Chapter 5 Why Do Flowers Bloom?

“Miss Sullivan? What’s wrong?” asked the middle-aged man in surprise before he quickly examined the condition of his mistress.

Her face was as pale as a sheet. Her breathing was so irregular that it stopped once in a while; long enough to seem forever, never to return.

Old Rob’s complexion turned dark. He quickly rushed to her side and took her pulse. His expression changed drastically.

“She’s been poisoned. She’s in critical condition right now.”

Minerva Sullivan’s body had been weak from birth. Her showing elaborate symptoms of being acutely poisoned only drained her life force rapidly.

“Where did you buy all this? How dare you poison Miss Sullivan!” cried the middle-aged man as he grabbed James Lindt’s collar.

“Impossible! I bought these from a famed restaurant, not just any roadside stall! I’m a frequent patron there myself!” James explained.

“Fuck you! Take one and eat them now!” cried the middle-aged man as he grabbed a takeout box and shoved it to James.

“I’ll eat it! I do not believe that such a large establishment would lace their food with poison!”

James Lindt could never go through being accused of poisoning someone else. He had to prove his innocence by consuming the very same food Minerva Sullivan took.

That aside, the seafood restaurant was indeed famous. Many patients and residents of the hospital frequented there to enjoy their food. Never once has anything bad happened.

After emptying the entire takeout box, licking the end of his fingers, and burping even after, James Lindt was all and well. The middle-aged man was flabbergasted.

That moment, a pair of high heels tapped from the entrance, travelling into the room. The silhouette of a person appeared by the door.

“What happened?” Jennifer Rayleigh asked. Her brows were slightly arched and her chin was slightly raised. She had been informed by the nurses of the ruckus in the emergency room and had rushed over.

Old Rob, with a lowered tone, said, “Director Rayleigh, this girl has just eaten baby lobsters. She is now exhibiting symptoms of acute poisoning.”

Jennifer Rayleigh got closer and examined her thoroughly. Her trademark frosty expression changed ever so slightly. The girl’s condition was dire. The poison had already spread to all four limbs. Her life was hanging by a thread. There was not even enough time for them to perform a gastric lavage procedure.

“Is she allergic to any kind of seafood?” Jennifer promptly asked.

“Not possible!” the middle-aged man replied loudly. “Miss Sullivan loves to eat baby lobster and has never once developed any allergic response. I know that if someone has an allergy to seafood, the first tell-tale signs would be rashes on the skin!”

“Calm down…” Jennifer calmed the doctor down before she turned to Old Rob and whispered quietly, “Anything we can administer?”

“The poison had been too abrupt. Moreover, the source of the poison is unknown. Coupled with the fact that she has been weak since birth along with the fact that the poison has already circulated into her bloodstream, I’m afraid…” Old Rob took a long breath before he continued, “it’s too late for her.”

Jennifer’s face was cold beyond compare.

“Was she poisoned before she ate or after?”

“She was definitely poisoned after eating the seafood,” said Old Rob before he turned to look at James Lindt strangely. “Yet, when someone else took the same food, they appeared to be unharmed.”

That statement only made things even more confusing for everyone else.

If the food had indeed been tampered with, James Lindt should have shown symptoms of acute poisoning after finishing the entire box of takeout.

James Lindt immediately protested, “Director Rayleigh! I am wronged here! I only went out to purchase food for Miss Sullivan to provide her something to eat. I never expected things to turn out this way!”

“Hmph! If only I had listened to that security guard from before, things wouldn’t have turned out this way…” said the middle-aged man, a strong killing intent emerging from him.

If only everyone had listened to what Link had said, Miss Sullivan would not have to suffer.

“Security guard?” Jennifer paused and muttered to himself. Things were not as simple as she thought. He glared at James Lindt and growled, “Explain what happened.”

“Well…” James Lindt fidgeted. Seeing Miss Sullivan literally knocking on death’s door, there was no time for second-guessing. He turned and saw Jennifer Rayleigh’s wrath alit in her eyes. He broke down as his legs did. He explained everything to her then.

After hearing out James’ explanation, she furiously howled at him, “I don’t care what you do, bring Link Lewis back here right now!”

Old Rob was clearly disturbed by that comment and responded, “Director Rayleigh, he is just a security guard. What use could he be?”

“Do as I say. If Link is not here soon, the two of you do not need to come back to work tomorrow!” Jennifer Rayleuigh screamed. The icy cold tundra that was her aura left the two frozen in place.

All who worked in Golden Sands Hospital knew the wrath of Director Rayleigh.

Old Rob’s swallowed his saliva. His face turned ashen.

No one would go away unscathed after angering the director.

To make things worse, Minerva Sullivan’s life was at risk. James Lindt could not separate his involvement to the event. He sprinted out of hospital like his own dear life was on the line.

In his dormitory, Link had started to pack up. His intern report was in his hand, gripped tightly. There, in a corner, was an empty spot reserved for the stamp of Golden Sands Hospital. Right then, all hope was lost.

“Gah. I should go back to medical school and talk to the administrators. I wonder if I could change to a different hospital for my housemanship.”

Link made his decision and walked downstairs the dormitory.

If the stamp of approval from the hospital was absent from his internship report, he could not graduate from the medical university. Finding a job would be difficult and his future will be plunged into the abyss.

As soon as he stepped out of the dormitory gates, frantic footsteps came from behind.

Both James Lindt and Old Rob were panting for breath as they came before him.

James reached out and held Link still before shouting, “Link! Come back to the hospital! You need to see Miss Sullivan!”

The man was displeased. His chin rose up, displaying a look of extreme discontent as if he was talking to an object…

Link felt nothing but rage. He wrestled James’ hands off of himself and said, “I am not part of the hospital. This has nothing to do with me.”

Old Rob was annoyed. He coldly snarled, “This is the order of the Director herself! You are to return immediately, or your internship report will never be stamped!”

“No need for that anymore. Go and find yourself someone more qualified,” Link said before he walked away without a care in the world.

James Lindt was not going to let it end just like that. He screamed in return, “Link Lewis, don’t you walk away after all you have done wrong! Return to the hospital now. This is me, giving face, to you! Perform well and I will personally talk to the director about your transfer!”

“I’m going to say it one last time. I’m not going back.”

To Link, both James Lindt’s and Old Rob’s faces were repulsive, like flies that constantly buzzed around, annoying him endlessly.

“You stand right there!” James Lindt screamed with rage. He walked forward and grabbed Link’s clothes. “Today, you will learn why flowers bloom red!”

As soon as he finished, he threw his fist at Link.

Link scoffed with a laugh. Was that their interpretation of a doctor’s code? Being utterly shameless and even willing to resort to violence to solve a problem?

Link stood still, not bothering to dodge as James’ fist came flying towards him. He easily caught his wrist and jabbed into certain meridian points.

Frozen in place, James Lindt could not move a muscle as he just stood there, like a statue.

“Fuck you and fuck your grandfather! You dare to retaliate! Release me!” James Lindt screamed as he struggled to move.

The expression on Link’s face changed abruptly. He raised his palm and simply slapped James’ face. After the echoes of a crisp and loud slap faded, James’ face was now decorated with a clear, red-coloured handprint. Half of his face felt numb.

Link had been raised by his grandfather since he was just a child. If there was anything he hated the most, it was anyone disrespecting his grandfather.

“You struck me?! Fuck your grandfather then! Hit me again! I dare you!”

Pak.

“What the fuck?!”

Pak.

“...”

Pak.

Left and right, Link railed on James’ face. At that point, James Lindt was on the verge of losing his consciousness. Right then, Link was not a staff member of the hospital. What could happen to him for hitting James?

“Please! I was wrong! Please stop hitting me…” James Lindt finally begged.

Link glared and muttered softly, “Tell me, why do flowers bloom red?”