Chapter 231: Bonds of Business and Benevolence

Mr. Li and Zhou Can are considered the closest of friends.

Not only do they share many common interests, but their thoughts also align perfectly.

Both are the kind of people who disregard petty details and superficialities, yet treat their friends with utmost sincerity.

When Tianyu Interactive was first founded, even if Mr. Li had granted Zhou Can only a 20% stake, it would still have been seen as a lucrative move for Zhou Can.

Instead, he gave Zhou Can a 50% share.

Zhou Can lacked the experience in managing an entertainment company as well as the necessary resources; from a business perspective, his only asset was a record by Su Qianqian, which was of minimal value.

It would have been perfectly feasible to simply purchase that record and then sign Su Qianqian as a company artist under the pretext of helping out his girlfriend.

Such a maneuver would have spared Zhou Can any equity.

Zhou Can and Su Qianqian would then have owed Mr. Li endless gratitude.

But Mr. Li did not act in that manner; not even the simplest calculation was made.

With his business acumen, Mr. Li knew exactly how to maintain effective control over Jin Yu Interactive. Had he allocated just 1% less to Zhou Can—keeping 51% for himself and 49% for Zhou Can—he would have held complete control over the company.

Yet Mr. Li treated Zhou Can with the pure-heartedness of a child.

Zhou Can, in turn, was equally sincere with him.

In all the years they had run the company together, Zhou Can never audited the accounts; not once did he inspect Jin Yu Interactive’s financial reports. Every quarterly dividend was solely at Mr. Li’s discretion.

It was precisely this gullible form of cooperation that ensured they never quarreled over profits.

Frankly, even blood brothers rarely achieve such harmony.

They say ‘when tigers fight, even brothers falter’ and ‘fathers and sons on the battlefield’ –

Too many close friends and even brothers fall out due to unequal profit sharing when in business. That’s just human nature.

“Mr. Li has always been sincere with me. What’s wrong with him?”

Zhou Can was convinced there must be some misunderstanding at play.

After all, both a good brother and a cherished girlfriend are worthy of trust.

“Have you ever heard of the capital shark, Hu Haikun?”

Su Qianqian didn’t rush to reveal the matter.

“I’ve heard a bit about him. He runs the Changhua Plastics Group, currently one of the top 500 companies in the country, and he’s even invested in real estate and pig farming. A truly successful entrepreneur.”

Being a rich second-generation himself, Zhou Can was well aware of the prominent business tycoons in his province.

It was practically a rite of passage for someone of his background.

From an early age his parents taught him that while it was not necessary to ingratiate oneself to every big shot, one should never easily offend any powerful figure.

Learning about the backgrounds of these moguls also provided insight into their entrepreneurial spirit.

Hu Haikun is among the top entrepreneurs in the province, a true titan of commerce.

Even nationwide, he is a well-known business magnate.

“Not long ago, Hu Haikun approached Mr. Li with a proposal to directly acquire Jin Yu Interactive, but Mr. Li refused.”

Su Qianqian lifted her graceful wrist and brushed a lock of hair from her forehead.

Although Jin Yu Interactive was relatively new, its growth trajectory was astonishing. It had already become a rising star in the industry, attracting interest from multiple capital investors.

Hu Haikun’s investment eye has always been sharp.

It’s said that every company he invests in turns a profit.

That is an extraordinary achievement.

Investing inherently involves huge risks and no one can guarantee returns.

In truth, investments are highly prone to losses.

For Hu Haikun to consistently profit from his investments, his business insight must be exceptionally keen.

The fact that he wanted to acquire Jin Yu Interactive only underscores the company’s promising future.

Mr. Li is a man of ideals and sentiment.

Jin Yu Interactive was not founded solely for monetary gain. After competing for the presidency of Tianyu Interactive—when he was already successful—he sacrificed a bright future to care for his ailing wife, retiring to his villa on Jiangxin Island for several years.

Surely, he harbored deep regrets.

His pride would never allow him to return to Tianyu Interactive.

His wish was to build Jin Yu Interactive into a company even stronger than Tianyu Interactive.

Moreover, he intended to use Jin Yu Interactive to earn enough money to invest in a pharmaceutical research company, hoping to develop a cure for his wife’s kidney disease as soon as possible.

This company held all his dreams and aspirations; how could he ever sell it?

“I know about this—Mr. Li once discussed it with me.”

At that time, Zhou Can was busy in General Surgery, assisting Mr. Liu’s team in securing the department’s project qualification, leaving him with no time to worry about such matters.

In any case, he left the decision entirely to Mr. Li.

Whether the company was sold or retained, Zhou Can supported it either way.

“These past few days, Hu Haikun has been approaching Mr. Li about a partnership. When acquiring Jin Yu Interactive proved impossible, Hu Haikun suggested investing for equity. I’ve heard rumors that he intends to boot you, the idle one, out and work solely with Mr. Li.”

Su Qianqian delivered this grim news to Zhou Can.

“Don’t worry—Mr. Li isn’t that sort of person!”

Zhou Can forced a somewhat uneasy smile.

Yet there was a noticeable pallor to his face.

“Can, if you’re not in this industry, you might not appreciate the enormous benefits of partnering with Hu Haikun. A capital shark like him wields immense power, vast wealth, and access to rare resources. If Mr. Li agrees to Hu Haikun’s terms and boots you out, Jin Yu Interactive’s growth could immediately triple, not to mention leaps in advertisement, artist promotion, record and promotional video release, concert organization, and new talent recruitment.”

Make no mistake, Su Qianqian was no naive girl.

Having navigated the harsh realities of society for years, she had witnessed far too many brutal truths.

Adults can turn on each other faster than they can flip through a book over disagreements about profit.

Even blood brothers can end up in conflict—let alone Zhou Can and Mr. Li, who shared less than two years of friendship.

Compared to the vast profits at stake, friendship proved too fragile.

“I initially invested just under five million, and the dividends have already soared into tens of millions. Even if they really boot me out, I’ll negotiate a fair price. Making five million in less than two years is a win. Fate will take its course!”

After a moment of reflection, Zhou Can’s once-pale face gradually regained its color.

His expression shifted to one of calm assurance.

Letting go, he realized, was a form of relief.

One must never be too greedy in life.

He felt he had reaped enough rewards. Even if Mr. Li did kick him out, he could live with the loss of a genuine friend.

At worst, they’d simply cease to be close, exchanging smiles and greetings when they met. Zhou Can wouldn’t mind one bit if Su Qianqian stayed with Jin Yu Interactive.

Especially since financial gain was never his main concern.

Having never known hardship in his upbringing and achieving a modest target at just under 26, he was already ahead of 99.9% of his peers.

With that money, as long as he stayed out of trouble, he could live comfortably for a lifetime.

“If Mr. Li really boots you out, I’ll quit immediately. Even if I lose a promising career and have to return to being a minor singer, I would never cooperate with Jin Yu Interactive again.”

Su Qianqian’s tone and gaze were resolute as she spoke.

True to her stubborn nature, she was a woman of her word.

“You silly girl. Even if you kick me out, your future lies with Jin Yu Interactive. Don’t let pride cloud your judgment. With Hu Haikun stepping in, Jin Yu Interactive’s strength will soar, entering a phase of rapid development. Riding that wave, you could become a true superstar—with immeasurable benefits for your career and earnings. Understand?”

Zhou Can was both touched and increasingly anxious as he listened to Su Qianqian.

He knew her personality all too well.

She would truly follow through on her words.

“I don’t think too much. I value people, not other things. You are the only man I truly recognize in this life,” Su Qianqian declared confidently, tilting her head and pursing her lips.

“Aren’t you planning to buy a mansion? As a superstar, even a single business gig can earn you hundreds of thousands, if not more. You could quickly gather enough to buy a luxury villa.”

Zhou Can could only try to coax her back to reason.

Her dream was to own a beautiful villa with a swimming pool in either the capital or Magic City.

But villas in these cities were far from cheap.

Prices often ran into hundreds of millions—hardly something an ordinary wealthy person could afford.

“It doesn’t matter if it’s a mansion or a small house—as long as I’m with you, even a modest home makes me happy,” she insisted, completely unmoved in her conviction.

“But if you keep working at Jin Yu Interactive, we can still be together!”

Zhou Can cradled her face and said earnestly.

He was not one to act on mere impulse.

Even if Mr. Li kicked him out, it would only mean they were no longer best friends—yet they could still exchange smiles when they met. Zhou Can wouldn’t mind in the slightest if Su Qianqian remained with Jin Yu Interactive.

In fact, he hoped she would stay.

“Not a chance!”

She was so stubborn that not even nine oxen could pull her back.

Suddenly, Zhou Can cupped her face and kissed her crimson lips. Her loyalty and love made him feel incredibly fortunate to have met such a remarkable woman in his lifetime.

After a long while, they parted and her delicate face flushed bright red.

Yet her eyes held a hint of drowsy mischief.

“You rascal! I’m leaving! I’ve got a concert to attend in Magic City tomorrow, and my flight is at nine tonight.”

Although she scolded him for being a scoundrel, she willingly pressed a kiss to his cheek.

Reluctantly, she got up, tidied her clothes and hair, donned her sunglasses and hat, and walked out.

Zhou Can saw her off downstairs, watching her get into the car as it drove away.

The BMW soon faded into the night, yet his gaze lingered.

“If only I could find a cure for her kidney disease someday…”

His medical skills were advancing rapidly, driven by the hope of one day finding the best remedy to cure her illness.

This rotation in Internal Medicine allowed him to learn advanced pathology and pharmacology, which would surely enhance his ability to treat kidney conditions.

Since her kidney disease was detected early and is in its initial stage, the ideal treatment would be to use medication to help her recover.

A kidney transplant was merely the last resort.

All surgeries carry risks.

Transplant surgery carries risks far greater than those of standard operations.

Even without considering other factors, the risk of rejection alone could worsen her condition.

Zhou Can believed that with a few more years of honing both his pharmacological and surgical skills, he could reach a level where he would be her personal attending physician.

Whether through medication or surgery, he would personally oversee her treatment.

It would also ensure a higher level of safety.

Back in the dorm, he continued to practice his Rapid Surgical Technique, read Mr. Liu’s notes, and study essential medical knowledge.

Entering Internal Medicine made a solid grasp of basic medical sciences even more critical.

He had to catch up quickly.

……

The next day, Zhou Can headed to the hospital and his first task was to check on the patient in Room 71.

Fortunately, no emergencies had occurred.

Apart from being unable to eat and dependent on nutritional IVs, the patient’s vital signs were stable.

In contrast, the patient in Room 73 seemed to be in some distress.

The patient in that bed was grunting continuously.

Room 73’s patient was under the care of Yu Xin. The mere thought of that aloof trainee doctor made Zhou Can dismiss the idea of checking on the patient himself.

He worried that if she arrived, Zhou Can might be seen as trying to curry favor with her.

That would be absurd.

The patient in Room 73 had completed an interventional procedure yesterday and was now in recovery.

Generally, the hospital stay after interventional surgeries wasn’t long—three to six days at most.

With Tuyu’s beds in extremely high demand, there was internal pressure to meet assessment criteria.

Once a patient’s condition was stable and met discharge requirements, the attending doctor would urge them to leave.

Based on the timeline, the patient in Room 73, who was groaning in pain now, was likely experiencing normal postoperative discomfort as the anesthesia wore off.

Interventional procedures are minimally invasive, causing less bodily harm.

Yet some postoperative pain is inevitable.

After checking on the patient in Room 71, Zhou Can returned to the doctor’s office to log into the department’s account and review his team’s patients.

This was a routine task for every intern and trainee.

By reviewing which tests were conducted, the results obtained, the treatments prescribed by senior doctors, the efficacy of medications, and any changes in patients’ symptoms, he bolstered his clinical experience and deepened his understanding of theoretical knowledge.

It was an excellent learning process.

He primarily reviewed the night-shift care records and medication logs for the patient in Room 71, all available on the computer.

After receiving the patient’s examination and treatment documents from another hospital yesterday, Zhou Can conducted a comprehensive assessment.

This morning, over breakfast, he kept pondering how best to treat this patient.

The anastomosis between the esophagus and the jejunum was completely occluded, and there was also a leak at the junction. Medication simply wouldn’t suffice.

Both of these issues were complications resulting from the surgery.

Only the one who tied the knot could untie it.

Surgical intervention was the only solution.

Conventional surgery wasn’t even a viable option and couldn’t resolve these issues.

After much thought, Zhou Can concluded that the most promising solution was to perform an endoscopic surgery—using the endoscope to reopen the occluded anastomosis and locate and repair the leak.

A leak at the anastomosis was like a hole in a container where everything ingested would spill out.

Locating the leak was an extraordinarily challenging task.

However, it wasn’t impossible.

Zhou Can’s proficiency in endoscopic surgery was already commendable, and with the added advantage of his Life-saving Insight skill, his chances of pinpointing the leak were greatly increased.

“Even though an endoscopic surgery can reveal the condition at the occluded end of the esophagus and the state of the jejunum, the segment in between is completely blocked. The difficulty of such a procedure is immense. One false move could not only fail to clear the block, but also puncture the jejunum or even the trachea, worsening the situation.”

This surgery was extremely challenging.

Even the most experienced endoscopic surgeons couldn’t confidently guarantee success.