The key information points have already been discussed, and the remaining conversation can be very relaxed and enjoyable.
"I didn’t expect you, Dr. Qu, to kind of snacks." Qin Huai exclaimed, "I thought you would prefer something with a lighter taste, like those plain Qingming Cakes."
"Do you think I look like someone who eats salads three times a day and munches on grass?" Qu Jing joked, "More than one person has said that to me. Even colleagues often complain that my perpetual mask hides any expression, making me seem very aloof."
"That’s not quite it." Qin Huai shook his head, "Just looking at your attitude towards Mr. Luo, it’s clear you have a good temperament."
"I didn’t get you two together to badmouth me. I can hear you through the door if it’s not closed fully!" Luo Jun’s shout came from the treatment room.
"I just have more patience with the elderly and children." Qu Jing said, "Most of my patients are elderly. The more I see them, the better I understand them. The world changes so quickly now; many elderly can’t keep up and feel anxious, lonely, and abandoned by the times."
"That’s them, not me!" Luo Jun chimed in again.
"I think Sister Hong mentioned to Master Qin, I’m one of her sponsored students."
"Yes." Qin Huai nodded, "She mentioned it. Sister Hong said you offered to repay her after you started working, but she refused and told you to just like she does."
"I really have a connection with Sister Hong." Qu Jing said, "I was her first sponsored student 16 years ago when I just started high school. I got into a major city high school, but the tuition was too high for the orphanage. I was supposed to attend another school, but Sister Hong happened to see the sponsorship information. She felt a connection, came to visit the orphanage in person, and decided to sponsor me."
"Later, my living expenses during undergrad, my master’s, even my PhD costs were mostly covered by Sister Hong."
"Sister Hong might not have told you, but I attended my PhD abroad. It took me several years after graduating to finally save up enough to repay the expenses from high school to my master’s. I was about to pay her back when Sister Hong told me not to."
"And then what?" Qin Huai was a bit curious.
He could roughly guess why Chen Huihong immediately took a liking to Qu Jing and decided to sponsor her; it should have been a spirit’s final mutual attraction.
It was Chen Huihong’s choice, but Qu Jing’s choice was equally important. Qu Jing wasn’t the type whose character could be seen instantly like Chen Huihong; she was very reserved and required more conversation.
"Then I followed her instructions." Qu Jing looked very happy, "At first, I d money to the children’s orphanage where I grew up. Later, I would regularly every year, to orphanages, nursing homes, local and out-of-town. I would make appropriate donations after investigation and continue based on feedback."
"Before doing this, my life was always very dull."
"When Sister Hong first sponsored me, my whole heart was set on studying and achieving good grades, not wanting to waste her money. Later, after joining the workforce, I thought about saving money to repay Sister Hong, hoping she could see the results of her sponsorship."
"After I started donating, I sometimes volunteered at orphanages and nursing homes or participated in medical volunteer events, which made life enjoyable."
"If it weren’t for Sister Hong, I might have been a dull person who only knew about studying and writing papers all my life."
Qin Huai was already speechless.
What kind of workaholic is this?
Are there such work-loving spirits in the Classic of Mountains and Seas? So fitting for modern society.
Both coming from a children’s orphanage, Qin Huai felt somewhat ashamed.
Look at Dr. Qu, first earning to give back to the orphanage, continuously donating, expanding the scope, volunteering, doing medical missions, absolutely a model graduate.
Then look at himself, making buns, making dumplings, continuously feeding, causing Director Qin to gain 15 pounds in three years when he should be focusing on health, and making the kids in the orphanage all eager eaters.
Well, he is also a model graduate.
But now he has left Qiu County and is no longer feeding them. Recently earning quite a bit, isn’t it time to some money and surprise Director Qin?
Qin Huai began to seriously consider how much to .
Unable to come to a conclusion, Qin Huai said, "Dr. Qu, you’re so severely allergic to UV, yet you still volunteer and do medical missions. It must be exhausting."
Qu Jing paused, perhaps not expecting Qin Huai to focus on that, and explained, "Actually, as long as the protective measures are well done, it shouldn’t be an issue."
They chatted about daily life, good places to eat in the city, whether they liked this kind of cake, and such topics, with Luo Jun interjecting loudly from time to time, making for a pleasant end to the therapy.
The conversation was quite enjoyable, though Qin Huai wasn’t sure if Luo Jun felt the same.
Qu Jing escorted Luo Jun to the underground parking lot, watched him get in the car, smiled, waved at him, and reminded him.
"Mr. Luo, therapy needs to be continued for better results. Was today’s session enjoyable? You’ve paid for all the projects; I suggest you next time try some leg therapy. It’s okay if it takes longer, and if Master Qin is busy, I can accompany you at the door."
"No need." Luo Jun coldly closed the car window, turned his head to Qin Huai, and said, "Drive."
Xiao Qin, the driver, shrugged towards Qu Jing helplessly and set off.
Qu Jing waved, watching the car leave.
"Did you get anything out of it?" Luo Jun asked eagerly, "You two seemed to chat happily outside, talking about all sorts of stuff. Do you know what I went through inside?"
Qin Huai calmly looked at the road, "Look at what you said. It’s a proper hospital, and therapy is good for your health."
"Did you find out anything?" Luo Jun didn’t want to hear nonsense.
"Yes." Qin Huai said, "If I’m not mistaken, Dr. Qu probably likes sweet glutinous snacks, particularly rice cake."
Zheng Siyuan’s sugar cake is quite unique, with its beautiful Crispy Cookie shape, leaving a strong impression, but compared to other similar snacks by Zheng Siyuan, the Lard Rice Cake seems unremarkable.
Dr. Qu specifically mentioned the Lard Rice Cake, which, aside from being her favorite, suggests another possibility; she also loves rice cake.
And rice cake, Qin Huai can indeed make a few types.
He can’t make Lard Rice Cake, but sticky rice cake is no problem.
Instead of starting to learn an unfamiliar snack, it’s better to pick something he’s slightly skilled at that might suit her taste and test the waters first.
Qin Huai shared his plan with Luo Jun, who agreed, feeling that his suffering today wasn’t in vain.
He absolutely won’t undergo this damned therapy a second time!
"So, your plan is to make sticky rice cake and have Xiao Qu come and buy it?" Luo Jun asked.
"Asking Dr. Qu to come and buy it sounds too forward. Dr. Qu lives near the hospital, and it’s quite a distance from the hospital to our cafeteria. She’s so busy with work that she likely doesn’t have morning time to come over and buy it. If leftover sticky rice cakes are saved until the afternoon, it might seem too deliberate."
"Then what? Ask a courier to deliver it to her?" Luo Jun frowned.
"Having a courier deliver it, don’t you find it abrupt? Although Dr. Qu and I had a decent chat today, she’s clearly not someone who’s naturally sociable, nor am I. Sending rice cake to someone so suddenly would make her think I’m out of my mind."
"Then what?" Luo Jun was anxious, "Nothing works. You’re being so nitpicky. I think you’re not half as efficient as Chen Huihong. At least she’s efficient!"
"If nothing works, I’ll ask Chen Huihong to take it to her. They’ve known each other for 16 years; there’s got to be some familiarity."
"I have a better idea." Qin Huai smiled slightly, "Just wondering if you would cooperate."
Luo Jun suddenly had a bad feeling.
"You come over periodically for therapy, I’ll accompany you, while bringing a few snacks for Dr. Qu. Isn’t this reasonable and unobtrusive, while also completing the task?"
Luo Jun wanted to breathe fire.
But he thought Qin Huai made some sense.
The most crucial thing is that the system is Qin Huai’s, not his. Even if he thinks Qin Huai doesn’t make sense, he can’t do anything about it.
"Alright." Luo Jun squeezed out a word through his teeth.
"Let me know when your rice cake is ready."