Chapter 8 - CHEN FAMILY

Luo Jingyi stirred when the pitter-patter of rain drifted to her ears. A quick look at the digital clock told her she slept more than 6 hours. Feeling recharged, she stretched lazily. Whatever Han Peng told her last night, it was already forgotten by the time she went to bed. She didn't want to stir their attention in the capital yet. But it seemed, dealing with the Han's was inevitable.

Her brown eyes fell outside. Drawn by the rain trickling down the glass, she jumped out of the bed and stepped closer to the window.

Ever since coming to this world, she has a love and hate relationship with the rain. There's an inexplicable affinity. Because it was the one which comforted her on her death. At the same time, there's that hatred. Every time it rains, it dampens her moods. Perhaps, because all the bad moments in her life—whether past or present—happened when it was raining. Looking at the present, it felt there was impending doom.

"What could it be this time?" she murmured softly. Ignoring that feeling, she decided not to put much thought into it.

In the kitchen, she prepped a vegetarian meal. While she was mixing up the vegetables, her eyes fell to the reporter on tv.

"Retired Finance Minister Chen Hao released a public announcement that his son, Minister Chen and his grandson, Dr. Chen Guozhi were no longer part of the Chen family. The former is under investigation for embezzlement of public funds and money laundering while the latter is facing multiple counts of murder. We weren't able to interview the retired minister because he left to get medical treatment overseas for his long term ailment. Through his lawyer, an announcement has been made. His shares for GM Gen Hospital were already sold and all other equities in his name will be distributed to the family of his grandson's victims."

Jingyi looked at the television blankly The last sentence painted the old man Chen to be honorable. They just didn't have an idea. Her mind went to what happened 3 days before.

---Flashback---

Three days ago...

Luo Jingyi placed the documents in front of the old man. Chen Hao's timeworn face was scrunched up with anger.

"I didn't know that after giving Gen. Lacroix's a favor, you are going to stab me like this?"

"Let's be honest Chairman. It wasn't because of the General's recommendation that I got the job. It was by my own merits. And let's not deny that you've used my name in every chance to promote the hospital's trauma program. "

In the medical circle, Luo Jingyi is a well-known trauma and cardiothoracic surgeon. There were better offers before she decided to join GM Gen. Hospital. The old man offered her the position Chief of Surgery but she refused. She doesn't want to spend time on the organizational aspect of the surgery department which involves more of brushing shoulders with well-known people rather than being in the OR to save lives. She preferred being hands-on.

She was an attending at the hospital but he gave her as much freedom as Chief Zhao has. With her strategic move, GM Gen. Hospital which was Level 2 trauma center rose to Level 1 in a span of a year.

What Dr. Luo said was true. Although they paid her handsomely for her work, it's true that his family benefited a lot. The hospital revived his family's reputation which has been mudded after the continuous declaration of bankruptcy.

"But 40% of the shares is daylight robbery, Dr. Luo."

"Chairman, I'm buying the shares at its current value. It's not a loss for you. On top of that, I am offering you a way out. This is to protect the hospital. Once your son and grandson get arrested, the hospital shares will plummet. Do you want it to be destroyed?"

He didn't want to. The hospital was started by his forefathers and he promised on her mother's graves, he will protect it.

"Can I buy it back in the future? "

"You can't. " Luo Jingyi admitted honestly.

"Why not?" Anger was starting to well up in his chest.

"Because it's ours, to begin with."

The old man was surprised by her answer and prodded, "What do you mean? "

Luo Jingyi was too lazy to go further. At the same time, it will be difficult to explain.

"Why don't you sign the document?" she asked seconds later and pushed the pen in front of him.

He took the pen that felt so heavy in his grasp. The man didn't even skim over the documents and signed.

"Are you sure you don't want to read it? "

"It doesn't matter."

"Then you wouldn't mind paying 15 million each for all his victims?"

"What?!" The man trembled with rage. He grabbed the document but Jingyi already took the originals and placed a copy on the table.

" Please look at the last page."

Chairman Chen's knees weakened. He mumbled incorrigibly, "No-No- I didn't sign anything-will- sue you."

"Be my guest. But you will just drag your family's name down to the mud."

The man felt he was going to have a heart attack. He can't believe he lost everything because of his grandson.

"At least with this, you'll be seen as the hero. That's my parting gift Chairman. I hope you have a speedy recovery." Jingyi said when she stood up. But as a doctor, Jingyi knew he only has 2-3 months left.

Before she walked away, she turned back.

"By the way, I never stab from behind Chairman. People who do that are cowards. I always confront my enemies from the front."

---end of flashback---

Thinking of it now, she could have spared Chairman Chen but he closed his eyes to the truth. He was aware of Chen Guozhi using people as test subjects in his experiments but he did nothing. He went as far as bribing the police when someone suspected Dr. Chen. He might have done the same thing if she wasn't quick enough to trap them in her elaborate plans.

Perhaps his illness was retribution. Although you can never put a price on someone's life, she simply hoped that the families of the victim would be appeased.

Shaking her head, Jingyi turned off the stove and suddenly didn't have the appetite to eat.

She went back to the bedroom. As she was rummaging through her closet, her brows were furrowed because it felt like she didn't have enough clothes. She made a mental note to go shopping.

In the end, she chose a dark blue sleeveless dress and put on a gray cardigan. Feeling satisfied with her attire, she left the bedroom, grabbed her car keys and left her apartment.

…

Thirty minutes later, Luo Jingyi was having difficulty in finding a parking spot because someone else has taken her assigned lot. When she managed to find one, she had to park slowly to avoid hitting someone else car, especially that the vehicles were too close. She scoured for an umbrella at the backseat, but finding none, she jumped out and sprinted to the entrance.

Suddenly, a black car passed through and she got splashed on by puddle of water.

"You've got to be kidding me?!" she yelped, looking at her dress.