Hearing about the cooperation cancellation, An Weize calmly picked up his small tea cup, drained it in one go, and said with a serene expression, "Let it be canceled then. Next, we'll follow the contingency plan we discussed before and execute it."

He then smiled and said, "Doing it ourselves isn't bad either."

"Although the initial investment costs will be higher, it eliminates the concern of having someone holding us back later."

An Kexin responded with a hum, "Dad, I'll call Lawyer Li now to hold the other party accountable for breach of contract."

"No need to rush. Let's first see how the other party intends to resolve this matter."

An Weize stood up and asked, "How's the food preparation going?"

"Almost ready!"

Hearing An Kexin's reply, An Weize raised his voice slightly, saying, "The food is almost ready. Come on, let's all go to the dining room and taste Siying's culinary skills."

Walking into the dining room, Lin Jie saw that there were already a dozen or so tempting dishes arranged on the table.

He turned his head and saw Zhai Siying with a ponytail, wearing an apron with cartoon patterns and thick gloves, carrying a steaming clay pot as she stepped out of the kitchen.

This homely image was quite different from the intelligent and elegant impression she had given Lin Jie before, where she never touched household chores.

Lin Jie couldn't help but sigh, love and family really can change a person.

Zhai Siying put down the clay pot and enthusiastically said, "Please have a seat, everyone. These are some home dishes I made. The taste might be a bit light, and I hope it suits your palates."

"It will definitely suit our tastes, they look very appetizing."

The distant uncle exaggeratedly said, "Sister-in-law can both manage the parlor and the kitchen. I am so envious of Weize for being so fortunate."

Amid the compliments directed at the hostess, everyone sat down according to hierarchy.

To Lin Jie's left was An Kexin, to his right was Lin Miao, and next was An Kemeng.

Zhai Siying poured half a glass of red wine for Lin Jie, "Lin Jie, I know you had a tooth extraction recently, so the dishes are made softer. I hope you like it."

Lin Jie accepted the red wine and said, "Thank you. After recovering these past few days, it doesn't affect my eating much anymore!"

An Weize cleared his throat softly, and with a light laugh, said, "In just a few days, it'll be the New Year's holiday."

"The past year was a hard-working year and also a fruitful year. I'm very satisfied with it. However, I look forward to next year even more."

"Next year, Anlin Hospital will open; next year, Kexin and Ajie will get married..."

Hearing this, An Kemeng couldn't wait to interject, "Dad, next year, I'll be a college student."

An Weize looked at her with a smile and indulgently said, "I haven't forgotten about you. Next year, Kemeng will become a college student, officially entering adulthood."

He then looked at Zhai Siying beside him and continued, "In the past two or three years, or more precisely, since I met Ajie, my life has become exceptionally vibrant."

"To the past year, and to a better next year, let's have a toast."

Everyone raised their glasses and said in unison, "Cheers!"

Lin Jie took a small sip, savored it, and couldn't help but nod lightly.

The quality of this wine was indeed impressive.

This toast marked the formal beginning of the family dinner.

As everyone ate and chatted, the main focus was on Lin Jie.

"Expert Lin, since you just registered that studio of yours, you might need to hire a few people to help out, right? I have a nephew who's quite savvy, I'm sure he can handle some of the day-to-day tasks for you with no problem."

Facing the recommendation from the third aunt, An Kexin replied, "Third aunt, Ajie's studio is set up to serve him, so the top requirement is a strong background in medical education."

Seeing the third aunt's face fall, An Kexin continued, "Another requirement is proficiency in a foreign language like English, German, or French."

"Ajie's future patients will come from all over the world, so getting past the language barrier is essential."

The third aunt grumbled with dissatisfaction, "Do you mean even security guards and janitors need to meet such high standards?"

An Kexin chuckled lightly, "The studio is sure to move into Anlin Hospital, and naturally, the hospital's support staff will handle those auxiliary tasks."

"Employees who remain in the studio will undoubtedly be elites."

The distant uncle chuckled and said, "Third sister-in-law, given Expert Lin's current status, anyone working closely with him should at least be a medical master's graduate, if not a PhD."

"Your nephew barely graduated from a technical school, so it's certainly not suitable."

He then turned his gaze to Lin Jie and asked, "Surgeons are generally high-income professionals, so Expert Lin, your income must be exceptionally high. Have you made any other investments?"

"Zhiyao works in a bank and is quite skilled in investments and wealth management."

Lin Jie smiled and said, "I'm interested in investments and wealth management, but most of my funds have gone into Anlin Hospital. We only have some emergency money at home."

Regarding An Weize's financial tightness due to the construction of Anlin Hospital, as relatives, they'd already heard about it and didn't doubt Lin Jie's words.

The distant uncle hummed softly and said, "Anlin Hospital is a money-guzzler. It may take a few years for things to improve, right?"

"If you ever need emergency funds, Expert Lin, you can also reach out to Zhiyao."

"Personal credit loans from banks are getting easier, aren't they, Zhiyao?"

An Zhiyao seldom spoke. "With Expert Lin's qualifications and reputation, he can get at least a million credit limit from the bank without any collateral."

An Kemeng snorted lightly, speaking with disdain, "Brother Zhiyao, only a million credit limit? I know that Brother Jie has a black card from Four Seas Bank with a five million limit."

"But Brother Jie hardly uses credit cards."

Lin Jie indeed has this black card from Four Seas Bank.

This card was arranged for him by Fu Xiuyuan some time ago, saying it was a symbol of status, and also mentioned that using the card on travels, flights, and hotel stays would offer some small conveniences and discounts.

An Zhiyao looked slightly embarrassed and explained, "For a top-level individual like Expert Lin, the approval of credit limits isn't something a new employee like me, who just joined for half a year, can access."

"The million credit limit I mentioned was just my guess; a higher limit, even up to tens of millions, is possible."

Lin Jie chuckled lightly, "No need to dwell on this credit limit issue. I don't have the habit of spending in advance, and I use money responsibly. I hardly ever need to use bank credit."

At this point, Mother Zou changed the subject and asked, "Expert Lin, Kexin, you're getting married next year, right? Will your new home still be in that Xiangtai Apartment?"

"Do you need to renovate? It's better to plan early."

Lin Jie looked at An Kexin, seeing her remain silent, he pondered for a moment and said, "We won't do a renovation. I'm quite satisfied with the current setup. Renovation takes at least three to four months, wasting time and causing pollution, which is a big issue."

An Kemeng giggled and added, "There's another important reason..."

"It's laziness!"

"Brother Jie is meticulous in medicine but lazy in everything else, shoving off responsibilities when he can."

"If someone takes care of all the renovation, Brother Jie would agree too."

Lin Jie laughed, pointed a finger at her, and said, "Kemeng, you're just talking nonsense. Am I that kind of person?"

"Yes!" An Kexin and Lin Miao said in unison.

Seeing this consensus, Lin Jie looked down and continued eating in frustration.

An Weize chuckled, "Not renovating is fine. Just live there for now."

"In one or two years, when the skyscraper built on the site of the original Small White Building is completed, you can move into the apartment there."

Tian Run asked with some surprise, "Uncle An, have you already purchased a top apartment in that skyscraper?"

An Weize nodded, "When we sold the Small White Building to Han Group, as part of the condition, we got two apartments, one of which belongs to Ajia!"

"Brother, you mean the apartment belongs to Expert Lin, not to Kexin?" Mother Zou asked with some surprise.

An Kexin said plainly, "Aunt, that's right. The signed agreement states that one of the apartments belongs to Ajia."

She merely stated a fact without providing an explanation, feeling no need to elaborate further.

Mother Zou couldn't help but exclaim, "That top apartment must be worth at least tens of millions!"

At her words, there was a sound of gasping.

Looking at the complex emotions of envy, jealousy, and resentment in their eyes, An Weize said sternly, "You all know why we sold the Small White Building."

"The role Ajia played in that situation isn't something that a mere apartment can compensate."

A distant uncle said sullenly, "Yes, yes!"

"At that time, Weize, you and Kexin were detained at the tax office. We worried to death, but we didn't have any powerful connections, so all we did was worry."

"It was only Expert Lin's deep connections that could make a difference."

Lin Jie clearly felt that the topic about the apartment took the air out of the evening, making it somewhat somber.

But he didn't care much.

These An family relatives only see each other two or three times a year in formal gatherings… They can be ignored as passersby...

This family dinner ended rather anticlimactically.

By eight o'clock, it was over.

Lin Jie and Lin Miao stayed until after nine until Qin Gang, who was picking them up, arrived, and they took the car to leave.

In the car, Lin Jie reminded, "Miaomiao, do you remember what Old Master Zhou said? Your body suffered early on, making it unsuitable for early marriage and childbirth."

"So, before you're twenty-five, I don't recommend you start dating..."

"Got it, got it!"

Lin Miao dismissively interrupted Lin Jie, tilting her head to rest on his shoulder, saying, "I won't date or marry and will rely on you and Sister Kexin for life."

Lin Jie snorted in disbelief, "Sister Xiaoxiao said the same yet was deeply hurt once…"

Nearly an hour later, the two returned to Xiangtai Apartment.

Exiting the elevator, the siblings saw a familiar figure curled up in front of their door.

"Sister Mengjiao!"

Lin Miao recognized the visitor, hurriedly ran up, and asked worriedly, "What happened to you? What's going on?"

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