Shen Qingli frowned.
“What’s the matter?”
Sun Yan lowered her voice and said,
“It’s because he’s trying to climb the ranks. He married Vice Director Hou’s stupid, chubby daughter, so he can’t stand to see others advance effortlessly without any effort. Moreover, conflicts between main and deputy factions are always intense. Dr. Liu is Vice Director Hou’s son-in-law, so he’s on that side. You were recommended by the director, so you’re on the director’s side. You’re also an orthopedic doctor like him, so he’ll definitely look for a chance to make things difficult for you.”
Shen Qingli’s brows knit tightly, and a faint sigh escaped her nose.
All she wanted was to work peacefully and advance based on her own abilities, yet she couldn’t escape workplace politics.
But then again, who climbing the ladder doesn’t step on others? Who would willingly be the one stepped on?
She nodded. “Got it. Thank you.”
Sun Yan left without staying any longer.
Though Shen Qingli’s mind felt troubled, work couldn’t be delayed. She opened her clinic door and began seeing patients.
At that moment, a patient with a cut that was bleeding came in. She first treated the wound, then wrote a slip:
“Have someone from your family go downstairs to pay first.”
Li Dayang’s eyes darted nervously.
“Then I’ll go wait downstairs. That way, I won’t delay your treatment of the next patient.”
Wang Chunhua hurriedly chimed in, smiling:
“Exactly, we shouldn’t delay the next patient’s treatment, right?”
Shen Qingli wasn’t a first-time intern; the furtive glances from the two of them immediately told her what they were thinking.
Although she hadn’t yet done independent consultations before, she had heard plenty of complaints in the department about patients leaving without paying, which could result in fines for the staff.
She walked to the doorway and called toward the nurse station:
“Nurse, this patient needs to go downstairs to pay. Please assist.”
Li Dayang was shocked.
“What? I didn’t mean anything by it! Why is she calling a nurse to watch me? Does she think I’m a thief?”
Wang Chunhua also said, “This is ridiculous! Do you treat patients like criminals now?”
Shen Qingli allowed herself a faint, cold smile but remained calm on the surface:
“Your wound was just dressed. If no one stays with you, something might happen. Besides, you need IV antibiotics. That’s why the nurse should guide you first.”
At that moment, the young nurse Zhang Aifang hurried over:
“I’ll take you there. Please don’t delay Dr. Shen from treating the next patient.”
Li Dayang, frustrated that he couldn’t take advantage of the situation, snapped:
“Didn’t you hear? She’s treating us like thieves!”
He thought by making a fuss, Shen Qingli would be embarrassed. But Zhang Aifang smiled and explained:
“You’re not thieves. Dr. Shen is thorough and even specifically assigned me to follow up. Many people never get this kind of care. If you got Dr. Shen’s slot, consider yourself lucky.”
Li Dayang was dumbfounded, and Wang Chunhua fell silent. Seeing the tension, they realized continuing the argument would get them nowhere and reluctantly left.
Shen Qingli watched Zhang Aifang’s back, her lips curving slightly in a grateful smile. She appreciated that Zhang hadn’t caved to the patients’ complaints and blamed her.
Once Zhang disappeared, Shen Qingli didn’t waste any more time and began seeing the next patient.
The rest of the afternoon was a mix of busy and idle moments, mostly minor ailments requiring only medication or dressing changes.
Though confined to this small clinic, she felt freer than living in the family compound, constantly on edge, fearing Lin Meiyun’s interference and Su Jingshen’s displeasure.
After seeing the last patient, she took off her white coat, closed the clinic door, and left the hospital.
Not wanting to eat in the cafeteria, she bought a bowl of bubble wontons from an elderly street vendor.
The bubble wontons, as the name suggests, floated like transparent bubbles on the surface. The wrappers were thin, the filling barely visible, but it was cheap—only one dime a bowl.
As she sat down to eat, she saw Su Jingshen approaching with Lin Meiyun, holding Su Tiantian’s hand. They looked like a happy little family.
Her long eyelashes trembled slightly, and the oppressive feeling in her chest returned. Even the fragrant wontons tasted bland.
She took a quiet breath, unsure when she could remain calm seeing this, but she knew she would gradually mend herself—just as she had silently endured watching her parents live happy lives separately as a child.
At that moment, Su Jingshen noticed her. His smile faltered slightly.
“Qingli, what are you doing here?”
“Eating,” Shen Qingli said softly, lowering her long lashes, her voice slightly thick. “Can’t you see?”
Lin Meiyun glanced at her lonely, downtrodden appearance and sneered.
These cheap bubble wontons, which she had eaten before, were beneath her. Since getting married, she had never touched such low-end food. The taste couldn’t compare to a state-run restaurant, and the filling was nearly invisible—far from the lavish dishes she was accustomed to. She put on a faux polite smile:
“Qingli, what a coincidence. We couldn’t see you at home, and Tiantian insisted on going to the state-run restaurant, so we came here. You’ve almost finished eating, haven’t you?”
Shen Qingli pressed her lips lightly and said nothing, understanding she didn’t want to be bothered. She was always kept on the sidelines anyway.
Lin Meiyun didn’t bother speaking further and prepared to urge Su Jingshen to eat.
But Su Jingshen walked up to Shen Qingli:
“Come in and have some more. By the time you finish, we can head home together.”
Lin Meiyun’s heart tensed slightly, her slender fingers gripping tightly, but she smiled:
“Exactly. Although Jingshen specifically brought Tiantian here, now that we’ve run into you, there’s no reason not to eat together.”
Shen Qingli understood her subtle implication—that she hadn’t been invited initially.
She looked at Su Jingshen standing before her, expression calm and neutral, neither impatient nor pleased, impossible to read.
Some circles simply couldn’t be forced. Even if the meal was good, she could only swallow it with bitterness.
“No thanks,” she said evenly.
Su Jingshen’s brows knitted slightly, displeased with her refusal and irritated by her indifferent demeanor.
Lin Meiyun secretly breathed a sigh of relief and stepped forward:
“Jingshen, Qingli’s probably full. Let’s just go eat ourselves.”
Su Jingshen didn’t argue further. If he quarreled over Shen Qingli’s aloofness in public, it would damage his image. He followed them into the restaurant.
Lin Meiyun’s lips curved slightly, and she didn’t dare delay, taking Su Tiantian inside.
Shen Qingli lowered her gaze, quietly finished the last wonton, paid, and took the bus home.
The next day, Shen Qingli arrived at the hospital. After the morning assembly, Liu Shicheng’s sharp gaze lingered, but she ignored it.
Once it ended, she walked with the other medical staff down the corridor toward their respective clinics.
Suddenly, a voice called from behind:
“Dr. Shen, please check on my cousin! She has abdominal pain and blood in her urine.”
Shen Qingli turned and saw Zhao Wenbo supporting a pale-faced woman.
She wore a finely made qipao, clutching her abdomen, gasping for breath, clearly in severe pain. Two specialized nurses quickly came to assist.
Shen Qingli furrowed her brow and examined her abdomen:
“Here? Can you describe exactly how it hurts?”
Liu Shicheng stepped forward to interrupt:
“Dr. Shen, seriously, she’s in the surgical department. With pain like that, it’s either appendicitis or an intestinal obstruction. Isn’t it obvious? You should just do an ultrasound and blood test.”
Shen Qingli froze, eyes serious:
“I have no objection to what you said, but abdominal pain isn’t limited to just those two conditions. She has no fever or vomiting, so we can rule those out. Her lower abdomen feels hard—maybe a gynecologist should check if she’s pregnant instead.”