Slandered by an Intern, I Made Them Pay
Chapter 1
The week-long community volunteer clinic had wrapped up without a hitch, and everyone was praising the hospital's compassion and dedication.
But at that very moment, a video of me holding an umbrella for the deputy director had been dragged to the top of the trending list, drowning in hate.
An intern from the hospital had filmed it. In her voiceover behind the footage, she sobbed and accused me of brown-nosing my superiors.
"Everyone else stood out there in the blazing sun treating patients, and she was the only one glued to the deputy director's side, holding an umbrella over him to suck up."
"We put in honest work, and she claws her way up with cheap tricks like this. Do good, hardworking people just deserve to get stepped on?"
The internet erupted overnight. The hashtag #InternKissesUpToDeputyDirectorToKeepHerJob# shot straight to number one.
The hospital's official account was flooded, comment sections buried under endless abuse.
Coworkers whispered and pointed at me, and even frail old Deputy Director Gilbert got dragged into the storm.
Watching Crystal Chavez gain a hundred thousand followers overnight off that one video, all I could feel was how absurd it was.
A newly appointed director the hospital had recruited with a multi-million-dollar salary, and I supposedly needed to sleep my way up the ladder?
——
The hospital's car had barely returned from the countryside before reporters swarmed it.
"Juliana Cox, do you have anything to say for yourself?"
A reporter loomed in front of me, voice sharp with accusation.
Crystal stood in the crowd, eyes rimmed red, the very picture of righteous outrage.
The phone in her hand glowed, playing that same viral clip.
Live chat comments scrolled past in a dense, relentless stream, every word a knife.
【Disgusting. Playing office politics at a charity clinic!】
【Same internship, worlds apart. Crystal does honest work, and Juliana just kisses up.】
【No wonder she won the deputy director's favor the second she arrived. Turns out she's just a smooth-talking suck-up!】
【When did medicine become a field where you climb by flattery? This is heartbreaking.】
A month ago, I'd received the letter offering me the position of the hospital's new director.
I could have gone to a better hospital, but the deputy director here had once been my mentor.
He'd invited me again and again, and only then had I agreed to take the post.
After arriving, I'd hidden my identity and gone to the front lines, joining the community volunteer clinic.
I never imagined someone would twist it into slander.
On the day of the clinic, the sun was merciless. My old mentor was busy seeing patients and nearly collapsed from the heat.
That was the only reason I held an umbrella over him, and Crystal, that intern, caught it on camera and twisted it into something vile.
A reporter shoved a microphone toward my lips, his tone openly hostile："Dr. Cox, Crystal reported that you deliberately flattered Deputy Director Gilbert to secure your position and a good evaluation, even going so far as to put on a show at a charity clinic. How do you explain that?"
I lifted my eyes, sweeping over the countless prejudiced stares behind the cameras.
"There were over a hundred medical staff at that clinic, with people recording and supervising the whole time. Whether or not I put on a show, the full video will speak for itself."
My calm, in their eyes, became the squirming of someone with something to hide.
An online influencer beside me instantly raised his voice, brimming with indignation for the camera："Caught red-handed and still talking back! The video shows it plain as day. Everyone else was busy with the clinic, and you were the only one holding an umbrella for your boss!"
"Deputy Director Gilbert is senior and powerful. Why would he need some little intern to go out of her way to hold an umbrella for him? If that's not kissing up, what is it?"
Right on cue, Crystal stepped forward and took my hand, coaxing me："Juliana, just admit it. If you'll own up to your mistake and apologize to everyone, they'll forgive you. Stop digging in your heels."
Her display of generosity and tolerance only made me look more stubborn and unrepentant.
The accusations in the crowd grew louder.
"Look at Crystal. Kind and clear-headed!"
"Does something wrong, won't apologize, won't even admit it. Her ethics and character are both rotten!"
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