Volume One, Chapter 25: Who Orchestrated That Murder

Monday morning at work, Ye Sheng quickly snapped back into her usual professional state. Last night, she had already told Huo Linwinter that she wouldn’t need her meals prepared for the next few days. Huo Linwinter didn’t stand on ceremony, replying directly, “I won’t have time to cook these days either.”

Adults rarely have leisure time; everyone bears certain responsibilities and must rush about in their respective fields and industries.

Ye Sheng had planned to grab a quick bread from the convenience store to stave off hunger, but as she stepped out the door, she spotted an insulated box hanging from the doorknob—milk, eggs, and steamed buns, the milk still warm.

Her heart warmed instantly.

She took a deep breath, snapped a picture with her phone, and sent it to Huo Linwinter to show she’d received it.

—Thank you, Brother Lin, you’re so thoughtful!

She even added a pen-shaped emoji.

Then she forwarded it to Ye Zhun.

—Brother Lin is wonderful. I’m just lucky to have you around. (smile)

Arriving at the office, Ye Sheng received a reply from Huo Linwinter. She sent back a heart gesture; in return, she got a peace sign.

Looking at that little gesture, Ye Sheng smiled, feeling it was more like Xiao Bei’s style.

There was never a quiet moment in the hospital. As soon as Mia arrived, she and Ye Sheng compared surgery and outpatient schedules—her calendar was densely packed, hardly a moment free.

Ye Sheng was used to such a work pace. The past three years had been even more intense, as she needed to make up for the academic time lost during her marriage.

After a busy morning, Ye Sheng ran into Qin Minshu at the cafeteria during lunch.

There was a reason Qin Minshu was called the face of Haici Hospital.

Even in identical white coats, Qin Minshu managed to exude a sense of fashion; her hair and makeup were immaculate. Ye Sheng glanced several times—she truly was a pleasure to look at.

Perhaps Ye Sheng’s gaze was too intense, for Qin Minshu, tray in hand, walked over to her, meeting her eyes. “Director Ye.”

“Mm.” Ye Sheng gestured to the seat across from her. “Sit.”

Mia and Xiao Liu had been eating beside Ye Sheng, but seeing Qin Minshu approach, both stood up. “Director, we’re done. We’ll be going.”

“Alright.” Ye Sheng nodded.

Qin Minshu took a seat and said bluntly, “Your people seem to have a lot of opinions about me.”

Ye Sheng was even more direct. “You’re threatening their livelihoods—it’s normal they’d have opinions.”

Qin Minshu was momentarily speechless, letting out a huff. “Didn’t you save them?”

“Ye Sheng, you haven’t been at Haici Hospital long, but you’re already forming factions. That’s not your style. I remember back in university, you were a lone wolf, always holed up in the library or lab, barely socializing.”

“I attended plenty of group activities,” Ye Sheng replied calmly as she ate. “I’ve always had a strong sense of collective honor. I just didn’t participate much in entertainment events—not my forte.”

“That’s true. Which is why you were never at the dance parties when Mingting and I tore up the ballroom together.”

Qin Minshu’s exquisite brows arched. “If you’d seen Mingting and me dominate the dance floor back then, you wouldn’t have dared to steal my man.”

…This was a blatant challenge.

Ye Sheng set down her chopsticks, slowly wiped her mouth, and looked directly into Qin Minshu’s provocative eyes.

“Your man? If I recall correctly, you and Huo Mingting broke up before graduation, causing quite a stir. You missed the graduation ceremony because you were abroad; I’d returned home. Everyone said you dumped Huo Mingting because you pressured him to marry and he refused, unwilling to do long-distance. He became your ex-boyfriend. After that, he had no real connection to you.”

Qin Minshu’s expression grew colder with every word.

“Now that you’re divorced, ex-boyfriend and ex-husband are essentially the same. I’ll rekindle things with him and restore what was lost.”

Ye Sheng nodded.

“You’re right—they’re all men from the past. If you want to revisit old flames, that’s your freedom. I won’t stop you, but I won’t wish you happiness either.”

She said this with a smile. “That’s between you and Huo Mingting—no need to challenge me directly.”

Qin Minshu’s face stiffened; she picked up her tray and prepared to leave.

“Wait,” Ye Sheng called out, as if casually asking, “I saw a man in the hospital whose eyes were like a hawk’s. They said you know him—is he some relative of yours?”

“Hawk-eyed man?”

Qin Minshu frowned. “I don’t know him.”

Ye Sheng’s brow arched dangerously, fixing Qin Minshu with a piercing gaze. “You don’t know him? Are you sure?”

Qin Minshu glanced at her like she’d lost her mind and ignored her, walking away.

Ye Sheng remained seated for a long moment.

She said she didn’t know him.

Could it be that the murder wasn’t orchestrated by Qin Minshu after all?