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Huo Beiqing glanced sideways at Xia Ruannan. She lowered her head slightly, tacitly admitting that she had indeed pulled Jiang Ruoman’s hair.
There was no denying it.
Because the original Xia Ruannan had really done it.
And many people had seen it happen.
The original Xia Ruannan had used underhanded methods to marry Huo Beiqing, but he had since kept his distance. They had yet to consummate the marriage, which made her anxious.
In her anxiety, she kept coming to the hospital.
But even at the hospital, she could never see him. The nurses would always tell her, “Dr. Huo is in surgery.”
While this was true, to the original Xia Ruannan, it sounded like a lie.
She didn’t believe it.
In her mind, no doctor could possibly have that many surgeries to perform.
She thought Huo Beiqing was deliberately avoiding her.
Then she overheard some rumors in the hospital:
Huo Beiqing had been mentoring a beautiful female student, and he seemed to treat her differently.
The original Xia Ruannan couldn’t take it. After finding out the student’s name, the current incident ensued.
Huo Beiqing, fully understanding the situation, tilted his chin slightly and said, “Apologize.”
Hearing his words, both the tearful Jiang Ruoman and the panicked Sun Zhenzhen were briefly stunned before a hint of smugness appeared on their faces.
They felt vindicated—Huo Beiqing indeed treated Jiang Ruoman differently.
Even the surrounding doctors and nurses showed subtle changes in their expressions.
Xia Ruannan, clutching her head, glanced at the handsome man in front of her. Finally, she spoke. “I apologize for my recklessness and rudeness toward Dr. Jiang.”
As Xia Ruannan said this, she sighed.
The man was undeniably handsome—every feature aligned perfectly with her aesthetic.
But no matter how handsome he was, if his heart belonged to someone else, she couldn’t care less.
Apologize now, then go and get the divorce papers later!
The original Xia Ruannan had liked using underhanded tactics to cling to people, but she didn’t.
Clinging to someone and living as a shrew or a resentful woman—that was the original Xia Ruannan’s life, not hers.
She, Xia Ruannan, was a three-time award-winning actress.
Her life should be dazzling and passionate, filled with flowers and applause.
As for men, they were nice to have, but not essential.
Even a love-hate relationship with her haters was better than clinging to a man who didn’t love her!
Before Jiang Ruoman could feign forgiveness, Huo Beiqing’s cold voice interrupted, “Dr. Jiang, if you need any compensation, make a list and send it to me.”
Jiang Ruoman was speechless, her expression darkening.
Before she could respond, Huo Beiqing turned to Sun Zhenzhen and said, “Nurse Sun, as someone unrelated to the situation, you should have intervened or called security. Why resort to violence?”
Sun Zhenzhen stammered, “I…”
“Aren’t you a top student from the medical school? Didn’t you learn how to save lives? Or did you learn how to harm others instead?”
Though his tone remained cold, everyone could tell he was furious.
Sun Zhenzhen was so flustered that her forehead began to sweat. She couldn’t come up with a response.
She had assumed Huo Beiqing had no feelings for this country bumpkin of a wife and, given his “special treatment” of Jiang Ruoman, wouldn’t care what happened.
What she didn’t realize was that Huo Beiqing possessed a rare quality—a strong sense of responsibility.
While he indeed struggled to accept Xia Ruannan at the moment, the fact that they were married meant he wouldn’t stand by and let others bully her.
Sun Zhenzhen couldn’t utter a word.
Jiang Ruoman spoke up in her defense. “Dr. Huo, at first, Zhenzhen was trying to persuade Mrs. Huo to let go, but she wouldn’t. Look—” Jiang Ruoman held up the hair in Sun Zhenzhen’s hand. “This was pulled from my head by Mrs. Huo.”
“Zhenzhen had no choice but to push Mrs. Huo away. No one expected her to get hurt.”
Huo Beiqing looked at the strands of hair in her hand and repeated calmly, “Let me know how much compensation is required, and I’ll have someone inform you later.”
Jiang Ruoman was left speechless.
Huo Beiqing continued, “My wife and I have been standing here without saying a word, yet during the scuffle, I didn’t expect Dr. Jiang to lose so much hair.”
This comment left Jiang Ruoman visibly uncomfortable.
She hadn’t anticipated Huo Beiqing being so protective—protective to the point of being unreasonable.
The surrounding doctors and nurses exchanged looks, then redirected their gazes to Xia Ruanyuan, the woman standing quietly behind Huo Beiqing. She looked plain and modestly dressed, but now, their perceptions shifted.
One nurse whispered to Sun Zhenzhen, “You should apologize to Dr. Huo’s wife.”
Though reluctant, Sun Zhenzhen muttered under her breath, “I’m sorry.” Her voice was barely audible.
Xia Ruanyuan was not one to let things slide when given the upper hand.
Moments ago, she thought Huo Beiqing might side with the others, so she stayed quiet. Now that she saw he was clearly defending her, she confidently said, “I didn’t hear you.”
Sun Zhenzhen glared at Xia Ruanyuan, who immediately glared back.
Huo Beiqing, however, lowered his eyelids slightly, as though oblivious to the exchange.
Sun Zhenzhen had no choice but to raise her voice. “I’m sorry!”
Xia Ruanyuan tilted her head and playfully scratched her ear. “Didn’t Nurse Sun speak quite loudly earlier?”
Sun Zhenzhen was livid.
“I’m sorry!” she repeated, louder this time.
Before she could say more, Jiang Ruoman interjected, “Dr. Huo—”
But Huo Beiqing ignored her, turning instead to Xia Ruanyuan, who clutched her head. “My head hurts,” she said softly, her tone laced with vulnerability.
After a brief pause, Huo Beiqing grabbed her wrist and led her to his office.
As they walked away, he remarked, “Hospitals are places for saving lives. If you have nothing to do, stay at your post. If you’re here to gossip, you shouldn’t be here at all.”
The words sent the onlookers scattering instantly.
Only Jiang Ruoman and Sun Zhenzhen remained, their expressions dark.
Sun Zhenzhen tugged at Jiang Ruoman’s sleeve. “Ruoman…”
Jiang Ruoman angrily shook off her hand, her face clouded, and walked away. Sun Zhenzhen hurried after her.
Back in his office, Huo Beiqing pointed to a chair. “Sit here,” he instructed before stepping out briefly.
He soon returned with medical supplies and sat down on the edge of his desk. With a swift pull, he dragged Xia Ruanyuan’s chair closer.
Taking a cotton ball soaked in alcohol, he began tending to her wound.
“Ouch! Ouch!” Xia Ruanyuan winced, clutching his white coat tightly and crying out in pain.
She had always been terrified of pain, and the sting of alcohol on her wound was unbearable.
Huo Beiqing’s slender fingers hesitated for a moment before his touch became gentler. Yet, no matter how careful he was, the alcohol still burned.
Tears welled up in Xia Ruanyuan’s eyes, then flowed uncontrollably, streaming down her face like a faucet left on.
Her crying left Huo Beiqing momentarily at a loss.
He had seen women cry before, but those women had nothing to do with him. Comforting others was not his forte.
