After arriving at the hospital, it was already past ten o’clock.
Bailian had already changed out of her school uniform and was wearing white loungewear. Her face was expressionless, not looking at anyone, and she went with the nurse to draw blood.
The nurse carefully inserted the needle into her arm, and dark red blood climbed up the transparent tube.
Halfway through, the nurse was about to remove the needle.
Bailian’s arm was still on the table, and the faintly bluish blood vessels that were slightly moistened could be seen. She had been lowering her eyelashes the whole time, but now she raised her eyes slightly. Her eyes were extremely deep and cold. Only then did she say her first sentence: “Continue.”
Each word almost shattered into ice.
The nurse knew that drawing more blood would harm the donor’s body, but looking at Bailian’s eyes, she was startled and tremblingly drew two more tubes.
Finally, she mustered up the courage to say, “You really can’t draw any more.”
“Mm, thank you.” Bailian put down her sleeve and stood up.
The phone call was urgent, and Bailian didn’t tell Ji Heng. She came alone.
Outside, Ji Shaojun was intermittently saying something to Xu En. Seeing Bailian come out, the two involuntarily stopped talking.
“What happened to Aunt?” Bailian stood in front of Ji Shaojun, looking at the emergency room under rescue.
Ji Shaojun buried his head between his knees and didn’t speak. It was Xu En who helped explain, “Your aunt accidentally fell down the stairs…”
“Stairs?” Bailian nodded.
Xu En made an “mm” sound.
Bailian didn’t ask any more questions and didn’t seem to believe it.
“Shen Qing’s family, where are Shen Qing’s family members?” Inside the emergency room, another nurse came out with a form, “Have you contacted the hospital? The patient needs to have a craniotomy as soon as possible, otherwise there is a risk of turning into a vegetative state…”
Ji Shaojun abruptly stood up.
Xu En hurriedly turned around and urged the assistant, “Did you get in touch with the young master?”
The assistant came back with the phone and was also very helpless about Xu En’s urging, “The young master is also trying to figure out a way, but even the dean can’t be easily reached…”
“Then what should we do now?” Ji Mulan was a little flustered.
Bailian understood the meaning of a vegetative state. She raised her eyes, but was calmer than anyone else at the scene, “Give me the diagnosis.”
The nurse was stunned.
She subconsciously took out the diagnostic report and handed it to Bailian.
Bailian took it and gave it a rough glance. There were many professional terms that she had never heard of, such as titanium mesh implantation for skull and cerebrospinal fluid leakage…
Without looking closely, she directly took out her phone and took a few photos.
She opened WeChat and sent it to Lance.
Bailian: [Help me take a look]
After sending it, she returned the diagnostic report to the nurse.
Beside her, Xu En’s assistant was surprised to see Bailian’s actions. Was she going to post it online for crowdfunding or ask on Qiandu? Why did the Ji family members all seem quite unreliable?
Ji Shaojun wiped his face and calmly looked at Bailian, “A Lian, you still have to go to school tomorrow. Go back and rest first. Don’t worry about your aunt, nothing will happen to her.”
He almost murmured.
Xu En and the assistant went aside to discuss the matter of Jiangjing Hospital.
Only then did Ji Mulan ask Ji Shaojun, “She didn’t fall down the stairs, right? Why don’t you tell Xu En the truth?”
“Yongfu Community, it should be that President Lu. I called the police, but there has been no response,” Ji Shaojun tugged at his lips. He looked at Ji Mulan, calm yet crazy, “So… do you think Xu En can go up against them? Or do you think that relying on your relationship with him, he would be willing to make an enemy of someone with a deep background for us? And then get Dad and A Lian involved?!”
Ji Shaojun had long known that this President Lu was not a good person.
But the only thing he hadn’t expected was that Shen Qing would be implicated because of this.
One Shen Qing was enough. He didn’t want to get the entire Ji family involved. Being able to call Ji Mulan and Bailian was entirely because of their blood type.
“What?” Ji Mulan’s mind was in a mess, and she immediately thought of the person Xu En had mentioned.
She stood there for a long time.
Her heart was in a complete mess.
It couldn’t be that President Lu, right?
**
Jiangjing, Xu En’s family home.
Old Mrs. Xu sat up from the bed and came out of the room wearing a coat. She coldly swept her eyes over the butler, “Xu En is muddled, and you’re also muddled? Don’t you know that he has been considering Academician Ma’s laboratory recently? Yet you disturbed him for such a trivial matter?!”
The butler lowered his head and smiled bitterly, “The master requested it.”
“Xu En?” Old Mrs. Xu sneered, “He has gone crazy for the sake of a woman and even ran to a place like Xiangcheng. Has he made any achievements? Now he wants to disturb his son’s important future prospects?”
For the sake of some unknown woman, he went to disturb the development of the future heir of the Xu family.
If Xu En were in front of Old Mrs. Xu, he would be beaten to death with her cane.
The butler didn’t say a word, not daring to utter a single sentence.
“You intercept the calls from Xu En’s side for me,” Old Mrs. Xu lowered her eyes and turned the prayer beads in her hand, “If I hear that he made another call to the young master, all of you pack your bags and get lost!”
What Ji Mulan, what Ji family, what stepdaughter, Old Mrs. Xu didn’t acknowledge any of them.
Even if Xu En wanted to marry her, she would never let that woman take a step into the Xu family.
“Don’t worry!” The butler bowed and withdrew.
He arranged this matter.
At the hospital, the assistant looked at the unanswered phone and helplessly looked at Xu En.
Xu En almost didn’t need to think to know who had interfered with this matter. He pressed his temples, “Keep looking for other ways.”
He went downstairs and paid a large sum for Shen Qing’s surgery, and also upgraded her to a high-ranking patient room. As for the rest, they could only leave it to fate.
The craniotomy hadn’t been performed yet, and Ji Shaojun was keeping watch here overnight.
Xu En and Ji Mulan went back first.
On the way, Ji Mulan brought up the matter of President Lu, “The President Lu my brother mentioned…”
“Yongfu Community?” Xu En gasped. The President Lu whom he had always wanted to intervene with but couldn’t make an appointment with, “Listen to me.”
Xu En’s mind was turning very quickly. He solemnly looked at Ji Mulan and repeatedly warned, “You must persuade your brother not to continue reporting to the police. Treat this matter as if it never happened. Let them sign the agreement as soon as possible, otherwise the entire community will be in trouble. I will try my best to help you find a doctor. If that President Lu were an ordinary businessman, it would be fine, but you also know, behind him is that bar on Heishui Street, people from the international border, they are ruthless. Let alone Xiangcheng, even I can’t offend them!”
Ji Mulan had never seen Xu En speak in such a solemn tone.
From Xiangcheng to Beicheng, and then to Jiangjing.
Ji Mulan always thought that she had seen far enough, but she didn’t expect that she had only seen one percent of this world.
“I’ll tell him tomorrow.” She slowly lowered her head.
**
Qingshui Street.
When Bailian returned, it was already twelve o’clock.
This little old man Lance had a time difference with her.
At this time, it was still morning over there, and he replied very quickly.
Lance: [Look, what a beautiful CT scan of a skull injury!]
Lance: [I can already envision a standard thesis that my students will produce!]
Lance: [White, where did you find such a textbook-like skull injury image?]
Lance: [Oh my god! And it’s a rare Rh-negative blood type! This surgery will require zero margin for error, with a success rate of nearly 0%! What a pity!]
Skull repair was a small matter, but because of Shen Qing’s rare blood type, the 50% risk was increased to 99.9%.
Because there could be no margin for error whatsoever during the repair process.
Bailian gently closed the door and saw that Ji Heng in the middle room was not awakened. She breathed a sigh of relief. She couldn’t sleep, so she sat at the desk and took out physics problems to calm herself.
When she saw Lance’s reply, she had just finished a big question.
She glanced at it and replied to Lance with three words–
[My aunt]
Lance’s side paused for a while and didn’t send a message. He was probably looking up what “aunt” meant.
Ten seconds later.
Lance withdrew a message
Lance withdrew a message
Lance withdrew a message
Lance withdrew a message
Lance: [Look at this heartbreaking news!]
Lance: [Pay attention, although the skull is severely injured, it’s not to the point of being inoperable]
Lance: [Of course, a 0% success rate, that’s for other doctors]
Bailian got his point and was straightforward: [What about you?]
Lance: [Pay attention to your wording. The one speaking to you now is the number one surgeon in the surgical field, Lance.]
Lance was very arrogant: [100%]
Bailian had no doubts about Lance’s medical skills. Medical skills knew no borders. The two had communicated for such a long time and were well aware of each other’s medical skills.
Lance realized the profoundness of traditional Chinese medicine, and Bailian also reconciled with Western medicine. There were reasons why it could replace traditional Chinese medicine in just a few hundred years in the country.
She realized that the essence of the problem was not to resist Western medicine, but to promote traditional Chinese medicine.
Hearing that Lance could perform this surgery, she breathed a sigh of relief.
Bailian: [Can you come?]
Lance didn’t hesitate either. He was originally curious about traditional Chinese medicine and wanted to find Bailian to try acupuncture to see if it could cure his nearsightedness. Now it was just a few days earlier.
Lance: [Then you have to give me acupuncture!]
Bailian: [1]
Lance: [I’m coming!]
She sent Lance the address in Xiangcheng.
Finally, she breathed a sigh of relief.
Lance was abroad, so even if he rushed to catch a flight now, it would take at least until tomorrow to arrive.
**
Bailian barely slept all night.
The next day, she unusually didn’t ask Ji Heng and left with her schoolbag at six o’clock.
At six-thirty, on the first floor of Xiangcheng Hospital.
A group of people were talking to the nurse at the front desk. The leader was an old lady with a cane. She didn’t dare to speak when she saw the bright nurse station. After a long while, she cautiously stepped forward and inquired, “Miss Nurse, we… we are all here to donate blood for Shen Qing. Where can we donate blood?”
Behind her, there were workers wearing hard hats, middle-aged couples who had been selling breakfast and hadn’t taken off their aprons yet, and minors who had come with their parents…
“That’s right, nurse, where is it?” The worker took off his hat, revealing his swarthy face, and was very anxious, “I heard that she was seriously injured…”
“Hurry up, nurse,” someone directly rolled up their sleeves, “take mine, I have a lot of blood!”
Hundreds of people all surged forward.
It was a very impressive scene.
Yongfu Community was an old neighborhood, and the people here had lived for decades, especially the older generation, who knew each other very well.
“Grandma, your blood can’t be drawn,” the nurse station had never encountered this situation either, and she was also a little dazed. She stood up and then said loudly, “Everyone wait, don’t make noise, line up, and I’ll ask about the situation.”
The group of people hurriedly lined up, forming a very long line from the nurse station all the way to the hospital entrance.
Bailian had originally wanted to go directly to the elevator and go upstairs.
Hearing Shen Qing’s name, she paused, turned her head, and looked through the crowd at the long line of people at the entrance.
After a while, she took a step forward and came to the old lady standing in front, “Grandma, I’m Shen Qing’s niece. Are you all here to donate blood for her?”
The old lady was from the first floor of Building 7. She squinted and looked at Bailian, immediately recognizing her.
She excitedly held Bailian’s hand, “I know you, young one. How is your aunt doing now? Don’t worry, we have already found people in the community. They will all come to donate blood later…”
“It’s okay,” Bailian supported her, then gently said to the people behind her, “My aunt needs panda blood1. If any of you have panda blood, I thank you on behalf of my uncle and aunt. If not, please go back. Rest assured, my aunt will be fine here.”
“That’s good then,” the old lady breathed a sigh of relief. She held Bailian’s arm, “That damn President Lu…”
Bailian paused for a moment. She lowered her eyelashes, “President Lu?”
“He’s the one who wants to acquire our community, fierce and terrifying…” The old lady said while tapping her cane, “Sinful, our community…”
Bailian nodded, her pitch-black eyes reflecting the hospital’s cold floor.
She turned and headed for the elevator.
At the hospital entrance, another dozen or so people who had just finished moving goods came in. They were sweating profusely and casually wiped it off before asking, “Where can we donate blood for Shen Qing!”
“Young man, here, they said panda blood is needed. Which of you know your blood type…”
“It’s quick to go check…”
**
Intensive Care Unit.
Ji Shaojun stood outside the window.
Not far away, Ji Mulan and Xu En had also arrived early.
A doctor who had received an important task from Xu En took the medical records and explained to Xu En and Ji Shaojun, “With our current technology, we can only observe in the ICU. You are also aware of Ms. Shen’s condition. Her blood type is special. There are not many people in the country who dare to take such a risk to perform surgery. In these few days, you should prepare for her brain death.”
As for what preparation, the doctor’s meaning was very clear.
Ji Mulan looked at Xu En.
Xu En smiled bitterly, “Can’t get in touch with that dean.”
Ji Shaojun’s gaze calmly turned to the intensive care unit, his eyes brewing a storm.
“Uncle,” Bailian stood beside Ji Shaojun. She was wearing her school uniform, her hair tied up messily behind her head, her brows and eyes lowered. She almost casually said, “That President Lu, is he still in Xiangcheng? Aunt ended up like this because of him?”
This sentence.
Made the few people present shudder involuntarily.
Ji Shaojun hurriedly turned his head. He looked at Bailian, very nervous, “Who told you? What President Lu, A Lian, you’re a student, don’t get involved in this matter. Just focus on your studies. Your aunt is fine now.”
Bailian quietly looked at Ji Shaojun for a while, didn’t answer, and said somewhat casually, “I’m going to class.”
She turned and went downstairs.
Seven o’clock.
Downstairs of the hospital.
Director Chen’s car stopped in a hurry. As soon as he received Bailian’s call, he anxiously rushed over.
At a glance, he saw Bailian leaning against a tree, “Miss Bai!”
He got out of the car.
Bailian put her schoolbag at her feet. She was wearing her blue and white school uniform open, arms crossed, casually leaning against the tree, calmly watching the traffic flow. The breeze blew past, and loose strands of hair swayed lightly, like the low air pressure on the sea surface before a storm.
So stuffy that it made people gasp for breath.
“You’re here,” Bailian reached out and slowly plucked the withered yellow leaf that had fallen on her arm, “There’s a President Lu who wants to acquire Yongfu Community, do you know him?”
No matter when or where, Bailian was always lazy and casual. Director Chen had always felt that she had a very good temper.
This was the first time he directly faced her storm.
He belatedly realized that facing such a Bailian, the pressure was no less than facing an enraged Jiang Fuli!
Director Chen replied very cautiously, “I don’t know him.”
“That’s good then,” Bailian tilted her head slightly. She looked at Director Chen, smiling at the corner of her lips, but there was cold frost in her eyes. The air pressure around her was spine-chilling, “I want all his information.”
- Panda blood (???) is a nickname for “RH Negative” blood due to its extreme scarcity/rarity. ↩︎
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