Self Awareness

Theater 9

At 8: 20 Suen Liko had been anesthetized, the safety checks were carried out and Li Xiuying was currently sterilizing and draping.

The plan was that Li Xiuying would remove Suen Liko's left kidney. Then Dr. Ngai would be left to close up whilst Li Xiuying went to theater 10 re-scrubbed and started operating on Huang Fuhua.

The room was filled with a tense atmosphere. All the staff involved were very aware of the time due to the importance of organ viability but they were particularly conscious of it now. It was unusual to have the same doctor both removing a kidney and inserting it. Additionally both of these men were VIP patients if anything went wrong they would all probably lose their jobs.

Li Xiuying could practically feel the nervousness radiating from the staff: "Follow routine procedure. Focus on the patient."

Li Xiuying's calm voice helped to relieve some of the self induced pressure in the room.

....

Unity hospital Theater 10 viewing platform - 9 Am

The viewing platform for theater 10 was completely full of people already. There were only 20 seats available. There were even staff members standing at the back taking up all available space possible.

Some of the doctors had swapped shifts to watch the operation; others had come in on their day off.

Only a few of the doctors were interested in seeing the kidney transplant the majority wanted to witness Li Xiuying's skills first hand. The staff chatted among themselves while they waited.

"I've heard from Chan Shi that Dr. Li's skills are absolutely amazing. She's precise, accurate and her surgical time is quick too."

"I want to see if her skills are better than mine. I've been operating for 20 years I don't believe that someone who still has carries the scent of milk will be better than me."

"Even if she has great skills so what? She's expressionless and cold like a frosty fish. She must have a terrible bedside manner."

"I've signed up to be in theaters with Dr. Li next week. When her secretary brought up Dr. Li's schedule I became dizzy just looking at the details. It was absolutely packed! I also saw that Hu Yín Tao and Wan Chao have signed up for more sessions."

Outside the viewing platform there were a few doctors waiting for even a centimeter of space to appear inside. They were all grumbling and kicking themselves for not arriving earlier.

C, B and F briskly made their way down the hallway and stopped dead in their tracks when they saw the queue outside the viewing platform.

B indignantly said: "Why are there so many people here? Don't they have somewhere else to be?"

F: "Like you, you mean?"

B: "I got someone else to cover for me. Besides I was one of the first people to see Dr. Li in action. Ergo I'm entitled to be here."

C and F rolled their eyes at Mr. Entitled.

...

At 1 pm Li Xiuying took off her surgical gown and made her way out of the theater 10 and headed for the changing rooms.

The members of staff that were in the viewing platform also started leaving.

"Wow. Dr. Li certainly lives up to her reputation. She is very skilled. Did you see how she easily handled all those tortuous arteries?"

"Psh I thought she was meant to be fast? What a letdown. It was a complete waste of my time coming here."

"I know right. She didn't do anything special. This is why Unity hospital is always trailing behind Emerald hospital. They have Dr. Yang Zian and we have the style over substance Li Xiuying."

"After watching the surgery today, I'm definitely going to sign up to shadow Dr. Li."

....

Unity hospital - Reception desk

The receptionist watched as two young women walked towards her. They were bother well dressed and had flawless makeup and immaculately styled hair. Both women had an air of arrogance about them like everyone else was beneath them. From head to toe both women were covered in designer brands.

The receptionist smiled politely: "Hello and welcome to Unity hospital. How may I help you today?"

Li Yu Yan spoke in a sickly sweet voice: "We're here to see my little sister Dr. Li Xiuying. Could you tell her we're here please? "

The receptionist asked politely: "Is Dr. Li aware that you are coming to visit?"

Li Na: "Is it your place to ask us anything? Just call Xiuying and tell her we're here."

The receptionist kept her professional smile in place but was unhappy at having been spoken to in a rude manner.

Receptionist: "May I take your names please?"

Li Na felt annoyed: "We're the Li family. Do you want to check our ID cards? Maybe you want our passports and birth certificates as well?" Li Na's anger was already bubbling inside her since seeing Li Xiuying the other day. She became more enraged every time she thought about the humiliation she had suffered due to Li Xiuying.

She couldn't wait to payback Li Xiuying for what she had experienced. That's why being questioned and impeded by this worker ant was fuelling the flames of her anger.

The receptionist dialled the extension number for Jiang Huan.

After a few rings Jiang Huan picked up: "Hello this is Jiang Huan, Dr. Li Xiuying's personal assistant speaking."

The receptionist: "Hello I'm calling from the reception desk. I have two women here with me asking to see Dr. Li. They state that they are members of the Li family." The receptionist doubted that they were Dr. Li's family members they didn't even have Dr. Li's number.

Jiang Huan: "I believe that Dr. Li is currently in theater. I will call her and let her know of the arrival of her family members. Could you please ask them to wait? I'll call you back once I've spoken to Dr Li. "

The receptionist: "Okay. I'll let them know." She put the phone down and turned back to the suspicious Li family.

Receptionist: "Dr. Li may still be in the operating theater. Her PA is going to get back to me after contacting Dr. Li. Could you please wait for a few moments?"

Just as she finished relaying Jiang Huan's message the phone rang.

The receptionist: "Hello Unity hospital, main reception desk."

Jiang Huan: "Hello. It's Jiang Huan. I've just spoken to Dr. Li. Someone will arrive at the reception shortly to escort the Li family members to conference room A."

The receptionist ended the call. She decided to address Li Yu Yan instead of the rude Li Na. Receptionist: "Someone will be down shortly to escort you to conference room A."

Li Na: "At least that slut managed to find some self awareness."

The receptionist's eyebrows shot up when she heard Li Na's comment.

Li Na only intended for Li Yu Yan to hear her words but she realized she had spoken louder than she thought when she saw the receptionist reaction.

Li Yu Yan noticed that all the receptionists had their ears perked up and were listening to their conversation attentively.

Li Yu Yan spoke gently: "Na, you shouldn't speak about little sister in such a way. I'm sure little sister wasn't herself the other day and didn't mean to treat you badly. Even if she deliberately wrongs us, you must always remember that blood is thicker than water. We're all sisters and we should try to get along."

Li Na pouted: "JieJie you're always defending Xiuying even though she doesn't deserve it. She doesn't even appreciate everything you've done for her."