"How is that possible? Director Liu's competitor is the director of the emergency department, Bai Man. Bai Man has a very deep family background. Is there no conclusion on this matter yet? Where did you get this rumor?"
"What you said is true, Director Bai's background is indeed deeper than Director Liu's, but haven't you heard of the double-edged sword?"
"Sometimes advantages can become disadvantages. Director Bai's family background has helped her, but it has also harmed her. The hospital is already buzzing with the news. Yesterday after work, Director Bai was taken away."
"Taken away? Who took her away?"
Su Fan's brain was still struggling to process the information.
Zhang Jing immediately rolled her eyes.
"Are you really unaware, or are you playing dumb? The whole hospital is already talking about it. Director Bai's maternal family is in trouble: corruption scandal, the whole clan has been taken away for investigation. It's said that the case involves tens of millions. Yesterday afternoon, before Director Bai even left the hospital, she was taken away by the disciplinary inspection team."
Upon hearing this, Su Fan stood up from the chair abruptly.
Bai Man was arrested?
No wonder she didn't come home last night.
"Why are you reacting so strongly, and you seem quite worried about Director Bai. Are you close with her?"
Zhang Jing was indeed sly, keenly noticing Su Fan's unusual emotion.
Su Fan came back to his senses.
"Bai Man is a director, and she is from a prominent family. How could a poor boy from the countryside like me be familiar with her?"
"Anyone would be shocked by such news, wouldn't they?"
"Right, do you know how Director Bai is doing now?"
Zhang Jing thought for a moment.
"That's true, Director Bai is not like Wu Miao; she is aloof. She's probably not interested in you."
"No one probably knows her current situation."
"Well, let it be, it's none of our business as ordinary people. What about Doctor Wu? Why hasn't she come either?"
Su Fan deliberately changed the subject.
Zhang Jing was fooled.
"It seems to be her child's issue, and she probably won't be in for the next few days."
"Well, if there's nothing else, I've got to start seeing patients. You be careful with Doctor Wu's patients too. After all, she's just shown you some favor by letting you take over the patients, and if you mess up, you're in trouble."
When it came to work, Zhang Jing also became serious.
Su Fan left the office and went straight into the fire escape.
He immediately called Li Jian.
The phone rang for a long time before someone answered.
A somewhat tired voice from Li Jian came through.
"Little Fan, what's the matter?"
"Uncle, Auntie didn't come home last night. I just heard from a colleague in the hospital that she was arrested. It shouldn't implicate you, right?"
Su Fan didn't want Li Jian to notice his concern for Bai Man, so he shifted the topic to Li Jian himself.
Li Jian didn't think too much about it.
"Ah, you already know? Well, good news stays in, but bad news travels far. I couldn't have hidden it."
"Yes, your Auntie's maternal family is having some issues. I was also questioned last night and just came out from the relevant department. I haven't slept all night."
"However, their family's troubles won't affect me. First, it doesn't involve me, and second, my position here speaks for itself. They questioned me as a formality."
"This time the trouble is with her elder brother. I don't know if they have any financial dealings between them. By the rules, I have to stay clear and can't inquire about it. We'll have to wait for news, maybe by tonight."
"She has to get through this herself."
"Forget it, Little Fan, this is adult business, don't worry about it. Just focus on your work."
"I'm quite tired, going to rest now."
"Alright, uncle, goodbye."
Su Fan stood silently in the corridor.
Could Bai Man be in trouble?
He was becoming increasingly aware that his concern for Bai Man was excessive.
This relationship had gone beyond distant relatives; it was more like that of lovers.
This shouldn't be the case.
What concerned Su Fan even more
was Uncle Li Jian's attitude.
In the phone call, he seemed not to care much about the fate of Bai Man's maternal family, and even less so about Bai Man herself, even less than an outsider like himself.
Could this be the case of 'when disaster strikes, even spouse birds fly separately'?
Maybe in Li Jian's position, would he also be this indifferent?
Is a marital relationship worth nothing compared to career and status?
Su Fan shook his head.
The answer, perhaps, would only be known if he himself were to climb to that lofty position, wouldn't it?
All Su Fan could do was silently pray for Bai Man.
Exiting the fire escape, he ran into Liu Ye head-on.
What surprised Su Fan
was that Liu Ye actually had a sullen face as if quite annoyed.
With Bai Man arrested, shouldn't Liu Ye be the biggest beneficiary?