After Lin Jie clearly expressed his stance, no one approached him to plead for Kang Yingyao.

However, he learned that some people remained persistent, trying to go around him and turned their attention to Chen Shi and An Weize, but were firmly rejected by both.

On Friday afternoon, Lin Jie was pulled out of his apartment by Lin Miao and Zhang Xiaoxiao to shop for small items needed for outdoor travel.

Upon seeing the list they made, Lin Jie couldn't help but grin.

Wow, not a small amount, there are dozens of various items.

Such as mosquito repellent, herbal balm, and medicine for headaches, colds, diarrhea, allergies, and inflammation, headlamps, flashlights, windproof lighters, military shovels, water bottles, compasses, sports socks, etc.

Fortunately, although there are many types of things, they are all relatively small and lightweight.

Lin Miao explained, "Brother, we've already bought big items like the anorak, tent, sleeping bag, and outdoor travel bags. These small things were added by Xiaoxiao and I after checking the outdoor travel list on a website. We found them necessary."

Lin Jie nodded and said, "You guys are well-prepared. But, Miaomiao, Xiaoxiao, while it's good to be prepared, we are not professional outdoor travelers."

"I have also looked into this Bamboo Sea hiking activity."

"We'll set off at noon, reach the destination by evening, watch whatever waterfall it is, and return the next morning. At most, it's just a day and a night in the wild. Is it necessary to make such grand and formal preparations, fully equipped?"

Zhang Xiaoxiao looked at Lin Jie and said with a smile, "Someone once said that even the smallest surgery can have unexpected complications, affecting the patient's health or even life. The operating doctor must be fully prepared."

"This hiking trip involves camping overnight. We should be equally prepared, right, Ajie?"

This is a classic case of using one's own spear against their own shield.

Lin Jie rolled his eyes, not wanting to argue with the two and focused on driving to a relatively well-known outdoor travel store that Lin Miao found.

This store spans several thousand square meters. After entering, Zhang Xiaoxiao and Lin Miao went straight for the items on the list to buy, while Lin Jie wandered around and unknowingly ended up at the bicycle section.

Seeing the price tags, Lin Jie was somewhat shocked.

The price of a bike ranges from several thousand to tens of thousands, or even 120,000, about the price of a small car.

"Hey, Expert Lin!"

Hearing a clear shout, Lin Jie looked up and saw Zhuang Shilei and her sturdily built cousin, Zhuang Hongbo, approaching.

At this moment, Zhuang Shilei still had a breathable mask on the left side of her face.

Lin Jie knew that although her left face was fuller now with contours like a normal person's, the skin had gone through multiple surgeries leaving scars and protrusions that were still frightening.

Moreover, to ensure recovery and prevent infection, Lin Jie also prohibited Zhuang Shilei from wearing makeup.

As they approached, Zhuang Shilei smiled and said, "Expert Lin, are you here to buy a bicycle? The owner here knows my brother quite well, he can offer you a discount."

"My brother and I are also here to buy a bike. He's gifting me a bicycle as my birthday present, hehe!"

With piercing eyes, Zhuang Hongbo forced a small smile, nodded at Lin Jie, and said, "We indeed know each other well, a 60% discount might be difficult, but getting 70% or 12% discount shouldn't be a problem."

"Thanks for the offer! Zhuang Shilei, happy birthday to you too!"

Lin Jie pointed at Zhang Xiaoxiao and Lin Miao who were selecting items not far away and said, "I'm not buying a bike. That's my sister and cousin, we're here to buy some outdoor travel supplies, preparing for a trip tomorrow."

He then asked, "Zhuang Shilei, how is your left face recovering recently? Any anomalies?"

Zhuang Shilei touched her left face and said, "I've been taking nerve nutrition medicine and regularly getting nutrition injections at the hospital. The numbness has reduced a lot, but sometimes my left face suddenly hurts."

"Sometimes at night, when I'm deeply asleep, it suddenly hurts, waking me up two or three times a night."

Lin Jie nodded and explained, "This is a normal recovery phenomenon. When some intermittent nerve fibers recover to a certain extent, they will fully heal and first transmit a pain signal."

"This sudden pain will last for some time and will have a peak, after which it will gradually decrease and eventually disappear."

"When you notice that this sudden pain becomes very infrequent, like once every one or two days, you can come to see me."

"At that point, we can start preparing for your skin graft and cosmetic surgery on your face."

Zhuang Shilei's right face showed a faint smile and she said, "I am so looking forward to that day coming soon. With one more surgery, I can finally lose the mask and be free."

Hearing this, a flash of guilt and heartache crossed Zhuang Hongbo's eyes, and he looked at Zhuang Shilei with even softer eyes.

Lin Jie looked at Zhuang Shilei's bright and flawless right face, hesitated a bit, then said, "I remember telling you once, although I am confident in my surgical skills, I must tell you I can't make your left face as perfect as your right face."

"To put it simply, your right face is 100 points; I can make your left face up to 95 points..."

But Zhuang Shilei happily said, "Expert Lin, even if it's 90 points or 85 points, I would be so happy that I couldn't sleep. You don't need to worry that I'll be dissatisfied."

"To be honest, I'm quite happy with how I look now."

Lin Jie shook his head and said, "That's not what I mean."

"Zhuang Shilei, listen to me. After the cosmetic surgery, given your current situation, there's bound to be some asymmetry between the left and right sides of your face."

"But because your right side is almost perfect, it inadvertently exaggerates this difference..."

"In this case, a 100-point right side, paired with a 95-point left side, will make your face appear noticeably flawed in the eyes of others, ultimately giving your entire face a score of 90, or even lower."

"However, if your right side also becomes 95 points, the overall impression of your face will be 98 points..."

"This is because, on one hand, we're always very critical of perfection but tend to be forgiving towards imperfection. On the other hand..."

Zhuang Shilei wrinkled her nose, pouting in annoyance as she interrupted, "Expert Lin, you're trying to persuade me to operate on my right side again!"

Lin Jie chuckled and said, "This isn't persuasion; I'm stating a fact."

"Of course, the decision is yours. My goal is simply to achieve the best overall effect."

Zhuang Shilei hesitated and said, "Expert Lin, it's not that I don't trust you, it's just...just..."

She touched her right cheek, worriedly saying, "I'm...I'm a bit scared."

Lin Jie somewhat understood her thoughts, comforting her, "Like I said, the decision is yours!"

"Zhuang Shilei, you don't have to decide now. You can wait a few months until the results of the surgery are clear and make your decision then..."

"Just that by then, you'll have to endure another surgery..."

Over an hour later, nearly 80% of the items on the shopping list were bought in this store, while the rest needed to be purchased at a pharmacy and another shopping mall.

At checkout, thanks to Zhuang Hongbo's introduction, Lin Jie indeed got a good discount, 20% off, saving hundreds of yuan.

Lin Jie and the others thanked Zhuang Shilei, Zhuang Hongbo, and the shop owner before leaving the store!

After putting the items into the car's trunk, just as Lin Jie and the others were about to leave, Zhuang Hongbo hurried over alone.

"Expert Lin, Expert Lin!"

Zhuang Hongbo jogged up to Lin Jie, hesitated for a moment, and asked, "Expert Lin, I heard you're also an extremely skilled neurosurgeon, is that true?"

"Sort of, is there something you need?" Lin Jie responded modestly.

Zhuang Hongbo gritted his teeth and said, "Expert Lin, I want to tell you something, but you must keep it confidential, okay?"

"That depends on what it is. If it's a patient's matter, I naturally will keep it confidential."

Zhuang Hongbo pondered for a moment and said, "Expert Lin, I'm now a coach for sanda and fighting at a fitness club and have also won the city's sanda competition championship."

"Before Leilei met you, I wanted to earn more money to fix her face and secure her future, so..."

"I participated in some unregulated fighting matches like gambling fights. They are pretty much no-holds-barred, with not much protection. Leilei and my family know nothing about it."

"Please keep it confidential, Expert Lin..."

Upon hearing this, Lin Jie once again sized up Zhuang Hongbo.

It's really hard to tell that this guy with such sharp eyes is also a highly skilled fighter.

I just don't know if he could beat Qin Gang.

"Oh, I will keep this confidential."

Lin Jie instinctively asked, "Did these fighting matches cause brain damage?"

Zhuang Hongbo shook his head and said, "It's not me; it's one of my opponents!"

"In that match, I won, and he lost. Afterward, he became somewhat forgetful and then a bit foolish."

"He was checked at the hospital, and they said his brain was injured. The doctors said it could only get better with recuperation. But a year has gone by, and instead of getting better, he's gotten a bit worse."

Zhuang Hongbo sighed, "I've always felt guilty towards him."

"Expert Lin, could you take a look at him? Over the years, I've saved some money that Leilei hasn't used, which could be used for this."

Lin Jie thought for a moment and said, "It's not possible recently. We're going on a trip tomorrow."

"How about this, contact me in ten days..."

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