Chapter Six: Wanted Notice

A shiver ran through Zhou Yi’s heart, and he quickly waved his hand with a smile.
“No need, I’ll go back by myself. You go ahead and get on with your work!”
Hearing this, the man didn’t linger and hurried out of the operating room.

Zhou Yi clutched the stack of clothes, turned into the shower room, and washed off the filth from his body. Using a clean piece of gauze to pad his wound, he entered the small room nearby, finding that it was indeed well equipped with everything he needed.

He located suturing materials, disinfectants, and—skipping the local anesthetic due to the urgency—quickly disinfected and stitched up his wound. He then pressed a large dressing over it. When he was done, sweat was beading on his forehead.

Standing by the door, he peered through the narrow glass slit at the side of the room, glancing outside the operating theater.

He noticed the two police officers were still standing at the doors, facing each other and chatting, occasionally glancing towards the operating room.

Zhou Yi narrowed his eyes slightly. Was it his guilty conscience, or were they really watching so closely?
Had they discovered something?

A cold chill seized his heart.

It was only a matter of time before the prison noticed something was wrong. If there had been a slip-up, it was likely that someone had found the badge, or Alderson had called Saint Martin Hospital to verify his identity.

If either of those things had happened, he would already be exposed. Of course, it was also possible the police were simply keeping watch over the prisoner in the operating room.

But Zhou Yi couldn’t take the risk. At the very least, he needed someone to leave together with him.

Earlier, he had entered dressed in a white coat, mask, and glasses. If he left now looking the same, it would arouse their suspicion.

With this in mind, he quickly took off the white coat over his scrubs, glanced around, and spotted a blue surgical cap decorated with little yellow ducks. He grabbed it and pulled it on.

He put on a mask, took off his glasses, hurried back to the locker room to change into a pair of clogs, and slung a stethoscope around his neck.

Taking a deep breath, he waited in silence, peeking out from the medication room door at the corridor outside the operating room.

Just then, a young nurse emerged from the operating room carrying a plastic tray, heading toward the main doors.

Zhou Yi quickly stepped out, not looking back, and when he reached the main doors, deliberately stumbled a step backward, landing on the nurse’s foot.

As the nurse yelped in surprise, Zhou Yi turned and caught her by the waist, steadying her, nodding apologetically. Seeing she didn’t push him away, he leaned in and took a deep, appreciative sniff.

“Sorry about that. But what perfume are you wearing? I like the scent.”

Though the gesture was abrupt, the nurse was hardly fazed. After all, doctors liked to tease nurses, and she was used to it. Catching sight of Zhou Yi’s deep brown eyes, she shrugged with a smile.

“Ha! Let me guess who you are?”

“And if you can’t guess?”

“Hmph!”

Zhou Yi shifted his posture, folding his arms across his chest and pausing deliberately. The nurse covered her mouth and laughed, then slipped her arm through his.

He raised an eyebrow as she opened the operating room door, and out of the corner of his eye, he saw the two police officers glance over. But they did nothing, clearly fooled by his disguise.

He patted the nurse’s hip, smoothly taking the tray from her, and narrowed his eyes playfully.

“I’m a dangerous man, you know. Aren’t you afraid?”

Biting her lip, she shook her head.

“How would I know if I never tried?”

They exchanged amused glances, strolling upstairs arm in arm.

Glancing back, Zhou Yi saw the two officers still chatting, not sparing him a second look. Evidently, he had been overly anxious before.

He breathed a little easier.

When they reached the second floor, the nurse seemed about to deliver some lab results. She took back the plastic tray from Zhou Yi and tilted her head, studying him.

“Looks like you’ll have to wait for me. Maybe you should give me your number so I can reach you when I’m done? What do you think?”

Zhou Yi stepped back, putting a little distance between them, and smiled.

“Go do your work. After your shift, I’ll be waiting outside the hospital. Of course, you’ll have to recognize me without my mask on.”

The nurse wasn’t the least bit annoyed; on the contrary, she looked intrigued. In the tedium of her job, such encounters were a pleasant surprise—after all, what nurse could resist a doctor’s flirtation?

“I love a challenge. I’ll see you at the gate after my shift!”

With a wave, she sashayed off toward the laboratory.

Zhou Yi exhaled, refrained from poking his head out, and avoided the elevator.

He headed straight for the emergency exit, checked the floor plan, and climbed all the way to the twelfth floor.

This was the orthopedic ward.

A glance at the clock in the stairwell told him it was 5:42 PM—almost closing time.

But orthopedic doctors rarely left on time. Lowering his head, he walked to the doctors’ lounge and pressed down on the handle. The door wasn’t locked.

He slipped in, locked the door behind him, and hurriedly began trying the lockers.

The fourth one was unlocked, and Zhou Yi’s spirits lifted.

Surgery was a man’s world, and many avoided locking their lockers to spare themselves the trouble of carrying keys. Opening it, he found several sets of clothes. He checked the sizes—slightly large, but wearable.

He quickly stripped off his scrubs, changed into a hoodie and jeans, found a pair of sneakers, and in the neighboring locker, a pair of sunglasses and a baseball cap. After tidying up, he closed the lockers and stepped out.

Suddenly, a male doctor came walking toward him, smiling as if to strike up a conversation. Zhou Yi nodded with a friendly smile and immediately turned into the stairwell, leaving the doctor pausing behind him.

“In such a rush—does he have a date?”

Zhou Yi heard the remark, and his heart leapt into his throat. Clearly, this man recognized the clothes’ owner. Any greeting or delay would expose him, and he’d never get out of the hospital.

He quickened his pace, didn’t linger on the first floor, and avoided the main entrance. Instead, he went down to the underground garage.

Standing in a corner, Zhou Yi faced a new problem.

He was just a doctor and had no idea how to hotwire a car. He couldn’t simply steal one to escape. While he was fretting, the elevator chimed, and a couple stepped out. The woman was clearly pregnant, likely there for a prenatal checkup.

Zhou Yi felt in his pocket and found only a Bluetooth earpiece. He put it on and pretended to be on the phone.

“Honey, did you drive my car away? …What? You want to shop a bit longer? Then how am I supposed to get home? Why don’t you come pick me up? If I go out for a taxi, it’s such a long walk. I’ve done six surgeries today—I'm exhausted… Hello? Hello? Did you just hang up on me?”

He took off the earpiece, looking frustrated, tugging at the brim of his baseball cap. By then, the couple had come up behind him.

The man spoke first.

“Hey, doctor, where are you headed? If it’s on our way, we can give you a lift.”

Zhou Yi turned around with a startled, apologetic smile.

“Ah, I’m going to the Art Museum. I wouldn’t want to trouble you—I’ll just catch a cab outside…”

The pregnant woman waved her hand.

“It’s no trouble, we’re going that way anyway. Looks like your girlfriend is busy!”

Zhou Yi smiled.

“You know how it is. Once a woman starts shopping, nothing can stop her. Well, thank you, then!”

Without further ado, the three walked to a blue car, got in, and drove toward the exit. The underground parking lot was huge; it took ages to reach the north gate. Zhou Yi immediately spotted several police cars heading their way and felt a jolt of alarm.

He propped his chin on his hand, turned slightly toward the pregnant woman beside him.

“Looks like your due date is near?”

She smiled, caressing her belly.

“Less than a month to go.”

Zhou Yi nodded. “It might be sooner. Best to be ready, just in case.”

Her husband laughed, clearly pleased by the thoughtful advice.

“We’re getting supplies later—the obstetrician also said it might be early, so we need to prepare these few days.”

“My husband’s more nervous than I am!”

Zhou Yi joined in the laughter, glancing out the window. They had already driven through the north gate.

At that moment, the police were leaping out of their cars and signaling the security guards to close the electric gate. Zhou Yi unconsciously let out a sigh of relief.

He had narrowly escaped. But it would only get harder from here.

Twenty minutes later, the car stopped at the intersection near the Art Museum. Zhou Yi patted the man’s shoulder.

“Thank you both so much. Goodbye!”

They waved and drove off.

It looked like rain was coming.

Dusk had already fallen, and for a moment, Zhou Yi didn’t know where to go.

He felt lost and adrift.

As he glanced around, the giant screen on the shopping mall across the street cut to a breaking news bulletin. A wanted notice flashed in bold black letters. Zhou Yi tore off his sunglasses at once.

On the screen, scenes from today’s riot at the city prison played. The reporter spoke rapidly, describing the events. Then the image switched, and Alderson appeared as the interviewee.

Composed, he stood before a police car, looking straight into the camera—his gaze seeming to pierce directly through to Zhou Yi.