BEAUTY AND SKILLS

Everything that happened just now was reported to K2. 

"Should we tell the Young Master?" K5 asked after reporting everything he witnessed earlier. 

"Not yet. Just follow and watch her for now."  K2 decided while he waited for the young master to return.  He followed the Young Master for a long time and everyone knew his aversion to sitting on the driver's seat. Yet, he'd been chauffering Miss Luo lately. He even broke his own rule by not allowing any of his guards to follow him around because Miss Luo felt uncomfortable with them following. K2's dissatisfaction with Luo Jingyi intensified.

.....

"I'm glad to meet you, Dr. Luo." Dr. Bai who was wearing a custom-tailored suit extended her hand to Luo Jingyi which the latter accepted. Dr. Bai was the President of the Medical Association in the country.  

"So am I." Luo Jingyi responded to the woman's warmth. The woman was in her 50's yet she appeared younger contrary to her age.

"You have your mother's eyes. I see passion and dedication in this field." Dr. Bai held Luo Jingyi on both arms and studied her closely.

 "Not only that. She took Luo Xiaofei's beauty and skills." A low voice sounded behind them. When they turned, there was an old man walking with a cane headed to where they were standing. He was smiling with affection.

"Dr. Luo, this is Chairman Jin of JN Healthcare Corporation." Dr. Bai immediately introduced him.

Luo Jingyi inched forward and shook his hand. It was wrinkled against her skin.

"Tell me, Dr. Luo, what benefits did this woman promise for you to finally accept the invitation for this year's medical conference?" He asked skeptically. After much hardship of locating her three years ago, his son found and scouted Dr. Luo to be the Chief of Surgical Department in their hospital but Dr. Luo turned down the offer and decided to join GM General. Even he was baffled as to why she chose that hospital.

"I promised nothing old man. Perhaps I'm more trustworthy than you." Dr. Bai defended herself, giving out a half-smile.  

Chairman Jin reacted by letting out a short 'hmph.'

"You really do look a lot like your mother. Anyone would mistake you as Luo Xiaofei. It's too sad she passed away early." Chairman Jin mumbled. Her eyes were on her yet he appeared to be distant away, trying to reminisce something in the past. 

"Uncle, stop stirring sad memories at this time." Dr. Bai scolded Chairman Jin but there was no anger in her voice.

Upon hearing how Dr. Bai addressed Chairman Jin, Luo Jingyi's question was answered. She was puzzled as to where Dr. Bai had the courage to openly criticize him. According to what she gathered, out of the top 8 families in the country, Chairman Jin was the scariest, a force you should never trifle with.

Chairman Jin was stirred from his trance. The laugh lines on his cheek became more prominent when his lips drew into a smile. "Are you still single? I have grandsons who are at a marriageable age."

"I will have to refuse the Chairman's proposition. In fact, I am already engaged." Luo Jingyi showed her hand to quell the match-making attempt directly. She didn't want to invite another blind date trouble. 

He gave the ring on her a cursory glance and he instantly recognized its value. "To that Wen kid?"

"Have you gone senile uncle? He was long married to the granddaughter of Minister Zhuang. You even attended their wedding."

When Chairman Jin tilted his head on one side, his assistant who stood behind whispered to clarify the information. When he remembered, Chairman Jin nodded before he interrogated her. "So who are you engaged to?"

Luo Jingyi meant to say something without telling Yun Jinghan's name when she saw Dr. Bai's gesture. She was telling her not to mention anything by placing a finger on her lips.

"Don't say it. He's good at breaking up couples. Right, old man?"

Chairman Jin lifted his cane and hit the floor. "Nonsense."

Luo Jingyi found the interaction between the two endearing. He reminded her of her own grandfather.

"Let's go Jingyi." Dr. Bai tugged her away from Chairman Jin.  

When they were earshot away from him, Dr. Bai implored, "Don't take my uncle's words seriously. Most of the time, he was just messing around."

"It's alright." Luo Jingyi assured. On the surface, Chairman Jin acted like a child but there was a fierceness in him that she couldn't shake off. 

"Chairman, shall we carry on investigating Luo Xiaofei." A middle-aged man beside him inquired.

"Continue. Until the matter years ago would become clear." He said without taking his eyes off from the departing figure.

…..

The conference started with Dr. Bai sharing a few words regarding this year's theme. There were a dozen medical conferences every year but everyone looked forward to this one because this event invites interested healthcare professionals to present their latest research ideas and developments for a chance to win project funding. This year's sponsors were NLHC and JNHC. When the program committee chair talked about some changes, there was a hush-hush in the crowd. For this year, two papers would be selected. And unlike the previous years, the identity of the judges wouldn't be revealed until the selection process was completed. That was to avoid lobbying.

Luo Jingyi was assigned to the front row where a few distinguished guests sat. However, she chose the second to the last seat on the third row. It became her habit to sit anywhere except at the front. Moreover, she wanted to avoid certain people like the Minister of Health. When the venue was dimmed and the first presenter started, quietness filled the room. From time to time, the woman sitting on Luo Jingyi's left would give her input regarding the research topics. Luo Jingyi simply listened.