Chapter 17: Rescue p2
Zhong Yan held the receiver, a youthful voice came from the other end, “Hello, I’m Dr. Liang Songcheng’s family member, may I ask how he is?”
Zhong Yan: “Liang Zichen?”
“I’m not his nephew, I’m another family member.”
“Another?” Zhong Yan paused for two seconds, “Oh, how could I forget. The little fiancé?”
The other person’s breathing quickened, and he said hesitantly, “Yes, it’s me.”
Zhong Yan: “What’s the matter?”
“How is Mr. Liang? The missing doctor on the news, it’s not him, right?”
“No, he’s fine, he’s busy.”
“Could you let him answer the phone?”
“He’s not at the medical center, he went to a village down the mountain.”
Unexpectedly, this kid wasn’t easy to fool. Even though Zhong Yan gave many excuses, in the end, he still received a very distrustful reply.
“But I think you’re lying to me.”
“Why would I lie to you?” Zhong Yan said, “We’ve been friends for over a decade, if something really happened to him, would I have the time to chat with you?”
The other person was relentless, “Then swear it.”
“I swear on my personality and my profession, Liang Songcheng is perfectly safe.”
“What’s your name?”
“Zhong Yan, Emergency Department, Provincial Hospital.”
“I’ll remember you, Dr. Zhong. If you’re lying to me, just… just you wait!”
Zhong Yan looked at the disconnected call and scoffed, “Little brat, acting all tough, trying to scare who?”
“Why did you lie to him?” Shi An, standing beside him and having heard the whole conversation, said angrily, “You lied to him!”
“What else could I do, tell him the truth? Tell him that Liang Songcheng has been out of contact for two days, and the situation at the site is so dangerous that we don’t even have the resources to rescue him?”
“As medical professionals, it’s our basic duty to inform the family of the situation promptly.” Shi An said righteously, “The family has the right to informed consent.”
“Doctor is doctor, friend is friend. Liang Songcheng is not my patient, and that kid is not my patient’s family.” Zhong Yan suppressed his anger, “Don’t try to twist my words.”
“But you can’t lie! Have you considered how the person involved would feel if they knew you were lying to them? Have you thought about how heartbroken he would be when he learns the truth?” Shi An gritted his teeth, his face tight, “And you even made that kind of poisonous oath.”
“Have you considered what he would do if he knew the truth?” Zhong Yan’s words were like arrows, “Cry his heart out, be devastated, maybe even rush here impulsively, ignoring everyone’s objections, to look for him? And then get buried in the snow too, wasting another life?”
Shi An was indignant but couldn’t find a reason to refute him.
“It’s precisely because I considered his feelings that I lied to him.”
He was willing to stake his profession and personality on this lie.
Most importantly, he said this entirely based on Liang Songcheng’s wishes. He absolutely didn’t want that child to worry about him.
Shi An hated his calmness at this moment, clenching his fists, “Aren’t you worried? What if something really happened to Director Liang?”
“Would worrying help?”
“As a clinical doctor, a stable mentality is more important than solid skills. The more dangerous the situation, the calmer you have to be and consider the bigger picture. This is being responsible to the patient,” Zhong Yan poked his chest, “And being responsible to this white coat you’re wearing.”
Shi An lowered his head, his unspoken defiance crumpling like paper.
“Besides considering the bigger picture, what’s more important is trust. Just like trusting your first and second assistants during surgery.” Zhong Yan’s tone held a reassuring firmness and seriousness, “I trust my assistants, and likewise, I trust them.”
They were experienced rescue doctors. When faced with difficulties and dangers, their ability to save themselves and survive was far stronger than ordinary people.
They carried emergency supplies with them. As long as they weren’t seriously injured, they could hold out for a week.
After calming down, Shi An felt unworthy. He couldn’t even be honest with his own family, so how could he condemn Zhong Yan?
But it was also ironic, hiding from his mother and grandmother, coming to such a dangerous place, just to babysit.
Shi An walked away, and Zhong Yan opened the screen, showing Xu Baizhang and Liang Songcheng’s location and heart rate monitoring.
Their vital signs were gradually declining, but still within a sustainable range. Zhong Yan searched based on their location, Liang Songcheng should be in a cave, Xu Baizhang’s location was in a blind spot, which might be more troublesome.
If anyone asked if he was worried, no one in the entire medical center was more worried than him.
Their disappearance meant, for the interns, the loss of two top-notch teachers; for the hospital, the loss of two outstanding professionals; but for him, the loss of two friends, brothers, even family, who he had shared joys and sorrows with for over a decade.
The weather forecast predicted that the blizzard would stop tonight, and the rescue team could start searching the mountains.
The main concerns now were the harsh environment and the risk of serious injuries.
Zhong Yan gritted his teeth, hold on.
I traded my life for yours,
No one can die!
For four days since arriving at the aid center, Shi An had been babysitting, playing with the children during the day and sleeping with them at night.
The heating in this room was the strongest, and the windows were sealed, but Shi An couldn’t sleep well.
Returning from the restroom, he saw Zhong Yan sitting on the steps outside the window, the wind and snow ruffling his hair, like a lone guardian.
He criticized me, wasn’t he afraid of getting blown sideways himself?
Shi An held the coat, intending to approach unnoticed, but before the collar could reach Zhong Yan’s shoulder, his wrist was grabbed.
Zhong Yan didn’t turn around, his back still facing him, “Why aren’t you asleep yet?”
Shi An stood there, the area where he was being held was burning hot, like boiling water, “How can I sleep when you’re gripping me so tightly?”
His released wrist instantly felt cold, like it had been wiped with alcohol and injected with lidocaine.
Shi An pulled his wrist into his sleeve and put his hand behind his back, “I’m going to bed now, good night.”
“Don’t you want to chat with me?”
In the freezing night of Shigatse, Shi An couldn’t think of a reason to stay, but he sat down beside Zhong Yan.
The person who asked him to stay didn’t speak. Five minutes later, Shi An started a conversation.
“How did you know it was me just now?”
“Only you would dare to sneak up on me and put a coat on me in the middle of the night.”
Shi An: “You deserve it, you’re so fierce that everyone is afraid of you.”
Zhong Yan turned his head, his eyes seeming to suck the air between them, “What about you? Are you afraid of me?”
Shi An avoided his gaze, “Terrified.”
“If you’re terrified, you still dare to say I deserve it?”
“I’m just stating facts, not scolding you.”
Zhong Yan chuckled softly, “When are you afraid of me?”
Shi An hesitated, his expression changing, “When you tell me to look after the children, and I don’t dare to argue.”
“You know I’m doing it for your own good.”
“I don’t need it.”
“Shi An, are you afraid of death?”
He had guessed it, Zhong Yan would definitely change the subject.
“Bored,” Shi An said.
“But I am,” Zhong Yan said, “More than anyone.”
Shi An responded perfunctorily, “Oh.”
“Do you know what kind of person is afraid of death?”
“Someone like you.”
Zhong Yan: “Someone who has truly faced death.”
Sensing that he wasn’t joking, Shi An looked at him seriously, “How did you face death?”
“During university, I went to an earthquake-stricken area for disaster relief, and there was an aftershock. I injured my lower back and was buried under the rubble for over ninety hours. No food, no light, no water, just me.”
That was the closest Zhong Yan had ever been to death. He felt pain, helplessness, and fear. He had never been so afraid of death and so desperate to live.
He wanted to see the light, to be dug out of the rubble, to use all his strength to survive.
Zhong Yan looked at the snowy mountains, his words echoing in the valley, “I know you’re angry, but I hope you can understand my good intentions.”
“I understand, but I don’t agree.”
Zhong Yan raised his arm, “Little stubborn mule.”
Shi An slapped away the hand that was about to ruffle his hair, “Not open for business today, no touching.”
Zhong Yan’s hand closed on air, “When will you be open for business?”
“Depends on my mood.” Shi An stood up, “I’ll prove to you that I’m not that weak, and I won’t die so easily.”
After three days of continuous blizzard, the sky finally cleared in Shigatse.
Led by Zhong Yan and guided by the rescue team, they began searching for survivors.
By the time Zhong Yan was ready, Shi An was already fully equipped and waiting at the door.
But he wasn’t on Zhong Yan’s rescue list.
Shi An stepped forward, blocking his path, “Dr. Zhong, whether you let me or not, I’m going.”
Zhong Yan’s anger dissipated, defeated by him once again.
“Get in the car.”
Overcoming numerous difficulties, they found Liang Songcheng in the cave two days later.
He was hypothermic, his left arm injured, his vital signs critical. Fortunately, his strong physique had helped him hold on.
Zhong Yan put an oxygen mask on him and wrapped him in a coat.
Liang Songcheng grabbed him, his breath weak, “Baizhang, how is he?”
“Still searching,” Zhong Yan tapped the heart rate monitor, “Don’t worry, he’s nearby.”
Liang Songcheng closed his eyes, relieved.
“Oh right,” Zhong Yan stopped, “When we get back to the medical center, let your little fiancé know you’re safe.”
“If we don’t find you soon, he’ll eat me alive.”
Shi An was present throughout Zhong Yan and Liang Songcheng’s conversation.
Only he knew that Zhong Yan was lying.
Four days ago, Xu Baizhang’s GPS watch had separated from him. His situation was unknown, his life or death uncertain.
When they caught up with another search and rescue team, they had already found Xu Baizhang’s GPS watch. They dug around the area, but there was no sign of him.
Zhong Yan gripped the GPS watch, standing at the edge of the cliff, “Did you search below as well?”
The rescue team member’s face was grim, “Dr. Zhong, it’s a very steep drop. This is peak avalanche season, it’s too dangerous.”
Zhong Yan’s suppressed anger exploded, “When you asked the medical team to come for support, why didn’t you mention the danger?”
“That’s different. The sudden snowstorm in the village was a complete accident, but this is an avalanche-prone area.” The rescue team member looked at the cliff, “Besides, with the terrain and the steepness, even if someone did fall, they’re probably…”
“What do you mean?” Zhong Yan grabbed his collar, “So you’re not going to rescue him because you think he’s dead?”
“It’s not that we’re not rescuing him, it’s that the situation is too dangerous now. We’ll rescue him after the avalanche season.”
It sounded simple, but everyone knew that the longer they waited, the lower Xu Baizhang’s chances of survival.
Zhong Yan didn’t believe in fate, he didn’t believe in God, and he certainly didn’t believe this bullshit!
“Do you know who the missing person is?”
“He’s Xu Baizhang from the Provincial Hospital!”
“Do you think he’s just some slightly famous doctor of Traditional Chinese Medicine?”
“Bullshit! Do you know how many lives his hands can save… Fuck!” Zhong Yan suppressed his anger, “What’s the point of talking to you!”
As the leader of the medical team, Zhong Yan understood the importance of the bigger picture, but as a friend, he couldn’t just wait here.
“Shi An!” Zhong Yan shouted.
The blond youth appeared, “Here!”
Zhong Yan: “Get the rope.”
Others were afraid of the danger and refused to go.
It’s okay, he wasn’t afraid, he would go.
Within two minutes, Shi An came back with a rope tied around his waist.
Zhong Yan thought he was adding fuel to the fire, “What are you doing? Take it off.”
“Dr. Zhong, I’ll go,” Shi An stood up straight, like he was going to war, “I’ve done rock climbing, I’m familiar with this, I’ll definitely bring Director Xu back.”
Zhong Yan pulled the rope downwards, “What does this have to do with you? Go play somewhere else.”
Shi An held onto the rope tightly, stubborn as a mule, “Dr. Zhong, I’m not just good at babysitting, I’m not afraid of death, I’ll go for you!”
