Velvet Chains of a Tycoon

At noon, Zhao Lin called.

"Xiao Ran, Huang Grandma is looking for you. She asked why you didn't come over today?"

Qin Ran: "I'm at Binhai University. There's a job fair today, and besides, school starts tomorrow. I can't come to the clinic every day."

Soon, Huang Grandma's voice came through the phone, "Xiao Ran, what are you doing at the university?"

"Huang Grandma, I'm here to look for a job. I'm in my senior year now, and I need to find an internship..."

Qin Ran patiently explained to Huang Grandma, who was one of her long-time clients and someone she trusted deeply.

"Oh, child, don't you already have your own clinic? Why do you need to find another job?"

On the phone, Huang Grandma said, "You should come to the clinic. I have something important to tell you."

Qin Ran: "Huang Grandma, I have interviews this afternoon. How about this—I'll come over as soon as I finish the interviews."

Binhai University was a comprehensive university, but its medical program was not exactly known for its excellence, unable to compete with specialized medical universities.

Qin Ran's grades could have gotten her into a better medical university in the north, but she chose Binhai University because it was in Binhai City and offered her a substantial scholarship.

Three years ago, her brother was 28 and still single, without much money. He sacrificed his own education, giving up both high school and college, just to support her, and she couldn't continue to be a burden on him.

In the afternoon, Qin Ran attended several hospital interviews and felt she did pretty well. As for which hospital would offer her a position, that remained to be seen.

After the interviews, she was about to leave, causing Xia Lan and Liu Ye to accuse her of being unsociable.

"Today we all looked for jobs. Once we get our offers, we'll go to different places for internships. Who knows if we'll see each other again? Can't we have a farewell dinner tonight?"

Qin Ran quickly explained, "It's not that I don't want to eat with you, but I promised someone I'd meet them. I can't break my promise, especially since it's a grandmother fan."

Liu Ye teased, "Wow, Qin Ran, you already have fans before you even graduated."

Qin Ran smiled, "I met her at the clinic. I did some acupuncture for her, and by luck, her facial paralysis got better."

"Don't say, your acupuncture skills are really good. By the way, Binhai Traditional Chinese Medicine Hospital was looking for someone who does acupuncture today. Did you apply?"

Qin Ran: "I submitted my resume, but not for the acupuncture position. My acupuncture skills aren't good enough to call myself a master yet."

Xia Lan teased, "Why so modest?"

Qin Ran, serious: "The people at the TCM hospital are all experts. You have to be humble."

By the time Qin Ran arrived at Ren An Clinic, it was almost 6 PM.

"Huang Grandma seemed to have something urgent to tell you. She waited for you all afternoon and just left for dinner. You should call her."

Qin Ran sat down and said, "Since she's eating, I'll call her later. I'll go buy some food too."

When Huang Grandma returned, Qin Ran had just finished her dinner and was about to call her.

"Oh, Xiao Ran, you finally came."

Qin Ran smiled, "Huang Grandma, sorry, I was busy with job interviews. What's the urgent matter?"

"It's about finding you a job."

Huang Grandma explained, "My grandson works at a company and needs a chief secretary. But he hasn't found the right person. Zhao Lin told me you're good at English and French. So I told Xia Yu to hire you as his chief secretary, and he agreed."

Qin Ran was amused, "Huang Grandma, thank you for thinking highly of me, but I studied Traditional Chinese Medicine, not secretarial work."

"What does that matter?"

Huang Grandma waved it off, "Many graduates end up in jobs unrelated to their majors. My grandson studied computer science in college, and now he's in finance."

Qin Ran: "That's true, but I have no experience as a secretary. I've never even considered it before."

"No experience is fine. No graduate has experience right away."

Huang Grandma reassured her, "Don't worry. My grandson's company is in finance, and they pay well. Even as an intern, you'll make over ten thousand a month."

"That much?" Qin Ran was surprised.

Huang Grandma waved her hand, "Finance companies have plenty of money."

Qin Ran: "Okay, I'll consider it."

Huang Grandma, worried she might refuse, added, "Xiao Ran, think about it tonight and give me an answer tomorrow. My grandson needs the secretary to start the day after tomorrow."

Qin Ran took a deep breath, "Okay, Huang Grandma, I'll give you an answer tomorrow."

After seeing off Huang Grandma, Qin Ran went back to the clinic and asked Zhao Lin about finding a location for the new clinic.

Zhao Lin shook her head, indicating they hadn't found a suitable place yet.

"I've lowered my standards, just hoping to find something that can cover the rent. It's hard starting out, but it's still difficult to find a place."

Actually, it wasn't that there were no options, but their budget was limited, and the good locations had high transfer fees they couldn't afford.

Qin Ran thought for a moment, "Let's wait until next week. If we still can't find a place by mid-September, I'll see if I can borrow some money."

Zhao Lin: "Xiao Ran, you're a student. You just started looking for an internship. Where will you borrow money from?"

They knew her situation, especially after her sister-in-law visited, making it clear how tight things were for Qin Ran.

"I'm married."

Qin Ran bit her lip and revealed, "I'll ask my husband if he has any extra savings."

Zhao Lin and Liu Ming both stared at her, eyes wide.

"Married?!" they exclaimed in unison.

Qin Ran, a bit embarrassed by their shock, said, "Don't be so surprised. It's just marriage, not a crime."

Zhao Lin: "I mean, Qin Ran, you didn't even have a boyfriend before. How did you suddenly get married?"

Liu Ming, realizing, asked, "Who did you marry?"

"A matchmaker set us up. Two weeks ago, I went on a blind date."

Qin Ran explained calmly, "I didn't expect much, but we hit it off, and we got our marriage certificate the same day."

Zhao Lin and Liu Ming were stunned. Zhao Lin, coming to her senses, said, "How could you rush into marriage like that? It's so risky!"

Qin Ran, puzzled, replied, "What could he possibly scam from me? I'm broke and have nothing to offer."

Zhao Lin pulled her aside and whispered, "Have you... slept with your husband?"

Qin Ran shook her head, "We rushed into this, and we don't know each other well. Besides, we agreed..."

"You see, you're already being scammed," Zhao Lin interrupted. "Don't you read the news? Many gay men, to avoid family pressure, marry unsuspecting girls, which is just a scam."