After being separated from my family, I became a darling of the military region thanks to my medical

Six o'clock in the morning.

Parker, dressed in a snow-white bathrobe, stood in front of the floor-to-ceiling window drinking coffee.

It was all gray and hazy outside the window.

People were riding bicycles to work on the street, their bicycle bells ringing incessantly.

Parker looked at the blue-gray figures, a slight smile playing on his lips. That Eastern country.

behind.

poverty.

Emotional.

But precisely because of this, it is easier to be overwhelmed by the words "international standards".

The phone rang.

Parker put down his coffee and picked up the receiver.

"George is wavering." John's voice was low on the other end of the phone. "He hung up on me last night, but I could tell he wasn't ready to break off relations right away."

Parker smiled.

"Journalists are all the same, John. Conscience will only make them hesitate, and their future will shut them up."

John said in a deep voice, "You'd better not be too optimistic. The surgeries in China were all successful; all twenty-three children are safe and sound. Williams is now completely on Ye Zhen's side. George has taken a lot of footage that is favorable to the Chinese side."

Parker turned and walked to the table.

A beautifully bound proposal lay on the table.

The cover features Gore's blue logo.

The title is beautiful.

"Cooperational Recommendations on Supporting the Treatment of Children with Congenital Heart Disease in China".

Parker tapped the cover with his fingertip.

"So we need to change our playing style."

"Change to what?"

"From attacking Ye Zhen to helping China."

There was a moment of silence on the other end of the phone.

Parker said slowly and deliberately, "Gore is willing to supply vascular patches to China at cost price to help China establish a congenital heart disease repair system that meets international standards."

John was stunned: "Cost price? The board won't agree."

"They will agree," Parker said steadily, "on the condition that China suspends the promotion of autologous pericardial membrane therapy that has not been internationally certified."

He paused for a moment, then his smile deepened.

"This is not a deal, it's an olive branch."

"What if they refuse?"

"Then they are risking children's lives and rejecting international safety standards."

"What if they accept?"

"Ye Zhen's plan is dead. Chinese doctors will always have to buy our patches."

Parker picked up his pen and signed his name on the last page of the proposal.

The brushstrokes are fluid.

Like a thin knife.

"John, in the healthcare industry, there are no permanent enemies, only customers who can't afford to pay."

A low chuckle came from the other end of the phone.

Parker hung up the phone and rang for his secretary.

"Send this proposal to Secretary Clark's secretary. Tell him that this is a humanitarian gift from Gore to Chinese children suffering from illness."

The secretary took the documents, nodded, and left.

The door closed.

Parker picked up his coffee again.

He looked at the milk foam floating on the side of the cup.

George didn't make his move as planned last night.

The problem is not big.

If a piece hesitates, then change the board.

……

Nine o'clock in the morning.

Foreign-related special ward of Beicheng Military Region General Hospital.

British Health Secretary Clark is listening to Williams' report on the child's recovery.

The secretary rushed in and handed him the proposal.

"Sent by Gore."

Clark turned two pages, his brow furrowing.

"Supply at cost price?"

The secretary whispered, "They want China to suspend the autologous pericardial membrane protocol and await international certification."

Williams sat to the side, his face turning cold.

"They really know how to pick their timing."

Clark looked up: "What do you think?"

Williams did not answer immediately.

He picked up the proposal, read the first page, and then turned to the appendix.

There was a research abstract about the long-term risk of calcification tucked inside.

His fingers stopped.

Clark looked at him.

Williams put the document back on the table.

"This is not goodwill, it's a noose."

Clark remained silent for a moment.

"Let's leave it to the Chinese side. This issue cannot be bypassed."

……

It was 10:30 p.m. that night.

The light in the Gu family's study was still on.

Ye Zhen sat at the table, reviewing Tom's intervention plan sketch.

Gu Zheng leaned against the window, peeling a Guoguang apple in his hand.

the phone is ringing.

Gu Zheng picked it up casually.

"Feed?"

Vice Minister Li's hushed voice came from the other end of the phone.

"Gu Zheng? Is Xiao Ye here?"

"Yes." Gu Zheng pulled the phone cord closer to Ye Zhen. "She was just about to go to sleep."

Ye Zhen looked up at him.

When is she ready to sleep?

Gu Zheng remained expressionless.

He lies more easily than he drinks water.

Vice Minister Li cleared his throat: "There's an urgent matter. British Minister Clark forwarded a proposal from Gore. They're willing to supply vascular patches nationwide at cost price, but they hope we'll suspend the promotion of the autologous pericardium graft program until international certification is obtained."

Gu Zheng stopped peeling the apple.

Ye Zhen answered the phone.

"They also attached a calcification risk report?"

Vice Minister Li was taken aback: "How did you know?"

Ye Zhen said calmly, "George gave me the original last night."

There was silence on the other end of the phone.

Soon, Vice Minister Li's voice changed tone.

"They really dared to do that!"

Ye Zhen put down her pen.

"The report has problems. The sample, concentration, and processing method are all incorrect."

Vice Minister Li's breathing quickened: "So what should we do now? Refuse? Or put it aside for now? This matter involves the British government, and the BBC is filming it. If we don't handle it well, they will use it against us."

Gu Zheng suddenly chuckled.

Ye Zhen glanced at him.

She knew this person all too well.

He always has a bad idea when he laughs like that.

Gu Zheng reached out and took the phone.

"Minister Li, it's not appropriate for us to discuss such a big matter behind closed doors."

Vice Minister Li frowned.

"What do you want to do?"

Gu Zheng spoke gently.

It's as mild as a freshly steamed white bread.

"Hold a Sino-British medical academic exchange symposium."

Vice Minister Li: "..."

Gu Zheng continued, "Invite Gore's people, our cardiac surgery experts, the British delegation, and the BBC. Let's all sit down and talk face-to-face."

Vice Minister Li gripped the phone tighter.

"Gu Zheng, don't try to fool me. Are you plotting something again?"

"No way," Gu Zheng said. "There are no conspiracies under the sun."

Vice Minister Li's eyelids twitched.

Last time Gu Zheng talked about "the demeanor of a great power," the British were almost skinned alive by him.

This time he said, "There are no conspiracies under the sun."

That means he's planning to strip people naked and expose them to the sun.

Ye Zhen took the phone.

"Minister Li, it's fine. Let's name it the 'Congenital Heart Disease Surgical Materials and Interventional Treatment Exchange Conference.' If they want to talk about standards, we'll talk about standards. If they want to talk about risks, we'll talk about risks."

Hearing her voice, Vice Minister Li felt reassured.

Are you confident?

"have."

Gu Zheng added, "Prepare some security personnel."

Vice Minister Li asked warily, "What are you trying to do?"

"To prevent capitalists from losing face and tripping up others."

"..."

Before hanging up the phone, Vice Minister Li only said one sentence.

"Gu Zheng, you'd better watch your tone. This is a diplomatic occasion."

With a piece of apple in his mouth, Gu Zheng mumbled, "Don't worry, I know what I'm doing."

Ye Zhen looked at him.

"Every time you say you know the answer, nobody else does."

Gu Zheng handed her the peeled apple.

"Want some or not?"

Ye Zhen took it and took a bite.

Very sweet.