"Alright, half and half it is. But let's be clear, I'm only contributing my effort, and I won't be involved in anything else. Consider it an investment of expertise."
Lin Fan agreed without much thought.
"You said it yourself. Don't regret it later."
As Su Yurou finished speaking, a female voice called out from the doorway, "Xiao Fan, who are you talking to?"
Lin Fan was all too familiar with this voice; it belonged to Tian Mengyao.
Tian Mengyao entered with a bright smile, then suddenly froze.
Su Yurou turned around, appraising Tian Mengyao with surprise.
She was young, beautiful, with pure eyes and an indescribable air of nobility about her.
Having seen much of the world, Su Yurou vaguely guessed that the other party's background was not simple. This was not the kind of person one would find growing up in a remote village.
"Mengyao, you're here."
Lin Fan was startled for a moment, then quickly regained his composure.
"She is..."
Su Yurou paused, but her meaning was clear.
"Hello, I'm Lin Fan's friend, Su Yurou."
Su Yurou took a business card from her bag and handed it to Tian Mengyao.
Tian Mengyao snapped back to attention and smiled, "Hello, I'm Tian Mengyao, the village secretary of Luofeng Village."
Facing a sophisticated woman, Tian Mengyao showed no signs of being intimidated. She shook Su Yurou's hand and took the card.
"You run a beauty salon?" she asked after glancing at the card.
"Yes."
Lin Fan chimed in, "We were just discussing a collaboration."
"You two?"
Tian Mengyao looked from Su Yurou to Lin Fan, feeling something was amiss. What could they possibly be collaborating on?
Lin Fan smiled and gestured, "Let's sit down and talk."
With a hint of confusion, Tian Mengyao took a seat. Lin Fan then explained the operation of the hemostatic medicine to her.
"What?"
Tian Mengyao was astonished. "You invented a medicine that can heal wounds without leaving scars?"
"It's not an invention," Lin Fan explained with a smile. "It's an ancient traditional Chinese medicine formula, but after my modifications, its effectiveness has reached or even surpassed the original."
"It truly leaves no scars?"
Tian Mengyao, sharp and capable, cut straight to the crucial point. Su Yurou, feeling smug, secretly gave Lin Fan a look. This was their business secret, not to be revealed carelessly!
Lin Fan smiled modestly. "I can't say absolutely. If the wound isn't severe, it truly doesn't leave scars. I haven't used it on many patients, so I can't be entirely sure."
After speaking, Lin Fan glanced at Su Yurou, wondering about the meaning of her look.
"That's enough!"
Tian Mengyao suddenly became excited, startling both Lin Fan and Su Yurou.
"Ms. Su, how did you and Xiao Fan's discussion go?" Tian Mengyao asked abruptly.
"That is a matter between the two of us, I'm afraid I can't disclose it," Su Yurou coughed lightly, adopting an aloof demeanor.
Tian Mengyao narrowed her eyes and retorted, "This matter concerns me!"
"On what grounds?" Su Yurou asked Lin Fan, "What is your relationship?"
"I..." Lin Fan was speechless.
Tian Mengyao patted the armrest of her chair, her tone sharp. "I am the village secretary of Luofeng Village. You are on our village's territory, attempting to swindle one of our villagers. You ask me on what grounds?"
"You! Humph! A village secretary meddling in so much?" Su Yurou was incredibly annoyed. She had been on the verge of an agreement, only for a village secretary to suddenly interfere. Anyone would be upset. "Who is swindling whom? We were in a perfectly good cooperative discussion. Why are you causing trouble?"
"You heard them say 'half and half'!" Tian Mengyao felt a sense of relief. If she had arrived any later, this fool Lin Fan might have suffered a great loss. "The medicine was invented by Xiao Fan. Who he chooses to collaborate with is his business. You demand half the profits just like that, on what basis? You're just running a beauty salon, where do you get the audacity to make such a greedy demand?"
"I..." Su Yurou trembled with anger but stopped arguing with Tian Mengyao. She turned directly to Lin Fan and asked, "Xiao Fan, you tell me. Do you agree or not?" She figured if she couldn't win against Tian Mengyao, she could still sway Lin Fan. She knew Lin Fan valued integrity and character over money. After all, she and Lin Fan had shared some intimate moments, and she believed Lin Fan would give her face.
"You dare agree to her?" Tian Mengyao glared at Lin Fan like a little tiger, making him lift his head from where he had started to nod.
"Ms. Su, I believe your status does not qualify you to discuss cooperation with Xiao Fan. Please leave." Tian Mengyao directly issued an eviction notice. Su Yurou was so furious she almost jumped up. In Lin Fan's clinic, an outsider was telling her to leave? If she were to be shameless, she could claim to be the mistress of this clinic.
"You two, stop arguing. Talk it over slowly, no need to rush," Lin Fan said, quickly intervening as he saw the situation escalating.
"Be quiet!" Tian Mengyao snapped. "We'll discuss your matters later. This is between her and me." Su Yurou looked at Lin Fan with a wronged expression, as if about to cry, waiting for him to give her justice.
"Mengyao, come out with me for a moment. I need to talk to you." Lin Fan sighed deeply. Women were so troublesome! They didn't even know each other, so why were they arguing the moment they met?
"What do you want to say? Can't you say it in front of her?" Tian Mengyao struggled a few times but was still pulled out by Lin Fan's arm.
"Xiao Fan, do you have something on your mind?" Tian Mengyao, seeing his demeanor, her mind raced, and she suddenly thought of romantic matters.
"What could I possibly have on my mind?" Lin Fan feigned an innocent expression and changed the subject. "This is a long story. You've been in the village for a while, have you heard about my sister-in-law getting married last year?"
"I know," Tian Mengyao said, pointing at Su Yurou inside the room. "What does that have to do with her?"
"Then you should also know that I promised Wang Fu ten thousand yuan in betrothal gifts back then." Lin Fan still felt a surge of emotion recalling it. "Given my family's situation back then, let alone ten thousand yuan, we couldn't even afford five hundred!"
"Then... she gave you the money? Why? Are you related?"
"Not related." Lin Fan explained, "I found a Ganoderma lucidum in the mountains and took it to town to sell, but no one recognized its value. Later, I met her, and she bought it. That's how we got acquainted. We interacted a few more times later, and she helped me a lot." Lin Fan smiled and continued, "So, we can't just look at the money. She helped me when I was in the most difficult time, and I can't fail to repay that kindness!"