belamy20
patreon
310-312
🕑 Added 2025-05-28 17:14:04 +0000 UTCChapter 310: He’s Not That Important
Night falls.
At the medical center.
In the hallway.
Several temporary hospital beds were placed together.
Christina and the others walked over one after another, plopping down onto the beds and slumping against the wall, exhaustion written all over their faces.
Having missed mealtime, they used some coins to buy coffee and snacks from a nearby vending machine, making do with whatever they could find.
“My head hurts,” Alex complained, for once without his usual mysterious and ambiguous smirk.
“It’s probably a tumor,” Christina said sarcastically.
“You wish I had a tumor, don’t you?” Alex snapped.
“That’s hilarious. Do you think I’m the only one who wants that?” Christina retorted.
“…”
Alex froze for a moment.
He had a decent sense of how unpopular he was.
“If wishful thinking could make things come true, I wouldn’t be the first one to get a tumor—Adam Duncan would!” Alex sneered. “Don’t tell me you’ve never imagined that before.”
Christina couldn’t be bothered to respond.
If not for the fact that Alex had been assigned under Nazi as an intern and Nazi had asked her to show him the ropes, she wouldn’t even be talking to him.
She was already fuming.
When it came to surgical skills, she firmly believed she was just as capable as Adam—easily one of the top interns among the twenty in their program.
Yet, this was already the end of their second rotation.
What had Adam done?
And what had she done?
Adam had not only performed an appendectomy on his very first day, but he had also solved a difficult case, assisted in a high-level neurosurgery, and today in the ER, he had excelled yet again—successfully saving a baby. The entire hospital had heard about how the room erupted in applause afterward.
Meanwhile, she—Christina Yang, with a Bachelor’s degree in Literature from Smith College, a PhD from Berkeley, and an MD from Harvard Medical School—hadn’t gotten a single surgery. She had spent her time handing out diagnostic pamphlets and doing menial tasks.
To make things worse, when patients learned they were fine, they would hug her in joy. As someone who disliked physical contact, it made her skin crawl.
And on top of all that, she had to babysit Alex, this useless idiot.
It was infuriating.
If she had a scalpel in her hand right now, she might actually stab Alex.
“My hands are numb from suturing all day,” Liz said as she walked over, holding a cup of coffee and some snacks.
“At least you’re helping patients and improving your skills,” Christina grumbled, pointing at herself. “Now, take a guess—who does Nazi dislike the most?”
“American police are the most unreliable,” Meredith muttered as she walked over, carrying a cooler. She reached out and grabbed some snacks from George, who had just bought them. “They said they’d come in the morning. Then they said the afternoon. And now, when we’re about to get off work, they say it’ll be a few more hours. Looks like I’m stuck with this all night.”
“You’ll be stuck with it for life~” Alex teased.
“Shut up,” Meredith snapped, glaring at him with disgust. “Don’t talk to me. Thanks.”
“You guys think that’s bad?”
George walked up, his face grim. “This afternoon, I had to handle an entire German tour group with food poisoning. Now that was miserable. Try dealing with that!”
The group fell silent.
Clearly, they all agreed—George had it the worst.
“You know what’s even worse?”
George’s voice was filled with grievance. “Adam was there too, so I asked a nurse to call him for help. But she just brushed me off! And then, behind my back, she said Adam was meant for ‘great things’ while I was only fit to do rectal exams and collect stool samples.”
“Hahaha!”
The group burst into laughter.
“You’re laughing?!”
George yelled.
“Alright, alright, we won’t laugh,” Meredith said, trying to comfort him. “Damn Adam!”
“Damn Adam!”
The moment she said it, everyone instantly agreed and started complaining in unison.
They were all interns—why was the gap between them so massive?
“What’s this about?”
Adam appeared from around the corner, looking puzzled as he heard them all badmouthing him.
“You ordered takeout?”
Christina’s sharp eyes immediately noticed that the food in Adam’s hands was far superior to the bland snacks from the vending machine.
“Sort of.”
Adam paused for a moment before smiling nonchalantly.
He had realized he would miss dinner, so he had asked his assistant to order a meal from a high-end restaurant and have it delivered.
After all, in life, one must indulge in good food.
“Can we see what billionaires eat?” Christina asked curiously.
“Of course.”
Adam sighed, helplessly handing over the food.
“Le Bernardin’s seafood feast,” Christina gasped, then held up her tasteless vending machine sandwich in comparison. “And you wonder why we’re all complaining about you?”
“Heh.”
Adam chuckled but said nothing.
That’s human nature—without comparison, there’s no resentment. And naturally, envy and jealousy arise.
The key was keeping it within reason.
As long as it stayed at the level of envy and didn’t turn into outright hatred, they could still be friends.
Christina, at least, was straightforward about it, which was perfectly normal.
Liz opened her mouth, wanting to say, “Instead of spending so much on food, why not help more people?” But then she remembered Adam’s cold, sharp gaze from earlier that afternoon and quickly swallowed her words.
This was a man she couldn’t afford to provoke.
“Anyone want some?”
Adam opened the container and invited them to share.
“Of course!”
Christina didn’t hold back. “After such a long day, getting to enjoy a Michelin three-star meal is the perfect way to unwind. Hand me a lobster.”
Adam smiled and passed one to her.
“I’ll have some too,” Meredith said, reaching for a bite.
“Help yourselves,” Adam said.
They were all colleagues. Even though the competition was intense, he still wanted to maintain a friendly atmosphere. Christina’s openly competitive yet professional attitude was something he could appreciate.
“Everyone, dig in.”
“If you insist.”
George pouted. “By the way, did you hear about the German tour group earlier?”
“I heard a little,” Adam replied with a smile. “They meant well…”
Seeing George’s face darken, Adam quickly changed his tone. “Next time, for sure.”
“Wow, this is amazing!”
Christina and Meredith couldn’t help but exclaim as they took their first bites. They exchanged glances before hastily eating faster.
George took a bite as well, and his expression instantly softened as he let out a satisfied sigh.
Liz hesitated, swallowing involuntarily as she watched them eat.
“I’ll have some too,” Alex said shamelessly, reaching out.
Smack!
Adam slapped his hand away and smiled lightly. “I didn’t order enough this time, and I haven’t even eaten yet. Next time, for sure.”
“Whatever, it’s just food,” Alex muttered, his face darkening as he stormed off.
“Adam,” Meredith said hesitantly. “Even if you don’t like him, wasn’t that a bit harsh?”
“I don’t like him,” Adam admitted with a smile. “With his disregard for human life and his dubious medical skills, the chances of him ever becoming my colleague are slim. Besides, I haven’t eaten yet—I’m not about to go hungry for his sake.”
Alex wasn’t that important.
Chapter 311: I’m a Doctor, Not Your Moon
After a seafood feast…
The second shift was wrapping up.
Everyone went their separate ways.
Adam stopped by Green Clinic. Seeing that nothing needed his attention, he decided to check the ER to see if anyone needed his help.
With his energy, he didn’t mind working longer hours.
Ding!
The elevator arrived.
As the doors opened, Adam’s eyes flickered.
Standing inside was a handsome middle-aged doctor smiling at him, while Meredith was crouched down, gathering a pile of scattered medical files.
“Hi, Adam.”
Meredith looked up and greeted him.
“Hi, Meredith~”
Adam smirked playfully. “Hi, Dr. Shepherd.”
The eyes are the windows to the soul. If he had only subconsciously sensed something was off before, he was now certain.
“Dr. Duncan.”
Dr. Shepherd nodded with a polite smile.
“You didn’t lose any files, did you?”
Adam asked with concern. “It’s okay if you did—there are cameras in the elevator. Even if something went missing, we’d find it.”
Meredith’s body instantly stiffened.
“Oh, I just remembered—I need to see Dr. Green.”
Dr. Shepherd’s smile turned slightly unnatural as he stepped out of the elevator.
“Wow.”
Adam walked into the elevator, making a show of astonishment at Meredith, who had gathered the files in her arms and was standing up.
“What?”
Meredith feigned innocence, giving him a “what’s that look for?” expression.
“Pretty wild.”
Adam teased, “In the hospital elevator? That eager? Looks like the fiery girl has awakened.”
“How did you know?!”
Meredith looked at him in shock.
“Because Christina and I made a bet. We were guessing how long you’d last in front of Mr. Dreamy. She thought you’d hold out at least through the week.”
Adam chuckled. “But I bet you wouldn’t last past this week. One emotional moment and you’d give in—especially in a hospital, where life-and-death situations create constant emotional highs. I saw no way I could lose.”
“You guys bet on me?!”
Meredith was furious. “And why would you think I wouldn’t last a week?”
“Well, the bet isn’t over yet. You couldn’t have done much in the elevator—at most, a French kiss. So I won’t count it as you surrendering. How about this? As long as you don’t spend the night together this week, I lose.”
“You!”
Meredith wanted to argue and say he’d definitely lose, but when she met Adam’s knowing look and thought about the volcanic energy between her and Dr. Shepherd, she wasn’t so sure…
Adam was absolutely right.
The reason the feelings hit her so hard was because that fiery girl inside her had awakened. And Dr. Shepherd had shown his tender side in front of that girl. The moment she saw it, her defenses crumbled.
How could such a gentle, passionate, and handsome man possibly be the playboy she had accused him of being? The one who, despite knowing she was a student of his student, still pursued her, violating hospital rules and putting her job at risk just to play some hunting game?
Ding!
The elevator doors opened. Someone was about to step in.
Meredith rushed out immediately—never mind that this wasn’t even her floor.
Adam shook his head, amused.
Hooking up with the boss in an elevator during work hours? He had only ever seen that in certain Japanese action films. Like father, like daughter.
Back at the ER…
“Adam.”
George, the chubby and slightly effeminate intern, sidled up to him hesitantly.
“What’s up?”
Adam kept his eyes on the patient file in his hands.
“Can you teach me?”
George gritted his teeth and said, “So many girls like you…”
“If you want to chase Meredith, forget it.”
Adam didn’t even look up.
“Who said I want to chase Meredith…”
George tried to deny it but was clearly frustrated. “Why do you think I don’t stand a chance?”
Adam glanced at him, resisting the urge to gossip about what he had just witnessed in the elevator.
Normally, gossip was fair game, but he wouldn’t spread something that could affect a sort-of friend’s career. So, he just smiled and said:
“You want me to teach you? I really can’t, because I don’t know anything either. But if you want to pursue Meredith, I can offer some advice.”
“Go on.”
George ignored the first half of Adam’s sentence—he figured Adam was just being modest.
“First, let me ask: are you looking for a serious relationship with Meredith, or do you just want a taste?”
Adam asked seriously.
“Of course, I want a real relationship!”
George blurted out.
“Then there’s nothing I can do. That’s really impossible for you.”
Adam shrugged. “You’re just not her type. And forced love never works.”
“…”
George’s mouth twitched. He looked frustrated and unwilling to accept it. “Then what type does she like?”
“Aren’t you supposed to ask how to just get a taste instead?”
Adam teased. “Her type? Someone like Dr. Shepherd.”
“Dr. Shepherd…”
George looked dazed.
“See?”
Adam studied his expression and said playfully, “Even you are captivated by Dreamy Dr. Shepherd. So how could Meredith not be? Do you really think she’d be interested in a potential romantic rival?”
“I’m not! I don’t! Stop talking nonsense!”
George denied it immediately, then realized how it sounded and shouted, “I’m not gay!”
“Mmhmm.”
Adam responded ambiguously.
“I’m really not gay!”
George was getting anxious.
“You don’t have to explain it to me.”
Adam patted his shoulder. “The important thing is that Meredith knows.”
With that, he grabbed the file and walked off.
He was a doctor, not some love guru. He didn’t have time for all this nonsense.
George hesitated for a moment, then caught up.
“What now?”
Adam asked, exasperated.
“You gave me two options…”
George hesitated. “What about the second one?”
“Heh.”
Adam couldn’t help but laugh. “Looks like you’re finally getting it—understanding what really matters.”
George’s chubby face turned red.
“How’s your alcohol tolerance?”
Adam asked.
“Uh…”
George was confused. “Not bad, I guess?”
“Good.”
Adam grinned. “Find a chance to drink with Meredith—just the two of you. Get really drunk. As long as you can hold your liquor, you’ll get what you want.
But remember—what happens, happens. It doesn’t mean love or a relationship. Once it’s over, don’t overthink it, because Meredith definitely won’t.”
George’s expression turned strange. He didn’t know how to respond.
It felt like Adam was insulting him.
Wasn’t it usually men who hooked up and then walked away?
Why did it feel like, in his case, it would be the other way around?
Bang!
The ER doors suddenly burst open.
Adam looked up, his expression tightening, and quickly walked over.
Chapter 312: How Can Relying on Dad Be Called Mooching?
Medical Center.
Emergency Room.
Two beautiful young women walked in, supporting each other.
"Jill, what happened to you?"
Adam quickly stepped forward, reaching out to help one of the girls with concern.
"So, you're Adam! You really are as handsome as Jill described."
The other girl’s eyes lit up as she extended her hand. "I'm Louise, Jill's best friend."
"Nice to meet you."
Adam shook her hand, ignoring the subtle way she scratched his palm with her pinky. Instead, he frowned and asked, "What happened?"
"We were in a car accident," Louise said with a smile.
"Oh my God! Adam, you have to save me!"
Jill finally snapped out of her daze and clung to Adam's arm. "I crashed my dad’s new car! He loves that car more than anything—he’s going to kill me!"
"That’s it?"
Adam guided her into a hospital room and began examining her injuries while speaking casually. "It’s just a car. Leonard won’t mind—you’re his favorite daughter."
"Oh, come on!"
Jill rolled her eyes, giving him a don't try to fool me look. "Rachel is clearly his favorite! ‘Look at Rachel, learn from Rachel’—that’s his favorite thing to say!"
Adam simply chuckled.
"You're making fun of me."
Jill pouted. "No way, you have to help me!"
"Well, the good news is you're fine. You just need a few stitches."
After checking her over and finding no serious injuries, Adam breathed a sigh of relief.
"I don’t care about my injuries!"
Jill cried, "Are you going to help me or not?"
"Are you sure you don’t care?"
Adam teased, "If I don’t stitch this up properly, it’ll leave a scar."
"Ahhh!"
Jill shrieked. "No way! I still need to wear bikinis—I cannot have a scar!"
"Relax."
Adam chuckled. "My stitching skills are excellent. You won’t even notice a mark. But if you’re worried, I can call in a plastic surgeon."
"You do it."
Jill hesitated for a moment before gritting her teeth and agreeing.
She wasn’t stupid—especially when it came to her looks.
Doctors were usually more skilled with experience, but in her household, aside from hearing ‘look at Rachel, learn from Rachel,’ she’d also often heard her father say ‘Adam is amazing.’
As the spoiled youngest daughter, Jill admired her father immensely. Since everything she had came from him, she naturally trusted his judgment.
So even though Adam was young and still just an intern, she instinctively believed in him.
"Alright."
Adam wasted no time. He quickly prepped his tools and got to work.
When the nurses praised his stitching skills, they weren’t exaggerating. It was a fact.
After all, he had spent four years in college hunting and dissecting animals with Juno and the others, practicing suturing nearly every week. During medical school, his hands-on experience only increased.
When it came to this, he was supremely confident.
As the saying goes: It’s not talent—just practice.
"Wow! You're really good at this!"
Louise gasped, half in awe and half in admiration.
Her tone carried a different kind of meaning.
Adam just smiled and ignored her.
These little flirtations were far too obvious—she really thought she had a chance?
"All done."
Adam finished the stitches quickly and efficiently.
"My dad was right—you are amazing."
Jill examined her stitches in admiration.
As the daughter of a renowned doctor, she had seen enough sutures before to recognize quality work. Compared to what she’d seen, Adam’s skills were clearly superior.
"Adam, you still haven’t said if you’ll help me!"
With her injury taken care of, Jill’s worries resurfaced, and she pressed him again.
"What exactly do you want me to do?"
Adam sighed.
"I heard you're a billionaire—why don’t you just buy Jill the exact same car? That way, Uncle Leonard won’t even notice."
Louise suggested with a grin.
"Yes, yes!"
Jill’s eyes sparkled as she clung to Adam’s arm, shaking it playfully. "Adam, please help me!"
Adam glanced at Louise, whose eyes were practically glowing with anticipation, and said calmly, "Buying a new car isn’t a big deal…"
"So you’ll do it?!"
Jill beamed.
Louise also looked at him with admiration.
This kind of effortless confidence—agreeing to buy a car without even asking the price—was incredibly attractive.
A flood of thoughts raced through her mind, all revolving around how to secure a connection with this wealthy young man. She even stole glances at her best friend Jill…
"Of course… not!"
Adam smirked. "Buying a car isn’t a big deal, but solving your problem this way isn’t right. Today, you were lucky—just a few scratches. But next time, you might not be. If I buy you a new car to cover it up, I wouldn’t be helping you—I’d be harming you."
"I swear I won’t speed anymore!"
Jill immediately raised her hand, making the gesture so smoothly it was clear she had done this many times before.
"Really?"
Adam gave her a knowing look. "How about this? Let’s make a deal. If you go an entire year without getting scolded by Leonard, I’ll buy you a car for your next birthday—one that I guarantee you’ll love. Deal?"
"An entire year…?"
Jill was both excited and dismayed.
Excited because Adam was willing to buy her a car of her choice as a birthday gift—an extremely tempting offer.
Her dad did love her, but ever since she’d grown up—and especially since her older sister Rachel ‘took the wrong path by getting a job instead of relying on family wealth’—Leonard had been much stricter with her.
In the past, she wouldn’t have hesitated to buy a yacht for Louise, but now, even wrecking one of her dad’s cars made her worry he’d cancel her credit card.
Dismayed because one whole year was way too long—she wasn’t sure she could last even three months.
Without Rachel, maybe she would have stood a chance. But the more successful Rachel became, the more their dad scolded her.
Damn Rachel!
How could relying on Dad be considered mooching?
In her heart, their father was forever forty years old!
"If you don’t want to, forget it."
Adam shrugged.
Louise nudged Jill, and Jill caught on immediately. "No, no! I agree!"
Whether she could do it or not was a problem for the future.
Who knew? Maybe Rachel would mess up and disappoint their dad. Then, he’d finally realize she was the truly caring daughter and go back to spoiling her!
Anything was possible.
Gotta stay optimistic.
"Jill Shantha Green!!!"
A furious voice roared from the entrance.
Jill’s face turned pale as she turned toward the doorway, where Leonard stood, fuming.
She swallowed nervously. "Dad…?"
(End of chapter)
