4 - What Happened Last Wednesday

Military Barracks.

Zhao JingShen entered the conference room with force. The door slammed shut the same time he dropped a pile of files on the table. He strode to the head of the room and took centre position in front of the large screen.

In the interim, his special team of men and women passed around the files, each keeping one for themselves.

"Mao He has escaped," he started.

His lieutenant nodded, taking a look at the information. "Escaped yesterday."

Zhao JingShen clicked on a remote and turned on the large screen behind him. On it appeared a middle-aged man with weathered, dark, rough skin on his face. His eyes were filled with unconcealed menace. His mouth was fixed in a sharp and serious sneer.

This was a man who orchestrated drug runs in Thailand, Vietnam and the boarders of three countries. Two years ago, after a long time in undercover work and the loss of two soldiers, their team had taken down this criminal and his gang.

"He is already in B-City," Zhao JingShen reported. "How he got here and who helped him is not simple and we need to investigate. Our top priority now is to recapture him. Mao He seems to be heading to the General Hospital. Our intelligence indicated his daughter has been in the hospital for the last few months. As his only family, it's a good bet he's going to see her."

"Wouldn't he lay low for a while first?"

"His daughter seems to be in bad condition," Zhao JingShen denied. "He should want to see her as soon as possible."

"The plan is to invade the hospital, Boss?" his lieutenant asked.

He nodded, decisive.

In the planning of the stealth mission that came after, he spared only one thought for his family's daughter-in-law: It was fortunate she wasn't in B-City.

***

However, many miles away and some hours later at the General Hospital, Wu Qian sat scowling at her computer. The computer wasn't on so she was examining her own face in the blank monitor. Her own eyebrows were twisted in confusion and she stared into her own eyes, knowing she couldn't find answers there.

She rubbed her neck. Then she rolled her head around to the left and to the right. It was only lunch time. Where did all this tension come from?

"Are you still upset about the conference?" someone asked.

Wu Qian turned. She hadn't heard anyone come into the shared office space. Her mind was blank and her eyes showed it. She'd used all her effort to try to understand what happened this morning.

"How was I left behind?" she asked her fellow intern, Xia Lin.

Xia Lin took the seat at the desk beside her. "Qian, my darling," she shook her head. "You are too naive."

Wu Qian frowned, reminded of someone else who said this to her not long ago. For the umpteenth time this morning, she remembered him. Why did she think of that arrogant troublemaker, Zhao JingShen, when she felt aggrieved?

From the time she arrived at work and found that the hospital team left for the annual conference an hour early, she wanted to complain to Zhao JingShen. Later, she realized her cleared schedule was actually full. She was scheduled for patients and everyone in the hospital was acting as if she was never supposed to go to the conference in the first place. She wanted to complain to Zhao JingShen even more, like a baby complaining to someone who would feel sorry for her.

What was this feeling?

"Wu Qian," Xia Lin reminded her upon seeing her dazed expression.

Wu Qian blinked. Her frown deepened. She was aggrieved about one matter but how did the thoughts turn toward Zhao JingShen, that big devil?

"Wu Qian, you have a right to be upset."

She focused on Xia Lin. "I came in this morning but the team left for H-City an hour earlier than planned. How? And Doctor Chen told me that my name wasn't on the list of attendees. What happened? I confirmed everything just yesterday."

Yesterday before she got off work, Doctor Xiang confirmed with her the time of departure and even mentioned a few renowned doctors who were expected to speak at the conference.

Wu Qian signed up for this weeks ago and was looking forward to it. Who knew, when she came in this morning her name had been taken off the list and the group had already left without her.

"You didn't hear it from me," Xia Lin leaned closer to her in the posture of telling gossip. She looked around to make sure the room was empty. "Du Fei from our class went with the group this morning. She was waiting here before Doctor Xiang arrived and left with them."

"Du Fei?" Du Fei, a girl in their own class, had started this internship with them. While not friends, she had never been unkind to Wu Qian and they always worked well together when they had to. "No. Can't be. She's never done anything to me. She's not a bad person."

Xia Lin rolled her eyes. "How are you so naive? Like a little white rabbit just waiting to be eaten?"

What was that meaning!

"The Director of the hospital is friends with Du Fei's family." Xia Lin educated. "This Neurosurgery Conference is a big deal. All the best neurosurgeons are coming to the country to speak there. Originally the position was given to you. Who doesn't know you started medical school early and is the smartest of all of us? At the last minute, you were replaced with Du Fei. You can think about the rest yourself."

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"Why didn't she just say she wanted to go?" Wu Qian mused. Du Fei was smart and hardworking, one of the best in their school. Her family was also far more well connected than Wu Qian's. It wasn't necessary for Du Fei to push Wu Qian out to make a place for herself.

Because they were friends since they started medical school together, even sharing a dormitory together, Xia Lin was not polite with her. Her good friend directly said, "She's jealous and rich." Xia Lin shrugged, "You know how those rich families are: they can use their money and power to do anything."

Wu Qian, herself from a fairly rich family, squinted. "What T.V. show did you see this from?"

Xia Lin hissed. "I don't have time. I'm a doctor."

"But Du Fei –"

At that time, they heard a noise at the door so Wu Qian quickly shut her mouth. When they looked over, Doctor Chen stood in the entrance of the office. The sternness of her face made the hairs on Wu Qian's arms stand on end. She scrambled to her feet with Xia Lin.

Doctor Chen was a middle aged woman in her fifties and one of the best doctors in their private hospital. Patients came from other countries just to get her consultation and treatment plan. She was a strict teacher to her subordinates, especially to interns. She was notoriously hard to please and just a little fearsome.

But she was always fair and always willing to lend guidance.

Why was her face so bad now? As if someone was asking her for money.

"Doctor Chen!" Wu Qian and Xia Lin greeted.

Doctor Chen directly ignored Xia Lin's presence. Her face darkened and the angry disappointment in her eyes was directed towards Wu Qian alone. "Ms. Wu," her voice was so cold it gave Wu Qian shivers. "Why did you decide to be a doctor? Did you came to this hospital to waste our time and resources training you?"

Wu Qian: "…" When had she offended the great and prestigious doctor?

"I looked hard at all the interns for this year and made a difficult decision to choose you for one of the two intern spots at the conference. Your thanks to me was – at the last moment – deciding to stay in B-City to accompany your boyfriend!"

Boyfriend? When did she have a boyfriend? And even if she did, how would anyone in the hospital know?

Zhao JingShen's face flashed in her head but she promptly pushed him away. She was not his girlfriend, nor did he visit her at this hospital more than twice in the two months she worked here. When he appeared, he'd only been inside once for five minutes. The second time, he remained outside.

Besides, the point was – he wasn't her boyfriend!

"Doctor Chen, I'm not sure what you mean."

Doctor Chen pursed her lips, becoming even sterner and more disapproving. Her eyes were hard like flint. "Last night the Director called to let me know you wanted to withdraw your name from the list of conference attendees."

Why didn't she remember she wanted to withdraw her name!

"He said you chose to stay here." The doctor laughed but it was full of bitterness and ill humor. "The nurses outside are saying you want to stay close to your soldier boyfriend."

While bombs of disbelief were going off in Wu Quian's head, Doctor Chen shook her finger. "You don't take your work seriously at all. If all you want to do is get married, Ms. Wu, studying to be a doctor was a wrong choice. This job does not leave much time for a personal life. If you want to be the best, you are going to have to work hard and seize all opportunities."

Wu Qian: "…"

"As your teacher, I'm disappointed. I thought you had potential since you are smart and started medical school early. All commendable. However, your lack of ambition is..." She sighed, turning to leave. "I will not waste my time on you."

There was a loud buzzing in Wu Qian's head. It was so loud it made her head hurt and she could only see red.

When it cleared, Xia Lin was shaking her, calling, "Wu Qian? Wu Qian!"

Angry, Wu Qian shook her friend off. "When did Zhao JingShen become my boyfriend!" Her voice rang in the empty room.

Xia Lin's eyes were wide. "That's not the main point."

"Who said Zhao JingShen was my boyfriend!"

"Still not the point," Xia Lin shook her arm again. "Wu Qian, everyone saw him deliver food to you last month. Last week when he dropped you off at work, Du Fei and I were coming in at the same time. We saw everything. It's not hard for outsiders to think he's your soldier boyfriend."

Last week...?

Last week on Wednesday, Zhao JingShen picked her up at her house and took her to work in the morning. When they arrived at the hospital, she was eager to put distance between them so she scrambled out of the off road vehicle. Still, he was quicker than her and bigger than her; when she ran past the front of the vehicle, all he did was stretch out his arm.

She was caught and soon found herself with her back against the vehicle, Zhao JingShen pressed to her front. His hands on her waist was gentle but kept her firmly in place.

When they were this close, his scent always made her slightly intoxicated. He smelled so good that, against her better judgements, she always had to steal a little whiff.

This time, she ducked her head quickly so he couldn't steal a kiss. She knew this opportunist well. But her nose brushed against his chest and she couldn't stop herself. Blame her, her willpower was too weak that morning: she took a deep breath and breathed him in.

Mistake!

He chuckled, the sound echoing from his chest and into her ears. He bent his head and brushed the tip of his nose against her cheek. "Just one kiss, QianQian," his soft whisper floated gently to her ear.

She was incensed! Who was he calling 'QianQian'? Sir! We are not that familiar!

But how could she say the words when she was nestled in his arms like this?

"I'm late!" she protested and tried to push him away. Her hands flattened on his chest muscles but her strength was weak. Her own hands were also disobedient. They pressed against bone and flesh, touching, feeling, trying to imprint his shape.

Zhao JingShen was tall and handsome, neither fat nor slim, but just right. His work in the army and daily rigorous training meant that he had the best and most optimal body. In the interest of curiosity about their country's national training exercises to produce excellent soldiers, Wu Qian decided to forgive her hands.

She swallowed. "JingShen..."

Wait a minute! Why was her voice weak and fragile at this moment?

Abruptly, she woke up and pushed harder.

He let her go.

She knew if he wanted to keep her with him, she couldn't move him on her own. This time, like all the times before, he let her go. But not without grabbing a kiss first!

He squeezed her in his arms, hard. And he nipped the lobe of her ear with his teeth. While she was stunned – how could this shameless man do such a thing on the public streets! – he bent low and pecked her lips.

Only then did he let her go. Only then did his arms free her and he took a step back.

She blinked at him.

Why was it that every time this man was in front of her, her brain lost it's intelligence and let him take advantage?

He was grinning. Wu Qian saw triumph on his face.

"Zhao JingShen! You scoundrel! Crook!" She flew at him, curling her fingers into fists so she could beat his shoulders.

Bad idea!

While she hit him, he hugged her again.

While she scolded him, he kissed her again.

'Stupid Wu Qian!' a voice in her head said. She was not Zhao JingShen's competitor.

Her only recourse was to flee.

She slammed the heel of her shoe onto his toes.

"Ah!" His arms loosened. "QianQian."

She bolted in the direction of the hospital.

His laughter was too loud and too happy and followed her all the way into the building. "Baby," he called, "why are you running away?"

Safe inside, she turned to watched him. He was dressed in his army greens, making him look tall, strong and powerful. His face was originally beautiful but his outfit made him seem less beautiful and more masculine. He was standing with his legs apart, his arms behind his back in a military stance, and... he was smiling softly at her, his eyes crinkled at the corners.

She could lose her heart if she wasn't careful.

Sometimes, she wondered if she hadn't lost it already.

No! She couldn't lose it to a man who was only playing with her.

"You go back," her voice broke a little. "Go to work. You're not allowed to visit here in the future. Shameless hooligan!" Who knew what people would see him do to her if he kept coming to her place of work.

She glared fiercely at him once again, just to make sure he knew how angry she was. She didn't wait to see him leave but ran to begin her shift.

But what happened last Wednesday wasn't the point! The point was that someone saw!