Chapter 35
Five days after Shen Bining's "mistress incident," Dean Shen Changqing ended his work out of town early and rushed back home.
Upon returning, Dean Shen first handled the aftermath of the patricide and suicide incident that occurred in the hospital. Immediately afterwards, he convened a group meeting, requiring each department to ensure that at least three people were involved.
At the meeting, Shen Changqing severely criticized the recent bad practices in the hospital, and pointed out that some medical staff were slacking off while working, spreading gossip about colleagues or patients, which not only seriously delayed normal work, but also had a bad impact on the reputation of others.
Finally, Dean Shen swiftly stated that he would conduct a thorough investigation into similar cases that had recently occurred within the hospital, and that anyone found to be maliciously spreading rumors would not be tolerated.
Dean Shen stated that this action was taken to both eliminate this bad practice and to give the victims an explanation.
Everyone present at the meeting fell silent and panicked. They rarely saw Dean Shen so determined to address the hospital's bad practices, which was enough to demonstrate his anger and resolve.
Everyone knows that Dean Shen did this to vent his anger for his daughter, which inevitably smacks of settling personal scores. But so what? He's both the dean and a father, and it's perfectly understandable that he'd stand up for his daughter.
Moreover, Dean Shen did not explicitly state that he was investigating the fabrication of rumors about his daughter. He claimed that he was seeking justice for all victims of such rumors and that any innocent person who has experienced such an incident has the right to seek redress.
No one dared to question Dean Shen's actions, because they were considered reasonable. It was shameful for any medical staff member to be spread rumors about, and the hospital had an obligation to protect their reputation and restore their dignity.
Furthermore, anyone who protests at this time is practically admitting guilt, clearly showing they have a guilty conscience. Even if the protest succeeds in the end, it will definitely leave a mark on Dean Shen's mind, making them even more passive if Dean Shen finds fault with them in other ways in the future.
For a time, panic gripped the hospital, with everyone worried that they would be implicated, especially the few who had initially spread the rumors and made the most outrageous claims. They were practically paranoid.
They began to think of ways to save themselves, wondering if they could clear their names by reporting others to the dean.
At worst, they'll get a lenient sentence.
*
While some people were upset about what Dean Shen said at the meeting, one of the parties involved was inexplicably happy.
Shen Bining and Chen Nian went to the cafeteria for lunch hand in hand. In a great mood, she decided not to worry about calories and eat two more dishes at noon.
Seeing that her friend's smile never faded, Chen Nian couldn't help but chuckle and said, "It feels so good to have your dad come back in person to support you and stand up for you."
“Of course, my dad will always be the man who loves me the most,” Shen Bining said proudly.
"I really feel sorry for Attorney Tang. He went to the trouble of turning against his own cousin for you and rushed to your aid, even bringing up his identity as a lawyer. Why don't you feel that moved?" Chen Nian teased.
Shen Bining pinched her tender cheek hard and said irritably, "What benefits has he given you that you speak well of him in front of me every day, and you've even started comparing him to my dad. Haven't you heard the saying that the man who loves a princess the most is a king, not a prince, especially since this prince is an imposter?"
The two chatted and laughed as they got their food, found a corner to sit down, and were just about to start eating when they were interrupted by a male voice.
"You two girls, come to my office for lunch. I have something to tell you."
It is Shen Changqing.
Shen Bining and Chen Nian had no choice but to carry their lunchboxes and follow Shen Changqing toward the dean's office.
The two followed behind, whispering to each other. They both guessed what Shen Changqing wanted to ask. Shen Bining was reminding Chen Nian not to talk nonsense and to always remember that she and Tang Hui were just a contractual couple.
Upon arriving at the dean's office and closing the door, the three of them began to enjoy lunch around the desk.
Because he was a doctor, the Shen family always observed the rule of "not talking while eating" at the dinner table. Shen Changqing didn't ask any questions, but simply told the two girls to eat more and not to diet excessively. The three of them then ate in silence.
But Shen Bining knew that after dinner, it would be time for her father to start "interrogating" her.
After the meal, Shen Changqing hurriedly asked, "So, when are you going to bring your boyfriend home to meet me and your mother?"
This was the first time he knew his daughter had been in a relationship, and as a father, he was inevitably both nervous and curious, wishing he could drag the guy over right now to give him a good vetting.
Shen Bining calmly offered her prepared excuse, saying, "It's not appropriate to bring someone home after only a few days of dating. Let's meet again when our relationship is more stable."
This reason seemed to be exactly what Shen Changqing had expected. He nodded in agreement and said, "Since we've just started dating, we shouldn't rush to meet the parents. It would put pressure on them and make our daughter seem like she's in a rush. It's better to wait a while."
Just as Shen Bining thought she had gotten through it and was about to breathe a sigh of relief, she heard Shen Changqing's tone suddenly turn serious and he said sternly, "You two just got together and this guy already has a woman, and a foreign one at that. Ningning, are you sure he's a reliable person? I heard he's really handsome, could he be a playboy?"
"Dad, you've misunderstood. He and Lisa, that foreign girl, have no romantic entanglement. It's just that Lisa has had a crush on him for years. But it's not his fault. Isn't it normal for good-looking people to have devoted suitors? I've been pursued by men many times too. Does that mean I'm fickle?" Shen Bining quickly spoke up for Tang Hui. It wasn't that she was love-struck or anything, but she felt that Tang Hui was really suffering in silence regarding Lisa.
Shen Changqing was amused by his daughter's narcissism and thought that her explanation made sense, so he didn't continue to criticize Tang Hui. Instead, he teased his daughter, "You shameless girl, who praises their boyfriend after praising themselves, especially in front of your best friend? Aren't you afraid that she'll laugh at you?"
Shen Bining scoffed dismissively and casually dragged Chen Nian into the fray, saying, "Nian Nian knows Tang Hui too, what's there to be embarrassed about?"
"Oh, Niannian, you also know Ningning's boyfriend?" Shen Changqing was very surprised and quickly asked Chen Nian.
Chen Nian glanced at Shen Bining, and from the "you can reveal" message in the other's eyes, she truthfully said, "Actually, Ningning and Tang Hui met through my boyfriend and me. My boyfriend and Tang Hui are good brothers. One day we were having dinner together, and that's how Ningning and Tang Hui met. Uncle Shen, don't worry, Tang Hui is really a good person. My boyfriend and I can vouch for his character."
Only now did Shen Changqing finally feel completely at ease. He patted his daughter's head and said lovingly, "I've met your boyfriend; he's someone I can get to know well. Since that young man is friends with your boyfriend, he's clearly a good person. Niannian, you must keep a close eye on Ningning for Uncle Shen. You know this is her first relationship, and as parents, we're inevitably nervous, afraid she'll meet the wrong person. Our daughter is growing up; she might not want to tell us her worries, but perhaps she'd rather share them with her friends. Please take good care of her."
Chen Nian was also moved by Shen Changqing's loving fatherly heart. At this moment, Shen Changqing was no longer the skilled doctor who saved patients' lives on the operating table, nor the decisive and respected dean of the hospital. He was just a father who cared about his daughter.
Shen Bining was a little embarrassed by her father's words, and said in a deliberately arrogant tone, "Alright, alright, stop being so mushy. Be more like a dean, okay? I'm so smart, who would bully me? I'm lucky if I don't bully others."
"You silly girl, I've never seen anyone so narcissistic," Shen Changqing said, both amused and exasperated. He then steered the conversation towards Tang Hui, stroking his chin and pondering, "I checked the security footage. Although I couldn't see her face clearly, I could tell your boyfriend was tall and handsome, very charming, probably about 70-80% as attractive as I was in my youth..."
Shen Bining couldn't hold back any longer and pointed at her father, laughing so hard she almost fell over.
Chen Nian: So your family's narcissism is hereditary?
*
The rumors about Shen Bining in the hospital completely subsided, and she and Tang Hui maintained a polite relationship. However, since everyone was busy and they weren't really dating, they didn't see each other every day unless absolutely necessary.
Sometimes when Tang Hui works overtime until late at night, he will send a WeChat message before leaving the office to ask where Shen Bining is. If she happens to be out too, the two of them will agree to go out for a late-night snack together.
Shen Bining is a native of the area, having only studied abroad for a few years. Compared to Tang Hui, who has been away from home for more than ten years, she is naturally more familiar with the local food, drink, and entertainment.
Therefore, in most cases, Shen Bining would take Tang back to wander the streets and alleys, looking for delicious late-night snacks.
That day, the two went to a Hong Kong-style tea restaurant, where they ate delicious shrimp dumplings and drank warm seafood congee. Their empty stomachs felt very satisfied, and even the fatigue from working overtime was swept away.
Shen Bining watched Tang Hui eating with relish and suddenly said with interest, "I just noticed that you don't seem to like white food very much. I rarely see you suggest eating Western food. You seem to prefer Chinese food."
Tang Hui pointed to his stomach and said with a smile, "There's nothing I can do. I have a Chinese stomach. Even after living in the United States for more than ten years, I still don't like white food."
"What did you eat when you were in the US? You can't go to Chinatown every day, can you? Actually, many of the Chinese restaurants in Chinatown there have been modified to suit Western tastes, and they're not authentic for us Chinese." Shen Bining had also studied in the US for a few years, so she knew this very well.
Tang Hui's eyes suddenly held a hint of longing, and even her tone softened considerably. "Who can blame me for having an aunt who's an amazing cook? She makes Chinese food for us every day. Not only do I love Chinese food, but my aunt's husband and Lisa love it too."
“Your aunt loves you very much, and you love her very much too,” Shen Bining said in a low voice, almost in a murmur.
Tang Hui put down his chopsticks, his eyes instantly softening. "Yes, if it weren't for my aunt, I might have been rotting and decaying in some corner of the world long ago. Her kindness to me far surpasses that of my parents. I owe her so much in this life, and I only hope to have the opportunity to be filial to her in the future. She doesn't have any biological children of her own, so I am her child."
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