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{Chapter: 238 Domineering CEO!}
Since this was a modern urban novel centered around a mercenary king, it naturally featured a wide variety of female leads—each embodying different archetypes from society. Among them were high-powered CEOs, tenacious policewomen, elegant doctors, and many more.
Lin Yuan clearly remembered that one of these prominent female leads was a doctor named Jiang Rou.
While searching for a well-known and highly skilled surgeon to handle Qiu Wanxi's case, Lin Yuan came across the name "Jiang Rou." At first, he wasn't entirely sure if it was just a coincidence—after all, many people might share the same name.
But upon seeing her in person—her white coat, the name tag pinned neatly to her big chest, and her overall figure and appearance—it became clear. There was no doubt in Lin Yuan's mind now. She was indeed the Jiang Rou from the original novel.
Although Jiang Rou might not have had the immediate visual impact or jaw-dropping beauty of women like Yan Ruyue or Chi Qian at first glance, there was something about her—something understated yet captivating. Her charm didn't rely on shock value; instead, it was built from layers of warmth, intelligence, and maturity.
Lin Yuan immediately recognized her aura—that graceful, refined demeanor, with a touch of sensual elegance. Just like in the novel, she radiated an appealing blend of gentleness, competence, and sophistication. It was a type of allure that became stronger the longer you looked at her.
Though her facial features might not be as perfect as Yan Ruyue's or Chi Qian's, she could easily hold her own beside women like Chen Yu in terms of beauty. When paired with her professional uniform and dignified temperament, she could easily be considered a rare gem among women.
Lin Yuan had encountered many beautiful women throughout his journey—Chi Qian, Yan Ruyue, Qiu Wanxi, Mei Yuxian, and Gui Qingtong among them. But that didn't mean he had become desensitized to beauty. He never thought that exceptional women were as common as cabbage on a market stall.
No—Jiang Rou stood out in her own unique way.
There were two distinct traits that further confirmed her identity. One was her signature high ponytail, neatly tied and swaying lightly behind her head. The second was the familiar stethoscope hanging from her neck, resting casually near her chest—just like how the original novel described her character.
In that moment, information about Jiang Rou flooded Lin Yuan's mind like pages of a well-read book.
Despite being an accomplished doctor, Jiang Rou had a surprising personal side. She enjoyed reading romance novels—especially the kind where the male lead was a dominant, powerful CEO. She found men with commanding personalities incredibly attractive. She also harbored a fascination with rare and complex medical cases, often seeking challenges that other doctors would shy away from.
All of this was precisely as described in the original storyline.
Still, Lin Yuan didn't intend to involve himself too deeply with Jiang Rou at the moment. His top priority now was Qiu Wanxi's health and ensuring that her surgery would be a complete success.
After the wave of information passed through his mind, Lin Yuan took a small step forward and extended his hand toward Jiang Rou, offering a polite and formal greeting.
"Hello, Doctor Jiang. It's a pleasure to meet you," he said with a calm smile.
Jiang Rou responded in kind, her voice soft yet professional. "Hello, Young Master Lin. The pleasure is mine."
She then turned her gaze to the girl beside him. "Is this the patient?" she asked without hesitation, focusing immediately on the task at hand.
Her demeanor was calm and composed, a true reflection of her professionalism. Despite Lin Yuan's status and looks, she was not flustered, nor did she act in a flattering or sycophantic manner like the others.
"Yes," Lin Yuan nodded, his voice steady.
He continued, "As I mentioned previously, she's dealing with issues involving her liver, and both lobes of her lungs appear to be affected…"
He briefly recounted the details he had already discussed with Jiang Rou earlier, ensuring she had a clear understanding of Qiu Wanxi's condition.
Jiang Rou listened attentively and nodded. "Yes, I recall what you shared with me earlier. If I remember correctly, that diagnosis was initially made by an experienced traditional Chinese medicine practitioner, yes? From the information provided, there doesn't appear to be any issue with the diagnosis itself. Still, for surgical purposes, I'll need clearer visuals. Once I examine the X-ray and radiographic images more closely, I'll be able to plan the procedure accurately."
Unbeknownst to Jiang Rou, Lin Yuan himself had made the diagnosis based on his extraordinary medical knowledge. However, she naturally assumed that he had consulted an old and respected TCM doctor, which seemed more plausible given the context.
Lin Yuan gave a faint smile and nodded. "Of course. She still needs to undergo the imaging procedure."
He gently reached out and brushed Qiu Wanxi's hair, his expression softening. Then he gestured toward the nurses nearby and instructed them to take her to radiology for imaging.
As the nurses guided Qiu Wanxi away, their actions appeared almost ceremonial—like loyal attendants escorting a noble princess.
Jiang Rou observed this with a quiet sigh in her heart.
She couldn't help but think to herself: Being wealthy really does make a difference in life.
Qiu Wanxi looked exactly like the delicate heroines often depicted in the romance novels she enjoyed reading—a gentle girl protected by a powerful dominating yet caring man.
Her gaze shifted toward Lin Yuan again.
She couldn't help but reflect: He's not just acting the part. Lin Yuan is a real young master… a true prince from a wealthy family.
Jiang Rou stole another glance at Lin Yuan, her eyes curious yet contemplative, before subtly shaking her head.
In her heart, she had to admit—Lin Yuan closely resembled the CEO-type male leads from the countless romance novels she adored. He came from an influential and wealthy family, exuded confidence, and possessed the kind of clean, refined handsomeness that would make many women swoon.
He seemed, on the surface, to check all the boxes. Wealth? Power? Looks? All present.
Yet Jiang Rou felt something was missing.
Although Lin Yuan looked dashing, there was something about him that didn't quite align with her romantic fantasies. His gentle smile and calm demeanor gave off a warmth that felt too kind, too refined—too lacking in the kind of dark, magnetic aura she associated with her favorite fictional CEOs.
There was no edge. No cruel charm. No calculated coldness masked by deep affection. No mysterious danger in his gaze.
He was handsome—extremely so—but he lacked the smoldering dominance, the palpable authority, and the commanding presence that usually swept the female lead off her feet in her beloved stories.
In short, he lacked flavor.
Dominance.
Of course, Jiang Rou wasn't even aware yet of just how deeply she had been influenced—poisoned, really—by all those domineering CEO novels. Her mind, molded by page after page of overbearing male leads, subconsciously compared every man to those fictional paragons.
On the outside, though, she maintained her usual professional grace, her face framed by an intellectual smile that radiated softness and warmth.
As they continued talking, Jiang Rou and Lin Yuan exchanged a few polite words, engaging in light, courteous conversation. Despite the thoughts circling in her mind, she found Lin Yuan surprisingly easy to speak with.
Lin Yuan, for his part, had no intention of revealing how well he already understood her personality, preferences, and even her hidden interests—he had, after all, read the novel where she was one of the heroines. For now, he played his part as a young master.
"I'll have to trouble Dr. Jiang for a little while," Lin Yuan said sincerely, his tone polite and appreciative. "You came all the way from Yanjing just for this procedure, and I'm sure your schedule is very tight. Your reward will definitely reflect the value of your time."
Jiang Rou gave a small wave of her hand and smiled. "You're being too serious, Young Master Lin. The compensation you offered is quite generous indeed. But actually, I wasn't just invited by you this time. There was another party who reached out to me as well, which is why I came to Jiangbei."
"Oh?" Lin Yuan tilted his head slightly at her words, pretending to be surprised, although internally, a theory was already forming in his mind. He had a sudden hunch about who this 'other person' might be.
Jiang Rou didn't notice Lin Yuan's inner calculations and simply continued in a relaxed tone, not thinking too much of it. "I'm not too familiar with the details myself. I only know that the man who requested my help is surnamed Ye. Apparently, he sustained a serious head injury. The case seems to be rather delicate."
The moment he heard her say that, Lin Yuan's eyes narrowed faintly.
There was no need for speculation anymore.
He was sure now—this other patient was none other than Ye Feng.
In the original storyline, Ye Feng had traveled to Yanjing, where one of his close subordinates was wounded in a violent gunfight. That incident led to Ye Feng meeting Jiang Rou at a hospital, where fate brought them together and ultimately paved the way for their love to grow.
But now, due to Lin Yuan's intervention—more precisely, due to the injuries Ye Feng sustained from him—that chain of events had shifted.
Instead of meeting Jiang Rou by chance in Yanjing later in the story, Ye Feng had been forced to reach out to her earlier for treatment.
Another ripple in the timeline.
Another unexpected butterfly effect.
Lin Yuan mused silently. He hadn't been planning to interact with Jiang Rou just yet, since she wasn't an early figure in the original narrative. But things had changed. If she were going to cross paths with Ye Feng this soon, then he had to act—decisively and without hesitation.
There was no way he would allow her to meet Ye Feng.
He couldn't afford to let a single heroine slip into Ye Feng's orbit.
Taking a quiet breath, Lin Yuan studied Jiang Rou once again. Her gentle temperament, her elegant composure, and her calm intellect were all as described in the original novel. She had a grace that wasn't flashy but quietly captivating.
But what caught Lin Yuan's attention most now wasn't her personality—it was the opportunity.
Another thread of fate that he needed to control.
And as he gazed at Jiang Rou, his expression remained kind, but his thoughts had already turned razor-sharp. He couldn't let down his guard.
Not even for a moment.
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