As soon as the reporter finished speaking, Jiang Lijin could hardly suppress her explosive temper.
She was just about to raise her hand, push aside the intrusive microphone, and start cursing, when a broad hand pressed down on her shoulder first. The grip wasn't heavy, but it was full of comforting reassurance.
Chiron took a step forward, completely shielding Jiang Lijin behind him. He looked down at the reporter from his towering height, his gray eyes devoid of any warmth.
Reporter, as a journalist, you had better do some homework before asking questions, Chiron said at an even pace. She is currently the only 3S-rank female in the entire interstellar space. By asking her to take patients in the Purification Department, are you trying to cause the few remaining 3S-rank males in the galaxy to die from spiritual breakdown because they cannot receive her soothing?
The reporter was suffocated by this heavy accusation. Her hand holding the microphone trembled a couple of times, and she stammered for a long while before finally squeezing out, Well, surely there must be some free time... helping a few casually would be good too...
Chiron ruthlessly interrupted her, A female performing spiritual purification is no child's play, especially when purifying high-ranking males. It is extremely draining. As a reporter, surely you know that the Main Brain has matched Ms. Jiang with five 3S-rank males? Just maintaining the spiritual stability of these five already takes up all her energy. She does not have this free time you speak of.
His words were firm and resonant. No matter how much the reporter wanted a big scoop, she did not dare joke about the lives of the interstellar 3S-rank males. Reprimanded into silence, she dejectedly withdrew her microphone.
However, she clearly did not want to let go of this massive wave of traffic. Normally, let alone an interview, one could not even capture a photo of the backs of such top-tier elites. She absolutely could not just let this go.
Her eyes darted around, and she quickly tossed out the next topic: Director Chiron, then what are your thoughts on S-rank female Ms. Felwin's actions of persistently coming to the hospital's Purification Department every week to volunteer?
This was their true interview topic for today: to establish a beautiful and kind-hearted living bodhisattva persona for Felwin.
Not far away, the moment Felwin saw Jiang Lijin being protected behind Chiron, her facial features had already twisted with intense jealousy. Why? A former C-rank trash, a piece of trash abandoned by three husbands at the same time! Now she could actually be held in the palm of a top-tier, outstanding male like Chiron! Why!
Hearing her name mentioned, she changed her expression in a second, putting on a gentle and lovely look. She walked forward gracefully and gave Chiron a perfectly measured smile.
Chiron did not even bat an eyelid, speaking in a strictly businesslike tone, The hospital is very grateful for the contributions made by Ms. Felwin. Undeniably, her arrival has indeed alleviated the suffering of some males. But one point needs to be clarified: whether it is the hospital officially or the males receiving treatment themselves, they have all paid Ms. Felwin in full, or even in excess, for her services.
He paused, facing the camera to make a concluding statement, Of course, this is Miss Felwin's earned income from her labor, which is entirely justified. The hospital highly encourages more females to participate in this work. Furthermore, we are already going through the approval process and will significantly increase the remuneration for related positions in the future.
As soon as these words came out, it directly characterized Felwin's selfless dedication as a clearly priced commercial transaction, while also incidentally promoting the welfare benefits of the hospital's Purification Department for females who come to perform purification.
Felwin's face turned blue and white. In order to save face, she gritted her teeth and put on a righteous posture: Director Chiron, you misunderstood. I don't care about those few star coins at all! I propose that all females who come to the hospital for purification should provide their services to males for free. The male warriors bleed and sacrifice on the front lines to defend our homeland. We females sit back and enjoy the welfare subsidies distributed by the Female Protection Center every month, so we ought to repay them without charge!
The entire crowd was in an uproar. The reporter holding the microphone was stunned. Although she was an A-rank female with a decent income, she also understood the survival rules of the lower classes. This statement was simply smashing the livelihoods of countless people.
Chiron frowned, just about to reprimand this absurd remark, when Jiang Lijin could no longer hold back. She pushed aside Chiron's arm, stepped out from behind him, and stared straight at Felwin.
It is easy for you to talk when it doesn't affect you, isn't it? Jiang Lijin's voice was crisp and extremely penetrating. Miss Felwin, do you only read posts praising you when you go online? Do you know how many low-rank females refresh the job-hunting section on the Star Network forums every day just to snatch a part-time spot in the Purification Department? Do you know that the meager monthly subsidies for C-rank or even D-rank females aren't even enough to buy intermediate nutrient solutions?
Felwin was stunned by the questions. She opened her mouth to retort but was blocked back by Jiang Lijin's rapid-fire output.
Low-rank females cannot find any other way out besides engaging in purification-related work. But you, with just a flap of your lips, want them to work for free? Male warriors defending the country deserve respect, but didn't the Federation pay them their salaries? You have protected their interests with your mouth, but who will take care of the lives of these females who rely on purification to eat? Are you going to pay out of your own pocket to support them?
Jiang Lijin pressed closer step by step. What is more, low-rank females are often matched with equally low-rank males, and their total family income is already struggling at the subsistence line. If they do not come out to work, will the whole family live on air? You are using other people's livelihoods to build up your own monument as a great philanthropist. You have really calculated this well!
These words were merciless, tearing off the fig leaf of Felwin's hypocrisy. There were also many medical staff watching the commotion around, basically all middle and low-rank females. Hearing this, they nodded in agreement, and the looks they gave Felwin grew somewhat hostile.
Felwin's face looked worse than if she had eaten a fly. She waved her hands in panic, I... I didn't mean that. I didn't think that much, I just felt sorry for those males...
Seeing their goddess shed tears, the group of males nearby immediately felt terrible for her. They chimed in one after another to comfort Felwin. In the end, they were the vested interests and did not care at all about the survival of those low-rank females. With Felwin proposing free services, they raised both hands in approval.
However, hindered by the death god Chiron standing right behind Jiang Lijin, this group of males only dared to mutter softly, not even daring to breathe heavily in Jiang Lijin's direction.
In her heart, Felwin wished she could tear Jiang Lijin apart, but on the surface, she pretended to look wronged.
Her eyes darted around, and she quickly tried to cover up her mistake: Ms. Jiang is right to lecture me, it was my lack of consideration. My meaning was to waive the fees for S-rank females. After all, the official monthly subsidies for S-rank females are very substantial, and they completely do not need to rely on this little bit of remuneration to live.
As soon as this was said, the reporter's eyes completely changed. In order to find a way out for herself, this woman had even sold out the S-rank females of her own class. On the contrary, the surrounding group of males erupted into cheers, thinking they had picked up a massive bargain.
Jiang Lijin let out an undisguised cold sneer. This woman was truly stupid beyond cure.
"What's the difference?" Jiang Lijin looked around at the cheering males as if she were looking at a bunch of single-celled organisms. "If S-rank females are all free, would any of you still pay to seek out low-rank females for purification? Everyone would just book the free S-ranks. Low-rank females still wouldn't get any orders, and their source of income would be cut off all the same."
The males' cheers came to an abrupt halt. Pondering over Jiang Lijin's words, they realized things weren't that simple.
"Besides," Jiang Lijin dragged out her words, her eyes full of mockery, "how many S-rank females in the entire interstellar are as free as Miss Felwin, running to the hospital all day long? If it's free, the available slots will actually decrease. With so many of you, do you really think you can fight for a spot?"
The crowd fell completely silent. Those males weren't stupid either. After sorting out the logic, the gazes they directed at Felwin lost some of their fanaticism and gained a bit of scrutiny. If there was no money involved, which high-rank female would even bother with them?
Looking at Felwin's tottering, fragile white lotus act, Jiang Lijin's wicked sense of humor was thoroughly provoked. You want to build up a persona, huh? Then I'll help you build it to the extreme.
"I see everyone on the Star Network forums praising Miss Felwin for being beautiful and kind-hearted, coming to the hospital for three days of purification every week without fail." Jiang Lijin clapped her hands, her tone light and breezy. "Since Miss Felwin is so dedicated, how could three days be enough? Why not come a few more days a week—how about working six days and resting for one? You can bring more warmth to the male warriors."
Not giving Felwin a chance to refuse, Jiang Lijin continued to up the ante: "Furthermore, Miss Felwin just said herself that she doesn't care about those few Star Coins at all. That's wonderful! I suggest that from now on, all of Miss Felwin's personal income generated in the purification department be donated directly to the Female Protection Center to specifically establish a survival guarantee fund for low-rank females. This is true, boundless love!"
Having said that, Jiang Lijin turned to look at Chiron beside her, blinked, and proposed in all seriousness, "Director Chiron, since Miss Felwin has such high awareness, our hospital cannot just do nothing. Why don't we arrange an official position for her? Let's call it 'Chief Unpaid Purification Commissioner' to commend her outstanding contributions. What do you think?"
[Host is so amazing!] Xiao Yi, who had been quiet all this time, couldn't help but speak up.
In just a few sentences, she had cornered Felwin from a volunteer who could come and go freely while gaining both fame and fortune, into a full-time, clock-punching free laborer for the hospital who wouldn't get a single cent and would even have to pay out of her own pocket.
The surrounding media lenses flashed madly, broadcasting this scene in real-time to the entire Star Network.
Chiron looked at Jiang Lijin's sly appearance, a smile welling up in his eyes.
He nodded very cooperatively, his tone solemn. "Ms. Jiang's proposal is extremely constructive. The hospital administration office will draft the relevant documents this afternoon to officially hire Ms. Felwin for this position, and we will jointly announce the establishment of the foundation with the Female Protection Center."
Felwin stood rooted to the spot, her legs turning to jelly. Looking at the gazes of the onlookers around her, her vision went dark. Dropping a rock on one's own foot probably felt exactly like this. Not only did she have to spit out the money she had already swallowed, but she also had to throw in all her free time for the rest of her life.
