Despite Su Linglong and Fang Bai’s status as "lovers" being well-known at Yanjing Hospital, it was still their first time attending a banquet together as boyfriend and girlfriend.
Facing the gazes of everyone in the "Plum Blossom Hall," Fang Bai managed to respond with ease, while Su Linglong couldn’t help feeling a bit shy. She let go of Fang Bai’s arm, her pretty face slightly heating up.
"Hello, all you beauties!"
The nurses were polite to Fang Bai, and naturally, he was polite to them, nodding and smiling, "I’m just here to join the meal, I hope you guys don’t mind?"
In the eyes of the nurses present, Fang Bai’s image was definitely high-status, a figure akin to hospital leadership, whom they had to look up to.
Therefore, his arrival made them somewhat reserved, but his words immediately dispelled their sense of restraint and bridged the gap between them.
"Doctor Fang is like a sunny, handsome, and approachable boy-next-door, not at all like the hospital leaders who like to keep a stern face and put on airs all day!"
With such lively and outgoing personalities, the nurses thought this to themselves and gradually relaxed.
Some of the nurses’ boyfriends, who initially looked down on Fang Bai, were now somewhat perplexed by him. Noticing Su Linglong chatting with a few nurses, they took the initiative to strike up a conversation with Fang Bai, indirectly inquiring about where he was currently employed and what his family did.
"Your family runs a traditional Chinese medicine clinic?"
"You’re currently interning at Yanjing Hospital?"
"Your internship department is acupuncture and massage therapy?"
As the men learned these details from Fang Bai, their attitudes changed. They held their chins up high, looking down on Fang Bai with condescension, even too lazy to exchange another word with him.
Fang Bai, who had lived through countless eras in his past and present lives, was well-accustomed to the warmth and coldness of human relations and all the vicissitudes of the world. He didn’t mind their indifference; if others didn’t bother with him, he didn’t bother with them either. He sat alone, watching Su Linglong and the few nurses whisper and giggle behind their hands.
While chatting with her colleagues, Su Linglong was also keeping an eye on Fang Bai. Seeing that he seemed to be getting the cold shoulder, she raised her delicate brows and was about to go over and sit with him, but Fang Bai stopped her with a look.
Fang Bai wasn’t a petty person. He wouldn’t get upset over such trifles. When he came, he intended to give Su Linglong full face, allowing her to enjoy her birthday happily with her colleagues.
Around 7:30 pm, the six female nurses from Su Linglong’s department, along with their boyfriends, all twelve people, had arrived.
All of them were in their twenties, with many topics in common. Sitting together, chatting and laughing, the sound of their mirth could be heard from afar in the "Plum Blossom Hall."
The birthday girl tonight was a nurse named Yu Xiaorong, who, like Su Linglong, was also interning in the nursing department of Yanjing Hospital and reportedly came from a reasonably well-off family.
Among the six nurses present, other than Su Linglong, Yu Xiaorong was the most beautiful. Her boyfriend, Wang Dong, was tall and handsome, decked out in designer gear, rumored to be a second-generation rich kid.
When Fang Bai first arrived, the other four men had greeted him, some even making small talk, but Wang Dong was the only one who hadn’t moved from his spot on the cafe’s sofa, showing no intention of interacting with Fang Bai at all.
However, when Wang Dong saw Su Linglong, his cool gaze became fiery, revealing barely noticeable jealousy and greed.
Around 8:00 pm, the waiter brought in the birthday cake, and everyone helped to insert the candles. After making a wish, Yu Xiaorong blew them out. Then she cut the cake and distributed it to everyone.
"Xiaorong, happy birthday! This is my birthday gift for you! I hope you like it!"
Wang Dong said affectionately, casually taking out a neatly prepared little box and handing it to Yu Xiaorong.
"Ah Dong, thank you! I’ll like whatever you give me!"
Yu Xiaorong received the small box with joy, slowly opening it in front of everyone.
Inside the small box lay a string of exquisitely crafted, valuable diamond necklace that shone brightly and dazzled under the light.
"I’ve seen this diamond necklace at the counter in White Horse Mall, the price tag was sixty-eight thousand eight hundred and eighty-eight yuan!"
"Wow, that’s so expensive!"
"If it were given to me, I could die of happiness!"
"Xiaorong, Wang Dong really loves you so much!"
"Such a precious birthday gift shouldn’t go unrewarded! Xiaorong, you should show your appreciation!"
"Right! Hurry up, give Wang the Young Master a sweet kiss to show your thanks!"
"Kiss him! Quick, kiss him!"
Under everyone’s encouragement, a blissfully sweet Xiaorong, with a flushed face, kissed Wang Dong’s cheek.
"Let me help you put it on!"
Wang Dong smiled, took the diamond necklace from Xiaorong’s hands, and placed it around her snowy white, elegant neck. After a few glances, he exclaimed in admiration, "This necklace matches your skin tone perfectly, it’s beautiful!"
Wang Dong publicly gave his girlfriend the valuable diamond necklace, firstly to please her, and secondly to flaunt his wealth.
After he had given the necklace, he couldn’t help feeling triumphant when he noticed the envious and fervent looks of the people around him, and his gaze unconsciously strayed towards Su Linglong.
However, to Wang Dong’s disappointment, he didn’t catch any fervor or admiration in Su Linglong’s eyes; there was only indifference, as if the diamond necklace he had given was of no value to her.
Little did Wang Dong know that Fang Bai had once given Su Linglong a Luminous Pearl worth tens of millions, which was priceless and impossible to find on the market.
When compared, the diamond necklace given by Wang Dong seemed quite unimpressive.
As Su Linglong watched Xiaorong’s face filled with happiness, she was suddenly moved. Her gaze turned towards Fang Bai, meeting his eyes just as he looked her way.
The two shared a smile as if by telepathy.
"What’s a diamond necklace anyway? The Luminous Pearl that Fang Bai gave me last time was much nicer than this!"
Thinking this, Su Linglong’s stunningly beautiful face couldn’t help but reveal a smile of utter happiness and sweetness, much like Xiaorong’s.
Being naturally gorgeous, her smile instantly made the room’s lights lose their luster, and all eyes were drawn to her.
Several men were completely mesmerized, almost drooling.
"Linglong, what are you smiling about secretly?"
"Could it be that Doctor Fang has also given you such a valuable gift?"
"Come on, tell us what Doctor Fang has given you!"
Su Linglong’s female colleagues, driven by curiosity, began to surround her and press for details.
As for Fang Bai, they dared not bother him; offending the Divine Doctor who even the hospital director had to welcome with a smile—did they still want to work at Yanjing Hospital?