Xiao Xiao sat in the car, using her phone as a mirror, she indeed saw a large mold stain on the back of her neck.
The guilt she felt from scratching his face had dissipated in this moment.
This man always held grudges; the sentence she uttered yesterday, "The hospital doesn't require it, but I want to save face," obviously struck a chord, and he took it to heart.
He never physically abused her, but he would seek revenge in this insidious manner.
Xiao Xiao tossed the phone towards the passenger seat and emotionlessly stepped on the gas pedal.
While waiting for the red light, a huge screen on the building in front played an advertisement.
In the ad, a famous actress clad in a cheongsam was introducing the "Royal Sand Casino".
Royal Sand Casino, a subsidiary of Huangsha Group, is formally known as Royal Sand Hotel and Casino. Constructed by the mountains and the sea, it's one of Ao City's iconic buildings and an internationally renowned major casino. It draws an endless stream of visitors day by day.
It is both a den of iniquity, a place of fortune and fame, and an abyss of greed; it could make one's fortune overnight, or lead to utter ruin, with wealth scattered and families destroyed.
The gambling industry is one of Ao City's three main pillars, and Huangsha Group is the leader of the pack.
Fu Xingzhou was a true Hong Kong native, with the Fu Family's enterprises being among the elite of Hong Kong's Central and Western District.
Yet he ventured alone into Ao City's gambling circles, and in just a few years, he had established his own empire.
Gambling is legal in Ao City, but Xiao Xiao deeply despised it.
Ever since she could remember, the incessant sound of mahjong tiles surrounded her; her father and those people seemed glued to the mahjong tables, as if they had no need for food and water.
Only when she and her brother were so hungry their faces turned yellow would Ye Jian'an impatiently toss her a dollar or two to buy some food outside.
If he suffered a heavy loss that day, she might not even have a dollar to her name and would have to cook a pot of thin rice porridge for her brother with the remaining rice at home.
On the inside of her right thigh, there was still a scar from a burn that no medicine had been able to erase.
After so many years of gambling, he eventually gambled away his own daughter as well.
The colossal Royal Sand Casino was her first visit; it dazzled with its splendor and grandeur, while her father was beaten black and blue, kneeling on the ground with a pitiful look, begging her for help with his eyes.
That was also her first time seeing Fu Xingzhou, the man seated in the half-light, eyeing her like prey and marking her as his own territory.
His frigid eyes held a sly smile, he lifted her chin like a king bestowing charity.
"Be my lover, and your father's gambling debt is wiped clean."
With a staggering five million, she could not afford to pay back even if she sold her house and car. However, compared to money, she valued her dignity and bottom line even more.
"I won't be a mistress, nor will I be 'the other woman'. If you agree, I can pay off this debt in installments. If you don't, you can do as you please with him." She wouldn't just watch as Ye Jian'an lost his life, but she certainly wouldn't ruin her own morals for such a person.
"What about marriage, then?" His voice was deep, bewitching.
Xiao Xiao found out later why he had been so hasty in getting their marriage certificate.
When he took her to Hong Kong, to Granny Fu's presence, the old lady held the fiery red certificate with a face that had long been tormented by illness, finally wearing a relieved smile.
A year had passed, and Xiao Xiao thought that he would soon grow tired of it. After all, he was never lacking in female companionship, and their marriage had begun with benefits and ended with indifference.
Two people without love were just reluctantly staying together because of that bit of attachment.
The day Granny Fu passed away, he would soon separate from her.
"Beep beep"
The honking from behind broke Xiao Xiao's train of thought; she withdrew her gaze from the advertising screen, and her eyes were serene.
~~
"Dr. Ye, the director asked you to come over."
Ye Yan changed into her white coat and dabbed foundation on the back of her neck, then perfectly covered the mark left by Fu Xingzhou with a large adhesive bandage.
When she walked out, she ran into Chai Chen.
Dr. Chai, in a clean white coat, revealed a sky-blue shirt underneath; black, thin-framed glasses outlined his angular face.
"Ye Yan, congratulations," Chai Chen's hand was in the pocket of his white coat, smiling warmly, "Mrs. Qin from V12 had a successful surgery yesterday. The Qin family sent some things over this morning, but the dean politely refused."
What the Qin family had sent was certainly not fruits or flowers, most likely luxury goods.
Others thought doctors responsible for the VIP area were enjoying the perks, but there were clear hospital rules that medical staff could not accept any gifts from patients or their families, otherwise it would be a violation of regulations—minor offenses would result in a fine, serious ones in a transfer.
Even though their base salary and bonuses were higher than others by a rank, the risks they bore were correspondingly greater.
If you encounter someone with good temperance, gentle and modest, you're in luck; but for those with a more explosive temperament, they could threaten your livelihood at any moment.
Like Xiao Xiao, who was fined half a month's bonus for giving a patient one extra injection, and as the attending physician, Ye Yan's performance bonus for the month was directly deducted.
"Your skills are getting more and more impressive," Chai Chen walked alongside her, "You probably won't find a second doctor in Ao City who's at your level."
Ye Yan specialized in minimally invasive surgery, and her talent and hard work made her stand out in this field.
This was also the reason she had been transferred to the VIP section.
"Thank you for the praise," Ye Yan maintained a calm demeanor, "What does the director want us to do?"
Director Bi seemed very happy today, and got straight to the point when they walked in, "The Qin family sent a dining card; it was hard to refuse, so call your colleagues who are off duty to use it."
Naturally, Director Bi couldn't accept particularly valuable gifts, but flatly refusing the Qin family's kindness would be discourteous, so he had to accept the dining card.
"It's also a good opportunity for everyone who has been tired recently—go have a meal and relax. I'll arrange things on the hospital's side."
Director Bi looked at Ye Yan with an approving smile, "The surgery went beautifully, and Mrs. Qin was highly satisfied. But I refused the gift the Qin family sent you—you don't mind this old man meddling, do you?"
"The teacher is acting according to hospital rules, of course I don't mind," Ye Yan thought of the stack of unopened luxury brand packages at home.
Rich people seemed particularly fond of using such items to show sincerity, but she never felt the slightest bit of thoughtfulness in them.
Those things, Fu Xingzhou himself had never even seen with his own eyes; they went through the hands of assistants and secretaries, and all he did was get them delivered.
Ye Yan's attitude made Director Bi even more satisfied. Although he had refused the gift for her, he would definitely find a balance for her in terms of salary.
Back at the department, Ye Yan announced Director Bi's suggestion.
Xie Yang took the dining card from her hand, exclaiming, "It's an unlimited card from Jiua."
Everyone was initially lukewarm, but the mood became lively as soon as they heard the word "Jiua."
As the only seven-star luxury hotel in Ao City, Jiua was enough to fulfill all their aspirations.
"The Qin family really knows how to spend—straight for Jiua."
"I never thought I'd set foot inside the doors of Jiua in my lifetime."
"I heard it's membership-based, you can't get in without a member card."
"Fancy restaurants definitely set restrictions for outsiders, otherwise how would you distinguish the wealthy from the common folk."
Everyone gathered around studying the dining card; Xie Yang approached Ye Yan, "Dr. Ye, have you ever been to Jiua?"
The young man's eyes were filled with curiosity and longing.
Ye Yan, writing up a case, denied without a moment's hesitation, "No."
If possible, she did not want to hear that name again—that place had been the source of her nightmares.