Yu Xiao locked eyes with George, her gaze widening as he elegantly consumed a brain, savouring each bite like a connoisseur enjoying a fine pudding.

    “Not bad,” George commented, using an exquisitely crafted handkerchief to wipe his mouth leisurely. “Very fresh.”

    Before Yu Xiao could respond, a resounding roar echoed from outside. Even through the door, she could hear the anger, pain, resentment, and hatred laced within the owner’s voice.

    Calculating the time, Yu Xiao knew that the hefty individual on the other side should have returned to the operating room. The realisation that the brain he had personally dissected was missing would undoubtedly strike him like a thunderbolt.

    Yu Xiao blinked and humbly replied, “It’s an honour for this brain to receive your appreciation.”

    George found her attitude pleasing. The unpleasantness of the day faded from his mind, and his cold countenance softened.

    Kindly, he said to Yu Xiao, “You’re good, but as the attending physician, I must follow the rules and not provide any assistance beyond my responsibilities.”

    “It’s alright, I won’t put you in a difficult position,” Yu Xiao pleaded, her gaze fixed on him. “If possible, can I stay here until dawn?”

    George understood the reason behind her request, as well as where she had obtained the stolen brain. However, he remained indifferent. As the attending physician for this level, he was above the lowly NPCs. Yu Xiao’s resourcefulness in presenting him with a fresh brain had earned her his goodwill.

    “Normally, doctors don’t have the authority to dismiss patients,” George remarked, a smirk playing on his lips. “Miss, consider yourself free.”

    Taking his words quite literally, Yu Xiao shot him a grateful glance. “You’re a real gentleman, with your principles intact.”

    Right in front of George, she nonchalantly shuffled three chairs together and settled down. As she reclined, she discovered that the office temperature hit the sweet spot. Even without a blanket, the chill didn’t bother her much. The only hitch? The lights were glaringly bright.

    Witnessing Yu Xiao’s unapologetic demeanour, George suddenly regretted his earlier statement.

    Soon enough, the woman lounging on the makeshift bed sat up. Just as George dared to hope that she might recognize her audacity, Yu Xiao piped up, “Dr. George, would you mind dimming the lights a bit?”

    George’s pleased expression froze, replaced by a minute-long silence.

    “Click.”

    The lights obediently turned off, casting the entire office into darkness.

    Yu Xiao expressed her gratitude, “Much obliged. You’re a true gentleman, indeed.”

    *

    *

    As the imposing figure left the ward, Zhou Xiao Zhen found herself quietly succumbing to sobs. Zhao Lan, emitting a sigh of relief, gently inquired, “Precious, are you alright?”

    “I’m fine,” came Zhou Xiao Zhen’s sniffling response. “Just scared. I was so afraid just now.”

    “Don’t be scared; it’s over now,” reassured Zhao Lan, adjusting her position on the bed. “You’re brave; I have newfound respect for you.”

    Encouraged by the praise, Zhou Xiao Zhen felt a surge of relief. She offered a smile while rubbing her back, saying, “The fall just now hurt so much. How about you, Misty?”

    “I’m fine, thanks to Smiley giving me the stamina card. Otherwise, I might not have been able to hold up,” Zhao Lan mentioned, rubbing the spot where she banged her head..

    “I wonder how Smiley is doing,” Zhou Xiao Zhen expressed concern. “That fat pig was terrifying.”

    Suddenly, a roar came from outside. The fat pig doctor had completely lost his sanity!

    Zhao Lan’s expression changed. “Don’t speak!”

    Throughout the night, heavy footsteps echoed in the corridor, accompanied by the ominous sound of an axe being dragged along the floor.

    They stayed awake the whole night, only to wake up the next morning at 8 am, accompanied by the gentle sounds of music and the movements of other patients.

    Qiao Qiao, upon noticing Yu Xiao’s vacant bed, seemed to grasp something and let out a malicious laugh.

    “Why are you laughing?” Zhou Xiao Zhen, with dark circles under her eyes, glared at her. “I’m telling you, if anything happens to Smiley, I won’t let you get away with it!”

    Confronted with the threat, Qiao Qiao wore her fearlessness proudly. Her eyes, in a defiant act, rolled back entirely to reveal white orbs.

    Zhou Xiao Zhen, brimming with the itch for a fight, shot an incredulous look at the provocateur. “She dares to provoke me!” she growled, fists ready for a skirmish. S~ea??h the N??eFire.ηet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    Amidst the building tension, Zhao Lan, burdened with dark circles under her eyes, stood by Zhou Xiao Zhen. Her admonition cut through the charged atmosphere, “Don’t start trouble. Smiley’s safety is the top priority now.”

    As morning arrived, the patients, obedient like soldiers, formed a line and walked out of the ward towards the medication dispensary.

    Zhao Lan, standing second to last in line, entered the corridor and spotted a tall, overweight doctor. His face, a mosaic of excessive flesh, held a predatory gaze that suspiciously lingered on the departing patients. To make matters worse, he greedily licked his lips with a long tongue, openly revealing his greed and cruelty.

    With their heads bowed, they dared not meet the gaze of this hefty figure, fearful that he might unleash his anger. The whereabouts of Smiley remained unknown, and they prayed she wouldn’t appear at this precarious moment.

    *

    *

    The previous night, Yu Xiao enjoyed a peaceful sleep, a rare break from the restlessness that usually plagued her, especially since her brain cancer diagnosis.

    Her peaceful slumber was interrupted by the sound of music, and she woke up to an unfamiliar ceiling. George, with his usual cold demeanour, sat sternly behind his desk.

    Yu Xiao was genuinely impressed. Was his job simply sitting here? She was curious if his back hurt from sitting so much.

    “Good morning, Dr. George,” Yu Xiao greeted, her hair messy.

    George’s eyes, once softened by the dinner of the previous night, now held a disdain that clung to Yu Xiao like an unwelcome shroud. The positive impression had vanished, leaving behind a tense atmosphere in the room. In this moment, all George wanted was for Yu Xiao to disappear, to fade away into nothingness, leaving no trace of her presence.

    “You should leave,” George advised, “or you will miss your medication for today.”

    The idea of Yu Xiao needing that medication seemed absurd, overshadowed by a more pressing matter at hand.

    “Alright, I will leave now,” Yu Xiao responded tentatively, her eyes searching George’s for any sign of leniency, “Can you, Dr. George, take me back?”

    George responded with a cold stare, silently questioning the absurdity of her request.

    “Dr. George, I need you to take me back,” Yu Xiao asserted with unwavering determination, “I hope you can agree.”

    A mocking smirk appeared on George’s lips, “And what if I don’t agree?”

    Yu Xiao remained unaffected, her composure unbroken. She calmly took out her phone, her fingers dancing across the screen as she dialled the number for the Sixth Hospital’s medical dispute office.

    With an innocent blink directed at George, she declared, “Then I will have no choice but to report you for accepting bribes.”

    “…”

    In the hushed confines of the doctor’s office, a heavy silence filled the air. George’s once polished and attractive face contorted into a menacing expression.

    Leering at Yu Xiao, he asked, “Are you trying to threaten me?”

    Yu Xiao bowed her head and spoke with a hint of sadness, “I don’t have any other options.”

    Leaving his seat, George took purposeful steps towards Yu Xiao. “Do you understand the consequences of reporting? Remember, you’re the one who slipped those bribes.”

    “I can’t say for certain,” Yu Xiao looked up at George, her smile now laced with irony, “But… if we’re going down, let’s sink together!”

    *

    *

    In the line, Zhao Lan and Zhou Xiao Zhen waited, the queue slowly thinning. It seemed that avoiding taking the medication was a futile hope today.

    Zhao Lan briefly considered a trick, similar to Yu Xiao’s strategy with Qiao Qiao, but it appeared that Qiao Qiao had outsmarted them this time. She stood at the front, having already downed the required dose.

    A weary sigh escaped Zhao Lan. At least luck was on their side; Yu Xiao had not shown up yet, a small silver lining in their unfortunate situation.

    As the two of them pondered their predicament, a sudden change in the room’s atmosphere caught their attention. The nurse, in the midst of her medicinal duties, trembled, and the cup she was holding slipped, making a soft ‘plip’ sound as it hit the floor.

    Zhao Lan and Zhou Xiao Zhen were bewildered. Looking around, they realised that everyone’s attention had shifted to the corridor. Curiosity piqued, they turned to see and found themselves frozen in astonishment.

    Emerging from the right side of the corridor was Yu Xiao, accompanied by George. They walked together, Yu Xiao’s hand entwined with George’s arm.

    “…”

    The sight was so astonishing that even the usually stern Fat Doctor momentarily forgot his severity, the axe in his hand hitting the floor with a resonant ‘clang.’

    In that surreal moment, both patients and medical staff stared, transfixed. Under the scrutiny of numerous eyes, Yu Xiao reluctantly let go of George’s arm.

    Facing George, Yu Xiao’s features softened with a sweet and reluctant expression, as if bidding a fond farewell.

    “Thanks, George. I had a good night’s sleep,” she said, smiling. “Just walk me to this point.”

    Turning, she cast a glance at Zhao Lan and Zhou Xiao Zhen.

    With a shy tilt of her head, she added, “You had a hard time last night. Go back and rest. Don’t worry about me; I won’t tell anyone about what happened between us. Goodbye, George,” Yu Xiao waved.

    George, once graceful and composed, now coldly turned and left, his strides lacking their former elegance.

    Yu Xiao stood her ground, watching George depart. After a while, she turned and curiously asked, “Why is everyone looking at me like that?”

    Medical staff and patients shuddered, hastily averting their gaze, occasionally stealing glances.

    Dr. Fatty caught on, suspiciously glaring at Yu Xiao for a long time. He then picked up the cleaver and walked away with heavy steps.

    With a smile in her eyes, Yu Xiao approached Zhao Lan. “Thanks for saving my spot.”

    Excited, Zhao Lan met her gaze. “No need to thank me.”

    Standing in front of Zhao Lan, Yu Xiao scanned the surroundings, searching for a small figure. She spotted a silhouette pressed against the wall. “Qiao Qiao!”

    Qiao Qiao’s sneaky body froze. She heard that devilish voice, “Are you waiting for me to leave together?”