A nurse entered and asked Yang Tao, "Dr. Yang, are you ready?"
Yang Tao had been called back on short notice. She didn't even know the situation, only that a pregnant woman needed an abortion. The woman had gotten pregnant by another man behind her husband's back, and her in-laws were paying a hefty sum for her to terminate the pregnancy.
She refused. This was not something she wanted to handle, especially when the party involved was unaware.
Regardless, she wanted to hear the patient's opinion first. However, when she put on her surgical gown and stepped onto the operating table, she froze upon seeing a familiar face.
Wei Yumeng! How could it be her?
Seeing Yang Tao's prolonged silence, the nurse called out to her, "Dr. Yang, what's wrong?"
Yang Tao pointed at the unconscious Wei Yumeng and asked, "What's going on?"
The nurse shook her head. "We're not very clear. We heard it was at the family's request, and the higher-ups have already approved it. Everyone agreed to proceed with the surgery."
As nurses, they couldn't ask too many questions.
Yang Tao immediately put down the scalpel and frowned. "Did the patient sign the consent form?"
"The patient didn't sign. She was brought in like this."
"So, you mean they want to forcibly take the child from her belly?" Yang Tao's mind immediately flashed to Zhan Mohan. But hadn't Zhan Mohan already agreed to let Wei Yumeng have the child?
Why was she being secretly sent here now?
The nurse whispered in Yang Tao's ear, "I heard this woman is pregnant with another man's child, and it seems the wife of that man sent her over. Judging by her attire, she's someone of status. The higher-ups have already agreed, so she's likely a person not to be offended. Dr. Yang, it's best if we don't cross her."
They had seen plenty of such wealthy family dramas. If the woman was unwilling to abort the child, then this forceful method was their only option.
But Yang Tao knew Wei Yumeng would surely not agree. Whether Zhan Mohan was aware of this was still uncertain.
After a moment of thought, she told the nurse, "I need to tell you something, and I need your cooperation."
After listening to Yang Tao, the nurse exclaimed in surprise, "Dr. Yang, this won't do. If the higher-ups find out, we'll lose our jobs."
She had worked hard to get into this hospital and planned to stay until retirement. It wouldn't be worth it to lose her job over this.
"If we really do this, what happens if the family makes a fuss? It won't just be us; the entire hospital will bear responsibility."
The nurse's expression showed a hint of hesitation.
"I..."
Yang Tao patted her shoulder. "Don't overthink it. I'll take responsibility. Don't be afraid. As long as I can continue to be a doctor, I won't let you lose your jobs."
The nurse knew Yang Tao's father was the vice dean of the hospital. If she could win Yang Tao's favor, her future in the hospital would be secured.
"Alright, then I'll do as you say, Dr. Yang. But, Dr. Yang, what if we're found out..."
"Don't worry, I'll take all the blame."
Yang Tao understood the nurse's concerns. After all, she had just graduated and cherished her job.
Seeing that Yang Tao had made up her mind, the nurse agreed.
Yang Tao then went out and made a call to Chu Zian. Chu Zian was still asleep and groggy when he received Yang Tao's call.
"Calling at this hour, are you asking me out to dinner?"
"Wei Yumeng is at our hospital. Come over now."
As soon as Chu Zian heard Wei Yumeng's name, his eyes snapped open, and his sleepiness vanished instantly.
"How is she at your hospital?"
"I don't have time to explain now. Hurry over. Oh, and enter through the back door."
"Got it." Chu Zian didn't ask any further questions and rushed to the hospital after hanging up.
When he saw the unconscious Wei Yumeng, he looked bewildered.
"What's going on? Who brought her here?"
"It should be Zhan Mohan's stepmother. I saw another woman outside. I don't know the specifics, but they probably want to terminate the child in Wei Yumeng's womb."
Chu Zian looked up in surprise, his eyes flashing with anger. "Did Zhan Mohan say that?"
"Probably not. If it were really Zhan Mohan, he wouldn't resort to such despicable methods." Yang Tao didn't know Zhan Mohan very well, but her intuition told her he wouldn't do something like this.
Chu Zian scratched his head, and suddenly thought of someone.
"Wen Yulan, Zhan Mohan's stepmother!"
He had heard long ago that this woman had climbed her way up through illicit means, stepping over Zhan Mohan's birth mother to reach her current position. She was definitely not an ordinary woman, and it was probably her.
Yang Tao didn't quite understand how many people or how complex the relationships were within the Zhan family. She glanced at the time.
"We can discuss this later. Your priority now is to get Wei Yumeng out of here. Also, here's some medicine. Give it to her after you get her out. They knocked her out and brought her in, and they're still waiting outside for my results."
Anxiety flickered in Chu Zian's eyes. "What will you say then?"
Yang Tao hadn't thought it through either; it all happened so suddenly.
"We'll see then. Just take her away first."
Chu Zian looked at Wei Yumeng lying on the operating table and nodded.
"Okay, call me later."
With that, Chu Zian carried Wei Yumeng out through the back door.
Outside the operating room, Wen Yulan and Feng Shiqing were still waiting for the results, both already envisioning a beautiful future.
Feng Shiqing excitedly squeezed Wen Yulan's hand. "Auntie, as long as the child in Wei Yumeng's womb is gone, we can have Si Yu marry Brother Mohan. Then we'll all be family, and this annoying person will never appear again."
Feng Shiqing had always disliked Wei Yumeng's affected demeanor. Clearly, she was the one who had hurt Brother Mohan the most, yet he was still so good to her.
This woman should be grateful for Brother Mohan's affection, yet she had gotten involved with that Xin Ran. Later, she had Deng Xianyi, which was enough to show how promiscuous this woman was, lacking any ethics or morals.
How could she be worthy of her good Brother Mohan?
Wen Yulan looked at the time, growing impatient. "An hour has already passed. An abortion surgery shouldn't take this long, right?"
At that moment, the operating room door opened, and Yang Tao emerged.
Wen Yulan and Feng Shiqing hurried forward. Seeing their eagerness, one would think they were genuinely concerned about the patient's condition.
Yang Tao sneered contemptuously. These people were truly... a bunch of wicked hearts.
Wen Yulan anxiously asked, "Doctor, has the child already been aborted?"
Yang Tao put her hands in the pockets of her doctor's coat, her gaze icy.
"Do you all wish so badly for others to be unable to become mothers?"
Wen Yulan and Feng Shiqing exchanged glances, both confused by Yang Tao's words.
Wen Yulan gave an awkward smile. "Doctor, have you misunderstood something? I'm here to have my daughter-in-law undergo an abortion."
"Did your daughter-in-law know you were sending her here?"
Every word Yang Tao spoke was a sharp jab, leaving Wen Yulan utterly bewildered.
Wen Yulan quickly sensed that Yang Tao's words had a hidden meaning. She let out a scoff.
"Doctor, this doesn't seem to concern you, does it? The higher-ups should have informed you already."
The implication was that she should do as instructed by her superiors, so why the questions.
Yang Tao narrowed her eyes but was not intimidated by Wen Yulan's words. Her questions became even more pointed.
"I have my principles as a doctor. You sent her here for an abortion without the patient's consent and resorted to such despicable means. If I call the police now, do you think the police will arrest you or me!"
Feng Shiqing did not expect someone to intervene at this crucial moment. She stepped forward and menacingly threatened Yang Tao.
"Who do you think you are, daring to yell at us? Let me tell you, with a single word from us, this hospital could be shut down immediately. Do you believe that!"
Yang Tao glanced at Feng Shiqing, her expression calm, showing no trace of fear. Instead, there was a hint of provocation in her gaze.
"Threatening me?"
Feng Shiqing replied haughtily, "So what if I'm threatening you?"
"Then you can try. Let's see whether this hospital goes bankrupt first, or whether you end up at the police station!"