Chapter 174 - Tag Team

Ava was almost near her destination when suddenly, she heard Olivia's voice ringing in her ear. She scratched it, hoping that her sister-in-law's voice would leave her alone.

"Hmm?" She tilted her head to the side when Olivia's voice replayed in high-definition.

~Had to go. Husband is cranky… Husband is cranky… Husband is cranky…~

Ava started questioning herself if she really heard Olivia mention those words but she was too distracted with Emily that she couldn't remember what exactly transpired when they were leaving Dylan Chu's clinic earlier.

"Ooooh," she said out loud, nodding her head. She thought that what Auntie Martha broadcasted in Finn's birthday must be true. If that's the case, then she had more reasons to make a quick trip to the mall.

Little did she know that her excitement that morning would turn into shock the moment she set foot inside one of the Lin's shopping malls, seeing a familiar face accompanied by a person she knew too well.

Meanwhile, back in Zhang Hospital, Emily and Dylan were chatting as they headed inside the ultrasound clinic with an associate named Arthur who was staring at Dylan the whole time, wondering what the chief had eaten for breakfast.

On normal days, the most he could get from Dylan Chu was "Mmmm, okay." That was why he couldn't believe that he was hearing more words than usual. He scratched the side of his head. It's not the end of the world yet, isn't it?

"We work together closely," Dylan explained, clamping his hand over Arthur who was bobbing his head. "I would send my patients to him most of the time whenever he's free and not wandering around the nurse's stations."

Emily stopped in her tracks. Did she hear him correctly? "Is he… uhhh? Is he…" Emily blinked. She couldn't finish what she wanted to say.

Thankfully, Dylan noticed her apprehension and assured her, "No, a lady sonographer will be doing the scan on you. We will be in the other room to look on the monitor just so we won't miss anything."

"Okay." Emily breathed through her pursed lips, grateful that she didn't have to get n.a.k.e.d in front of a man for the second time of the day.

After an hour, Emily joined Dylan and Arthur inside the office in the clinic, watching the two scrutinize what seemed like a black and white underwater photo. Arthur explained everything to her after the sonographer printed the ultrasound images of her b.r.e.a.s.t, telling her that they found no abnormalities in her c.h.e.s.t.

It was almost lunchtime when they finished, so they decided to grab a meal as a celebration for the positive result of Emily's tests. "My treat," Emily announced, feeling cheery as the three walked down the cold and noise-free hallway of the hospital on their way to the cafeteria in the bas.e.m.e.nt level.

The trio was by the door when Emily saw someone lining up inside. She immediately hid behind Dylan, clutching the back of his dress shirt.

"Can we go to a different place?" she whispered, afraid that she would be seen and heard.

Dylan's eyes scanned the room and saw a resident looking fixedly at their direction. Arrogance pooled in the resident's eyes, and smirk curved her lips. He knew that girl. It was the resident who was almost kicked out of Zhang Hospital had not the Prime Minister intervened, speaking to Patient X to drop her charges.

Then it dawned on him. He read the medications that Emily had been taking and he made the connection. If his assumption was right, Emily must be the infamous Patient X.

Pivoting on his heel, Dylan pushed Arthur and Emily away from the cafeteria door. "I'll get the food for us. Wait for me in my office."

Arthur scratched the side of his head but didn't protest, taking the fire exit to the right to climb up to Dylan's office on the third floor.

Dylan's footsteps were heavy as he entered the cafeteria for the sole use of Zhang Hospital employees. Doctors and nurses who were grabbing a bite for lunch couldn't believe their eyes upon seeing the Zhang cousins, from the main branch of the family, all in one room on a normal day.

"Dylan!" Aila Zhang waved her hand, calling forth her favorite and one and only first cousin. "What happened to your companions? You were with them just a second ago?"

"Yeah, he's with Emily," the resident haughtily responded, rolling her eyes.

"Nobody's talking with you." Aila Zhang shook her head in disappointment. If her brother, Axel, didn't insist on bringing his bitch along, she wouldn't dare stand beside the girl. "Sorry not sorry," she murmured.

She bumped shoulders with the resident, toppling the poor little rich girl's tray on the floor as she turned her body to face Dylan. She slapped his arm with the back of her hand. "That's why she seemed familiar from afar. She's here to visit Olivia?"

"Mmm," Dylan curtly replied, picking up a tray and three plates to fill with food.

"Go figure. That's why I'm here too. Had to discharge my patient when I'm supposed to be in Macau, hugging a slot machine."

As they walked along, Axel just got back after taking a phone call. He was surprised to see Dylan in the cafeteria, and with three plates too. "Wow. Didn't know you had a big appetite," he commented, elbowing Dylan as though they were best buddies which unfortunately weren't the case. It had been years since the two had a proper conversation. Dylan and Axel used to be peas in the pod until rivalry for their grandpa's recognition tore them apart.

"I'll go and eat with Dylan," Aila Zhang elbowed her brother who was busy chatting. She shook her head in disapproval. She couldn't fathom how her brother could flirt out in the open while wearing a marriage band on his finger.

Everything was peaceful as they waited for the queue to pick up the pace until Axel turned to look behind him where Aila and Dylan were. "I heard the Prime Minister's daughter came in for a check-up."

Instantly, three creases formed on Aila Zhang's forehead. She had an inkling where the conversation would be head and it would be a punch on the face. Who gets it? She'd place her bet on her brother.

"Mmm." Dylan nodded, grabbing three bottles of water sitting atop the glass divider.

Axel leaned closer and whispered, "I heard she was Patient X. No wonder the Prime Minister wanted to keep it under wraps. Make sure you sanitize yourself after touching her."

Dylan scoffed, so loud, everyone in the cafeteria snapped their heads in their direction. Placing his tray on the hanging shelf, Dylan pushed his eyeglasses up and crossed his arms over his c.h.e.s.t. "And I heard your side-chick got in trouble because she freaked out. Heard she was sleeping with the guy who infected Patient X. Makes me wonder who infected who first."

One can hear a pin drop in the room. Chief Dylan Chu of the Oncology Department had spoken more words than their fingers and toes combined. The spectators waited in bated breath as they watched from their spots. Everyone regarded the doctor who was popular among colleagues for having no bad bones in him. The man was a classic example of a textbook gentleman.

If only they heard what Axel Zhang had spoken earlier, they wouldn't look like gossipmongers with their ears perked to the Zhang cousins' direction.

"Okay, boys, food fights are not allowed in the cafeteria." Aila Zhang was quick on her feet, placing her tray on the hanging shelf. She pressed a hand on each of the boys' c.h.e.s.t, preventing Dylan and Axel from sending flying fists on each other's faces.

"I didn't start it," Axel seethed, his jaws ticked.

"If you say so." Dylan shrugged. He then picked up his tray and walked past the Zhang siblings.

A collective sigh of relief flooded the cafeteria as a possible Zhang power tripping was averted. It wasn't long ago when a distant Zhang relative tried a hostile takeover but ultimately failed all thanks to Aila Zhang and Dylan Chu's tag team.

The cousins' no-nonsense control and governance contributed to the Zhang's main family branch having a stronger foothold in Zhang Group of Hospitals.

Everything was almost back to normal until Axel Zhang grabbed a bottle of wet wipes on the counter, tucking it inside Dylan's takeout bag.

"Just looking after my cousin," Axel smirked but was soon gone when Dylan mirrored it with a lopsided grin.

"Of course, a servant should always take care of his master." Dylan flicked the lone lint on Axel's pink dress suit. "See you next week in the boardroom, buddy. Bring your side-chick too. I remember there was a loophole in that dismissal case."

Dylan didn't wait for Axel to respond. He pivoted on his heel, and never looked back.