85 MEDLIFE 4

Luo Jingyi's first day went smoothly. The Chief of Surgery tagged her along to see the patients. Before the day was over, she had a full grasp of the system being implemented in the hospital. There were trauma patients that she attended to later in the day but she hadn't stepped into the OR yet.

Later that evening, as she stood in front of the vending machine contemplating whether to get a black coffee or milk coffee as there were only two choices, someone passed her a cup. "Your favorite doc." 

Turning her head to find the origin of the voice, she found Alexa Yu in her usual shirt, tattered jeans, and white sneakers attire. A grin instantly broke out from her lips. "Captain!" Luo Jingyi gave her a salute.

Alexa Yu briefly glanced at the vending machine and commented, "Hospital vending machines are so unreliable." 

Luo Jingyi didn't react. She wished MedLife had a coffee kiosk in the hospital. Slowly sipping from the cup, caffeine gradually made its way into her bloodstream, awakening her senses. 

"How is your first day?" Alexa Yu asked as they exited the hospital. They took the walkway leading to the garden. They passed trees and settled on one of the scattered table sets around the hospital ground. The whole area was lit. 

"Not bad."

Once they occupied the chairs, Alexa Yu took out a small cake inside the paper bag she set on the small, wooden table. 

"Your birthday isn't till December, right?" Luo Jingyi wondered what the cake was for. 

"Are birthdays the only day to get a cake?" Alexa's brows raised. When Luo Jingyi shrugged, Alexa said, "This is to celebrate your first day." 

Alexa handed a small plastic fork to Luo Jingyi. "Give it a try." 

Luo Jingyi took a bit of the red velvet cake and placed it inside her mouth. It was delicious. "You made it?" Luo Jingyi didn't see any label on the box.

Alexa shook her head. "Got it from a newly opened shop close to the base Sergeant Xiao started." She was referring to one of the members of her team. Luo Jingyi recalled that Sergeant Xiao liked to bake cake and pastries. Whenever there was an opportunity, he always made something different for everyone to try.

Alexa opened a can of beer and gulped it down. Luo Jingyi glared at her. "This is a hospital, Alexa."

Alexa Yu shrugged her shoulders and leaned on the chair. "Isn't the best place to get drunk at, is the hospital? There are doctors around, and I would be treated immediately. Besides, I can stay in the ER for a night."

Luo Jingyi rolled her eyes, listening to Alexa's usual twisted reasoning. "What kind of logic is that?"

"I'm just stating facts. Did you know that hospital pharmacies have the license to sell liquor? Besides, is there a law that prohibits citizens from drinking liquor on hospital premises?" 

"There is no law. But as a doctor, you should set an example." Luo Jingyi refuted. 

"Well, I'm a bad doctor." Alexa quipped immediately. Alexa laughed at her own joke. 

As for Luo Jingyi, she let it go. Anyway, they were outside the hospital. 

"Cat got your tongue?" Alexa Yu jested. 

Luo Jingyi denied with a bob of her head. "No, it's pointless arguing with you." Then, she continued eating. Alexa Yu's crisp laugh entered Luo Jingyi's ears, followed these words, "I never lose." 

Luo Jingyi agreed. Alexa Yu had a way with words. It's not that Luo Jingyi couldn't match up, but she was too lazy to argue with her, especially when Alexa never let an opponent win. Changing the subject, she said, "This is very tasty. It's good that Corporal Xiao turned his hobby into something profitable."

Emptying her can of beer, Alexa replied, "He is determined to get married. He met a girl from MPS, and they fell in love. They can't keep their eyes off from each other." She shivered after saying the last sentence. "Their sweetness is giving me a toothache."

"Maybe you are just jealous?"

Alexa pointed to herself and asked, "Me? Hah! There's nothing to be jealous about. I'm perfectly content with my dates." 

Luo Jingyi knew Corporal Xiao personally. Their relationship could be considered colleagues when she followed Alexa for two years before she returned to working in hospitals. "When is the wedding?" She was going to attend and give them an envelope.

"Next spring. That is if he can meet his target." Alexa paused and looked at Luo Jingyi. "Recommend his business to others. They are doing delivery too."

"Will I get a discount?"

"Aiyah, why are you talking about discounts? Remember, the more you spend, the sooner he could get married. Besides, for discounts and promotions, he will need to discuss it with his investors."

Luo Jingyi paused from putting the piece to her mouth. She set the fork down. "Hold on, don't tell me you are that investor?" She shot Alexa a questioning look. 

Alexa Yu didn't answer. She simply smiled and opened another can. To Luo Jingyi, it was an admission.

"So, did you really come to celebrate my first day or to promote business?" 

Alexa Yu leaned closer and whispered. "It's called hitting two birds with one stone, baby."

Luo Jingyi sighed and finished her slice. Luo Jingyi's motivation in earning money was financial security. As for Alexa Yu, Luo Jingyi had no idea. Anyway, she was clear of Alexa's personality. It was good that she found time to see her as she was a very busy woman herself. With Alexa, Luo Jingyi could lower her guards down and not worry about the other person's intention. She is a real friend.

...

Luo Jingyi tried to pick Alexa's brain on the investigation regarding the original's sister. With the information Luo Jingyi had at present, Alexa surmised that there is a big secret behind the abduction years ago, and there's a bigger picture. 

When Han Mei and Han Jingyi were young, they were abducted, which led to their separation as siblings. Alexa raised these questions: Was it a targeted kidnapping or a random one? Who were the culprits? How did Chen Guozhi find Han Mei in the first place? If Han Mei was still alive, why hadn't she returned home after all these years?

"You need to start from the beginning. Look into the kidnapping case again. That's where it all started."

Thinking of it now, Luo Jingyi relied on the information that the original found. She didn't delve much into the kidnapping because she was convinced it was Wang Hua. That it was the stepmother's ploy to eliminate the siblings. What if it wasn't her?

Alexa's insight lifted the fog in Luo Jingyi's head. It gave her an idea of how to proceed and where to look. "Can Xiao Wen stay with me?" Xiao Wen was the one tracking her agent. 

Alexa Yu dipped her chin. "I was thinking of letting her follow you for the time being. I'll let Xiao Bing join her. There's nothing much at the base anyway, and they are getting bored. Their mental state is suffering. Your sister's case would be a good exercise for both of them."

Luo Jingyi was delighted Alexa agreed without a hitch. Then, Luo Jingyi realized that they'd been talking about her and other people, but she never probed on Alexa's situation. Luo Jingyi slid her chair closer. "Are they still making it difficult for you over there?" She asked in a softened voice that contained wonder. 

Alexa Yu is so good at what she does that she attracts envy and hatred. People are waiting for her to make a single mistake to put her down.

"Nothing that I can't handle. Let them come ah, I shall welcome them with arms wide open." Alexa Yu chuckled.

"Don't do something that will put your father in a difficult position." Luo Jingyi reminded her. General David Lacroix, who was Luo Jingyi's mentor - is Alexa's father. 

Luo Jingyi studied Alexa when she heard no response. The curve on her face didn't disappear, but none would give away what Alexa was thinking. That was the scary thing about her friend. The more Alexa stayed quiet, the more suspicious Luo Jingyi became. It was like: when kids are quiet, something isn't right. 

But Luo Jingyi didn't want to delve into her friend's private matters if she didn't want to talk about it. The other woman deserves her respect. 

The phone that Luo Jingyi set on the table, vibrated. Seeing it was from Blue girl, she took the call right away. "Okay. I'll be there in a minute." 

Standing, she told her friend, "I got to go. MVC on Third Road. ETA is in 2 minutes." Then she darted forward. But recalling that she hadn't thanked her yet, she spun around and smiled, "Thanks for the cake and coffee. How about beer and barbecue next weekend?" Luo Jingyi made an impromptu decision after realizing that it was a long time since she hanged out with her close friends. 

Alexa Yu dipped her head in agreement, then Luo Jingyi hurtled away. 

Alexa Yu watched the departing figure until it disappeared at the door. Jamming her hands in her jeans' pocket, she walked away.