Chapter 24 Never Said Anything About It, But… We Have Done It
Riley took her steps on the huge staircase in front of the hospital, and a few doctors brushing past her started to gossip about something. When she passed through the side door, a few heart surgeons were engaged in a muffled discussion too.
The atmosphere in the hospital was slightly off today.
She continued to make her way to the destination without paying any heed to those pointing finger. While she was changing her clothes in the women's locker room, Rose suddenly patted her shoulders, "Dr. Watson, did you notice that there is something off with the ambience in the hospital?"
Riley slightly knitted her brows and pondered the possibility that her relationship with Euan had been exposed.
"What is different today?"
She was draped in her white coat and while thrusting a ballpoint pen into her chest pocket, Riley asked nonchalantly.
Rose pursed her lips and answered, "You really don't know about anything? It is such a major news, but you are telling me you know nothing about it?"
"What news?"
The moment she stepped through the main entrance, she immediately sensed that something was wrong. Did something major really happen?
Rose had changed into her doctor's attire too. She pocketed her pen and mused mysteriously, "So there are moments that Dr. Watson would be curious about something as well?"
"I need to patrol the wards now. You can tell me more when I come back."
Riley exited the locker room without giving Rose any chance to reveal what was happening.
"Hey! Dr. Watson..."
However, she was out of her sight by then.
Riley carried along a folder containing the medical history of patients and just as she was about to enter a ward, the dean hurriedly caught up to her, "Riley, fast, come with me." "Dean, what's the matter? Can you hold on until later? I need to go..."
"If this isn't something urgent, would I come looking for you personally? I will ask Rose to patrol the wards, you have to come with me now."
Riley silently complained: What was wrong with everything today? Everyone was on edge for some reason.
Uh...
she followed the dean to the entrance of the hospital and Riley immediately saw a dozen people standing in a row, and each of them was holding a bouquet of flowers, and there was a banner sporting the words "With A Kind Heart, Humanity Will Be Saved" in gold colour...
These people were the relatives of those patients who were maliciously stirring up trouble in the hospital last time.
What shocked Riley was that there were even a few reporters present in the lobby!
"Dr. Watson, we are here specifically to apologize. We were the ones in the wrong last time. Dr. Watson, you have a kind heart and your medical prowess is undeniable, we have misunderstood you..." "Dr. Watson, please accept our apologies. We will make sure to not further defame you..."
Riley was startled as she stared at the row of people in shock. She was stunned for a long time.
Did this mean that the forensic result had been released? Why wasn't she informed of this?
The dean smiled earnestly and said, "Dr. Watson, it is thanks to you for insisting to have the corpse dissected that the truth was able to come to light. This is a good thing for both you and the hospital." While being faced with the dean's unusual ceremonial attitude and the sincerity by those involved, the corner of Riley's mouth twitched, "Dean, it is good that we can clear the misunderstanding, but... you don't need to do this, do you?"
There were many people gathering in the lobby, and many patients and doctors were surrounding them, which impeded the order in the lobby.
"Dr. Watson, we sincerely want to apologize to you. Please accept our apology!"
A man leading them held up a huge bouquet of lily, and a man beside him was raising the banner in his hands. Their sincere attitude today was a far cry from how they were behaving last time. Riley helplessly accepted the flowers and replied, "Since you've already known the forensics result and you have also apologized, I won't pursue this matter anymore. Please go back now."
The man didn't expect Riley to back off so easily, so he swallowed with difficulty and asked carefully, "D-Dr. Watson, are you sure that you won't pursue this matter?"
Riley revealed a faint smile and replied, "Why? Are you hoping that we continue to drag this out?"
"No, that's not what I mean. Dr. Watson, the fact that you won't pursue our responsibilities is a good news for us... Thank you so much, Dr. Watson. Thank you!"
The man thanked profusely, and the dozens of people behind him kept apologizing in loud voices, which filled the lobby.
Wasn't this a little too... Exaggerated?
It was not unusual for her to encounter patients kicking up a fuss or those who apologized, but it was Riley's first time seeing someone making a huge scene out of this.
Let alone Riley, it was also the dean's first time witnessing such a scene, despite she had many years of experience under her belt.
The reports swooped in and gathered around Riley, all wrestling with each other and with their microphones extended to interview Riley...
"Dr. Watson, you have been deeply troubled by these family members' actions a few days ago, so why can you accept their apology so easily?"
"Dr. Watson, what do you have to say about them kicking up a fuss in the hospital which was an unbecoming antic?"
Riley didn't have any facial expression on her face while she carried the lily in her arms. She replied faintly, "I'm sorry, you are at the hospital. It is a place reserved for people to seek medical attention, not for you to write news and promote your ideas."
"Dr. Watson, Dr. Watson, you only need to answer one question."
"Dr. Watson..."
Riley shot a glance at the dean, and the dean immediately dispatched security personnel to shove away all those reporters from her.
While she paid no heed to the crowd craning their heads in her direction behind her, Riley marched into an elevator on the side. Apology? Banner? Reporters?
Was this the outcome she should expect after that incident in the hospital?
Riley was really suspicious of how things had turned out.
"Wow! Such a huge flower! Dr. Watson, you have become a famous person in the hospital! You look like an ambassador of JD Central Hospital!"
Margot got her hands on the flowers and banners and she had a look of admiration on her face.
"If you like them, I can give them to you."
"Are you for real? Usually the doctors are the one who need to apologize to the family members of a patient, but this is the first time I have encountered family members making such a huge scene when they apologize to a doctor. Tell me, is this finally our time to take the lead in the dynamics of our relationship?"
Teddy interjected, "Whether you can take the lead or not depends on that matter. It's not entirely up to you."
"Dr. Pearson, can you stop raining on my parade? It's not easy for me to finally see a light of hope in my career." Margot couldn't bear to let go of those flowers and she prayed that this meaningful flowers would always stay alive and blossom forever.
At that moment, Rose returned from her routinely patrol, and because she had to cover for Riley's patients this time, her working hours had been delayed significantly.
"Dr. Watson, shouldn't you treat me to a meal?"
Riley nodded without hesitation, "Alright, I will treat you to a meal in the canteen. You can order whatever you want."
"Hey, why are you bringing me to the canteen? You have been very nice towards the patients, so why can't you be as nice to us colleagues too?"
Riley took over the file in Rose's hands and leafed through it to make sure the patients are in their expected conditions, "If you want me to be gentle to you, it's very easy. You just need to fall sick and if it happens that you need a heart bypass surgery, I would be extra gentle and caring towards you for the coming months."
"Dr. Watson! Can you not be so petty?"
At noon, Riley fulfilled her promise as she invited Rose and Margot to have a meal in the canteen. With much exasperation, the two of them managed to order the most expensive and scrumptious meal available, but the overall price was still too forgiving for Riley.
The others present in the canteen broke into hushed discussions the moment they saw Riley arriving. Riley couldn't make out what they were talking about, and she felt like their gazes were going to bore a hole in her. She couldn't even rest easy when she was at lunch break.
There was a saying that went like: a man dreads fame as a pig dreads being muscular. She couldn't agree more!
Rose was biting her chopsticks as she said mischievously, "Dr. Watson, if things start over again, instead of becoming a doctor, you can choose to be a star. You look really pretty on camera."
Riley was just concentrating on her dishes so she didn't heard what Rose was saying. Margot looked upwards at a television and all of a sudden, the braised chop pork ball which was already by her mouth dropped to her plate.
"What! You have been interviewed!"
Riley stole a glance at the television screen and saw herself draped in her doctor's white coat. She frowned while complaining silently: Those unscrupulous reporters!
"Are you full now?"
"Dr. Watson, the way you answered those reporters is so aloof and dominant! You are my goddess! Kindly allow me to kneel before you!" Rose gazed at the television screen admiringly and at the moment, Riley was turning around and leaving with her cool back in the news. Her back was so cool!
At the same time, this news was being shown on a huge display screen in Euan's office.
Elijah probed, "Boss, how is this? Haven't we done a good job?"
Euan glanced at him with a deadpan expression and his icy gaze prompted Elijah to shut up instantly.
"Don't you have any other matter to attend to at the moment?"
Euan coldly answered.
"Yes, I have other things to attend to. Boss, please excuse me..."
Elijah left the office while Euan continued to stare at the huge screen which was now froze. Her thin back resembled the most brilliant ray of twilight shining through a sea of flowers.
The man's wicked lips curled up unexpectedly.
After lunch, all the internal surgeons had an emergency meeting and they only had one agenda for it.
"You guys know that the position of deputy dean of the internal surgery department had been vacant for some time. Now, we finally have a suitable candidate for it, and in a few days, the new deputy dean would assume his position. Everyone have to get ready."
After the meeting, a dozen doctors started to engage in a heated discussion.
"I heard that the new deputy dean is a doctor from Stanford University who has won countless medical awards! Besides, he has a killer look which is even more handsome than a male protagonist in a Korean drama!"
"That's not the only thing! He is also the most accomplished surgical specialist! As for the reason he is transferring to the internal surgery department, I haven't heard anything about that." "Wow! So that means there is going to be a handsome guy joining us! I am looking forward to his arrival so much!"
Riley was sceptical about those rumours. A doctor from Stanford University? He has to be at least thirty-five years old. To top it off, he is even more handsome than an actor? They must be talking about a middle-aged actor then.
Furthermore, he was going to man the looks department around here? If there was such a perfect man, it would really be a surprising twist.
When Riley almost got off work in the afternoon, she recalled that she needed to administer more antibiotics for one of the patients, so she set out to the ward department.
"Riley!"
Before she could even take a few steps, a high-pitched voice pierced through the corridor. Riley raised her head with her hands thrust in her pockets and a woman in heavy make-up came into view. Her high- heels were making clicking noises underneath, and while she swayed her waist, her long wavy hair bounced and wavered rhythmically. She was really seductive and alluring.
Although she had a pair of huge sunglasses on, Riley could recognize that this woman with unfriendly intentions was none other than Lydia.
"Anything I can help you with, Miss Saunders?" Riley replied noncommittally, her tone icy and distant.
Lydia hurried her pace and she was now standing in front of Riley. She was laughing coldly with exaggeration, "Riley, you are really a capable person!"
As she was saying that, her slender arm was raised high as she made a gesture to slap Riley.
"Miss Saunders, stop your nonsense here!"
Riley held Lydia's wrist in mid-air with exceeding speed, which astounded Lydia.
Lydia was gnashing her teeth as she struggled to retrieve her hand. She howled, "You shameless bitch! What have you said to Euan?"
She was really coming at Riley for him! That was only natural since besides Euan, there was no way they could have anything in common which would entice them for a meet-up.
Riley stared straight at Lydia's heavily made-up face and snorted, "I didn't say anything to him, but... I have done it with him!"☐☐☐☐☐☐☐☐☐☐☐☐