C1 The Patient

Dongshan Hospital is a renowned sanatorium in Puti City, known for catering to an elite clientele. Those who sought treatment here often had significant connections and capabilities. It was Lee Xue's first day on the job as an intern nurse in the Department of Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Surgery. Unfamiliar with the surroundings, she found herself lost until she spotted a solitary female patient in a wheelchair down the corridor. After a moment's hesitation, she approached her.

"Excuse me, do you know where the doctor's office is? I'm supposed to report to Dr. Liu," she asked with a polite smile.

The patient looked up at her, and her gaunt features and pallid complexion startled Lee Xue. Realizing her reaction might have been impolite, she quickly apologized. The patient simply smiled and gestured dismissively, "It's okay. I've just had my second round of chemotherapy, and all my hair's fallen out. I can't even bear to look at myself... You're looking for Dr. Liu, right? His office is straight ahead at the end of this hallway."

Lee Xue thanked her and walked away, feeling embarrassed.

By lunchtime, Lee Xue had heard quite a bit about the patient from her colleagues. She was shocked to learn that the woman, only thirty years old, was battling liver cancer and felt deep sympathy for her. "She's so young. How could her family not take better care of her?" she wondered aloud.

The head nurse shook her head, "I know, it's tragic. Poor Miss Ann has no relatives. Since her admission, only one friend has visited her, and they don't even seem that close. Oddly enough, this friend has covered all her medical and nursing fees and always brings loads of things... Despite not seeming like a close acquaintance, they're incredibly kind to Miss Ann."

A young nurse chimed in with a mischievous grin, "He's quite the looker, too—tall and broad-shouldered, though he has a booming voice and can be a bit brusque."

Curiosity piqued, Lee Xue peered out, asking, "Is Mr. Ann's friend coming today?"

As if on cue, a burly man with curly blond hair emerged from the elevator. His features were strikingly defined, as if chiseled at birth. With a prominent nose, full lips, and deeply set eyes, his face was devoid of color, making him appear older than the typical restorative patient here. Despite this, his stature was imposing, and at first glance, he exuded a military air. A certain fierceness marked his expression, though the yellowing of his hair detracted slightly from the disciplined seriousness one might expect from a soldier.

He dashed over, clutching a bundle of herbs. "Where's Dr. Liu? Quick, can you check if these herbs are safe for Ann Jue to take?"

Lee Xue was startled by his booming voice and stepped back. "I-I-I don't know."

"He's actually in Mr. Ann's room. Mr. Zhao, you really don't need to do this every time..." The head nurse tried to reason with him, but seeing him sprint away, she realized her words fell on deaf ears and sighed deeply.

"Is Miss Ann very sick?" Lee Xue asked after a moment of thought. She had an inkling that these two shared a close bond, though it wasn't as openly displayed as with others. Why else would a mere friend be so desperately seeking medicine for her?

The head nurse nodded, sighing again. "She's in the final stages of liver cancer. Her condition is so frail that she can't undergo a liver transplant, and there's no donor available. Chemotherapy isn't making much of a difference either; we're just buying time." She handed over the prepared injection. "This is for Miss Ann, and it's the last of it. In my opinion, it would be kinder to bring her home, let her live out her days in peace, and do whatever she wishes. It's better than..."

Lee Xue glanced at the label—it was merely a nutrient solution. She placed it on the tray and walked toward the ward. The door was ajar, and peering through the gap, she saw Ann Jue, half-covered by a blanket, her bald head exposed. Dr. Liu had left, and only his friend remained, sitting by the bed, peeling an apple.

She hesitated, pausing instinctively, feeling for some reason that she should give them a bit more time to talk.