The sharp sound of a slap echoed through the hospital room, and Guo Shaocong's left cheek swelled visibly.
"You—you dare hit me?" Guo Shaocong stared at Ye Qiu in disbelief.
For a long time, Ye Qiu had been nothing more than a pushover in his eyes, but now...
"I tolerate you not because I'm afraid of you," Ye Qiu said coldly.
"I'll kill you!" Guo Shaocong raised his fist, ready to strike.
"Try it if you dare," Lin Jingzhi's cold voice cut in. "Dare to touch Ye Qiu, and I'll take your life."
Guo Shaocong turned around to see Lin Jingzhi's eyes cold and emotionless, showing no hint of jest.
"Who exactly are you?" Guo Shaocong asked in a deep voice.
"I'm someone you'll never be able to provoke," Lin Jingzhi glared. "Get out!"
Her aura was imposing!
Guo Shaocong hesitated for a moment, unwilling to relent. Before figuring out Lin Jingzhi's identity, he didn't dare to act rashly. What if she really was someone he couldn't afford to offend?
"Ye Qiu, I won't let this go. Wait and see," Guo Shaocong said with a final threat before quickly leaving the room.
The room finally fell silent.
"Thank you, Sister Lin," Ye Qiu said gratefully.
Lin Jingzhi's protection just now touched him deeply.
"It's nothing, really. No need to be polite," Lin Jingzhi said with a smile. "How did it feel to slap Guo Shaocong?"
"Very satisfying!" Ye Qiu felt that the slap had released all his pent-up frustration.
Then Ye Qiu asked Lin Jingzhi, "Sister, do you think I'm weak?"
"No, you're not weak; you're too kind," Lin Jingzhi said. "You've just stepped into society, and you don't want to cause trouble or provoke conflict because you know you have no money, power, or background. So every time something happens, you retreat again and again, preferring to suffer a bit rather than offend anyone. I understand your feelings."
"But, I don't admire them."
Lin Jingzhi changed her tone, "As I mentioned before, kindness can lead to being taken advantage of, just as a horse that's good-natured is ridden. Constantly tolerating and retreating doesn't actually solve problems. Guo Shaocong repeatedly bullying you is the best proof."
"Remember what I'm saying: a man who wants to stand firm must have a ruthless heart."
Ye Qiu sighed, "I understand the principle, but..."
"But you feel that without a background, you can't stand up to them, right?"
"Yeah," Ye Qiu nodded.
Lin Jingzhi smiled, "Why don't you think about it differently? Those with nothing to lose are the most fearless. If you stand your ground a bit more, would they really dare to fight you?"
Ye Qiu was taken aback.
"In this society, the richer and more powerful someone is, the more afraid they are of death. If you stand up to them, they will definitely back down," Lin Jingzhi said. "Besides, you're not completely without background."
"What do you mean?"
"From now on, I'll be your support. Anyone who dares to bully you, I'll take care of them."
Ye Qiu didn't know if Lin Jingzhi was serious, but he felt a warm glow in his heart.
"Thank you, Sister."
"I don't like verbal thanks. Can you do something more practical?" Lin Jingzhi squinted her long, narrow eyes, looking flirtatiously at Ye Qiu. "Give me a kiss."
Ah!
That was too direct!
Ye Qiu's face flushed again.
"Haha, you really are cute. I'm not teasing you anymore. Hand me the contract," Lin Jingzhi said with a playful laugh.
Ye Qiu quickly handed her the contract and pen.
Lin Jingzhi didn't even look at the contract content, signing her name directly.
Done!
Ye Qiu finally breathed a sigh of relief.
This meant that the care station had no reason to dismiss him, and it also meant he could continue working at the hospital.
As long as he could stay at the hospital, he would have a chance to return to surgery.
"By the way, can you use the Maoshan talisman to help treat my leg?" Lin Jingzhi asked.
Ye Qiu shook his head, explaining, "There is indeed a miraculous bone-setting technique in Maoshan talismans, but I haven't learned it yet. Also, your leg has already had surgery and just needs to rest."
"But I don't like lying in bed."
"I'll push you to the garden downstairs later!"
"Really? Ye Qiu, I find you so considerate. If only you were my boyfriend," Lin Jingzhi said, looking at Ye Qiu with her big, watery eyes, a hint of playfulness in her gaze.
Here we go again.
Ye Qiu was struggling to cope.
Why does this woman always like to tease him?
"Sister Lin, I'll go get something to eat from the cafeteria for you. Just lie down and don't move!" Ye Qiu awkwardly fled the room.
...
Qian Jinglan had been thinking about Ye Qiu's marriage recently. Since she wasn't working today, she finished her housework and then went to the hospital to discuss with Zhang Lili about arranging a meeting between their parents to settle the matter of Zhang Lili and Ye Qiu.
As she arrived at the hospital ward, she saw Zhang Lili supporting a young male doctor as they walked out.
The male doctor had his arm around Zhang Lili's waist, and they appeared quite intimate.
Qian Jinglan was a traditional woman, and this scene made her feel a bit displeased.
At that moment, Zhang Lili also saw Qian Jinglan and frowned, asking, "Auntie, what are you doing here?"
"Lili, I came to find you," Qian Jinglan said straightforwardly.
"Find me? For what?"
"I wanted to discuss finding a date for our parents to meet and settle things between you and Ye Qiu."
Zhang Lili's frown deepened, and she asked, "Auntie, didn't Ye Qiu tell you?"
"Told me what?" Qian Jinglan asked, puzzled.
"It seems Ye Qiu really didn't tell you," Zhang Lili said. "Ye Qiu and I have broken up."
"You broke up?" Qian Jinglan was shocked. "When did this happen? Ye Qiu never mentioned it."
"Ye Qiu probably didn't tell you that he was caught plagiarizing Dr. Guo's medical records and has now been demoted to working as a caretaker."
What?
Qian Jinglan's face turned pale. As a mother, her greatest concern was Ye Qiu's future.
"Can Ye Qiu still be confirmed as an employee?" Qian Jinglan asked anxiously.
"Losing his job and still wanting to be confirmed? Dream on!" Guo Shaocong sneered from the side. "Old woman, you have a good son. Not only did he plagiarize my medical records, but he also hit me. How outrageous!"
"You say Ye Qiu hit you? That's impossible." Qian Jinglan didn't believe it. "Ye Qiu is always kind to others and has never hit anyone. Is there a misunderstanding between you?"
"Misunderstanding my foot." Guo Shaocong pointed to his swollen left cheek. "Old woman, open your eyes and see. This is from your son."
Zhang Lili added, "Auntie, I can confirm that it was indeed Ye Qiu who hit him. Shaocong's father is the hospital's deputy director, so Ye Qiu will never be confirmed."
Qian Jinglan's face turned ashen. Ye Qiu was her biggest hope, but now...
No! She couldn't let her son lose his job!
Qian Jinglan bent over and forced a smile, saying to Guo Shaocong, "Dr. Guo, this is all Ye Qiu's fault. I will definitely educate him properly once he gets home. Could you, for my sake, give Ye Qiu a chance?"
"For your sake?" Guo Shaocong spat in Qian Jinglan's face and said, "What are you worth? Is your face worth anything?"
"Dr. Guo, please be lenient. It's all Ye Qiu's fault. I apologize for him…"
Slap!
Before Qian Jinglan could finish, Guo Shaocong slapped her face and said, "A lowly person like you doesn't deserve my leniency."
Qian Jinglan covered her face and looked at Zhang Lili with a pleading gaze. "Lili, you've been with Ye Qiu before. Please plead with Dr. Guo for me!"
Zhang Lili coldly said, "I've cut ties with Ye Qiu. Whether he lives or dies is none of my business."
Qian Jinglan looked at Zhang Lili in disbelief.
At that moment, Guo Shaocong sneered, "Old woman, if you kneel and apologize to me, I might give Ye Qiu a chance."
Thud!
Without hesitation, Qian Jinglan knelt on the ground. For her son's future, her personal dignity meant nothing.
Unexpectedly, Ye Qiu came out of the ward just in time to witness this scene, and his eyes instantly turned red.