The next morning, Ye Ran finished getting ready early and headed to the hospital to begin her first day of work.
She had to start her clinical internship all over again. After all, having spent three years idle since graduation, she had essentially wasted a promising career. Everything she had now had to start from scratch.
Ye Ran was filled with confidence. She listened intently to the department head during the morning briefing, paid close attention to the deputy head as work was assigned, and followed the attending physicians on their rounds, carefully taking notes on every page.
The morning flew by in a blur of activity. At noon, her colleagues invited her to the cafeteria. They were easy to get along with, and the group chatted casually over their meal. There were a few other medical interns as well, who kept calling her "Sister Ran." They all got along famously.
It was a pleasant atmosphere that truly whetted her appetite. It was the first time Ye Ran had spent her lunch hour without having to meticulously prepare ingredients or cook with anxiety, wondering if the meal would suit Lu Linshen's palate.
The careful care she had once thought was so thoughtful meant nothing to him. Since that was the case, life without him could finally return to the right track.
After lunch, seeing that there was still plenty of time left in the break, Ye Ran found a quiet corner in the lounge and reviewed all the notes she had taken that morning.
The medical profession was a long and arduous path, yet Ye Ran loved it. When she was filling out her college applications, her father was still alive, her mother was in good health, and both parents were completely supportive, encouraging her to pursue what she loved.
At the time, her father had told her, "Since you’ve chosen this path, you must see it through to the end."
"Medicine is not like other fields; a doctor must have a heart of benevolence. You are not only responsible for your patients but also for yourself. Don't act on a fleeting impulse; this career is a lifelong commitment. You must be persistent."
Recalling those words now, Ye Ran felt a lump in her throat. She whispered under her breath, "I'm sorry, Mom, Dad..."
But she felt even sorrier for herself. To give up the profession she loved for a man—wasting all those years of hard study—was just too foolish. It was truly pathetic.
Ye Ran squeezed her eyes shut, biting her lower lip until it nearly bled. She never imagined that a relationship she had once entered into willingly would one day be described as a source of such deep regret.
Fortunately... realizing this now was not too late.
Ye Ran forced herself to clear her head, refocusing entirely on her notes.
"Ye Ran?"
A sweet, clear voice called out from nearby.
Footsteps followed. As Ye Ran looked up, she saw her colleague, Tao Jing, walking toward her.
"What are you doing here? What are you reading?"
As she spoke, Tao Jing noticed the notebook in Ye Ran's hand and smiled. "You're so diligent! Are you nervous? Don't worry, we're busy most of the time, but you have to take a break when you can."
Ye Ran smiled back. "Alright, I understand."
"I bought coffee for everyone, but you were missing. Let's go." Tao Jing grabbed Ye Ran’s arm, but then stopped, seemingly remembering something. "Oh, wait, no. Professor Ren is looking for you, I think. You’d better go see what he needs."
"Alright, I'll head over then."
Ye Ran nodded, parted ways with Tao Jing in the hallway, and headed upstairs toward Professor Ren's office. As she passed the nurses' station, she noticed several unfriendly glares directed her way.
"Is that her?"
"Is she from our hospital? A new hire?"
"Why would they take just anyone? It’s ruining our reputation! It’s disgusting!"
The whispers weren't loud, but they felt like needles pricking at her nerves, making her feel as though she were being watched by thousands of eyes.
She didn't know what was going on, so she avoided their gazes and hurried to the office, knocking on the door before entering. To her surprise, Professor Ren didn't look happy either.
"Ye Ran, oh Ye Ran, what am I supposed to say to you?"
Professor Ren sighed, shaking his head repeatedly. He picked up an already-opened courier envelope from his desk and handed it to her. "Take a look."
Ye Ran took it, bewildered. As she opened it and saw the contents, she froze.
Inside were a dozen photographs.
They were split into two sets. The first was of her and Nanchen by the roadside the previous night; the angle clearly suggested they had been taken by a stalker, making her and Nanchen look... somewhat intimate.
The other set of photos consisted of surveillance screenshots from the Liyuan living room and the villa grounds. The images clearly captured Ye Ran packing her things and dragging her suitcase as she left the day before.
Ye Ran looked through each one carefully, then asked in confusion, "Professor, I don't understand what these photos are supposed to prove."
Although she and Lu Linshen hadn't officially filed for divorce yet, their marriage was hidden. Aside from Professor Ren, no one at the hospital knew her husband was Lu Linshen. Even if they did, these photos weren't enough to prove she had an affair with Nanchen, let alone justify such suspicion and rumors.
Professor Ren pointed to the chair opposite his desk, signaling for Ye Ran to sit. "Someone is claiming that you stole valuables from Liyuan worth thirty million."
"What?" Ye Ran was stunned.
"In addition to these surveillance screenshots, the accuser provided a list of the missing items and..." Professor Ren's expression turned grave. He took a breath before continuing, "They say you used your father's kindness toward the Old Master of the Lu Family to gain entry into Liyuan, and under the guise of pursuing Mr. Lu, you committed theft."
Ye Ran stood up in shock.
Professor Ren gestured for her to stay calm, then pointed to the photos of Nanchen on the desk. "They say this man is your accomplice, that you handed the goods over to him to fence, and... it seems they are also implying that your relationship is improper."
Ye Ran found it all absurd. Anger flushed her fair skin, but her primary feeling was one of utter disbelief.
"Isn't this just framing me? Professor, do you know who is behind this?"
Hearing her voice sound as calm as ever, Professor Ren felt a small sense of relief. He stood up and walked around the desk. "Ye Ran, I believe you. I know this isn't a misunderstanding; someone is deliberately trying to set you up."
"So that person..." Ye Ran lowered her eyes to the photos on the desk, needing no further guessing. "It's Lu Lingshuang, isn't it?"
Who else but the eldest daughter of the Lu family could access Liyuan’s surveillance footage at will?
Professor Ren nodded helplessly. The Lu family’s influence was vast; the hospital had investments from the Lu Group, and Lu Linshen funded several of their clinical research projects. As the dean, he couldn't afford to get too involved.
Ye Ran understood the stakes. "Professor, don't put yourself in a difficult position. I will handle this properly."
"What do you plan to do?"
"Report it to the police. I haven't done anything wrong, so I have nothing to fear from an investigation."
Hearing this, Professor Ren sighed helplessly again. "But... Miss Lu has already had her lawyers report it to the police."
Ye Ran was shocked. She hadn't expected Lu Lingshuang to not only frame her but also have the audacity to play the victim and report it first.
At that moment, her phone began to buzz.
She picked it up, and the name "Lu Linshen" flashed on the screen, stinging her eyes.