Chapter 56: A True Farewell

Soon, Zhou Jinglong paused his actions and continued, “Of course, good work deserves rewards, but there are also shortcomings…”

Before he could finish, two knocks sounded at the meeting room door, and Shen Chaoyi walked in with an apologetic expression.

She bowed slightly and quickly took her seat. “Sorry, Director Zhou.”

She had just been in the emergency room and hadn’t checked the group messages.

“…and these need to be addressed in criticism.” Zhou Jinglong looked at Shen Chaoyi as he finished his sentence.

His face darkened. “For example, we only have this monthly meeting once. I hope everyone can make it on time and not miss important department news.”

Shen Chaoyi flipped open her notebook and gave an embarrassed smile. “I understand. I’ll be sure to pay attention.”

“Also, the number of unqualified medical records being sent back by the Medical Department this month is double that of last month. What are you all doing? Are you still interns fresh out of medical school? Do you still think you’re at the Medical School? This is the most basic professional standard for a doctor—especially for the primary physician after an emergency rescue. Every time, you need to sign off in time. If something goes wrong, who’s going to take responsibility?” Zhou Jinglong stopped short of making an example of Shen Chaoyi on the spot.

But his glance toward her carried a complex layer of meaning.

The rest of the meeting was as routine as ever. To avoid delaying normal work, Zhou Jinglong wrapped it up in half an hour.

“Alright, that’s all for today. Everyone go back to what you need to do.”

Shen Chaoyi closed her notebook and was about to stand up.

Zhou Jinglong said, “Chaoyi, wait a moment.”

Hearing this, Shen Chaoyi had no choice but to sit back down.

Han Yecheng, sitting close to Zhou Jinglong, glanced at Shen Chaoyi and then left the meeting room with the others.

Once the room was empty except for the two of them, Zhou Jinglong spoke. “Chaoyi, I’ve been guiding you since you first arrived. I suppose I count as your teacher, right?”

“Sorry, Director Zhou. Being late today was my fault. I put you in a difficult position.” Shen Chaoyi thought he wanted to bring up her tardiness.

But Zhou Jinglong shook his head. “That’s not what I wanted to talk about. Emergencies happen to everyone. I’m not strict enough to demand you be on call at all times. I mentioned it earlier just as a public reminder. Just be careful in the future.”

“Then what did you want to say, Director?” Shen Chaoyi sat up straight, adopting a serious, receptive attitude.

Zhou Jinglong said, “I’ve reminded you before: keep a certain distance from patients. Don’t get too close. Otherwise, it might affect your judgment during emergencies. And not all patients are well-intentioned. Keeping a reasonable distance is also to protect yourself. If you get too close to a patient and know too much, your heart only has so much capacity. You won’t be able to handle it all, and it will only become a burden and a source of trouble.”

Even without naming names, Shen Chaoyi easily understood he was referring to Yi Qingzhuo.

Her delicate brows furrowed slightly. Zhou Jinglong’s repeated, deliberate or not, hints made her feel compelled to defend herself. “I am dedicated and responsible to every single patient. I have never failed anyone under my care. As for personal closeness to a patient, different cases are different, and my frequency of communication varies accordingly.”

“Chaoyi.” Zhou Jinglong stopped her. “You know that’s not what I’m talking about.”

Shen Chaoyi let out a deep breath. “Yi Qingzhuo is already processing her discharge. You can rest assured, Director.”

“Are you two close personally?” Zhou Jinglong hadn’t planned to bring it up directly, but since Shen Chaoyi had been so straightforward, he followed the thread.

Shen Chaoyi stood up. “I knew her before this. We’re… friends. As for what we’ll be after she’s discharged, whether we’re close or not—that no longer falls under the doctor-patient relationship. I know my boundaries. Thank you for your concern, Director.”

With that, she gave a slight nod to Zhou Jinglong and walked out slowly.

Watching her retreating figure, Zhou Jinglong let out a silent sigh.

Shen Chaoyi had her own principles for distinguishing right from wrong. It was hard for other people’s attitudes to sway her.

…

Shen Chaoyi pushed open the door and stepped out.

“Doctor Shen, done with the meeting?” Chen Ya broke open a tangerine and handed half to Shen Chaoyi.

Shen Chaoyi waved her hand. “No thanks. I just ate. I’m full.”

She walked to the nurse station and reached out. “Has the consultation result for that chest puncture wound case from Thoracic Surgery come out?”

Chen Ya pulled a form from the drawer. “It’s out. They’re discussing the surgery plan in the small meeting room. Here, the consultation form. Fill it out.”

“I already filled one out before.” Shen Chaoyi took the form and glanced at it.

“Oh, I forgot. Doctor Han asked for it. My brain’s not working.” Chen Ya took the form back, thought for a moment, then said, “Oh right, Yi Qingzhuo left just now. The discharge papers signed by the family are here.”

“She’s already left?” Shen Chaoyi opened Yi Qingzhuo’s folder. Yi Changhuan’s signature was clearly visible.

An indescribable unease began to spread in Shen Chaoyi’s heart.

She fell into deep thought, her mind in chaos, without a single clue.

So this was what a true farewell felt like—so sudden and unprepared.

Even though she had mentally prepared herself, she still felt an emptiness in her heart.

Shen Chaoyi closed the folder, her expression unchanged. “I see.”

“Doctor Shen, Yi Qingzhuo has finally turned a page. You can breathe a little too. By the way, what was the result from the Medical Department about her cousin’s attack on you?” Chen Ya popped a slice of tangerine into her mouth and asked casually.

Shen Chaoyi took out her phone. There were no unread messages.

A flash of disappointment passed through her. Hearing Chen Ya’s question, she answered absently, “Zhou You has submitted a written apology and promised to pay some compensation—call it emotional damages and an expression of remorse.”

Anyone could tell it wasn’t sincere—just a pragmatic move to save face.

Taking that money would just feel dirty.

“So how much are you asking for?” Chen Ya rested her chin on her hand, looking curious.

Shen Chaoyi’s brows were clouded with worry. She wasn’t in the mood to indulge Chen Ya’s gossip, so she gave a perfunctory answer. “Within reason, whatever he gives, I’ll donate it all to the Department’s Emergency Fund. I have things to do. You go ahead.”

With that, she turned and walked away.

Chen Ya popped the last slice into her mouth and muttered, “Doctors with clean hands and kind hearts… When will I ever reach that level?”

…

Meanwhile, inside a car.

Yi Qingzhuo stared at the receding scenery outside the window, listening to a familiar piano piece through her earphones.

She was discharged. Everything was moving in a good direction—so why couldn’t she feel even a trace of happiness?

She was returning to her original life, but perhaps because she had seen a more beautiful view, she could no longer remain so calm.

“Sis, why do you look so unhappy? You’re discharged—aren’t you glad?” Xia Qinyu leaned out from the back seat, reached over, and pulled off Yi Qingzhuo’s earphones.

But when Yi Qingzhuo turned her face, so gloomy it seemed ready to drip with water, Xia Qinyu could only stick out her tongue and obediently put the earphones back on.

“Aunt, Sis is really going to have psychological issues if this goes on for too long,” Xia Qinyu said seriously to Yi Changhuan.

Yi Changhuan bit her lip. She could probably guess the reason why her daughter was so down.

But she couldn’t change any of it.

All she could do was let Yi Qingzhuo handle things on her own.

So Yi Changhuan took Xia Qinyu’s hand. “Little Xia, just leave your sister alone for a while. She’ll be fine in time.”

Would she really be fine in time?

Yi Changhuan didn’t know, but she could only comfort herself this way.

“Why? She’s discharged, but she still looks like she’s nursing a grudge. That look she just gave me—it was like knives of frost.” Xia Qinyu threw an arm around Yi Changhuan’s shoulders, leaning against her.

A feeling of surviving a disaster.

Yi Changhuan patted Xia Qinyu’s shoulder, her voice soft. “She’s troubled, so she’s in a bad mood. Don’t mind her. You know your sister—she treats you like her own flesh and blood. If she’s a bit cold sometimes, don’t take it to heart.”

Xia Qinyu laughed. “Aunt, you’re being too formal. Don’t I know her? I treat her like my real sister too. You don’t know how worried I was. When I heard she was so badly injured, I couldn’t eat or sleep for days.”

Even though she didn’t know why Yi Qingzhuo was in a bad mood, Xia Qinyu was thinking of ways to cheer her up.

“Alright, it’s all better now.” Mentioning that time, Yi Changhuan also felt a chill of relief, as if she too had survived a disaster.

She glanced at Yi Qingzhuo in the passenger seat, completely immersed in her own world.

Yi Changhuan tightened her grip on Xia Qinyu’s hand even more.