89 Dr. Houdini (1/2)

Li Xiuying was dressed in her Pj's. She was in the living eating mapo doufu, jasmine rice and sesame chicken.

There was a documentary about dolphins playing on the TV.

Documentary commentary: ”Dolphins have the ability to go without sleep for days, it has been reported that they may even be able to go up to 2 weeks without sleep. They accomplish this fete because the two hemispheres of their brains alternate between sleep. While one half of their brain sleeps the other half is awake. This allows dolphins to remain vigilant for long periods of time.”

Li Xiuying's phone began to ring.

She put down her bowl down and picked up her phone. It was a call from Qin Jingfei.

Li Xiuying answered: ”Hello.”

Qin Jingfei: ”Hello Dr. Li. I hope I'm not disturbing you?”

Li Xiuying: ”No.”

Qin Jingfei: ”Dr. Li I've called to discuss the activity day's that we will be hosting for children on Saturdays. We were thinking of having the first activity day sometime in early December. This will consist of a tour around the hospital so the children can see the various departments. The tour will be followed by a short talk regarding future sessions and maybe a few sentences about the initiative and what we hope to achieve.”

Li Xiuying: ”Okay.”

Qin Jingfei: ”I would like you to be the co-lead for this initiative. Since this was your wonderful idea I believe that you will be better able to ensure that this project is successful.”

Li Xiuying frowned. She wanted to take part in the project as one of the volunteers. She didn't want to be involved in the actual management of it. Li Xiuying didn't want to deal with any added bureaucracy and she especially didn't want to do paperwork.

Qin Jingfei realized that Li Xiuying was trying to find an excuse to refuse.

Qin Jingfei quickly tried her best to persuade Li Xiuiyng: ”Dr. Li don't worry all you will be required to do is attend twice weekly meetings with the other lead. You just have to help brainstorm ideas for the sessions, help to organize a schedule and make sure that the project is going in the right direction. You won't be expected to do any paperwork nor will you have to enforce the schedule.”

Li Xiuying: ”Co-lead?”

Qin Jingfei: ”Yes that's right you'll be the co-lead.”

Li Xiuying: ”The other co-lead?”

Qin Jingfei nervously replied: ”I'll be the other co-lead. ”

Li Xiuying felt dubious but reluctantly agreed: ”Fine.”

Qin Jingfei spoke quickly: ”Okay Dr. Li. Could you meet me at 2:00 in my office tomorrow? It will be a short meeting to get the ball rolling on the project. Have a lovely afternoon. Bye Bye.”

Li Xiuying looked at her phone. Something definitely wasn't right. Qin Jingfei had ended the call without giving her a chance to respond.

.....