Granting You a Second Life 122 Qilin and The Enchanted

Li Xiuying: "Send for the next patient."

Li Xiuying took off her gloves and gown: "I'll assist."

Wu Fei Hong: "Yes." She was ecstatic at finally having the opportunity to operate. Up until now she was always competing with other residents for the opportunity to operate and those with backing or that knew how to brown nose always got the surgeries. Her current supervisor was an amazing surgeon with a huge ego that she constantly wanted stroked. Since Wu Fei Hong wasn't apt in a** kissing she had to fight tooth and nail to complete the procedures required for her to progress through residency.

Li Xiuying let Wu Fei Hong be the lead surgeon for the next 3 surgeries; Wu Fei Hong did 2 mastectomies and 1 lumpectomy whilst Li Xiuying supervised.

Li Xiuying operated on the last patient because Wu Fei Hong did not have experience with reconstruction. The final patient was a 30 year old woman who needed a mastectomy and had chosen to have an implant inserted at the same time.

After Li Xiuying finished her surgical list she said her goodbyes and walked out with Wu Fei Hong.

Li Xiuying: "Leave your bleep with my assistant." Li Xiuying could easily deduce that Wu Fei Hong did not seek her out simply because of her reputation as a surgeon, it was also mostly likely due to struggling to gain enough experience with other seniors. Only those trainees who were probably social outcasts or just weren't involved in internal politics were brave enough to follow an outside such as herself. So Li Xiuying was willing to help Wu Fei Hong a little.

Li Xiuying then went to change, she had things to do and people to see.

Wu Fei Hong looked at Li Xiuying's back getting further and further away. 'I hope the idiot residents continue to avoid Dr Li. They're all so narrow minded. What morons. '

.....

Li Xiuying left the hospital at 14:05.

When she was in her car she called to check in with the person monitoring Shen Xiaosi; they reported that her new PA had indeed followed her instructions thus far.

Li Xiuying started the engine and set out on her mission. She was going to go and reclaim a favor from someone she had once operated on. Li Xiuying drove some distance into the city before finally reaching her destination. She stared at beautiful restaurant in front of her that looked like an enchanted paradise and couldn't believe that it existed in the city. There were evergreen vines that covered the entrance of the building, they had clearly been styled to form a gentle swirling pattern. Different varieties of flowers were blooming around the pathway that led to the door and were interspersed between vines adding an injection of color and vibrance. An array of different colored stones of all shapes and sizes were placed either side of the meandering path to the alcoved entrance.

She walked into the restaurant and saw that the wall to her left looked like it hand been taken from nature. The wall surface looked rugged, there was an elegant waterfall gently flowing in it's center. The water flowed into a large carved rock feature below. There was some sort of green plants places either side and on top of the carved rock.

Li Xiuying: "So magical."

She turned her attention to the maître d' who was waiting patiently behind a carved natural wood podium.

Li Xiuying: "Table for one"

Maître d': "Do you have a reservation miss?"

Li Xiuying: "No."

The maître d' assessed the very young looking woman in front of him. He had worked in customer service for over 2 decades that combined with his other 'occupation' made him a very good judge of character and people's intentions. The Enchanted, was a restaurant that had to be booked 1 year in advanced and everyone knew that. So this person turning up spontaneously and being so confident gave him pause for thought. 'She doesn't look like she's here to cause any trouble. There's something about her I just can't put my finger on. My gut is telling me she's important somehow, I'll just have to watch over her. Besides even if she is here to cause chaos she can be dealt with later.'

Maître d': "Could you wait 10 minutes please while we prepare a table for you?"

Li Xiuying nodded.

Li Xiuying was lead to the bar area by a waited. She sat there with a cold glass of water and looked around. Everything looked so elegant and mystical, there were plants everywhere that made the place feel alive. Li Xiuying couldn't help reaching out to a small plant on the edge of the bar, she confirmed it was alive.

10 minutes late and not a second more a waiter approached Li Xiuying.

Waiter: "This way please Miss."

Li Xiuying picked up her iced water and followed behind silently taking in the splendor of the room until they reached her table. She was placed in a great location that allowed her to see and enjoy the decor of the restaurant from her small round table. She was also able to see most of the other tables which were all packed full of customers socializing and dinning.

Waiter: "Here is the menu. Please let me know when you're ready to order. Would you like any drinks for the time being?"

Li Xiuying quickly scanned through the menu items. "No drinks. Lobster bisque, steak, medium rare with roasted garlic potatoes and mushroom sauce and chocolate fondant please."

The waiter nodded, took the menu back and went to deliver the order to the kitchen.

Li Xiuying was excitedly waiting at her table. Although she had never been here before, she had heard her cousins boasting about how they could dine here whenever they want. Li Na had animatedly described the decor and luxurious food but she had just thought it was an exaggeration until today.

The waiter soon placed the bisque in front of her then walked away. Li Xiuying waved her hand on top of the bisque to take in all the rich aroma. The aromatic spices combined with the tantalizing colors and juicy lobster were calling to be eaten

Li Xiuying closed her eyes as she put the first spoon in her mouth: "Mmm"

Li Xiuying opened her eyes and dove into the bisque. Although her actions were swift they were also neat, precise and measured.

Some people at the table nearest to her Li Xiuying were shaking their heads at her behavior and were whispering.

"How tactless, perhaps she'll even try to eat the bowl and spoon?"

"I can barely see her hand movements because she's moving so quick, do you think she's been starving all this time and can't control herself?"

"She's so ill mannered, how did she even get in?"

The waiter returned with Li Xiuying's main. She began eating with gusto 'I've really been missing out in life. How can meat just melt like this?'

The people around her now were all staring at her open like she was a clown in a circus there to amuse them.

Again the waiter returned and took the plates away.

Whilst Li Xiuying waited for her dessert she took out her business card from her handbag and a pen and wrote a few things down.

She she had finished to see that it was actually the maître d' who was carrying her dessert to the table. The waiter was behind him carrying a teapot and relevant crockery.

The maître d': "Miss, on behalf of The enchanted I would like to provide some complimentary tea to enhance your dinning experience and improve the atmosphere." He had heard and seen the actions of some of the other dinners and sought to compensate the young woman.

Li Xiuying nodded and appreciated the actions of the maître d', he was a person who could look beyond the surface of a matter.

Li Xiuying gave the business card to the maître d':"For Qilin."

The maître d' gaze became sharp as he reassessed the small woman; very few people outside of their 'family' knew their true leader.

Li Xiuying could see the loyalty in maître d's and could feel the the killing intent he exuded: "I know the payment for falsehood." Now seeing the level of loyalty that Qilin's employee's had for him, Li Xiuying was 100% sure in her decision to reclaim her favor here. Although those in the underworld had a different code of ethics from her; she would only be able to work with those which shared one fundamental principle 'My word is my bond.'

The maître d' drew in his killing intent and gave a curt nod. His instincts had served him well this time. He took the card and glanced at it before meeting Li Xiuying's gaze: "I'll deliver this, please wait."

Li Xiuying began devouring her chocolate fondant as if she wasn't waiting to meet a prolific underworld figure: 'Mmm'

Chapter end