Katherine Shen and Secretary Jin walked out of the office.
The atmosphere tightened like invisible strings being plucked, and an awkward melody quietly played in the air.
Out of politeness, Katherine slightly nodded to Secretary Jin.
Secretary Jin's eyes suddenly lit up, like an explorer discovering an unknown treasure. The caution on his face quickly turned into curiosity.
He broke the silence first, his voice gentle but careful with respect, "Sorry to bother you, may I ask your name?"
"Katherine Shen," she answered simply and clearly, her tone steady with no obvious emotion.
"Are you a surgeon?" Secretary Jin guessed from what he had just seen.
Katherine nodded lightly again, "Yes."
"Then I will call you Dr. Shen," Secretary Jin quickly adjusted his form of address, sounding more familiar and respectful.
Then, as if driven by a question deep inside, he couldn't help but ask, "Do you know my boss?"
Katherine's lips curled slightly into a polite smile, "Yes, we went to the same school. He is my senior."
Secretary Jin understood immediately, "Ah, I see."
Then he started talking nonstop, praising Joshua Jiang.
He described Joshua's decisiveness and wisdom in business decisions, as well as his tolerance and care for his subordinates. Every detail was told with vivid and respectful words.
Secretary Jin's voice echoed down the hallway. His expression changed with his words, sometimes admiring, sometimes praising, as if Joshua was an incomparable monument in his heart.
Katherine listened quietly, always smiling, nodding slightly from time to time.
Time passed quietly as Secretary Jin kept praising until Joshua Jiang came out of Patient Chen's office. Secretary Jin's words still flowed like a stream, never stopping.
Joshua's appearance brought a moment of calm to the noisy hallway.
He walked steadily, his eyes briefly resting on Katherine and Secretary Jin, then frowned slightly, as if wondering what they were talking about.
Because of him, Katherine and Secretary Jin ended their long conversation and focused on this important person who had just appeared.
Joshua knew this was not the right place to talk. People were coming and going, many ears and eyes around. Any words could be overheard and twisted by those with ill intent.
He walked calmly to Katherine and Secretary Jin. His face was as calm as water. He just gave Katherine a slight nod, a small gesture full of unspoken understanding and respect, then turned to Secretary Jin, "Let's go."
Secretary Jin noticed something unusual. He raised his eyebrows slightly and asked cautiously, "Boss, is the matter settled?"
"Yes, it is," Joshua replied.
Secretary Jin had many questions in his mind. He wanted to ask Katherine if she wasn't coming along, but before he could say anything, Joshua turned and walked forward.
Secretary Jin had no choice but to say goodbye quickly to Katherine, "Dr. Shen, see you next time."
Katherine smiled politely, "Okay, take care."
She knew well that too much contact with Joshua could cause trouble.
Just as Katherine was about to turn and go back into Patient Chen's office, her phone suddenly rang.
She quickly took it out and answered. Joshua's voice came through, "Katherine, don't go in to see him again. I'm waiting for you in the hospital parking lot. I have something to tell you."
Secretary Jin heard the call clearly beside her and couldn't help but smile quietly.
When Joshua ended the call, Secretary Jin's curiosity burst out, and he asked directly, "Boss, do you like Dr. Shen?"
"Could she be my future wife?" Joshua's eyes were sharp as he looked at Secretary Jin. "Which of your eyes sees me interested in Dr. Shen?"
Secretary Jin calmly raised his hand and said, "I saw it with both my eyes."
"Boss, stop pretending. If you didn't like Doctor Katherine, why were you in such a hurry to come to the hospital?"
"And you even actively sent over the expensive equipment we spent a lot developing. Don't you know how sought-after that equipment is right now?"
Joshua's face darkened slightly. "Secretary Jin, you're talking too much today."
"Don't talk nonsense. You know what my family thinks. Even if there is someone, it would be my older brother first. That's why they agreed."
Secretary Jin secretly complained to himself. The family rules were really old-fashioned. Even though they were living in modern society, they still stuck to the idea that the eldest son must marry first and have priority.
He frowned and kept asking, "Boss, didn't you say your family is already arranging your older brother's marriage?"
Joshua's eyes dimmed a little upon hearing that.
Since his older brother had the accident, the once close brotherly relationship seemed to be covered by a shadow, becoming subtle and complicated.
"Yes, the family said the other party is a doctor."
Secretary Jin looked even more confused and said, "Also a doctor? Isn't your older brother really against doctors now? How would he agree?"
Joshua was puzzled too and guessed, "Most likely, he doesn't dislike doctors anymore."
One reason Joshua gave up becoming a doctor was because of his older brother.
After his older brother became disabled in both legs, he hated doctors for not being able to help him stand again.
Joshua also blamed himself, since that accident happened when his older brother was on his way to pick him up.
This incident had been a heavy burden on his heart all these years. He never talked about it with anyone.
Secretary Jin glanced at his boss and honestly felt sorry for him. On the outside he looked polished, but inside he was deeply hurt by his family.
Katherine received a phone call and walked toward the hospital parking lot.
Secretary Jin noticed her first and quickly asked Joshua, "Boss, Doctor Katherine is here. Should I leave?"
Joshua replied without hesitation, "Yes."
Secretary Jin nodded slightly and quietly moved aside.
Katherine slowly approached the black car. Joshua opened the car door quickly and said briefly, "Get in the car."
"Okay." Katherine replied and got in.
As they both sat down, the already tight space suddenly felt filled with an invisible tension. The atmosphere inside the car became subtle immediately.
Katherine took a deep breath and broke the silence first. She turned her head slightly and looked at the calm Joshua beside her. "Senior, why are you at the hospital?"
Joshua's handsome face stayed cool and steady, always controlling his emotions perfectly so no one could guess his real thoughts.
He answered calmly, "Didn't I tell you during lunch? I plan to provide your hospital with some advanced inspection equipment."
"So I just came to discuss this."
"So soon? I thought it would take longer."
"It can't wait. The sooner we expose his flaws, the sooner I can clear your name."
Katherine's eyes shifted slightly. "Senior, won't you lose out doing this?"
She knew how expensive advanced equipment was, and he was giving it to the hospital for free.
Joshua smiled faintly, "I'm not losing out. You could say it's a good deed for the patients."