Chapter 215: Unable to Hold One’s Head High
She looked both panicked and resolute.
Her shout completely derailed any explanations that were about to be made, pulling everyone’s attention back to her.
"It... it wasn’t Sister Lu Mei!"
Her words were a jumble, her voice trembling.
"And it wasn’t Doctor Qi, either!"
She practically screamed the words, her hands clutching the hem of her clothes so tightly that her knuckles turned white.
"It was me! I was the one behind all of this!"
She snapped her head up to look directly at Song Qingya.
"I was the one who secretly took the medicine!"
She gasped for air, her voice ragged and broken.
"I had a copy of the key made before I even started working at the hospital!"
She pulled a small, brass key from her pocket. Her hand was shaking violently, but she held it up stubbornly.
"I was going to steal the medicine and sell it for some extra cash..."
She choked back a sob, her voice dropping.
She confessed everything in a single breath.
Song Qingya raised an eyebrow. A glint flashed in her eyes, a faint trace of coldness passing through them.
’This Yang Meiling... she’s really willing to go all out to protect Qi Yuanyuan.’
’She’s willing to ruin her own reputation just to take the blame.’
’A bond like that is a little too unusual.’
’What exactly is the secret between those two?’
Song Qingya’s expression didn’t change, but her mind was already calculating.
When Qi Yuanyuan heard this, the heart that had been caught in her throat finally dropped.
But her back was already soaked through. Cold sweat dripped down her spine, making her clothes stick to her skin with a bone-chilling cold.
She quickly steadied her breathing, dug her nails into her palm, and forced herself to calm down.
"Yang Meiling! How could you do such a thing!"
Her voice rose, filled with heartache and reproach. Her acting was nearly flawless.
She turned to Song Qingya, her tone grave.
"Dean Song, now that things are clear, you tell us... what should be done with her?"
She feigned an air of righteous indignation, but inwardly she was sighing in relief.
Song Qingya sneered inwardly.
’Trying to get off this easily?’
’Things are never that simple.’
"Yang Meiling,"
she began slowly.
"Seeing as you had the sense to confess on your own and not continue down the wrong path..."
She paused, and her tone suddenly turned icy.
"Stealing medicine and framing a superior are extremely serious offenses."
"Go back and write a thorough self-criticism. You will receive a public reprimand and a major demerit on your record."
The room fell silent. No one dared to make a sound.
"Furthermore, starting tomorrow, you alone will be responsible for cleaning all the toilets, restrooms, corridors, and stairwells in the hospital. That also includes the outpatient hall, the waiting areas, and all areas outside the nurses’ stations."
"All cleaning must be completed before 7:00 AM every morning. You will conduct another inspection at noon and a final check before the evening shift change. Not a single detail may be overlooked."
"This assignment will last for three months. Not a single day less."
"You will atone for your transgressions through labor."
"You will use your sweat to wash away the filth of your slander."
"Is that clear?"
Yang Meiling stood frozen, her face deathly pale and her fingers trembling slightly.
’That... That’s it?’
Her mind was a complete mess; she could hardly believe her ears.
’Making a doctor like me clean toilets?’
’The entire hospital’s? For three whole months?’
But compared to being fired on the spot, officially disciplined, and kicked out of the compound, this seemed... like the lightest possible punishment.
"D-Dean Song? You’re not kidding, are you? Is this for real?"
she stammered.
Song Qingya’s expression was calm, her features placid. Not a ripple of emotion showed.
She just slowly raised her eyes and gave Yang Meiling a cool glance.
"Just now, in front of all these people, with everyone watching, you groundlessly accused Lu Mei of seducing her superiors and having loose morals. If words like that spread, they are enough to ruin a person’s life."
"With a single sentence, you nearly made her break down on the spot, nearly destroyed her reputation, and nearly made it impossible for her to ever hold her head high again."
"As for when these three months of cleaning duty will end, that depends on when Lu Mei is willing to accept your apology."
"If she is never willing to forgive you, then this punishment will never end."
Yang Meiling’s head buzzed. She swayed, nearly losing her footing.
She finally understood. Song Qingya hadn’t left her any way out at all.
’This isn’t just three months of cleaning.’
’This is nailing me to a pillar of shame, forcing me to bow my head day after day while anyone and everyone can point their finger at me!’
She wanted to argue, to wail about the injustice.
But meeting Song Qingya’s eyes, which were so calm they bordered on cold, all her words were choked back.
But she didn’t dare to lash out.
She couldn’t lose this job. She couldn’t lose her dignity in the compound.
So, she clenched her jaw, stumbled a step forward, and bowed to Song Qingya.
She bowed deeply, so low she nearly touched the ground.
"Thank you, Dean Song, for your mercy and for giving me a chance to repent."
Her voice trembled, but she struggled to maintain a respectful tone.
"I will turn over a new leaf, complete my cleaning duties diligently, and never make this mistake again."
Then she turned to Lu Mei beside her.
Lu Mei’s face was still pale, her lips trembling slightly.
Yang Meiling forced a sincere tone, her voice becoming exceptionally soft.
"Sister Lu Mei, I’m sorry. I was possessed, I lost control of my emotions. That’s why I spouted nonsense and slandered you with false rumors."
"I know I was wrong. I really know I was wrong."
"I will work hard, reflect deeply on my actions, write a daily self-reflection report, and completely reform myself."
"Please, I ask for your supervision."
She spoke with the utmost humility, even managing to squeeze out a few tears.
Lu Mei’s heart was still pounding.
’If she had successfully framed me just now, if Dean Song hadn’t shown up in time, if Dr. Xiao Yu hadn’t testified...’
’I wouldn’t just have been unable to continue working at the hospital; I would have been too ashamed to even stay in the compound.’
’The pointing fingers of the neighbors, my husband’s embarrassment, my child being unable to hold their head high...’
But now, looking at Yang Meiling bowing her head and admitting her fault in such a servile manner, she felt no sense of satisfaction at all.
She turned slightly to the side, avoiding the other woman’s gaze.
"I... I have no objection. I’ll defer to Dean Song’s arrangements."
"As long as the hospital’s rules are upheld and justice is served, that’s enough."
With the matter settled for now, the crowd of onlookers slowly began to disperse.
"I never thought I’d see the day Yang Meiling would end up like this."
"She’s usually so high and mighty. Now she’s got to scrub toilets every day."
"Isn’t that the truth. Running your mouth feels good for a moment, but the consequences are too severe."
"That move by Dean Song was really ruthless and precise."
The crowd gradually drifted away, and the corridor returned to its silence.
Song Qingya didn’t spare them another glance, turning and walking straight back to her office.
Dr. Xiao Yu and Ya’er also breathed a sigh of relief, their anxious hearts finally settling.
They exchanged a look, each patting their own chest.
Dr. Xiao Yu walked over to Lu Mei and comforted her softly, "Sister Hong, don’t be afraid. It’s all over now."
Ya’er also took her hand, her eyes slightly red. "Meiling was too cruel. It’s a good thing Dean Song came."
After offering a few more words of comfort, the two of them returned to their respective clinics.
In the corridor, only Yang Meiling and Qi Yuanyuan remained.
The wind blew past the windowsill, catching a fallen leaf and sending it spinning through the air.
Qi Yuanyuan stepped forward and patted Yang Meiling’s arm.
"Meiling, you scared me to death."
"Why... why weren’t you fired on the spot?"
She didn’t finish her sentence, but the meaning was obvious.
In that kind of situation, anyone else would have been thrown out of the hospital long ago.
Yang Meiling looked up. Her gaze was unnervingly calm, completely devoid of the panic, anger, and resentment she had shown just moments before.