The sedan slowly stopped at the hospital's main entrance.
Song Ci tilted his head to look at his boss, seeing him leaning against the car seat, lost in thought. He reminded him, "Boss, we've arrived at the hospital."
How could Qing Muye not know they had arrived at the hospital?
His hand, resting on his knees, clenched slightly. He turned his head to glance at the emergency building, an invisible sense of dread emanating from him towards the building.
After a long pause, he pushed open the door and got out of the car.
As he stepped out, a cold gust of wind hit him, its icy chill dispelling the fear in Qing Muye's heart...
Yes, it was fear.
Qing Muye had never experienced this feeling before. Now, having felt it, he realized how terrifying it was to have the person he deeply loved lying in the operating room.
He knew that if Meng Jingwei's condition wasn't so severe, Xiao Cheng would not have turned back midway.
After a few seconds of calm, Qing Muye regained his usual cold and composed demeanor, striding confidently into the hospital and heading straight for the operating room on the 12th floor.
Along the way, Qing Muye appeared outwardly unfazed, but inwardly, his heart was in turmoil. The fingers in his suit pocket trembled subtly from time to time.
The man who had never feared anything was now completely consumed by fear.
As it was a regular hospital, there were many patients and their families during the day, and the elevator was crowded.
Qing Muye glanced at the crowded elevator entrance and ultimately chose to take the stairs.
Initially, the man ascended with vigorous steps, but as he continued, his pace quickened, eventually turning into a run.
Song Ci, following behind him, could almost feel his boss's psychological shift. He knew that from the initial inability to accept reality, to facing reality, and even rejecting it, he had now reached a point of willingness to accept the harsh reality, hence the urgent ascent.
The man, usually calm and composed in the face of events, had finally panicked.
Qing Muye arrived at the 12th floor and found the entrance to Meng Jingwei's emergency operating room.
Outside the operating room, Xiao Cheng was nowhere to be seen.
Qing Muye stood in the deserted operating room corridor, looking up at the "Resuscitating" red light, and remained stunned for a long time.
"Find Xiao Cheng, no matter the cost!"
After a long while, he instructed Song Ci.
"Yes, boss."
Song Ci immediately turned and walked down the corridor to make a call.
Meanwhile, Qing Muye's phone kept ringing. The man felt somewhat agitated but was more afraid that the shrill ringtone would disturb the doctors operating inside. He switched his phone to silent mode.
Time ticked by. Qing Muye didn't know how long he had been standing there. His legs felt stiff and numb. He then turned, paced to the side, took out a cigarette pack from his pocket, lit a cigarette, and began to smoke silently.
A nurse nearby saw this and wanted to intervene, as smoking was prohibited in the hospital. However, Song Ci stopped the nurse, whispered some instructions to her, and the nurse, after looking at Qing Muye, left.
Shortly after, Han Yu, Lu Yanming, Tang Si, and others also rushed over.
The scene they witnessed was Qing Muye leaning against the wall of the operating room corridor, his right leg slightly bent with his heel against the wall, one hand in his suit pocket, the other holding a cigarette, puffing away.
At his feet, amidst a pile of ashes, lay five or six cigarette butts, the thick scent of nicotine filling the corridor.
The brothers exchanged glances and walked forward.
It was only when they got closer that they noticed Qing Muye's hands trembling slightly.
This was a side of Qing Muye they had never seen before – so dispirited.
...
Meanwhile.
On the second basement level of the hospital garage, inside an RV.
Mr. and Mrs. Li Fu'an sat in the driver's and passenger seats. In the passenger compartment, Old Chen stood respectfully before a mysterious woman wearing a mask.
"Monarch, Tang Si, beside Young Master Qing, has exceptional medical skills. Can we pull the wool over their eyes?" Old Chen asked with some concern.
The woman, addressed as 'Monarch,' handed a delicate porcelain bottle to Old Chen. "Have her ingest this, and even the most skilled physicians won't be able to detect anything unusual. Someone will contact you regarding other matters."
Old Chen looked at the medicine bottle, his brow furrowed. He looked up at the mysterious woman. "Is this the only way?"
"Everything that has happened today was destined. Besides, even if nothing had happened today, she should leave Lan City. This place does not belong to her," the mysterious woman said slowly.
Old Chen knew clearly that the main reason was that Meng Jingwei's identity had been exposed, and Lan City would no longer be able to accommodate her.
"Alright, I'll make arrangements immediately." Old Chen knew it was his negligence that led to today's events.
He bore an undeniable responsibility.
"Also, you must find a way to make Li Yun'er ingest this without anyone noticing." The woman handed another item to Old Chen.
Old Chen took the item and asked, "Then, what about Han Junyan?"
"No need to handle him, let nature take its course."
"Yes, Monarch."
Old Chen replied and immediately went to arrange everything.
...
Hospital, operating room.
Qing Muye, standing at the entrance, finally lost his composure. He threw away the cigarette butt and called the hospital director.
The busy director hurried over to Qing Muye. "Oh my, Master Qing, what brings you here?" The director, in his fifties, walked over with a smile.
Qing Muye turned his head to look at Tang Si. "You come in with me."
Tang Si nodded. "Alright."
"Oh, okay, okay, Master Qing, I'll take you both in now." The director, understanding Qing Muye's intention, immediately took them to disinfect, change into sterile gowns, and brought them into the operating room.
In a twist of fate, Qing Muye had a premonition.
That was, if he didn't go in now, he feared the little woman would leave him forever.
A few minutes later, the director brought Qing Muye and Tang Si into the operating room. At that moment, a surgical assistant in the corner was about to inject a freshly obtained dose of medication. Seeing the three of them enter, she was startled and quickly put the item away.
"Old Liu, these two are the patient's family members and wish to stay with her," the director personally spoke to the chief physician. Although the chief physician seemed slightly displeased, he didn't show it, merely stating coldly, "Stand aside and don't interfere with our surgery."
"Mm."
Qing Muye replied, turned his head, and gave Tang Si a meaningful look, hinting at something.
As a doctor, Tang Si, although he hadn't treated anyone in years, had certain things ingrained in his mind.
He stood aside, observing silently.
Qing Muye desperately wanted to ask the doctor what was wrong with Meng Jingwei, but he dared not disturb them. He just stood there at a distance.
Watching the surgical forceps clamp onto cotton swabs stained with bright red blood, his heart clenched.
But perhaps it was destiny that Qing Muye happened to be standing next to that surgical assistant. Although she wanted Qing Muye and the other to move aside, the operating room was already cramped. Only the space where he was standing was slightly wider, and she couldn't find a reason to make them switch places.
That bottle of special medicine remained tucked in her pocket the entire time, unused.
"My goodness, she has a tattoo on her body? It looks like a phoenix, and the colors are so vibrant, so lifelike."