23: Chapter 23: Meeting Duan Tang (2) 23: Chapter 23: Meeting Duan Tang (2) Duan Tang saw this, smiled helplessly, and thought the girl really had the patience.
Ordinary people who dined with him were either trembling with fear or fawning over him.
If someone else had saved Old Master Duan, they would have taken the opportunity to build connections with him long ago.
Who could be as indifferent and composed as this girl?
Such a person was either an idiot or highly strategic, and An Yiqing naturally fell into the latter category.
“May I ask, Miss An, under whom did you study?” Duan Tang ventured, resigning himself to a setback; he couldn’t quite explain why his attitude had softened.
“I apologize, but my master instructed me not to reveal our Shimen, so I really cannot disclose that information,” An Yiqing deflected with the slightest of efforts.
Duan Tang nodded understandingly, “What are your thoughts on Elder Duan’s condition?” he asked, posing the first key question of the day.
An Yiqing’s expression remained unchanged, her clear eyes directly meeting Duan Tang’s, “Although this heart disease is difficult to cure, it is not impossible to recover from,” she said succinctly, without overstating her abilities.
Duan Tang’s eyes, glittering with intelligence, focused intently on An Yiqing, his surface calm betraying a tumultuous interior.
None of the experts before had dared to claim this disease could be cured.
What gave this girl the confidence to make such a claim?
“Miss An, how am I to believe in your abilities?” Duan Tang asked, his tone gentle but his eyes sharp.
An Yiqing chuckled at the question, “Head Duan has no choice but to trust me.”
“Miss An, you must be aware that Muyun Society’s influence is enough to bring any dignitary down to ruin,” Duan Tang declared with an intensity that matched his role as the Family Head of Muyun Society.
“Family Head, I have always been confident but not arrogant,” An Yiqing replied with a gentle smile, gracefully taking a sip from her teacup.
Her composure remained unaffected by Duan Tang’s formidable presence.
The two just sat there quietly, looking at each other, one with clear water-like eyes, the other with gentle, dark ones.
After a moment, Duan Tang smiled, reining in his aura, full of admiration and awe.
He sighed and said, “You win.
I request that you fully cure Elder Duan’s illness.
Duan Tang and Muyun Society will be in your debt.”
Seeing her aim achieved, An Yiqing was quite pleased, but her face did not show it, “Family Head Duan, such a magnanimous offer.
I will not harm Muyun Society; as for the consultation fee for Elder Duan, I trust Family Head Duan to make a fair offer.
Muyun Society’s connections are vast, and I believe Head Duan will give me a satisfactory response.” An Yiqing knew that her Medical Arts were indeed a priceless treasure, and to measure the act of saving someone from Yama Raja with money alone would simply imply that Elder Duan’s life was not worth much.
Her plans to start a company were imperative, and the first step was to build a reputation.
Saving Elder Duan and owing Duan Tang a favor provided her with this opportunity.
The extensive network of Muyun Society was beyond imagination, and she could use this chance to lay the groundwork for her company’s foundation.
Duan Tang was a smart man and caught An Yiqing’s implication.
He couldn’t help but chuckle bitterly to himself; the girl really was astute, not interested in money or profit, but rather in the vast network of Muyun Society, which was worth far more than any cheque.
It was not a difficult request, and it also presented an opportunity to build a good relationship with An Yiqing.
Duan Tang naturally wouldn’t refuse such a favorable deal.
An Yiqing saw Duan Tang nod in agreement and beamed a big smile, “Thank you, Family Head Duan.” This time, her tone was much more sincere.
Duan Tang looked at the beaming An Yiqing, shook his head helplessly, and wondered where this girl got all her clever ideas from.
With their business settled, both of them felt more at ease, and the initial awkwardness in the room had dissipated.
An Yiqing was happily savoring the delicacies in front of her, while Duan Tang watched her enjoyment, finding his own appetite greatly increased as a result.