Chapter Twenty-Five: Comprehending Life and Death
Lu Qiang sprang forward in a single bound, carrying a body full of killing intent.
Genzi reacted fast. At a time like this there was no room to think of anything else, he rushed up from behind and wrapped his arms around him.
“Qiang-ge, Qiang-ge, don’t go…” he urged in a low voice. Genzi’s eyes burned faintly. In his memory, Lu Qiang had always been ruthless, but he could weigh priorities, handle things calmly. He had never been this impulsive before. Now he looked ready to fight to the death, and killing someone was something he was fully capable of. Genzi could not not stop him.
But he was slight of build, barely able to lock his arms around Lu Qiang’s waist and arms. With a backward elbow strike, Lu Qiang knocked him stumbling several steps back.
Like someone possessed, Lu Qiang charged toward the door. His arms and the front of his clothes were smeared with blood, a few drops on his cheek as well. His eyes were full of viciousness, the muscles of his face drawn tight.
Genzi steadied himself, lifted his foot, and chased after him again. Turning, he shoved at his chest, slowing his momentum.
He raised an arm to block the elevator doors, his attitude resolute. “Ge, I can’t let you go.”
“Get the hell out of my way,” Lu Qiang said.
Neck stiff, he answered, “I won’t.”
Lu Qiang bristled all over, trembling with tension. He stepped forward, grabbed Genzi by the front of his shirt, and roared hoarsely, “That animal touched Lu Yin, do you understand?” Genzi’s feet left the ground as he stared at him in panic. Lu Qiang’s eyes were bloodshot. “The one lying in there is my woman. I’m afraid of hurting her even with a single touch. Look at what she’s become now! I’ll fucking carve Chen Sheng alive.”
Lu Qiang flung him aside and slapped the elevator button.
Genzi panicked. A surge rose from the bottom of his heart. With a low shout he rushed over, grabbed his arm, and yanked hard. Unexpectedly, Lu Qiang was pulled away from the door.
“You’re not going anywhere!”
Lu Qiang swung a punch at his left cheek. “Don’t make me cripple you first. Get lost.”
Genzi covered his face. Somehow he found the courage. Half jumping up, he struck Lu Qiang in the chin, throwing his full weight against him. Lu Qiang’s back slammed into the wall. Agitated, Genzi said, “If you care about her, then you should be staying here right now, not going anywhere!”
Lu Qiang’s body stiffened. Genzi took a breath. “Qiang-ge, don’t be impulsive…”
He instinctively tried to break free, but Genzi braced himself harder. “Sister-in-law is still inside being rescued. At a time like this, you can’t leave. Everything waits until she’s out of danger. However you want to deal with Chen Sheng, Qiang-ge, I’ll go with you.”
By the end his voice choked. Lu Qiang shook him off, spun around, and slammed a fist into the wall. The window beside them trembled with a ringing vibration.
The operating room door suddenly opened. A nurse pulled off her mask and pointed at them. “Do you people still want to save the person inside or not?”
Genzi quickly glanced at Lu Qiang. Seeing he had calmed down somewhat, he hurried a few steps toward the operating room. “Save her, save her. Doctor, you must save her. We’ll pay whatever it costs.”
The nurse was furious. “If you want her saved, go fight outside.”
“We’re not fighting anymore, doctor, not anymore… we’re really sorry.”
The nurse frowned, looked at Lu Qiang, then swept her gaze over Genzi. “Keep quiet.”
“Yes, yes…”
The door to the operating room closed again. The corridor lay empty, and in an instant it became eerily silent.
Genzi turned back. Lu Qiang had dropped onto the floor, head buried, one hand covering his eyes.
Genzi rubbed his face, stood there a moment, then shuffled over to the chairs and sat down. He didn’t dare go closer.
In less than five minutes, the elevator dinged. Then came a flurry of chaotic footsteps. The ambulance had just arrived. Several doctors pushed a gurney in at a run. The taxi driver was already unconscious, a bloodstained hand hanging over the edge of the bed.
Lu Qiang wiped his face, fists clenched tight, eyes red as he watched the group surge into the operating room.
Another ten-plus minutes passed. Before the elevator doors even opened, a woman’s wailing was heard. A young woman in her twenties supported a middle-aged woman as they stumbled over together. The older woman had hair half gone white, crying so hard she couldn’t form words. The younger one was still in slippers and sleepwear, her face streaked with tears.
The two of them collapsed by the door, their cries tearing the air apart.
Lu Qiang rested his elbows on his knees, hands gripping his short hair.
He had once lived with his life on the edge of a blade, never sure he would see the next day. One careless moment and his life could be gone. But he had never been afraid. When he first went to prison, in the first month he received news of his father’s death. Back then he had felt pain, grief, regret, confusion, but not fear. After he came to terms with it, he instead became determined to walk a righteous path in the future.
But half an hour ago, when the taxi shattered before his eyes, Lu Yin covered in blood, thrown inside the wreck, her breathing weak, her eyes closing with no certainty they would ever open again, all along the way he had desperately coaxed her to talk, coaxed her not to fall asleep, his heart twisted together, his fingertips trembling cold—only then did he understand what fear was.
The wailing rang in his ears, echoing through the corridor like thunder. Lu Qiang’s mind was in chaos.
He grabbed the shattered remains of a phone from the ground and hurled it at the opposite wall. “Stop fucking howling! The people inside aren’t dead yet!”
His face was ferocious, terrifying as if he might devour someone. The two women trembled, their voices dropping several degrees.
Genzi immediately stepped forward to explain, telling them not to affect the doctors’ work.
The older woman was at a loss. She hurriedly nodded, wiping her tears, forcing the sobs back down her throat.
Genzi helped them over to the bench. The four of them faced the operating room. Every second turned into torment.
No one knew how long passed before the operating room door opened again. It was still the same nurse. She held two documents in her hand. “Who are Lu Yin’s family? And Zhao Ximin’s family?”
“I am, I am!” the older woman said.
Lu Qiang’s heart jumped. He rushed a few steps to her. “The surgery’s over?”
“What are you thinking?” The nurse frowned. Seeing him covered in grime and blood, she tilted her head slightly. “These are critical condition notices. Sign them quickly.”
Time seemed to freeze for two seconds.
Lu Qiang suddenly clamped onto her arm. “What?”
The nurse cried out softly, her shoulders drawing up from his grip. “What are you doing? Let go, now.”
Lu Qiang’s grip tightened in the web between his thumb and forefinger. “What the hell did you say?”
The nurse was thoroughly frightened by him. She dropped her earlier arrogance and answered seriously, “The patient went into shock during the operation. There are ruptures of varying degrees in the solid organs, and a mild dislocation of the cervical facet joints. Due to the impact, there is a moderate cranial brain injury. We need to immediately perform debridement surgery.” She paused. “Formally, we need a family member’s signature… The surgery carries a certain level of risk.”
Lu Qiang’s heart felt like it exploded. His lips turned deathly pale as he asked with difficulty, “Can she be saved?”
A trace of sympathy surfaced in the nurse. No matter how savage he looked, the fear inside him was plain to see. It wasn’t her place to say more. “Sign quickly. We’ll prepare the operation immediately.”
She stuffed the documents into Lu Qiang’s hands and turned to find Zhao Ximin’s family. That side was filled with crying.
Lu Qiang couldn’t hold the pen steady. With his head lowered, his eyes swept over several fatal phrases: deteriorating condition, critical state, life in danger at any moment, organ rupture, spinal dislocation, cranial injury.
Fear nearly swallowed him whole. His vision blurred. Suddenly he raised his head, his Adam’s apple bobbing with difficulty.
Genzi grew anxious. “Ge, hurry and sign.”
The nurse came over. “Have you signed? …Why haven’t you signed yet?”
Lu Qiang clenched the paper in his hand.
“Don’t delay things. Time is precious.”
Genzi nearly jumped, trying to snatch the documents from him. “I’ll sign!”
Lu Qiang shifted, blocking him. His fingers trembled as, at the bottom of the form, he wrote two large characters, formal yet crooked.
The female nurse took the documents from his hand. As she turned, her wrist was caught again, this time with a gentler force.
She looked back. The man stared at her, his tone almost pleading. “Save her.” He swallowed. “Please.”
The nurse was moved. “We’ll do our best.” She glanced at his name unconsciously, her expression pausing slightly. “Your name is Lu Qiang?”
Lu Qiang looked at her.
The nurse sighed. “The patient called this name when she was conscious.”
The light above the operating room lit up again.
In the hollow night, at the end of the corridor, a cry of pain rang out, followed by a suppressed, almost distorted sob.
... ...
This night was destined to be sleepless, spent in torment and waiting.
The surgery lasted seven hours. The doctor came out first, his face full of fatigue as he removed his mask.
Genzi glanced at Lu Qiang and hurried over. “Doctor, can you tell us about the situation?”
“The blood clot in the patient’s skull has basically been cleared. She’s now being transferred to the ICU. The first three days are the critical period. If she can get through them smoothly, she can be moved to a general ward.”
“Thank you. Thank you for your hard work.”
The doctor smiled faintly. “In a bit, the family can put on sterile clothing and stay with the patient for a few minutes.”
Lu Yin was transferred into the ICU. They had come in such a rush that no private monitoring had been arranged. Genzi went downstairs to pay and handle the procedures. Lu Qiang was told to wash his hands thoroughly, put on sterile clothing and shoe covers, and followed the medical staff inside.
There were over a dozen patients in the ICU, not separated into sections. Their bodies were filled with various instruments, the monitors precisely reflecting their vital signs.
The place was saturated with the atmosphere of approaching death. Lu Qiang could hardly breathe. Every step he took felt exceptionally difficult.
Lu Yin was still unconscious. Her head was wrapped in gauze, her neck and shoulders fixed in a brace, her body covered with a white sheet. The only thing exposed was her small face, slightly swollen. The thin mist in the ventilator reminded him that Lu Yin was still by his side.
There was no stool. Lu Qiang stood blankly by the bed. He didn’t dare move closer, didn’t dare touch her, afraid that even the slightest motion might affect the operation of the machines.
It felt like a long time had passed before he stiffly stepped forward. He slightly lifted the sheet at her side. Lu Yin’s index finger was clipped with a pulse oximeter, the web between thumb and forefinger facing upward, loosely curled. Lu Qiang’s fist clenched at his side, then slowly loosened. He slid his index finger into the web of her hand.
Her hand was ice cold, without warmth.
Suddenly, a sharp alarm rang from the machines. Startled, he quickly withdrew his hand. Behind him came a flurry of chaotic footsteps. A patient in the next bed suddenly began breathing rapidly, the monitor’s data jumping irregularly. Several doctors surrounded the bed, carrying out emergency resuscitation.
Someone came to ask Lu Qiang to leave.
Lu Qiang stared in that direction, unmoving.
Not long after, a piercing flatline tone rang through the room. The doctor shook his head in regret and finally covered the patient with a white sheet.
A living life, from birth to death, was only a matter of a few seconds. Coming with nothing, leaving with nothing. Blossoms bloom and fall, and that is all there is.
At that moment, Lu Qiang suddenly let out a relieved smile, becoming calm in a way that was beyond ordinary.
The nurse came again to urge him.
He bent slightly, bracing both hands lightly on the edge of the bed. He pressed his lips to her forehead, then leaned close to her ear and murmured a few words.
He hoped that everything he said, she could hear.
***
Lu Qiang came out of the ICU. Genzi had already finished the procedures.
“Got a cigarette?”
Genzi rummaged and handed one over.
“I’m going downstairs to get some air.”
His attitude had changed too much. Genzi’s nerves tightened. “I’ll go too.”
Lu Qiang glanced back at him and didn’t stop him.
It was past three in the morning. The temperature was cool and comfortable. The hospital lawn was empty.
Lu Qiang dropped down to sit, facing the inpatient building. Most of the windows were pitch black, only a few lit with faint light.
Lu Qiang didn’t know which room Lu Yin was in. He stared ahead for a long while, shook a cigarette out of the pack, lit it, then tossed one to Genzi.
The two of them sat silently on the grass, smoking slowly.
Lu Qiang lit a second one. “How’s the taxi driver?”
Genzi said, “His injuries might be worse than sister-in-law’s. He came out after her.” He glanced at him. “I heard his left leg was amputated.”
Lu Qiang’s hand tightened. He took a hard drag, the smoke dissolving into the night. After a moment of silence, he pulled a card from his wallet. “Keep what’s needed for the surgery. Give the rest to them.”
Genzi paused before taking it. “All of it?”
“All of it.”
Lu Qiang didn’t light a third cigarette. He crushed the butt between two fingers, glanced around, then slipped it back into his pocket.
He lay back on the grass. Sweat evaporated quickly from his body. When the wind passed, the fine hairs on his arms stood up. After such intense tension, his whole body felt drained. The grass roots pricked his skin, but he felt nothing.
Genzi lay down as well.
Lu Qiang turned his head to look at him and patted his thin chest. “Still hurt?” he asked about the punch earlier.
Genzi touched his face, speaking against his true feelings. “Doesn’t hurt.”
Lu Qiang said nothing. Uneasy, Genzi added, “Ge, I was anxious back then and hit you too. Don’t hold it against me.”
Lu Qiang rested both hands behind his head, a warmth rising in his chest. “That little strength of yours? Like scratching an itch.”
Genzi chuckled and shifted slightly.
They stared up at the sky, with the faint illusion of having survived a disaster.
After a long silence, Genzi still asked, “Qiang-ge, how are you going to deal with Chen Sheng?”
Lu Qiang bit down hard on his lower lip, his expression vicious. “Kill him.”
Last year, Chen Sheng had made a move on him at the alley entrance. Lu Qiang had been covered in injuries but endured it without striking back. After years of working together, Chen Sheng understood his temperament and knew how to provoke him. A few days ago, he saw the two of them lingering in the car, unwilling to part. After finding out they were already married, Chen Sheng knew this woman meant something extraordinary to Lu Qiang. Touching her would be more interesting than touching him.
There had been a lack of consideration, but hearing Lu Qiang’s out-of-control voice over the phone had filled him with satisfaction. Things were no longer what they used to be. With his current status, he no longer took Lu Qiang seriously.
Genzi asked, “What about Boss Qiu?”
Lu Qiang paused, subconsciously reaching into his pocket. “Where’s my phone?” He stopped himself, then nudged Genzi. “Your phone.”
Genzi handed it over, along with Lu Qiang’s SIM card.
Lu Qiang let out a short breath through his nose, smacked the back of his head lightly, and took the card.
Turning it over in his hand for a while, Genzi said, “Qiu Shizu’s power is too great. You know what kind of person he is. Ruthless, no mercy. I’m afraid if you touch him, he’ll go after you and sister-in-law.”
Lu Qiang looked at the sky.
Genzi muttered to himself, then gave a small laugh. “Worst comes to worst, we just leave. It’s not like Zhangzhou is the only place to live. When the time comes, I’ll go with you.”
Lu Qiang suddenly sat up, picked up the cigarette pack from the grass, and started smoking again.
Genzi crossed one leg over the other, tossing out ideas blindly. “You could even emigrate. You’ve got money in that account anyway.”
Lu Qiang’s hand paused near his mouth. “Emigrate?”
“Yeah. You and sister-in-law don’t have relatives here anyway. When the time comes, bring your mother along. Once you’re out, you won’t have to worry about food or clothes.”
The ash gathered into a long segment. His fingers hovered by his lips, but he didn’t take a single drag, and finally crushed it out directly.
He sat quietly on the grass for a long time without speaking.
An hour passed like that. The sky at the horizon had just begun to pale.
At four in the morning, Lu Qiang switched back to his own SIM card, pulled up a number, and dialed.
The other side picked up quickly.
Lu Qiang said, “I have one condition.”
The reply came readily. “Say it.”
“Guarantee the personal safety of me and Lu Yin.”
Lu Qiang spent an hour making that decision. By eight o’clock, he had explained everything to Genzi and entrusted him with making the trip.
Before leaving, Genzi left his phone with him so he could contact people later.
Lu Qiang hadn’t closed his eyes all night. In the restroom, he splashed his face casually, then put on sterile clothing again and went inside to see Lu Yin once more. There was no improvement. Her eyes were closed in stillness, her breathing shallow. Only the steady sounds of the machines indicated that her vital signs were normal.
The air in the ICU was cold and heavy. This time, Lu Qiang took her hand. It seemed to hold a trace more warmth.
Half his heart settled back into place. He bent over, hovering above her, carefully avoiding the tubes inserted into her body. It was quiet all around. Under the pale, cool light above, they looked no different from any ordinary couple. Lu Qiang used his fingers to gently stroke her cheek. On the gauze was a faint yellow stain, mixed with a diluted red. Her forehead was no longer as smooth as before, smeared with medicine.
Lu Qiang watched her quietly, unwilling to look away. Every second felt like the last, unbearably precious.
Visiting time was only five minutes. The nurse came to urge him.
Lu Qiang looked a few seconds more, pressed a light kiss to her cheek, and said softly, “Don’t be afraid. I’m right outside, watching over you.”
Lu Qiang came out and walked to the window. Outside, the sun had risen high, its light broken into scattered patches by the swaying leaves.
He braced himself against the windowsill, squinting down at the lawn below, feeling as if a lifetime had passed. Yesterday had been like a nightmare. Certain fragments leapt into his mind without warning: the truck charging wildly, the taxi rolling over again and again, her scream, her brief, labored breathing beneath the car, and the streaks of blood-red in his vision.
Lu Qiang drew in a sharp breath, lowered his head slightly, and felt waves of palpitations.
He straightened, went to the smoking room for a cigarette, then came out and sat on the bench at the end of the corridor. He spread his legs, leaned the back of his head against the wall, and only when his mind emptied did drowsiness begin to wash over him in waves.
He didn’t last long. Without caring about appearances, he simply lay sideways on the bench, arms folded, head resting on the armrest. Half-conscious, he couldn’t tell if he had fallen asleep. In his ears was a hollow noise, occasionally mixed with scattered footsteps.
He had only sunk into real sleep for ten-odd minutes when he vaguely felt someone calling him. In that hazy state, Lu Qiang’s nerves snapped tight. He sprang up from the bench and moved to head toward the ICU.
Da Long grabbed him. “Qiang-ge, where are you going?”
Lu Qiang’s heart pounded wildly, the chaotic rhythm nearly bursting out of his throat. When he saw clearly that it was Da Long and Kun Dong, he collapsed back against the bench, rubbing his face. “Why are you here?”
Da Long said, “Genzi called me before he left. Otherwise we wouldn’t even know.”
Kun Dong stood by the window. “Qiang-ge, how is sister-in-law?”
Lu Qiang said, “She’s in the ICU. Still not conscious.”
“This was really Chen Sheng?”
Lu Qiang rested his elbows on his knees. “Yeah.”
Da Long tossed his car keys aside, indignant. “That bastard’s always been against us. Full of schemes, courting death every day like he’s afraid he’ll live too long.” He bent down, looking at Lu Qiang. “Qiang-ge, however you want to deal with him, just say the word. We’ll go with you.”
Lu Qiang met his gaze and smiled faintly. “It’s not your business. Go do what you need to do.”
Kun Dong sat on Lu Qiang’s other side, agitated. “We have to go. You’ve always looked out for us. Now that something’s happened to sister-in-law, if we just stand by and watch, that’s being ungrateful.”
“Exactly,” Da Long immediately echoed, clapping his hand.
Lu Qiang wasn’t in the mood to discuss this. He patted both their shoulders and pressed down firmly. “It’s enough that you feel that way.”
After sitting a few more minutes, the three went to the smoking room. Kun Dong asked if he had eaten.
Only then did Lu Qiang remember that from yesterday afternoon until now, he hadn’t had a single drop of water or bite of food.
“I’m not hungry.”
Kun Dong stubbed out his cigarette. “That won’t do. You two keep smoking. I’ll go downstairs and see what there is to eat.”
Not long after, Kun Dong came back with bags full of food and set them on the bench. Lu Qiang rummaged through them: buns, fried dough sticks, soy milk, black rice porridge, and several small side dishes. He picked up a bun and forced himself to take two bites, but his throat felt blocked and he couldn’t swallow at all. He threw the remaining half back into the bag and got up, leaning halfway against the window.
Da Long handed him a bottle of water and asked hesitantly, “Tomorrow… what about back home?”
Lu Qiang twisted the cap halfway open, paused for a few seconds, then, reminded, remembered that tomorrow was the big wedding day. He set the mineral water on the windowsill, looking outside, silent for a long time.
It wasn’t until evening that Lu Qiang called Qian Yuanqing. He told the truth, recounting what had happened yesterday.
There was a long silence on the other end before Qian Yuanqing sighed. “What a sin.”
Lu Qiang looked out at the distant night, his mood sinking to the bottom.
Hearing his tone, Qian Yuanqing couldn’t bear to reproach him and only asked, “Is that girl badly hurt?”
Lu Qiang thought for a moment, avoiding the heavier details. “She just finished surgery yesterday.”
“Can you take care of things yourself?”
“I can.”
“Then I’ll notify them tomorrow to postpone. Once things are settled, I’ll go see her.”
“Don’t come. You won’t be able to find the place.”
From their hometown to Zhangzhou was over a thousand kilometers, requiring long-distance buses and flights. Qian Yuanqing had spent her whole life in the village, had only been to Wuqing County a handful of times. She couldn’t read, didn’t have a phone, and wasn’t used to using a wallet. She still tied money in a cloth pouch at her waist. Lu Qiang couldn’t feel at ease.
There was silence on the other end. Lu Qiang said, “Let’s wait a few more days. If it doesn’t work, I’ll have someone pick you up.”
Qian Yuanqing didn’t respond to that and only gave a few more instructions before hanging up.
... ...
During the three days in the ICU, Lu Qiang did not leave even a step. At night he made do by curling up on the corridor bench. The nurses tried to stop him several times, saying people weren’t allowed to sleep there, telling him he could rest assured that there were doctors on duty in the ICU and that he would be notified immediately if anything happened.
Lu Qiang refused to leave. He pulled money from his wallet, trying to pay the nurses for accommodation.
The nurses didn’t know whether to laugh or cry. After repeated attempts, they gave up persuading him.
On the morning of the fourth day, Da Long and Kun Dong arrived early.
Lu Yin was pushed out of the ICU and transferred to an upstairs premium ward. Inside were a television, sofa, a private bathroom, and even a small simple kitchen.
The doctors worked together to move her onto the bed. None of the instruments on her body had been removed. Her breathing still relied on oxygen. She remained unconscious, with no sign of waking.
Lu Qiang stood against the wall, watching the busy scene before him, fear and confusion tangled in his heart.
After adjusting the monitors and jotting down notes, the doctor instructed the nurse about changing dressings and infusions, then hurried out.
Lu Qiang stopped him. “Doctor, how is she now?”
“The patient was brought in promptly. We operated immediately. The blood stasis in her brain has basically been cleared. From the monitoring indicators, her recovery is good.”
Hearing this, Lu Qiang’s whole face relaxed outward. The corner of his lips lifted slightly, but he immediately asked, “Then when will she wake up? She’s been unconscious for three days.”
“One to two weeks is within the normal range,” the doctor said, then paused, putting the worst possibility first. “However, we can’t rule out some uncontrollable factors. There have been cases where the condition worsened later, with a decline in brainstem cell viability, directly leading to brain death.”
Lu Qiang froze instantly, his lips pressed into a straight line.
Seeing his expression, the doctor quickly added, “Don’t worry. The probability of that is very small. The patient’s vitality is strong.” He glanced downward, then said to Lu Qiang, “You don’t need to stay here all the time. Let your friends help watch over her. Go back and rest a bit, take a shower, relax.”
Lu Qiang’s emotions surged and fell. “I’m not tired.”
The doctor pressed his fist lightly to his lips and coughed. “Actually, during recovery, the patient’s immunity is weak. She needs a relatively clean, sterile breathing environment.”
Lu Qiang paused. He understood.
He was still wearing the same gray undershirt from several days ago. Salt stains had seeped out along the collar, the blood on the front had dried and darkened. Sweat had dried and risen again, again and dried. His beard was rough, his breath heavy.
He hadn’t dared to leave. In three days, he hadn’t taken a single shower.
Lu Qiang lifted a hand and touched his forehead. “Thank you, doctor.”
“You’re welcome.”
In the end he still couldn’t set his mind at ease. He handed the key to Kun Dong and had him go back to pack a few changes of clothes and toiletries. He washed up in the bathroom of the ward.
After Da Long and the others finished lunch, they didn’t leave until after three in the afternoon. The ward grew quiet, leaving only the two of them.
Lu Qiang dragged a stool to the bedside and sat down. Lu Yin’s face was gray-white, her lips dry and cracked. He dipped a cotton swab in water and gently moistened her lips. The weather was hot, and he didn’t dare set the air conditioning too low. Fine beads of sweat formed on her cheeks and arms.
After asking the nurse, Lu Qiang brought warm water from the bathroom, raised the temperature a few degrees, and used a damp towel to wipe her hands and face. He lifted a corner of the thin blanket and unfastened the loose hospital gown. The clothes she had worn underneath had been removed before surgery. He saw everything clearly.
From her chest to her upper abdomen, over ten centimeters, it was covered with medical tape. Her entire chest was smeared with residual iodine from the operation, a murky yellow masking the original pale skin.
That smooth body would, in the future, bear a long, ugly scar. Behind it was the pain and torment she had suffered today.
Lu Qiang clenched his fists. His temples throbbed, and an ominous darkness flickered unconsciously in his eyes.
***
In the following days, Lu Qiang slept on the sofa beside her, facing her day and night. Lu Yin remained the same.
There were still a few days left of the time the doctor had given. Lu Qiang had asked again and again, but for now, there was no other way except to wait.
He often sat blankly on the stool, staring at her, longing for her to suddenly open her eyes and smile at him. Even catching the slightest change in her body would have been enough. Time dragged on in torment. Every minute of hope ended in disappointment.
Lu Qiang glanced at the time. Eleven at night. He got up and tucked the blanket around Lu Yin, leaving only a wall lamp on.
He lay down on the sofa, closed his eyes. His mind was chaotic. It took an unknown length of time before he finally fell asleep.
He never slept deeply. Faintly, he heard slight movement from the bed. The steady rhythm of the machines beside him suddenly faltered, letting out a harsh alarm.
Lu Qiang shot upright, froze for two seconds, then leapt to the bedside.
Lu Yin was in bad condition. The white mist in the oxygen mask came in short, thick bursts. She opened her mouth wide, her chest heaving rapidly, trying to draw in more oxygen.
Her hands twisted the bedsheet tight. Her legs kicked restlessly against the bed. Her brows were tightly furrowed, her expression extremely pained.
Lu Qiang was terrified. “Yinyin… Lu Yin! Where are you uncomfortable?” He moved to steady her hands, not daring to use force, only loosely encircling them.
He slammed the call button by the bed and shouted toward the door, “Doctor! Doctor!”
But no matter how he called, no one came in.
Second by second, time passed. Gradually, Lu Yin’s movements slowed. She returned to the state before, sinking back into unconsciousness. The white mist in the oxygen mask grew thinner and thinner until it disappeared.
The machine beside her returned to its steady beeping.
Lu Qiang realized something. Pain flooded over him from all directions. “Ah—”
“Ah—”
Lu Qiang jolted up from the sofa, drenched in cold sweat. Drops ran down his neck into his collar. His chest heaved uncontrollably, his whole body trembling. Instinctively, he looked toward the bed.
The ward was quiet and calm. The machines beside her operated normally. Everything was as usual. Nothing was wrong. He stared at her chest, forcing himself to confirm that faint rise and fall. After a moment, Lu Qiang lifted the hem of his shirt to wipe the sweat from his forehead, then went to sit on the stool.
He sat there for a long time, staring at her without blinking, his eyes reddening. He raised his head and blinked, his Adam’s apple moving. Only after a long while did his gaze return. He pulled the stool closer, took her hand, rubbing it in his palm, then brought it to his lips and kissed it.
With a bitter smile, he asked her, “How much longer are you going to sleep? Hm? Baby.”
His voice fell hollow, echoing in the cold room. Lu Qiang lowered his head and gently covered his eyes with her palm.
The room fell silent.
Lu Qiang lay by the bedside through the entire night. Around six or seven in the morning, the corridor gradually grew noisy.
His eyes were closed, his forehead resting against the back of his own hand. Something brushed lightly against his temple.
By his ear, someone softly whispered a sentence to him.
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