Chapter 31: The Doctor Declares “We’ve Done Our Best”

Yang Qingyan fought through her pain, desperately wiping away the tears that fell down her cheeks, yet they seemed to flow like beads from a broken string—no matter how hard she tried, they wouldn’t stop.

Her voice trembled with sobs as she tried to maintain her composure, asking again, “What exactly happened? What’s going on now?”

Chen Feng’s brow was tightly furrowed, guilt and helplessness etched across his face. He sighed heavily and said, “He was on a secret mission this time. I don’t know exactly what happened, but I do know it involved an undercover operation against drug traffickers. I’ve been recovering and haven’t been at the base for a month. Today, my dad received news from the commanders in the capital that Nanhe was gravely injured and might not make it. He was calling out your name when he regained consciousness, which is why they sent for you to say your last goodbyes.”

Upon hearing this, Yang Qingyan felt as if a heavy stone weighed down upon her chest, making it hard for her to breathe. She bit her lip until blood welled up, thinking that perhaps that pain could keep her senses sharp. Suppressing the tidal wave of sorrow overwhelming her, she asked hoarsely, “How long until we reach the capital?”

Chen Feng glanced at the dashboard, his tone heavy as he responded, “Four hours.”

After that, both fell silent. The atmosphere in the car was suffocating, cloaked in a thick haze that pressed down on them like a weight, almost suffocating.

Chen Feng focused intently on driving, the speed was fast, but to him, it still felt insufficient—he wished they could fly right to the Capital City General Hospital.

Finally, after three and a half hours, they arrived at the hospital. At the entrance to the emergency room, many officers stood by, each with their own ranks on their shoulders. Yang Qingyan didn’t hesitate; she approached the nearest doctor and asked urgently, “Who is the attending physician? What’s happening with Mu Nanhe?”

The attending physician, appearing flustered, responded, “Who are you?”

“I’m a family member of the patient,” Yang Qingyan replied firmly.

The doctor, looking hesitant, said, “He’s not likely to make it. You can go in to say your last goodbyes.”

At that moment, Yang Qingyan felt a storm of anger and despair rise within her. She rushed up to the doctor, her eyes bloodshot with fury, shouting, “What do you mean he’s not likely to make it? I’m asking you what his current condition is and where he’s injured!”

The commanding officer nearby was startled by her intensity and quickly stepped in to explain, “I understand how you feel about Nanhe, but please remain calm. The doctors are doing everything they can.”

Yang Qingyan hardly registered his words; her entire focus was on Mu Nanhe. She turned to the officer, shouting, “Don’t speak! I want to know from the doctor where Nanhe is hurt and how bad it is—tell me now!”

The officer’s bodyguard, seeing her outburst, frowned, ready to reprimand her, but was stopped by the officer raising his hand. He said softly, “It’s alright; let her speak.”

Dr. Wang, observing the scene, sighed in resignation. He then explained in detail, “The patient’s injuries are extremely critical. His spleen is ruptured, nearly shattered; he also has severe lacerations on the liver, and he’s been losing a lot of blood. Five ribs are broken—three of those fractured bones have penetrated into the lungs, causing a pneumothorax. His right arm has an open fracture with exposed bone, and there is serious damage to the tendons and nerves. There is a significant accumulation of blood in the chest cavity, causing compression on the heart; his left and right legs both have multiple fractures, and his ankle is crushed with the tendons severed. We’ve already tried every means possible, but we are simply out of options.”

Upon hearing this, Yang Qingyan took a deep breath, suppressing the pain and chaos within her, striving to remain calm. With a determined gaze, she looked at Dr. Wang and said, “Prepare a sterile gown for me; I want to see him.”

Dr. Wang was slightly taken aback and instructed a nurse to bring the gown. Chen Feng quickly followed suit, and the three of them entered the emergency room together. As they stepped inside, the acrid scent of disinfectant mingled with the metallic tang of blood assaulted Yang Qingyan. There lay Mu Nanhe, motionless, his face as pale as paper, devoid of any color, and his lips dried and cracked. His body was covered in wounds, each grotesque gash oozing with fresh blood. He was hooked up to multiple monitoring devices, wires snaking all over him, while bags of blood hung from a nearby stand, slowly dripping into him, yet he showed no signs of recovery.

Seeing this scene, Chen Feng’s eyes reddened instantly, tears brimming at the edges but struggling to remain restrained. He bit down on his lip, fighting against the urge to cry, while his body trembled unbidden.

Yang Qingyan noticed and whispered, “If you need to cry, go outside. Tears can carry bacteria; you can’t cry in here.” Dr. Wang silently nodded alongside her, agreeing with her statement.

Yang Qingyan stepped up to the side of Mu Nanhe’s bed and gently took his ice-cold hand. Then, seemingly casually, she felt his pulse, applying slight pressure with her fingertips, focusing on that faint yet still existing heartbeat.

Her eyes quickly scanned the complex array of devices and tubes connected to Mu Nanhe, and she began to form a preliminary assessment. Next, she moved closer to Mu Nanhe, meticulously checking the various injuries on his head, neck, and other parts of his body, not overlooking any corner that might harbor hidden dangers.

Standing up, she once again met Dr. Wang’s gaze, her tone steady and unyielding. “Bring me all his examination reports.”

Although Dr. Wang was doubtful whether she could understand them, he didn’t question her further and quickly instructed someone to fetch the documents. Before long, the reports were placed in Yang Qingyan’s hands.

Quickly flipping through the pages, her brow occasionally furrowing in concentration or relaxing as the cold data became a series of clear treatment steps in her mind. After setting down the reports, Yang Qingyan had already outlined a complete treatment plan in her mind.

As they exited the emergency room, Yang Qingyan took a deep breath, her eyes reflecting her determination. With a voice strong enough to carry, she declared, “I can treat him.”

Her words struck the air like a stone thrown into a still lake, instantly stirring up ripples of shock. It felt as though the very atmosphere had been sucked away, plunging the surroundings into a chilling silence.

A group of experts who had been quietly discussing possible treatment plans turned to her, their expressions shifting from surprise to incredulity.

The lead expert, an elderly man, adjusted his glasses and peered at Yang Qingyan over the frames with blatant skepticism. It was as if he were assessing a naive child who had barged into a professional arena.

“Little girl, do you understand what you’re saying?” The old expert broke the silence, his tone carrying a hint of anger. “Given the severity of Commander Mu’s injuries, our country’s top medical team has been consulted, and we have yet to find the safest approach to treatment. How can a girl who looks no older than twenty have such unfounded confidence?”

Another, somewhat younger expert chimed in, agreeing emphatically, “Exactly. This is no game. Just look at this diagnosis report: a ruptured spleen, major liver hemorrhage, multiple fractures with a pneumothorax… every single item presents a life-threatening challenge. We have racked our brains trying to find a solution; what makes you think you can do it?”

He waved the hefty stack of examination data in his hands, the rustling of the pages accentuating his disdainful skepticism.

The other experts began to murmur in agreement, shaking their heads and whispering to each other, “This girl is probably out of her mind; how could she dare to make such bold claims in this situation?”

“She must be too anxious about Commander Mu and is just spouting off impulsively.”

The medical professionals’ attitude formed an impenetrable wall of icy indifference, standing before Yang Qingyan like a forbidding fortress.