The agreement was signed, and since there is still a wait of four to five months, Lin Xiaoxiao's family returned to their hometown to wait patiently.

Lin Jie, along with his research team, felt assured as they found suitable patients for verification, allowing various tasks to progress smoothly.

Tian Xiangyu and Huo Guangheng put their full effort into the anatomical analysis report of cerebral arteriovenous vessels, which is now complete.

After reviewing it, Lin Jie was very satisfied but pointed out several deficiencies in each report and areas that needed further development, advising them to use the next few days to make improvements.

The related literature index handled by He Yimin and others has also entered its final stage.

Lin Jie selected thirty to forty particularly insightful papers from them, asking them to read them carefully over the next few days and draft something akin to a review.

June 23rd.

This is the next milestone set by Lin Jie; on this day, the project will conclude theoretical research and transition fully into the animal in vivo experiment phase.

On Friday morning, Lin Jie completed one-on-one talks with all the students and exited the comprehensive office building of the Medical College.

He was surprised to see that in front of the teaching building, the small plaza was filled with students wearing bachelor, master, and doctoral gowns, gathering in small groups, taking pictures to commemorate the occasion.

This is the annual graduation season.

Having never experienced something similar, Lin Jie watched the scene before him with great interest.

"Teacher, teacher!"

Following the voice, Lin Jie saw Lu Xiaoyu, dressed in a doctoral gown, holding down her doctoral cap and lifting the hem of her gown like a skirt, jogging over.

When she got closer, Lin Jie smiled and said, "Seeing you in this outfit reminds me that you're graduating..."

He suddenly slapped his forehead and said, "Oh, that's bad..."

"Teacher, has something happened?" Lu Xiaoyu asked with concern.

Lin Jie smiled awkwardly and said, "Seeing you graduating made me realize that summer vacation is almost here. Ungraduated students are supposed to have a break, but in my course schedule, I never considered this vacation thing."

Lu Xiaoyu let out a gentle sigh of relief and said, "Teacher, even if you give us a break, research projects cannot be interrupted. So I, along with Song Licheng and Yan Beichen, are destined to stay on campus this summer."

"Every summer vacation, we usually only go home for a week before rushing back to school. It's only during winter break that we can stay at home a bit longer."

Lin Jie nodded slightly and said, "Hearing you say that, I don't feel as guilty. Hmm, have you finalized your plans for after graduation?"

"Initially, President An arranged for me to work at the City Fifth Hospital, but keeping up with your project and studying, I roughly estimated that there would be no working time left."

Lu Xiaoyu softly said, "So I declined President An's arrangement and plan to rent an apartment near the school to focus entirely on the research project and learning."

Lin Jie frowned slightly and said, "Renting off-campus isn't very safe for a girl, right? And what about living expenses?"

Lu Xiaoyu smiled and said, "Many students preparing for exams or further studies rent in clusters near the school, so safety isn't an issue. As for living expenses, didn't you forget, teacher? We receive a three-thousand contribution stipend from your assistant every month."

"President An also said he would send me some living expenses each month, so I can live pretty comfortably each month."

Lin Jie made an acknowledging sound, thought for a moment, and said, "Let's do this: I'll ask the college if they can arrange a single dormitory for you on campus. It's always inconvenient renting off-campus."

"Thank you, teacher!"

Lu Xiaoyu looked delighted and asked, "Teacher, next year Song Licheng will graduate, and if Ma Hongmin and Zeng Yang don't go for doctoral studies, they will graduate too."

"Next year, will you also leave the school, teacher?"

Lin Jie nodded slightly and said, "By next year, Anlin Hospital will also be completed and operational, and naturally, I will be leaving the school."

"Then when that time comes, I'll go to Anlin Hospital with you, teacher!"

Lu Xiaoyu shook the phone in her hand and asked, "Teacher, can we take a few photos together..."

In the late afternoon near six o'clock, Lin Jie arrived at a beautifully decorated, serene private restaurant.

Entering a private room, he found that Tao Taqing, Chen Shi, Yao Siyuan, and Song Licheng were already there. Lin Jie sat down and jokingly said, "Dean Tao, the location you chose to host us today doesn't match your usual simple style."

"The standards here must be high, right? What got into you to splurge today?"

Tao Taqing laughed heartily and said, "In this private room, the minimum standard per person is 998!"

"This gathering is primarily to celebrate the complete success of our project and to also celebrate my official liberation from the mire of Donghua Hospital."

"Did you wrap up everything in such a short time?"

Tao Taqing snorted and said, "Actually, there's been no formal handover. The folks at Donghua Hospital, seeing there was no room for recovery, just kicked me out."

"It's better this way; it saves me the trouble."

"In the past few days, I have privately communicated with the doctors who took over my patients, which puts my mind at ease!"

Chen Shi chuckled, saying, "Is there really nothing holding you back?"

"Your stake in that pharmaceutical company and other interests at Donghua Hospital?"

Tao Taqing sighed and said, "It's something unavoidable; what's necessary must be let go."

Lin Jie had already learned from An Kexin that recruiting a department head or deputy chief-level doctor isn't a simple task.

Doctors at this level have significant autonomy within a department or hospital and hold substantial ties with external hospital companies, medical device firms, and even intermediaries and scalpers.

These additional incomes can exceed their rightful earnings by several times, if not dozens of times.

A doctor of such status switching jobs, especially to another city, means giving up the well-established local network, habitual life, and various gray area benefits.

Without enticing or compelling interests or offers, it's impossible to make them switch.

At this moment, Tao Taqing's expression shifted, then he smiled and said, "With loss comes gain; at the new hospital, new opportunities arise, right? Besides, Chairman Han, though young, is generous and quite bold."

"Old Chen, these past days, you must have received several inquiry calls from your peers about that paper?"

Chen Shi nodded, saying rather modestly, "I've received phone calls, letters, and email inquiries. I've roughly estimated about sixty to seventy people."

"My paper was published two days later than yours, so I got fewer contacts, about thirty or forty people."

Tao Taqing's face was full of excitement as he said, "Chairman Han has allocated two million for the activity funds for this project. Old Chen, we should consider holding a seminar on the project's results while the interest is still high!"

"Oh, there's one more thing! Xiao Yao, Xiao Song, this is your allowance for participating in this project."

As he spoke, Tao Taqing tossed two envelopes to Yao Siyuan and Song Licheng.

The envelopes were thin, containing a check.

From the smiles on Yao Siyuan and Song Licheng's faces—and just smiles, without surprise—Lin Jie surmised that the check's amount was in the tens of thousands, at most not exceeding a hundred thousand.

Chen Shi considered and said, "The timing for holding this seminar on the academic project is rather suitable."

"But, Old Tao, you've just left Donghua Hospital, and the Tongren Hospital West Branch isn't completed yet. Who will host the seminar?"

"The Medical College, you're a joint chief of this project too."

Tao Taqing smiled and said, "Of course, the invitation letters and banners will show Tongren Hospital West Branch and Binhai University Medical School as co-hosts, with Binhai University Medical School organizing it."

As he said this, he looked at Lin Jie and asked, "Lin Jie, about this seminar..."

Lin Jie waved his hand lightly and said, "I'm currently busy with a new project, and I don't have much spare time. You guys handle the seminar business yourselves."

Tao Taqing was also somewhat worried about Lin Jie's presence at the seminar overshadowing others, so he politely said a few words and didn't insist further.

As the group chatted, the waiter began serving dishes one after another.

This private dining restaurant, at the standard of 998 per person, was still worth the price, with rare and high-quality ingredients, exquisite and innovative dishes, and delightful flavors that lingered.

While savoring the delicious food, they discussed the seminar's details.

Chen Shi and Tao Taqing tentatively decided to hold it in mid-July and had a general outline of the medical experts to invite.

However, the specific timing and detailed arrangements needed further communication with the Medical College and a few important medical experts to be finalized.

Midway through the meal, Chen Shi suddenly asked, "Lin Jie, when are you holding the engagement ceremony with Kexin?"

Lin Jie was a bit puzzled and said, "I've already given Kexin a ring, which counts as an engagement. We'll just proceed with the wedding ceremony in the future."

Chen Shi shook his head disapprovingly and said, "Weize managed to avert disaster relatively smoothly this time. He said a large part of it was due to your influence and network."

"Your relationship with Kexin is known only to close friends and family, but outsiders are still unclear. I think it's necessary to hold a ceremony to announce your connection with the An Family."

Lin Jie noncommittally said, "Let's talk about it later! Even without the connection between me and Kexin, the ties between me and the An Family are already inseparable, known by everyone."

"You guys decide; I'm just suggesting!"

Seeing Lin Jie somewhat resistant to the idea, Chen Shi didn't insist further and continued, "This weekend is Kemeng's birthday party. Will you attend? I can have Fanzhi step back."

Lin Jie hurriedly said, "My sister and I will attend, but there's no need for Chen Fanzhi to avoid it. He's Kemeng's cousin after all, and my matters with him are in the past."

Chen Shi secretly breathed a sigh of relief and quietly said, "Thank you!"

After the reunion meal ended, Lin Jie returned to Xiangtai Apartment, arriving near ten o'clock.

However, just as he got out of the car, someone approached and softly called out, "Lin Jie!"

"Hu Yuanqing?!"

Lin Jie furrowed his eyebrows immediately, displeased, and said, "Did you wait for me on purpose?"

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