Katherine pressed the play button on the video, and soon Shanshan's figure appeared on the screen.
She almost held her breath, quickly pressing pause.
Even though she had suspected it, seeing the image freeze on Shanshan made her clench her fists tightly. In her heart, she thought: It really is her.
Andrew said this surveillance video had been tampered with. The one he gave her was already restored.
At that moment, Katherine's phone beeped with a message alert.
She hurriedly pulled out her phone from her bag. The screen lit up—it was a WeChat message from Nurse Sana.
She swiped open the screen. The few lines of text hit her like a heavy stone thrown into a calm lake, stirring up huge waves.
Nurse Sana wrote, "Katherine, the patient you were responsible for in bed number 3 has been transferred to another hospital."
"And the higher-ups have already issued the file. The person chosen for the overseas exchange program is Hospital Director Wang."
Katherine's eyes widened instantly, full of shock and confusion. Without thinking much, she tapped the screen and called Nurse Sana.
"Sana, are you free to talk now?" Katherine tried to keep her voice steady, but a slight tremble gave away her anxiety.
"Yes, Katherine, I'm here. What's up?" Sana's clear voice came with concern.
"That patient, which hospital was he transferred to? What condition was he in when he left? Also, when exactly was he transferred?"
Katherine fired off her questions quickly, her speech speeding up without realizing it.
There was a brief silence on the other end, then Sana's voice came back filled with regret:
"Katherine, I didn't work last night. I heard this morning that he was transferred last night to First People's Hospital."
"Katherine, what should we do now? It feels like the truth is drifting further away."
The helplessness and worry in Sana's words were like an invisible net trapping them both.
Katherine took a deep breath, trying to calm herself. Her eyes darkened but her voice remained gentle and firm:
"Sana, it's okay. I already have a plan."
"Wait for good news from me. You focus on your work. I'm hanging up now."
After ending the call, she stared thoughtfully at Shanshan's frozen image on the computer screen.
In two days it would be Monday, the department's biweekly meeting was coming, like a ray of light breaking through the fog.
Suddenly inspired, Katherine smiled with certainty. She thought: The meeting next Monday is the perfect time to give them a 'big gift.'
Without wasting time, she quickly backed up the surveillance video on multiple USB drives, then carefully sent the video to her phone. Only after ensuring everything was safe did she close the laptop.
Now she needed to visit the patient who had been transferred. Maybe he could provide more information.
Katherine drove to First People's Hospital. The streets outside the car window flashed by like slides, but she had no interest in looking.
Arriving near the hospital, she bought a bouquet of fresh flowers and a fruit basket at the roadside, then walked steadily through the hospital entrance.
The inpatient department was crowded, the smell of disinfectant filled every corner. She headed straight to the nurse station with a warm smile and softly asked:
"Hello, may I ask which ward the patient Patient Chen who was transferred from another hospital is in?"
The nurse looked up and paused for a moment when she saw Katherine. She was surprised—it was the excellent doctor their school often used as an example.
"I'm sorry, who did you say?"
Katherine repeated clearly, "The patient who was transferred from Xiehe Hospital last night. Which ward is he staying in?"
The nurse checked and told Katherine the room number of Patient Chen's ward.
Katherine thanked her and walked toward the ward, full of hope and questions.
The nurse only remembered after Katherine had walked away that she should have asked for a signature. She didn't expect Katherine to be even more beautiful in person than in the photo.
The hospital corridor was so quiet that only light footsteps echoed. Katherine's figure against the white walls looked a bit fragile but carried a strong determination.
Standing at Patient Chen's door, her heart was like a tightly stretched string, every nerve pulled by nervousness and expectation.
Katherine knew well that stepping through this door might bring sharp accusations.
She closed her eyes, took a deep breath as if gathering all her courage, then raised her hand to knock lightly on the door.
"Knock knock knock." The clear sound suddenly echoed in the ward.
After a moment, hurried footsteps came from inside, sounding a bit impatient and suspicious.
The door creaked open. A young woman appeared, her face showing some tiredness, and her eyes were carefully watching this unexpected visitor.
Katherine's face immediately showed a friendly and gentle smile. "Hello, is this Patient Chen's ward?"
The young woman looked Katherine up and down, nodded slightly, her tone calm but clearly guarded. "Yes. Who are you?"
Katherine was about to explain when an angry and resentful voice suddenly boomed like thunder, cutting her off.
"What are you here for? You almost killed my son, and you still have the nerve to come here?"
The voice belonged to an old woman. This must be Patient Chen's mother. Her face was flushed red, eyes wide open, and her anger seemed to burn Katherine.
Katherine's smile froze for a moment, and awkwardness spread quickly on her face. But she soon controlled her emotions, bowed slightly, speaking sincerely.
"Hello. I came today for this matter. If it was my fault, I will definitely take responsibility."
Patient Chen on the bed heard Katherine's voice. Weak but clear, he said, "Mom, let Doctor Katherine in."
The old woman looked shocked, turned her head sharply toward the bed, her face full of disbelief and anger, shouting loudly inside.
"Chunsheng, she almost hurt you badly. Why would you let her come in?"
Patient Chen did not respond to his mother's question, only repeated, "Let Doctor Katherine in."
Though unwilling, the old woman could not refuse her son. She gave Katherine a cold glare, then stepped aside, her tone frosty like a frozen eggplant.
"Come in."
Katherine took another deep breath, as if clearing away the tightness and grievance from outside, then stepped steadily into the ward.
She gently placed the carefully chosen flowers and heavy fruit basket on a nearby cabinet.
After doing this, she looked up at Patient Chen with full concern.
"Hello, Mr. Chen. How is your recovery going?"
Patient Chen's lips curled into a warm smile. His voice was optimistic.
"Thank you for your care, Doctor Katherine. I'm more than half recovered. After a few more days, I should be able to leave the hospital. Please, have a seat."
Katherine nodded lightly, responding softly, "Thank you."
She sat down on the chair by the bedside but did not rush to the main topic.
After a short silence, as if carefully choosing her words and waiting for the atmosphere to ease, she spoke again.
"Mr. Chen, may I ask how your accident happened that day?"