Standing by the locker, Qiao Xi calmly placed her belongings inside. A group of pretty girls approached, their intentions anything but friendly.
Turning to face them, she asked evenly, "What do you want?"
"Wow, you even brought a lunchbox? Let me see what's inside!" one of the girls, Wu Yapure, grabbed it and accidentally dropped it on the floor.
"Oops, my bad. I couldn't hold it steady," she said with a malicious grin.
Qiao Xi pressed her lips together, anger flaring as she looked at the carefully prepared meal, now ruined.
"Still mad? Such a small-town attitude," Wu Yapure sneered. Then, fanning the air dramatically, she asked, "Do you smell that? It reeks of a foxy scent."
"So strong!" another chimed in mockingly.
"Qiao Xi, it's coming from you, isn't it? Don't worry, we'll help you with that!"
Laughing, they picked up bottles of disinfectant alcohol and sprayed it at her, ridiculing her as they did.
"Not just the smell—there's the tacky country vibe too."
"Qiao Xi, stop dodging!"
Standing slightly apart, Ye Manman watched the commotion with her arms crossed, a smirk on her face. She had expertly fueled the group's animosity, turning their spite into action.
Qiao Xi's patience snapped. She reached into her sleeve for a needle, poking at their arms, causing the girls to yelp in pain.
Taking advantage of their surprise, she snatched the disinfectant and sprayed it back at them. Her face cold, she said, "If you didn't brush your teeth this morning, let me help you freshen up."
"You used a needle on us! I'm telling my uncle!" Wu Yapure cried, clutching her arm. "Just you wait!"
"Let's go!" she called, leading the group away in a huff.
As the chaos subsided, Qiao Xi exhaled and placed the disinfectant bottle aside.
Ye Manman stepped closer, feigning concern. "Qiao Xi, are you okay? That was so out of line!"
"Ye Manman."
Qiao Xi met her gaze, her voice sharp. "Stop pretending. The malice in your eyes is practically spilling out."
Ye Manman chuckled. "Fine. So I might've made a few comments. Who knew they'd go so far as to 'help' disinfect you?"
Ignoring her, Qiao Xi picked up a broom and cleaned up the mess on the floor.
"You know who Wu Yapure's uncle is, don't you?" Ye Manman smirked. "He's Director Wu, the one overseeing the interns. Offending her is career suicide."
"I came here to learn, not to play games with you," Qiao Xi replied coldly, her almond eyes glinting with icy resolve. She tidied her uniform and hair, then walked out.
Ye Manman's sneer deepened. Let's see who comes out on top.
She pulled out her phone and dialed Chen Xu. "Chen Xu, I've got a perfect way to get back at Qiao Xi. Are you in?"
In the director's office, Director Wu, a middle-aged man with a round frame and glasses, looked at the stunning young woman standing before him.
"Qiao Xi, right?"
"Yes." Qiao Xi stood with her back straight.
"Our acupuncture and rehabilitation department is the pride of this hospital. Not just anyone can stay. Currently, our attending physicians have no openings for interns, so you'll start as an assistant doctor. Your primary responsibility is to assist in Room 2103. Don't mess it up."
Assistant doctor—a glorified term for a helper, equivalent to a caretaker. It was grueling work.
Qiao Xi raised her gaze slightly and said, "Understood."
She knew he was setting her up to fail, ready to dismiss her at the first mistake.
"Young people need to toughen up. There's an intern assessment in a week. Fail it, and you'll be sent back to school."
Nodding, Qiao Xi turned and left.
Outside the office, a group of girls was huddled together, whispering with smug smiles.
"Yapure, your uncle is amazing! I heard Room 2103 has notoriously difficult patients, all with connections. So many people have been dismissed from there."
"I want her out of this hospital," Wu Yapure declared loudly, ensuring Qiao Xi overheard. "Sharing the same air with her is insulting."
"She'll never pass the assessment as a cleaning assistant."
Qiao Xi clenched her fists, swallowing her grievances.
They want me to back down? Not happening.
Carrying a bucket of disinfectant and a mop, she headed toward Room 2103. She knocked softly on the door, careful not to disturb the patient.
Footsteps approached, and the door opened to reveal a familiar face.
Xu Xiuyuan's brows furrowed in surprise as he noticed the badge on her white coat. "An intern?"
"Hello."
Carrying the bucket, Qiao Xi's mind raced with questions. "Dean Xu?"
She glanced at his badge, confirming he was indeed the hospital's honorary director—young, and already highly accomplished.
Xu Xiuyuan frowned. "Why is an intern in the rehab department doing this kind of work?"
"Who is it, Xiuyuan?" came a refined voice from inside.
"A doctor from the hospital. Grandmother, I need to get back to work."
Nodding at Qiao Xi, he added, "The old lady has high standards."
After he left, Qiao Xi carefully entered the room.
On the bed sat a regal elderly woman, partially paralyzed. Even in the hospital, she wore a finely tailored cheongsam and light makeup, exuding grace. She flipped through a magazine, barely acknowledging Qiao Xi.
The patient card at the head of the bed read Liu Qiushuang.
So, this is the matriarch who married into the Liu family. What a coincidence.
Qiao Xi soaked the mop in disinfectant and prepared to clean the floor.
Without looking up, the old woman said lazily, "Use a cloth to wipe the floor. Mops don't clean properly. If you can't manage, get someone else to do it."
Qiao Xi didn't respond. Instead, she switched to a cloth, bending down to meticulously wipe each tile until it gleamed.
The disinfectant irritated her skin, leaving her hands faintly red.
"I like bright, clean windows that let in sunlight. This hospital gets dusty outside. Wipe the windows, too. Don't leave any streaks, or I'll lodge a complaint," the old lady continued, her tone composed but demanding.
Understanding now what "difficult" meant, Qiao Xi sighed, massaging her aching waist before fetching a fresh bucket of water to clean the windows.
Halfway through, her phone vibrated in her pocket.
The old woman scowled. "I can't stand that buzzing noise. Didn't Director Wu tell you to turn it off?"
"Sorry."
Switching her phone to silent mode, Qiao Xi sent a quick text to Huo Xingzhou, letting him know she was working, and then ignored the phone.
After cleaning every window, she reported, "You have a check-up scheduled shortly. Afterward, I'll bring you your meal."
"I'm not going to any check-up. And hospital food is dreadful. Order a set meal from the Jinling Pavilion instead," the old lady dismissed her.
Before Qiao Xi could respond, Liu Qiushuang added another demand. "Do you know how to make coffee? My daughter sent me a coffee machine. Make me a cup with extra milk and sugar."
"Coffee isn't advisable given your condition," Qiao Xi replied firmly.
"Oh, a little girl lecturing me?" the old lady scoffed, tossing her magazine aside. When she looked up and took in Qiao Xi's face, she froze.
"Whose child are you?" she asked hesitantly.