The next morning, Lin Jie, An Kexin, Lin Miao, and Zhang Xiaoxiao, along with Lele, went to Binhai Park to exercise.

In early October, Binhai was already quite cool in the mornings and evenings, perfect for outdoor activities.

Lin Jie practiced endurance running, mainly to build his stamina.

The four people and a dog, led by Lin Jie, ran at a steady medium pace along a short circular path in the park, two or three kilometers long.

The first to give in was Zhang Xiaoxiao, who couldn't make it past half a loop.

Lin Miao persisted for a little over a loop.

An Kexin accompanied Lin Jie for a lap and a half before she too couldn't keep up and switched to walking.

Ultimately, with the unwavering company of Lele, Lin Jie completed three laps.

Panting, he joined An Kexin, Lin Miao, and Zhang Xiaoxiao, who were stretching on an open space by the roadside.

Upon seeing the three, Lele dashed over, laid down next to Lin Miao's leg.

As Lin Jie approached, Zhang Xiaoxiao handed him a bottle of water, glanced playfully at An Kexin, and teased, "With Kexin keeping you company last night, I thought you'd be too exhausted to even run a few steps."

Lin Jie took a small sip of water and smirked, "Xiaoxiao, you're wrong there."

"Being with Kexin doesn't make me tired; it just gives me more energy and enthusiasm."

As he said this, he flexed his arm to show his respectable bicep.

An Kexin blushed slightly, glared at Lin Jie, and said, "Xiaoxiao, don't listen to his nonsense."

"Last night, he came back after midnight, washed up quickly, and collapsed into bed, falling asleep right away."

Is this a subtle complaint?

Lin Jie looked a bit aggrieved at An Kexin.

Waking up in the morning, he initially thought to exercise, but someone suggested the great weather was perfect for a park workout.

Sensing the resentment Lin Jie was sending her way, An Kexin quickly said, "Let's go find a place to have breakfast, my treat today."

By then, it was past seven in the morning, time for breakfast.

As they started to leave, Lin Miao called out, "Lele, get up, come on, get up."

Lin Jie turned around to see Lele lying like a dead dog beside Lin Miao's leg, clinging to her leg and refusing to get up.

Angry, Lin Miao kept poking its head with her finger, "You're not a kid anymore! You're so heavy and fat, I can't carry you, get up quickly."

"Brother, come and scold it."

Having returned from an injury at the Bamboo Sea in Sichuan, Lele's living standards had improved quite a lot.

The result was it gaining quite a bit of weight swiftly.

Now it weighed at least thirty-five pounds, giving off a rotund impression.

Lin Jie laughed, "It was running with such joy earlier, but now it's pretending to be a lazy dog, spoiled by you all."

"But Lele indeed needs to lose weight. You all need to control its diet from now on."

Lin Jie stepped forward, bent down, and picked up Lele.

They had just walked a few steps when he saw Guan Muhua approaching from the front.

Before Lin Jie could make an introduction, Guan Muhua greeted first, "Dr. Lin, President An, Jie, Lin Miao, good morning!"

"Why do you keep calling me Jie?"

Zhang Xiaoxiao nearly jumped, dissatisfied, "I'm less than a month older than you, didn't I tell you not to call me Jie, it makes me sound old."

Yesterday, following Lin Jie's instructions, Zhang Xiaoxiao arranged for Guan Muhua to stay at her little apartment in Garden One Village.

That apartment was vacant, perfectly useful now.

Guan Muhua quickly apologized, "Sorry, I forgot, in the future, I'll just use your name?"

Zhang Xiaoxiao snorted, indicating agreement.

"Kexin, Miaomiao, this is my newly hired assistant, Guan Muhua!"

After the introduction, Lin Jie still wanted to ask Guan Muhua how he found them here.

Upon seeing the phone in his hand, Lin Jie recalled that yesterday at his introduction, a locator software was installed on his phone.

According to Guan Muhua, this software could roughly locate and had a one-click alert feature, quite practical as a civilian app for bodyguards.

Lin Jie also noted the three bluish bruises still visible on Guan Muhua's face.

Especially the eye, sporting a blue-black color, giving him a somewhat comical look.

Lin Jie smiled and asked, "Yesterday, in your spar with Qin Gang, did you win or lose?"

Guan Muhua replied earnestly, "It was just a spar, not about winning or losing."

"The point was to gauge each other's strengths, so in case of anything, we'd be aware."

Lin Jie made a sound of acknowledgment, a little provocatively added, "Qin Gang did say, the marks he left on your body and face were more than the ones you left on him."

Guan Muhua nodded, seriously said, "He's right, he did hit me more times than I hit him."

Just when Lin Jie thought this was a Zen bodyguard, he heard him calmly add, "It's just that the times I hit his vital areas were four, while his…"

"The number of times hitting vital areas, once is enough, twice is overdoing it."

Everyone turned towards the voice, seeing Qin Gang approaching from another path.

He stood two meters away from Guan Muhua and said with a snort, "In a life-and-death duel, a single fatal attack is enough to determine life or death. I assume you don't disagree with that?"

Guan Muhua nodded and said, "No mistake there, that's how it is in a life-and-death struggle."

"However, using such a standard in a practice match that involves mutual understanding and probing each other's strengths seems a bit inappropriate, doesn't it?"

The two exchanged looks, and it seemed as if sparks were flying between their gazes.

Just when Lin Jie expected to see a good show, Guan Muhua gently turned around, looked at Lin Jie, and asked, "Dr. Lin, are you going to Guangshen, a thousand miles away, tomorrow?"

Lin Jie nodded and said, "Yes, to perform a surgery."

"If everything goes smoothly, I can return the same day. Since you're new to Binhai, get yourself familiar with the place first. You don't need to accompany me this time."

Guan Muhua insisted, "I already agreed with Qin Gang that we would travel together if you went elsewhere."

"Moreover, I used to live in Guangshen, so I'm quite familiar with the city."

"Dr. Lin, please take me along."

Hearing his firm tone, Lin Jie thought for a moment and agreed, asking Zhang Xiaoxiao to book one more plane ticket for tomorrow.

They had breakfast together outside.

Afterward, they returned home to freshen up. Lin Jie, having changed his clothes, was ready to head to Binhai University Medical School with Qin Gang.

Meanwhile, Guan Muhua would be accompanied by Zhang Xiaoxiao to familiarize himself with the routes Lin Jie often takes or might take.

Before parting, Lin Jie couldn't help but say, "Qin Gang, Guan Muhua, the next time you spar, make sure to let me know in advance."

"I really want to see if your sparring is as intense as they show in spy movies..."

At the Medical School, Lin Jie continued the unfinished conversation with the students.

After lunch, Qin Gang drove him directly to Yuerong Plastic Surgery Hospital in the Binhai East Suburb.

This plastic surgery hospital is located on the city's outskirts.

On the way there, every few hundred meters, Lin Jie saw billboards advertising Yuerong Plastic Surgery Hospital.

Upon arriving at the hospital, Lin Jie found that the hospital covered quite a large area for a plastic surgery facility, spanning several thousand square meters.

The main structure was a six-story flat building.

Behind the main building was a semicircular annex of two stories, separated by almost a hundred square meters of green space, where a few patients were seen slowly walking with the help of nurses.

Around the buildings were tall landscape trees, and beyond that, a steel fence over three meters high separated the hospital from the surrounding buildings.

Without a doubt, Lin Jie thought that at least the environment of this hospital was quite good and could be considered a garden landscape hospital.

Jin Lechen, who was giving Lin Jie a tour, said proudly, "Expert Lin, how do you think my little hospital fares?"

Lin Jie praised, "It's indeed nice, the environment is quite pleasant, perfect for patient recovery."

Jin Lechen laughed, "When we built the hospital, this area was still farmland, and the land was relatively cheap, so I bought more of it. I thought a bigger place would always be better, at least it gives a sense of openness."

Lin Jie echoed, "Dean Jin has great foresight, now just this plot alone probably exceeds a billion, right?"

Jin Lechen chuckled and said, "Compared to downtown, the land price here is still far behind. But I have no intention of selling anyway; I've poured much of my heart and soul into this place!"

He gestured invitingly, "Expert Lin, come, let's go take a look at that CT scanner."

Guided by Jin Lechen, Lin Jie and Qin Gang came to the semicircular annex and walked into a room labeled "Machinery Room - No Entry for Unauthorized Personnel."

This was a control room!

The operating platform directly faced a large resin partition glass.

Through this glistening glass, Lin Jie could see a large, double-helix CT scanner in the middle of a spacious room on the opposite side.

It was lying there like a sleeping beauty, exuding an irresistible charm, waiting for Lin Jie to engage with it.

"Expert Lin, I can call the operator over to perform a test scan on this machine."

Lin Jie replied bluntly, "No need, I can do it myself."

In Jin Lechen's surprised gaze, Lin Jie adeptly activated the system and conducted an internal system check.

Observing the data appearing on the system's screen, Lin Jie realized this was a machine manufactured over two years ago.

This second-hand instrument sure seemed new enough.

Lin Jie also noticed that the instrument was registered to a hospital in Japan.

Moreover, the self-check log indicated that this equipment had never undergone a software upgrade since its production.

He said casually, "Dean Jin, this instrument has never changed its registered hospital nor has it ever undergone a software upgrade!"

Jin Lechen sighed and explained in a low voice, "To be honest, Expert Lin, this instrument was purchased second-hand from abroad, and then...then...brought in through some private channels."

Lin Jie understood that this was a smuggled piece of equipment.

"So, some procedures are not entirely complete."

"Expert Lin, as you're aware, manufacturers charge a hefty fee for a single software upgrade. Its existing functions more than meet our hospital's needs, so we never considered an upgrade."

He then asked with concern, "Expert Lin, do you happen to need functions that only the newest software version offers?"

Lin Jie shook his head and said, "No, as long as it can be used for basic cerebral vascular imaging with the highest precision, it will do..."

At this moment, a "ding" sound signaled the completion of the self-check.

Seeing the self-check report appear on the screen, Lin Jie smiled!

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