Chapter 1327: line with translation of chapter title

Director Yan thought for a moment, then said: "What do you think?"

This matter Zheng Lao Ban has no problem, curing diseases and saving lives, open and aboveboard. It's someone who is unwilling, always trying to find fault with him. Perhaps jealousy? But I think it's unlikely they would deliberately oppose the hospital; they don't have that guts. Ye Qingqiu had already carefully considered this matter.

Director Yan asked: "What about Zheng Ren?"

Outside the door.

Call Guo Yu and Mao Xiangmin. Director Yan had already regained his composure, speaking in an indifferent tone as if nothing weighed on his mind.

Ye Qingqiu remained silent, nodded, and opened the door.

Cao Lixia's big wavy hair hung loosely and drooped, listless. She leaned against the wall in the hallway, staring at her own toes, her mind in turmoil.

This matter unexpectedly turned out like this; Cao Lixia never imagined it.

Originally she also considered the possibility of being discovered; then she would just flatly deny it—who could produce evidence?

But before she could nicely give Section Chief Mao a breather, later she tried to get closer to Section Chief Mao again, and was caught red-handed.

What should she do? Can Section Chief Mao protect her?

Now is not the time to consider whether she can be promoted to section chief and then rise rapidly. Just as the incident occurred, the two police officers' national emblems were so conspicuous, making her inner gloom feel immense pressure.

If she were handled as a black evil force, Ye Qingqiu that vicious fellow would then add all those years of hospital dealings with professional medical troublemakers onto her……

Promotion? No need to even think about it.

Keeping her public position is already a luxury. Now what she wonders is—will she be criminally detained, treated as a black evil force and pressed to the ground by the iron fist of dictatorship, rubbing… rubbing… generating heat, igniting, blazing fiercely, soon turning into a wisp of blue smoke.

Section Chief Mao, you must protect me, Cao Lixia kept praying in her heart.

Time trickled by; with each passing interval, Cao Lixia's heart sank a little deeper into the endless abyss.

Hope grew ever more slender; awaiting her was only darkness and despair.

After an unknown amount of time, the director's office door opened, and Ye Qingqiu walked out.

Cao Lixia saw a sliver of light appear before her; she lifted her head, gazing at Director Ye with tear-filled eyes.

His expression wasn't very stern; it seemed the matter wasn't serious, and Cao Lixia, through observing Ye Qingqiu, saw a glimmer of hope.

He… he laughed, the usually unsmiling Director Ye laughed. Cao Lixia's heart surged with tears: I'm fine, I'm fine!

Director Ye walked toward her, and would pat her shoulder, telling her, "Little Cao, I know you're innocent."

But none of this happened; Ye Qingqiu didn't even notice Cao Lixia's dejected face, instead walking past her and saying to Zheng Ren: "Zheng Lao Ban, the director is looking for you."

Cao Lixia was dazed; why is there nothing for me? What should I do next?

No one spoke to her; everyone acted as if she didn't exist.

Watching Zheng Ren and Ye Qingqiu about to enter the director's office again, Cao Lixia felt panicked, as if she had stepped into empty air, with an abyss below.

No!

She hurriedly ran after him and grabbed Ye Qingqiu's clothing.

"Hn?" Ye Qingqiu turned back, casting Cao Lixia a disgusted glance.

"Ye… Director Ye… I…" Cao Lixia stammered.

"Wait here for processing." Ye Qingqiu said, waving his hand to knock away Cao Lixia's hand, and brought Zheng Ren into the office.

Seeing the two whispering and laughing, the office door closed bit by bit, as if another world were drifting away from her; Cao Lixia felt utterly terrified.

She wanted to grasp that sliver of light, but in the end her limbs went limp, and she stood motionless, numb, watching the elevator close, leaving only her dark, cold self.

She stood dazed in the hallway, like a wandering soul, with nothing to rely on.

What on earth happened? This must be a nightmare.

Cao Lixia thought a lot, yet her mind felt blank, she couldn't come up with anything. The situation was so unfamiliar that her life experience couldn't give her a correct answer.

After a long while, she finally thought to seek help from her husband.

Her hands trembling, she found a secluded spot and placed a call, taking nearly half a minute.

Just then, the elevator sounded, the numbers ascending. Cao Lixia didn't have time to say anything to her husband, and immediately hung up. She rubbed her face hard a few times, trying to look more spirited.

I must properly explain things to Director Yan, definitely!

The elevator doors opened again, Deputy Director Guo and Section Chief Mao appeared before Cao Lixia with grim expressions.

"You, what mess have you made!" Section Chief Mao no longer gentle and kind, his voice sharp, full of infinite anger.

As soon as they met, before she could explain, they already defined the matter…… Cao Lixia's hands and feet turned icy; she knew she had been mercilessly abandoned.

I……

"What you what!" Mao Xiangmin's makeup was a bit messy; having just removed her makeup at home, she received Deputy Director Guo's call, rushed to meet, hurrying while discussing what to do.

As for what makeup, she had no time to worry about it.

"Section Chief Mao, I didn't do anything." Cao Lixia weakly defended herself.

"Didn't do anything? Director Yan could get that angry? Get out of the way and listen to the outcome." Mao Xiangmin said coldly.

"You…" Cao Lixia felt resentment rise, pointing at Mao Xiangmin and shouting shrilly: "It's all because you ordered me to do this!"

"Are you crazy?" Section Chief Mao stared in shock; this obedient subordinate, gone mad? How could she say such a thing?!

"It's you who ordered it! You told me to find related materials—who doesn't know you've always had it out for him?!" Cao Lixia felt as if she had seized an invisible hand, pulling herself from the endless abyss; she fell into an excited state, lunging at Section Chief Mao and instinctively grappling.

At this moment, all genteel facades were torn away.

Guo Yu stared blankly—who had told Cao Lixia what? Why did she adopt a give-up-on-life attitude as soon as they met?

"Little Cao, you can't slander the leader like that." Guo Yu said calmly, intending to intervene.

"It's all you lot—at the director's office meeting, you tripped up Zheng Lao Ban; yesterday it was Mao Xiangmin who ordered me to dig up dirt on Zheng Lao Ban!" Cao Lixia went berserk, venting her panic, anxiety, and helplessness.

Seeing her, Mao Xiangmin spoke harshly, trying to distance herself; it was the final straw that completely broke Cao Lixia's overburdened heart.

She had completely gone mad, hysterical, grappling with Mao Xiangmin.

The Guo Yu trying to break up the fight didn't know who had scratched him; two fingernail marks ran from the corner of his eye down to his jaw, like the aftermath of being caught in bed by his wife.