Nina instantly acted like a cat whose tail had been stepped on: [What! Why didn't you say so earlier?]

System: [Didn't I just say it now? Host, please don't be angry.]

Nina truly felt like she had thrown a punch into cotton wool; there was nowhere to vent her frustration.

After a while, Julian’s headache subsided.

But these two bouts of agony left him unable to recover quickly, and he still felt a bit dizzy: "Why have I been getting headaches so often lately? Maybe I should go to the Neurology Department for a check-up."

Nina paused abruptly.

She absolutely could not let Julian go to the Neurology Department.

She could only instruct the system to erase Julian’s memories of Clara Ke, but everyone else remembered her.

If someone accidentally mentioned Clara Ke, wouldn't the probability of Julian remembering her increase?

Nina suppressed the turmoil in her heart: "No need. I think it’s just because you haven't been resting well. You’ve been staying up late to study medical records these past few days and are so attentive to every patient—it’s only natural to have a headache after working so hard."

"Sleep well tonight, and you’ll be fine in a few days."

Julian thought perhaps that was true, so he nodded: "I’ll listen to you."

Such an obedient Julian made Nina very satisfied.

The heaven’s pride, the unreachable flower—so what?

Wasn't he still going to bow down at her feet?

Julian could only be hers; he was the male lead in this novel world, and she was the female lead.

That Clara Ke was merely a short-lived female supporting character; she had no right to compete with her.

It was just this affection level...

Nina looked at the affection level, which had just barely passed the passing line at 60, and was ultimately unsatisfied.

Why couldn't Julian love her wholeheartedly and exclusively?

Nina was lost in thought.

Just then, Julian looked back and called to her: "Nina, what are you thinking about?"

Nina suddenly snapped out of it and gave a hurried smile: "Oh... I was thinking about how to transfer departments and apply to be your first assistant; I don't know if the Chief would agree."

Julian stood up and held her hand: "Don't worry, since you’re willing, I will naturally speak to the Chief about it."

Nina smiled and embraced him: "You’re so good to me. By the way, it’s lunch time; aren't you hungry? I’m already hungry."

"Let's go eat then." Julian looked down to seek her opinion.

She nodded: "Okay."

With that, the two let go of each other, but remained hand-in-hand as they walked out of the office.

When they arrived at the cafeteria, they were inevitably teased for a moment by a few busybodies.

Julian actually didn't like being the center of attention.

But because of his excellence and his long-standing aloofness and coldness, people couldn't help but pay him a bit of attention.

Back when Julian and Clara Ke were inseparable, people in the hospital had teased them a few times.

But Clara Ke had explained it seriously, and Julian had also said they were just friends, so people stopped teasing.

Later, when Nina arrived, she suddenly became exceptionally close to Julian.

Nina had good relationships with most people in the hospital.

But there were also a few who simply didn't like her.

Across several tables, someone said sarcastically: "See that? Long-term companionship really can't beat a fresh sense of novelty."

"I thought Dr. Julian was the most decent person in our hospital; I didn't expect him to abandon someone as good as Dr. Ke for a woman of unknown origin who is fake and hypocritical."

Hearing these words, Nina’s complexion soured instantly.

But when she looked up, Julian was focused on eating, seeming not to have heard a word.

She couldn't lash out.

She only asked in her mind: [Can you cut out the tongues of those gossiping women?]

The system replied very seriously: [No.]

Nina was furious; she was the female lead of this world—why didn't she even have this bit of privilege?

She poked her rice hard with her chopsticks.

At that moment, a doctor from another department walked over and deliberately asked Julian: "Dr. Julian, is Dr. Ke doing okay? I heard you were taking care of her every day a while ago; why didn't you go today?"

Nina’s heart skipped a beat, and she suddenly looked up at Julian.

Chapter 17

After that doctor finished asking, Julian looked up, his brow visibly furrowed.

But before he could speak, the doctor was pulled away by another: "Let’s go, you talk too much! I’m telling you, Dr. Ke was discharged yesterday; I heard there was no hope for her..."

The rest of their words faded away as they walked further and further, becoming inaudible.

Nina stared fixedly at their backs, wishing she could go over and sew their mouths shut.

It was then that Julian spoke, interrupting her thoughts: "Nina, who is... Dr. Ke?"

Fortunately, his voice was not loud, so no one else heard, sparing him from causing suspicion.

Nina had the system on her side, so she felt confident.

Thus, she appeared very calm: "She was a doctor in the Cardiothoracic Department. Dr. Ke fell ill a while ago, and everyone went to see her; don't listen to those people’s nonsense."

After she said this, images flashed through Julian’s mind.

But when he tried to recall them, he couldn't grasp anything.

Those images before his eyes were always like they were shrouded in fog—unclear and unreal.

But looking at Nina’s sincere expression, he felt she had no reason to lie to him, and surely, his memory wouldn't deceive him.

So he nodded: "So that’s how it is... is this Dr. Ke doing alright?"

Nina looked away and lowered her head to take a bite of food: "She has already been discharged."

She only said she was discharged, without clarifying if it was because she had recovered or because she was near death.

Even if Julian heard news about Clara Ke from others in the future, she could just say she didn't know.

But she didn't know that from the moment Julian heard the words "Dr. Ke," his heart had been feeling very strange.

It felt like it was expanding and then contracting.

His heartbeat seemed to have quickened, but for some reason, it also ached.

Dr. Ke... the Dr. Ke from Cardiothoracic Surgery?

Why did he have absolutely no impression, and why couldn't he remember her face at all?

Julian kept his composure, pretending nothing was wrong as he finished the meal with Nina.

Afterward, he returned to the Cardiothoracic Department and looked at the wall displaying the doctors' introductions one by one.

But after looking through them all, there wasn't a single doctor with the surname Ke.

Just then, a nurse happened to pass by. Julian stopped her, intending to ask: "Wait, why isn't there..."

Before he could finish, another nurse ran out from a ward at the end of the corridor.

"Dr. Julian, it’s an emergency! The patient in Bed 2087 is having a heart attack!"

Julian instantly turned serious.

The patient’s medical records flashed rapidly in his mind, and realizing the severity of the situation, he immediately ordered: "Prepare the operating room at once. Xiao Lin, Xiao Wu, and Ke—"

His voice cut off abruptly.

Ke... who?

The name was right on his lips, about to burst out.

The First Assistant, Ke...

Julian was stunned for two seconds, but quickly regained his focus and called over an intern nearby: "Come here and be the First Assistant. Can you do it?"

The intern looked serious: "No problem, Dr. Julian!"

The surgery began immediately, and Julian became fully focused on the patient.

The surgery lasted a full four hours.

By the time it ended, everyone looked as if they had been pulled out of water.

The patient was saved, and everyone breathed a sigh of relief.

Only Julian leaned his arms against the sink, his finally relaxed brain left in a state of chaotic confusion.

During the surgery just now, he had felt several times that the person handing him tools should have been a woman.

And he was certain that person was the "Dr. Ke" they had talked about.

Dr. Ke... who exactly was she?

Why had he forgotten her?

Just as he was lost in thought, the intern who had served as the First Assistant approached: "Dr. Julian, did I perform well?"

Julian pulled back his thoughts and turned on the tap, nodding: "Mm."

Dr. Julian usually didn't talk much; a nod meant he approved.

The intern didn't notice his abnormality and said with some complacency: "Thanks for the affirmation, Dr. Julian. But I know I’m definitely not as good as Dr. Ke; she had the ability to be a lead surgeon back in the day."

"I came late, but I heard Dr. Ke gave up the opportunity to be lead surgeon just to be your First Assistant, right Dr. Julian?"