CHAPTER 38: CHAPTER 26: ACCIDENT

Cai Rongjuan had never encountered such an arrogant young man. She always thought that she held a respectable position in Changxing. Even the hospital director, Gu Houyi, would treat her courteously. After all, she was one of the hospital’s symbols. This was simply too disrespectful.

Cai Rongjuan was trembling with anger, and she called Zhou Wenbin, the director of the medical office.

As soon as Zhou Wenbin picked up the call, Cai Rongjuan’s anger burst forth: "Zhou Wenbin, what kind of people do you have in your medical office? How have you been instructing your subordinates..."

"I’m in a meeting!" Zhou Wenbin quickly hung up the phone, which started ringing again just as he did. Deciding not to answer, Zhou Wenbin was already resentful towards Tan Guoliang after the incident with Wang Dalei. Now that Tan Guoliang’s wife was in trouble again, regardless of who’s at fault, Cai Rongjuan, you’re not qualified to blame me.

Xu Chunliang returned to the medical office, and Cheng Xiaohong quickly approached him as he arrived: "Didn’t Director Cai come?"

"Whether she comes or not is up to her. We owe her nothing."

Cheng Xiaohong was a little anxious: "This is very troublesome."

"What’s so troublesome? Soldiers come to block, water comes to cover. First, ask what her demands are, and we’ll help convey it." Xu Chunliang didn’t want to get involved in this and returned to his office to continue reading.

Soon, loud noises were heard from the mediation room next door, as Cheng Xiaohong was unable to handle Tong Meili, who was highly agitated.

"Xu Chunliang, come quickly!"

Upon hearing Cheng Xiaohong’s call for help, Xu Chunliang hurried over and was shocked by the scene in front of him.

Tong Meili had climbed onto the window sill of the mediation room, making a move as if to jump out the window.

Tong Meili screamed, "You are all in collusion, complicit in crime! You ruined my appearance and won’t take responsibility. How am I supposed to live the rest of my life? I won’t live anymore!"

Cheng Xiaohong was terrified: "Sister Tong, can we first talk things over down here?"

"I won’t come down. If Changxing Hospital can’t give me a clear explanation today, I’ll jump from up here."

Xu Chunliang made a call to the Security Section. This time, they didn’t dare to delay. Section Chief Yu Xiangdong led over a dozen security guards to rush over quickly.

Xu Chunliang remained silent on the scene. His intuition told him that Tong Meili was not going to jump; she was just putting on a show, wanting to create an impact. The more she acted this way, the less likely she was to commit suicide. Besides, the medical office was on the second floor; even if she did jump, she wouldn’t die.

After understanding the situation, Yu Xiangdong first sent a few security guards downstairs to check. On this side, he called Cai Rongjuan, urging her to come over quickly. If a life were lost, this matter would be difficult to resolve.

Upon hearing that Tong Meili was about to jump, Cai Rongjuan dared not delay any longer and hurried to the scene.

Yu Xiangdong also contacted the police. Before they arrived, Zhou Wenbin, having heard the news, had already hurried over. Although the medical dispute was with the Cosmetic Surgery Department, someone had climbed the medical office’s window. If they indeed jumped, the medical office would also have to bear responsibility.

Xu Chunliang maintained a detached attitude at the scene, having no fondness for Cai Rongjuan. Aren’t you arrogant? Then be bold enough not to come here.

Now Cai Rongjuan had lost her composure, her usually haughty face squeezed into a pleasing smile: "Tong Meili, step down first, and then we can talk."

Tong Meili said, "I see no point in living; I don’t want to live. You’ve disfigured me."

Cai Rongjuan replied, "But you look quite good."

"Nonsense! You lie with your eyes open. Can’t you see how you’ve made one eye bigger than the other? Are you blind?"

Cai Rongjuan, publicly insulted by her, did not dare to retort, fearing she might accidentally provoke Tong Meili. What if she really jumped?

Zhou Wenbin said, "Ms. Tong Meili, we’re all here. Please come down. What issues can’t be discussed? Can’t be resolved? You have to tell us your demands at least?"

Tong Meili never intended to jump; she just wanted to make an impact. Seeing she had tossed everyone into action, her objective was achieved. She came down from the window sill: "I can’t die. If I die, wouldn’t it be letting you off easy?"

Since the crisis was averted, there was no longer a need to call the police. Yu Xiangdong quickly contacted them, saying they didn’t need to come. He understood it was a farce orchestrated by Tong Meili herself.

Tong Meili returned to the sofa to sit. The tea had already gone cold, and she asked Cheng Xiaohong to get her a new cup of water.

Zhou Wenbin exchanged a few words with Yu Xiangdong, asking him to take the security guards outside first. They didn’t want to cause too much commotion, lest it alarmed the hospital management and they got criticized. Zhou knew that today’s disturbance was already significant; the director must have known, and he wasn’t sure how he would be reprimanded later.

With the mediation room door closed, Tong Meili looked at Cai Rongjuan and said, "Director Cai, you seem really busy."

"I’ve always been busy with work. Is your commotion really necessary?"

"No, being alive is pointless. If I die one day, it’ll be your fault, and even as a vengeful spirit, I won’t let you go."

Cai Rongjuan shuddered inside. How hadn’t she realized before that Tong Meili was such a difficult person?

Zhou Wenbin advised them all to remain calm. Meeting here was mainly to resolve issues, and whatever discontent Tong Meili had, she could say it openly before everyone.

Tong Meili said, "How many times do I need to say it? Her surgical mishap, she botched my eyelid surgery. Now my eyes are uneven. Since the surgery, they itch and hurt. My vision is blurry, and I can’t even close my eyes. She’s ruined my life."

Cai Rongjuan refused to acknowledge her blame: "Where’s the unevenness? If you think my surgery had issues, you can request an expert assessment. If the assessment results prove it was my surgical responsibility, I definitely won’t avoid it."

"Everyone knows you’re in cahoots; your assessments have no credibility."

"If you don’t trust our hospital’s assessment, you can go to the city; if the city’s results don’t satisfy you, go to the province. If you find even the province’s assessment unconvincing, you can continue seeking more authoritative bodies. Whether it was a surgical mishap is not for you to decide." Cai Rongjuan was unyielding in her professional stance, arguing firmly from reason.

Though not in cosmetic surgery, being a surgeon himself, from Zhou Wenbin’s professional perspective, Tong Meili’s double eyelid surgery was successful, without any mismatch. Claims of itchiness, pain, and blurry vision were subjective patient experience, whose authenticity awaited verification.

"Ms. Tong Meili, do you have any specific demands?" Zhou Wenbin intended to first uncover Tong Meili’s bottom line. In most medical disputes, the majority demand compensation, which he expected might be the case with Tong Meili as well.

Tong Meili scoffed, saying, "What do you mean? Do you think I’m deliberately extorting your hospital for compensation? We’re not short of money." She raised her hand, showcasing her jade bracelet, "This bracelet alone could equal your lifetime’s salary."

Cai Rongjuan gave it a glance, thinking it couldn’t be that valuable. She also liked jade; while the bracelet was indeed of icy quality, the price wasn’t exaggerated to that extent. From her interactions with Tong Meili, the woman seemed vulgar and conventional, though her family condition was admittedly good, with her husband working in civil engineering, a typical nouveau riche. But to say a bracelet could match her lifetime’s earnings? It underestimated the doctors. Comparatively, Cai Rongjuan felt her own family might be more well-off.

Zhou Wenbin asked, "Then what exactly is your demand?"

Tong Meili replied, "What I want now is for Changxing Hospital to acknowledge the surgical mishap, recognize the irreversible damage caused to me. I want the perpetrator to publicly apologize and compensate for all the physical and mental harm this surgery caused me, while retaining all rights to pursue further responsibilities!"

Inwardly, Zhou Wenbin took a deep breath: this woman had evidently done her homework, coming well-prepared. Without mentioning a specific sum, he could determine from her words that what she wanted wouldn’t be a small amount.

Cai Rongjuan believed Tong Meili was intentionally causing trouble. Having performed countless double eyelid surgeries with nearly no errors, she thought the surgery effect on Tong Meili should have been quite good. Accusations of ruining her appearance—how could anyone ruin anything from that base?

Concerning her reputation, Cai Rongjuan was unwilling to take responsibility and coldly said, "Tong Meili, if you insist on thinking this way, you can seek an assessment. If it doesn’t work out, you can file a lawsuit."

Tong Meili retorted, "Is this your hospital’s attitude? People say Changxing’s medical ethics are low, and now I’ve experienced it firsthand."

Cai Rongjuan said, "If there’s nothing else, I’ll return. I have patients waiting." She got up to leave, and Tong Meili grabbed her: "Don’t think you can leave without clarifying things!"

Cai Rongjuan wasn’t one to tolerate this, shouting angrily: "Let go!" She forcefully shook her hand, making Tong Meili let go. Unexpectedly, Tong Meili’s jade bracelet slipped off, fell to the floor with a clang, and shattered into pieces.

Everyone present was stunned. Tong Meili screamed, squatting to pick up the shattered bracelet, heartbroken: "Cai Rongjuan, you owe me a bracelet!"