Chapter 28: Successful Surgery

At a crucial moment, the remaining bullet fragments were in difficult positions, perilously close to the heart, and the surrounding blood vessels and nerves were complex. Yang Qingyan took a deep breath, relying on her experience and knowledge of human anatomy to avoid critical areas. With utmost caution, she maneuvered the surgical instrument deeper into the body, taking each step carefully.

Just then, Chen Feng’s body suddenly convulsed violently, and his vital signs took a dramatic downturn. Startled, Yang Qingyan focused her energy, channeling her supernatural abilities into Chen Feng to stabilize his vital signs, unnoticed by those around her.

Once she ensured Chen Feng was stable, Yang Qingyan continued with the surgery, ultimately retrieving the last bullet fragment before beginning to suture the wound, her needlework fluid and skillful.

For a full twenty hours, the tension in the operating room was palpable, punctuated only by the sound of the machines and her soft commands. Meanwhile, Mu Nanhe paced anxiously outside, having not eaten or drunk anything, overwhelmed by concern.

Finally, Yang Qingyan completed the last stitch and, although fatigued, she announced with a sense of relief, “The surgery is over; the patient is out of danger.”

Though Chen Feng’s face was pale, he was breathing steadily, and his vital signs had normalized. The specialists huddled around him, deeply impressed by her skill. “Her technique is remarkable—she handled such a complex surgery perfectly; it’s unbelievable!” one exclaimed. Another added, “Incredible skill, poised under pressure—it’s truly commendable.”

When they emerged to announce the surgery’s success, Mu Nanhe rushed forward, engulfing Yang Qingyan in a tight embrace, his voice filled with emotion. “Qingyan, you did it! Thank you!”

Yang Qingyan forced herself to stay lucid as she looked at Mu Nanhe, the commander, and the medical staff, speaking clearly and firmly, “After the surgery, keep an eye on any signs of fever. The first 24 hours are critical for observation; if he gets through that, he should be fine.” Just as she finished speaking, exhaustion overwhelmed her, and her vision blurred. She collapsed into Mu Nanhe’s arms.

“Qingyan! Qingyan! What’s wrong?” Mu Nanhe shouted in alarm, quickly supporting her.

The specialists rushed over; a seasoned expert promptly checked her condition. After a moment, he raised his head, concern etched on his face. “She’s exhausted. She operated independently for twenty hours with complete focus; the physical and mental strain has worn her out. Let her rest with a couple of glucose IV drips.”

In the patient room, a nurse quickly connected Yang Qingyan to a glucose drip. Mu Nanhe sat by her side, gripping her hand tightly, his gaze never leaving her face.

After what felt like an eternity, Yang Qingyan awakened, her eyes fluttering open to see Mu Nanhe beside her, motionless yet holding her hand. Warmth spread through her heart as she smiled and said, “I’m fine; don’t worry.”

Mu Nanhe looked up, his eyes filled with surprise and concern. “Are you hungry? I got you some porridge. Let me feed you.”

Seeing his nervousness, Yang Qingyan’s playful side peeked through as she leaned closer to his ear, whispering, “Feed me with your mouth.”

Mu Nanhe froze for a moment, then realized what she was implying. His face flushed, and he put the porridge down, gently cupping Yang Qingyan’s face before bending down to give her a deep kiss.

This kiss was filled with pain, gratitude, and love, weaving warmth into the hospital room. After a long while, Mu Nanhe released Yang Qingyan, glancing at her slightly flushed lips, chuckling, “Are you satisfied? Now drink the porridge and regain your strength.”

Yang Qingyan took a few sips of the porridge and began to recover her energy. Suddenly, she remembered something and turned to Mu Nanhe, asking, “How is Chen Feng?”

Mu Nanhe immediately set the bowl down, a smile breaking out on his face as he replied, “He’s already awake. The doctor said he’ll be fine after some rest, all thanks to you.” Yang Qingyan nodded gently, relief washing over her features.

Once they finished the porridge, the two made their way to Chen Feng’s room. Pushing open the door, they found Chen Feng lying weakly on the bed, his complexion ashen and connected to various monitoring devices that made rhythmic beeping sounds.

Upon seeing Yang Qingyan enter, Chen Feng attempted to sit up but lacked the strength, merely lifting his head slightly. His lips were parched, and his voice, though faint, was filled with sincerity. “Sister-in-law, thank you. I heard it was you who saved me.”

Yang Qingyan hurried a few steps to his bedside, gently saying, “Don’t move around. You’re still very weak; focus on resting.”

Mu Nanhe joined her by the bedside, standing nearby and adding, “That’s right, Chen Feng. Just concentrate on your recovery. You really owe your life to Qingyan; she fought for twenty hours in the operating room to pull you back from the brink.”

As Chen Feng listened, his eyes watered; he looked at Yang Qingyan with immense gratitude. “Sister-in-law, I will remember this kindness. If you ever need anything, don’t hesitate to ask.” Yang Qingyan smiled and shook her head. “There’s no need to say that. You’re Mu Nanhe’s brother; you are my family. Saving you was the right thing to do.”

While they spoke, Chen Feng seemed to suddenly remember something important. The weakness in his eyes was replaced with a flicker of worry as he struggled to speak, “Nanhe, you need to be careful. My injury is related to that batch of drug dealers you infiltrated before. I’m afraid they might target you.”

Upon hearing this, Mu Nanhe’s brows furrowed slightly, his demeanor turning serious. Yet, looking at Chen Feng’s frail state, he quickly softened his expression, speaking reassuringly, “You just focus on getting better; we can discuss everything else later.”

Chen Feng, still uneasy, wanted to say more, but Mu Nanhe stepped forward, giving his shoulder a gentle pat and offering a calming look.

Just then, a knock resounded at the door, and all eyes turned to see the director walk in. He walked straight to Yang Qingyan, a smile of admiration on his face, sincerely saying, “Comrade Yang, your medical skills are remarkable. Would you be interested in joining our military hospital?”

Yang Qingyan was momentarily taken aback, clearly not expecting such an invitation. After thinking it over, she responded honestly, “I don’t have a medical license.”

The director waved his hand dismissively, laughing heartily. “That’s not an issue; you can take the exam at the health bureau. I’ll introduce you to them. With your skills, you’ll pass with flying colors.”

Yang Qingyan’s heart stirred upon hearing this. After a brief moment of consideration, she looked up and said, “I’m willing to join, but I have a condition: I won’t have a regular shift. Just inform me when there’s a difficult surgery that requires my presence, and I’ll come in, with compensation accounted for based on the difficulty and quantity of surgeries.”

The director promptly agreed, “No problem! It’s settled then. I’ll call the health bureau and get you registered. Can you go tomorrow?”

Yang Qingyan replied enthusiastically, “Yes, thank you, director.” The director laughed heartily again, his laughter echoing through the ward. “I should be the one thanking you. You’re a talent who will surely bring glory to our hospital.”

After the director left, the ward returned to a quiet stillness. Mu Nanhe looked at Yang Qingyan, his eyes filled with pride and support. “Qingyan, this is a good opportunity. You’ll be able to showcase your talents even more in the future.”

Yang Qingyan nodded, a smile gracing her lips, her eyes glimmering with hopeful anticipation for what lay ahead. She understood that this was a new beginning—not only could she help more patients, but perhaps she would also uncover new possibilities along this path. In this small hospital room, the warmth of survival intertwined with dreams for the future, gently enveloping them both.