When the Side Character Gets a System and Travels through Difference Worlds-Chapter 131: Yi Ru 15

"Oh," Doctor Ji said noncommittally. "It’s already in the mid-stage. My recommendation is to have her hospitalized and start treatment as soon as possible. If the patient is willing, have her come find me in the next few days to handle the admission procedures."

Yi Ru smiled at once. "Thank you, I appreciate that. I’ll go back and ask for her opinion."

"Alright," Doctor Ji said. "If there’s nothing else, I’ll be on my way."

Yi Ru bowed repeatedly. "Thank you so much. I’m so sorry to have taken up your time. If you’re free, I’d like to treat you to a meal as thanks."

"If my teacher is hospitalized, we’ll be relying on you a great deal in the future. So please, don’t say no."

Yi Ru’s plea stopped the refusal on Director Ji’s lips. He shook his head. "Then let’s just grab a quick bite somewhere near the hospital."

"Oh, we can do better than a ’quick bite’," Yi Ru said with a smile.

True to her word, Yi Ru led Director Ji to a Cantonese restaurant. She had taken to heart the information Tan You had given her about his preferences and was naturally eager to please.

The two ate and talked, and despite it being their first meeting, they hit it off immediately. Director Ji was in an excellent mood. "You’re quite an impressive young lady. What do you do for a living?"

"I’m a fashion designer," Yi Ru said, pouring him a cup of tea. "My circle is much smaller than yours."

"All work has value," the senior director said seriously. "Are you seeing anyone?"

"No," Yi Ru said with a smile. "I’ve been too busy with work. I haven’t had the time."

"No time to find a partner before, but you have time for matchmaking now?" the director snorted, though he still accepted the cup of tea she offered.

Yi Ru ran a hand through her hair with a touch of vanity. "Do you think someone like me... needs to rely on matchmaking?"

Director Ji sized Yi Ru up for a moment. "No, I suppose you don’t."

For some reason, they both started laughing again. "Regardless, thank you again, Director," Yi Ru said, her expression turning serious. "I’m flying to Z Province tonight. I’ll bring my teacher back to be admitted within the next day or two."

Director Ji asked curiously, "Was she particularly good to you back in the day? For you to be going to all this trouble for her?"

"I can’t say she was particularly good to me. I was a pretty average student, so most teachers didn’t pay me much attention," Yi Ru said, shaking her head. "In fact, we haven’t seen each other since graduation. But for some reason, when I heard she was sick, I felt this tightness in my chest."

"We had a class reunion yesterday, and seeing how much weight she’d lost just made me feel even worse. I feel like if I don’t do something, I won’t be able to rest easy."

"I can’t really explain it. I just feel like I can’t stand by and do nothing."

Director Ji was silent for a moment. Then he drained his cup of tea in one go. "Do it as soon as you can. With this illness... you can’t afford to wait."

Yi Ru’s lighthearted mood subsided. "Okay. Once my teacher is settled in the hospital, I’ll treat you to another meal."

They exchanged a smile, and their conversation drifted back to casual topics. "So, you’re usually based in Z Province?"

"Yes. I came this time partly for work and partly to find a good doctor for my teacher. I never expected it to go so smoothly." Yi Ru gently clinked her cup against Director Ji’s, her eyes crinkling in a smile.

"You flatterer," Director Ji chuckled. "Is your work here almost done?"

"Actually, I still have a few things to do. I’ll be staying in G Province for a while. By the way, Director, does your hospital have any eligible bachelors? A friend of mine is producing a new matchmaking show, and she’s looking for outstanding, single men to be on it."

"A matchmaking show?" Director Ji raised an eyebrow. "Now that you mention it, something just clicked. No wonder you looked so familiar. Weren’t you on a matchmaking show once?"

"That was years ago," Yi Ru said, scratching her cheek. "I had just graduated, you know? My mom was nagging me relentlessly, and I finally caved and agreed to go on. My career has started picking up in the last few years, so she knows I’m busy and has mostly stopped bringing it up."

"I see. Is it the same show you were on before? That one looked completely fake." Director Ji was very blunt, not one to mince words. 𝒻𝑟𝘦𝘦𝘸ℯ𝒷𝑛𝘰𝓋ℯ𝘭.𝘤𝘰𝘮

"It’s not that one. This is a new show..." Yi Ru began to explain.

"Sister Yan and her team are working on casting, and I thought doing a special featuring only doctors would be a great idea. Most people don’t really understand the lives of doctors."

"Being a doctor’s partner is not easy," Director Ji said with a frown. "A doctor’s salary at a public hospital isn’t all that high, and they don’t really become established in their careers until they’re over thirty-five. If a couple gets serious, the woman will inevitably have to carry more of the load at home. How many women do you think are willing to sign up for that?"

"Think about it: they don’t bring much money home, they work incredibly hard, and they have no time for their families..."

Yi Ru blinked. "But you can’t be so shortsighted. Think about it: healing the sick and saving lives is a noble calling. I’m sure there are women who are attracted to that. Like... me, for instance?"

Director Ji was taken aback for a moment. "You’d really want to date a doctor?"

"I’m not certain, but I think a doctor would be a good match," Yi Ru said, ticking off points on her fingers. "My work schedule is very flexible; I don’t work a nine-to-five. My job is respectable, and I don’t have to worry about money."

"It wouldn’t matter if he didn’t bring home much money, as long as he’s dedicated to his work. I understand that the value of some jobs can’t be measured in money. Besides," she added, "as long as he doesn’t expect a gourmet feast for every meal, I can afford to support a family."

Director Ji burst out laughing. "You’re absolutely right! The value of many jobs can’t be measured in money. You hit the nail on the head."

Yi Ru pressed on. "So, you should help me find some candidates. I’m sure there are other women out there who like doctors."

Director Ji relented. "Alright, I’ll ask around for you. It’s difficult for doctors to find partners these days. A single year as a chief resident is enough to make even the strongest relationship fade."

"Exactly! So our show is just seizing an opportunity. Think about it—to become a doctor, you have to be a top student, right?"

Director Ji was quick to catch that. "’Our’ show?"

"Okay, fine. I was the one who pitched the idea to Zhou Yan, and I’m a sponsor for the show," Yi Ru admitted, rubbing her nose. "So will you help? I’ll find outstanding women for the doctors you find. You just have to scout the outstanding men for me."

"You already spend your days healing the sick and saving lives, and now you’ll be playing matchmaker, too. Think of all the good karma!"

Yi Ru’s arguments left Director Ji without a rebuttal. "You really do have a point. Alright, fine. Bring me the registration forms later, and I’ll ask around the hospital for you."

"That’s wonderful! Thank you, Uncle Ji!" Yi Ru had dropped the formal ’Director’ and, pressing her advantage, started calling him ’Uncle’.

Director Ji could only shake his head at her cheekiness, but he found it strange how oddly charming she was. By the time they parted ways, Yi Ru had even added him on WeChat.