Chapter 686 — Failed Again

"Achoo!" Kang Jingming sneezed the moment he came through the door, startling Guan Xin, who was in the middle of preparing medicine. She turned and saw him being helped in by two men, and could not help but freeze for a moment. "You again?"

"Guan Xin, I've come to see a doctor..." Kang Jingming felt he had finally found a reason to approach Guan Xin, and perked up with some excitement. "I've caught a cold. Could you give me a shot?"

"Have you registered? Have you seen the outpatient clinic? Do you have a doctor's order?" Guan Xin frowned. She could not understand how Kang Jingming had gone out for a spin and come back at death's door — he looked seriously ill, at that.

But whether his illness was real or feigned, Guan Xin could not possibly give him an injection. Without a doctor's order, how could she treat him as she pleased?

"Huh? I still have to see the outpatient clinic? Look at me — if I don't get a shot soon, I'll die..." Kang Jingming froze, then abruptly realized how hospital visits actually worked. It was all his fever's fault; it had left him muddled and dull-witted. Though it occurred to him too that Zhu Xiaozhang and Wang Shubin hadn't reminded him — they didn't have fevers, so why were they so stupid?

He could not help glaring at Zhu Xiaozhang and Wang Shubin in annoyance, but in front of Guan Xin he had no way to scold them outright.

In truth, he was doing them an injustice. These young masters had never once registered at a hospital back in the provincial capital. With their connection to Kang the Divine Doctor's family especially, they had acquaintances at every hospital they visited — they simply sought out a friend to lead the way to injections and medicine, whatever treatment was needed, and never once heard that registration was required.

"Er... Nurse Guan Xin, Young Master Ming's illness is severe and urgent, and we didn't have time to register. How about this — you treat him first, and I'll go register for him afterward?" Wang Shubin said hastily.

"Then you still have to see the outpatient clinic. Without a doctor's order, I can't dispense medicine as I please!" Guan Xin said. "Since he's this ill, you'd better take him to the outpatient clinic first."

"Er... the thing is, I don't really know anyone at this hospital, not a soul, and I'm afraid they'll fleece me..." Kang Jingming seized on the inspiration. "Look how lavishly this place is decorated — they must have squeezed plenty of fat out of the people. If I don't have a friend here, I wouldn't dare. What if they treat me wrong and kill me? You're the only person I know here — please help me..."

Kang Jingming was quite pleased with his quick wit. The reason was perfectly sound — the newspapers and news reports were full of stories about hospitals' shady dealings; he wasn't making things up, and it all made good sense!

Just as Kang Jingming was feeling rather good about himself, Guan Xin's expression darkened. "Our hospital's system is perfectly clear. There are explicit fee standards — no one will fleece you. And every doctor holds a practicing license; no one is going to treat you wrong and kill you!"

"That's hard to say. Even with clearly marked prices, there's still backroom dealing!" Kang Jingming, his head still muddled, clearly had not noticed that Guan Xin was already quite displeased, and went on with great self-assurance: "These hospital owners nowadays have hearts black as coal. I really can't feel at ease..."

"My father's heart is not black." Guan Xin shot him a glare, turned, and paid him no further attention.

"Gah?" Kang Jingming was stunned by her words, then abruptly understood. Guan Xin's father, Guan Xiaopeng — wasn't he Guan Xuewen's son? And wasn't Guan Xuewen's younger son, Guan Xin's father, a shareholder in this very hospital?

It was over — this time truly over. He had been pointing at the mulberry tree while cursing the locust; wasn't he making Guan Xin hate him utterly? Last time he had called her grandfather a swindler; this time he had called her father a black-hearted boss... Good God, was there any hope of salvation left?

Kang Jingming nearly keeled over on the spot. The awkwardness was beyond words. It seemed this cold and fever really were harmful — with his head unclear, his words came out all jumbled.

"Guan Xin, don't be angry. That's not what I meant. I wasn't calling your father black-hearted — I've just been frightened by some black-hearted businessmen!" Kang Jingming hurried to explain. "I have a cold right now and I'm running a fever. My head isn't clear; the fever's made me muddled, and I babble nonsense. Surely you won't hold it against a patient?"

"Since you're ill, go see a doctor at once. I have work to do!" How could Guan Xin not understand Kang Jingming's intentions? If he hadn't wanted to court her, why would he have come cozying up? But Guan Xin did not like him, and she gave him no opening.

This time Kang Jingming was too embarrassed to keep pestering Guan Xin to accompany him to the doctor. Rather sullenly, he shot Wang Shubin and Zhu Xiaozhang a look, signaling them to take him to register and see a doctor — after all, once he had the doctor's order, he could still come back to Guan Xin for his injection.

Not long after Kang Jingming left, Kang Xiaofeng came looking for her.

Kang Xiaofeng had no acquaintances at the hospital either, and bringing Xiaofen for a follow-up would naturally be easier with a friend there. Last time he had met Guan Xin through Wei Zhao, and knowing she was Guan Xuewen's granddaughter, Kang Xiaofeng was naturally on good terms with her.

Guan Xin was glad to be friendly with Kang Xiaofeng too. As for why, she herself could not quite say — was it because he was Wei Zhao's good friend?

Still, seeing Tang Zhi beside Kang Xiaofeng, Guan Xin felt a little awkward. Her own small secret seemed not to have escaped this beautiful girl's eyes.

"Guan Xin, I've brought Xiaofen for a follow-up. Are you busy — could you take us over?" Kang Xiaofeng asked with a smile after entering the nurses' duty room.

"Of course, just let me finish what I'm doing here first." Guan Xin was mixing up some medicine for external injuries, which had to be delivered to the ward shortly; she had to get it done before she could go off and do anything else.

"Then I've really put you to trouble." Kang Xiaofeng nodded his thanks. Doctors did not always keep clinic hours; they might well be in the wards, so if he took Xiaofen along for a follow-up visit, there was every chance they would not find the person they were looking for.

"It's no trouble at all. What trouble is there in this?" Guan Xin shook her head. "Have a seat first, the two of you. I'll need a little while longer."

"All right, then go on with your work." Kang Xiaofeng drew Xiaofen down onto the sofa at the side, while Tang Zhi looked rather ill at ease. A girl's sixth sense told her that between Wei Zhao and Guan Xin there was probably a touch of something faintly ambiguous.

Yet she did not know what to do about it. Guan Xin was always so gentle and frail, never putting herself forward, never competing or striving for anything, so that Tang Zhi could not even summon the will to contend with her. Besides, her own father was hospitalized here, and Guan Xin had helped no small amount; all the more reason, then, that Tang Zhi could not bring herself to harbor any such thoughts about her.