Luo Xiuwen turned to Jian Yiling and reassured her, "Don't worry, Little Yiling! I'll keep a small stool in the car next time. I promise it won't be such a hassle for you. And if I forget, I'll just make Cheng Yi lie on the ground so you can use him as a stepping stool!"
Jian Yiling felt a bit embarrassed at the suggestion. Her height had indeed been a persistent issue. Recently, she had been trying hard to eat well and do stretching exercises, hoping to gain just a little more height.
As the car approached the entrance of the research institute, Luo Xiuwen suddenly came to a halt. They were blocked by a figure standing in the middle of the road, preventing her from driving any further. Luo Xiuwen was no stranger to such interruptions.
"There's always someone who ignores our advice. Submitting an application online isn't enough for them; they have to come here to confront us," she muttered with irritation. While the institute understood the emotional turmoil these individuals faced, often concerning their loved ones' lives, their actions did little to help the situation and only caused unnecessary trouble for the staff.
Rolling down the window, Luo Xiuwen leaned out and called out assertively to the man blocking their path, "Move aside! Let me through, and you can take your time arguing with the security later."
The man turned around, and to Jian Yiling's surprise, it was Qin Chuan. The moment their eyes met, he immediately recognized the research vehicle and was taken aback to see Jian Yiling sitting in the front passenger seat.
"Jian Yiling, what are you doing here?" Qin Chuan asked, walking over to the car.
Luo Xiuwen shot a questioning look at Jian Yiling. "Do you know this guy? If you don't, I'm happy to kick him out of the way."
"He's my tutor," Jian Yiling replied, keeping her tone neutral.
"What?" Luo Xiuwen's voice rose incredulously, pointing at Qin Chuan. "He's your tutor? What does he teach you? Physical education?"
Luo Xiuwen couldn't help but think that Jian Yiling might need extra help in that subject, although she seemed capable in her other studies.
As Qin Chuan glanced at Luo Xiuwen, he noticed her white lab coat adorned with the Huailing Institute's logo. It became clear to him that she was affiliated with the research institute. She hadn't changed from her work attire, as her only purpose for coming out was to pick up Jian Yiling.
However, there was no time for Qin Chuan to delve into why Jian Yiling was in the car. He seized the opportunity to plead with Luo Xiuwen, "Can you give me a moment? I need you to reconsider my mother's situation."
His usually aloof demeanor vanished, replaced by an earnest desperation that spoke volumes about his concern for his mother's health.
Initially, Luo Xiuwen had no intention of wasting her breath on him, but seeing that he knew Jian Yiling softened her stance a bit. She reiterated the institute's position firmly, "Listen, buddy, this is a research institute, not an emergency room! If we started taking in every single emergency case, we'd be swamped. There are only so many of us here; we'd be too busy managing patients to conduct any real research! For you, it might seem heartless that we can't help your family, but when we finally do develop a new drug, it could save countless lives!"
Some sacrifices were inevitable. If the research institute focused solely on one or two ordinary patients, its true value would diminish rather than shine.
Qin Chuan fell silent, the weight of Luo Xiuwen's words sinking in. He understood the reasoning behind her refusal. Still, the emotional stakes were entirely different.
While rationality dictated one course of action, his heart pulled him in another direction, torn between his logical understanding and his emotional desperation. The conflicting feelings left him grappling for a solution, uncertain how to bridge the gap between his personal turmoil and the cold realities of the world around him.