With a sharp contraction of her pupils, Zhao Yanli instinctively gasped, jumping up and down in a rage, yelling:
"You're asking for a million for treating a mere stomachache and diarrhea? Chen, as a doctor on duty, how dare you extort patients like this? Aren't you afraid of having money you can't spend?"
She had thrown out ten thousand yuan, not only wanting Chen Xiao to agree to treat her but, more importantly, to frame him. After all, the Central Hospital strictly prohibited doctors from accepting money from patients privately.
However, she could never have dreamed that Chen Xiao's appetite would be so enormous that she couldn't possibly satisfy it.
Chen Xiao sneered and tossed the bills on the desk back into Zhao Yanli's arms:
"You don't need to worry about whether I have a life to spend money. What you should worry about is whether you can come up with a million. If you can't, then don't put on airs in front of me!"
"You..."
Zhao Yanli was so choked she couldn't speak. Her sharp, vulgar face, caked with thick makeup, looked exceptionally ferocious, as if she were a tigress about to devour Chen Xiao alive.
But Chen Xiao was unfazed. He calmly said again:
"Also, I'm not actually extorting you, because according to my diagnosis, your recurring symptoms of abdominal pain and diarrhea are very likely caused by cancer. Once confirmed, a mere million might not be enough to save your life."
Zhao Yanli, enraged, laughed back and threatened aggressively:
"Bastard, do you dare to take responsibility for your words? What if I find out I don't have cancer?"
After observing her for a while and analyzing Zhao Yanli's past medical records, Chen Xiao was actually very certain that Zhao Yanli's abdominal pain and diarrhea were complications caused by stomach cancer. The reason he said "very likely" was actually out of consideration for Zhao Yanli, not wanting to stimulate her.
But since Zhao Yanli was being uncooperative, he decided to be direct and printed out a payment slip:
"If you don't believe me, go get checked."
Zhao Yanli didn't believe Chen Xiao at all. She stormed out with the slip, saying without looking back,
"Fine, I'll get checked. When the results come out, I'll make sure to slap you across the face!"
Chen Xiao paid no mind to Zhao Yanli's threat and continued to diligently see patients.
Unconsciously, by the time he finished seeing the last registered patient, it was already lunchtime. However, Xu Jingyin, who had gone to get the silver needles, still hadn't returned.
"What's going on?"
Chen Xiao had a bad feeling. Just as he was about to make a call to inquire, Gou Shunquan, who had been quiet for nearly a day as if he had evaporated, suddenly called:
"Chen Xiao, come to my office immediately."
Fearing Chen Xiao wouldn't obey, he added with schadenfreude right after speaking:
"Oh, and Nurse Xu is here too. As for Meng Baobao and Zhou Wannong, they've been temporarily sent on a business trip, hehe."
With that, the call ended.
Chen Xiao's expression turned cold. Without hesitation, he got up and walked out, vowing silently:
"Gou Shunquan, Gou Shunquan, since you refuse to restrain yourself and insist on crossing me, don't blame me for uprooting you!"
...
At this moment, in Gou Shunquan's office, Gou Shunquan, Head Nurse He Sha, Dr. Bao Xinlai from the second examination room, Song Hongzhang from the original eighth examination room, and the shifty-eyed Niu Kunpeng were gathered, threatening Xu Jingyin, who stood alone in the corner.
He Sha said with a fake smile, "Little Xu, you don't want to be fired just because of Chen Xiao, do you? As long as you're willing to testify that Chen Xiao used his position to frequently harass you, not only will I not hold your insubordination against you from yesterday, but I'll also have Director Gou promote you and give you a raise."
Bao Xinlai said with feigned distress, "Nurse Xu, that guy surnamed Chen deceives, peeks at, and even molests a blind female patient. He's a beast in human skin. Why do you want to ruin your own bright future for him?"
Song Hongzhang hopped around, "Xu Jingyin, whether you stand with Director Gou or not, Chen Xiao is destined to be fired today. But if you continue to be stubborn, Director Gou will fire you too!"
Niu Kunpeng said sarcastically, "Beautiful Xu, I heard you're from a rural background with financial difficulties. You have to support your elderly grandmother in the countryside and pay for your sickly brother's education? Director Gou and Head Nurse He are giving you such a high salary, you must know how to repay kindness! If you get fired because of that bastard Chen Xiao, your family will have a hard time, won't they? Hehe."
Eighteen-year-old Xu Jingyin, facing the relentless threats and inducements from everyone, who acted like wolves and tigers for over two hours, was already on the verge of a mental breakdown. But she clearly remembered Chen Xiao's kindness to her the previous night. She kept her head down, refusing to speak.
Gou Shunquan's patience was completely worn out. He slammed his hand on the desk:
"Xu Jingyin, since you refuse to be reasonable, get out! You don't need to come in from this afternoon!"
Just then, with a loud bang, the slightly ajar office door was violently kicked open by Chen Xiao.