Chapter 431: Rumors at the Hospital: Turmoil and Trust

But now those people who want to become students of the Japanese specialists at the hospital might not even get accepted.

Third Hospital seized this rare opportunity and held three rounds of public recruitment in quick succession.

Talent has always been the cornerstone of a hospital’s growth.

Word is, more and more people are applying each time — not just graduates from top medical universities, but even doctors already working at major hospitals. They’ve used vacation time and snuck away to secretly interview at Third Hospital.

Lately, Third Hospital has been close to catching fire with all the buzz around it.

Not only has its reputation skyrocketed within the province, it’s picked up serious recognition nationwide too.

Plenty of people are badmouthing Third Hospital for chasing foreign trends, but deep down they’re just jealous the hospital’s strategy paid off so well.

Bringing in foreign medical experts isn’t something Third Hospital invented — other big hospitals have been doing it for years.

Many joint-venture hospitals include foreign experts and doctors, sometimes even sending local med students abroad to train. Then foreign doctors show up for events to lend prestige and credibility.

But those big hospitals mostly invite foreign experts for short-term exchanges. Few places can actually keep international specialists for the long haul.

The fact that Third Hospital, with only so-so conditions, managed to poach an entire Japanese surgical team means there must be a card they’re not showing.

Without especially deep trust, and with Japanese specialists being nobody’s fool, who’d leave home and career just to join an ordinary hospital overseas?

In Japan, there are roughly three classes of doctors. The first are junior trainees, about the same as our resident doctors.

They earn about 250,000 yuan a year.

Some hospitals desperate to fill positions offer over 380,000 yuan as an enticing annual salary.

Second-tier doctors — senior trainees — usually earn 400,000 to 500,000 yuan yearly.

The third tier are attending physicians, and their annual income typically tops 600,000 yuan.

But even Japan’s top doctors don’t make as much as you’d think, generally between 700,000 and 1.2 million yuan per year.

If you’re making over a million a year, you’ll be living very comfortably—no matter where you are in the world.

In the end, luring people over isn’t just about throwing money at the problem.

Even if Third Hospital offers that Japanese cardiac specialist a salary of two million, if you’re not acquaintances — if you haven’t even talked — convincing them to bring their entire team over is another story.

So, there’s got to be something behind the scenes at Third Hospital that snagged these experts.

All in all, this gamble by Third Hospital has paid off in spades, opening up enormous growth opportunities.

“Qiao Yu, there’s a negative story about you online!”

Ma Xiaolan seemed to have stumbled on bad press, and lowered her voice to warn Qiao Yu.

“There’s bad news about me? Where?”

Qiao Yu spends her days either assisting Zhou Can in surgery or studying back in the dorm. She used to frequently volunteer in the Surgical Department just to improve her skills as a surgical nurse.

She’s always been the model good girl — there’s no way Zhou Can would ever believe she’d have negative news.

“Dr. Zhou, you should look too! You’re mentioned as well!”

Ma Xiaolan still felt a bit intimidated around Zhou Can.

“Negative news about me and Qiao Yu? Someone must be trying to stir up rumors about us.”

Zhou Can instantly saw through what this was.

After reading, Qiao Yu’s face turned a little pale.

Zhou Can hadn’t planned to bother, but seeing Qiao Yu’s reaction, he immediately asked for the link himself.

“Damn it, someone’s trying to ruin my reputation — and it has to be someone inside our Emergency Department.”

The tabloid post featured photos of Zhou Can and Qiao Yu in moments that seemed close, plus a shot of Zhou Can talking privately with the female reporter, Mu Qing.

These shots would be hard to get unless you were an insider in the Emergency Department.

Of course, there’s always the slim chance of someone pretending to be a family member and sneaking photos on the sly.

But that seems pretty unlikely.

As far as Zhou Can knew, he hadn’t made any enemies.

He only had limited contact with patients’ families anyway.

Pre-surgery interviews were usually done by Dr. Xu or other doctors — Emergency procedures are a bit different from standard specialist work.

With limited contact, there wasn’t much chance for retaliation from families or patients.

Could it be that pervert who harassed Qiao Yu last time?

That’s actually possible.

Zhou Can did beat the guy up — he was some rich and powerful type who thought he could do as he pleased.

Chances are, he won’t be locked up for long.

Still, the incident was ages ago. Why wait until now to get back at Zhou Can?

If the guy really had some clout, he would’ve found out Zhou Can isn’t someone to mess with.

Capital might not have the strongest standing here, but it still counts for something.

The big players in capital can just about squeeze into the middle tier of movers and shakers.

As long as you don’t shoot yourself in the foot, getting snuffed out for no reason is pretty rare.

That’s when Zhou Can suddenly remembered he upset Dr. Lu just a couple of days ago.

Maybe Dr. Lu is playing dirty behind the scenes?

It wouldn’t be hard to get to the bottom of this — especially for someone like Zhou Can, whose assets run into the billions. He started mobilizing his own network to track down who posted the rumors online, while also reporting it to the police.

Spreading lies and slander — that’s breaking the law.

Whoever did this is going to pay.

“Qiao Yu, you don’t have to be scared. I’ll sort it out.”

Zhou Can reassured her gently.

She’s still single, and rumors like this can do real harm to her chances at love and marriage.

Family, friends, coworkers — they’d all start whispering and looking at her strangely.

After lunch, Zhou Can planned to take a couple of hours off to report the case as quickly as possible.

Usually, the police just take down the statement first.

Honestly, that’s all Zhou Can needed.

With his resources, it’d be easy to dig out who posted the rumors.

Money might not buy everything,

but with money, most things get done.

“Zhou, come with me to the office for a minute.”

Director Lou spotted Zhou Can and called him into the office with a stern look.

“Take a look at this!”

Director Lou handed over printed photos of Zhou Can and Qiao Yu, or of Zhou Can chatting with Mu Qing — all with suggestive captions.

Accusing him of keeping more than a dozen mistresses.

A doctor abusing his position to have affairs.

The photos and text together — all sensitive topics, impossible to ignore.

Sure to catch the public’s attention.

After all, both Qiao Yu and Mu Qing are stunning women who naturally draw interest.

“That bastard! Posting online to attack me, and passing out flyers in the hospital too — does he think the law is a joke? I’ll make him pay.”

Seeing those printouts handed out in the hospital made Zhou Can furious.

Handing out dirt like this at work? Might as well dump a bucket of filth right on him — anything to ruin his name.

“There’s nobody else in the office, just us. Be straight with me: Are your relationships with those women proper? No need to be embarrassed — it’s not unusual for men to stray.”

Director Lou fixed him with a sharp stare.

“I swear, I may have some contact with them, but my relationships are proper — nothing inappropriate ever happened.”

Inside, Zhou Can felt lucky he hadn’t done anything out of line.

Otherwise, he’d be in deep trouble right now.

“Good. As long as nothing crossed the line, you have nothing to worry about. Zhou, you know right now the entire Emergency Department is basically revolving around you. Never cross that line — before you act, remember the whole department’s future depends on you. It’s easy for someone young and talented to lose their head. What matters most is staying humble and cautious every step of the way.”

Director Lou had poured his heart and hopes into him.

Whether the Emergency Department could thrive hinged entirely on Zhou Can.

At a critical time like this, Director Lou was extra worried Zhou Can might go off track.

The quickest way to destroy a successful man? Scandals about relationships.

Wealth and power only make it easier to stray.

It’s just human nature — an instinct.

Humans evolved from animals. In the animal kingdom, the strongest male or female gets breeding rights for the whole group.

Society might be fully civilized now, but those instincts still run deep.

Someone with real discipline and self-control can keep their impulses in check.

But it’s hardest for the young and successful.

When you’re too young — not mature, not steady — it’s easy to give in to temptation.

“Director Lou, I’d like to take two hours off to report this to the police. If we don’t catch the culprit fast, they’ll just keep finding new ways to smear my name — and right now, both online and offline, these rumors are spreading fast. If things spiral out of control, it could really blow up. Reporting to the police now will help the fightback later.”

Zhou Can sounded perfectly calm.

He was determined to find out who was behind all this.

“Good! You’re staying level-headed and facing this rationally. That’s exactly what we need. Go — and make the most of your time.”

Director Lou was more anxious about this than Zhou Can himself.

After planning for years, finally someone appeared who could take the Emergency Department to new heights. The team was thriving, and growth was finally taking off.

He didn’t want to see progress stall now.

“If the culprit turns out to be someone from our Emergency Department, what then?”

Zhou Can turned to ask before walking out.

“Who did you tick off?”

A cold gleam flashed in Director Lou’s eyes.

“If someone really is that ruthless, once we confirm it, not only will they be fired, I’ll make sure the hospital blacklists them for good.”

“We still don’t know the truth, so I can’t accuse anyone yet. Don’t worry — we’ll have answers soon enough.”

Zhou Can hurried off to the police station to file a report — no need to dwell on the rest.

At the same time, he’d set his own people to work tracking down the source of the rumors, gathering evidence for an eventual lawsuit.

He was determined not to let the culprit off easy for such dirty tricks.

On his way back to the hospital, Mu Qing called.

It seemed she’d caught wind of the scandal too.

“Dr. Zhou, did you hear the rumors online? They’re saying you’re keeping mistresses.”

“Yeah, I already know.”

“I’m still single, so you’d better help clear my name, or else I’m holding you responsible!” Mu Qing didn’t sound nearly as worried as he’d expected.

Women’s minds really are a mystery.

Who knows what she was thinking.

“I’m sorting it out now. Don’t worry, your reputation will be restored. Let’s leave it at that for now.”

With that, Zhou Can hung up.

He did his best to keep his distance from Mu Qing.

Now he just hoped Su Qianqian hadn’t heard about any of this — otherwise she’d surely be affected.

He worried about her health the most.

Her condition had finally stabilized.

He’d managed to secure the Rainbow Toad that could cure her kidney disease, but there was still no trace of the Purple-backed Mayapple.

If any of this made her condition take a turn for the worse, Zhou Can couldn’t bear to imagine it.

He gritted his teeth at whoever was scheming behind the scenes.

……

That night, when Zhou Can got home, Su Qianqian was waiting on the sofa — just like always.

After Zhou Can finished his shower, she wrapped him in a tight hug.

“Qianqian, what’s wrong?”

“I’m scared of losing you someday. I wish things could stay just like this forever. I know it’s selfish, but the days I spend with you are honestly the happiest I’ve ever had…”

She must have already seen the online rumors.

Zhou Can sat down, holding her in his arms.

“Being with you makes me feel warm and happy too. Did someone say something to you? I promise—”

Before he could finish, she put a hand over his mouth.

“I trust you. I know those are just nasty rumors. I never doubted you. I’m just scared of losing you.”

What she felt for Zhou Can went beyond love — it was attachment and a desperation to never let him go.

Caring that much only makes the fear of loss stronger.

“There’s nothing to be afraid of. I decided a long time ago you’re the one for me. Unless you turn your back on me first, nothing can pull us apart.” Zhou Can had never been the type to leave someone behind.

Having such a wonderful partner in life, he felt truly grateful.

That night, even with his comforting words, Su Qianqian still couldn’t settle down to sleep.

Her anxiety was clear. Worrying and overthinking — it’s just human nature.

She might be outstanding and nearly perfect in every way, but when crisis came, she was just as scared of losing Zhou Can as anyone else.

The next morning, Zhou Can went to the hospital for his shift. As he entered the Operating Room for handover, he happened to run into Dr. Lu.

The look in Dr. Lu’s eyes was a little evasive.

Ever since their argument, the two hadn’t spoken.

Dr. Lu tried to walk right past him.

Zhou Can fixed him with an icy stare as he walked into the locker room, but the words he wanted to say died in his throat.

Until the truth was out, it was better not to say anything.

During surgery that morning, Zhou Can was clearly thrown off by the scandal — his head wasn’t in the game.

He kept worrying about Su Qianqian.

Qiao Yu wasn’t looking great either.

Worried something might go wrong, Zhou Can decided to stop the surgery himself.

“Is this really such a big deal? Come on now.”

Dr. Xu shook his head, upset that his promising disciple couldn’t focus in the OR.

“I’m not overreacting, teacher. This is already affecting my life. I can’t just ignore it. Maybe I should just help you with retractors for now!”

You can’t take surgery lightly.

Every operation is about saving lives.

Things were already chaotic, and if something went wrong in the OR now, that’s exactly what the rumor-monger wanted. It’d destroy Zhou Can completely.

And so, he muddled through to nearly eleven-thirty, when his phone kept buzzing. He knew right away it was a call.

Usually, he’d never answer with surgery underway.

But as just an assistant for Dr. Xu this time, he took a glance at his phone.

“Teacher, let me step out for a call.”

“Go ahead!”

Dr. Xu’s heart ached to see his student so affected.

Zhou Can stepped outside and picked up.

“Boss Zhou, we’ve got it all figured out.”

“Wow, you guys work fast! That was quick. Not bad.”

Hearing there was news, Zhou Can’s heart leapt with excitement.

“Heh, don’t worry, this is our bread and butter. We’re pros. The original post was made at an internet café, and we’ve pulled the surveillance footage and locked onto the guy who made it. I’ll send you the images on WeChat. See if you know him. Also, the people passing out flyers in your hospital? We’ve found them too — they’re both patients’ family members.”

It was a shock to learn that the rumors were being spread by patients’ families.

“Do you have their info?”

Zhou Can had suspected Dr. Lu, not patient families.

“Don’t worry, our work is always thorough. We actually found those two who handed out flyers last night. To be absolutely sure, we spent all morning double-checking everything.”