Medical Records and the "Cry" of the Cradle
The next morning, Lu Ye was awakened by the ringing of his cell phone. It was Qi Chen, his voice deeper than usual: "I've found information about Li Juan's family. Her husband is Wang Hao, and they currently live in an old neighborhood in the west of the city. Their child is Wang Lele, who is six years old this year."
"Really?" Lu Ye woke up instantly and got up from the bed, "Let's go find them now!"
"Don't worry," Qi Chen's voice was a little tired. "I went to the Civil Affairs Bureau in the early morning and it took some time to look up information. You can pack up first. I'll wait for you downstairs at your house. I brought breakfast."
Lu Ye hung up the phone, quickly washed and packed up, and rushed downstairs ten minutes later. Qi Chen was waiting for him downstairs, carrying two breakfast bags in his hands. He was wearing a black shirt with the collar buttoned tightly, but his hair was a little messy, and there was a hint of blue in his eyes - it seemed that he didn't sleep well last night.
"Didn't you get any rest last night?" Lu Ye took the breakfast bag, feeling a little distressed.
Qi Chen shook his head and handed him a cup of hot soy milk: "It's okay, Tongyou people don't need too much sleep." He paused and added, "Eat quickly, and then we'll go to the west of the city."
Lu Ye nodded, and while eating breakfast, he and Qi Chen walked out of the community. On the way, Qi Chen told him the information he had found out - after Li Juan's death, Wang Hao moved to the old community in the west of the city with three-month-old Lele. He never remarried in the past few years and raised the child alone. Lele now attends a kindergarten near the community and is very sensible, but he often asks where his mother has gone.
"Wang Hao must be having a hard time," Lu Ye said softly. "It's too hard for a man to raise a child and work at the same time."
Qi Chen nodded, said nothing more, and just silently quickened his pace.
After an hour-long bus ride, the two finally arrived at the old residential complex in the west of the city. The complex was old, with creaky walls, the corridors cluttered with debris, and the air thick with the smell of cooking fumes. Qi Chen followed the address he'd found and found Wang Hao's home—on the third floor, number 302.
Qi Chen knocked on the door, and a man's voice came from inside: "Who is it?"
"Hello, we are from the Third People's Hospital of the city," Qi Chen paused and added, "We would like to inquire about Ms. Li Juan's condition."
The door clicked open, and inside stood a man in his forties, wearing a washed-out shirt, his hair a bit messy, and a hint of fatigue in his eyes. He saw Lu Ye and Qi Chen, and a hint of doubt in his eyes: "Are you looking for my wife? She's been dead for six years."
"We know," Qi Chen said softly, "We're here to bring you something left behind by Doctor Zhang Qiming."
Wang Hao's expression changed instantly. He took a step back, as if frightened by something. "Zhang Qiming? The doctor who killed my wife? What are you doing here? You want me to forgive him? Impossible!"
"Uncle Wang, don't get excited." Lu Ye hurried forward and handed over the folder in his arms. "Doctor Zhang didn't mean it. He later found a treatment plan and always blamed himself. He kept thinking about apologizing to you until he died."
Wang Hao's body froze. He looked at the folder in Lu Ye's hand with a hint of hesitation in his eyes. After a few seconds, he took the folder and opened the first page. When he saw the photo inside and the note that said "I'm sorry", tears immediately flowed down his face.
"He...he really found a treatment plan?" Wang Hao's voice choked with sobs, his fingers lightly brushing against the photo of Dr. Zhang. "My wife just had abdominal pain at the time, but he said it was acute gastroenteritis and prescribed medicine. But after taking the medicine, she started vomiting. By the time we rushed her to the hospital, it was too late..."
"Dr. Zhang later realized he had misdiagnosed her and has always blamed himself," Qi Chen said softly. "He studied Ms. Li Juan's condition every day until he finally found a treatment plan before his death. He was obsessed with giving this plan to you and saying sorry."
Wang Hao hugged the folder and cried like a child: "I hated him for six years. Every day I wondered if he hadn't misdiagnosed me, would my wife still be alive... But now, I don't know whether I should hate him or forgive him..."
At this moment, a child's voice came from the inner room: "Dad, who's here?"
A little boy, about six years old, walked out of the inner room. He was wearing a blue dress (Lu Ye later learned that Lele had always thought her mother wore dresses, so she liked to wear them, too). His hair was a little curly, like a little girl. He saw Lu Ye and Qi Chen and looked at them with a hint of curiosity: "Uncle, who are you?"
"Le Le, these are Daddy's friends," Wang Hao quickly wiped his tears and picked Le Le up. "You've been asking where Mommy went, haven't you? The uncles are here to tell you Mommy's story."
Lele's eyes lit up instantly. He looked at Lu Ye and Qi Chen and whispered, "Really? Did Mom go to heaven like the fairy in the cartoons?"
Lu Ye's heart ached. He nodded and reached out to touch Lele's head: "Yes, Mom has gone to heaven. She has been watching over you, Lele, and watching you grow up."
A smile appeared on Lele's face. He got down from Wang Hao's arms and took Lu Ye's hand: "Uncle, when will mom come back? I miss her."
"Mom will come back when you miss her," Lu Ye's voice trembled a little. He glanced at Qi Chen and found that the corners of his eyes were also a little red. "For example, when you see a photo of Mom or hear a song that Mom likes, Mom will be by your side."
Lele nodded, not quite understanding, took Wang Hao's hand, walked into the inner room and took out a photo album: "Dad, let's show the uncles Mom's photos!"
Most of the photos in the album were taken before Li Juan died. Some were photos with Wang Hao, some were taken when she was pregnant, and a few were taken when Lele was just born. In the photos, Li Juan smiled brightly, with a gentle light in her eyes, completely different from the resentment Lu Ye felt in the hospital.
"This was taken when my wife was pregnant," Wang Hao pointed to a photo, his smile tinged with nostalgia. "She said at the time that she would quit her job and stay home to take care of the baby after it was born. She also said she would sew lots of little dresses for the baby..."
Lu Ye looked at Li Juan in the photo and suddenly remembered the crying he heard in the hospital - that mother was actually always worried about her child, worried about whether he ate well, slept well, and whether he missed his mother.
"Uncle Wang," Lu Ye said softly, "Let's take you to a place. Doctor Zhang's obsession hasn't been resolved yet, and he wants to apologize to you in person."
Wang Hao paused for a moment. He looked at the folder in his hand, then looked at Lele and nodded. "Okay, I'll go with you."
It was already afternoon when the three of them took the bus back to the abandoned hospital. The sunlight filtered through the hospital windows, casting dappled shadows on the ground, adding a touch of warmth to this gloomy place.
"You wait here for me, I'll go and bring Dr. Zhang out." Qi Chen said to Wang Hao and Lele, then turned and walked into the hospital.
Lu Ye sat with Wang Hao and Lele on the steps in front of the hospital. Lele was holding a comic book and reading it very seriously, while Wang Hao was holding the folder with a hint of nervousness in his eyes.
"Uncle Wang, don't worry," Lu Ye said softly, "Doctor Zhang just wants to apologize to you. He won't hurt you."
Wang Hao nodded, said nothing more, and just held the folder tightly.
About ten minutes later, Qi Chen walked out of the hospital and said to them, "You can go in now. He's waiting for you in the office."
The three of them walked into the hospital. The voice-activated lights in the corridor came on, illuminating the entire hallway with a pale white light. The dark red stream on the ground had disappeared, leaving only a few stained tiles, as if telling of what had happened here.
When he reached the office door, Qi Chen stopped and said to Wang Hao, "Go in, he's waiting for you inside."
Wang Hao took a deep breath, opened the door and walked in. Lu Ye and Lele followed him. As soon as they entered the office, they saw a vague shadow standing in the corner - it was Doctor Zhang. He was still wearing a white coat, with his head bowed, holding a medical record in his hand.
"Zhang Qiming." Wang Hao's voice was deep and trembling.
Doctor Zhang's body trembled noticeably, and he slowly raised his head. When he saw Wang Hao, a trace of guilt flashed in his eyes. He opened his mouth, as if he wanted to say something, but no sound came out. He just handed the medical record over.
Wang Hao took the medical record and flipped it open. It contained Li Juan's diagnosis and subsequent treatment plan, as well as Dr. Zhang's confession: "I'm sorry. I was too conceited and didn't examine her carefully. That's why you lost your wife and Lele lost her mother. I later found a treatment plan, but I never had the chance to tell you..."
"Do you think a simple 'I'm sorry' is enough?" Wang Hao's voice choked with sobs. "After my wife passed away, I raised Lele alone. Every day I wonder if she would still be here if you hadn't misdiagnosed her. Would we still be as happy as before..."
Doctor Zhang's body became increasingly transparent. He looked at Wang Hao, then at Lele, a hint of relief flashing in his eyes. He slowly raised his hand, as if wanting to touch Lele's head, but was afraid of scaring him, so he finally put his hand down.
"Lele," Doctor Zhang's voice was so soft, as if it came from far away, "You must grow up well and listen to your father. Mom and I will be watching over you from heaven."
Lele raised his head, looked at the shadow of Doctor Zhang, and nodded: "Uncle, I understand, I will be obedient."
A relieved smile crossed Dr. Zhang's face. His body grew increasingly transparent, slowly transforming into tiny specks of starlight before disappearing into the air. The temperature in the office instantly rose, and the pages of the medical records on his desk were rustled by the wind, as if bidding him farewell.
"He... he's gone?" Wang Hao's voice was choked and tears flowed down.
Qi Chen nodded: "His obsession has been resolved, and he can finally rest in peace."
At this moment, there was a sound of footsteps in the corridor, very light but very clear. Lu Ye looked back and saw a vague figure walking towards him from the end of the corridor. She was wearing a blue dress and holding a cradle in her arms. It was Li Juan!
"Mom!" Lele suddenly shouted, got out of Wang Hao's arms, and ran towards Li Juan's shadow.
"Le Le, don't go over there!" Wang Hao hurriedly tried to hold him back, but it was too late.
Li Juan's shadow saw Lele, and a hint of tenderness flashed in her eyes. She stopped, slowly squatted down, and reached out to touch Lele's head. Lele ran to her, hugged her legs, and cried sadly: "Mom, I miss you so much, why don't you come home?"
"I'm sorry, Lele," Li Juan said softly, tears welling in her voice. "Mom misses you, too, but I have an obsession that I haven't resolved, so I can't go home..."
"What is Mom's obsession?" Lele raised her head and looked at Li Juan's shadow. "I'll help you solve it. Will you come home with me?"
Li Juan's shadow smiled and shook her head: "Mom's obsession is to see you, to see if you have grown up well. Now that I see you are so sensible, Mom is relieved..."
Her body slowly became transparent, like mist illuminated by the sun, and slowly disappeared into the air. Lele hugged the place where she disappeared and cried sadly: "Mom, please don't go. I haven't told you how much I miss you..."
Wang Hao walked over, picked up Lele, and patted his back gently: "Lele, don't be sad, mom has just gone to heaven. She will always be there watching over you and watching you grow up."
Lele nodded, leaned in Wang Hao's arms, and slowly stopped crying.
Lu Ye and Qi Chen stood by, watching this scene, feeling a little sad. Lu Ye secretly glanced at Qi Chen and found that the corners of his eyes were also a little red, but there was a faint smile on the corners of his mouth.
"They have all let go of their obsessions." Qi Chen's voice was soft, with a hint of relief.
"Well," Lu Ye nodded, "They can finally rest in peace."
As the three of them walked out of the hospital, the sun was setting, its golden rays casting a golden hue on the ground. Lele had fallen asleep in Wang Hao's arms, while Wang Hao held the folder tightly, a look of relief in his eyes.
"Thank you," Wang Hao said to Lu Ye and Qi Chen, "If it weren't for you, I might never have forgiven Zhang Qiming, and I wouldn't have known that Li Juan had been watching us all along."
"You're welcome," Lu Ye said with a smile, "We just did what we were supposed to do."
Qi Chen nodded and said nothing more, just looking at the sunset with a hint of warmth in his eyes.
After returning home, Lu Ye lay in bed, tossing and turning, unable to sleep. He thought of Dr. Zhang and Li Juan, Wang Hao and Lele, whom he had seen in the hospital today, and suddenly felt a little emotional - life is really fragile. All we can do is cherish the present and the people around us.
He took out his phone and sent a message to Qi Chen: "Thank you for letting me know a lot today."
Not long after, Qi Chen replied with a message: "You're welcome. I have a new secret room to prepare tomorrow. Go to bed early."
Lu Ye looked at the message and laughed. He knew that Qi Chen was actually slowly accepting him.
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