Chapter Forty-Seven: The Department of Traditional Medicine

Gu Xiujin's words were as cold and indifferent as ever, striking Wang Miao’er’s heart with a heavy blow. She staggered back a few steps, then shook her head in disbelief and said, “I don’t believe it. Why should I be fired? I haven’t done anything wrong.”

“This afternoon, go to the HR department and complete your resignation procedure,” Gu Xiujin replied, not wasting any more words. He placed the dismissal document in front of Wang Miao’er.

Biting her lip, Wang Miao’er said nothing. She opened the office door and walked out, storming down the corridor with anger radiating from her entire body.

“Have you heard? President Gu is considering opening a traditional medicine department at Gu Hospital, and he’s even invited the owner of the Chunshan Hall across the street to serve as chief physician,” one nurse at the station was gossiping.

“What? No way! Why haven’t I heard about this?” another nurse, wearing a hairclip, exclaimed in surprise.

A slightly plump nurse wore a look of pride as she said, “Of course you haven’t heard. I only found out when I accidentally overheard a meeting last time.”

“Haven’t you noticed how often President Gu goes to Chunshan Hall across the street? I heard his own illness has gotten better thanks to treatment from the owner there. So opening a traditional medicine department in the hospital seems pretty logical.”

Though they spoke so, the hospital had a long history of prejudice against traditional medicine, and most people still believed it was nothing more than a fraud.

At that moment, a voice barely suppressing its fury suddenly rang out beside them. Wang Miao’er, her teeth clenched, asked, “What did you just say? President Gu wants to open a traditional medicine department here at Gu Hospital? Is that true?”

Wang Miao’er’s sudden appearance startled the gossiping nurses. Still, the slightly plump nurse mustered her courage and replied, “I really did overhear them discussing whether to open a traditional medicine department. As for whether they’ll actually do it, I can’t say.”

After she spoke, Wang Miao’er’s face turned ashen. Her anger seemed to flare anew, as if someone had poured oil on a raging fire. The air around her seemed to grow hot with her fury.

Only after Wang Miao’er left did the nurses at the station breathe a sigh of relief. The nurse with the hairclip asked, “What’s wrong with Dr. Wang? She’s never been this furious before.”

“Don’t you know she bet with the owner of Chunshan Hall? If she lost, she’d have to refer all her patients there for a year. So if she knew the hospital was planning to open a traditional medicine clinic and that the chief physician would likely be the owner of Chunshan Hall, she’d be even angrier,” the plump nurse said, chuckling to herself. The other nurses joined in her laughter, not noticing that Xiaoying, standing behind the door, had overheard every word.

Back in her office, Wang Miao’er had no intention of accepting her fate. With few people left to turn to, she called Gu Xiucheng.

When Wang Miao’er’s call came in, Gu Xiucheng glanced at his phone indifferently and didn’t answer. His friends, lounging nearby, began to tease him.

“Isn’t this Wang Miao’er the girl you’ve been chasing lately? What, already bored of her?”

“I don’t think he’s bored—he hasn’t won her over yet. He’s probably playing hard to get, right?”

Laughter rippled through the group as Gu Xiucheng set his glass down and said lightly, “I’m not as complicated as you guys. I just don’t want to answer.”

“Damn it, why won’t he pick up?” Wang Miao’er fumed, hanging up and pacing her office in agitation. Gu Xiujin had already given her his final ultimatum—she had to complete her resignation that very afternoon.

With few options left, she thought of Gu Fang. After a brief hesitation, she called him. After all, Gu Fang was a shareholder in Gu Hospital.

“Uncle Gu, I need to talk to you about something. Are you free now?” Wang Miao’er asked with a bright smile. Gu Fang, who had always hoped to match Wang Miao’er with his son Gu Xiucheng, naturally said he was available.

When he heard that Gu Xiujin was actually going to fire Wang Miao’er, Gu Fang was momentarily stunned. “What? Gu Xiujin is firing you? That’s outrageous. Don’t worry, I’ll take care of it.”

“Thank you so much, Uncle Gu.” Wang Miao’er finally breathed a little easier. Working at Gu Hospital was her best chance to get close to Gu Xiujin. His health was poor and he came to the hospital for check-ups regularly.

If she could just seize this opportunity, she might have a chance to spend a day alone with him—something she would never give up.

Yet, when Uncle Gu called Gu Hospital to inquire about Wang Miao’er’s dismissal, he was bluntly told she had already been removed from the hospital’s roster.

“Wang Miao’er hasn’t made any major mistakes during her time at the hospital. Why fire her? And who decided this without my consent? It’s far too hasty,” Uncle Gu fumed.

But the reply was simple: Gu Xiujin was the true power at Gu Hospital. If he decided to fire someone, who would dare keep her even a minute longer?

Not even Uncle Gu could help. He was furious, but no matter how angry he became, there was no changing Gu Xiujin’s decision. Wang Miao’er was dismissed.

As he hung up, a servant approached Uncle Gu, hands folded before her, bowing slightly. “Sir, Mr. Gu is here.”

“Mr. Gu? Which Mr. Gu?” Gu Fang’s body tensed, an ominous feeling creeping over him. The servant’s next words confirmed his dread: “It’s Mr. Gu Xiujin. He’s waiting outside.”

At this, Gu Fang’s hand began to tremble uncontrollably. There was a fear of Gu Xiujin that seemed to rise from the depths of his very soul—inescapable.