Cannon Fodder in an Era Drama — I Survive with Acting

Chapter 244: This Ploy is Too Insidious

The more she spoke, the more agitated she became, her brows knitting together.

"We don’t believe any of that nonsense! We know what kind of person you are better than anyone! Someone’s definitely working against you behind the scenes, deliberately slinging mud to try and force you out! It’s such a dirty trick!"

Xiao Yu nodded vigorously beside her, his eyes wide.

"That’s right! Doctor Song, we all know how skilled you are! You’ve never made a mistake treating a patient. Even Dean Yuan is always so polite to you. How could anything bad happen because of you? You shouldn’t be taking the fall for this! You really shouldn’t!"

Song Qingya quietly watched their anxious and indignant expressions, a sudden warmth spreading through her chest.

She had helped these two young people quite a bit in their daily work.

But she never expected that they would be the first to stand up and speak for her when she was at the center of the storm.

She raised a hand and gently pressed it downward.

"Don’t panic. I’m fine."

"Things aren’t as exaggerated as the rumors make them out to be. Don’t get swept up in them."

"How can we not be worried?!"

Hearing this, Ya’er immediately grew indignant and stomped her foot.

"On my way here, I overheard several nurses whispering in the breakroom! They said Yang Meiling has been insufferably smug these past two days, walking around with her head held high. She’s been telling everyone you have ’questionable medical ethics,’ taking jabs at you all over the place, and making snide remarks in front of others, like, ’Some people... it doesn’t matter how skilled they are, they’ll be kicked out sooner or later!’"

She finished with a sharp intake of breath, her face flushed red.

"Sister Qingya, isn’t she obviously targeting you? How can we just stand for this?"

As Song Qingya listened, her brow twitched slightly, and a cold glint flashed in her eyes.

’This news is spreading even faster than I’d anticipated.’

’It seems the other party has had this planned for a while.’

’Fine. Since the stage is set, it’s time for the show to begin.’

She was secretly relieved that she’d had Cheng’an step in yesterday to suppress the "miscarriage" rumor in time.

Otherwise, two vicious rumors would be fermenting at the same time.

She took a deep breath, her expression still calm, and nodded.

"I understand. I’m grateful that you came to check on me. But for what comes next, you two need to be careful."

She paused, her gaze sweeping over their faces one by one as she lowered her voice.

"Stay away from the hospital, especially when you’re alone. Don’t speak up for me, and definitely don’t argue with anyone. I don’t want you to get targeted and dragged into this."

Upon hearing that, Ya’er defiantly jutted out her chin, her cheeks puffed.

"We’re not afraid!"

she yelled.

"How many times have you helped us, Sister Qingya? Last time, my mother was so sick. If you hadn’t personally written her prescription and stayed up all night brewing her medicine, would she even be alive today? And Xiao Yu’s cousin—if you hadn’t helped contact that specialist from the provincial capital, he would have been a lost cause! You’ve done so much for us. Now that you’re being bullied, how can we just stand by and do nothing?"

The more she spoke, the more worked up she became, her eyes blazing with passion.

"Besides, isn’t our clinic doing great? Since you arrived, we’ve had more patients, our medicinal supplies are well-stocked, and even the higher-ups are starting to pay attention to us! Why should we let them step on you to get ahead?"

Xiao Yu quickly chimed in.

"That’s right, Doctor Song, don’t worry about us. Ever since you helped us get that batch of scarce medicinal supplies and patiently taught me those methods for compounding medicine, so many more people have been coming to the clinic. Just a couple of days ago, someone came all the way from a distant village for a consultation, saying they trust us."

He looked up, his gaze sincere.

"Even if those people come looking for trouble, we have solid ground to stand on! Everyone has a scale in their hearts. They can see perfectly well who’s truly serving the people and who’s just playing games to push others aside!"

Watching their fiery determination, Song Qingya felt both warmth and worry in her heart.

’These two kids have good hearts.’

’But in the end, they’re too young, too naive.’

’Do they really think this will be so easy to handle?’

’Do they really believe that pure passion is enough to fend off such a carefully orchestrated scheme?’

’That Yang Meiling is incredibly petty. She can’t stand anyone being better than her, and her methods are both vicious and cunning.’

’People still remember that medical dispute she caused in the internal medicine department years ago. She ended up pinning the blame on an intern and walking away scot-free.’

’If she sets her sights on them, with her ability to manipulate situations at will, not to mention her backing from higher-ups...’

’...this small clinic, with its meager resources, could be turned upside down in the blink of an eye.’

At this thought, Song Qingya’s expression tightened, and she became serious.

"Take my advice: stay far away from Yang Meiling."

She spoke slowly and deliberately, her voice soft.

"She’s not as simple as you think. She’s an expert at smiling to your face while stabbing you in the back. If you really get on her bad side, even I won’t be able to protect you. When that time comes, you’ll be in for a world of hurt."

Seeing her expression and hearing the gravity in her tone, Ya’er’s heart skipped a beat.

The courage that had been swelling inside her instantly deflated.

She opened her mouth, wanting to say more.

But she met Song Qingya’s calm yet worried eyes.

The words died on her lips.

"Then... then what will you do, Sister Qingya? Why don’t you just quit the hospital? Come back and work with us!"

Dr. Xiao Yu’s voice trembled slightly, his eyes filled with anxiety.

"The clinic may be small, but it’s peaceful! No one would dare be rude to you! It’s not like the hospital, with all the backstabbing and cold remarks. It hurts us to see you being treated like that all day!"

Song Qingya shook her head, her gaze drifting out the window.

Her eyes passed through the glass and settled on the gray-white inpatient building in the distance.

A gentle breeze blew in through a crack in the window, lifting a loose strand of hair by her ear.

"I can’t,"

she finally said.

"Dean Yuan’s condition hasn’t improved. It’s still unstable. I can’t leave."

"Since I promised I would stay and take care of him, I can’t give up halfway. It’s a promise, and a responsibility."

She turned her head to look at them, her voice softening.

"Remember this: until you hear good news from me, the two of you should stay away from the hospital as much as possible."

Her gaze was serious as she emphasized, word by word, "Understand?"

Dr. Xiao Yu and Ya’er exchanged a look, their eyes filled with worry.

’She won’t even let us come to the hospital?’

’But this is the place she’s worked at for over a decade!’

They both swallowed hard, the words on the tips of their tongues forced back down.

Because they met Song Qingya’s eyes.

She was thinking of them, trying to keep them from getting involved in the conflict.

Finally, Dr. Xiao Yu lowered his head, his voice muffled. "Understood, Doctor Song."

Ya’er also nodded quickly, her eyes welling up. "We know, Sister Qingya."

After seeing them off, Song Qingya stood at the door and sighed.

She watched their retreating figures until they disappeared around the street corner, then slowly withdrew her gaze.

’I know they’re genuinely looking out for me,’

’but that’s exactly why I can’t let them get near the danger.’

’The politics at the hospital run too deep. There are undercurrents everywhere, and one wrong move could get you swept away.’

’I’m already caught in it. I can’t drag them in with me.’

Just as she began to move, she heard the sound of soft footsteps from inside the room.