Silence filled the office once again..... countless times now since the CMO had begun speaking. They were all gathered in a small meeting room: the CMO, Matron Tanga, the two doctors, and Yibo, whose eyes were fixed on the tablet in his hands. On its screen was the document that had now been fully verified as the cause of the patient's death....the very incident that had triggered this meeting.
In all his years at the hospital, this was the first time Yibo had ever sat at such a long table, surrounded by people who all carried the same heavy thought in their minds.
If anything, what he felt surpassed what the others were feeling. He didn't know how to describe the wave of panic that had hit him the moment he received Matron Tanga's call.....telling him that one of the patients enrolled in the program had died. By his own count, this was the fifth patient he had lost. But among those five, this was the first death that struck him deeply, stirring something raw inside his chest.
He already knew why.
The previous four had all died in surgery, their bodies already ravaged by illnesses that had long overwhelmed them. He had known nothing about them beyond their faces.
But this one…
This was different.
This was the first patient he had truly come to know. Over time, something almost familiar had formed between them. Yibo visited him daily, listened to his complaints, explained treatment plans. Each time he returned the next day, the patient would tell him how much better he felt.
And this patient....Mr. Mo....was one who always tried to pull Yibo into conversation. An elderly man, respectful and warm, Yibo greeted him personally every time he came to his bedside. He once told him proudly that he had more than ten grandchildren, not counting his grown children, whom Yibo had seen twice, hovering anxiously around him.
So when Matron Tanga mentioned Mr. Mo's name as the patient who had died, Yibo felt his legs give way internally. His chest collapsed inward as images flooded his mind....Mr. Mo's smiling face, his gentle teasing… even that day he had joked about him and Zhan.
It had been the day Mr. Mo's X-ray results came in. He held one image and asked Zhan to line it up with the other so he could compare them. Zhan struggled to align them properly, and Yibo kept trying to guide him, almost reaching to touch his hand.
Yibo remembered the look Mr. Mo had given him afterward....smiling as he teased,
"Doctor, you'd better prepare your bride price before holding his hand like that."
The memory had made Yibo smile without thinking.
That was why he had arrived at the hospital already unsettled....never imagining that what awaited him would be far worse than the anxiety he carried in. The entire hospital was buzzing, not with ordinary grief, but with a tense, urgent commotion. Before he could even confirm the story from one of the nurses, Matron Tanga had pulled him into this meeting.
Now the CMO was laying out the facts one by one, each point leading to the same conclusion....one that Yibo silently reread on the tablet as he lifted his eyes to the faces around the table.
"So all findings confirm that the pharmacy was not at fault. Nurse Zhan wrote 'morphine' instead of 'meropenem.' The attending nurse followed protocol and administered the injection as written. That single injection… killed Mr. Mo."
One of the doctors nodded gravely.
"This kind of error is fatal. And legally, it qualifies as professional negligence."
Matron Tanga looked at him directly and said,
"That's true. But aside from the CMO, everyone here knows how hard this nurse has been working since he joined us. Based on what I know of Zhan, he isn't careless. This sounds like a mistake made under pressure....not malice or incompetence."
The CMO replied sharply, frustration clear in his voice.
"Pressure or not, it resulted in a man's death. The fault is his. If he wasn't sure of what he was writing, he should have confirmed with Dr Yibo, who issued the prescription. That's basic protocol."
Matron Tanga shook her head again.
"CMO, the young man is completely devastated right now. He says he didn't even realize what he had written."
"Exactly," the CMO snapped. "If he doesn't even know what he wrote while on duty, that's all the more reason we must act. Otherwise, we send a signal that such mistakes are tolerated. That alone could cost us our standing in this program. And if we're lucky, the patient's family won't sue us."
He then turned to look at Yibo, who had placed the tablet on the table and sat in silence, listening to every word.
"We've been talking all this time and you've been silent. He's your assistant....what do you have to say?"
All eyes turned to him. The room fell completely quiet as everyone waited.
Yibo swallowed hard, feeling something lodged in his throat. He adjusted his posture, leaned forward slightly, placed both hands on the table, and looked the CMO straight in the eyes before speaking.
"In your explanation, you stated that the problem originated from the written prescription...not the pharmacy and not the attending nurse. Based on that, all responsibility is being placed directly on the nurse who wrote the prescription that was sent to the pharmacy, because he is the one who heard the doctor's order and documented it."
"What I want to understand is this: why does the blame stop with him? Why is it assumed that he made the writing error, instead of considering that the doctor might have misspoken when giving the order?"
At once, the CMO's eyes widened in visible surprise.
"What are you implying, Yibo?"
Without hesitation, Yibo nodded and clarified his point plainly.
"I'm asking why it wasn't considered that I might be the one who made the mistake...by saying 'morphine' instead of 'meropenem.'"
The CMO shook his head firmly.
"Because I know you, Yibo. I know you would never, ever make that kind of mistake."
Yibo nodded in return.
"Thank you. And in the same way that you trust me, I trust Zhan. I know he would never make this kind of mistake either."
The CMO exhaled and shook his head again.
"Yibo, we can't operate on assumptions. Everything in this process must be based on facts and evidence. We cannot dismiss the possibility that the error came from the nurse simply because it might have come from you."
"If he had defended himself by saying he wrote exactly what you told him, we wouldn't be taking action against him. But he said he doesn't even know what he wrote. That leaves us no choice."
"We can't let this go. You know how important this program is to the Professor, even though he's currently out of the country. He would not tolerate this level of negligence. I'm acting on his behalf. Whatever decision I make here reflects what he would decide."
Yibo nodded once, then leaned back into his chair, returning to his earlier silence.
Matron Tanga turned to the CMO, her expression seeking clarification.
"Then what decision have you made?"
The CMO looked at her squarely.
"We are suspending him pending the completion of the final review by the Professor and the Ministry. During this period, he is relieved of all duties and must remain available should further clarification or documentation be required."
Matron Tanga nodded.
"Then the suspension letter should clearly state that this is procedural and pending a full investigation....not a final verdict."
The CMO nodded in agreement.
"That's acceptable."
He then turned back to Yibo.
"Yibo…"
He called his name directly.
"Do you have anything to add?"
Yibo simply shook his head, saying nothing.
The CMO looked around the room.
"I believe that concludes this meeting. Thank you all for your time."
Everyone stood. From where he sat, Yibo watched them leave one by one, hearing the final click of the door as the last person exited.
He rose as well, picked up his phone from the table, and followed them out. Once in the corridor, his feet carried him instinctively toward the nurses' station. He knew, without doubt, that Zhan would be there.
He had never been to the nurses' station before. His world usually ended at the patient wards and his office. Even the pharmacy....he had only visited once, briefly, unfamiliar with its layout.
That unfamiliarity led him straight inside, assuming there would be another door beyond.
But the moment he entered, his eyes found Zhan.
Zhan was seated at a desk, another nurse beside him, while Matron Tanga stood across from them, speaking as they listened.
Seeing them alone might not have stopped him....but Zhan's eyes did.
They were swollen, reddened, filled with tears that clung visibly to his lashes.
Something tightened sharply in Yibo's chest.
When Matron Tanga had described Zhan as "devastated," Yibo hadn't imagined it would look like this. He had thought the word remained abstract.....just a formal expression, not something so painfully real.
He tried to swallow, hoping the pressure in his chest would ease.
It didn't.
So he turned and walked away before anyone noticed him, his mind a storm of thoughts he couldn't yet name or control.
✨✨✨
Earlier That Day
Not long ago, prepaid electricity meters had been installed in all the houses on their street. Whatever small convenience they once had....like freely using the electric kettle....was gone. Even so, Uncle Ruobing still complained daily about how quickly the units ran out. They had stopped using the kettle, yet the power still drained fast, because everyone now simply plugged in their sockets directly, even just to heat water in a bucket.
Because of this, Zhan woke up early every morning to get hot water from Noni's outside kitchen. She was always up early, preparing breakfast whether or not anyone had to leave the house early.
That morning, after finishing all his routines, Zhan headed downstairs to get the hot water. At the foot of the staircase, he ran into Fuyue, standing there tapping away at his phone. It surprised Zhan..... he couldn't remember the last time he'd seen him around at that hour. When Zhan greeted him, Fuyue replied with a smile and went back to his phone.
Zhan usually ate something before leaving the house, especially the porridge Nainai prepared early in the morning. But that day, he didn't feel like eating at all. Bai even poured some into a small flask for him to take along, but Zhan refused. He knew Aji wouldn't let him go without eating something anyway.
He left the house and went to where he usually found a taxi. He stood there for a long time without success, until he finally started walking. A driver stopped and offered him a ride, but Zhan glanced at him once and kept walking. The car sped off past him.
When he eventually got into a taxi, they hadn't gone far before his phone rang. He checked the screen.....it was Aji. He answered immediately, pressing the phone to his ear.
From that moment on, his day unraveled.
By the time he arrived at the hospital, panic and dread had settled heavily in his chest. He was so lost in thought that the taxi driver had to honk before he realized he hadn't paid the fare.
Zhan entered the hospital with trembling hands and a racing heart. His mind kept replaying the man's face over and over. When he arrived, the man's family was already there.....crying, waiting for the body to be released. The hospital staff stood around as well, everyone visibly shaken. Death was not unusual in a hospital, but this one had struck harder than most. The man had been warm, familiar.....someone you couldn't help but grow fond of.
As people looked at Zhan when he walked in, he felt nothing at first. He greeted everyone he passed, offering quiet condolences, until he finally reached Aji.
That was when something inside him began to unravel.
Pieces of himself he hadn't known were there started slipping loose, pulled apart by every word Aji said.....that there were suspicions the patient's death was caused by an incorrect injection order he had written.
The fear and panic that flooded Zhan were impossible to measure. Every question Aji asked him received the same response.
"I don't know, Aji."
And it was the truth. The number of tasks, responsibilities, and thoughts that had passed through his mind that week were beyond counting. This program was unlike anything he had ever worked on before, and he hadn't been out of training for long. He knew he was doing his best to meet every expectation placed on him.
He wouldn't claim he was incapable of mistakes....but he also knew he had tried, genuinely, to do everything right. If there was anything he could say in his defense, that was it.
Nurse Saleh arrived with his own account.....details Zhan barely processed until he was told that Matron Tanga wanted to see him. Aji walked him there but stayed outside, waiting.
From the questions Matron Tanga asked, Zhan understood that she was trying to help him build a solid explanation....some form of justification or evidence she could take forward to the higher authorities. She was clearly trying to protect him.
But no matter how hard he tried, Zhan couldn't fabricate what he didn't have. He only knew he had done his job. He had worked through so many cases and orders that recalling every detail was impossible.
His heart continued to pound as Matron Tanga spoke, but it didn't break....not until she finally said:
"Don't worry, Zhan. I know you try your best. I'll do everything I can to make sure this doesn't get out of hand."
And for the first time since morning, something inside him faltered....caught between relief and fear, unsure which would win.
At some point, Zhan completely broke down. The sobbing came without warning, raw and uncontrollable. From the moment he started wiping his tears, he couldn't stop. He cried continuously...through the meeting Matron Tanga had called to discuss his case, through the end of it, and even afterward. Cleaners, pharmacy staff, and other hospital workers came by one after another, each wearing a different expression of shock or pity. But beyond the crying, nothing they said reached him anymore. Their words only made the ache heavier.
Even when Matron Tanga came to explain the suspension decision....that he would be placed on leave until further notice....the only response was more tears.
From that moment, he had already decided to go home. He didn't even look toward the ward. The male nurses were handling patient care. It was only then that he remembered Dr. Yibo. Matron Tanga had mentioned that Yibo had tried to defend him during the meeting, offering positive testimony on his behalf. But Zhan hadn't seen him at all, nor heard that he'd gone to check on the patient.
He didn't dwell on it for long. Aji called her husband, who came to escort Zhan home, refusing to let him walk alone.
Aji accompanied him all the way inside and explained the situation to Nainai in a softened version, careful not to emphasize the severity. Even so, Nainai was visibly shaken. She paced restlessly, muttering to herself, suggesting that perhaps all her earlier complaints about Zhan being overworked had somehow brought this on.
Bai was deeply affected as well....so much so that his eyes filled with tears. After Aji left, Nainai called four people to inform them: Uncle Nanjing, the one who had helped secure the job, who insisted it was nothing serious and promised to handle it; Uncle Elder; Uncle Ruobing; and Aunt Shui, whom she told directly not to come over.
From his room, Zhan heard Nainai say, "I didn't ask you to come, Shui. I just wanted you to know what's going on, since you were here celebrating the job with us."
But Aunt Shui didn't hesitate. By 4:30 p.m., she had arrived. Soon, the house filled with people.... condolences, murmured sympathy, shared concern. Noni and Aunt Taichen joined as well. From Aunt Hsiao to Fuyue, and even Maama's older sibling, Nie, who were staying in the house....no one was left uninformed. Zhan hadn't even thought about them until he heard Aunt Shui complaining that since Taichen already knew, everyone else had to be told.
He listened as Aunt Shui and Bai whispered their complaints while Nainai busied herself, correcting their tone whenever it rose. No one seemed to notice.
At that time, Zhan was lying on the long couch in the living room. He wore a light fabric shirt and trousers that stopped just above his knees. He usually preferred long pants, but that day he'd deliberately chosen something lighter and short....he didn't feel his body could handle anything heavier than the weight already pressing on his chest.
That was when his phone, resting beside him, began to ring. He almost didn't answer. Slowly, he reached for it and checked the screen. An unfamiliar number. He hesitated, then reconsidered....perhaps it was the hospital, calling with another decision.
"Hello,"
Zhan said softly, shifting slightly.
"Hello, Zhan…"
The voice hit him all at once, like rain falling suddenly from the sky.
Yibo.
Dr. Yibo.
There was no doubt....it was him. The same voice, yet different. Unlike yesterday, when it had sounded distant and subdued, now it was steady, clear.
"Zhan…"
He called again when Zhan didn't respond immediately.
"…Yes."
"Are you home?"
Of course he was. Where else could he possibly go at this hour?
"Yes."
Zhan replied quietly.
Then Yibo said, "Please come outside. I'm in front of your house."
Zhan's heart slammed violently against his chest. His thoughts scattered all at once, until he heard Yibo speak again.
"Zhan…"
He gathered what little composure he had left.
"Okay, sir."
When the call ended, he froze. He didn't know what to do, what to say, or where to begin. It wasn't until he sat up and glanced toward Aunt Shui and Nainai....who had just finished tidying up and was warning everyone not to mention Aunt Hsiao again....that reality pushed him into motion.
Zhan stood up and went into his room. He opened his wardrobe and stared blankly. Everything blurred together. He closed it again and went into the bathroom, splashing water over his face before returning.
He pulled out a long black jacket and slipped it over his shirt, then changed into long trousers. The jacket carried a scent.....subtle but distinct. It was the perfume Bai had sprayed on their clothes earlier in the week. Though it had been burned as incense days ago, the added spray made it feel fresh, as if it had just been done.
So Zhan didn't bother spraying any perfume. He headed toward the door, took a few steps, then came back to glance at himself briefly in the mirror. His eyes were less swollen than before, though they still hadn't fully returned to normal.
He turned toward the exit again, and just as he was about to step out, words came to him....what he should say to Nainai?.
"A doctor I work with came, Nainai," he said. "I think it's about the suspension. He asked me to meet him outside."
Nainai replied quietly, "I hope he's come to say it was a mistake and that you're not at fault. Even though I never liked that job, I don't like seeing you carry this kind of worry either."
With that, Zhan stepped out. Even Aunt Shui and the others murmured their hopes as he passed.
Downstairs, Noni and the others were sitting on their mat, chatting. The cooking fire nearby had gone out, leaving only dying embers and a pot resting on them. He walked past without being noticed and continued toward the parking area. It was mostly empty....Uncle Ruobing's car wasn't there either....so he went straight to the gate and slipped out through the small side door.
Outside, people were gathered in small clusters, talking and laughing. The driver stood with a few others. Then Zhan's eyes landed on a car he didn't recognize....a sleek black one, gleaming under the electric lights from the houses.
His heart thumped. He turned left, stopping a short distance away from the gate.
What made his chest tighten further was seeing the passenger-side door already open before he reached it. He paused, conflicted. Should he get in? If he didn't, would the doctor have to step out where anyone passing by could see them together? He didn't have the courage to let that happen.
Summoning his resolve, Zhan walked over slowly, took hold of the car door, and slid inside gently, greeting quietly without fully closing the door.
A cool, calm atmosphere greeted him....along with the subtle, unmistakable scent of Yibo's cologne, filling the space and settling over him.
When Zhan turned, he met Yibo's gaze. At the same moment, his heart gave another sharp thud.
Yibo was dressed entirely in white....clean, simple, striking. His presence alone seemed to fill the car. Even though he hadn't fully turned yet, the effect was overwhelming.
"Good afternoon, sir,"
Zhan said softly, lowering his head and staring at his thin fingers.
Instead of replying immediately, Yibo said, "I'm sorry for calling you out this late."
First, it was how close his voice was....how Zhan felt that familiar, comforting warmth right beside him. Second, it was the meaning of his words.
Zhan shook his head lightly.
"No, it's ok…"
Yibo shifted, turning more fully toward him. "You know why I came, don't you?"
Zhan didn't. Even if he tried to guess, his mind was too scattered. He shook his head again without speaking.
"Okay,"
Yibo said, adjusting his seat.
"What happened today, Zhan it's not entirely your fault, I know I carry more than eighty percent of the responsibility. I don't need to explain everything to you. We both know that if you made any mistake at all, it was because you were distracted by the work I gave you."
He paused. Zhan remained silent.
When Yibo continued, his voice was softer than Zhan had ever heard it in the hospital....steady, low, sincere.
"Everything they told you today....set it aside for now. It's temporary. Nothing serious will come of it. The CMO won't listen to me at the moment, that's why I stayed quiet. But once the professor returns, I'll clear this completely. You'll be back at work."
So much was happening inside Zhan's head and heart that he barely realized Yibo had finished speaking until he heard him say again,
"Zhan…"
Without fully processing it, Zhan found himself nodding along as Yibo continued.
"I really didn't like how you cried earlier. I don't want you hurting yourself like that."
He paused, then added,
"I won't ever let them dismiss you."
Zhan hadn't known. Not until now. Not until the weight of everything made it hard to even understand his own thoughts.
"Zhan…"
Yibo called him again....this time in a way that made him lift his head and look up.
"Your family isn't upset because of me, are they?"
Zhan froze.
So the Dr had been blaming himself this whole time? How had he even come to that conclusion?
"Please apologize to your mother for me," Yibo continued. "Tell her you'll be returning to work soon."
Zhan didn't realize he'd nodded until he saw Yibo nod as well.
"I should let you go now," Yibo said. "I don't want to keep you out too late."
Then, as if remembering something, he asked, "Do you usually go out at this time?"
Zhan shook his head quickly, not even fully understanding the question. Yibo gave a small, brief smile.
"Your house isn't hard to find," he said. "I'll come again."
Everything Zhan had carried that day....the fear, the grief, the tears....collapsed into that moment. The meaning of Yibo's words, and how comforting they were, washed everything else away at once. By the time he said goodbye, stepped out of the car, and turned back toward the house, the words were repeating in his head, grounding him in reality.
Just then....
"Excuse me Gege…"
A boy's voice stopped him from behind as he reentered the compound, just before leaving the parking area. Zhan turned quickly, startled.
A boy was walking toward him, holding two large shopping bags.
"Excuse you....what?" Zhan asked.
"A man in a black car outside told me to bring these bags to you."
Fri, 19 Dec.
2025
Zhanxianyibo💚❤️💛