"What? You're saying that car belongs to Dr. Ye? And his family's financial situation isn't good? No wonder! I always thought it was odd that someone could enjoy working so much, spending all their time at the hospital. This makes sense now, life must be tough for him!"
"What? Dr. Ye studied abroad on a full scholarship? No wonder he's so skilled at such a young age! He's a super scholar!"
The gossip about the green Little Q car belonging to Ye Xiu, his family's financial struggles, and his full scholarship to study in the UK quickly spread throughout the department. Everyone who heard the gossip found it highly believable because it made so much sense to them.
They had always doubted that anyone could genuinely enjoy staying in the hospital all the time and working tirelessly. However, the idea that someone would do it for money and out of necessity made perfect sense. This piece of gossip provided a satisfactory explanation.
Moreover, during their time working with Ye Xiu, the department staff had noticed that he was indeed very humble and low-key despite his outstanding medical skills. Why would such a skilled young doctor be so humble? And why would someone so unassuming drive such an eye-catching Little Q car to work?
All these questions could be perfectly explained by his financial situation. Ye Xiu had mentioned the car was fuel-efficient, indicating he even cared about saving on gas money. This clearly pointed to financial struggles.
Because of his financial situation, Ye Xiu maintained a humble demeanor among his colleagues. He lacked the financial means to be confident or boastful. As the saying goes, money gives one confidence, and a solid economic foundation is crucial. Many of the doctors and nurses, having been in the workforce for a while, deeply understood this sentiment.
Learning about the "truth" behind Ye Xiu's relentless work ethic, the doctors in the department all breathed a sigh of relief. This revelation was like a timely balm that eased their stress. After all, nobody liked to see someone so talented outworking them out of sheer passion. It was far more comforting to believe that Ye Xiu was driven by financial necessity rather than genuine enthusiasm. This understanding allowed them to relax more.
While feeling relieved, the doctors had various reactions towards Ye Xiu. Most of them felt sympathy and admiration for him, acknowledging that his life wasn't easy. Given that Ye Xiu had maintained a good rapport with his colleagues, his struggles endeared him even more to them. However, there were always a few narrow-minded and spiteful individuals who secretly felt gleeful, believing they had found an aspect in which they were superior to Ye Xiu.
Unaware of the gossip circulating about him, Ye Xiu continued with his busy schedule. After arriving at the outpatient clinic, he began seeing patients immediately. By the time he finished his morning appointments, he hadn't even stepped out of the consultation room, except for a quick bathroom break.
Perhaps because he had taken a day off yesterday, more patients sought him out today. Many insisted on seeing Dr. Ye specifically, leaving the triage nurses no choice but to comply.
Around 1 PM, after seeing the last of the morning patients, Ye Xiu felt a dull ache in his back and hips, causing him to smile wryly.
"I can't keep this up," he thought, glancing at the computer screen and seeing that he had seen 63 patients that morning. "Starting tomorrow, I need to cap it at sixty. Yes, sixty in the morning and sixty in the afternoon should be the limit."
Although Ye Xiu wanted to help as many patients as possible, he knew that to provide quality care and avoid burnout, he needed to control the number of patients he saw each day. Overworking would be irresponsible both to his patients and to himself.
Sixty patients per shift seemed reasonable, a number he could manage without compromising care.
After packing up, Ye Xiu hurried to the cafeteria. As usual, by the time he arrived, only leftovers were available. Nevertheless, he quickly grabbed a few dishes, ate, and then rushed to the inpatient department.
With limited time, he quickly checked on Mr. Feng in the ICU, ensuring his post-operative recovery was progressing well, before returning to the respiratory department for rounds. Due to the time crunch, Ye Xiu focused on the patients he had admitted and was familiar with, only briefly checking on others.
"Dr. Ye, you're doing rounds again!" a young nurse called out as Ye Xiu left a patient room.
"Yes," Ye Xiu replied with a smile, recognizing her as a frequent partner of Su Dongmei.
"Dr. Ye, you're such a dedicated doctor and a good man. You work so hard," the nurse said sincerely.
"Uh..." Ye Xiu was taken aback. He understood being called a good doctor, but what did being a good man have to do with it? And what was that look on her face?
Before he could figure it out, the nurse had already walked away.
"What's going on with them?" he wondered, encountering a few more nurses on his way, each giving him similar looks and comments.
"Dr. Ye!" someone called out as he reached the elevator. A group of doctors emerged from a nearby stairwell, led by Dr. Li, who used to sit next to him.
"Dr. Li, everyone, good afternoon," Ye Xiu greeted them.
"Dr. Ye, you're doing rounds again? You really are dedicated, but remember to take care of your health. Your health is the most important," Dr. Li said, patting Ye Xiu on the shoulder with genuine respect and admiration.
Regardless of his financial situation, Ye Xiu's hard work was undeniable. Despite his struggles, he never complained or asked for help, instead quietly working hard. This earned him considerable respect from his colleagues.
The other doctors also looked at Ye Xiu with admiration.