Yuan Li was displeased upon hearing this. "Director Gu, your handling of this is too biased.
Qin Si Yue slapped me in public, how will this be dealt with?"
"Qin Si Yue was defending the innocent and acting in self-defense. Not only will I not penalize her, but I will commend her.
Gu Lin cast a cold gaze at her,
"Besides, you pushed Dr. Shen first, so it balances out."
"I did push her, but she didn't fall. Yet Qin Si Yue hit me, and my face still hurts," Yuan Li said, her eyes red, believing she was in the right.
Qin Si Yue stepped forward, her gaze sharp as she looked at Yuan Li. "You pushed someone first, and I retaliated. You were in the wrong from the start, and now you're playing the victim.
If Wei Tao hadn't intervened, Dr. Shen might have fallen.
And if she had been injured, do you think you'd still be standing here talking?"
"Alright, no more discussion. This matter is closed. The four of you may leave," Gu Lin said impatiently, standing up and turning his back to them.
Seeing that further argument was futile, Yuan Li, with tears in her eyes, slowly walked out, one foot after the other.
The moment the door closed, Gu Lin turned around and looked at Shen Xi with a smile.
"Dr. Shen, I apologize. Please don't dwell on today's events."
"It's alright," Shen Xi replied calmly. She looked at Qin Si Yue. "Si Yue, let's go."
"Wait," Gu Lin called out again as they turned to leave. "You two haven't had lunch yet, have you? How about I treat you to a meal outside?"
Qin Si Yue's tense face finally broke into a smile. "Sure, Brother Gu Lin. Let's go."
Shen Xi was not in the mood and didn't want to go, but she couldn't resist their enthusiasm.
The next afternoon, a disciplinary notice for the four individuals was posted on the hospital's internal bulletin board, stating that any similar incidents in the future would result in more severe penalties.
After the commotion, the discussions within the hospital finally subsided.
Throughout the afternoon, Shen Xi calmly saw three more patients.
When work ended, Qin Si Yue went to the Traditional Chinese Medicine clinic to find Shen Xi so they could go back to the Qin family together and for Shen Xi to see her grandmother.
However, she was informed by the triage nurse that Shen Xi had left work at five o'clock.
Qin Si Yue took out her phone and called her.
"Hello? Sister Xi, aren't you coming to give Grandma acupuncture today?"
"Of course, I am. I have something to do and will be a little late," Shen Xi replied.
"Okay, then we'll wait for you to have dinner together," Qin Si Yue said with a smile.
It was dinner time, so she could tell everyone at home to wait for her.
"No need. You don't have to wait for me. I'll eat at home before I come over," Shen Xi said calmly.
Although it was a normal statement, Qin Si Yue detected a hint of sadness in it.
An inexplicable anger surged within her.
After hanging up, Qin Si Yue drove home alone. As soon as she entered, she saw Qin Si Ye and Xu Zhi Lan sitting on the sofa.
"Si Yue, you're back from work. Why didn't Xi Xi come back with you?" Xu Zhi Lan sat up straighter and looked at her kindly.
She had been waiting for them for half an hour.
Qin Si Yue, suppressing her annoyance, walked over. "She went home first and said she'd come over after eating."
"Oh." Xu Zhi Lan's eyes showed a hint of disappointment.
Qin Si Ye glanced at her before lowering his head and continuing to scroll through his phone, as if Shen Xi not returning with her was expected.
Qin Si Yue quickly sat down on the sofa, recalling the events of noon. Her anger intensified.
She had wanted to mention the incident in front of them but hesitated, afraid of worrying her grandmother.
After much deliberation, she suddenly stood up and looked at Qin Si Ye.
"Brother, come out for a moment."