Liu Shicheng’s face darkened.
“She’s already come to the surgical department. It must be a surgical issue. Why are you suggesting gynecology? And if it were a gynecological issue, wouldn’t the front desk have directed her there?”
Shen Qingli’s tone left no room for argument.
“She came to me first because she knows me. That doesn’t mean her condition is necessarily surgical.”
Liu Shicheng furrowed his brows, about to argue further, when gynecologist Wang Yuehong quickly felt the patient’s lower abdomen and said:
“Send her to our clinic immediately. She seems to be showing signs of a miscarriage.”
Liu Shicheng’s expression stiffened. He said nothing further.
He was used to patients registering first, then being assigned a department at the front desk. When someone bypassed that and came straight to Shen Qingli, it was natural to assume it was a surgical case. He even thought that gynecological issues like pregnancy were easy to identify, so the front desk wouldn’t make a mistake.
But this patient didn’t even register. He frowned, silently leaving.
Shen Qingli also didn’t linger, returning to her own clinic. Meanwhile, small groups of staff who liked to socialize whispered among themselves:
“Dr. Shen really seems skilled.”
“What do you mean seems? She graduated from medical school. Feeling the difference between a pregnant belly and a normal one isn’t surprising at all.”
“Did you see Liu’s face just now? It looked awful.”
“Looks like we’ll have plenty of entertainment from now on.”
Shen Qingli walked ahead, hearing bits of this, but didn’t care. In crowded places, there were always more gossips.
She didn’t dwell on what had just happened and resumed seeing patients.
Being new, most patients didn’t know her, so returning patients usually preferred doctors they’d already seen. The surgical department was relatively quiet, and she had only seen a few patients that morning.
However, the young nurse Zhang Aifang, being rather nosy, noticed there was no queue at her door and came over to inform her about Zhao Wenbo’s cousin:
“Dr. Shen, latest update: the pregnant woman’s husband is the director of a state-owned garment factory, a proper government-level official. Their family is well-off. After having their first child, a boy, she hadn’t gotten pregnant for several years and assumed she couldn’t. Surprisingly, she’s two months along now. Luckily, the pregnancy was saved.”
Shen Qingli didn’t care. She wasn’t familiar with Zhao Wenbo and didn’t like prying into people’s personal lives.
But Zhang Aifang couldn’t resist asking:
“I just don’t know about Zhao Wenbo. His family seems well-off. Dr. Shen, how do you know him?”
Shen Qingli furrowed her brows and replied:
“We met when he came in for treatment.”
Zhang Aifang pouted, dissatisfied:
“Nonsense. With his background, if there were a problem, he wouldn’t just casually come to see you. How could it just be that you simply know each other?”
Shen Qingli smiled lightly. She didn’t think Zhang had any ill intentions and asked:
“Then how do you think we know each other?”
Zhang Aifang tilted her head playfully:
“You live in the military compound, right? Your family must be well-connected. Don’t people like you all know each other?”
She even nudged Shen Qingli’s arm casually. But Shen Qingli couldn’t smile.
Su Jingshen was indeed highly connected, becoming a regiment commander at twenty-six—a rare achievement in the entire military, not to mention in society.
Yet she had never benefited from it… and sometimes even faced sharp remarks about being unworthy of him.
She stayed silent.
Zhang Aifang, sensing her mood, frowned. “Dr. Shen, what’s wrong?”
Shen Qingli didn’t want to dwell on it, changing the subject:
“Nothing. It’s almost lunchtime. I need to eat and then rest.”
She pretended to search for her lunchbox, turning her back to hide her thoughts.
Zhang Aifang scratched the back of her neck, puzzled. With such a strong background, why would she act like she didn’t want to mention it? Unable to figure it out, she left.
As the door closed, Shen Qingli tightened her grip on the lunchbox, sighing quietly.
Having grown up in a family that invited pitying glances daily, she knew that if others learned her military marriage was failing, she would face more pity.
She didn’t want that, so she resolved to strengthen herself professionally to compensate for the shortcomings in her marriage.
She pulled off her mask and carried her lunchbox to the cafeteria.
In the ward, Wang Xiangmei was fine, lying on the bed receiving IV fluids. She smiled at Zhao Wenbo:
“Wenbo, how do you know Dr. Shen? Just from those eyes, you can tell she’s beautiful.”
Zhao Wenbo paused, his cheeks warming. “She just happened to treat the abscess on my back.”
Wang Hongmei laughed. “You’ve been here several times for different issues. She’s not even a gynecologist. Why are you specifically coming to see her?”
Zhao Wenbo replied confidently:
“Well, I’ve only seen her recently. She was very professional when treating me. That’s all I care about.”
Wang Hongmei nodded, thinking little of it. After all, she had urged him to come for the back abscess.
Leaning back slightly, she glanced out the window and noticed Shen Qingli, back turned toward them. Her figure alone was striking.
Her lips curved slightly, ready to alert Zhao Wenbo.
Suddenly, she noticed his gaze—completely fixated on Shen Qingli’s back, almost dazed. She chuckled:
“Why beat around the bush? If you like her, just say it.”
Zhao Wenbo’s cheeks flamed red, as if scalded by hot water. He pressed his thin lips together and murmured, lowering his head:
“She’s a surgical doctor. I’m just an administrative officer… I can’t compete.”
Wang Xiangmei rolled her eyes. “Climbing higher wouldn’t be difficult. If you like her, just go after her.”
Zhao Wenbo said nothing, but his eyes secretly flicked to Shen Qingli, a small smile tugging at his lips.
Just then, Wang Xiangmei called out loudly:
“Dr. Shen!”