As a young, virile single man, having no reaction to Jade would have been abnormal. Yet I found myself deeply ashamed of my response.
Though her face—a perfect blend of innocence and allure—was undeniably attractive, this first encounter made clear that the rumors hadn't emerged from nothing. Still, she simply wasn't my type.
Jade began teaching me the urology department's workflow, system operations, and departmental regulations. I deliberately kept my distance throughout our interactions, though she seemed completely unaware, remaining gentle, polite, and soft-spoken.
I couldn't find a single trace of the flirtatious woman I'd heard about. Despite her exhaustion, she would tactfully leave during lunch breaks, giving me privacy in the office. I gradually began to reassess my prejudice.
Unfortunately, this pleasant period didn't last long. One afternoon, close to the end of the shift, a colleague from our hospital registered as Jade's patient.
I recognized him—Ross Berger, an orthopedic surgeon with a notorious reputation.
Initially, I assumed he had genuinely contracted some condition through his promiscuous lifestyle and needed help. But when he signaled for me to leave, I suddenly understood. He was there seeking a fling.
After days of working with Jade, I felt somewhat protective toward her. I pretended not to notice his signal and kept my head down, focusing on organizing patient records.
To my surprise, Jade looked up at me with embarrassment. After a long pause, she asked me with her face flushed and eyes nearly welling with humiliation, "Dr. Shaw, would you mind delivering these lab results to the ward for me?"
I was shocked and furious that she could use such an innocent, pleading expression while making such a brazen request.
An inexplicable anger swept through me as I walked out of the office with the lab results in hand.
As my anger subsided, I felt ashamed realizing what had truly bothered me. It was the fact that patients could easily become intimate with Jade, while I, despite our close proximity, hadn't received the slightest interest from her.
After delivering the lab results, I returned to the office under the pretense of retrieving something instead of tactfully ending my shift. Ross was just emerging from behind the screen, wearing a smug smile.
He remarked that Jade's "technique" was indeed masterful, and he would return next week for another thorough checkup. He pronounced the word "technique" with suggestive emphasis, making it sound unbearably sleazy.
Jade once again wore that uncomfortable, evasive expression, which only provoked more teasing comments from Ross.
I suppressed my disgust and despised myself for being unable to stoop to his level of depravity.
