Mian didn't bother to take pleasure from the praise. According to her, it did her no good rather than to escort load and tension to weigh her down. The stress of eminence and failure to preserve it took an abysmal toll on many people before!
"Why didn't I see you yesterday, Dr. Zhang? I met all the doctors and nurses when I came." Mian diverted the topic in another direction, not willing to let her ears hate her.
"I had a night shift yesterday. I was expecting to meet you, but missed you by ten minutes. You already left when I came to the hospital." Zhang Shen replied jovially, the smile on his face, and gentle tone of voice certified his amiable personality.
Mian didn't talk any further. She pushed back her jet black hair backwards, which was hanging gracefully on her shoulders previously, then started spooning the pudding into her mouth, till the last bit.
Zhang Shen did not like canteen's food, thus, ate meagerly. He delivered smaller and smaller portion each mouthfuls, as he food failed to satisfy his tongue right after the first bite.
"Isn't that Dr. Zhang?" OMG, he is in the hospital's canteen! Isn't he very fastidious about his food?"
"Yes, it's my hubby! In my five years in this hospital, I have never seen him in the canteen."
Voices began weaving in and out of the swarm of people.
"Husband seldom appears in public places, apart from entering and exiting the hospital, it's hard to get a sight of him."
"Oh, it's actually the new surgeon, Doctor The Miraculous!"
"Oh my god, I'm jealous. Hubby is giving his lady-killer smile to her, in no time, Dr. Mian would be head over heels for him like us, and become the official wife of our husband."
"No wonder hubby is putting efforts to talk to her, despite hating the canteen. She is heavenly beautiful and also a prodigy."
"Any man would be dying to get close to her."
"I was there yesterday when she performed that critical surgery. Dr. Mian exudes a calm aura that can bring peace anywhere even in dire situations."
"Till yesterday, I used to think any girl would be lucky to have him as husband, but now I think my husband would be the lucky one to have Dr. Mian."
"I hate to admit it, but both of them look great together as if a match made in heaven. I hope they get married soon. Just imagine how cute their babies will be! Especially if they look after Dr. Mian."
These gossip mongers rattled on, as if gossip was the ambrosia, elixir of immortality for them and their desire to savour every bit of it was deeper than the Pacific Mariana Ocean.
However, the two people in the picture were completely oblivious to their surroundings. Mian stared abstractedly into space, pondering on a surgery which she would perform the following day, while Zhang Shen was having a jolly good time in his little universe, stealing glances at her.
This continued until Zhang Shen suddenly turned an apprehensive gaze on Mian.
He actually started to doubt his own charm and handsomeness! He grew up hearing people's compliment on his handsomeness. However, looking at Mian, she didn't seem to care at all!
On another note, when did he ever like those people who always bootlicked him because of his family background and power?
No matter how much Zhang Shen tried to see through, there wasn't even an atom of greed, deception, or double-dealing in Mian's charismatic personality.
Suddenly, one of his grandfather's advice resurfaced in his brain, 'In this materialistic world, genuine people are hard to find. If you find one, never let her go.'
On the other side of the canteen...
A look of authentic antagonism and abomination flashed across a woman's face. Her downturned eyes were fighting back tears with anger, as she shot Mian look of unalloyed hostility.
"Doctor Liu, why aren't you eating anything?" Asked Dr. Wu, dabbing her mouth with a tissue paper.
However, the moment she followed Liu Mucheng's line of sight, every dots connected, and the answer presented itself. Others may not know, but she knew very clearly how much Liu Mucheng liked Dr. Zhang Shen.
Zhang Shen had a big harem of unwanted concubines, who had been fighting for his attention. He had a chummy personality, and his smile seemed like a constant feature of his face. However, as he was a very demanding cardiologist with a long queue of patients, he hardly got any time to mingle with other people.
Liu Mucheng went to five-star restaurants with Zhang Shen three times in total, in two years of her career in this hospital; and she was very proud of it, as he was a very time-poor man.
Now seeing the person she liked, who was very particular about his food, yet eating the plain food here just to converse with another girl, was actually hard to assimilate.
"She is just drawing attention from everyone by acting insouciant!" Liu Mucheng's face distorted in hatred, as she glared at Mian. Her voice shook as she uttered each and every words slowly.
Dr. Wu recoiled watching Liu Mucheng's expression from the front seat.
...
Mian twisted open the water bottle and took a few gulps, before putting the cap back on the bottle. "I have patients to check, gotcha go." She placed the white napkin on the table to the left of the plate and rose from the chair.
"All right. See you later, Dr. Mian." Zhang Shen said smiling.
Mian went out without looking back. She was tall, thus, even though her step wasn't in rush, she was out of sight pretty much quickly.
'Li Mian, such a sweet name just like her face.' Zhang She's lips broke into a gentle smile.
...
Mian stretched her both hands like a lazy kitten when she finished checking all the patients of the day.
At that moment a nurse from the Intensive Care Unit barged into her chamber, panting heavily, she said, "Dr. Mian, VVIP patient of room no. 301 has regained his senses. However, he pulled out his IV cannula, it resulted in him bleeding pretty much, and now he is not letting anyone touch him!" Her face was ghostly pale as she delivered the news.