Hell's Floor

I underestimated patients from Hell's Floor. No wonder other doctors avoided the floor like a plague.

"Good afternoon, Mr Lin."

I smiled coldly at the patient who was cheerfully looking at me like an excited puppy dog.

"I'm your new attending surgeon. Despite you not having any orthopaedic issues."

What does money not buy in this cold capitalist world??

He smiled good-naturedly.

"Miss Fu. I apologise for being so high-handed. Just take it as a favour for an ill person. At least until the new X-ray results are back."

I wanted to shove a middle finger at the presumptuous person before me. If you had any issues with your spine, you wouldn't appear at the cafe perfectly fine, disrupting a decent marriage meeting. Which did not end well.

As if he could read my thoughts, that pathetic puppy pitiful face appeared again.

"Miss Fu, if you don't want to be my doctor..."

He took the chance to grab my hand.

"Then maybe... my future wife?"

I smiled at him.

"Sure."

Two can play this mad game.

His eyes lit up.

"Really?"

I snatched my hand away.

"No."

I walked away before he could say anything.

***

That very day, I submitted my request to transfer to another private hospital. I had always intended to transfer but my good relationship with the staff at the hospital made it a difficult choice. I guess now was the right time.

But who knew that when I went up to the hospital director, he looked at me with pity in his eyes.

"Sorry, Wen Jia. It's not possible."

He handed back my letter to me.

I was aghast. Surely that "good-natured, well-mannered" person would not be so evil as to block me in all ways??

Who was he?

"Hospital Director. This isn't a drama show. Such nepotism is unlawful in this country!" I threatened grimly.

The hospital director merely looked down on me.

"Wen Jia, it's not that I don't want to... But..."

"Whatever it is, I demand to transfer! You can't stop me! Please don't make it difficult for me!"

The hospital director gulped and tried again.

"Wen Jia, listen.. "

I coldly stood up.

"In that case, prepare to be sued."

I had enough money for the case to go through.

The hospital director sighed.

"Fine. Fine."

He hastily signed.

"I did try to tell you not to offend anyone."

I quickly grabbed the signed document back, holding it close to me and sniffled.

"You know me, director. I wouldn't dare to but it isn't my fault if trouble comes finding for me."

I sighed and went over to complete handing my duties to my colleagues.

A fellow female doctor came over to give a parting gift.

"I heard what happened. But isn't this too extreme? It's just one patient."

"Plus," she walked over to place a potted plant with a ribbon tied onto it, "the Hell's Floor is just a made-up story. There's no logical sense to the rumours. It's all probably coincidences."

I smiled at the cactus she just passed me.

"You know this hospital isn't going to promote us females doctors anytime soon," I asked pointedly.

My female colleague pouted.

"But the staff here are nice. And helpful!"

I continued sifting through the documents to hand over.

"They'll miss you."

I stopped for a moment.

And smiled at my colleague who was frowning.

"I know."

***

It's been two weeks being that man's attending doctor. He has been entirely civil and not coming on to me. Nor harassed me.

But I won't take being insulted by a patient who wilfully changed my doctor duties on a whim.

And the hospital management that allowed this to happen was reprehensible in my opinion.

"Mr Lin, there's nothing wrong with you. You can be discharged anytime. Would you want to be discharged?"

I've said this for a week. But kept my professional smile on.

He cheerfully scooped a spoonful of warm gruel into his mouth.

"No."

Again, I wanted to jab his eye.

I nodded and left.

"Miss Fu..." he pitifully asked.

"Won't you give me a chance?"

I looked at him coldly.

"No."

***

"Miss Fu! I just heard about rumours of this Hell Floor! Is that why you won't consider me?"

I smiled at him as I did the customary night checks.

"Besides being a chauvinist pig that does not respect female achievements and instead uses power to suppress the people unfairly, why would I ever not consider you?"

I turned to look at him.

"Let me tell you honestly."

The shameless patient turned to look at me with hopeful eyes. Very distracting.

"Stop wasting hospital space. Give it to someone who actually needs it."

I turned to walk away.

"But I am sick...."

A shout followed after me.

"I'm heartbroken!"

***

On my last day, I was obligated to explain about the change in doctors to patients in my care.

I left the most troublesome for the last.

Walking to the room, I smiled reassuringly at my female colleague.

But before I could settle this, a nurse hurriedly went over.

"Dr Fu. Mr Lin was discharged just this morning."

I was surprised.

I guess that the curse of Hell's Floor was bound to end soon.

No issue from Hell's Floor was ever brought out from the hospital, as if whatever that had happened in the hospital were just short scenes in the drama to move the plot along.

I apologised to my colleague before leaving to pack my bag.

But it makes one wonder, was it really the end?