Zhang Lin’s face turned pale in an instant, his thermos cup frozen mid-air, neither being put down nor kept up.
He could feel the cold sweat soaking through his shirt. In his mind, only one thought was frantically echoing: "It’s over! It’s over! He heard everything! Mimicking him... even said he didn’t understand scientific research..."
The other young doctors were also scared out of their wits, each hurriedly lowering their heads, pretending to seriously write dical records, their fingers trembling on the keyboard, wishing they could bury their heads into the computer monitors; the air in the office was so heavy it almost felt like it could drip water.
After saying this, Dean Xia’s gaze lingered on Zhang Lin’s face for a full three seconds. Those three seconds felt longer than three centuries to Zhang Lin. It was as if he could already see his future months, even years, of having to manage the library or being sent to night shifts in the ergency departnt.
However, the thunderous rage he anticipated did not arrive.
Dean Xia just softly uttered an "hmm" and then, in his unique, emotionless tone, slowly asked, "Is everyone very free? All dical records written? Patient progress notes standardized? Discharge summaries submitted on ti?"
Each question was like a small hamr, tapping on the hearts of the young doctors.
"No... no, Dean, we are writing them now," one of the standardized training students bravely replied in a voice as thin as a mosquito’s.
Dean Xia nodded, his gaze sweeping over everyone once more, finally giving Zhang Lin, who looked ashen-faced, a aningful glance, saying nothing further, turning around, hands behind his back, and slowly walking away from the office door.
The sound of footsteps gradually receded until it completely disappeared at the end of the corridor.
Everyone in the office remained silent for a full minute before soone dared to take a deep breath.
"Oh my gosh... scared to death..." soone patted their chest, looking terrified.
"Teacher Zhang... you... this ti you really..." another training student looked at Zhang Lin, whose face was ashen, not knowing what to say.
Zhang Lin collapsed into his chair, the thermos cup in his hand clinking onto the table, splashing a few drops of water. He wiped the cold sweat from his forehead, his face forlorn: "It’s over... I’m done for... Dean Xia will definitely rember ..."
I had no idea he would co by at this ti today! It’s almost the end of the day, yet he still wanders into the clinical departnt; Zhang Lin was on the verge of tears.
Having navigated the world for so many years, gossiping about the dean a thousand if not ten thousand tis, never falling into a pitfall, and today he stepped on dog shit.
Soone suddenly realized out loud, "Isn’t the Institute now part of the dical Science Academy? It has already separated from Sanbo Hospital..."
Yes, didn’t they separate? It’s a parallel relationship, not under one another, just spatially mixed together, but in terms of managent, they’ve completely split.
Zhang Lin exhaled a long breath, scared the living daylights out of ! Since they’ve separated, at least I am sowhat safer, right?
Although the Institute and the Hospital have separated, Dean Xia has been the dean for so long that his image has been etched in Zhang Lin’s mind, with so degree of "bloodline" suppression.
That aningful glance just now would likely haunt him for several nights in nightmares, dreaming of being sent to manage the morgue or dispatched to support the African dical team.
Once his fright had sowhat subsided, he received a call from the Institute’s Security Section Chief Qiu, "Dr. Zhang! If it’s convenient now, co to my office... the office on the unoccupied floor above, not next to Professor Yang’s."
Security Section? Chief Qiu? The one who was a king of soldiers in the army, with eyes sharp as a hawk’s, rarely smiling, specifically handling security and confidentiality issues in the institute, Director Qiu?
Why would he look for a small clinical doctor like ?
In an instant, countless thoughts flashed through Zhang Lin’s mind.
Is it the punishnt for mimicking Dean Xia last ti? Or did I, in passing along "internal news," hit a security red line? Or is it... he didn’t dare to think further, only feeling a chill rush from his soles to his scalp.
"It’s over, it’s over, this ti it’s not being sent to the frontier, it’s directly going to the military court," Zhang Lin lanted.
With the mood of going to the gallows, Zhang Lin dragged himself to the Security Section office at the Institute, taking several deep breaths before mustering the courage to knock on the door.
"Co in," ca Chief Qiu’s steady voice from inside.
Zhang Lin pushed the door open and entered; the office was small, plainly furnished, with a desk and a few file cabinets. Chief Qiu was sitting behind the desk, holding a docunt; seeing Zhang Lin enter, he looked up. That look was indeed as rumored, calm yet highly penetrating, as if seeing right through to one’s heart.
"Chi... Chief Qiu, you were looking for ?" Zhang Lin felt his voice trembling, not knowing where to place his hands and feet.
"Doctor Zhang Lin, is it? Please have a seat," Chief Qiu pointed to the chair opposite the desk, his tone revealing no emotion.
Zhang Lin cautiously sat down, his butt barely touching half the chair, his back straight as if waiting for a lecture, with none of the distinguished deanor of "Professor Zhang" remaining.
Chief Qiu put down the docunt, crossing his hands on the desk, leaning slightly forward, this gesture adding more pressure on Zhang Lin.
"Dr. Zhang, no need to be nervous," Chief Qiu began, his voice still calm, "What I’d like to do today is understand so situations."
Here it cos! Zhang Lin’s heart skipped a beat.
"I... I know I was wrong, Chief Qiu!" Zhang Lin decided to confess first, hoping for leniency, "I shouldn’t have discussed leadership in the office, shouldn’t have spread unverified information, and absolutely shouldn’t have mimicked Dean Xia... In the future, I will keep my mouth shut, work diligently, unite with colleagues, and focus on the patients..."
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