Chapter 21

When Melody rushed back to the hospital, it was exactly 1:00 pm. The meeting room was already full of people. Tiffany spoke to her in a low voice. "Some people came to the hospital to make a fuss. The family of the patient in Bed 5 insists that someone from our department leaked the news on purpose. They say someone told the media, and now they want the hospital to give them an explanation." Melody looked ahead. The director of the hospital and the department chief were seated in the middle of the long conference table. Next to them sat a woman in hospital clothes, looking pale. Melody blinked and realized that was the same patient she had accidentally bumped into in Jeremy's office. Back then, she only saw her in passing and didn't recognize her. The entire meeting emphasized how the hospital protected patient privacy. It also stressed that the impact of this incident was severe and that management would conduct a thorough investigation. They hinted that whoever was responsible should come forward. Afterward, Tiffany pulled Melody outside and shook her head in exasperation. "What nonsense. Only a few people at the nurses' station had seen the patient in Bed 5. They should just investigate the doctors and nurses who were actually in charge of her. It has nothing to do with us." Melody glanced back toward the meeting room. Jeremy was speaking with the hospital director, and the patient in Bed 5 was right next to him. Tiffany followed her line of sight and said, "Right, Dr. Chesson is her attending physician. Didn't he tell you that?" Melody frowned slightly. "There's no way he would share something that needs to be kept confidential." She looked up at Jeremy again. He stood tall in his white coat, which gave him an air of quiet elegance. Melody caught a glimpse of his profile. She couldn't hear what he was saying, but she could see the serious look on his face and the faint crease in his brow. She pressed her lips together. Her eyes showed a hint of worry. Because of this matter, the whole department was in a gloomy mood. Nobody at the nurses' station spoke up loudly. Everyone just did their work in silence. Melody waited at the hospital until Jeremy got off work. As soon as he stepped out of his office, she followed him. Jeremy gave her a quick glance. "Do you need something?" Melody lowered her voice and asked, "What did the director say to you during the meeting? You looked really serious." Jeremy stopped walking. He turned to Melody and lowered his gaze, his deep voice carrying a distant tone. "It has nothing to do with you. Don't ask." Melody's breath caught. She lowered her head, trying to explain. "I was just worried about you." She hesitated, then added, "I only found out just now that you're Ms. Langford's attending physician." Her voice sounded cautious, as though she was testing the waters. Jeremy's eyes stayed calm as he gazed at her. He seemed to be thinking about something. Melody felt a sudden burst of nerves. She knew Jeremy didn't like her showing too much concern about his affairs. She pressed her lips together and offered another explanation. "I just think this is a serious matter. Our department is already affected, and the hospital is definitely going to investigate." Jeremy looked away from Melody. He paused briefly and said in a measured tone, "Instead of worrying about others, worry about yourself. You ran into Ms. Langford that day in my office." Melody froze. Her mind went blank for a moment. "What?" Jeremy's face remained the same. He looked at her and said, "Very few people knew Ms. Langford was admitted. She also has a specialized care team. Aside from them, you're the only person confirmed to have seen her." His voice was cold enough to cut. "The director and the chief will want to talk to you later. Be ready." It took Melody a while to process what he said. She opened her mouth and said weakly, "I didn't even recognize her as Ms. Langford. It has nothing to do with me." Jeremy's tone stayed flat. "You can explain that to the director."