Yu Xiao imagined George strutting around the ward, radiating smugness and self-assurance.

    She knew he was untouchable now; her old trick of invoking the ex-Dean’s name to scare him off was useless. She had noticed his cheerful demeanour when she spoke to him over the phone.

    Zhou Xiao Zhen, however, was oblivious to the power shift. She couldn’t fathom why Smiley’s expression had suddenly soured.

    “Smiley,” she ventured, “What’s wrong with you?”

    Zhao Lan had a hunch, “Does it have anything to do with that hospital inspection?”

    Yu Xiao set down her phone, her face grave. A wave of panic washed over her, unlike anything she had ever felt before. She couldn’t let this happen. She had to find a way out.

    She turned to Zhao Lan and asked, “Misty, how do places like hospitals or big companies usually prepare for inspections from the higher-ups?”

    “I know this,” Zhou Xiao Zhen piped up, raising her hand, “They clean up!”

    Zhao Lan nodded and said, “Precious is right.”

    “… ” Yu Xiao’s emotions were a tangled mess, “And what would you do if you were in charge, but most of your subordinates loathe you?”

    Zhao Lan could sense the implication behind Yu Xiao’s question. Yeah, Smiley was a nightmare to deal with. Apart from the new guy, Tie Niu, everyone at St. Elizabeth’s had suffered under Smiley’s tyranny.

    She pondered seriously and said, “Usually, you try to silence them.”

    Yu Xiao had thought of that, but silencing the nurses was easy; silencing George, not so much. She faltered, “What if there is someone whose mouth you can’t silence?”

    “Let’s nab him in the act!” Zhao Lan cried out. “Take him down with us.”

    Yu Xiao voiced a worry, “But what if we don’t have any solid proof?”

    “Then we’ll make some,” Zhao Lan said without a second thought.

    Yu Xiao became more confused, “But what if the inspection team is really sharp and can expose all kinds of wrongdoings and fake cases?”

    This question hit a nerve with Zhao Lan. She rubbed her fuzzy head in dismay. “Wouldn’t we be screwed if we can’t produce ambiguous evidence then?”

    “Yeah,” Zhou Xiao Zhen joined in, “Can’t we pull off something like those ‘flawless crimes’ they show in movies and TV shows?”

    At that moment, Yu Xiao felt a jolt in her mind. An idea flashed before her.

    “Smiley, did you think of something?”

    “Hehe,” Yu Xiao sneered coldly, “George, oh George, I wanted to coexist peacefully with you. But since you’re playing dirty, don’t expect me to play nice.”

    Yu Xiao jumped off the bed, announcing, “Precious, whip up some extra dishes this morning. I need to be well-fed and ready for the fight!”

    “Roger that!” Zhou Xiao Zhen clenched her fist excitedly. “I’ll go get some food!”

    While Zhou Xiao Zhen dashed out to get food, Yu Xiao went to freshen up.

    During the meal, Zhao Lan asked with a touch of worry, “Smiley, do you have a plan?”

    “Yeah, I’ve got a plan,” Yu Xiao answered confidently.

    “And how foolproof is this plan? Won’t it leave any clues?”

    “I dunno, but I can’t see any other bloody option right now,” Yu Xiao muttered, banging the table. “Bloody inspection team’s fault!”

    Zhou Xiao Zhen swiftly grabbed the table, steadying the dishes before they could spill or shatter. “Smiley, is there anything we can do?”

    Yu Xiao desperately wanted some help, but both Misty and Precious couldn’t get into St. Elizabeth’s. So, she had to go solo.

    “Don’t fret,” Yu Xiao faked a smile. “Who am I? I’m the certified badass of the hospital. This won’t be hard for me.”

    After the meal, Yu Xiao got ready, putting on a white coat and packing a wig, Daoist talismans, and other gadgets. Before leaving, she said to Zhao Lan and Zhou Xiao Zhen, “If everything goes smoothly, I’ll be back before dinner…”

    She had more to say, but she cut herself off. Can’t jinx it at a critical moment like this.

    “I’m off!”

    **

    She had made a trip to Saint Elizabeth yesterday, and today Yu Xiao came back to the hospital. She wasted no time in heading for her office. On her way, she swung by the nurses’ station and commanded one of them to fetch Tie Niu to her office.

    Tie Niu was nothing like George, who always dawdled. As soon as he heard that the Dean wanted to see him, he hurried.

    A skeleton in a white coat walked into the Dean’s office and saw Yu Xiao behind the desk, her face carved with worry.

    “Respected Dean, sir,” Tie Niu saluted her with a bow. “You summoned me?”

    “Yes,” Yu Xiao said, her hand supporting her forehead. “Tie Niu, please, take a seat.”

    “In your presence, I don’t deserve to sit,” Tie Niu said, moving a few steps closer but maintaining a respectful gap from the desk. “Standing is fine for me.”

    “Ah,” Yu Xiao sighed again.

    This time, Tie Niu couldn’t help but ask, “Why is the esteemed Dean so distressed?”

    “Have you heard about the impending inspection activity in the hospital?” Yu Xiao asked.

    “I have,” Tie Niu said. “It’s supposed to be these days. Are you anxious about that?”

    “Yes,” Yu Xiao raised her head, showing an expression of suffering hardship that the people wouldn’t comprehend. “You’re new, there are some things you don’t know. When I first became the Dean, I used some rather harsh methods, and apart from you, the staff in this hospital resent me. They’ll likely use this inspection activity to get back at me. I fear I won’t stay as the Dean for long.”

    The two black holes in Tie Niu’s skull emitted a faint blue flame. “Don’t worry, Dean. I won’t allow them to harm you while I’m here.”

    “Well, actually, I’m not the type who enjoys violence. My life motto is to treat others well. I regret using any forcefulness in the past. I truly don’t want to do anything that would upset everyone again. Besides, you may be able to win over the nurses, but you can’t change George’s mind.”

    Yu Xiao turned her head, revealing a sorrowful profile. “Tie Niu, just go. I only wanted to see you one more time. After all, we won’t have many opportunities to meet again. Don’t do anything for me, as long as you’re okay, I’ll be at ease.”

    The flames in Tie Niu’s eye sockets burned brighter, but he also understood that what Yu Xiao said was true. No matter what, he couldn’t sway George.

    “You should go, concentrate on your work.” Yu Xiao smoothed her expression and said softly, “By the way, fetch George for me. I need to talk to him.”

    Tie Niu returned to the top floor and stood outside George’s office door.

    The blue flames flickered in his eyes as he raised his hand to knock.

    “Bang! Bang! Bang!”

    The knocking was a little too forceful, almost breaking the door down.

    George inside the office squinted his eyes. Tie Niu was an NPC, naturally feeling intimidated by the attending doctor. Since Tie Niu arrived at the hospital, they had never met in person. What gave him the courage to come and pound on the door? S~ea??h the N?vel(F)ire.ηet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    Without a sound, the door swung open, revealing George at his desk, his piercing eyes fixed on Tie Niu.

    A shiver ran down Tie Niu’s spine as he met the frosty stare, but he quickly composed himself and announced, “The dean has summoned you!”

    George arched an eyebrow. Tie Niu spun around and stomped away, hissing under his breath, “Despicable wretch!”

    “…”

    George was speechless. How dare an NPC insult the attending doctor?

    He felt a surge of frustration and resentment. These days were getting more and more intolerable.

    Tie Niu stormed towards the operating room, his eyes blazing with fury. As he crossed the nurses’ station, he came to an abrupt halt.

    The nurses looked at him with confusion and curiosity.

    He leaned over the counter, his palms slamming down, and glared at the nurses with a sinister blue flame in his eyes. His voice was low and raspy, as if it came from the depths of the underworld, “If you ever badmouth the dean, you’ll regret it.”

    The nurses were stunned into silence.

    George found himself standing outside the dean’s office once more, feeling baffled. He seemed to end up at this foreboding door quite often lately.

    With a polite knock, he nudged the door open, finding it slightly ajar. He stepped inside, his eyes gleaming with delight at the sight of Lord Dean’s hard and cold face.

    “Ah, George, you’ve arrived,” Yu Xiao said, her fingers interlocked on the desk. “Please, make yourself comfortable.”

    George had no respect for Yu Xiao, but he saw no reason to disobey her simple request. He gracefully slid into a chair and crossed his legs casually.

    “What can I do for you?”

    Yu Xiao studied him silently for a moment, then rose from her seat and walked towards him, placing one hand on the back of his chair.

    “I can’t stop thinking about what you said earlier,” she said, her other hand landing on his shoulder. “You may not know me very well, but I’m the kind of person who fears death more than anything. If someone dares to threaten me, I won’t hesitate to drag them down to hell with me, even if it means my own doom.”

    George blinked, his smile widening. “Madam Dean, you’ve repeated that sentiment to me more than once, but it doesn’t change my stance. Of course, I’m also afraid of hell, but the condition is…”

    He lifted his gaze to meet hers. “You need to have the power to pull someone down there.”

    “Hmph,” Yu Xiao chuckled, lifting her hand to pinch his chin gently.

    George felt a surge of discomfort at her touch, but he savoured the sight of her fear-crazed expression. Gu Shu and Lolita were too hasty; revenge required patience.

    “Do you know? You’ll soon regret your words,” Yu Xiao said, releasing George and nodding towards the desk where a document lay, “Have a look at that.”

    George was curious, wondering what trick Yu Xiao had left.

    He got up and walked over, picking up the document and opening it, only to see two words – “Total idiot.”

    “…”

    The sound of the door closing.

    George turned around, the office door was locked, and Yu Xiao was nowhere to be seen inside the office. His face hardened, a sense of dread creeping into his mind.

    The door to the Dean’s office was locked closed unless the Dean permitted, preventing entry from both sides.

    Yu Xiao stood by the door, a faint smirk curling her lips. She took out a wig, fitting it snugly over her head. Her eyes shut, she summoned the image of another person, morphing her features into George’s likeness.

    She sauntered over to the mirror, inspecting her reflection.

    A white coat draped over her lithe and graceful male frame, her hair tamed into a tidy style. Her deep eyes twinkled with misDirector behind a pair of golden-rimmed glasses, resting on her straight nose. Her pale lips curled slightly, as if mocking someone.

    She spun around and marched towards the top floor of Saint Elizabeth.

    She climbed the stairs, with each step bringing her closer to her goal. She arrived at the nurse’s station, causing the nurse on duty to gasp in surprise.

    “Follow me to my office,” Yu Xiao tossed a casual command over her shoulder as she headed towards George’s office.

    She sank into a chair, feeling a surge of satisfaction.

    A hesitant knock came from the door.

    “Enter.”

    The door creaked open, revealing the nurse standing with her head bowed in fear.

    “Please, take a seat,” Yu Xiao offered.

    The nurse hesitated to sit, keeping her head down, wondering what the attending doctor wanted from her.

    “Do you know why you’re here?”

    The nurse shook her head vigorously.

    Yu Xiao lowered her gaze slightly, her voice becoming cold and stern. “The hospital inspection is imminent. I’ve risked my life to assist Dean Yu in maintaining her position, and I won’t allow anyone who has ill will towards her get away with it.”