At Youndgon Hospital, Chandely,
It is Midnight. Yaffe Qin hurries to the floor of her office, startled by what appears in front of it.
She planned to stroll along this rather spacious hospital corridor which is now occupied by dozens of sizable men.
In identical black suits with shades, these men wear an intense expression as if an improvised war is pending.
As Yaffe approaches, the doctors and nurses on duty are instantly relieved, almost bursting to tears, “Doctor Qin, you’re finally here”.
Yaffe nods at them and looks at the people in the corridor, “Excuse me, could I have everybody wait in the outside waiting area please? Noises will affect our medical staff”.
Yaffe drops her words without further attention to the crowd and goes to her office.
She walks right into an absolute mess.
The bonsai, case books, cups, pens and papers, have been scattered all over the place.
And a large plash of tea and coffee has coloured the floor.
Only the tiny sofa remains rather clean.
On it, sits with the back to her a little child.
Yaffe figures this is where the mess come from.
Anger burns quickly in her; she very much wants to teach this kind of wild kids a lesson.
But, remembering the men in suits outside, she is smart enough to immediately adjust her countenance, asking gently: “Hello there, what is your name? Are you feeling sick?”
The child slowly turns his head to her voice.
Yaffe is surprised by the delicacy and tenderness of this face.
A strange sense of familiarity arises from her heart that brushes off all her previous anger.
The child only looks at her quietly, without a word.
This pair of eyes, black and shiny, like two crystal grapes, radiates splendid light.
Yaffe sizes up the child with her perfect and inconspicuous manner. She notices that his chubby hand has balled into a fist and pressed on his belly.
Yaffe shows her most gentle smile, “My dear, I wish I could tell how you feel by only your facial expressions. If you don’t want to talk, how about you point at where you feel uncomfortable?”
Yaffe smiles at him.
The child stares back.
And there is silence in the office.
As Yaffe thinks her words would not elicit a response from him, the child gradually reaches out his tiny chubby hand and points at his tummy.
Following his hand, Yaffe touches the point of his belly and pressed twice through his cloths, “Is it bellyache?”
The child looks at Yaffe, then insensibly sees her hand on his belly, nodding gently.
Yaffe stands up, and before the child realize, picks him up to the diagnostic bed in the office for a detailed examination.
Startled by her sudden action, the child stays in her arm blankly.
That exquisite and soft baby face is void of any expression.
From the office door, peeked the head of the butler, who is shocked by the sight of young master nesting comfortably in Yaffe’s arms.
Their young master has never been close to anyone else except their master.
Even him, who has taken care of young master for 5 years, has not a chance to pick up young master.
**
A brand-new Maserati parks in the empty hospital parking lot. The butler jogs towards it and greets, “Master”.
Soon, off the driver seat, comes a man with elegant features and fine clothing.
His pinched, beautifully shaped lips reveal his discontent.
Quinn He questions: “Where’s Genee?”
“Young master is sleeping at Doctor Qin’s”.
“Doctor Qin?” Quinn doubts, leading ahead.
“She’s a doctor at the hospital. When she picked up young master, young master didn’t refuse,” said the butler excitedly.
With a subtle frown, Quinn picks up his pace.
The butler guides Quinn by his side to Yaffe Qin’s office.
When they reached the floor of Yaffe’s office, Quinn makes a stop sign.
Quietly, the butler comes to a halt.
Quinn walks up to the wide-opened office door, seeing the scene inside.
His glance takes less than a second.
An adult and a child in the office, two heads leaning together, have fallen asleep.
Like a fine rag doll, Genee nicely lies in Yaffe’s arms, free of agitation on his tender face.
When Quinn sees Yaffe’s face clearly, a flash of surprise brushes through his eyes.
Yaffe, a light sleeper she is, wakes immediately as she feels someone watching her.
After making out the man in front, she pauses for a moment.
Yaffe blinks and again and finds Quinn still there.
Yaffe knows who Quinn is, but not because she cares much about finance or the news.
The hospital nurses and doctors gossiped about “Quinn He” all day; they almost worshipped him as their Prince Charming.
There is no way for her to no know him.
Quinn He, this name itself, in some way, represents the richest and highest status in Chandely. Plus, the He family’s influence in the city is as what they say – a stamp on the ground from the He’s, an earthquake in Chandely.
Genee turns around, as if he notices Yaffe’s emotion, and looks about half-asleep.
Seeing Quinn, he innocently reaches out his chubby arms to him.
Quinn catches him, “How’s your tummy?”
Genee nods silently and lays his little head on Quinn’s neck.
Quinn pats Genee’s back with his big hand.
His gaze like an obsidian remains on Yaffe’s face.
Yaffe returns from her daze, makes a cough, and reminds: “It’s too late in the hour. Our pharmaceutical staff has left. No medicine can be provided. You should go home tonight and observe his condition. If he’s still feeling unwell, I will prescribe some meds tomorrow”.
Quinn lightly nods as a reply.
Afterwards, he leaves without once turning back his head.
Yaffe looks at the empty office; her eyes rolling.
What’s the big deal with being rich?
Arrogant prick.
Yaffe repeating this thought, she turns off the office light and goes home for a good sleep.
**
The next day,
Before she gets off work in the afternoon, Yaffe’s office telephone rings.
Yaffe picks up the phone.
“Hello, this is Yaffe Qin from Youndgon Hospital”.
It is silence from the other end.
Yaffe flashes a frown, thinking it strange, and is about to hang up.
Before she does, two faint beats are heard.
Yaffe pauses her phone-holding hand and puts it back by her ear.
This time she hears quiet breathing sound from the phone – sounds like a child’s.
An image of Genee’s face appears in Yaffe’s mind. She softens her voice, “May I ask if you are the little patient from last night?”
A faint beating sound is heard from the phone.
“Are you still feeling bellyache?”
This time is two beats.
A slight upturn raises at the corners of Yaffe’s mouth, but her kindness almost vanishes at the thought of Genee’s father.
“It’s great that you feel okay now. You’re quite healthy. Please keep in touch and don’t come to the hospital too often”.
Another beating sound is heard from the phone.