Granting You A Second Life

Elder Qin was confused: "Foli..?"

Li Xiuying: "Folie a deux, it's a shared psychotic syndrome. Where symptoms of a delusional belief or hallucination are transmitted from one person to another."

Qin Jingfei had seen some senior A&E staff about 20 minutes before she arrived for this meeting. She would have to investigate where they disappeared to for so many hours.

Qin Jingfei: "We will look into today's situation and especially into the staff members that were not where they should have been. Mr. 4th year meet me in my office tomorrow at 9 am."

Li Xiuying nodded. The 4th year gulped and nodded.

C put up her hand. "Dr. Li."

Li Xiuying raised her eyebrow. "I did ask if there were any questions."

C: "No Dr. Li I don't have a question, I mean I do have a question it's just not a question about today's management, its a question about..."

Little 4th was annoyed this woman was wasting his sister's time: " Auntie C, You're making everyone dizzy by constantly going back and forth. Just ask what you wanted to, my Big sister is tired. Do you think she's a machine? Hmph."

Li Xiuying ruffled Little 4th's hair. She felt a swell of emotion. 'No one has cared about whether I'm tired or not since my mum and dad.'

Little 4th turned from an angry beast into a tamed house pet.

C plucked up her courage: "Erm I'm sorry, Dr. Li I was just wondering if I could shadow you when you're in the emergency department please?"

Li Xiuying: "I'm in the emergency department next Wednesday from 9 am to 2 pm. I will ask questions, I don't like crying."

C: "Thank you, Dr Li!!" Note to self, cry in the bathroom if needed.

All the other residents also put up their hands.

Li Xiuying: "You all want to shadow me?"

Everyone nodded.

Li Xiuying: "I only allow two people to shadow me on the wards or in theater. C asked first so only one other person may accompany me on Wednesday."

She thought for a moment about what she was going to do with the other 7 residents.

Li Xiuying: "Do any of you want to attend theaters or is it just the emergency department?"

A asked hopefully: "Dr. Li I would like to attend an on-call shift with you if possible?"

Li Xiuying: "I don't do on-calls. I only get called if there is a serious emergency that no one can deal with. Give me your page number and I will page you the next time I'm called for an emergency, just once."

A quickly grabbed a piece of paper and a pen from the side. He wrote down his page number, his mobile, his name and also the letter A.

Li Xiuying: "Who wants to come with C on Wednesday?"

B and F raised their hands.

Li Xiuying: "C will have the first 2 hours, B and F you can come in together for the rest."

Li Xiuying: "3rd years and D, E left, I will be doing general surgery on Tuesday, Thursday orthopedics surgery and Friday pediatric surgery if you want to shadow me next week. If you want to see any other specialties then write down the details on A's paper. I will not be listing my credentials to you, I will have my PA call you once and only once. In the future make sure you see my PA to arrange this sort of thing."

Li Xiuying was thankful for Jiang Huan, she wouldn't have to deal with these tedious things herself.

The 4th year put up his hand and looked at Director Qin with a pleading expression.

Qin Jingfei rolled her eyes and nodded. The 4th year lined up to write his details on the piece of paper.

When they had all finished they left the room, C handed the details to Li Xiuying on the way out.

Li Xiuying faced Elder Qin: "Elder Qin may I talk to you? Alone?"

Little 4th's face sank. 'Big Sister YingYing why?'

He slowly lumbered towards the door, with a heartbroken expression.

Li Xiuying: "Little 4th can stay."

He spun around and skipped to Li Xiuying, he was about to jump into her arms but stopped himself.

He mustn't touch big sister YingYing.

Elder Qin: "Come back in half an hour."

Qin Song and Qin Jingfei left. They both shared the same thought; I'll coax little 4th into telling me later.

...

Elder Qin sat back down on the sofa. Li Xiuying sat opposite him. Little 4th was about to sit in the chair next to Li Xiuying when Li Xiuying picked him up and put him on her l.a.p.

Little 4th froze on Li Xiuying's l.a.p. He pinched his little hand. 'This is real! He then started blushing as if he was a shy bride.'

Elder Qin "..." He was made absolutely speechless by his son's behavior.

Little 4th had only ever socialized with their family and his three little friends. He refused to speak more than two words in front of strangers or those he didn't like. He hated when people tried to touch him, especially when women tried to use him to get closer to his older brothers. But here he was blushing with a shy smile on his face whilst sitting on Li Xiuying's l.a.p.

Li Xiuying: "Elder Qin, do you know any people who work for the media?"

Elder Qin was confused but he still answered: "Yes I know a few people, do you need some news to be reported?"

Li Xiuying nodded: "I want my ex-fiancés engagement with my cousin to be publicized."

Elder Qin: "I had no idea you were engaged... wait and the man is now marrying your cousin?"

Li Xiuying: "I'm no longer engaged, he was with her for a few years."

Elder Qin: "He was with her for a few..."

Elder Qin couldn't understand what Li Xiuying meant 'Did that mean Li Xiuying was the other woman or was her cousin the other woman? I won't get a straight answer from her; I'll have to ask Chyou when I get home.'

Little 4th was sad: "Big Sister YingYing don't be sad."

Li Xiuying: "I'm okay little 4th."

Little 4th nodded.

Li Xiuying: "I just need a big picture of Chen Wei and Li Yu Yan from a few years ago. I want a few words saying that I broke off the engagement because I wanted my cousin to be happy. I would like it published by tomorrow."

Elder Qin nodded. He looked at his watch it was 9:10 pm.

The deadline was tight, but he would do anything for Little 4th's savior.

I'll have to get someone to get the pictures from this Li Yu Yan's laptop and call a few contacts.

Elder Qin: "I'll get it done. We better be heading home now it's getting late, come on Little 4th."

Little 4th grabbed onto Li Xiuying's top. He didn't want to let go of this warmth.

Little 4th: "I want to stay with Big sister YingYing."

Elder Qin made his voice stern: "Little 4th don't be difficult, we're going home."

Little 4th sat deeper in Li Xiuying's embrace.

Li Xiuying hugged the stuffed bun.

Li Xiuying: "He can come and stay at mine tonight. I'll be coming in tomorrow at 9."

Elder Qin: "We couldn't possibly impose upon you. Little 4th don't make it difficult for Xiuying."

There was a knock at the door. Qin Song and Qin Jingfei had returned.

Qin Song: "Are you ready to go?"

Little 4th: "Big Brother, big sister YingYing said I can stay at her apartment tonight."

His face said I'll forgive you for you're earlier deceit if you help a brother out.

Elder Qin was exasperated: "Little 4th I just said you can't go."

Qin Song: "I'll go with him, to make sure he won't cause trouble."

Elder Qin and Qin Jingfei looked at Qin Song in shock. "..."

Elder Qin turned to Qin Jingfei to confirm if what he had heard was real: "What did he just say?"

Qin Jingfei wouldn't let him have his way: "There's a difference between men and women. How can you just go and stay at Dr. Li's house? I'll go with Little 4th instead." Although she made her intentions sound honorable she actually was doing it purely selfish motives, she wanted to spend as much time with Li Xiuying as possible.

Elder Qin finally gave in: "Xiuying if you're sure. Jingfei come to our house first to collect a few things for Little 4th."

Li Xiuying stood up with little 4th clinging to her like a Koala: "I'll need little 4th's car seat."

Elder Qin and Qin Jingfei followed Li Xiuying to the car park.

Qin Song stood in the coffee room 'I'll go with him? What was I thinking?! Maybe this disease is affecting my brain too?'

To Qin Song, his brain being diseased was the only logical explanation for his current odd behavior.