Zhan walked out of Dr. Jing's office after receiving directions to the MD's office. He leaned against the wall for a moment, gathering his thoughts about what to say once he got there. After a few seconds, he began walking slowly toward the top floor, following the directions he'd been given.
When he reached the last door at the end of the corridor...clearly the MD's office, since there were no others nearby...he hesitated. Just as he was about to knock, the door opened unexpectedly. Startled, he stepped back quickly. A doctor walked out, smiling as Zhan greeted him, then left the door open and walked away.
Cautiously, Zhan stepped inside. The office was enormous, neatly arranged, and filled with the crisp scent of air freshener that blended with the coolness of the air conditioning. Everything was spotless. The MD looked up at him, surprised to see someone enter unannounced. Zhan's heart raced. He quickly shut the door behind him and stepped forward, but the MD cut him off with a short, cold command:
"Get out. And close the door properly."
Zhan froze, lifting his eyes to look at him. The MD frowned slightly, then turned his attention back to his work. Without another word, Zhan left and closed the door behind him. He didn't even return to Dr. Jing's office to explain what had happened. Instead, he headed downstairs, deciding to just go home. He had already resolved not to let anything trouble his mind anymore. It was better to manage his low blood pressure quietly than let stress weigh him down again. Life had already shown him more than enough hardship.
Just as he was about to leave and collect his bag, another doctor spotted him and called him into the theatre room.
At the reception, several nurses followed Zhan with their eyes...some whispering, others making faces. Inside the theatre, two nurses were already preparing for surgery. Everything was set and ready. Zhan quickly put on a surgical gown, cap, and mask, thoroughly washed his hands, and slipped on gloves. He didn't even know the details of the surgery, but his role was only to assist by handing instruments, just as he had been told.
A few minutes later, Zhan turned and felt his chest tighten...the MD himself walked into the theatre. His heart pounded so hard it was almost painful. Quickly, he looked away, thankful that his face was covered by the mask. Another doctor helped the MD with protective wear before stepping out, while the MD scrubbed his hands. Zhan kept his head down, focused on the surgical instruments, avoiding eye contact.
He silently wished that Dr. Sam or anyone else would be the one passing instruments to the MD, not him. But there was no choice. The MD was leading the surgery, and Zhan had to do his part. Thankfully, he managed to keep calm and hand over everything the MD asked for swiftly, without mistake...at least at first.
But as the surgery dragged on and fatigue crept in, Zhan slipped. While switching instruments, one fell from his hand onto the floor. He quickly bent down, picked it up, and returned it to the tray with the others.
The MD noticed. So did the other doctors. A ripple of shock passed through the room. Zhan instantly realized his mistake...he should have sterilized it instead of mixing it back in with the uncontaminated ones. By doing so, he had contaminated the entire set.
New instruments had to be brought in immediately, slowing things down. Despite the slip, the operation was eventually completed successfully, and the patient was taken to the ward.
Zhan was in a hurry to leave after removing his gown and gloves when he heard the husky voice of the Medical Director facing him, asking,
"Where is your theatre hygiene?"
Another doctor gestured for him to lower his nose mask. Zhan did so quietly, glancing at the MD without saying a word. Only then did the MD realize it was him inside the theatre. After giving him a quick look from head to toe, the MD turned and walked out toward Dr. Jing's office.
- - - -
Meanwhile, Yibo stepped out of the doctor's office holding a paper in his hand. He looked over at Lan Yi, who was seated with Granny Fang Yu in the reception area. Shu was resting against Granny Fang Yu, who was consoling her. Granny Fang Yu said,
"Are they not going to admit her, Yibo? She isn't feeling well. I know it's nothing serious, probably just a mosquito bite from those careless people who sent her to jail."
Yibo replied,
"They said she doesn't need admission. The doctor wrote down some medicines to buy."
Granny Fang Yu asked,
"What about injections?"
Shu frowned weakly and muttered,
"I don't like injections."
Yibo didn't even look at her. He simply said,
"Let's go home."
Granny Fang Yu stood up and helped Shu to her feet. When Lan Yi tried to hold Shu, Granny Fang Yu stopped her, saying,
"No, leave her. Take care of yourself too. You're not in full health either."
With that, they left the hospital together, Yibo walking behind them. Once inside the car, Granny Fang Yu said,
"Take me home. I've already sent Marquis to clean the house and prepare food to bring to the hospital, but since they won't admit her, it's fine."
Yibo stayed quiet. After thirty minutes of driving, they reached Granny Fang Yu's house. He parked, and Granny Fang Yu got down with Shu. When Lan Yi was about to step out, Yibo stopped her.
"Mama, we need to talk."
She looked at him, then returned to her seat inside the car. Granny Fang Yu had already entered the house with Shu, comforting her as they went in. Yibo handed Lan Yi the paper in his hand. Her heart suddenly sank as she stared at it, hesitant to take it. When she finally opened it, she glanced up sharply.
"Tell me what this means, Yibo. Don't just hand me this paper and expect me to understand anything."
He dropped his gaze and said quietly,
"She's pregnant… four weeks pregnant."
Lan Yi's chest tightened. The paper slipped from her fingers as she leaned back in the seat, her eyes wide.
"Shu? Pregnant?" she whispered in disbelief.
Yibo said nothing. Tears welled in Lan Yi's eyes as her whole body trembled. Words tumbled from her mouth in panic and despair before she finally opened the car door and rushed into Granny Fang Yu's house, distraught.
Yibo drove away.
Inside the living room, Lan Yi found Granny Fang Yu holding Shu, who had just vomited on the floor. Granny Fang Yu comforted her, saying,
"Didn't I suggest they admit you? They refused. What else could I have done? Since you returned, you've vomited countless times, yet they say nothing is wrong."
Granny Ai, seated nearby, wrinkled her face in disapproval and said,
"Honestly, how can a woman throw up like that while just standing? Even a child knows where to go when they feel sick."
Granny Fang Yu snapped angrily,
"I didn't invite you here, did I? What exactly brought you, if not to cause trouble? When was the last time you even stepped foot into this house?"
Lan Yi broke into bitter sobs and cried out, "You've ruined us, Shu… you've ruined us."
Just then, Aunty Marquis rushed out of the kitchen.
"What's wrong, Lan Yi Jie? What happened?"
Even Granny Fang Yu froze at the sharp accusation Lan Yi had hurled at Shu. Granny Ai quickly stood up and exclaimed, "Oh no, don't tell me she has stolen again?"
Lan Yi turned to Aunty Marquis, her whole body shaking as she stammered,
"Marquis…Shu is pregnant. Already four weeks. Marquis, tell me...where do we even begin?"
Granny Ai let out a sharp scream.
"Pregnant? Did you just say pregnant, Lan Yi? With human child, or what exactly?"
Before she could even close her mouth, they saw Granny Fang Yu collapse to the floor with a loud thud.
***
Zhan left the hospital and walked toward the roadside to find transport. His phone buzzed inside his bag. Pulling it out, he saw it was Dr. Jing calling. He ignored the call, dropped the phone back, and checked his wallet...only one 100 yuan note was left.
Almost every day, he bought two energy drinks, sometimes three, because of his low blood pressure. Add that to his transport fare home, and it was no wonder cash never lasted with him.
He dug around for his ATM card, but it wasn't there. Only Hai Kuan's card sat in the bag. His mind raced..had he left his own card back in Aunty Cang's house the last time he used it, or had it fallen somewhere? The thought of losing it completely made his chest tighten. He hadn't even planned to go back home tonight; he had intended to head straight to Foshan.
Growing restless from waiting, Zhan finally pulled out Hai Kuan's card and turned it over in his hand, weighing whether or not to use it.
A rickshaw driver stopped beside him and asked if he needed to withdraw cash. Zhan nodded and climbed in. After about fifteen minutes, the driver pointed at a bank.
"Sir, you can use that one."
Zhan shook his head.
"No, not this bank. Keep going."
They passed one bank after another, each time Zhan refusing. Finally, the driver grew tired and said,
"Sir, this is too much. You'll end up owing me a fortune just riding around like this."
Zhan answered calmly,
"It doesn't matter. I'll pay you whatever it costs. Just keep driving."
At last, when Zhan spotted a bank he was comfortable with, he asked the driver to stop. He got out and said,
"Wait here. I'll be quick."
The driver shut off the rickshaw and crossed his arms, making it clear he wouldn't take his eyes off him.
"I'm waiting."
Inside, Zhan went straight to an ATM machine. His hands trembled slightly as he slid Hai Kuan's card into the slot. First, he withdrew 1,000 yuan....success. Emboldened, he withdrew another 5,000 yuan, tucked the card back into his bag, and hurried out to the waiting rickshaw.
"Let's go," he said, sliding in.
"Go where?" the driver asked.
"Take me to where I can get transport to Foshan."
"Fine. But first, pay me for bringing you here."
Zhan quickly counted out five hundred yuan and handed it over. The driver pocketed the cash, started the rickshaw, and they pulled away.
It was nearly 6 o'clock by the time Zhan reached Foshan, exhausted and dizzy with hunger. When the rickshaw driver dropped him near his neighborhood, he refused to go into the inner street, so Zhan had to walk the rest of the way.
Dragging his feet slowly down the lane, Zhan lifted his head. From a distance, he noticed a car parked a few houses before his. Zhan stare at the car without even blinking, not even once.
NB
Too short, I know, but there's no cliffhanger road ahead unless I drag the chapter mini long one. So bear with me.
😂
Zhanxianyibo💚❤️💛