Chapter 118: Guilty Heart
The ten yuan note was damp from being soaked in the insole, and the edges were covered in mud and dust.
Ning's mother's fingers were trembling as she held the money.
This was all her belongings, which she had secretly hidden in the soles of her shoes when she fled back from the Northwest. She had intended to keep them for emergencies, but now she had to spend them all at once.
The man only smiled slightly when he saw her finally take out the money.
He grabbed the money, weighed it in his hand, and examined it against the light to confirm that it was genuine.
The man slowly rummaged through the drawer and pulled out a yellowed piece of paper and half a pencil.
"Please state your name, age, and address."
The man didn't even look up.
The pen tip made a scratching sound as it traced lines on the paper.
Ning's mother quickly reported the information, her eyes fixed on the man's hand, afraid that he might try something.
She knew all too well the importance of this case.
Once she gets it, she can use her injury and inability to work as an excuse to stay in the city and not have to return to the Northwest.
If you can find Ning Tang with her medical records, you can either force her to support you financially or cause a scene at the hospital to make her lose her job. In short, you can't let that girl live a comfortable life.
Anyway, ever since Ning Xin reported her, Ning's mother knew she couldn't count on this ungrateful wretch.
In her eyes, Ning Tang was easily swayed; as long as she apologized a few times, she would definitely forgive her.
Having a relative by marriage who's a military region commander would be the ultimate dream.
The man finished writing quickly.
He then scribbled his name at the end, stamped it with a blurry red seal, and handed the paper over.
"Take good care of it, don't lose it. If anyone asks, just say you fell on the roadside, it has nothing to do with me."
Ning's mother quickly folded the medical record and carefully stuffed it into her inner pocket.
He touched the sore spot on his knee again, his mind racing with calculations.
She didn't waste any more words with the man, and limped out of the illegal clinic. As soon as she turned the corner, she had mostly hidden the pain on her face.
When she hit her knee with the brick, she deliberately held back. It looked scary, but it was just a flesh wound, not a bone fracture.
Xu Qiaofeng could see it all clearly from behind.
In all his life, this was the first time he had ever seen such a shameless person.
It's likely that Ning Xin was able to escape from the Great Northern Wilderness by faking illness.
This mother and daughter are truly mother and daughter; even their despicable methods are exactly the same.
Xu Qiaofeng kept a cold face and walked lightly behind Ning's mother.
——
at the same time.
Shengjing City.
Lu Niannian has been working at the military hospital for several days now.
She hasn't had a moment's rest these past few days; everyone now knows that her father is Lu Jiaxiang, the head of surgery.
Lu Niannian enjoyed the feeling of being praised, and even deliberately went to visit the Traditional Chinese Medicine department.
Unexpectedly, Ning Tang was not there.
She made some inquiries and learned that Ning Tang had gone on a business trip to the next room with the dean.
Lu Niannian sneered inwardly. Taking advantage of Ning Tang's absence, she needed to quickly win people over.
"Are you all busy, ladies?"
Lu Niannian smiled and leaned closer, her voice soft and deliberately feigned friendliness.
“I just came from home. My mom packed some snacks for me. You guys should try some.”
He then opened his canvas bag, grabbed a handful of White Rabbit milk candies and stuffed them into the nurse's hand. He then opened the oil paper package, cut the mung bean cakes into small pieces, and handed them to each person.
Most of the nurses are young and can't handle this kind of enthusiasm.
Nurse Li smiled and thanked her as she accepted the milk candy: "Sister Niannian, you're too kind. You brought us food as soon as we arrived."
“These are just everyday things, nothing valuable.” Lu Niannian waved her hand, leaned against the counter at the nurses’ station, and casually mentioned, “By the way, I heard you talking about Dr. Ning Tang earlier? Why hasn’t she been around for several days? I was thinking of asking her for some advice.”
The nurses' station fell silent for a few seconds after those words were spoken.
Nurse Zhang hesitated for a moment before speaking: "Dr. Ning went on a business trip to a neighboring city with the hospital director. I heard there's a difficult case there, and he needs to go and help with the consultation."
A flash of disdain crossed Lu Niannian's eyes, but she sighed and said, "Sigh, Dr. Ning is really amazing. She's already on a business trip with the dean so quickly. Unlike me, I'm new here and don't know a lot of things. I still need you guys to guide me."
As she spoke, she slipped another piece of osmanthus cake into Nurse Zhang's hand. "By the way, I think I heard someone say that Dr. Ning and Captain Xu have a very good relationship? How did they meet?"
The nurses' expressions changed when Xu Qiaofeng was mentioned.
Xu Qiaofeng is the grandson of the military region commander and the captain of the special forces brigade. He is young, promising, and handsome.
Many of the women in the hospital secretly paid attention to him, but no one dared to talk about it openly.
Nurse Li whispered, "It seems that Dr. Ning treated Captain Xu before, and they became familiar with each other after that."
"Yes, actually we don't know how Dr. Ning and Captain Xu got married. She never talks about these things."
After listening, Lu Niannian deliberately lowered her head, fiddling with the hem of her clothes with her fingers, looking as if she wanted to say something but hesitated.
This appearance successfully piqued the nurses' curiosity, and Nurse Zhang couldn't help but ask, "Sister Niannian, do you know something?"
Lu Niannian raised her head, her eyes showing some difficulty, and lowered her voice even further: "Actually... I've known Captain Xu for much longer."
These words were like a grenade thrown into water, instantly creating a huge uproar.
The nurses looked at each other, waiting for her to continue.
Lu Niannian pursed her lips, as if recalling the past: "Captain Xu and I were childhood sweethearts. Back then, he was a prominent figure in the compound. We dated for a while, but then he joined the army and I went to get medical treatment. Long-distance relationships are too painful, so we gradually lost contact."
As she spoke, she pulled an old photograph out of her pocket.
This is a standing ticket that Lu Niannian and Xu Qiaofeng took when they were children. They were forced to take the photo by Grandpa Xu, just to keep it as a memento.
The nurses crowded around to look at the photo, their eyes lighting up.
Nurse Li whispered, "So you guys had this story behind it... Does Dr. Ning know about it?"
Lu Niannian sighed and shook her head: "I only found out later that Dr. Ning was with him. It's quite a coincidence. Last time I ran into them at the hospital entrance, Captain Xu was stunned when he saw me. Later he apologized to me, saying that he was too young and didn't handle things between us well."
She paused deliberately, a hint of grievance in her eyes, "Actually, I've let it go, but sometimes when I see them together, I still feel a little uneasy. After all... we genuinely loved each other once."
The implication in those words couldn't be clearer.
It was as if Ning Tang was the one who interfered in their relationship.
Nurse Zhang frowned and whispered, "Dr. Ning doesn't seem like that kind of person..."
"She probably doesn't know about our past."
Lu Niannian quickly added, appearing very understanding.
"Captain Xu is the kind of person who likes to keep everything to himself, so I probably haven't told her. I don't want to affect them because of the past, so I haven't dared to bring it up. It's just that sometimes when I see you guys talking about it, I can't help but say a few words."
As she spoke, she grabbed another handful of milk candies and handed them out to everyone. "Don't tell anyone about this. If Dr. Ning finds out, she'll think I'm deliberately stirring things up."
The more she said that, the more curious the nurses became.
After Lu Niannian left, the nurses' station was in an uproar.
"So Dr. Ning was the other woman? I thought she and Commander Xu were just friends."
"Lu Niannian looks so gentle, I didn't expect her to be so pitiful. Her boyfriend was stolen and she doesn't even dare to say anything."
"Captain Xu is really unethical. He has an ex-girlfriend and is still dating Dr. Ning..."
These discussions spread like wildfire throughout the hospital.
Some people believe it, some people don't.
Lu Niannian saw all of this and felt secretly pleased with herself.
Once rumors start, they tend to become more and more outrageous.
Before long, the whole hospital will know that Ning Tang is the other woman. Even if Ning Tang comes back, she will be gossiped about.
Lu Niannian took snacks to the inpatient department again.
She deliberately chose a time when there were many patients, and while distributing milk candies to patients and their families, she casually mentioned her story with Xu Qiaofeng.
“Back then, Captain Xu wasn’t as busy as he is now. He often took me to the countryside on his bicycle.”
Lu Niannian said with a smile, her eyes full of nostalgia, "He also said that he would marry me after I graduated, but I never expected that later... Sigh, never mind, it's all in the past."
A patient's family member couldn't help but ask, "Now that Captain Xu is with Dr. Ning, aren't you sad?"
Lu Niannian shook her head, her eyes slightly red.
"Of course I'm sad, but you can't force matters of the heart. I just hope Dr. Ning will treat him well and not let him suffer any injustice."
As she spoke, she took a piece of milk candy out of her bag and handed it to the little boy next to her, saying, "Little friend, here, have this, it's sweet."
The little boy took the plum blossom cake and said sweetly, "Thank you, sister."
The child's mother quickly thanked her, and her eyes showed more sympathy for Lu Niannian.
How could someone who is so kind to children lie?
It seems Dr. Ning is truly shameless, actually eager to become a mistress to a man.
This is exactly the effect Lu Niannian wanted.
These patients and their families are most easily swayed by emotions; once they believe what they say, the rumors will spread even faster.
In the afternoon, Lu Niannian went to the Traditional Chinese Medicine department.
Knowing that Dr. Wang from the Traditional Chinese Medicine department had a good relationship with Ning Tang, she specially brought over a box of imported chocolates.
"Dr. Wang, are you busy?" Lu Niannian walked into the consultation room with a smile and put the chocolate on the table. "My friend brought it back from abroad. I don't like sweets, but you can try it."
Dr. Wang was taken aback for a moment, then quickly declined, "No need, Niannian, you can keep it for yourself."
"Please don't be shy, I really don't like it." Lu Niannian pushed the chocolate over and sat down on the chair next to her.
"By the way, Dr. Wang, you and Dr. Ning seem to have a good relationship, right? Do you know when she'll be back? I have a few professional questions I'd like to ask her."
Dr. Wang glanced at her, sensing that something was off about Lu Niannian, but still answered.
"It should be soon. I heard the consultation went smoothly, and I estimate he'll be back in the next couple of days."
Lu Niannian nodded and sighed, "That's good. Actually, I get along quite well with Dr. Ning, but sometimes I feel that she's under a lot of pressure being with Captain Xu."
She paused, as if she had accidentally let something slip. "As you know, Captain Xu and I used to date, but we broke up for some reasons."
"Now that I see them together, I'm quite happy for them. I'm just worried that some people who don't know the situation might misunderstand Dr. Ning. After all... a girl's reputation is very important."
Dr. Wang frowned, his face darkening. "Niannian, you can't say things like that. We all know what kind of person Ning Tang is; she would never do something like interfering in someone else's relationship."
Lu Niannian was a little annoyed that Dr. Wang would be so direct, but she still pretended to be wronged.
“Dr. Wang, that’s not what I meant. I’m just worried about Dr. Ning. As you know, there are many people and a lot of gossip in the hospital, so it’s inevitable that some bad rumors will spread.”
"I just wanted to remind you that if anyone asks about it later, please don't misunderstand Dr. Ning."
Dr. Wang looked at her, his eyes full of distrust: "I've heard the rumors in the hospital, they're all nonsense. Niannian, I advise you not to bring these things up again, lest it have a bad influence."
Seeing that Dr. Wang wasn't buying it, Lu Niannian didn't say anything more, chatted casually for a couple of minutes, and then left.
As she walked out of the consultation room, she cursed the old stubborn man under her breath, but didn't pay much attention to it.
Since most people already believed her, it wouldn't matter if Dr. Wang didn't believe her.
In the evening, Lu Niannian had just finished eating at home and was about to go out to visit the supply and marketing cooperative.
Suddenly I received a call from Lu Jiaxiang.
"Niannian, how are you doing in the hospital? Has anyone been bullying you?" Lu Jiaxiang's voice was full of concern.
"Dad, I'm fine. Everyone is taking good care of me," Lu Niannian said with a smile. "By the way, Dad, I have something to tell you, but don't be angry."
"What is it? Tell me."
"Well... I ran into Xu Qiaofeng at the hospital before. He was with Dr. Ning." Lu Niannian paused deliberately.
"Actually, Xu Qiaofeng and I used to date, but we broke up. Now there are rumors in the hospital that Dr. Ning is a third party, and I'm worried about the negative impact, so I wanted to talk to you about it."
Lu Jiaxiang was taken aback for a moment, then frowned: "You dated Xu Qiaofeng? How come I didn't know?"
“I was recuperating abroad at that time, and I was afraid you wouldn’t agree, so I didn’t tell you,” Lu Niannian said, feeling wronged.
"People at the hospital are talking about it, and I'm worried it will affect our family's reputation, and I'm also worried about Dr. Ning. Dad, what should I do?"
Lu Jiaxiang was silent for a moment, then said, "Don't pay attention to those rumors, just do your own thing. I'll talk to Xu Qiaofeng about it."
"Dad, please don't tell Xu Qiaofeng!" Lu Niannian said quickly. "If he finds out, he'll think I'm deliberately trying to sow discord. I just wanted to tell you so I can feel more at ease."
Lu Jiaxiang sighed: "Alright, I understand. Focus on your work at the hospital and don't overthink things."
After hanging up the phone, Lu Niannian smiled smugly.
She even fooled her own father. When Ning Tang returned and realized something was wrong, all her attempts to prove her in were in vain.
Anyway, everyone will just say she had a guilty conscience!
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com