"Brother Zhang, could you please ask Director Lin? My situation is indeed quite special right now. If I take off, it wouldn't look good either," Lu Cheng politely replied.

Though something big happened at Long County People's Hospital, it's a hospital affair, unlikely to directly implicate small fry like Lu Cheng.

If even attending doctors like Lu Cheng are swept up, the hospital won't be able to function.

In the competition here, Lu Cheng won first prize. If he doesn't show up to receive it, whose face is Long County People's Hospital trying to slap?

Zhang Tiesheng quickly replied, "No need to ask, just stay there to receive your award."

"If it really happens that the professor calls Director Lin to demand people, Director Lin won't be able to handle it well either."

"Damn, truly a first prize??? Not a forged stamp?" Zhang Tiesheng couldn't get over it.

For Zhang Tiesheng knows very well, in a provincial competition like this, it's uncertain if contestants from Xiangzhou People's Hospital can even take home a trophy.

If Lu Cheng snagged third prize it'd be impressive enough, now suddenly winning first prize—that kind of achievement seems over the top in Xiangzhou, no predecessor has done such a thing.

"Brother Zhang, let's talk once I'm back, it's getting late."

"If there's anything, please give me a heads-up." Lu Cheng, being outside, couldn't return immediately, so he had to trouble the senior colleagues in the department.

After Lu Cheng sent out the message, Brother Zeng Huanqi also sent Lu Cheng a similar message.

Though he was a beat slower, Zeng Huanqi indeed informed Lu Cheng about the matter.

Moreover, Zeng Huanqi brought something new to Lu Cheng: "Lu Cheng, according to insider news, Director Lin has already been taken in for questioning by the county's Commission for Discipline Inspection."

"But some people from the inspection department were taken away by the State Commission for Discipline Inspection..."

"..."

In the world of adults, when nothing happens, it doesn't; once something does happen, it might come all at once, without any templates as references.

Be it the matters relayed by Professor Tan Zhongyuan or those told by Mu Nanshu to Lu Cheng, all left Lu Cheng at a loss.

Right now, with such a huge issue cropping up at Lu Cheng's actual rooted location, Lu Cheng truly didn't know how to temporarily handle it, having no reference answer either.

Lu Cheng glanced at Tong Yuan'an, and even when Professor Tong hadn't spoken, Lu Cheng recounted the situation in Long County to Mu Nanshu.

Mu Nanshu was equally surprised: "???"

"Did the central inspection team really go to Long County?"

Lu Cheng: "This information was simultaneously sent by Zhang Tiesheng and Zeng Huanqi, it should not be fake."

The situation was urgent, Lu Cheng didn't mind the logic of replies: "But I certainly can't return for now, this matter shouldn't involve me."

Mu Nanshu pondered for a while before responding: "These things are misfortunes for the tall ones; for small fry like us, our names wouldn't even appear in their target range."

"You also shouldn't think much about it now, just get some rest, a fair amount has happened today."

"Let's see the specific situation tomorrow, I'll catch the earliest high-speed train tomorrow morning..."

Lu Cheng: "Weren't you supposed to work on a project with Xie Yuan'an?"

"Her project is urgent too, but not as urgent as what's happening with you."

"Besides, we really need to calm down and think about the current scenario—after formally starting work, issues like personnel competition, departmental key focus, etc., will be far more complex than any master's examination we've faced before."

"These matters, it's best we discuss them face to face."

"You have a good rest, I'll catch some sleep too." After responding, Mu Nanshu took the initiative to end the conversation.

"Alright, sure." Lu Cheng didn't dwell any further.

Since Mu Nanshu decided to come, she's certainly on her way.

Lu Cheng felt quite happy, not because he remembered the LSP matter, but because he sensed that in Mu Nanshu's heart, he as her boyfriend meant more than her Sister Xie.

...

Lu Cheng and Tong Yuan'an got out of the car simultaneously, and after Tong Yuan'an paid for the driving service on his phone, he walked towards the hotel alongside Lu Cheng.

It was late, although the lights remained bright, distant lights were obscured by mist making them flicker faintly.

The lighting inside the hotel also dimmed, making visibility not as clear.

Upon entering, Lu Cheng realized he accidentally stepped on someone.

"Uh, sorry!~ Sorry." Instinctively apologizing in his direction, Lu Cheng.

After sizing up his standing posture, Lu Cheng discovered the young man next to him deliberately craned out his right leg to trip him.

Perhaps the distance wasn't adjusted precisely, catching Lu Cheng underfoot, he was seated on a round stool, with eyes wide open and eyeballs seemingly ready to pop out.

The originally drooping eyebrows turned upwards, his flaring nostrils twitched rapidly, evidently in great pain...

Tong Yuan'an took a look and said, "Buddy, are you trying to trip someone deliberately?"

Lu Cheng had long withdrawn his foot, approaching, "Hey, how are you feeling?"

"What do you think?" The young man immediately gasped, glaring in anger.

Being an adult weighing around a hundred and twenty, Lu Cheng stomped a foot, how could it not hurt?

"Sorry, sorry, I really didn't see clearly entering."

"Teacher Tong, you should go back first," Lu Cheng turned to Tong Yuan'an, mainly acknowledging how late it was.

Tong Yuan'an worried Lu Cheng might be exploited, "Bro, your posture also seems off. If not for my student accidentally stepping on you, he'd have been tripped by you."