Ye Qiu followed Bai Bing out of the VIP ward and all the way to the director's office.
Once inside, Bai Bing sat down at her desk, her pretty face covered in frost.
Seeing her expression, Ye Qiu felt nervous. He asked carefully, "Director, did you need me for something?"
"Can I not look for you unless there's a problem?" Bai Bing snapped.
Ye Qiu forced an awkward smile. "Director, you're my superior. You can call for me anytime."
"I'm asking you — do you have feelings for Lin Jingzhi?" Bai Bing demanded bluntly.
"No, Director, you've misunderstood —"
"Misunderstood? Are you saying I'm blind?" Bai Bing shouted. "Don't act like I didn't see her feeding you buns, and you looked like you were enjoying every second."
"Director, it wasn't what it looked like. The truth is —"
"Shut up!" Bai Bing cut him off. "I'm warning you: Lin Jingzhi is not a good woman. Stay far away from her, or you'll end up dead and never know why."
Ye Qiu stared at her in surprise. So Director Bai was this angry… did she have some grudge against Lin Jingzhi?
"What are you looking at? Do you think I have personal issues with her? I'll be clear — I don't. I'm telling you to keep away for your own good."
Ye Qiu was even more confused.
Bai Bing had always been nice to him, but she was quiet; they barely spoke a few words a week. Today she was talking nonstop.
It was highly unusual.
"Director Bai, I'm a care worker now. Sister Lin is my patient, and taking care of her is my duty."
"Sister Lin? You actually call her sister?" Bai Bing fumed. "How long have you known her? You barely know anything about her, and you dare call her sister?"
"It's just a title."
Ye Qiu was completely baffled. He had no idea why she was so furious.
Bang!
Bai Bing slammed her hand on the desk. "Ye Qiu, I'm warning you one last time — stay away from Lin Jingzhi. I'm doing this for you."
"Director Bai, I know you mean well, but can you explain it clearly? I don't want to be kept in the dark."
Bai Bing said, "Lin Jingzhi may be beautiful, but she has a heart as venomous as a scorpion. Did you know her fiancé was poisoned to death… by her?"
What?!
Ye Qiu's face filled with shock. He could barely believe it.
"What, you don't believe me either?" Bai Bing glared.
Ye Qiu quickly shook his head. "Of course I believe you. I just… find it hard to accept that Sister — Lin Jingzhi is capable of that."
"You still call her sister?" Bai Bing said coldly. "From now on, in front of me, you will not address her that way."
"Understood." Ye Qiu nodded and asked again, "Director Bai, what really happened? She doesn't seem like a bad person. Why would she kill someone?"
"Some people look innocent on the surface, but you have no idea what they're like behind closed doors. Lin Jingzhi poisoning her fiancé was a huge scandal years ago. Everyone in Jiangzhe knew about it. But they never found solid evidence, or she would've been in prison long ago."
"That's also why her family disowned her, and she came to Jiangzhou to start a business."
Bai Bing went on, "This woman is ruthless. As soon as she arrived in Jiangzhou, she worked her way into high society. With her looks and figure, she gathered countless admirers — rich young bachelors and married men alike all chased after her."
"In just a few years, she built a successful career, took her company public, and was named Jiangzhou's No. 1 Beautiful CEO by financial magazines."
She sneered, "Others don't know her true colors, but I do. She's nothing but a social climber. There's nothing to praise about her."
Ye Qiu asked curiously, "Director Bai, how do you know so much about her?"
"Because she and I are —" Bai Bing stopped mid-sentence. "Never mind. The point is, she's not a good person. Remember to stay away."
"Earlier, in the ward, I said you were careless at work right in front of her on purpose. I didn't want you to have anything more to do with her."
Her voice softened a little. "I'll find a way to transfer you back from the care workers' station. Just… stay as far from Lin Jingzhi as possible."
So that's why.
Ye Qiu had felt annoyed with Bai Bing earlier, but all his resentment vanished after her explanation.
"Director Bai, thank you," he said gratefully.
"Don't mention it." Bai Bing added, "In private, from now on, you can call me sister."
"Huh?" Ye Qiu stared at her, thinking he'd misheard.
"Why are you staring? I'm obviously older than you." Bai Bing glanced at him, then quickly looked away.
Ye Qiu sharply caught a hint of shyness in her eyes.
Weird. Why was Director Bai suddenly shy?
"Oh, right. Have Guo Shaocong or Guo Danu bothered you?" Bai Bing suddenly asked.
Ye Qiu shook his head. "No."
"Even if they haven't come after you yet, be careful. You can never be too cautious."
"I will."
"I'll go talk to the care workers' station now to get you transferred back to surgery… actually, I'll speak to Lin Jingzhi myself. Just to avoid any more trouble from her."
Bai Bing acted decisively. She took Ye Qiu back to the VIP ward.
Lin Jingzhi smiled when she saw them walk in. "Director Bai, thanks for bringing Ye Qiu back to me."
"I'm here to tell you: starting now, Ye Qiu is no longer your care worker."
"What do you mean?" Lin Jingzhi's smile vanished.
Bai Bing said, "Ye Qiu is being transferred back to surgery as a probationary doctor. The care workers' station will send you a replacement."
"Bai Bing, what is this? Ye Qiu is my care worker. What right do you have to reassign him?" Lin Jingzhi snapped.
"The right of being the surgery director."
"Abuse your power and I'll file a complaint against you."
"Go ahead."
"You —" Lin Jingzhi looked furious, but then she giggled. "I almost forgot. With your status, no one in this hospital would dare touch you even if I complained."
"But I'm curious. Why are you so determined to take Ye Qiu away? Are you jealous that he's with me?"
"Lin Jingzhi, watch your mouth!" Bai Bing shouted sharply.
"Jealousy makes you ugly." Lin Jingzhi's smile grew wider. She spoke in a patronizing tone, "Bing, I'm just saying — you're so bad-tempered. You should find a man to soften you up, or you'll end up with hormonal issues."
She winked at Ye Qiu. "Ye Qiu, don't you agree?"
Ye Qiu didn't dare reply and pretended not to hear.
"Hmph." Bai Bing snorted coldly. "Ye Qiu, let's go."
"Stop!" Lin Jingzhi's expression turned cold. "Ye Qiu is my care worker. No one reassigns him without my permission."
"I'm his superior. I have the authority."
"I signed a private care contract with Ye Qiu. It's in black and white. Bai Bing, are you trying to make him break the agreement?"
"Break it then. I'll cover all the damages."
"Bai Bing, are you deliberately picking a fight with me?"
Lin Jingzhi's face darkened. A powerful aura radiated from her. Even sitting on the bed, she carried herself like a queen.
"So what if I am?"
Bai Bing did not back down. She exuded her own imposing presence — cold, elegant, and noble, like a goddess looking down from above.
They stared at each other, their eyes icy cold. In an instant, the temperature in the ward plummeted.
Ye Qiu was stunned.
He never expected things to escalate like this. He wanted to calm them down, but had no idea how.
Just then —
Ring, ring, ring.
Ye Qiu's phone suddenly rang. He took it out and saw an unknown number.
"Hello? Who's this?" he asked politely.
"Is this Ye Qiu?" a hoarse voice asked on the other end.
"Speaking. Who are you?"
"You don't need to know who I am. I'm calling to tell you: Qian Jinglan is in my hands." The hoarse voice continued, "If you want her alive, get to the unfinished building by Zhongbei Road right now."
"You're dead meat!"
That was all Ye Qiu said before he sprinted out of the ward.