Granting You A Second Life

Friday 1 pm Unity Hospital Lecture theater

Li Xiuying stood in front of the 35 people who had decided to attend her teaching session. She briefly glanced at the very, very empty lecture theater. The people in attendance today were mainly residents most of which were people who had shadowed her.

Li Xiuying: "Hello. Today's session with cover respiratory conditions; bronchiectasis, pleural effusion, pneumothorax and lung cancer. It will only be a brief overview that will hopefully serve as a refresher on the conditions aforementioned and their management. I encourage you to do more reading on your own."

She started her presentation.

Li Xiuying: "Bronchiectasis is a disease characterized by permanent bronchial dilatation, impaired mucous clearance and frequent infections. The dilation and fibrosis of the airways are caused by severe inflammation. Some of the causes of bronchiectasis are idiopathic, post-infectious (TB, Pneumonia, measles), Immunodeficiency (e.g. IgA), congenital (Kartagener's) and others such as rheumatoid disease. "

Resident put up his hand: "Excuse me Dr Li"

Li Xiuying: "Yes?"

Resident nonchalantly: "I'm sure there are more causes of bronchiectasis."

Li Xiuying deadpanned: "Yes. Name them."

Resident stuttered and looked less confident:"Erm aren't you the one teaching us? Why should I name them? Am I being punished for asking a question?"

Li Xiuying stepped down from the stage and walked to the first row to read the name badge of the resident who shouted out. Ran Wencheng 1st year resident.

Li Xiuying: "You stated a fact. You have a minute to name them starting now." Li Xiuying looked at her watch.

Ran Wencheng didn't expect to be asked to name the causes. He thought Dr Li would either get fl.u.s.tered or she would be arrogant enough to try and name all the causes. If it was the later he was hoping to keep asking her to name more and more until she reached a dead end.

Ran Wencheng spoke with false bravado: "Cystic fibrosis erm... yellow-nail syndrome erm erm immunodeficiency (IgG). whooping cough, bronchiolitis.. erm"

Li Xiuying: "Time. Dr Ran there are many other causes of bronchiectasis."

Ran Wencheng made the stupid decision to meet Li Xiuying gaze. He felt like his plot was seen through it made him feel deeply embarrassed. Li Xiuying walked back up to the podium and resumed her lecture.

Ran Wencheng sat uncomfortably in his seat. Even thought Li Xiuying did not spare him another glance as she continued her lecture, he could feel all 34 sets of eyes on him. Everyone was randomly sending him looks of disdain, judgement and pity. He wished he could just disappear. Ran Wencheng regretted trying to put his plan to humiliate Dr Li into action prem.a.t.u.r.ely; he should have waited later on in this session or tried in a future session. His senior will definitely be unhappy with the results of today and he would have to try and think of another plan.

One hour later Li Xiuying was concluding her teaching session. The residents still asked questions but no one tried to show off their knowledge.

Li Xiuying: "That concludes the teaching session for today."

A resident put up his hand "Dr Li will there still be a teaching session next Friday at one?"

Li Xiuying: "Yes. Different room." She was going to move the session to a small conference room in the future. There was no point having such a large room for such a small group of people.

As Li Xiuying was leaving a resident called out to her.

Female voice: "Dr Li."

Li Xiuying turned to see mousy trying to navigate her way towards her.

Li Xiuying waited for mousy to catch up to her.

Mousy: "Dr Li I... I just wanted to thank you for the lecture today."

Li Xiuying tilted her head in acknowledgment.

Mousy: "Erm Dr Li will you be returning to the ward or the theaters now?"

Li Xiuying: "Home."

Mousy looked disappointed: "Oh okay. Well have a lovely weekend. I'll see you next week."

Li Xiuying: "You too." Li Xiuying felt like she had seen a lot of Mousy these last few days. Mousy seemed to pop up everywhere she went. The only time she wouldn't see mousy was went she was having lunch with Yao Changying. Li Xiuying put these thoughts to the back of her mind; she had more important and fun things to think about. Tonight was Date Night!

...

Apartment 5 - 5 pm

Li Xiuying and Ren Daiyu were getting ready for their date night. There were snacks strewn about the room. Music was playing in the background.

Ren Daiyu: "So that resident was trying to humiliate you? Do you think someone ordered him to do it?"

Li Xiuying: "Most probably."

Ren Daiyu was perplexed: "Why would someone want to embarrass you? I thought that you were well received by the staff at Unity hospital?"

Li Xiuying finished applying her makeup then motioned for Ren Daiyu to sit in the chair in front of her. Ren Daiyu was excited to have Li Xiuying work her makeup magic.

Li Xiuying: "Only on the surface. Doctors especially surgeons are prideful. Even though the hierarchical system seems to have been replaced on the outside it sill underlies our medical practice and interaction. The senior doctors have not only lost their job security because of the restructuring but a younger outsider is coming into their environments, stealing Their patients and potentially Their jobs."

Ren Daiyu was astonished: "Ying..."

Li Xiuying: "No talking."

Li Xiuying finished Ren Daiyu's makeup. She gave Ren Daiyu a smoky eye, enhanced her cheek bones slightly and used a nude colour for lipstick.

Ren Daiyu: "YingYing that is the most you've ever said to me!"

Li Xiuying gave a small smirk. She picked up her dress and went to her en-suite leaving a stunned Ren Daiyu behind.

Li Xiuying wanted to ensure she kept people at a safe distance and stop them from trying to get too close to her. She concluded that her friends were worth the energy and time. Li Xiuying would allow the right people to get close to her and she would slowly let down her guard one wall at a time.

Li Xiuying walked out of the bathroom and found Ren Daiyu waiting for her. They made their way to the foyer to put on their heels.

Ren Daiyu asked tentatively: "Soooooo. Will I have to use my deciphering skills less?" She had to work her mind quickly to decipher Li Xiuying's meaning from only 2-5 words.

Li Xiuying: "Mmm."

Li Xiuying closed the door behind her and they walked to the elevator.

Ren Daiyu: "What does mmm mean?" Will she have to start deciphering the meaning behinds sounds now as well?

Ren Daiyu saw that the elector doors were open: "Hold the lift please."

The man standing inside the lift was smirking at them as the doors completely closed.

Ren Daiyu: "That guy is such a jerk."

Li Xiuying: "Jerk"

Ren Daiyu: "You know he did that to me before. How hard is it to hold the elevator?"

Li Xiuying: "Maybe he likes you?" Li Xiuying had met the guy twice before and he's always held the elevator for her. In fact he had even greeted her once.

Ren Daiyu did not look impressed: "What are we like 10? When a guy bullies the girl he likes? What next putting gum in my hair?"

Li Xiuying: "Catatonia?"

Ren Daiyu giggled, her anger dissipating: "You can't put everything down to a medical condition. What even is that? Is that something to do with being catatonic?"

Li Xiuying: "Abnormal psycho-motor condition. A state of unresponsiveness in a person who appears awake." Li Xiuying just wanted to improve Ren Daiyu's mood.

The elevator door opened once again minus a jerk.

Ren Daiyu: "Come on my walking talking medical textbook. We are running behind schedule."