Chapter 133: Controversy

The young nurse's gaze swept across the conference room.

After a moment's pause, as if mustering some courage, she said:

"I didn't frame him! He chased me, but got scared halfway and tried to run. I had to drag him out to save my life! Was I supposed to just let him get away?"

Her words prompted a series of nods from the surrounding doctors.

But the situation was treacherous, so they didn't dare to step forward and state their position.

As the vice dean, Zhu Nian had no such reservations.

"As a woman, it's already commendable that she has the courage to stand up and accuse this scumbag. We can't be too harsh on her."

"And as bystanders, we should be empathetic, not nitpick her testimony. Nothing good will come of it if we continue down this path."

His speech was all emotion and no substance, but it moved several of the female doctors to tears.

With that, all the evidence and all the questions Mu Lin had raised were rendered meaningless.

It seemed Zhang Chunlei couldn't escape the fate of being driven out.

The dean sighed. "Old Zhang, you should just go. We've been colleagues for years. Don't let this get too ugly in the end!"

Zhang Chunlei was utterly disheartened. Not a single person in the entire hospital supported him. 'What's the point of staying here?'

"Mu Lin, thank you for speaking up for me, but it's no use. It seems this hospital no longer needs me."

There were old friends of many years in the conference room, but they were all playing it safe, and not one of them stood up to speak for him.

Instead, it was Mu Lin, a young man he'd only just met, who spoke up for justice. This moved Zhang Chunlei deeply.

Such is the way of life. The people you thought you could rely on betray you in your time of need.

And the people you thought were just passing strangers become your supporters at the most critical moment.

Mu Lin sighed. If Zhang Chunlei hadn't refused to give up on their treatment at that critical moment, Elder Li and Mrs. Li wouldn't have had a chance to live.

He didn't even dare to imagine the alternative.

Well into his fifties, Zhang Chunlei felt like life had just taught him a harsh lesson.

Suddenly, two men slowly walked into the office.

Dean Zhu's expression turned serious, and he hastily stood up.

The other doctors were confused. Why was the dean so serious? He looked like he was facing a great enemy, as if preparing for war.

'Is this really necessary?'

But they saw Dean Zhu say sternly, "All of you, get up! The hospital's investors are here. How can you be so disrespectful?"

The doctors scrambled to their feet, looking disheveled. They hurriedly straightened their clothes so as not to look too disgraceful.

Everyone had heard that the Liu Family, one of the three great magnate families, invested heavily in the medical industry.

They had established hospitals all over the country, and in Anhua, they were the backers behind numerous hospitals.

Their status was extremely high.

But they had always been the stuff of legend. Many doctors who had worked at the City Hospital for over a decade had never seen the two great figures, Liu Yiming and Liu Qizhou.

For both of them to arrive at the same time today was a tremendous shock to their systems.

'Why today? Why now!'

"Elder Liu, Patriarch Liu, why didn't you give me a heads-up that you two were coming? I could have made preparations."

Dean Zhu said earnestly.

Liu Yiming glanced at Dean Zhu, thinking, 'If you had prepared, wouldn't I just be deceived again?'

"The hospital's made big news, huh? A vice dean bullying a young nurse, it's the talk of the town," Liu Yiming said.

Zhu Nian's heart leaped with joy. 'It looks like Liu Yiming is here to kick Zhang Chunlei out.'

Dean Zhu, however, was quite nervous and quickly said, "It's my responsibility that something like this happened in the hospital! I'm investigating now. If the allegations are true, I will discipline Zhang Chunlei severely, with no leniency!"

But Liu Yiming said slowly, "I know Elder Zhang is a highly respected figure in the local medical community. He would never destroy his reputation over a pretty face."

"Miss Nurse, can you guarantee that every word you've said is true?"

As an unshakeable presence in Anhua, when Liu Yiming asked such a question, anyone who wasn't a complete idiot could tell whose side he was on.

If you insisted on calling Zhang Chunlei a pervert, fine. Zhang Chunlei might leave the City Hospital, but in the blink of an eye, he'd get a better position at another hospital the Liu Family had shares in.

But as for her, she would find herself with nowhere to go in any hospital in the country.

When Zhang Chunlei heard the first part of Liu Yiming's words, his heart went cold, thinking the rest of his medical career was over.

But after hearing the turn of phrase, he instantly felt a renewed sense of hope.

The young nurse's eyes frantically scanned the conference room, but the gaze she was looking for was nowhere to be found.

Now she panicked, frozen in place.

She no longer knew what to do about the situation.

"Miss, please don't waste everyone's time. As long as you tell the truth, no one will do anything to you."

"If Elder Zhang really did lay a hand on you, I will personally see to it that he is expelled from this hospital and banned from being hired by any other hospital in the country."

"If Elder Zhang did not, then please explain why you accused him of doing so."

As soon as these words were spoken, the young nurse's expression became extremely awkward.

Zhu Nian took a step forward and said to Liu Yiming, "Elder Liu, she's very scared right now. Pressuring her like this will only make it harder for her to say anything. According to psychological theory, she's in a state of extreme panic and probably can't speak the truth."

"As the old saying goes, where there's smoke, there's fire. There are so many people in this hospital she could have framed, so why did she have to frame Elder Zhang?"

Mu Lin narrowed his eyes, looking Zhu Nian up and down. "Doctor, I advise you to watch your words. Misspeaking can have dire consequences."

Zhu Nian glared at Mu Lin. "The truth is right in front of us. What price is there to pay for speaking the truth?"

"And what is the truth? That Elder Zhang did something monstrous, or that you stand to gain enormously from his downfall?"

The entire room fell silent. No one dared to speak.

That question was a devastating blow, and asking it was tantamount to declaring a fight to the death.

If you got involved at a time like this, you'd be dragged into the vortex.

It had nothing to do with you, but suddenly, it would have everything to do with you.

'Why bother?'

The conflict of interest between Zhu Nian and Zhang Chunlei was something all the doctors present were involved in. Their departments had been scheming and plotting around the two vice deans for years.

If Zhang Chunlei were kicked out, Zhu Nian would be able to swallow up all the power in the hospital.

With Dean Zhu's retirement approaching, the position of the next dean would also fall into Zhu Nian's hands.

It was as plain as day.

Liu Qizhou chuckled. "Who in the Anhua Medical Community doesn't know about the power struggle between the two giants at the City Hospital? If Zhang Chunlei's reputation is ruined, Zhu Nian will monopolize all the benefits of the City Hospital from now on."

"Those benefits won't go to the patients; they'll become bait for Zhu Nian to consolidate his position."

As the dignified Patriarch of the Liu Family, Liu Qizhou's words carried immense weight.

His speech was practically the final word on the matter, completely changing the atmosphere in the conference room.

Everyone in the room was calculating whether or not they should step up and state their position.

They frantically weighed the pros and cons in their minds.

But in the end, they remained silent, letting out a collective sigh.

Mu Lin clasped his hands behind his back and walked up to the young nurse. "See? Patriarch Liu spoke, and no one is retaliating against him. So you see, telling the truth is useful."

Large beads of sweat appeared on the young nurse's forehead, and her face turned beet red.

Zhu Nian snapped at Mu Lin, "What nonsense are you spouting, kid? Are you implying that I'm threatening her?"

Suddenly, Liu Qizhou lashed out with a kick.

The kick was like a cannonball, letting out a RUMBLE.

It stopped just centimeters from Zhu Nian, but the gust of wind it created blew his hair straight back.

"You got too close! Do it again and I'll kick your head off!"

Zhu Nian was so scared the color drained from his face. He was completely out of his depth.

'So terrifying...'

The sonic boom from that kick had genuinely scared him to death.

Mu Lin was standing just as close, but his expression didn't change in the slightest; he was as calm as ever.

"Hey..." Liu Yiming glanced at his son. "Vice Dean Zhu is just a doctor who doesn't even have the strength to truss a chicken. What are you doing, scaring him like that!"

"Apologize now!"

Liu Qizhou pouted.

"I was impulsive! My apologies!" Liu Qizhou said to Zhu Nian, giving him a deep bow.

Zhu Nian was completely flustered. That kick from Liu Qizhou had truly scared him out of his wits.

"N-No problem," Zhu Nian said respectfully. "It was my fault for getting too close!"

"Good that you know. If I see anyone disrespecting Mr. Mu again, it won't be as simple as just a gust of wind."

Terrified, Zhu Nian stumbled back a few steps and quickly felt his pants...

Thankfully, they were still dry.

For a moment there, he really thought he had wet himself.