C21 Another Hat

Lee Mu was about to push open the door when he suddenly heard a strange scream emanating from the office. The sound made him furrow his brow in confusion. What could possibly be happening inside?

Instead of knocking, Lee Mu pressed his ear against the door, straining to decipher the commotion within.

"Hey... Dean Chen, you can't keep doing this. It's not safe here. Maybe we should wait until later..."

"Silly girl, what are you scared of? This is my office. No one dares to enter without my permission. Relax, it's perfectly safe. Now, let me take good care of you..."

"Then... be gentle, please... I'm scared..."

Hearing these feeble protests, Lee Mu felt a wave of embarrassment. He hadn't expected to encounter such sordid behavior in a hospital, a place he considered sacred, especially involving the hospital's own director.

"Ugh!"

Disgusted, Lee Mu spat on the ground, torn between barging in to confront the pair or holding back to use the incident as leverage later on.

*Ring ring ring*

Caught in his dilemma, his phone chose that moment to ring, making it impossible for him to hide.

"Who's there?"

A voice from inside the office barked, followed by a flurry of hushed tones. With resolve, Lee Mu steeled himself and pushed the door open.

Upon entering, he saw Dean Chen hastily trying to dress his portly figure, looking utterly sleazy. But Lee Mu's attention quickly shifted to the other person in the room – a young woman in her early twenties with a stunning figure, her clothes in disarray and her hair tousled, her flushed face indicating recent exertion. To Lee Mu's shock, she was none other than his girlfriend, Bai Shanshan.

It all made sense now. The voice he'd heard had seemed familiar because it was Shanshan's. He could hardly believe how quickly she'd moved on; just days after dating another man, she was now here in the hospital. Fate had a twisted sense of humor. Fortunately, Lee Mu had already ended things with her. Otherwise, he'd be stacking up one humiliation after another, and that was more than anyone could stand.

In reality, had Lee Mu not accidentally witnessed Bai Shanshan on a date with that man at the hotel, he might still be hopelessly pursuing her. Bai Shanshan was a master of disguise, always playing the role of the obedient girl. She and Lee Mu were known as a couple at school, yet despite this, Lee Mu had never progressed beyond holding her hand. Nevertheless, he had spent nearly all of his pocket money on her.

Though it was only a few thousand yuan, what Lee Mu truly valued was the emotional investment he had made in Bai Shanshan. He felt he had given so much to her, and now she was continuously provoking him, pushing him to his limits.

Even more despicable was Dean Chen, a man of a certain age, who still harbored intentions of preying on the young. Lee Mu couldn't contain his rage, lashing out, "You old hypocrite, parading around with your virtuous facade, yet secretly engaging in such disgraceful acts!"

Dean Chen was caught off guard by Lee Mu's unexpected confrontation. He was accustomed to the sanctuary of his office, where no one could enter without his permission—a rule that facilitated his misdeeds within the hospital.

But Lee Mu was not part of the hospital staff; he was merely a test subject, a mere tool. Yet, the impact he had on Dean Chen was profound. Having already embarrassed the dean in front of the hospital's key personnel, Lee Mu's discovery of his scandal was a severe blow to his pride.

"You insolent boy, who gave you the right to enter? Get out, now! Have you no respect for the rules? Do you even realize where you are?" Dean Chen barked, trying to regain control.

But the dean had underestimated Lee Mu. He didn't realize that Lee Mu was not one to be intimidated. Known for his fiery temper and a strong sense of justice, Lee Mu's anger was kindled by Dean Chen's words. In a swift motion, he kicked Dean Chen squarely in the stomach.

Dean Chen was completely taken aback by Lee Mu's actions. Even if he had anticipated them, his current physical state left him unable to dodge. So, after Lee Mu's kick, Dean Chen collapsed onto the ground, his face twisted into a ghastly grimace.

Lee Mu couldn't be bothered to engage with Dean Chen any longer. He turned to Bai Shanshan, who was standing beside him, and snorted coldly, "Do you have anything to say for yourself?"

Bai Shanshan, initially taken aback by Lee Mu's challenge, suddenly stood tall, hands on her hips, and helped Dean Chen to his feet. She then pointed accusingly at Lee Mu and declared, "Lee Mu, I have nothing to explain to you. This is my affair, and it's none of your business. And do you even have a clue? What do you think you are to me? Did you really believe I've been with you these past years because I liked you? I'll have you know, I was just using you!"

As Bai Shanshan ranted, Lee Mu couldn't help but feel a twinge of doubt. He wondered what had driven her to such a frenzy, to brazenly admit she was using him. What, he pondered, did he have that was worth exploiting?

"Cough, cough, I never imagined you two were acquainted!" Dean Chen interjected, having overheard the heated exchange between Bai Shanshan and Lee Mu. He now understood their shared history, which explained Lee Mu's intense reaction. As a shrewd and calculating man, Dean Chen wasn't about to miss this chance. He slowly got to his feet, approached Lee Mu, and gently patted his shoulder, offering unsolicited advice: "Young man, there are some things in life you just have to let go of. Don't trouble yourself over this. You know, women are like clothes; eventually, you have to change them out, or they no longer fit."

Lee Mu had no interest in Dean Chen's patronizing words. He was convinced the old man was simply looking for a way to make amends.