C13 Come out and Take the Blame

"Cough, cough. Miss Ouyang, please try to remain calm. Treating an illness requires the right approach; simply being anxious won't help. In fact, we are even more concerned about Old Mr. Ouyang's health than you are. After all, compassion is at the heart of medicine. We..."

"You have 50 seconds left!"

Ouyang Duoduo didn't wait for Dean Chen to finish. She knew all too well that Dean Chen was a slick operator. Despite his reputation as a seasoned expert, he had performed very few major surgeries over the years.

Dean Chen, publicly interrupted, was at a loss for words and could only scratch his head in embarrassment. Under normal circumstances, he would have dismissed any regular patient by now. But Old Mr. Ouyang was no ordinary patient. Any mishap on account of a delay at the hospital, or worse, his death, could spell disaster for KM Hospital.

Yet, they couldn't just let him go without careful consideration. Surgery came with its risks, and Old Mr. Ouyang's condition was beyond their control.

Torn between the hospital's future and Old Mr. Ouyang's critical health, Dean Chen was visibly distressed. Ouyang Duoduo, reading his expression, coldly interjected, "It appears you lack confidence. If that's the case, why wasn't I informed earlier? My father has already been delayed here for half an hour. In that time, I could have taken him to Prifield's top hospital. If anything happens to my father, you'll have to answer for it!"

Her words were sharp and unforgiving. But why should someone of her stature be reasonable? She was accustomed to being treated with deference, and besides, the hospital's leadership was also to blame. They should have been upfront about their capabilities as soon as Old Mr. Ouyang arrived. Now, not only had they failed to help him, but they had also wasted precious time.

Dean Chen was left without a retort, and the doctors fell silent, perhaps realizing the gravity of the situation. At this point, they were all hoping for a miracle worker to step forward and assume responsibility.

"Miss, there's hope for the old man!"

Just then, a middle-aged man in his fifties approached Ouyang Duoduo. Despite his relatively young age, his hair and beard were already white, lending him an air of venerable wisdom.

"Zhan, what's happening?" Ouyang Duoduo couldn't contain her excitement upon hearing the middle-aged man's news that her grandfather could be saved. She eagerly inquired, "Miss, we've just reached out to a doctor who has recently returned from abroad. This doctor is quite renowned and is said to have worked at many prestigious hospitals overseas. He should arrive within the next half-hour."

After the middle-aged man finished speaking, Ouyang Duoduo felt a wave of relief. She wasn't entirely sure if this internationally-experienced doctor could heal her father's illness, but at least there was a glimmer of hope—far better than helplessly awaiting the worst at this inadequate hospital.

"Zhan, I can't thank you enough. I never imagined you could find such a person. With that said, let's remain here and wait for the doctor to arrive."

Once Ouyang Duoduo had spoken, the middle-aged man, known as Zhan, nodded in agreement. He served as Old Mr. Ouyang's butler, overseeing his safety and personal affairs. Though ostensibly an employee, he was more like a brother in closeness, which is why Ouyang Duoduo held him in high regard.

"Miss, you needn't thank me; I'm simply doing my duty. All of this is thanks to Old Mr. Ouyang's good fortune and the blessings from above. He's always been a man of virtue, and his time hasn't come yet. We just need to patiently wait for his recovery," Zhan reassured her.

Dean Chen and the other doctors at KM Hospital breathed easier upon overhearing the exchange. They might not have had the expertise to cure Old Mr. Ouyang, but the arrival of a highly skilled doctor was a stroke of luck for them too. At the very least, Old Mr. Ouyang was in good hands, and they would no longer have to bear the burden of their previous errors.

"My goodness, Old Mr. Ouyang is truly blessed with a strong spirit. Who would have thought a guardian angel would come to his rescue? It seems our concerns were unfounded. Miss Ouyang, rest assured that in the next half-hour, we will do everything in our power to support Old Mr. Ouyang and ensure his condition does not deteriorate."

Even at this juncture, Dean Chen didn't miss an opportunity to ingratiate himself with Ouyang Duoduo. He seemed eager to make a favorable impression on her. Ouyang Duoduo, however, couldn't be bothered with his flattery. She watched as he slowly pushed open the emergency room door. Inside, her father lay on the bed, exuding an air of tranquility. Had it not been for the electrocardiogram indicating his heartbeat, she might have thought he had already passed away.

"Alright, let's clear out, everyone. Old Mr. Ouyang needs peace and quiet. We shouldn't disturb him. Our task now is to wait patiently for the arrival of the specialist," Dean Chen announced, dispersing the onlookers. The doctors, realizing there was nothing more they could do, scattered. They were merely spectators; saving Old Mr. Ouyang required expertise they lacked, so their presence was superfluous.

"Man, an opportunity like this is once in a millennium. It's such a shame we can't seize it. If only I could perform a miraculous recovery and save him, that would be amazing!"

"Give it a rest, will you? You're dreaming. Old Mr. Ouyang has already brought in a doctor from overseas. Your talk is pointless. And even if it were up to you, would you dare to take on the challenge?"

The doctors chuckled and filed out of the emergency room. At that moment, they noticed a figure running against the tide of people toward the emergency room.

"Who's that? Don't they know this is an emergency room? Why the rush?"

"Could it be the expert? Let's hurry and see!"

Unsure who had sparked the curiosity, the doctors shifted their attention to the approaching figure. As it came into focus, they couldn't help but furrow their brows. The person was Lee Mu, the same young man who had openly defied Dean Chen in the meeting room.

"Damn, has this kid lost his mind? It was bad enough he stood up to Dean Chen, but now he's here stirring up trouble. Doesn't he realize how formidable the Ouyang family is?"

"You're giving that kid way too much credit. He's nothing but a poor loser scraping by in the underbelly of society. How would he have any clue about the Ouyang family?"