Dr. Chen rushed out of the ICU and headed straight for Zhao Ruobing's office. Before he could reach the door, a middle-aged nurse walked out.
"Dr. Chen, are you looking for Director Zhao?" the nurse asked with a smile.
"Yes, Sister Zhen, is Director Zhao in?" Dr. Chen nodded quickly. This nurse was in charge of the daily activities in Zhao Ruobing's office and had a close relationship with her. The staff usually called her Sister Zhen.
"Unfortunately, no. Director Zhao just went to the operating room. She's performing a surgery," Sister Zhen replied.
"Another surgery?" Dr. Chen was stunned.
He had come up here immediately after finishing his tasks, skipping lunch, hoping to discuss something about Ye Xiu with Zhao Ruobing. But it seemed he was out of luck again. This surgery would take several hours.
"Is there something urgent, Dr. Chen? Is it about a patient in the ICU? If it's important, you can consult with Director Li; he's available," Sister Zhen said with concern.
"No, it's nothing urgent. I just had some questions about my paper that I wanted to discuss with Director Zhao. Since she's in surgery, I'll wait until she's done," Dr. Chen waved his hand, trying to be casual.
This matter regarding Ye Xiu could only be discussed with Zhao Ruobing personally.
"Good to hear. Keep up the good work in the ICU, Dr. Chen. Director Zhao has high expectations for you!" Sister Zhen smiled encouragingly.
"Definitely," Dr. Chen smiled back. He turned and walked towards the elevator, feeling a bit frustrated. What he had planned to discuss in the morning had been delayed again. Now, he would have to wait until Zhao Ruobing finished her surgery in the evening.
He silently prayed that nothing unexpected would happen and that the other doctors from the surgery wouldn't encounter Ye Xiu. If they did, he hoped they wouldn't cause any complications. Otherwise, he wouldn't be able to forgive himself.
"Not bad, I'm five minutes early today!" Ye Xiu smiled with satisfaction as he parked his car in the garage, noting the time on the car's display. After a day of rest, he decided to start coming in five minutes earlier each day, allowing him to see at least one more patient daily.
Today was the first day of his new routine, and he had barely met his estimated time. But it was a good start.
As he removed his seatbelt, grabbed his briefcase, and prepared to head to the elevator, a voice called out uncertainly, "Dr. Ye?"
"Uh... Dr. Che? Good morning!" Ye Xiu turned to see Dr. Che from his department looking at him with wide eyes.
"Good morning, Dr. Ye!" Dr. Che greeted him, his eyes drifting to the small green car next to Ye Xiu. "Dr. Ye, is this your car?"
Dr. Che had been about to leave a few minutes earlier but stayed out of curiosity to see who owned the much-discussed small green car. He was shocked to see Ye Xiu get out of it.
"Uh, yes, it's mine," Ye Xiu admitted, feeling a bit awkward as he remembered the discussion about the car in the office. He didn't think there was anything to hide, and it was better to explain why he chose this car.
"Why did you buy such a small car, Dr. Ye?" Dr. Che asked, unable to hide his curiosity.
"Well, I didn't think much about it when I bought it. It's simple, convenient for parking, and everyone talks about supporting domestic products. So, I chose this car," Ye Xiu explained, not mentioning his desire to keep a low profile.
"That makes sense! Supporting domestic products is important. Dr. Ye, your awareness is really commendable," Dr. Che said, though his eyes flashed with a strange look.
"It's not about awareness. After driving it, I find it quite practical. Its small size makes it easy to maneuver in traffic, and it's fuel-efficient. Perfect for commuting," Ye Xiu smiled, his gaze softening as he looked at his green car.
Apart from initial discomfort and occasional frustration when he wanted to drive fast, he genuinely found the car helpful for his commute.
"Dr. Ye, I remember you mentioned you studied in the UK. That must have been expensive, especially for a medical degree," Dr. Che remarked, his eyes flashing with curiosity.
"Yes, studying in the UK is quite costly, especially in the medical field," Ye Xiu nodded.
"Then your family must be well off to afford that," Dr. Che said enviously.
"Not really. I went on a full scholarship," Ye Xiu said modestly, feeling a bit embarrassed.
"Wow!" Dr. Che exclaimed, impressed. "I've heard full scholarships for medicine in the UK are extremely competitive. No wonder your medical skills are so advanced!"
As Dr. Che spoke, a look of realization crossed his face. He concluded that Ye Xiu must have bought the small green car due to financial constraints, which explained why he worked so hard and didn't take days off.
"Dr. Che, you're too kind. I'm still learning and have much to learn from experienced colleagues like you," Ye Xiu said humbly. He pointed towards the elevator, "I've reached my floor. See you later, Dr. Che."
"Alright, see you, Dr. Ye," Dr. Che waved.
Watching Ye Xiu disappear into the elevator, Dr. Che felt he had uncovered the truth about Ye Xiu's circumstances. He couldn't wait to share this juicy gossip with his colleagues.