This person is clearly a male protagonist in a female-oriented novel, yet he is excessively lucid.

Upon learning Chen Xiaoxiao's purpose, Xiao Yilin's gaze towards her revealed a hint of impatience.

As one of the female leads, Xiao Yilin disliked Chen Xiaoxiao from the start, but out of basic hospitality, she could only suppress her resentment and patiently greet her.

At the coffee table in the living room, Yu Chenzhou and Chen Xiaoxiao sat facing each other across the wafting aroma of tea. Xiao Yilin sat down next to Yu Chenzhou, her arm naturally resting on his arm, their gesture both intimate and deliberate.

This blatant display of sovereignty was an open secret among those present.

As for the original owners of the house—Xiao Tianhe and Song Shuwan—Xiao Yilin had already sent them to the balcony to help inflate balloons under some pretext.

If these two hadn't rashly brought Chen Xiaoxiao over, she would currently be enjoying a peaceful and romantic time with Yu Chenzhou, instead of dealing with these unpleasant things.

The tea on the coffee table was steaming, its aroma slowly filling the living room.

Chen Xiaoxiao lightly tapped the rim of the bone china cup with her fingertips, her gaze earnestly fixed on the gentle and refined Yu Chenzhou across from her, her tone carrying a confident certainty and expectation:

"Dr. Yu, I know you just left the hospital and have heard about the ins and outs of the Qin Yu case."

I am sincerely inviting you to be my private doctor. Feel free to name your salary and benefits.

Furthermore, I entrust you with the entire process of daily rehabilitation and conditioning, as well as targeted treatment plans. I will cooperate fully with all your treatment plans without reservation.

She had this idea in her mind for a long time, because she knew very well that her condition required long-term and meticulous treatment. Rather than going to various hospitals, it would be better to find a skilled private doctor to take care of her.

Yu Chenzhou's resignation at this time was undoubtedly a golden opportunity for her.

Yu Chenzhou raised his hand, picked up the teacup, and took a small sip of the warm tea. When he put the cup down, his expression remained calm and composed, but he shook his head clearly, his tone humble yet without the slightest hesitation:

"Thank you for your kindness and recognition, Ms. Chen, but I'm afraid I cannot accept your invitation."

Chen Xiaoxiao's expectant expression faltered slightly, a hint of surprise flashing across her eyes. She composed herself briefly, then tentatively began to speak:

Is it because you're not satisfied with the compensation?

"We can definitely discuss this further. I know in my heart that your medical skills and professional competence are far beyond what we can offer right now..."

"It has nothing to do with compensation."

Yu Chenzhou interrupted her gently but with unusual firmness.

"First of all, I signed a non-compete agreement at the hospital, and there are still two years left before the agreement expires, so I cannot get involved in related medical work for the time being."

He paused, his fingertips unconsciously tracing the cool rim of the cup, a barely perceptible weariness creeping into his eyes. After a few seconds of silence, he continued.

"More importantly, after the Qin Yu case, I really have no intention of returning to the medical field in the short term."

Upon hearing this, Chen Xiaoxiao's brows furrowed slightly involuntarily, her tone carrying a hint of earnestness:

"I understand that the Qin Yu case chilled you and I can understand your disappointment, but your medical skills are so superb that it would be a real pity to just put it aside like this."

Private doctors are free from the complex administrative affairs of hospitals and the controversies of public opinion, which may be a peaceful alternative for you.

As for the non-compete agreement, if Dr. Yu is willing to agree, I will try to negotiate and terminate it early.

In reality, Yu Chenzhou kept this non-compete agreement to find a reasonable excuse to refuse offers from various parties.

If he really wanted to resolve the issue of the agreement, with his connections and abilities, he would naturally have a way.

Therefore, he responded in a gentle yet clear tone, his attitude leaving no room for argument:

"Right now, I am not at peace with myself and cannot devote all my energy to my patients."

So I want to put down the scalpel for now, completely stay away from all medical-related matters, and calm down to sort out my future direction.

If I were to reluctantly take on your treatment, it would not only go against my current wishes, but I also wouldn't be able to provide you with the most focused and comprehensive care, which would be irresponsible to both of us.

His attitude left no room for compromise, but it was not indifferent or perfunctory. His words revealed a deep respect for the medical profession, as well as a resolute willingness to temporarily leave this beloved career.

Looking into his eyes, which held a deep weariness and determination, Chen Xiaoxiao knew that further persuasion would be futile. She could only sigh softly, her tone tinged with disappointment:

"I understand."

I was being presumptuous; I shouldn't have disturbed you when you were still upset.

"It's alright."

Yu Chenzhou nodded slightly, his expression remaining gentle.

"Thank you for your recognition and favor, Ms. Chen. If I adjust my mindset and resume my medical work in the future, I will remember your invitation."

Upon hearing this, a faint but genuine hope instantly lit up Chen Xiaoxiao's eyes, and she unconsciously leaned forward slightly.

The previous composure had faded, replaced by an barely concealed urgency, yet the speaker still managed to maintain basic decorum and propriety.

"Dr. Yu, I understand your concerns and I will never disturb your peace and quiet."

Could you please leave a private contact method?

I won't rush you to make a decision, nor will I bother you daily. I just want to be able to reach you as soon as you decide to practice again in the future.

After all, you know my condition. I've sought medical help everywhere for years without success. You are my only hope now.

Her plea was filled with urgency, and her fingertips unconsciously tightened around her phone, her knuckles turning slightly white.

The expectation in her eyes was sincere and humble. She was afraid of being rejected by Yu Chenzhou, but she dared not pester him too much and offend him. She had a perfect sense of proportion.

Yu Chenzhou remained silent for a moment. Considering that the other party had already lowered her stance to an extremely low level and was sincere, she finally did not refuse again and gave her her private contact information.

After obtaining their contact information, Chen Xiaoxiao breathed a sigh of relief, politely said goodbye to the two, and left without lingering. After exchanging a few simple pleasantries, she got up and left.

Yu Chenzhou watched her slightly lonely departing figure, then glanced down at the friend request he had just accepted on his phone, tapped the screen lightly, and put his phone away.

Rejecting Chen Xiaoxiao also earned him a lottery draw as a reward from the system.

"What are you thinking? You're not regretting it now, are you? It's a shame you missed the chance to get up close and personal with your 'idol,' is it?"

Xiao Yilin looked at Yu Chenzhou, who was lost in thought, and gently waved her hand in front of his eyes, teasing him with a smile in her eyes.

Yu Chenzhou snapped out of his reverie, looked at the coquettish girl beside him, and chuckled as he teased her back, his tone ambiguous:

"What's so great about idols? In the end, you can only look at them but not touch them."

"It's so much better to have my own dedicated fans; they can both watch and 'eat' it, and it's all within easy reach."

"That's inappropriate! My parents are still here."

Being teased like this by her boyfriend in front of her parents made Xiao Yilin blush instantly, and she glared at him with great embarrassment.

She subconsciously turned her head to look towards the balcony, only to see that Xiao Tianhe and Song Shuwan had already stopped inflating the air and were sitting side by side on small stools.

She was still clutching an uninflated balloon in her hand, her eyes sparkling as she stared at the two of them, clearly having overheard their flirtatious conversation.

"Why are you still here?"

Those who need to go to work should go to work, and those who need to go shopping should go shopping. What are you doing here, getting in the way of the crowd? What are you doing, acting as a third wheel?

Seeing her parents' gossipy expressions, Xiao Yilin immediately waved them away, feigning disgust, her blush still lingering on her cheeks.

Xiao Tianhe slowly put down the balloon in his hand and spoke in a calm tone:

"Work is never-ending, it doesn't matter if it's a day earlier or a day later, there's no rush."

"Exactly! We can go shopping any day, so what's one more day?"

Song Shuwan immediately echoed her husband's words. The couple completely ignored their daughter's disdain and remained seated, staring intently at the two of them, their eyes revealing undisguised gossip, showing no intention of leaving.

"We'd like to stay and see how you propose!"

Xiao Tianhe and Song Shuwan exchanged a glance and said in unison, their voices full of anticipation.

Seeing that her parents were so determined not to leave and had so bluntly exposed her little scheme, Xiao Yilin was speechless and rolled her eyes.

The carefully planned surprise for the two of them was completely ruined, and now she had two more "dedicated supervisors." She could only turn to Yu Chenzhou, her face full of helplessness, and ask for his assistance.

"Sinking Boat, what do we do now?"

Yu Chenzhou glanced at his watch, then at the scattered decorative ribbons, balloons, and gift boxes in the living room, which remained a mess. He smiled helplessly.

"What else can we do? It's getting late, and if the two of us set it up slowly, we probably won't be able to eat dinner until midnight."

"That's right! Son-in-law is absolutely right, many hands make light work! With your dad and me helping out, we'll make sure the living room is beautifully decorated before dinner."

Song Shuwan quickly got up and agreed, pulling Xiao Tianhe towards the living room. Xiao Tianhe nodded emphatically, looking eager to try.

Seeing this situation, Xiao Yilin could only sigh helplessly and finally nodded in agreement.

Her long-awaited romantic getaway for two was ultimately marred by two uninvited third wheels.

Fortunately, with the help of Xiao Tianhe and Song Shuwan, the living room was quickly decorated in a warm and elegant manner, and everything was in place.