Chapter 227 - 227 174 Director Xu's Dilemma

Words : 2026 Updated : Sep 25th, 2025

227: Chapter 174: Director Xu’s Dilemma 227: Chapter 174: Director Xu’s Dilemma The first watch of the night had passed. ——————— As Director Xu’s assistant, Luo Xiaoqiong and Xiao Miao’s workstations were located just outside Director Xu’s office. Typically, ordinary visitors were received in this outer office, while only important guests were invited inside. On just her second day of work, Luo Xiaoqiong’s task was to familiarize herself with Director Xu’s workflow. Xiao Miao, sitting across from Luo Xiaoqiong, noticed her repeatedly glancing outside after briefly checking the workflow chart prepared for her, looking visibly preoccupied. Xiao Miao asked with curiosity, “What’s wrong?” “Nothing... nothing at all.” Luo Xiaoqiong quickly refocused her attention on the workflow chart, but with her mind elsewhere, she couldn’t concentrate. Her eyes remained fixed on one page without moving for a long time. Perplexed, Xiao Miao moved to Luo Xiaoqiong’s side and examined the chart as well, saying, “According to your file, your highest educational level is first grade of high school, right?” Luo Xiaoqiong realized that Xiao Miao had come over to her side and promptly replied, “Yes!” “Then you...” Xiao Miao pointed at the flowchart, “You’ve been staring at this page for half an hour now. Is it that you can’t understand it, or do you see a problem? Xiao Luo, we’re colleagues now. Whatever it is, you have to tell me the truth. That way, we can collaborate most effectively.” “It’s very clear and understandable. I can follow it.” Hurriedly, Luo Xiaoqiong flipped to the next page, adding, “I was thinking of memorizing it, so I wanted to read through it once before memorizing.” Xiao Miao shook her head with a chuckle, “There’s no need to memorize it. The workflow chart is just to quickly get you acquainted with the work you’ll assist the director with. As for the specifics, once you’ve worked for a while and gotten used to it, it’ll come naturally.” Luo Xiaoqiong gratefully thanked her and looked back down to continue, but the lines of text entering her eyes simply wouldn’t process in her brain. Hesitating for a moment, she quickly got up, startling Xiao Miao, “What is it now?” Luo Xiaoqiong looked apologetic, “I’m sorry, I lied to you earlier. It’s actually my good friend’s parents who are undergoing surgery today. I’m so anxious that I just can’t focus. I’d like to ask the director for the morning off; once I see Baohe’s surgery is successful, I’ll be able to calm down and concentrate on my work.” Xiao Miao waved her off immediately, “I knew something was off with you. Go ahead, the director is very understanding.” “Knock knock knock...” “Come in!” “Director, I’d like to ask for the morning off,” Luo Xiaoqiong stood opposite Director Xu’s desk, her face filled with unease. Asking for leave on only her second day of work was improper no matter how inexperienced she was, but she simply couldn’t control her emotions. “What’s the matter?” Director Xu lifted his gaze from the documents, staring kindly at Luo Xiaoqiong. “Are you facing some difficulties?” Luo Xiaoqiong shook her head quickly, “No difficulties, Director. It’s just that my uncle is having surgery today, and I’m too nervous to be reassured unless I go there to be with him.” “Your uncle?” Director Xu was momentarily taken aback, “When did your uncle come to A City? Which hospital is he in?” Luo Xiaoqiong hurriedly explained, “He came a few days ago, and he’s at our hospital. I didn’t know about it until last night when I couldn’t sleep and went out for a walk. That’s when I ran into my aunt.” “Is it serious?” Director Xu asked while unconsciously furrowing his brows, assuming that traveling such a long distance from the countryside meant the illness was severe. “Not serious at all!” Luo Xiaoqiong replied with a smile and a shake of her head. “It’s avascular necrosis of the femoral head, still in the early stages. They just need to drill a hole and inject some medication. I know it’s not a big deal, but I can’t help worrying.” She ended, somewhat embarrassed. Director Xu immediately knew who she was talking about and waved his hand with a smile, “Okay, you go. I’ll give you the whole day off. Just make sure to work hard tomorrow.” “Yes, sir!” Luo Xiaoqiong gave a perfect military salute, followed by a bow, “Thank you, Director. I’ll be going!” she said and then dashed out of the office like the wind. Director Xu put down his pen and let out a long sigh, losing his enthusiasm for work. She had never expected that the sons of two friends would fall for the same girl. Zhu Xinqin and Lin Yanqiu had been rivals their entire lives, and now, were their sons to continue this rivalry? Whenever she thought of this issue, she felt overwhelmed. Jing Zhe had inquired about the patient with avascular necrosis and had personally arranged for that patient to be placed in room 401, and even took the lead in the surgery. At that time, she suspected his interest lay with the patient’s daughter. Because she remembered that the couple mentioned they were visiting their daughter, if Jing Zhe weren’t interested in their daughter, why would he be so eager to help? She even found it amusing at the time; Lin Yanqiu’s son had just got engaged, and Zhu Xinqin’s son had already taken a liking to someone. Was it intentionally making it hard to tell which of the two was better off? She remembered teasing Jing Zhe, asking when he would treat her to wedding candy, but the young man just vaguely smiled and said it was too early for that, swiftly changing the subject. She simply thought he was too shy to discuss it and didn’t ponder it any further. Until last night, when Zhou Mikang came to see her, revealing that his in-laws were hospitalized and hoped she could keep it confidential, not to inform his mother, Lin Yanqiu. Upon further inquiry, she realized she had misunderstood all along. She understood the couple’s worries and feelings, and considering Zhou Mikang’s character of rarely asking for help, she agreed not to tell Lin Yanqiu. However, as soon as she sent him off, she summoned Jing Zhe. Jing Zhe openly admitted his fondness for Lin Chuxia, yet he also made it clear that he wouldn’t interfere with Zhou Mikang and Lin Chuxia’s relationship. He just wanted to give Lin Chuxia the qualifications to stand alongside Zhou Mikang as an equal, to give her family more confidence before the Zhou family members. She believed his words, but she didn’t trust a young man’s control over his emotions! Both are her friends. As she picked up a file she had set aside, her brows furrowed tightly together. It was the application from Jing Zhe, requesting Lin Chuxia to be assigned to him as an assistant. She had already signed it, unaware at the time that Jing Zhe’s arranged hospital-staying couple was Lin Chuxia’s parents. But now, she hesitated. ... In the hospital room. “Dad, it’s a minor surgery, don’t panic.” Listening to his wife’s trembling voice, Lin Baohe chuckled and patted her hand at the bedside, “Yulan, I’m not panicking, so you don’t need to either.” “I’m not panicking.” “Hehe...” The woman in the next bed couldn’t help but laugh, “Sister-in-law, your voice is shaking almost like a sieve, but brother’s voice isn’t shaky at all.” Another person at the bedside immediately laughed along, “Yeah, sister-in-law, it’s nothing serious, just a minor surgery. And Doctor Jing’s skills are beyond reproach.” The young girl in the fourth bed also sat up, “Auntie, I’m a nurse at this hospital. Doctor Jing is famous here for his surgical skills; he usually doesn’t take on such small operations.” “I know, I know, thank you all. I’m very confident in Doctor Jing’s medical skills, but I just can’t help feeling anxious. I’ve never stayed in a hospital nor undergone surgery. Just thinking about getting a hole drilled in my body, I... Chuxia?” Seeing her daughter suddenly appear at the door, Zhao Yulan’s eyes widened with surprise. Upon hearing his wife’s cry, Lin Baohe perked up, and the next second, his daughter had already rushed to the bedside, grabbing his hand, “Dad, mom and I will be outside with you.” “Xia, didn’t we agree that you shouldn’t come?” Lin Baohe was pleasantly surprised, but couldn’t help chiding his daughter. “Dad, your surgery is important. I wouldn’t have been able to focus on training if I stayed back with the unit.” “How did you get here?” Zhao Yulan asked as she looked outside. “Doctor Jing came to pick me up. He’s preparing for the surgery now and can’t come over,” Chuxia said, looking sympathetically at Zhao Yulan, “Mom, did you not sleep last night?” Zhao Yulan quickly replied, “Regimental Commander Xiao Zhou stayed with him last night, mom slept in Doctor Jing’s rest room.” “He stayed the night?” Surprise filled Chuxia’s eyes. No wonder she hadn’t seen him since last night; she had assumed he was just busy with work, and her heart even felt a bit downcast. After all, if it were true love, how could he ignore her during such a time? But as it turned out, he had come to stay with them. “Where did he go?” “He went to return the food trays and bowls. I said I’d go, but he insisted on doing it,” Zhao Yulan said, lowering her voice, “Xia, Regimental Commander Xiao Zhou is really a decent guy. In the future, don’t be so stubborn with him, understand?” “Mom, when have I ever been stubborn with him?” Chuxia replied with a look of speechlessness on her face, thinking that after a night of taking care of her father, her mother was completely won over by the young regimental commander. Lin Baohe, frowning, scolded his daughter, “Your mother is right. That’s your problem – you’re always so contrary. Even when just us and Regimental Commander Xiao Zhou are talking, you’re impolite!” Impolite? Chuxia felt baffled. Alright, if she were really polite to him, his face would probably turn even darker. Fortunately, at that moment, Luo Xiaoqiong timely barged in, interrupting the educational lesson from Chuxia’s parents. Upon seeing Chuxia, Luo Xiaoqiong was incredibly surprised and soon tears streamed down her cheeks. Chuxia anxiously asked if she had been mistreated. The reply she got was... that it was upon seeing her that she felt wronged... With Chuxia and Luo Xiaoqiong by her side, Zhao Yulan’s mood visibly relaxed. It wasn’t until the nurses came to wheel Lin Baohe to the operating room that she became tense again. On the other hand, Lin Baohe was completely relaxed, holding her hand to comfort her, “Yulan, don’t be nervous. With you two outside waiting for me, I’m not scared at all. This minor surgery is just like a mosquito bite, it swells up a bit, and then it’ll be fine after a while.” Zhao Yulan looked at him both annoyed and amused, “If it were that easy, would we need to bother Doctor Jing?” “Well, even mosquito bites can be more or less attractive, hehe...” “Pfft!” Even the serious nurses couldn’t help but laugh; they had never heard such an analogy before... Chuxia and the others followed the nurses to the door of the operating room, only to find that Regimental Commander Tongzi had already been waiting there. Seeing the bed being pushed towards him, he stepped forward to grasp Lin Baohe’s hand and gave it a firm squeeze, not saying a word.(To be continued. If you like this novel, you are welcome to vote for it on Qidian (qidian.com). Your support is my biggest motivation. Mobile users, please visit m.qidian.com to read.)

Chapter 227 - 227 174 Director Xu's Dilemma

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