One cold winter day, I found myself plastered all over the hospital’s internal forum, thanks to a seemingly sweet but cunning intern. She claimed that as the top cardiac surgeon, I was outrageously greedy for taking a hundred-thousand-dollar kickback all by myself. But they didn’t know that this six-figure sum was the annual performance bonus for all the ultra-high-risk surgeries in the hospital — surgeries only I was capable of performing. The entire hospital was tearing me apart online. So, I decided to give them what they wanted and submitted an official request: 【To foster unity within the department, I voluntarily transfer all high-difficulty surgical procedures to other qualified doctors.】 As soon as the announcement went out, the entire hospital almost ground to a halt. The senior attending physicians were practically camping outside my office, begging me to reconsider. … I’d just finished a twelve-hour aortic dissection repair when my assistant, Chloe, handed me her phone. The hospital’s internal forum had a trending post pinned to the top: 【Spilling the Tea on Dr. Aria Reed from Cardiac Surgery: A hundred-thousand-dollar kickback? How outrageously greedy is that?!】 The post was from an anonymous ID, but the profile picture was a pink bunny. I recognized it – it was Serena, the new intern’s, SnapChat profile pic. The post itself was simple: a blurred screenshot of a bonus breakdown, clearly showing my name and the “$100,000.00” figure next to it. The accompanying caption was dripping with sarcasm: 【Unbelievable, they actually just hand out cash like this. Dr. Reed alone got a hundred grand, while us junior doctors and nurses work our butts off for a few hundred bucks. Heh, my poverty really limits my imagination.】 She conveniently failed to mention that this hundred thousand dollars was the annual performance bonus for all the Tier 4 procedures performed that year. And in the entire Cardiac Surgery department—no, in the entire hospital—I was the only one who could independently perform ultra-high-difficulty Tier 4 procedures like Type A aortic dissections or giant ventricular aneurysm resections. The comment section had already blown up. 【OMG! A hundred thousand! Why doesn’t she just rob a bank?!】 【We in the ER work like dogs every day, and our year-end bonus isn’t even a fraction of hers. How is that fair?!】 【Figures she’s the best surgeon; she’s also the best at raking in money.】 I scrolled through the screen, expressionless, feeling like the life I’d just saved might not have been so worth it after all. Back in my office, everyone in the department was looking at me strangely. A few nurses who usually clustered together for gossip immediately fell silent and scattered when I walked in, their faces still betraying a mix of disdain and jealousy. My mentor, Dr. Arthur Jenkins, called me into his office, sighing. “Aria, how do you plan to handle this?” “Dr. Jenkins, you know, that wasn’t a kickback.” He nodded, then shook his head. “I know, but others don’t. You can’t silence a thousand voices.” I understood what he meant. He wanted me to back down, refund part of the money, and appease the angry crowd. Just as I was about to speak, there was a knock on the office door. Dr. Brandon Hayes, the Associate Chief of Cardiac Surgery, walked in, leading Serena. Brandon was a few years older than me and always prided himself on being my senior, but I always outshone him technically. Seeing me collect awards left and right, his jealousy was practically radiating off him. As soon as he entered, he adopted a peacemaker’s stance. “Dr. Jenkins, Dr. Reed, Serena here is young and naive. I brought her to apologize to Dr. Reed.” He said, giving Serena a nudge. Serena’s eyes were red-rimmed, and she gave a shallow bow, her voice trembling with a feigned cry. “Dr. Reed, I’m so sorry, I didn’t mean to. I was just… just so shocked by that number. It felt unfair, and I just wanted to ask for everyone. I had no ill intentions.” Her endless ‘I didn’t mean to’ and ‘for everyone’s sake’ apologies. That apology cut deeper than any insult. 2 Brandon seized the moment, his tone full of profound earnestness. “Aria, you see, Serena was thinking about departmental unity. And this whole thing, it’s not entirely her fault. The main issue is the bonus allocation plan itself; it’s prone to misunderstandings.” He looked at me, a flicker of undetectable triumph in his eyes. “How about this? You take out a portion of that money, treat the whole department to dinner, foster some team spirit. Then we can just let this whole thing go. Young people, you know, we should be more accommodating.” He spoke as if I had taken money I wasn’t entitled to and now needed to pay my way out of trouble. I watched their perfectly coordinated performance, a cold sneer on my face. “Dr. Hayes is right. My perspective wasn’t broad enough; I was too focused on surgeries and didn’t consider everyone’s feelings.” Brandon thought I was backing down, and his smile widened. Serena also lowered her head, her shoulders subtly shaking, feigning remorse and victimhood. I ignored them both and turned to Dr. Jenkins. “Dr. Jenkins, the root cause of this issue is that my skills have become a monopoly, hogging too many resources and leaving no room for other colleagues to grow.” “To foster departmental unity, and to give excellent mid-career doctors like Dr. Hayes more opportunities, I’ve decided to submit a request to the hospital administration.” I paused, watching Brandon’s face stiffen instantly, and then spoke each word clearly. “I voluntarily transfer all my scheduled Tier 4 procedures to other qualified doctors in the department. I’ll stick to routine Tier 1 and 2 surgeries.” Dr. Jenkins shot up from his chair, his face pale. “Aria! What nonsense is this?!” Brandon’s face instantly went ashen. He might have imagined countless ways to needle me, but he never expected that I would simply throw the entire package, risks and all, of this highly coveted “cash cow” right at him. Tier 4 procedures represent the highest level of expertise in the field, and also the highest risk. Success means accolades and bonuses. Failure means lawsuits and a ruined career. He had the audacity to be jealous, but did he have the competence to take it on? I didn’t give him a chance to react. Walking out of the office, I paused by Serena and whispered softly. “Congratulations. You’ve fought for the ‘fairness’ everyone wanted.” Serena’s face instantly drained of all color. My request report exploded like a bombshell, sending shockwaves through the hospital’s administration. Dr. Davies, the Dean, personally called me, his voice unprecedentedly stern. “Aria, who are you trying to spite? Do you know what submitting this report means?” “Dean, I’m not trying to spite anyone.” My voice was calm. “I’m just responding to the public’s demands. I don’t want to jeopardize the hospital’s unity over bonus issues anymore.” The Dean fell silent on the other end. He knew better than anyone that the most advanced equipment and specialized ORs in Cardiac Surgery were practically reserved for me. He knew how many VIP patients, from high-profile figures to those with incredibly complex conditions, specifically requested me as their lead surgeon each year, generating immense revenue and reputation for the hospital. Now that I was saying I wouldn’t do it, he, the Dean, would be the first to lose his seat. “Just calm down for a bit. I’ll hold onto your report for now. I’ll have our IT department handle the forum issue.” “No need, Dean,” I interrupted him. “Since everyone feels my presence disrupts fairness, I’ll take a step back. I believe the hospital can function perfectly well without me.” I hung up the phone. Not long after, Chloe rushed in, looking frantic. “Dr. Reed, it’s bad! The forum’s blown up again!” 3 I clicked on it. A new post had shot to the top. 【Internal Scoop! Dr. Aria Reed allegedly threatening to strike due to bonus distribution dispute!】 The poster was still anonymous, but the tone was even more inflammatory. 【Wielding her skills like a weapon, threatening the hospital’s very operations – is this a compassionate healer or just plain insatiable greed?!】 One comment below was highly upvoted, from Dr. Brandon Hayes’ burner account, I recognized it. 【I always heard she had a temper, but this shows such a lack of perspective. The OR isn’t her personal show; the world keeps turning without her.】 Serena even jumped in with her main account, posting a seemingly objective, but clearly pot-stirring message. 【As an intern, I’ve seen前辈s work tirelessly for patients, and I’ve also observed some imperfections in our system. I firmly believe our hospital is a caring community, and personal emotions should never take precedence over a patient’s life. I hope certain attendings can calm down and avoid doing anything that disheartens everyone.】 She positioned herself as a concerned ‘whistleblower.’ I actually laughed. It was infuriating. Just then, the ER phone rang. Nurse Davis’s voice was frantic and urgent. “Dr. Reed! The ambulance just brought in a critically injured patient – suspected Marfan syndrome with acute Type A aortic dissection rupture! The patient is already in shock! You need to get here now!” Type A aortic dissection rupture. The mortality rate climbs by the hour, and the surgery is the pinnacle of cardiac surgery. I grabbed my white coat and sprinted out. But as I reached the ER triage desk, a middle-aged woman blocked my way. She was the patient’s wife, her eyes bloodshot, her face filled with alarm and suspicion. She clutched her phone, the screen displaying that forum post, the one putting me on blast. “You’re Aria Reed?” She scrutinized me, her gaze full of distrust. “Are you the doctor who threatened to strike because of money?” Her voice was low, but it felt like a hammer striking my heart. The patient’s family’s suspicion drenched me from head to toe like a bucket of ice water. My fighting spirit, which I’d just mustered, shattered instantly. I looked at her, then at the patient in the trauma bay behind her, his life rapidly fading, and felt a wave of absurdity wash over me. I wanted to explain, but I knew that in the face of inflamed emotions, any explanation would be futile. “I’m not on strike.” The woman clearly didn’t believe me. She stepped back, looking at me like I was a monster. “I don’t care if you are or not! My husband’s life cannot be entrusted to an unethical doctor like you!” She yelled excitedly, “I want another doctor! Don’t you have other specialists in this hospital?” Dr. Miller, the ER Director, rushed over, his face turning green at her words. “Ma’am, please calm down! Dr. Reed is the only one in our hospital who can perform this surgery! Any more delays, and not even a miracle worker could save him!” “I don’t care! I want a different surgeon!” the woman shrieked stubbornly. Just then, Brandon and Serena also arrived. Brandon’s eyes flashed with a hint of pleasure at the scene, but he quickly replaced it with an expression of profound regret. He walked up to the patient’s wife and gently tried to soothe her, “Ma’am, please don’t get agitated. We understand your feelings, but saving the patient is critical right now. Dr. Reed’s skills are still trustworthy…” His words seemed to be defending me, but in reality, they cemented my image as “lacking in professional ethics.” Serena, ever so ‘understanding,’ handed the woman a cup of hot water and said, “Auntie, don’t worry. Or, we could ask Dr. Hayes; he’s also a very capable specialist in our department.” Her single sentence immediately gave the patient’s wife new hope. The woman instantly grabbed Brandon’s hand, as if clutching a lifeline. “Doctor, then you do my husband’s surgery! I trust you!” Brandon demurred, “This… this goes against protocol. Dr. Reed is the lead surgeon…” But his eyes kept darting toward me, full of provocation. Dr. Davies, the Dean, and Dr. Jenkins, the senior attending, also received the news and rushed over, practically in a panic. Seeing the tense standoff, the Dean looked completely overwhelmed. He pulled me aside, lowered his voice, almost pleading. “Aria, I’m begging you. Lives are on the line! Just take a step back, apologize to the family, and calm them down!” 4 Apologize? What was I apologizing for? For the bonus I earned with my skills? Or for the scalpel in my hand that could save lives? I looked at the Dean’s flustered face, at Brandon’s smug smirk, at Serena’s seemingly innocent yet malicious eyes. Suddenly, I felt incredibly tired. Then, I calmly told the Dean, “Dean, since both the patient’s family and my colleagues trust Dr. Hayes so much, then let him be the lead surgeon. As for my transfer request, please approve it as soon as possible.” With that, I didn’t look at anyone else, turning and walking towards my office. Behind me, I heard Dr. Jenkins’ furious roar, “Aria! Are you staging a revolt?!” And then the Dean’s helpless compromise: “…Alright, Brandon, you’re the lead surgeon. Aria, you provide guidance!” I didn’t look back. Guidance? A Grandmaster guiding a Bronze player? I doubted he’d understand. I locked myself in my office. Even through the door, I could sense the controlled chaos in the hallway outside. Nurses hurried past, equipment carts rattled, and Brandon’s theatrical booming voice commanded everyone, playing the role of the savior. Chloe knocked and came in, her eyes red. “Dr. Reed, are you really not going to do anything? The patient… he’s in really bad shape.” I leaned back in my chair, eyes closed, not speaking. My phone vibrated. It was a text from an unknown number. 【Dr. Reed, I’m the patient’s daughter. My mom is a bit emotional, but we looked up your credentials. We trust you. Please, save my dad.】 My heart trembled. But what could I do? The surgery had been taken over by Brandon. If I rushed in now, would I be proving he was incompetent, or stealing his glory? In the eyes of those whose minds were already clouded by prejudice, anything I did would be wrong. I picked up the unapproved report on my desk and signed my name on it. Time ticked by. One hour. Two hours. Suddenly, the office door burst open. Dr. Jenkins stormed in, his face ghostly pale, his lips trembling. “Aria! Something’s gone wrong!” My heart sank, and I stood up. “Brandon… he can’t find the rupture! He can’t dissect the vessels of the aortic arch, and now there’s massive bleeding! The patient’s blood pressure is unmeasurable!” I’d anticipated this. The most critical and perilous step in Type A aortic dissection surgery is reconstructing the three branches of the aortic arch under deep hypothermic circulatory arrest. The vessels there are delicate as a spider’s web, with an incredibly complex structure. One wrong move could mean irreversible disaster. Brandon’s skills simply weren’t at that level. “They need you to step in now!” Dr. Jenkins grabbed my arm, his hand shaking uncontrollably. “Hurry! Any later and it’ll be too late!” I looked at him and slowly asked, “Dr. Jenkins, if I go in now, what will that make me?” “Am I saving a life, or am I cleaning up Brandon’s mess?” “If I save him, the credit will be his, because he was the ‘lead surgeon’ and I merely ‘guided’ effectively. If the patient dies, the blame will be mine, because I ‘intervened’ at a critical moment and disrupted his rhythm.” “Either way, he’d come out smelling like roses. And me?” Dr. Jenkins froze. He opened his mouth, but not a single word came out. He was right. He wanted me to go, but what guarantee could he give me? Just then, my phone started ringing frantically. It was the Dean. I put it on speaker. On the other end, the Dean’s voice was choked with tears, the background filled with the sharp alarms of the monitors and the panicked shouts of nurses. “Aria! For God’s sake! I’m begging you! Please come now! The patient is fading! Brandon is completely panicked!” 5 I looked at the signed report on my desk and calmly said into the phone. “Dean, I have formally submitted my request to transfer Tier 4 procedures. According to protocol, Dr. Hayes is now the sole person in charge of this surgery.”
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