Chapter 22: Openly Abusing His Wife in the Hospital

There were far too many people in this hospital who bullied the weak and fawned over the strong. Especially since Zhou Xinyue had been brought here by Lu Zhixing—no one dared touch her with him protecting her. But Xie Yunshu was different. Just looking at Lu Zhixing’s indifferent attitude made it clear—he didn’t care much for his wife.

Since that was the case, what was the harm in stepping on her? As far as she was concerned, the title of “Dr. Lu’s wife” would eventually go to someone else.

Hearing Zhao Lingling’s words, the other young nurse on shift nodded in agreement.
“Exactly. Ever since Zhou Xinyue arrived at our hospital, Dr. Lu’s been coming to the nurses’ station all the time. We never used to see him this often!”

Then she added with a sigh,
“Honestly, you can’t really blame Xie Yunshu for being upset that day.”

She didn’t dare openly judge whether Dr. Lu was right or wrong, but Zhou Xinyue was definitely not as simple as she seemed. A woman rescued from the mountains after so much suffering—shouldn’t she be working hard and raising her child now that she had a new life?

Why was she more delicate than a spoiled young lady? Every little issue at work, she ran to Lu Zhixing. Every problem with her kid, she looked for Lu Zhixing. Even her period cramps were so bad she fainted and needed Lu Zhixing to take care of her…

And let’s not forget—Lu Zhixing had a wife. Even if he were single, Zhou Xinyue ought to know her place.

Zhao Lingling snorted,
“What right does Xie Yunshu have to be mad? She never deserved Dr. Lu in the first place! I heard she caused a big scene that night—tch, such a shrew! Five days in the dark room wasn’t enough? Just wait for Dr. Lu to lock her up again—go hungry for a few meals and she’ll learn her lesson!”

But noticing the silence beside her, Zhao Lingling grew puzzled:
“Xiao Qing, what’s up with you? It’s just the two of us here—you’re really going to sit there in silence and suffocate me?”

Xiao Qing pursed her lips and motioned with her eyes:
“Stop talking.”

Zhao Lingling brushed it off:
“What, are you feeling sorry for Xie Yunshu now? She had it coming! I was already being nice, gave her a steamed bun to eat. If she gets locked up again, I won’t even give her water! Besides, Dr. Lu doesn’t care about her—he’s busy looking after Zhou Xinyue and her kid!”

Xiao Qing’s face turned pale. She took two steps back, clearly distancing herself:
“Dr. Lu…”

She had been off duty when Xie Yunshu was locked up, so she wasn’t involved. And she didn’t have the guts Zhao Lingling did—to bully patients at the hospital! Even if Xie Yunshu weren’t Dr. Lu’s wife, she was still a patient. You couldn’t treat anyone like that…

Lu Zhixing’s entire presence was wrapped in a dark, oppressive aura. Although Xie Yunshu had told him once about the inhumane treatment she’d endured in those five days, he hadn’t quite believed it at the time.

Zhou Xinyue had been interning in this department. She would have known where Xie Yunshu was being held, who delivered food… and yet, she never said a word?

Now, hearing the nurse confess with her own mouth, the fury in his heart could no longer be contained.

Zhao Lingling realized something was wrong. She glanced confusedly at Xiao Qing, followed her stiff gaze—and turned her head—only to be scared speechless.
“Dr-Dr. Lu…”

Lu Zhixing was livid. Normally a restrained and composed man, now he couldn’t hold back at all. He stepped forward and grabbed Zhao Lingling by the throat:
“How dare you! How dare you openly abuse my wife in the hospital! Not feeding her? Who the hell do you think you are?!”

With that, he flung her away. Zhao Lingling crashed against the wall like a broken kite and clutched her throat, coughing violently…

“Lingling!” Xiao Qing cried out. She glanced fearfully at Lu Zhixing, utterly shocked.

She had always thought of Dr. Lu as aloof but gentle. Now, seeing his rage, she even wondered if he might kill Zhao Lingling in the next second. How could this be? Hadn’t everyone said he didn’t care about his wife?

Zhao Lingling was too scared to cry. She had bought her position in the hospital through connections, not through proper nursing school channels. If Lu Zhixing wanted to deal with her, it would take only a word.

Lu Zhixing was breathing heavily, eyes tinged red. Only now, after hearing it directly, did he truly understand what Yunshu had gone through in those five days!
His wife—right under his nose—had suffered such abuse. Locked in a dark storage room. Eating dry buns and drinking cold water in the dead of winter. And he… he was the one who had enabled all this!

No wonder she was so disappointed in him. No wonder she kept talking about divorce.

Zhao Lingling staggered up, clinging to the wall, trying desperately to defend herself:
“Dr. Lu, I didn’t mean to! It was Zhou Xinyue—she told me Xie Yunshu bullied her. Said that slap made her want to die! I just wanted to stand up for her. Yes, that’s it—Zhou Xinyue made me do it!”

Lu Zhixing let out a cold laugh:
“And you still dare blame it on Xinyue? She and Yunshu hadn’t even met before then—why would she do such a thing?”

Xinyue had been so traumatized from her past, so timid. She had spent those five days crying at home. How could she possibly have instigated Zhao Lingling?

Zhao Lingling was speechless. True, Zhou Xinyue hadn’t outright told her to abuse Xie Yunshu. But she had hinted—said Lu Zhixing and his wife had a bad relationship, said Xie Yunshu had a nasty temper and deserved to suffer. Even claimed Lu Zhixing wouldn’t stand up for her no matter what happened.

Jealousy had blinded her. She took those hints and, using what little power she had, made life hard for Xie Yunshu. Never imagining that when the truth came out, Lu Zhixing would be this furious!

“Dr. Lu, I just wanted to help Xinyue vent her frustration!” Zhao Lingling sobbed uncontrollably, her face a mess: “Xie Yunshu kept picking on her. If no one taught her a lesson…” Lu Zhixing stared at her coldly:
“You think you get to teach my wife a lesson? You’re Zhao Lingling, right? Don’t bother coming in tomorrow. You’re fired. Abusing patients, dereliction of duty—if it weren’t for Director Qin’s sake, I’d hand you over to the police myself!”

Zhao Lingling never imagined that a matter from days ago would cost her her job—she had just mocked Xie Yunshu for losing hers, and now it was her turn!

Xiao Qing couldn’t help but speak up: “Dr. Lu… the incident has passed. Lingling knows she was wrong.” “Knowing she was wrong doesn’t undo the damage,” Lu Zhixing’s voice was hard, brooking no argument.
“And one more thing—who exactly locked Yunshu in the storage room? I specifically instructed that she be placed in a private patient room!”