Nan Zhi, afterward, still holding his medical files, ran to several places. Although he already had no money to pay the fees, water and medicine were cut off, the kind-hearted doctors and nurses in the hospital would still occasionally go over to check on him, pay attention to his condition.
Plus, he was young and striving, so his body was recovering day by day, getting better and better, there was no issue. She specially asked — now he could be discharged, just take some medicine and do IV drips at home.
Nan Zhi didn’t do that. She wanted to observe a bit more, use her own eyes, to personally see whether or not he was worth her efforts.
Nan Zhi took the medicine and, just like before, pretended to be his duty nurse, naturally walked over, and by his hospital bed, placed the various medicines temporarily on the attached table. Then she opened them one by one, used a syringe to draw the liquid medicine, and injected it into the IV drip bottle.
Bed 1022 had been emptied, no one occupying it for now. She was busying around here, and it seemed besides giving him medication, there was no other possibility.
The sound of tearing plastic, opening bottles, and so on, was loud, and early on attracted his attention.
When Nan Zhi was lowering her head, focused on mixing medicine, she had already sensed his gaze. When she hung the IV drip, that line of sight followed her.
When she inserted the infusion tube, that gaze was still following her.
When she expelled the air from the infusion tube, that person was still staring at her.
Nan Zhi was the exact opposite of him — the whole time, she didn’t look at him, concentrated on the task at hand. Only, in her heart, she wasn’t as calm as she looked on the surface. But when she thought about how she was wearing a mask, and he basically couldn’t see her expression, she continued with cold-heartedness and indifference, picked up the needle, and in a businesslike tone said: “Hand.”
The hand lying flat on the bed sheet didn’t move a bit.
Nan Zhi, with a bit of private feeling [私心 – selfish or personal motive], slapped it hard, smacking the back of that hand, taking revenge for his overly intense gaze that made her feel a little uncomfortable. With her mouth, she righteously added: “Hurry up, too much medicine is flowing.”
That hand still didn’t move, but the spot where it was hit turned red. Under the red mark there was also some bruising — leftover from previous injections.
Because he didn’t have money to pay, the indwelling needle had also been removed. It could only be reinserted.
“I didn’t pay,” he said.
This was the first time Nan Zhi heard him speak. He should be someone used to being silent. His voice carried a hint of hoarseness from not speaking for a long time — like mist among mountains, waters, and forests. It didn’t affect the essence, but instead added a layer of color. In short, it was quite pleasant to hear.
“It was a kind-hearted person who paid for you, and also brought medicine.” She didn’t say it was herself, afraid it would cause trouble.
They say there was a person who sponsored a poor student, and later that student didn’t study well and even asked the sponsor to buy a cellphone and such. When the sponsor refused and stopped the sponsorship, the poor student slandered them.
Although everyone verified that person had good character, one still had to guard against such things.
“Who?” He looked up in surprise. Even his long eyelashes trembled from the shock.
Nan Zhi of course wouldn’t tell him. “That person doesn’t want you to know. But they said, as long as you obediently cooperate, they’ll keep taking care of you. Sooner or later, you’ll meet.”
She really had prepared to keep taking care of him. In his current state, he had no place to stay. His uncle and aunt were also very firm — they didn’t want him anymore.
His body hadn’t healed yet, so he couldn’t find a job. And he had no money. Even food and drink were a problem. His leg and other injuries still needed care. Later on, he’d still need medicine. Just helping him pay medical fees wasn’t enough to get him out of this predicament.
Either you don’t help, or you help all the way — send the Buddha all the way to the West [送佛送到西 — Chinese idiom: if you start helping someone, help them all the way]. Nan Zhi decided to observe for a few more days. If she confirmed he was a decent person, she would temporarily take him in, and only let him move out after he was able to do some things on his own and had some savings.
She stood by the bedside, once again demanding, “Hand.”
This time, the person on the hospital bed moved. He made the effort to lift his hand slightly, and proactively offered it in front of her.
Nan Zhi bent down a little, held that hand’s finger, curled it, and made the back of the hand tighten. She leaned in slightly to examine the marks left from last time. Because there had been too many needle insertions, and after time had passed, all the holes had closed up. She couldn’t find the previous IV spot anymore.
She could only insert a new one.
Last time, she felt embarrassed to say it. This time, since the medicine was bought by her and the medical fees were paid by her, she didn’t know why — but she had more confidence. Just like a routine procedure, she informed him.
“Your blood vessels are thin. One needle definitely won’t hit it. Endure it.”
“Mm.”
The other party had no objection, just like last time, expression calm, like he was used to needles.
Well, true. She alone had already stuck him four times — and who knew how many more this time.
Nan Zhi, just like last time, after choosing a spot, patted it twice, then rubbed it, pressed it down, letting the vein come out by itself, so it would be easier to insert the needle.
Also just like last time — that already pitiful-looking hand’s back was made red by her fussing. Plus, because the tourniquet was tied, the surrounding area turned pale. Nan Zhi swabbed iodine on it, and that patch of skin turned yellowish — made it even harder to recognize.
But luckily, because she had fiddled for long enough, the vein had become somewhat visible. Having done it once before, this time she had more experience — and the needle actually went in on the first try. Just as she was planning to push all the way through in one go, a loud bang of a slamming door suddenly sounded next to her, startling her — the needle tilted, piercing out from under the skin.
Nan Zhi quickly pulled out the needle, pressed an iodine cotton ball on it, taped it down, and changed to another spot for injection.
She went a bit lower — because time was tight, there was still time. This needle went in successfully, no need for an extra stab.
Nan Zhi taped it down, loosened the tourniquet, and only after wrapping up did she have time to look — not sure which crazy person had gone into the bathroom, slammed the door really hard. When she looked over, that person came out and slammed the door shut again, just as hard.
Bang — it was very, very loud.
Nan Zhi glanced at that door. It had a rebound function. Even if you didn’t slam it, it would bounce shut loudly on its own.
She opened the door — the smell was also very strong. If you didn’t open it, so many people came and went constantly. During the day it was fine, but at night, there was no way to sleep well.
And for patients, the most important thing was sleep.
“The person who helped me, was it a man or a woman?”
Nan Zhi was still observing the environment when he continued to ask, “Was it a young one or an old one?”
Nan Zhi had been about to close the window a little. Hearing that, she raised her brows and put on a troubled look.
“They really said not to reveal it. When the time comes, you’ll naturally meet.”
He was actually pretty sneaky — since she wouldn’t tell him who it was, he tried asking in a roundabout way.
Asking whether they were young or old, then following up with male or female — wouldn’t that make the target super obvious?
“I also found it strange at the time,” To make her words sound more convincing, Nan Zhi closed the window a little while making something up, “so I asked one more question. That person said, for now, it’s inconvenient to show up — they’re secretly helping you.”
This way of saying it wasn’t wrong. She was secretly helping him, and she really didn’t want him to know for now that it was her who paid the medical fees.
Afraid she hadn’t figured out his character yet, and there might be complications — like, he might be cooperative now, but later show his true face — lazy, entitled, thinking it’s all deserved, etc.
There had been an old man before — saw him pitiful, bought things for him. At first, the person was really nice. Later, he said don’t eat this, don’t eat that, wanted better food. In the end, no one bothered with him anymore — left him to live or die. He even dragged the nursing department into a complaint.
Kindness not only went unrewarded — it stirred up a whole mess.
Second reason — she just felt that saying directly, I helped you, felt strange. Like she was using kindness to demand repayment.
Even though she didn’t mean it that way.
The last bit of trouble — if she really said it, he might look at her with eyes full of gratitude and scrutiny, or something else. Nan Zhi didn’t like that — she preferred things as they were now, more comfortable.
Especially after realizing he really wanted to know who that “kind-hearted person” was — made it kind of fun, actually.
Nan Zhi finished closing the window and carefully felt — it wasn’t that cold anymore.
The weather in August and September is like a child’s face — ever-changing, turning as it pleases. Recently, it had often rained, gloomy wind blowing in gusts. Even she, a healthy person, had to wear a long-sleeved shirt under her nurse’s uniform. Let alone the patients.
The most crucial thing was, the hospital air conditioning was set very low, blowing from both sides — even more fatal.
If it were an ordinary person, they could still add more clothes. He probably didn’t have anything suitable to wear — still wearing only that one thin set of hospital clothes.