The old man, his eyes blurry with age, compared them for a long time before saying, "They do resemble each other somewhat. No wonder I felt a sense of familiarity the first time I saw you."
Under the glare of the incandescent light, Ning Wei studied the person in the photograph alone.
Since the old man didn't have a mirror, Ning Wei couldn't compare herself.
Everyone sees their own appearance through a filter, so Ning Wei saw no similarity between herself and that Qin Chang.
Aren't they all just a pair of eyes and a nose? Ning Wei thought as she looked.
Even though she herself didn't see it, since the old man and Lan Lingling both said so, it must be true.
Thinking back to how Doctor Zhao rushed to the ward as soon as she heard the news, perhaps that was also the reason.
The deceased Qin Chang had always been a thorn in Doctor Zhao's side. She could tolerate Yang Shuo's recklessness, but she couldn't accept him finding a replacement for Qin Chang outside.
As the replacement herself, Ning Wei felt a bit speechless.
Closing the urn and placing it on the table, she asked, "Have you seen her recently?"
Even without her mentioning a name, the old man knew who Ning Wei was referring to.
He sighed deeply, then shook his head, looking as though he didn't want to say more.
To the old man, Qin Chang was a dear junior. As an elder, he had suppressed his grief to handle her body and arrange her funeral.
Now, even after death, she was still lingering, asking if she had been wronged but refusing to appear.
With time, the old man's heart had grown cold.
Having obtained the answer she wanted, Ning Wei exchanged a few pleasantries with the old man and left.
Upon returning to the ward, she encountered Yang Shuo doing rounds again.
Ning Wei glanced at the time and then at Yang Shuo, "Doctor Yang, this doesn't seem to be the time for rounds, does it?"
Zhu Yulian was cooperating with Yang Shuo's examination. Hearing Ning Wei's sarcastic tone, she also appeared confused.
However, she trusted Ning Wei implicitly. If Ning Wei said this, there must be a reason.
The cautious Zhu Yulian glanced at Yang Shuo, then quietly withdrew her hand, pulled down her sleeve, and tucked both hands under the blanket, showing an attitude of non-cooperation.
Yang Shuo looked at Ning Wei with a hint of helplessness, his eyes full of doting affection. "Zhu Yulian's surgery is approaching. To ensure its success, I've been coming more frequently."
Ning Wei was disgusted by his feigned sincerity. She simply lay down on the bed and pulled the blanket over her head, choosing to avoid the sight and the trouble.
Seeing Ning Wei act like this, Yang Shuo's confidence swelled. He reached into his pocket and, as if by accident, changed direction and continued examining Lan Lingling.
He then pretended to drop his pen, discreetly placing something from his pocket under Ning Wei's pillow.
Suddenly, something the size of a fist pressed against her under the pillow. Ning Wei peeked out from under the blanket. Yang Shuo, acting as if nothing had happened, quickly left the ward.
After the medical staff had left the ward, Lan Lingling, barefoot, closed the door and leaned close to Ning Wei. "Any new discoveries?"
Ning Wei nodded, holding the piece of paper Yang Shuo had slipped to her.
"What is it? Is there anything I can help with?" Lan Lingling continued. It wasn't that she was overly curious; it was just that the surgery date was getting closer.
Several passengers had already been forcibly taken away, and she feared she might not live to see the day she received her ticket.
Ning Wei certainly wouldn't let anyone idle. She immediately told Lan Lingling, "Go and follow Doctor Zhao. Her office is directly opposite Yang Shuo's."
Lan Lingling nodded, grabbed Yuan Yuan, and headed out. "Mission guaranteed to be completed!"
Lan Lingling was very efficient and soon left the ward.
Ning Wei found herself alone in the ward again. She took out the crumpled piece of paper. It read: "Rooftop gathering, Ward X."
Should she go or not?
Ning Wei pondered for a moment, then tore the paper into pieces and threw it into the trash can. She lay back down to sleep.
Yang Shuo, convinced of his charm, had never failed before. Yet now, he stood on the rooftop, exposed to the cold wind.
He held a cigarette between his fingers, the corner of his white coat blown open by the wind, revealing a white shirt underneath. Leaning against the wall, his eyes narrowed, he exuded a peculiar melancholy.
It was precisely this transition from sunny to melancholic that allowed him to play on the psychology of these women.
Lost in thought, the glowing tip of his cigarette was blown backward by the wind. A bit of ash fell to the ground, and he inadvertently burned his finger.
"Ouch." Startled by the burn, Yang Shuo snapped back to attention.
He checked his watch, confirmed Ning Wei wouldn't come, and leisurely walked away.
Little did he know that from where he stood, one only needed to look up to see a woman in a white dress, her abdomen bleeding profusely, a trail of blood seeping down the wall.
Even though Ning Wei didn't show up for the rendezvous, Yang Shuo wasn't angry. On the contrary, her attitude only made him more intrigued.
In Ning Wei, Yang Shuo saw a shadow of another person.
It wasn't just the resemblance between their eyebrows and eyes; even the way they got angry was exactly the same.
Lost in thought, Yang Shuo returned to his office. Doctor Zhao, who had been waiting opposite, followed him in immediately.
Seeing Doctor Zhao, Yang Shuo was not pleasant. "What are you doing here?"
Doctor Zhao glared, her finger extended as if about to poke Yang Shuo's forehead.
"I'm warning you. I don't care how you mess around, but you know my bottom line..."
Yang Shuo, with an impatient expression, sat back in his chair and turned halfway, his back to Doctor Zhao. "Alright, I get it. You can go now."
Seeing that no one was around outside, Doctor Zhao boldly approached Yang Shuo. "Don't forget we are husband and wife! Is this how you treat your wife?"
Yang Shuo glanced at Doctor Zhao. "Don't you forget how we became husband and wife either!"
His words carried a hint of threat. Doctor Zhao's expression changed. She glared hatefully at Yang Shuo and then stomped out in anger.
Yang Shuo paid no mind to Doctor Zhao. He spun his chair again and stared blankly at the bookshelf.
After leaving the office, Doctor Zhao, fuming, changed her clothes and strode out of the hospital.
Lan Lingling and Yuan Yuan had been hiding in a corner. Seeing her leave, they quickly followed.
After exiting the hospital, Doctor Zhao didn't leave immediately but turned into a very secluded restroom.
Lan Lingling and Yuan Yuan encouraged each other and then tiptoed inside, following stealthily.
The restroom had six stalls, all separated by partitions. Doctor Zhao sat on one of the toilets, and rustling sounds emerged.
Lan Lingling and Yuan Yuan dared not move, listening anxiously to the sounds.
It turned out Doctor Zhao was searching for her phone in her bag. She made a call and said with unusual calm to the person on the other end, "Dad, have there been any developments regarding the promotion to go abroad?"