Orders
It was less than a ten-minute walk from the obstetrics department to the director's office, but Huo Mian deliberately dragged her feet for fifteen minutes.
Director Wu Zhongxing was a man in his fifties, with a square face and sharp, serious eyes, giving off an old-fashioned vibe.
Of course, as a young nurse who had been interning at the First Hospital for less than half a year, Huo Mian wasn't qualified to meet the esteemed director in person.
She could only see photos of him on the hospital's official website. It was said that the director was an excellent orthopedic professor in his youth.
He had visited Europe multiple times.
Unconsciously, she finally reached the director's office door. Standing outside was a young man in a suit, wearing gold-rimmed glasses.
"Are you Huo Mian?" The man spoke first.
"Yes."
"The director is waiting for you inside. Go in."
"Okay." Huo Mian nodded, feeling a slight unease as she knocked on the door.
"Come in," a low, stern voice came from within.
Huo Mian walked in and immediately saw the director. He looked just like his photo, his white coat remarkably striking.
Though not yet sixty, his hair was already streaked with white, and the wrinkles at the corners of his eyes were clearly visible.
"Are you Huo Mian?" The director spoke first.
"I am."
"Come and sit," the director's attitude was surprisingly amiable, which only made Huo Mian feel more uncertain.
"No need, I'll stand," Huo Mian said, a little reserved.
"Don't be afraid, let's sit and talk," the director waved his hand, insisting that Huo Mian sit down.
Huo Mian thought that further refusal would seem overly pretentious, so she walked over and gently sat on the black sofa.
"It's like this: I've asked you to come today because there's an important task I need you to do."
"Okay, Director, please tell me. As long as it's within my capabilities, I'll do my best," Huo Mian nodded.
"Yesterday, a high-ranking official from the capital came to inspect our C City but suddenly suffered a cerebral hemorrhage. He was admitted overnight to our hospital's highest VIP ward. Our medical equipment isn't top-tier, but the official's injury is severe, making it impossible to transfer him. The situation is very delicate; any movement risks a major intracranial hemorrhage. So, a few of us senior staff held an emergency meeting and decided to perform a craniotomy in our hospital. It will take place in three hours, with a top neurosurgery professor personally performing the surgery."
After the director finished speaking, Huo Mian nodded. She understood; the matter was indeed very urgent.
And since it was someone from the capital, their rank must be extremely high. No wonder the director was taking it so seriously.
"Director, how can I help?"
"What you need to do is assist in this surgery as the assistant nurse."
Upon hearing this, Huo Mian immediately refused. "Director, how can that be? I'm an obstetrics nurse and know nothing about neurosurgery. Moreover, for such an important surgery, the head nurse and others should be doing it, not a junior intern like me. I imagine you've seen my resume; I didn't graduate from a prestigious university, just a regular medical college here in our city with a nursing degree."
"I know all of this," the director replied, his voice profound.
"Since you know all this, and you're still asking me, this... isn't a wise decision," Huo Mian stated frankly.
Huo Mian hadn't slept well last night, waking up with dark circles under her eyes. She made some plain congee and two egg pancakes, taking them to the Fourth Hospital.
"You seem surprised." Huo Siyuan smiled. Dressed in white and black, he exuded an aura of gentle elegance and composure.
"What's surprising about it? It's normal for Young Master Huo to appear in such a place. It's rather us common folks coming here to have fun that might have startled you, isn't it?" Huo Mian smirked.
"Huo Mian, you seem to have a lot of hostility towards me. Why? I remember I've been quite decent to you, and... by seniority, you should call me elder brother." Huo Siyuan, holding his drink, leaned closer to Huo Mian.
"Young Master Huo jokes. You're a rich young master, I'm just a commoner. Where do we get to talk about brothers and sisters? As for hostility, you're right. Do you know? There's a type of person in this world that you don't dislike at first sight. Coincidentally, you're the type I disliked at first sight."
After saying this, Huo Mian ignored Huo Siyuan and turned to clink glasses with Zhu Lingling.
"Father hasn't been in good health recently. You should go back and see him if you have time," Huo Siyuan seemed persistent, trying to find something to say to Huo Mian.
"Just inform me when he passes away. I think I'll light an incense stick before his spirit tablet, considering he contributed a sperm cell twenty-four years ago."
That one sentence completely silenced Huo Siyuan.
His face changed, and he turned to leave, no longer bothering himself.
After Huo Siyuan left, Zhu Lingling covered her mouth and gasped. "Oh my goodness, my dear, that was amazing! This is the Huo Mian I know, haha, not even putting her own father in her eyes."
"What kind of father? I've never acknowledged him," Huo Mian said, a little glum, and took another sip of her drink.
"It's so satisfying to watch you argue! Your tongue is still as sharp as ever, just like back then, haha. I think... that's why Qin Chu fell for your defiant spirit." As she said this, Zhu Lingling realized her slip of the tongue and quickly changed the subject. "Cough, cough, I mean, even Young Master Huo was left speechless by you. You're amazing! I want to be your disciple."
"This humble nun no longer accepts disciples," Huo Mian joked with a smile.
"You're impossible, just showing off, ha! As if you've ever had disciples before," Zhu Lingling laughed and scolded.
Time always flies by when you're messing around with your best friend.
They never caused trouble at nightclubs. After their drinks, it was already late at night, and then they each hailed a taxi home.
After returning to her rental apartment, Huo Mian changed into a nightgown and then sent a WeChat message to Zhu Lingling.
"I'm home, Lingling, how about you?"
"Safely home. I'm going to take a shower. You get some rest. Goodnight." Zhu Lingling replied instantly.
Huo Mian was just about to turn off her phone when she suddenly received a text message. The number was 8866; she knew it was Qin Chu's number.
"Asleep?"
Only three simple words, yet Huo Mian's heart was pounding wildly for some reason. It had been seven years, and this feeling reappeared, truly a subtle sensation.
She thought for a moment, then instantly deleted the message and turned off her phone to sleep.
On the other end, in the half-mountain villa,
Qin Chu waited a long time for a reply, knowing it was hopeless. Given Huo Mian's personality, she would absolutely not text him back.
He got up and walked downstairs to the wine cabinet, pulling out a bottle of red wine.
Just then, heavy footsteps sounded behind him. Without needing an answer, he roughly knew who it was.
"Ah Chu, come here for a moment. I have something to ask you."
Qin Yumin hadn't been sleeping well lately. Waking up in the middle of the night, he heard movement downstairs and came out. Sure enough, his son was still awake.
Qin Chu calmly poured a glass of red wine, then walked to the living room sofa and sat down, head bowed, gently swirling the wine in his glass.
His dark blue sleep robe complemented his exquisite face. His eyes were downcast, and his long fingers tapped rhythmically on the wine glass. Any woman who saw this scene might fall captive.
Qin Yumin looked at his son like this, feeling somewhat unfamiliar.
"I heard you vetoed the greenbelt project in today's meeting."
"That's right," he answered very simply.
"Why?" Qin Yumin was slightly angered.
"Didn't like it."
"Nonsense! Is doing business based solely on preference? If so, our GK would have gone bankrupt long ago. Ah Chu, your father trusts you, that's why I confidently handed you the GK banner. You cannot act recklessly."
"Those are my principles for doing business. If you don't trust me, you can do it yourself. You know, I've never been interested in this boring position as GK's CEO."
"You...?" Qin Yumin was choked with anger.
After a moment, Qin Chu suddenly looked up, his eyes flickering slightly, and asked, "Dad, do you remember our bet seven years ago?"
Hearing this, Qin Yumin paused slightly, then stopped speaking.
Seven years ago, he and his son made a bet, a bet of great significance.
"What are you trying to say?" Qin Yumin asked, frowning at Qin Chu.
"Nothing, just reminding you that I kept all my promises to you, and you... should you also fulfill yours?"
Qin Yumin's face grew increasingly grim after hearing this.
Finally, he only said, "No matter what methods you use, this quarter I want the company's performance to increase by fifteen points, otherwise the greenbelt project will be restarted, and you will be demoted. Hmph, don't think that just because you're my son, I won't do anything to you."
After saying this, Qin Yumin threw his hand and left. It was clear he was very angry.
He didn't mention the promise from seven years ago at all, but Qin Chu knew he understood his meaning.
As for GK's performance, he thought he could increase it by fifteen points with his eyes closed. It was such an easy task, he wondered why his father had to be so resolute about it.
At 5:30 AM, Qin Chu was awakened by a noisy commotion.
A middle-aged man in a black suit stood prominently at the door, followed by eight armed special police officers.
"Dr. Qin, I apologize for disturbing you. It's an emergency; we have an urgent need for you at this moment."
Mr. and Mrs. Qin were startled and at a loss, but Qin Chu looked calm. "Wait for me, I'll change my clothes." He said, putting his hands in his pockets, and turned to go upstairs.
"Yumin, has our son... offended some important person?" After Qin Chu left, Mrs. Qin asked, her face pale and trembling.
---
Huo Mian hadn't slept well last night, waking up with dark circles under her eyes. She made some plain congee and two egg pancakes, taking them to the Fourth Hospital.
"Mom, I've brought you some food."
"Take it away, I'm not eating," Yang Meirong remained upset.
"If you don't have much appetite, just eat a little. It's really delicious. I made it myself; it's clean and hygienic. I'll just leave it here."
With that, Huo Mian placed the breakfast on the table, then tidied up the ward briefly and walked out.
After Huo Mian left, Yang Meirong glanced at the breakfast on the table, her stomach grumbling rebelliously.
She looked at the door and, finding that Huo Mian hadn't returned, immediately took the breakfast and began to eat.
Actually, although Yang Meirong had a bad temper, her heart wasn't truly evil, nor did she dislike her daughter. It was just that her husband Jingde's accidental death had caused a deep emotional wound within her.
In the doctor's office,
"Doctor, has my mother's condition improved?" Huo Mian asked worriedly.
"There's been significant improvement. She can be discharged in a few days, but she'll need to continue taking her blood pressure medication after discharge."
"Okay, thank you." Hearing that her mother was alright, Huo Mian finally breathed a sigh of relief.
"However, the hospitalization fee isn't enough; you'll need to renew it," the doctor didn't forget to remind her.
Huo Mian was a bit surprised. Hadn't she just paid seven thousand yuan the other day? How could it be gone in just a few days? It was truly...
She had already overdrawn her credit card that day, and after giving Zhixin his living expenses, she had very little left.
Before, she might have been able to ask Ning Zhiyuan for some money, but under the current circumstances, there seemed to be no hope.
Helpless, she called Zhu Lingling, who, without a word, immediately transferred ten thousand yuan via mobile banking.
"Lingling, thank you," she messaged, feeling a little embarrassed.
"Don't say such silly things. If it's not enough, tell me again. Auntie's health is important, don't worry."
Zhu Lingling's reply made Huo Mian feel warm inside. She felt that this friend was truly worth having.
Actually, after her stepfather's car accident back then, the Qin family offered a large sum of money as compensation, but they refused.
They insisted that the driver responsible pay with his life. In the end, there was no other way, and the person was sentenced to five years in prison for drunk driving and causing the accident.
And they didn't receive a single penny in compensation. Now, seven years had passed, and the person responsible had long since been released from prison.
But her Uncle Jing slept eternally in Beishan Cemetery, never to wake again.
So, no matter how her mother treated her or hated her, she could truly understand, because for these seven years, she hadn't been able to forgive herself either.
"Mom, I'm on the night shift today, so I'll be leaving soon. Please rest well. I'll order lunch and dinner for you and have them delivered. Zhixin will visit you tomorrow on his day off."
"Get out!" Yang Meirong still had a sour expression.
Huo Mian then took the bus and transferred to the First Hospital.
Upon arriving at the hospital, she checked her watch. She still had forty minutes before her shift, so after changing into her nurse's uniform, she went to the ophthalmology building.
Regarding Ning Zhiyuan, she still wanted to try and salvage things. After all, they had been together for three years; even without romantic love, there was a bond of kinship.
When Huo Mian arrived, the door was ajar. Just as she was about to knock, she heard a coquettish voice from inside.
"Dr. Ning, you're so annoying. You've messed up my hair."
"It's alright, I'll comb it for you later. Come here, a kiss first."
Huo Mian recognized it; it was He Man and Ning Zhiyuan's voices.
No wonder he was so eager to move out; so that was it.
She curved her lips into a bitter smile, put down the hand poised to knock, and turned to leave.
"Hey? Huo Mian, you're here, why aren't you going in?" Another ophthalmologist happened to meet her at the door.
"No need, I have something else to do."
At this, the two inside heard clearly. He Man immediately got up from Ning Zhiyuan's embrace, straightening her collar and hair.
Dr. Zhu from ophthalmology happened to walk in, glanced at He Man, then said to Ning Zhiyuan, "I just saw your fiancée."
"Oh, really?" Ning Zhiyuan replied casually.
"Are you two... alright? Aren't you getting married?"
"Not anymore."
"No way...?" Dr. Zhu was surprised.
"That kind of woman, *heh*, good riddance," Ning Zhiyuan said, getting up and buttoning his white coat, then walked out.
He Man cautiously followed him.
Seeing this, Dr. Zhu shook his head helplessly. Young people nowadays really treat relationships like a game. What a world.
"Dr. Ning, did you and Huo Mian... really break up?"
"What do you think?"
"That's great, that's really great! Saves me from being called a homewrecker all the time. When are you going to make our relationship public at the hospital?" He Man complained coquettishly.
Ning Zhiyuan casually glanced at her. "What's the rush? Isn't a secret affair more exciting?"
"Oh, you're so naughty, really..." He Man reached out and lightly pinched Ning Zhiyuan's hand, saying in a sweet voice.
As an ophthalmic assistant nurse, He Man had long harbored admiration for Ning Zhiyuan because he was good-looking and smart.
He was also good at eye surgeries. Although he was currently an intern doctor, he would soon be a resident, and his status would be even higher then.
Before, she had always looked for opportunities to get close, but back then, Ning Zhiyuan's eyes were always only on Huo Mian.
It drove her mad with jealousy. She had personally seen Ning Zhiyuan buy late-night snacks for Huo Mian. Anything Huo Mian liked, he would go buy it, even if it meant staying up after a night shift without sleep, a true warm-hearted man.
Now that she finally had her chance, how could she let go?