Zhao Yuan was touched, but still said, "Is that really a good idea?"
Yang Zi laughed. "It's just skipping a class. What's the big deal? We've already decided. As your friends, we have to be there to cheer you on! But let's get this straight first: if you win, you have to treat us to duck blood and vermicelli soup. I hear it's a famous snack in Jinling, and we want to try it."
Zhao Yuan agreed, "No problem. But what if I lose?"
Yang Zi chuckled. "You? Lose? Are you kidding me! If only there were bookies taking bets on this medical duel, I'd bet all my living expenses on you and win a fortune!"
Zhao Yuan hadn't expected Yang Zi to have even more confidence in him than he did. He couldn't help but smile.
While they were talking, Zhao Yuan made his way back to Dorm 301.
Liu Zhu, Wang Rongfeng, and Wu Yan had been waiting in the dorm for a long time. The moment he returned, they swarmed him, simultaneously condemning the Jinling Zhao Family for their shamelessness and declaring that they would all go with him to Jinling in three days to cheer him on.
Zhao Yuan was dumbfounded for a moment, then chuckled. "Did you guys plan this with Lin Xue and the others?"
Liu Zhu was taken aback. "What? Lin Xue and her friends are going too?"
Zhao Yuan nodded. "You didn't plan it together? Lin Xue and Yang Zi just called me. They said they're going to Jinling with me in three days to support me."
"I didn't think those girls had it in them. They're pretty loyal," Liu Zhu said, giving a thumbs-up in praise.
Wu Yan said, "Isn't that right? If they're being so loyal, how can we, Third Brother's good bros, drop the ball? You three, give me your IDs. I'll book the plane tickets to Jinling for Thursday right now!"
Liu Zhu was more thoughtful. "Don't book for Thursday. Book for Wednesday, and get a hotel in Jinling too. The medical duel is on Thursday. If we travel on the same day, the fatigue from the trip will definitely affect Third Brother's performance. If we go a day early, it'll give him plenty of time to rest!"
However, his next words revealed his true motive. "Uh, hey, Fourth Brother, hold on. Don't book the tickets and hotel just yet. Let me call Qi Xia and ask for the girls' ID info. We can book their tickets and hotel rooms for them too. That way we can all travel together and look out for each other."
Wang Rongfeng's eyes lit up. He chimed in, "That's a great idea, Boss! Let's do that!"
Seeing Zhao Yuan and Wu Yan giving him and Liu Zhu a contemptuous look, Wang Rongfeng got flustered and quickly tried to explain himself. "Don't get the wrong idea! I don't have any other motives. I just think it's not safe for a few girls to travel to Jinling alone. It would be better if we were with them."
Wu Yan laughed. "Second Brother, this is China, not Afghanistan. The crime rate is low; what's not safe about it? Stop trying to explain. You think I can't see through you and Boss's little schemes? You just want to use this chance to get closer to Qi Xia and Luo Dan, right? What's there to be embarrassed about? Don't worry, when the time comes, your little brother will definitely do everything he can to help you!"
"Fourth Brother, you're the man!" Wang Rongfeng said gratefully.
Liu Zhu gave a fawning smile. "Fourth Brother, our happiness depends on you! You're experienced, so you have to help us come up with a good plan!"
Wu Yan thumped his chest with a loud THWACK-THWACK and took full responsibility. "No problem, leave it to me!"
He immediately started laying out a detailed strategy, while Liu Zhu and Wang Rongfeng stood by, nodding incessantly and listening with rapt attention.
On the surface, they didn't seem worried at all about Zhao Yuan's challenge to the Jinling Zhao Family.
But in reality, that was just an act. They were actually very worried. The Jinling Zhao Family held a formidable reputation in the medical world, after all. But Zhao Yuan had already issued his challenge, and the Zhao Family had accepted. Being nervous and worried at this point would only have a negative effect. So, before Zhao Yuan got back, the three brothers had already agreed to create a relaxed atmosphere to help him ease his mind.
However, they had clearly underestimated Zhao Yuan's mental fortitude and confidence.
From start to finish, Zhao Yuan hadn't been nervous at all.
Just as the three of them were in the middle of their heated discussion, Zhao Yuan's phone rang.
After stepping into the hallway to take the call, Zhao Yuan returned to the dorm and said to his three brothers, "I'm afraid you won't have a chance to implement your master plan."
"Why?" The three of them froze, asking in unison.
Zhao Yuan replied, "Principal Ma just called me. He said the school is taking care of the plane tickets and hotel. I told him you guys were planning to go with me, and he agreed. Not only will he help you get excused from your department classes, but the school is also covering all your travel expenses. But... Principal Ma is personally leading the group this time. The head of our Department of Integrated Traditional and Western Medicine, Yang Jingbo, and other renowned professors like Qiu Haogu will also be accompanying us to Jinling. So, your plan to woo the girls on this trip... is probably not going to happen."
But his brothers' reaction was completely unexpected. Instead of being disappointed, they were incredibly excited.
"Holy shit!"
"Does it get any more awesome than this?"
"The school's covering all the expenses? This is awesome! I've only ever paid money *to* the school. I never thought I'd see the day the school paid for me!"
Zhao Yuan was a little baffled. "Aren't you guys disappointed?" he asked, puzzled.
"Why would we be disappointed?" Wu Yan asked.
Zhao Yuan said, "With so many teachers coming along, you won't have a chance to woo the girls."
"Third Brother, and they call you the 'Love Saint' of our Department of Integrated Traditional and Western Medicine? How can you be so naive? Having teachers around makes it *easier* to woo the girls! They'll be much less on guard than if they were going out with just us!"
With that, Wu Yan pulled Liu Zhu and Wang Rongfeng aside again to impart his wisdom and draw up a new plan.
Zhao Yuan shook his head, feeling utterly speechless.
In the blink of an eye, Wednesday arrived—the day Zhao Yuan and the others were to set off for Jinling.
Early that morning, Ma Guotao called to arrange for them to gather at the south gate of the campus, where the university would send a car to take them to the airport.
Before leaving, Zhao Yuan stroked the White Cat's head and reminded it, "Hey, little kitty, I'm going to be gone for a few days. You take care of yourself while I'm away. I'll bring you back a present when I return."
Zhao Yuan wasn't worried about the White Cat. The little fella was not only very intelligent, but also had strong survival instincts; it would definitely be able to take care of itself.
This time, however, the White Cat didn't listen obediently. After a few meows, it climbed up onto Zhao Yuan's shoulder.
"You want to come with me?" Zhao Yuan's brow furrowed.
The last few times the White Cat had followed him, something unexpected had always happened. 'Could it be that this trip to Jinling will also have some kind of accident?'