Cannon Fodder in an Era Drama — I Survive with Acting

Chapter 242: The Truth Isn’t Always Upfront

After a night of being spiced up with rumors, there were probably multiple versions of the story going around.

That was fine, too. It saved her the trouble of putting on an act.

Friend or foe, believer or doubter—she no longer had to bother explaining herself.

Her gaze fixed forward, she walked with steady steps straight toward the special care ward.

Just as she reached the nurses’ station, Old Liu rushed out of his office in a hurry.

He hurried forward, constantly glancing back over his shoulder.

Once he was sure no one else was paying attention,

he lowered his voice and said urgently, "Dean!"

"Don’t believe all that gossip outside! It’s all nonsense! Someone must be deliberately slinging mud at you!"

He knew Song Qingya’s capabilities and character well and absolutely refused to believe she would do such a thing.

In his eyes, this was all just a conspiracy by someone with ulterior motives.

Song Qingya didn’t stop walking, merely tilting her head slightly as her gaze swept gently over Old Liu’s face.

She pressed her lips together slightly.

Then she let out a soft sigh.

"I understand, Uncle Liu. Thank you for your concern. I’m fine, really... For now, let’s go check on Dean Yuan."

After saying this, she didn’t linger and continued walking toward the ward area.

To Old Liu, however, her behavior was like a mirror, reflecting the suspicions he’d already had.

The usually calm and composed Doctor Song was, at this moment, actually enduring pressure that most people couldn’t perceive.

Watching her receding back, Old Liu stood rooted to the spot for a long time.

’No!’

’I can’t let the Dean shoulder these injustices all by herself!’

Just before pushing open the door to the special care ward, Song Qingya suddenly stopped.

She slowly turned around and spoke seriously to Old Liu, who had followed her closely, her voice low.

"Uncle Liu, you’re worldly and experienced. Could you help me keep an eye on something for a while? From now on, watch every move Yang Meiling and Qi Yuanyuan make. Especially who they’ve met with recently, where they’ve gone, and if there’s any unusual behavior."

After a pause, she added, "Also, keep an eye on the situation at the medicine storeroom. See if anyone is entering or leaving frequently, or if there are any unusual changes in the registration logs. Don’t overlook even the smallest detail."

Hearing this, Old Liu’s face immediately tightened, his expression turning serious.

He nodded forcefully, his right hand unconsciously clenching into a fist.

"Don’t worry, Dean! I’ll be sure to handle what you’ve entrusted to me! Even if a needle drops on the floor, I’ll find out for you!"

She stood watch in front of the monitor for the entire morning, barely moving from her spot.

Her eyes were constantly fixed on the various readings on the screen.

Heart rate, respiratory frequency, blood pressure fluctuations—she didn’t miss a single change in the data.

Periodically, she would open the patient’s chart to carefully check the latest medication records.

For now, Dean Yuan’s vital signs had temporarily stabilized and showed no signs of further deterioration.

But even so, he was still far from being truly out of the woods.

Time ticked by, and the sunlight outside the window gradually slanted.

Just before noon, a soft, restrained knock came from the door.

Song Qingya looked up and saw Li Gang standing at the door, holding a two-tiered stainless steel insulated lunch box.

"Ma’am, the Colonel sent me to bring you lunch."

As he spoke, he grinned, revealing a set of neat, white teeth.

Song Qingya walked over and lifted the lid of the lunch box to take a look.

Inside were four dishes and a soup, all neatly arranged.

Moreover, the portion size for each dish was astonishingly large, filling the container to the brim.

She couldn’t help but laugh out loud, a long-absent, relaxed smile finally flashing in her eyes.

Closing the lid, she turned to look at Li Gang.

"Li Gang, how could I possibly eat all this food? Why don’t you take it over to Guo Ying’s? I’ll go join her in a bit."

Li Gang paused when he heard this, his brow furrowing slightly in hesitation.

But he quickly caught on and replied hastily, "Right! You’re right, Ma’am. I’ll take it over right now!"

Before the words were even out of his mouth, he had already picked up the lunch box, turned, and hurried out of the room.

Song Qingya took off the white coat she had worn all morning and hung it gently on a rack.

Then she walked over to Old Liu, quietly gave him a few instructions, and reminded him to notify her immediately if anything changed.

Old Liu nodded, signaling for her not to worry.

Only then did she leave the ward area, walking down the familiar corridor toward the family housing building.

When she got to Guo Ying’s place and pushed open the door, she took in the scene inside.

Li Gang had already set the dishes on the table, and the bowls and chopsticks were neatly arranged.

Guo Ying was sitting on the sofa, one hand resting on her prominent belly, while the other gestured enthusiastically for Li Gang to sit and eat.

"Come on, come on, don’t be shy! Eat up!"

But Li Gang remained standing, his hands hanging awkwardly at his sides, looking constrained and uneasy.

Song Qingya understood the situation the moment she walked in.

’I don’t even have to ask. Fei Jin probably just told him to deliver the food and never mentioned staying to eat with us.’

’The man is almost ridiculously earnest, completely unable to think on his feet.’

"Don’t just stand there like a fool, Li Gang,"

she said, interrupting the slightly awkward pleasantries between the two.

"Come and sit down. Guo Ying and I can’t possibly finish all this food. Besides, you went to the trouble of coming all this way. It wouldn’t be right to send you back on an empty stomach."

Seeing her arrive, Guo Ying immediately broke into a smile.

"Did you hear that? The Colonel’s wife herself is inviting you to the table, and you still dare to refuse? This is a rare honor; other people couldn’t get an invitation even if they begged! If you keep being so bashful, you’re really going to be a laughingstock."

Li Gang scratched the back of his head sheepishly, a faint, embarrassed blush creeping onto his face as he sat down with a silly grin.

He scratched his head as he took his seat.

"Of course not... Since you’ve honored me with the invitation, Ma’am, how could I refuse? I’m just a little nervous, worried I’ll say the wrong thing, lose face, and ruin everyone’s good time."

During the meal, Guo Ying picked up a piece of tender, slow-braised pork rib and placed it in Song Qingya’s bowl.

"You’ve been working so hard lately; you need to build up your strength. These ribs were stewed for hours. They’re cooked perfectly—melt-in-your-mouth tender. Eat it while it’s hot."

"Qingya, I heard Li Gang mention something about what’s happening at the hospital... Are you really not going to be the dean anymore? Is it because of what happened with Dean Yuan?"

Guo Ying paused, her tone laced with worry.

"Everyone outside is talking, and they’re saying some nasty things. Stuff about poor management and you shirking responsibility... it makes me so angry just hearing it. Why should you take the fall for someone else?"

Song Qingya slowly chewed the food in her mouth.

Hearing this, she raised an eyebrow, her gaze landing lightly on Guo Ying’s face.

"Sometimes, when you stand in the light, your own shadow can block your view. A place that’s too bright can be blinding, and it makes you overlook the details in the corners. Stepping to the side to watch might... let you discover more. The truth isn’t always on stage; more often, it’s hiding backstage."

Guo Ying was quick-witted. The moment she heard this, her eyes lit up.

’So that’s how it is!’

’Song Qingya hadn’t really admitted defeat, nor had she been forced to step down.’

She nodded lightly, saying no more and asking no further questions.

Li Gang, sitting to the side, didn’t grasp the deeper meaning.