Chapter 2 Transformation

• Jude was brought in as a highly talented individual from another country. He was young, driven, and had already reached a senior position before turning 30. Currently, he not only served as the department head but also held a professorship at the medical school. With his extensive network, he had mentioned on multiple occasions the possibility of furthering my education abroad using his special channels.
• "Have you made up your mind?"
• "Yeah... I have. I don't really have any other options, so I'm here. You know, bothering you," I replied, self-deprecatingly.
• He didn't seem bothered by my remark. "Alright, I'll give it a try."
• "Good. Let's pick a date, and I'll treat you to a meal."
• I was actually surprised that Jude readily agreed to my suggestion. "There's no need for a meal at the moment. Consider it a favor you owe me. We can figure out the details later."
• Jude gracefully declined my invitation, and I wasn't too disappointed by that. He was a well-known and busy professional, after all. It took a week before I received his notification. In the meantime, I made sure to get everything prepared. Jude informed me that he had arranged for me to study at the top medical institution in Elysara.
• Studying there was the aspiration of countless medical professionals, including myself. If it weren't for getting married to Ian because of some trivial family matters, I would have pursued this opportunity long ago.
• To be honest, I owe Jude a great debt of gratitude for this arrangement. He took care of everything—from visas to plane tickets—and all I had to do was simply pack my bags and embark on a journey of further education abroad. This was all thanks to his meticulous planning. Besides, this journey would last for three years.
• After three years of intensive studies, I also made significant academic contributions in the field of surgery. I published numerous scholarly papers, participated in multiple medical competitions, and even garnered awards. Some of my work was covered by academic forums and media outlets in the country.
• Unfortunately, due to my appearance, I declined media interviews, preferring not to be in the public eye and avoid attention from others. People often made jokes about my looks, and while I try not to feel insecure, it was not always easy to brush off those comments.
• After a great deal of contemplation, I finally made up my mind to get rid of the birthmark on my face. Fortunately, I received a substantial scholarship during those three years, along with fees from published papers and some earnings from part-time work, which provided me with a nice nest egg. They said that our bodies were a gift from our parents, but this purple birthmark had such a profound and negative impact on my life that I couldn't help but go against conventional wisdom.
• I was determined to choose a top-tier institution to perform the cosmetic procedure. Although I was also a surgeon myself and had some training in medical aesthetics, I couldn't operate on myself. So, I invested a significant portion of my savings to undergo medical aesthetics treatment.
• Let me clarify one thing in advance—I only had the purple birthmark removed. I didn't opt for any other procedures like photo-rejuvenation or a nose job. I wanted to maintain a completely natural look. While my savings were almost depleted, getting rid of that unsightly birthmark made me feel a lot more self-assured. In conclusion, it was totally worth it.
• As my studies came to an end, my remaining savings wouldn't sustain me any longer. Thus, I started applying for jobs on domestic recruitment websites. After I had spent three years abroad, I was still having a hard time adjusting to life overseas.
• Soon after I sent out my resume, I received a response from a private comprehensive hospital in my home country. Just as I was reveling in the joy of the opportunity, I received a call from Jude.
• "Congratulations on your return! You've already started applying for jobs back home," he said with an almost spy-like tone as if he knew every detail.
• "I just received the hospital's response, and you already know about it," I replied lightheartedly.
• Jude didn't challenge me and calmly smiled. "Great. I'll be at the airport to pick you up."
• "Oh, there's no need for that, Jude. I know you're busy, and I don't want to inconvenience you."
• "Well, you're just as stubborn as I am. It's settled—I'll pick you up."
• Although I didn't know Jude that well, our relationship was fairly solid. Still, I never realized he had a chivalrous side to him. Stubborn as I was, I couldn't easily turn down his offer, and I didn't want to disregard his kind gesture.
• I booked a ticket back home and didn't bother saying goodbye to my classmates in Elysara; I only bid farewell to my mentor. I also informed Jude about my departure in advance, and he was already waiting for me at the airport. When I arrived at the pickup area, I spotted Jude among the crowd, but he had a puzzled look on his face. It was clear he couldn't recognize me until I approached him.
• "Hey, Jude!" I waved at him.
• He glanced at me absentmindedly and then looked away. After a moment, he seemed to realize something and turned his focus back to me.
• "Are you... Robyn?" His expression evidently showed that my transformation was quite significant.
• "Well, did I change all that much? I'm standing right in front of you, and yet, you still didn't recognize me," I said with a chuckle.
• I only got rid of the purple birthmark on my face; I didn't go through plastic surgery. Was the difference really that noticeable? He examined me carefully and couldn't help but pinch my cheek.
• "The birthmark on your face is gone, I see. You look like a total babe now! If you join a beauty pageant, you'd easily snatch the crown," he teased.
• While I felt a little embarrassed by his actions, I didn't want to back away. So, I changed the subject to ease the situation.
• "By the way, how did you find out that I was applying for jobs back home?"
• "You applied to the hospital where I work now, and all the department heads are eager to get you on board," he explained with enthusiasm.
• His words surprised me. I had only sent out a job application, and it was already causing a stir even before I started working at the hospital.
• "Really? I'm just a young doctor. They're really overestimating me," I replied humbly.
• He raised an eyebrow and retorted, "Everyone wants graduates from the medical holy land. The fact that you studied there and are returning makes you a hot commodity."
• I agreed with him. It was true that graduating from the medical holy land in Elysara set one apart. Plus, the country strictly prohibited talent outflow, so someone like me, who managed to go there for further studies and return, was in high demand.
• "I should thank you. If it weren't for your thoughtful arrangements, I wouldn't be where I am today," I sincerely thanked him. Without him, I might still be an ordinary doctor getting bossed around by my 'betters'.
• "Oh, stop it with your excessive politeness. I'm excited to work with you again," he said, extending his hand for a handshake.
• I shook his hand without hesitation, just like when I was rotating through his department during my training.
• After some small talk, he helped me with my luggage and headed toward the parking lot.
• In the car, he asked me about my ex-husband, Ian. Nonetheless, I didn't go into detail about my past; I didn't even say a bad word about Ian.
• "He's such a blind guy. He's probably regretting his choices now that you've moved on and become so successful," Jude said, unintentionally mocking Ian.
• If I had revealed that Ian was my ex-husband, he probably wouldn't have teased me like that. Ian was surrounded by beautiful women, and if he ever regretted anything, it would be like regretting eating too many veggies.
• "You know, it's been over a year since you got married, and I've never seen you flaunt anything on social media. You’ve been all mysterious about it,” he commented.
• I could only force a bitter smile and replied, “There’s nothing worth showing off. It was a marriage on paper only, and posting about it would only make people laugh.” Even the wedding was just a simple family gathering.
• Ian Winter would never have exposed me to the world back then, especially with half of my face covered in a purple birthmark. I’m certain that he probably felt like he was watching a horror movie every single time he laid his eyes on me.
• Jude quickly picked up that I wasn’t interested in talking about the past, so he stopped bringing up such topics. He had initially planned to settle me down before going to the hospital, but an urgent situation at the hospital required him to handle it immediately.