"Senior, what's got you spacing out so early in the morning?"
Mei Ran thought for a moment, then voiced the question weighing on her mind. "Tell me, would someone like Fu Shijin be short one meal?"
"Definitely not!" Tian Tian replied without hesitation. "He donated 100 million with perfect serenity. How could he possibly be short one meal?"
"Really?" Mei Ran was somewhat absent-minded now. *Then why did he ask me to treat him to a meal, even calling specifically to remind me?*
"I never imagined my idol also uses Weibo, and he has over ten million fans! But he's incredibly low-key; he only has a dozen posts, and the number of accounts he follows is zero..."
Mei Ran's mind was wandering so far that she didn't catch the assistant's endless chatter.
Outpatient visits gradually increased, and the two became busy. Mei Ran was checking a patient's pulse when she suddenly heard a commotion outside.
Her assistant, having gone to investigate, came charging back angrily. "Senior, that old lady's granddaughter barged into the hospital with a few reporters, demanding an explanation for what happened yesterday. Security stopped the group, but that woman threw a tantrum right there, throwing herself about like a rabid dog..."
In today's society, doctor-patient relations are becoming increasingly tense, and incidents of patients or families disrupting hospitals are almost commonplace. However, "doctor strikes patient" is still fresh and sensational fodder. Several media outlets, catching the scent, had dispatched reporters with their cameras early in the morning to stake out the hospital entrance.
Mei Ran kept her composure, lowered her head to finish writing the prescription, signed her name, instructed the nurse to take the patient to the pharmacy, and then stood up. "Alright, let's go and see what's happening."
She didn't want to get splattered with mud either, but there was no helping it when someone was determined to latch on and not let go.
However, before she could even step outside the door, Monday Miao rushed over and stopped her. "Junior sister, don't go."
He seemed to have slept poorly the previous night, his face wan with exhaustion, and faint traces of red even visible in the whites of his eyes.
"That's right, senior!" the little assistant chimed in to persuade her. "She brought reporters precisely to blow things up, to attract attention. If you go out now, won't you be playing right into her hands?"
Mei Ran had her own considerations. "If I don't go out, I doubt they'll just let things slide."
Monday Miao had naturally thought of this too. "I've communicated with the higher-ups. The hospital will step in and resolve this."
Yet, unexpectedly, before the "hospital authorities" could intervene, the farce came to an end.
As it turned out, a different group of reporters had successfully infiltrated the hospital and interviewed witnesses from yesterday, clarifying the entire sequence of events.
This was hardly a sensational "Doctor Strikes Patient" headline for the front page of the society section! It was a downright perversion of truth! That doctor hadn't just paid for the patient's medicine and hired a caregiver; she had also admonished the unfilial granddaughter after the patient's death. That was kindness and righteous courage in one! That slap was completely deserved. If it were him, he probably wouldn't have been nearly as lenient...
Outside, the handful of reporters blocked by security also failed to make any significant headway. Unable to get the core news and being politely but firmly ushered out, they could only post ambiguous reports on news portals, relying on exaggerated headlines to stir up hype.
"According to informants... Our reporter interviewed the victim, Qian... Specific details remain unclear. Our reporter will conduct further follow-up reporting..."
Even though the report contained little substance, in these times of heightened sensitivity in doctor-patient relations, a news item like "Doctor Beats Patient" naturally caused a predictable uproar.
A single stone stirred up a thousand ripples. Under the media's direction, public opinion largely sympathized with the "victim" perceived as the weaker party, and condemnation of the hospital swelled... Just as public denouncement was reaching a fever pitch, a post by a famous forum moderator quietly drifted into the public eye like a lone skiff.
The poster, True-or-False Prince, wrote pages praising the doctor at the center of the storm, specifically pointing out that the allegations by the so-called victim "Qian" involved significant complications. Even audaciously claiming to have contacted the person involved, reserving the right to take legal action against certain media outlets for publishing false statements.
Truth and falsehood were hard to separate, but what truly drew attention were a few replies under the post:
Marilyn Bunny: Is this Zhao girl none other than our famed Qian Z? from vocational school? Not enough causing fake accidents at the street corner, now trying to scam doctors too? I don't know if the doctor hit her, but I'd have slapped the daylights out of her!
Mary Sue Piercing Heaven: Hey, what a coincidence being on the same thread! Spill the beans, what really happened?
Marilyn Bunny: This girl was notoriously rotten in our school. I used to share a dorm with her, but I moved out because I couldn't take it. Her grandma was a street sweeper outside our school gate. I guess she was inwardly vain and inferior, always resenting her grandma, telling her to hurry up and die and not be a burden. Can you believe such heartless people exist?! Half a month ago, I saw them arguing at the roadside. She shoved her grandma to the ground... and just left... left... walked away! Passersby had to send her to the hospital. Heard yesterday the old lady passed away [Candle] May she find peace in heaven.
Sherbet Popsicle: If this "Qian" is Qian Z, she's a patient? LOL, what an international joke! I saw her bouncing around right under my nose this morning, arms and legs intact! Whether she's lacking a conscience, though, I wouldn't know.
Azure Every Day: I also heard this Qian seems to be pregnant, frantically scrambling for money for an abortion. But then, she often hangs with all sorts of unsavory lowlifes from society, so that seems pretty normal for her!
More self-proclaimed classmates or "insiders" of this "Qian" poured out revelations, making the comment section increasingly spectacular. Tian Tian was completely dumbfounded. "This is really..."
She turned back to ask Mei Ran, "Senior, do you know this poster, True-or-False Prince?"
Mei Ran shook her head. "No."
However, her question was soon answered via a WeChat message.
—Hehe, Dr. Mei, have you seen the forum post? The poster is my boyfriend; he's also a med student. Also, my sketching assignment got voted best in the entire department last time! Totally gloating! Thanks again for being my model!
The post's popularity showed no signs of waning. Soon, the reporters who had interviewed the witnesses posted new articles on mainstream news platforms. Their narration was objective, calm, and well-reasoned. With this two-pronged approach, public opinion began shifting once more, this time in the opposite direction, and some people even started doxxing "Qian"...
Watching this, Mei Mengran nearly crushed her phone in her hand, gritting her teeth in hatred. "Why is she so damn lucky every single time!"
Her assistant, Xiao Xia, was so frightened by her expression she didn't dare speak. Her manager looked over. "He who laughs last laughs best. You're already so popular now, and you're going to get even bigger. Why get angry over unrelated people? It's not worth harming your own health."
Mei Mengran did calm down under her manager's persuasion. That's right. Riding on the name of MR, she was now blazing hot beyond belief. All sorts of bookings, all kinds of adoration. Her fan count had skyrocketed to over thirty million.
Her manager asked again, "Have you posted on Weibo yet?"
"I'm posting it now."
"Mmm, good. I'll go discuss the details with the person in charge first."
@MeiMengranmrv: New album currently in production, hoping to meet you all soon! PS: Ran into my crush while recording and he actually listened to my song! [heart][shy]
MR's Sweetheart: Ahhh! My goddess has a new album! Buybuybuy!
Person From Bygone Days: Surrender the crush and we spare your life[doge]
Little Pilot Sun: Asking for the crush's HD photos (you know what I mean)[shy][winks]
Comments about the "crush" quickly gained overwhelming dominance. In this day and age, celebrities' private lives were of extreme interest to fans. Some fans even dove into Mei Mengran's newest follows, and after considerable effort, managed to unearth who they suspected was the "crush" she mentioned.
Handsome Little Watermelon: Possibly the goddess's crush's Weibo: Fu Shijin Fu Shijin Fu Shijin, important things three times, call me Lei Feng!
Mei Mengran wasn't surprised by this outcome, as this was precisely the primary goal of posting this Weibo. She completely agreed with her manager's original statement: "If you have any connection to Ansel, that almost always gives you the edge."
Moreover, whether for her career or personal feelings, she hoped to get closer to that man. That was her dream, almost seven years in the making!
Just then, the door suddenly opened, and a figure in light green slipped inside.
Mei Mengran thought her assistant had returned from the restroom, but when she looked back and saw a strange woman, she shouted sternly, "Who said you could come in?!"
"Who exactly are you? What are you doing here?!"
The woman took off her mask. "Ranran, you don't remember me?"
"You... you are..." A shudder rising from the depths of her soul spread from her toes, rapidly crawling across her entire body. Mei Mengran recoiled in horror, her crimson lips trembling slightly. "You are..."
"I'm your mommy, Ranran." Wu Yuwen looked at this lovely figure trembling like a sieve and was now a hundred percent certain of her identity.
Unspeakable horror.
That part of the past was something Mei Mengran never wanted to remember in this lifetime, but the appearance of this woman served as a clear reminder: it was real. It was the darkest, most despicable chapter of Mei Mengran's life.
She remembered how this woman had screamed hysterically at her father, the two fighting, nearly setting the house on fire. She remembered how time after time the woman had vented the remaining fury onto her body... The pain that went deep into the bone marrow was still so sharp and clear.
"Ranran," Wu Yuwen drew closer. "You've gotten so beautiful, and you're a celebrity now. But mommy has nothing left."
Yes! Apart from a certain feature on this woman's body that—presumably pressed upon by countless village men—still remained pert and firm, everything else had been stripped of its color by the years. Her figure no longer held its delicate curves; that face sagged loosely. Of course, those eyes were still as calculating, greedy, and nauseating as ever.
"What exactly do you want?" Mei Mengran leaned on the table, barely keeping her feet. Her phone on the desk vibrated constantly, alerting her to new messages.
The comments under the Weibo she had just posted had already exploded.
Masked Knight Liu: Just went over for a look; scared to tears by the verification! Bowing to the great god, I offer my knees! I declare that from today on, this crush belongs to me! @Fu Shijin
Don't Anyone Steal My Panties: Completely bewildered+stupefied.jpg
Too Much Chickensoup Stirs Fire: Came back from visiting the neighbor next door, my heart thumping wildly. Let me popularize for everyone: Fu Shijin, 29 years old, well-known antiques collector. Maternal grandfather is China's most esteemed antique appraiser, also a member of the Palace Museum Appraisal Committee. He himself is of Chinese-French descent. PS:
So Frustrated Can't Pick a Name: Just tell us what's after the PS!!
The King Sent Me to Patrol Mountains: Am I the only one noticing his number of Weibo follows is 0?
Too Much Chickensoup Lights Fire (continued from previous): Following previous. Recently, he donated a white jade circular seal worth ¥168,000,000 to the A City Museum, breaking world records for imperial jade seals and white jade auctions. Most importantly, he himself is extremely attractive! I found a picture of him from an interview. It's not very clear, but good enough to obsess over for ages. No more talk, I'm off to admire the picture!
Ahhhh: The person above can go, but leave the photo behind!
Everyone Has a Duty to Protect Single Dogs: Agreed!! Agreed!!
Fu Shijin remained entirely unaware of the online discussions. That Weibo account had been created for work purposes and was handled entirely by his assistant.
Sitting opposite him, Ye Qihan, having just hung up a call, said, "I've already ordered the relevant entries to be taken down. Within ten minutes, I guarantee all inaccurate talk online about the 'doctor hitting someone' will vanish, without a trace left, not a single character! Well, Young Master Fu, is Your Grace satisfied now?"
With many years spent in the entertainment industry, he had ample resources in this field at his fingertips.
"But I'm rather curious," Ye Qihan went on. "Someone as indifferent as you, why would you get so involved with this? Could it be... you've taken a fancy to that Dr. Mei?"
Fu Shijin cast him an indifferent glance. "I don't wish to see any single person, any single incident, or even any single word defame or harm her in any way."