped with the things you may need"

Hou Wei Yan nodded her head as she placed the folder back on the table. "Thank you, President Ji"

She was about to leave thinking that everything was already settled. But before she could even speak a farewell and stand up, Ji Li Zhao spoke up once more. "However…Doctor Mao wasn't able to check it so I was hoping for Doctor Hou to finalize the things needed for the examination"

"You want me to check it out?" she asked in surprise. She was quite a busy doctor so asking her for something like this will surely hinder her schedule. Though she doesn't have any scheduled surgery in the morning, she still has to help in the emergency room and entertain check-ups and consultations.

She could squeeze it into her schedule, but she cannot do so without a concrete reason.

Ji Li Zhao who noticed her conflicted expression wasted no time and explained why he was asking her this. "I want this examination to be as smooth sailing as possible so I hope you would do a recheck. The media are focusing their attention on Yi Lan Hospital so I want to make a statement through this examination"

"I have surgery this afternoon" she mumbled as she thought of her now ruined schedule. What he said made sense and because he was the boss, she truly can't go against such a request especially when it involves the safety of countless people. "But I will check it this morning. President Ji could leave it to me, I'll send my observations and the requests once I'm done"

Ji Li Zhao remained mute after her remark which caused her to tilt her head in confusion. ---Is he going to request more?

After a few seconds, he motioned Huang Xun close to him. The latter hurriedly approached him and listened intently to his orders. "Ready the car and tell those preparing in the site that I'll be arriving there alongside the Head Doctor for the examination"

"Yes, President" Huang Xun answered before he left to make some calls.

Hou Wei Yan blinked her eyes because of the surprising words. It took her a couple of seconds to react, however, she was too late to stop Huang Xun. "Wait---what?"

Ji Li Zhao glanced at her and held back a smile from forming. Her confused state looks adorable in his eyes and once more, her cheeks are tempting him to squish it. With much sheer willpower, he was able to stop himself from doing something foolish and instead muttered serious words to convince her to go along with his plan.

"You said you're only free this morning. I need to verify things over there as well so I might as well go there with you" he remarked as he took a sip at the tea Huang Xun prepared for him. While he was doing so, he took a side-glance at Wei Yan and explained why he finds this arrangement more convenient. "That way I could immediately order your requests"

"But---"

"Of course, I would still need your detailed observations" he added in order to thoroughly get it in her head that going with him will be much more convenient.

Hou Wei Yan looked at him seriously after such words escaped his lips. She observed his movements before she heaved a heavy sigh. Whatever he is planning, she no longer has any right to entertain him. "President Ji…we talked about this already. It's included in our terms that if I find something unreasonable, I would refer you to another doctor"

"This isn't necessary but it's not unreasonable either" Ji Li Zhao replied with a smile on his face. She deflected him and found a good chance to escape his clutches, however, he was the enemy so there was no room for escape. "Doctor Hou is being oversensitive. Does it really look like I have ill intentions in every single thing that I do?"

His words caused Hou Wei Yan to flinch. ---Was I being oversensitive and prejudiced?

She had encountered countless suitors and she could tell from their eyes if they are really interested in her or not. Back when they danced and when he proposed for her to become his personal doctor, she had plenty of opportunities to confirm his intentions.

He's starting small…but she could tell that her new boss is interested in her. That's why she can't help but think that all of his movements are planned so she could be trapped. She's been avoiding him and repeatedly refused most of his advancements. However, by doing so, she might have unconsciously become prejudiced…and was indeed overreacting.

"I was being rude. I'm sorry President Ji" she said after a long pause. By refusing him too much, she might cause her work or others to work to get delayed. "I didn't mean to hurt you in such a way"

Ji Li Zhao smiled at this because he could tell what's running in her head. Despite knowing this, he couldn't help but trap her when she's in a state of reflection. "You owe me lunch for that"

"President Ji" she called out seriously. She doesn't want her husband to suspect her or it might cause plenty of misunderstandings so what he is offering…she cannot accept.

"You see, I'm not someone who easily forgives… especially to those who see me as a schemer when I only have their best interest in my mind" he remarked causing Hou Wei Yan to touch her nape uncomfortably. She was indeed guilty because she looked at him like he was a villain.

She stood up and took a polite bow to ask him for forgiveness. "I'm really sorry"

"Lunch it is" Ji Li Zhao muttered before standing up as well. He would forgive her with a single sorry, however, today is not that day. Because he's dying to dine out with her and he cannot let this opportunity slip by.

Hou Wei Yan could only sigh and nod her head. Not long after, Huang Xun arrives with his business mode on. "President, the car is ready"

"Let's go, Doctor Hou" Ji Li Zhao said as he walked out of the office. Hou Wei Yan obediently obeyed after sighing for the 20th time that day.

Ji Li Zhao was an entity most staff in the hospital called unreachable and miraculous. Having an encounter with him is one in a million. In fact, just being near him is a great honor to them because they understood that he is on a higher pedestal they couldn't reach.

Thus dubbing him a forbidden fruit.

So looking at him parading out of his office with the woman they most of them referred to as a Goddess garnered plenty of attention. They looked like two holy creatures stepping down and gracing them with their unique presence. Their mere appearance together caused plenty of envy from others.

Amidst the buzzing crowd muttering their personal stance on this phenomenon was Zhou Jinhai. When he saw Hou Wei Yan's beautiful golden hair, he was about to call her name like usual but Ji Li Zhao's figure came in between.

His light hazel orbs met Ji Li Zhao's piercing ashen hues. He stared at him long and hard before he felt a shiver run down his spines when Li Zhao hardened his gaze towards him. After doing this, he hurriedly walked out of the building causing Zhou Jinhai to laugh at his inability to react and glare back at him.

He could only look at his back and chuckle. "Looks like a tough competitor has arrived"

…..

As soon as the door of the examination room was opened wide, Hou Wei Yan's eyes sparkled in amusement. The place was huge and housed plenty of advanced medical equipment other clinics would find trouble buying. "Wow, this is quite huge for a clinic"

"We're planning on doing a regular health check-up so this room will be used often" Ji Li Zhao explained thoroughly. Their production will be huge so his worries are also enormous. He can't allow this factory to close just because they didn't follow the health protocols.

"Since we're handling food, I want it to be as safe as possible in order to ensure the protection of the company and the consumers. I don't want to compromise"

Hou Wei Yan who was already checking the equipment halted after hearing his words. She slowly looked at him and noticed that his eyes were fixed on the other equipment as well. The warm gaze directed at him made him smile. ---So he's not a profit-hungry monster after all.

While they were busy checking everything, the door of the room opened once more, and in came Huang Xun followed by a few men wearing working hats. Curious, Hou Wei Yan raised her head and looked at them one by one.

She could tell right away that they were construction workers from their hat and their quite ashen clothes. Because she heard that Ji Li Zhao values cleanliness, she carefully observed his reactions and was pleasantly surprised when he approached them first.

"President Ji, you're really here" a man in his 50s said as he reached out his hands for a handshake which Ji Li Zhao accepted without hesitation.

"How have you been Mr. Sun?" he greeted with a warm and caring smile on his face. It was evident in his eyes the amount of respect he has for the man. "I was unable to visit lately because of some complications in the other companies"

The men who were behind Mr. Sun beamed a huge smile towards Ji Li Zhao. "It's okay, President. We understand that you're a busy man"

Hou Wei Yan diligently observed their interactions. When she felt Huang Xun's presence behind her, she couldn't help but ask. "Who is he?"

"His name is Sun Bai, the construction administrator of this project. He's one of the President's most trusted men so he's the one usually assigned as construction administrator when there's a new project from the President" Huang Xun explained with a smile on his face. The first time he heard what Ji Li Zhao and Sun Bai usually talk about caused him plenty of shocks.

"They're quite close because he's good at advising someone pertaining to love and whatnot" he whispered which made Hou Wei Yan chuckle.

So he became best friends with Sun Bai because he's a good love guru?! This thought caused her to chuckle lowly because their friendship started over shallow matter but she could tell that it's now deeper than she could fathom. "So the President has such interest"

"It would be strange if he doesn't" Huang Xun replied as he secretly looked at her knowingly. His boss only had such an interest when it comes to her.

She hummed while nodding her head and after a few seconds, she blurted out her observations. "He's more humane than what they portray him"

Huang Xun looked at Ji Li Zhao as well and remembered all of the people who told him the exact same thing. "He gets that a lot. They say that he appears cold due to his stoic expression, but someone's actions should be evaluated more than their looks, no?"

Hou Wei Yan slowly nodded her head causing Huang Xun to smile. "The President believes that it's only right to treat people the way they treat him. Mr. Sun's men had already worked with us for a long time so they naturally became comfortable with the President and soon enough, he warmed up to them"

"I'm glad he's not an arrogant boss" she remarked before turning around and proceeding to the task she was assigned to do. While she was busy doing this, Ji Li Zhao and the others began talking regarding business. She focused all of her attention on her work and was unable to hear their words.

Just as she was about to be done, Sun Bai's words reached her ears. "We just finished everything today so I'm planning on taking out the boys for lunch. If the President has time, why don't you join us?"

Ji Li Zhao who was eager to eat out with his wife immediately turned towards her direction. "I'm sorry but I already made plans with someone…where I go for lunch depends on her choice"

Hou Wei Yan who finally finished was forced to look at him as well which caused their eyes to meet at the same time and the men surrounding them clearly saw this. They all awed in synchronization as they looked at her as well, causing her to smile nervously at their overbearing gazes.