Granting You A Second Life

Li Xiuying was dressed in her Pj's. She was in the living eating mapo doufu, jasmine rice and sesame chicken.

There was a doc.u.mentary about dolphins playing on the TV.

Doc.u.mentary commentary: "Dolphins have the ability to go without sleep for days, it has been reported that they may even be able to go up to 2 weeks without sleep. They accomplish this fete because the two hemispheres of their brains alternate between sleep. While one half of their brain sleeps the other half is awake. This allows dolphins to remain vigilant for long periods of time."

Li Xiuying's phone began to ring.

She put down her bowl down and picked up her phone. It was a call from Qin Jingfei.

Li Xiuying answered: "Hello."

Qin Jingfei: "Hello Dr. Li. I hope I'm not disturbing you?"

Li Xiuying: "No."

Qin Jingfei: "Dr. Li I've called to discuss the widening access project that you previously suggested to Elder Qin. Due you perhaps have some time now?"

Li Xiuying: "Yes I do."

Qin Jingfei spoke in a rushed manor: "Great. A survey was sent to various staff members both in management and clinical staff to see what the general consensus is with regards to the children's activity days. The project has been for the most part been viewed positively. I have also spoken to some board members and we think that the first activity day should be in December. This will allow us sufficient time to plan and prepare for the initiative. Regarding the first activity day perhaps we could have a small tour of some of the hospital departments. This will allow the children to see medicine in practice. The day will end with a short talk regarding future sessions and maybe a few sentences about the initiative and what we hope to achieve."

Li Xiuying: "Okay."

Qin Jingfei: "I would like you to be the co-lead for this initiative. Since this was your wonderful idea I believe that you would be the best person to ensure that this project is successful."

Li Xiuying frowned. She wanted to take part in the project as one of the volunteers. She didn't want to be involved in the actual management of it. Li Xiuying didn't want to deal with any added bureaucracy and she especially didn't want to do paperwork.

Qin Jingfei realized that Li Xiuying was trying to find an excuse to refuse.

Qin Jingfei quickly tried her best to persuade Li Xiuying: "Dr. Li don't worry all you will be required to do is to attend weekly meetings with the other lead. You just have to help brainstorm ideas for the sessions, help to organize a schedule and make sure that the project is going in the right direction. You will not be required to recruit staff to be volunteers. Additional you will not be expected to do any paperwork nor will you have to enforce the schedule."

Li Xiuying: "Co-lead?"

Qin Jingfei: "Yes that's right you'll be the co-lead."

Li Xiuying: "Who is the other co-lead?"

Qin Jingfei nervously replied: "I'll be the other co-lead."

Li Xiuying felt dubious but reluctantly agreed: "Fine."

Qin Jingfei spoke quickly: "Okay Dr. Li. Could you meet me at 2:00 in my office tomorrow? It will be a short meeting to get the ball rolling on the project. Have a lovely afternoon. Bye Bye."

Qin Jingfei had ended the call without giving her a chance to respond.

Li Xiuying looked at her phone. Li Xiuying could sense that something definitely wasn't right, Qin Jingfei had sounded too nervous during the conversation.

.....

Unity Hospital - Qin Jingfei's office

Qin Jingfei looked at her aunt unhappily: "Auntie I hate lying to Dr. Li! Do you know how nervous I was? I don't think your plan is a good idea. Song and Dr. Li just don't get along. I already told you that Song told her she eats to much and she wasn't like the other millions of women he knew! He sounded like a chauvinistic playboy."

Madame Qin: "Then this will be a great opportunity for them to get to know each other and mend the relationship between them. It's important to maintain a harmonious work environment."

Qin Jingfei looked incredulously at Madame Qin 'Harmonious?! It was already good enough Dr. Li didn't stab Qin Song with a fork during that lunch. Besides Qin Song didn't even really work here?! Why was he always lurking around?!'

Qin Jingfei was frustrated: "Auntie. I don't think you understand the level of dislike Dr. Li has for Song. She actively avoids him. Do you know what I witnessed today? Dr. Li escaping from Song. She walked into a storage cupboard when she saw Song approaching her. A cupboard! I wouldn't have believed it if I didn't see it with my own eyes."

Qin Jingfei had wanted to discuss the rota with Li Xiuying earlier in the day. She decided to walk through the staff hallway. When she was strolling through the small secluded hallway leading into the A&E department she witnessed Dr. Li becoming Dr. Houdini.

Qin Jingfei wished there was someone else around to share in her shock.

Madame Qin: "You're exaggerating too much. She probably just needed to gather some supplies. Why would Xiuying hide in a cupboard? Does that even make sense? Perhaps you had a hallucination?" All Madame Qin interpreted from Qin Jingfei's story was that Qin Song had actively sought out Li Xiuying. Why else would he go through a secluded private hallway so far away from his office?

Qin Jingfei: "..." Her auntie didn't believe that Dr. Li would hide in a cupboard but it was perfectly plausible for her to have a hallucination?!

Qin Jingfei: "Okay forget about the cupboard. Dr. Li will not like being lied to. When she turns up tomorrow at my office and learns that Qin Song is the actual co-lead there will be hell to pay."

Qin Jingfei was suddenly hit with a realization. She anxiously said: "OH NO! I'll be the one to pay!!! I should never have let you talk me into this. She's going to put me on her blacklist. My idol is going to hate me." She clutched her c.h.e.s.t.

Madame Qin: "You worry too much. Dr. Li won't care about such things."

Qin Jingfei: "Auntie you haven't seen Dr. Li when she's angry. She's like a velociraptor. Even Uncle was scared the last time."

Madame Qin: "Jingfei is there any need for your exaggeration? I've met Xiuying I think I know what she's like. You probably just read to deeply into the situation."

Qin Jingfei gave up trying to convince her aunt about Li Xiuying's terrifying rage. In fact she wanted to believe her aunt's words were true, that way Dr. Li wouldn't hate her. She still had so many questions to ask her.

Qin Jingfei put her wallowing aside for the time being.

Qin Jingfei: "Auntie why do you really want Qin Song and Dr. Li to work together?" She placed extra emphasis on the word really.

Madame Qin: "Never you mind. I'll be leaving now. I'm sure you have some directing to do Director Qin."

Qin Jingfei rolled her eyes.

Madame Qin had a smile on her face as she slowly made her way through the hospital. Little 4th and elder Qin had told her about the interactions between Qin Song and Li Xiuying. After hearing about Qin Song's odd behavior she concluded that Qin Song must have feelings for Li Xiuying.

Qin Song and his father were similar in many ways such as they were both intelligent and ruthless business men. Unfortunately one of the things they also had in common was that they were both highly deficient in vitamin EQ.

Madame Qin wanted Qin Song to realize his feelings for Li Xiuying. So she devised a plan to give Qin Song a nudge in the right direction.