Anyway, she could sense a trace of being brushed off. That tiny bit of indifference was like being asked to pay shipping fees after already buying an expensive item—it made her start to feel unwilling to buy anymore.
Nan Zhi looked at the screen, couldn’t really tell what kind of mood she was in. She put back on the clothes she had taken off, but didn’t leave. Instead, she detoured to the hallway where bed 1023 was located.
Because he owed the hospital a lot of money, he had already been moved out of the ward into the hallway. If he didn’t pay soon, he’d be kicked out.
The hospital wasn’t a charity. It wasn’t possible for them to knowingly let him keep racking up debt and continue staying.
Nan Zhi came at just the right time. The patient in bed 1022 had just left, and the on-duty nurse hadn’t yet cleaned the bed.
Nan Zhi pretended to be the nurse on duty here, walked over boldly. While tidying the bed, she also sized up the corner.
The placement of bed 1023 was terrible. Right next to the restroom, people constantly coming and going, and there was an unpleasant smell wafting through. It also directly faced a window. Since there were a lot of patients in the hallway, it needed ventilation, so the window wasn’t allowed to be closed.
In this weather of late August or September, it was already a bit cold. With wind blowing straight in, not to mention a patient—even a normal person wouldn’t be able to stand it.
So no one was willing to live there. That was also the only reason he could stay.
If the hospital lacked beds, he’d be kicked out immediately, and the space would be given to someone else.
The spot was that bad—no one wanted to live in it, that’s why he could remain.
Actually, it was also because the nurses at the hospital were showing mercy, doing their best to let him stay.
The teacher always said that interns like them were too soft-hearted. But even those used to seeing life and death couldn’t harden their hearts. They never stopped the interns from doing such things. Occasionally, they even helped out themselves.
Nan Zhi walked a bit closer, stood at the foot of the bed, and used her peripheral vision to observe the person in bed 1023.
Just like what the two intern nurses said: Thin and pale. He was awake, facing the window, his gaze constantly fixed outside.
No one knew what he was looking at or what he was thinking. It was like he was frozen in time. From Nan Zhi’s angle, even his long, narrow eyelashes didn’t move.
Outside the window, the building across was exactly the one where the young man collecting wages had jumped from a few days ago.
This patient had been admitted earlier than that guy.
Plus, with his leg injuries, he couldn’t move around. Almost the entire day, he stayed on that bed.
He must have personally witnessed the entire process of that guy jumping off the building.
Even if he hadn’t thought of it before, seeing someone else do it—He’d be influenced, right?
“Ahh—!”
Nan Zhi, distracted, accidentally bumped into the corner of the bed. The pain made her cry out without meaning to.
That sound drew the attention of everyone in the hallway. Including that person who had just been gazing out the window.
While Nan Zhi was rubbing the spot she’d hit, her eyes accidentally met the young man’s.
Only then did she realize, she actually recognized this person.
Though calling it “recognize” wasn’t accurate. It should be—she had seen him a few days ago.
A while ago, the intern responsible for this area suddenly came running in a hurry, wanting to find the teaching instructor. But her teacher and Nan Zhi’s teacher were both not around. The intern had no choice but to drag Nan Zhi over, treating a dead horse like a living one to cure. [死马当活马医 — idiom meaning to try anything in a desperate situation]
The two chatted while walking. The intern said: “His blood vessels are too thin—can’t get in. Already tried a few times, I’m embarrassed to keep trying.”
When Nan Zhi got there and lifted his hand for a look. The veins really were thin. She figured even she wouldn’t be able to get it in.
But with both instructors gone, and the other intern having already failed too many times, she was afraid the person would get annoyed if poked again. So she could only grit her teeth and grasp that pale hand already marked with two or three needle punctures, trying to find a breakthrough point.
She re-tied the tourniquet, tightened the skin, and even tapped a few times. Not sure if her hand was too heavy, or if it was because he’d already been pricked several times in that spot. But each time she tapped, that hand would tremble slightly.
Nan Zhi noticed and lightened her strength. Stopped tapping, changed to rubbing instead. Along the blood vessel where she was going to insert the needle, she rubbed and rubbed, turning that fair hand red. Only after four more tries did the needle finally go in.
To be honest, she let out a long breath of relief.
Afraid of being scolded, she didn’t even dare lift her head. Only afterward did she glance up, that young man was still the same as before, like a frozen frame. Even his long eyelashes didn’t move at all. His eyes were like dead water, no ripples at all. Naturally, he didn’t blame her either.
Nan Zhi originally wanted to find a way to defend herself. Something like, his veins are really thin, hard to get into…
She opened her mouth, but seeing that indifferent expression, she ended up saying nothing.
She tidied up, ready to leave.
Unexpectedly, someone from the nursing department just so happened to come by for ward inspection. She and the other intern were both startled.
The nursing department staff asked him questions at the front. The two of them gestured at him from behind, telling him not to mention being pricked seven times. That young man, who knew whether he understood or it was a coincidence. All Nan Zhi knew was that he tucked the hand with the IV and medical tape under the blanket.
The nursing department didn’t notice.
He didn’t report or file a complaint either.
So it was him.
If it’s him——
Nan Zhi didn’t know why, but that certain thought became even stronger.
Maybe it was because he was too young, too quiet. Or maybe because he ruined his legs to save someone. She couldn’t bear to let someone like that suffer.
Though most likely, it was like the teacher said: They had just entered society, hadn’t seen enough of the world yet. Soft-hearted. Couldn’t stand to see or hear these kinds of things.
In any case, Nan Zhi, holding the used bed sheets and bedding, tossed them into the laundry room. Then she went downstairs. She didn’t go home.
Instead, just like other patients or patient family members, she stood in line at a window.
During that time, she kept opening her phone to check the chat with the Youmao Ni Pet Shop shop owner.
Unlike the hopeful feeling earlier. Right now, she kind of hoped the shop owner wouldn’t reply.
Because she was afraid she’d change her mind.
Her finger accidentally swiped. The content on the screen slid up and the image she feared most appeared: The chat froze on a video of the cat.
It was a pedigree cat. Really looked beautiful. Facing the camera, soft and fluffy fur, heterochromatic eyes. Among ragdolls, it was one of the better-looking types.
The price was fair too. The shop owner said the cat had once gotten feline distemper, but was cured. Wouldn’t get it again in the future. So it was equivalent to eliminating one risk of illness.
It had already received two vaccines, just needed one more.
With that kind of condition, this cat would definitely be reserved by someone soon. Even if she had money in the future to buy again, she wouldn’t find the same one. Missed was missed.
Nan Zhi felt regretful inside, but couldn’t help thinking of just now. That person whose body was so thin, his hospital gown looked too big, sleeves hanging loose.
Earlier, she had bumped herself. After that, her walking was a bit unsteady. While carrying the sheets and quilt, she couldn’t see clearly in front. She accidentally stepped on a corner of the dragging sheet and nearly tripped. She very clearly felt that the young man’s body moved slightly. His hand also reached forward a little as if he was about to catch her.
The distance was too far, and she didn’t fall. After seeing that she had stood up just fine, that hand returned to stillness.
That instinctive reaction of his. It showed that he was usually someone kind-hearted and helpful to others. Plus, he was really just too young. If he were to be gone just like that, it would be such a pity.
Forget it.
Don’t overthink.
Just treat it as doing one thing that would leave her with a clear conscience.
As for that young man who had tried to collect his wages. She actually regretted it. She hadn’t done all she could, hadn’t done more.
After he died, she felt guilty every day. Torn up during the day, and even dreaming of him at night. This time, maybe she wouldn’t anymore.
The line Nan Zhi queued in wasn’t long. Her turn came quickly.
She showed the window staff the bed number and patient info she had just photographed. The staff quickly pulled up what she wanted.
A long bill—
At the bottom, the amount owed: negative ten thousand and ninety-three.
???
She raised her eyebrows—Somewhat disbelieving.
Because in her memory, that young man had stayed a few days in the ICU. ICU costs ranged from thousands to over ten thousand a day. Even with insurance reimbursements, there should still be tens of thousands owed. His uncle, aunt, and other relatives had only paid a few thousand.
He should’ve still owed a big chunk. She knew the money she had was like a drop in the bucket. She only came to add a small brick, a bit of help.
But now it looked like, she alone could cover all the remaining medical costs. And still have money left over.
Afraid there was some mistake, Nan Zhi deliberately asked again. The staff member seriously told her: “Bed 1023 had many people pay for his medical expenses. His teachers, his classmates, two nurses from the hospital, a doctor also pitched in, the local police and the village committee also came. Plus the medical insurance reimbursement. Now there’s only ten thousand and ninety-three yuan left owed.”
Ten thousand and ninety-three.
His uncle, aunt, and relatives only paid a few thousand. Which meant—The rest was all gathered by other people.
So many people had helped him.
So many had affirmed his worth.
“Are you also paying his medical expenses?”
Nan Zhi looked down, once again flipping through her remaining balance. About sixteen thousand yuan.
She returned to the chat with Youmao Ni Pet Shop. Looked at the cat.
A single cat cost thirteen thousand. Add all the extras, and it was at least fourteen thousand. But saving a person, someone about to be kicked out of the hospital and left to fend for himself, only required a bit over ten thousand.
She didn’t know why, but a feeling of extravagance and shame rose up uncontrollably.
Nan Zhi quickly put her phone down. Nodded.
“I want to pay his medical expenses.”
Someone who had been chosen by so many people, couldn’t be wrong.
—
Author’s note:
The hospital windows weren’t sealed in the previous years. Every year, there would be critically ill patients jumping out the windows, so only then were they forcibly sealed, leaving just a small gap that could open. This story is set earlier in the timeline, so it’s not a bug, okay.