There Are Always Clowns Begging to Come and Get Slapped in the Face

When a person is speechless, they are really speechless.

Richard was in this exact situation right now.

He had never liked red tape back when he was a doctor, and now that he wielded extraordinary power, he disliked these boring, time-wasting social niceties even more.

There was no help for it, though; Christine still worked here, and for her sake he had to put up with it a little.

Richard reached out and shook Karen Thomas's hand. "Thank you, but there's no need to bother, Mr. Thomas. My health is fine, and I can be discharged today."

"Richard!" Christine spoke up hastily, clearly disagreeing with the decision to be discharged today.

Karen Thomas let go of his hand and said with concern, "Dr. Richard, you see how worried Dr. Palmer is about your health. Why don't you stay a few more days and be observed properly?"

"No need." Richard refused decisively. "I am a doctor, and I know my own physical condition very well."

The expression on Karen Thomas's face stiffened slightly; he lowered his head and gave a dry cough to mask the annoyance that flashed across his face.

Ahem~ Well, this...

Seeing this, Director Pansy felt a sudden surge of secret delight in his heart, and he quickly raised his voice, his tone carrying a hint of reprimand.

"Dr. Richard! Director Thomas is only doing this with your health in mind!"

Seeing this, Director Thomas gave him an approving look.

Director Pansy was overjoyed and continued, getting somewhat carried away.

"Surely you don't understand the saying that a doctor cannot cure themselves?"

"Or is it that you don't trust the medical standards of our Manhattan Presbyterian Hospital?"

The scene fell quiet for a moment.

"Hmph~" Richard let out a muffled snort, looking mockingly at Pansy.

This dog of a thing really was still just as stupid! All day long he knew how to do nothing but kiss ass.

Karen Thomas also glared displeasedly at Pansy, clearly very unhappy with his subsequent untimely remarks.

Still, since the atmosphere had reached this point, it was clearly no longer suitable to keep beating around the bush.

This Richard really was as smelly and hard as a stone...

Thomas thought impatiently.

He stated his purpose straightforwardly.

"Dr. Richard, I've come this time on behalf of the hospital board of directors to invite you to return to work at Presbyterian Hospital."

"Return to Presbyterian Hospital?" Richard looked at Karen Thomas with a half-smile. "Weren't I just fired by you people? How is it that you're inviting me back now?"

Karen Thomas's acting was top-notch, and his expression of righteous indignation was played very convincingly.

"Dr. Richard, the hospital board of directors knew nothing in advance about the matter of your dismissal earlier."

"It was entirely the personal decision of David Bolton from the medical administration department."

"Afterward, the board investigated the truth and heavily penalized him."

"But considering that Dr. Richard really was wronged..."

"The board has decided that upon your return to the hospital, you will directly take the position of associate director of the emergency department."

As he spoke, Karen Thomas patted Pansy on the shoulder.

"Rest assured, Director Pansy will fully cooperate with your work from now on."

Richard cast a playful glance at Pansy, and his hyper-enhanced dynamic vision clearly captured the reluctance and anger flashing in the man's eyes.

Tsk tsk, the status of a lapdog really was humble.

Richard shook his head inwardly and refused once more.

"I'm very sorry, Director Thomas, but I refuse."

"What?!" Karen Thomas was greatly alarmed. Thinking that he had been hired by another hospital, he quickly pursued the question, "Has another hospital invited you?"

"Our Presbyterian Hospital can offer terms higher than any other hospital!"

"No~" Richard still refused. "There's an old saying in the East: a good horse doesn't turn back to graze on old grass."

"As far as I'm concerned, Presbyterian Hospital no longer has any credibility to speak of!"

Karen Thomas's face turned dark, and he said with a forced smile.

"It seems Dr. Richard is still angry, but that's fine. We'll contact each other again after some time, and hopefully you'll change your mind by then."

With that, he turned and left in a huff.

Pansy was thrilled to pieces. Refused, a wonderful refusal!

"Richard, you brat, you're definitely going to regret this!"

He finished with gloating glee, then turned and hurried after him.

"Director Thomas, wait for me!"

Watching the retreating figures of the two men, Richard gave a sneering laugh and shook his head.

"Two jumping clowns!"

"Clea, I'll be discharged right now. If I stay any longer, there's no telling what ghosts and spirits might come sniffing around."

"But your health..." Christine said with concern.

Richard gave an eccentric chuckle and patted his chest, producing a solid-sounding thud. "My dear, I'm super strong!"

Christine's face flushed red, and she cast a shy, exasperated glance at him. "Yuck~"

The discharge procedures were handled very quickly.

Richard carried his changed-out clothes and left the ward.

As he walked past the neurology office, an elderly woman with white hair was pushed out the door and shooed away.

"Mrs. Pangborn, I've already said it many times: Dr. Strange has no time, no time! Don't come here bothering me anymore!"

With that, she slammed the office door shut with a heavy bang.

Tears streaming down her face, the old woman picked up the thick medical records that had fallen to the ground and walked with staggering steps toward a young man sitting paralyzed in a wheelchair not far away.

"Jonathan, let's go."

Jonathan slumped into the narrow wheelchair, his face plastered with complete despair.

"Just let me die, Mom!"

"No, Jonathan. Trust Mom, you're going to get better."

"May I have a look at those medical records, madam?" Richard walked over quietly and asked in a soft voice.

The old woman was startled and quickly got to her feet. Seeing Richard's young face, she asked with hesitation, "This gentleman, you, you are?"

Richard smiled gently. "I'm a doctor."

A look of joy appeared on the old woman's face, and she hurriedly handed the medical records to Richard with both hands.

"Please, you must help my child."

Richard didn't reply, directly opening the chart.

Scanning the imaging photos quickly, he diagnosed the condition right away.

A ruptured central nervous system leading to full-body paralysis!

As far as current medical technology went, this was an incurable disease with a 100% mortality in quality of life if not literal death.

No wonder Stephen Strange's assistant had refused; it was probably at Strange's own instruction.

"Pardon my bluntness, madam, but judging from the records, no doctor can cure Mr. Jonathan Pangborn's illness."

Richard wouldn't deceive a great mother.

The old woman's hopeful expression instantly plummeted. She smiled bitterly and nodded, "Thank you, doctor. The other doctors said the same thing before, but I can't give up—he is my child!"

Hearing his mother's firm words, Jonathan Pangborn shed tears of agonizing pain.

Watching the old woman's unshakeable resolve, Richard suddenly spoke up.

"Modern medical standards truly cannot cure his illness..."

"But perhaps you could take him somewhere else to try."

The old woman raised her head in pleasant surprise. "Where? What place are you talking about?!"

"Let's be clear beforehand, madam." Richard looked at the old woman and said earnestly, "I'm not certain that place can definitely cure Mr. Jonathan."

"No matter the outcome, we have to go and try!" the old woman said firmly.

"Alright then..."

Richard said softly.

"Nepal, Kathmandu..."