Chapter 61
At 10:30 p.m., night fell outside the window, and darkness enveloped the earth.
The First Hospital was still brightly lit inside.
After helping the last patient control their mental pollution and finishing his work for the day, Director Li finally had time to pay attention to his phone, which kept beeping.
He wearily rubbed his aching temples, first checking if he had missed any calls.
Because I'm often so busy that I don't have time to reply to messages, I almost always use the phone to notify people of important matters.
Fortunately, no.
But there are a lot of these messages, at least hundreds.
Director Li thought he had accidentally opened the group chat notification again, but when he looked closely, he realized that the message was sent to him by those old guys.
For example, Director Zhou from the Human Resources Department launched into a tirade against Xie Xubai, his cynical and misanthropic thoughts practically spilling out from between the lines.
Director Zhou: [Did you look at that kid's qualifications? How could he possibly have successfully treated over 40 patients in just half a day? He definitely didn't treat them properly!]
Director Zhou: [Let's see what we do when those patients relapse after they go home and come back to cause trouble.]
Director Zhou: [Once I've finished my work here, I have to go and have a serious talk with him. His perfunctory attitude is ultimately damaging the reputation of our First Hospital.]
And that was the end of it.
Director Zhou's message came to an abrupt end here, like a firecracker that failed to fire.
Director Li knew that the other party was someone who wouldn't let things go once they were in the right, and there was only one situation in which he would hold back his words: when he felt he had lost face and points.
If he remembers correctly, Director Zhou's highest record of admitting patients seems to be more than 40.
His agitation probably stems from jealousy and discomfort at being overtaken by the younger, new director.
Director Li shook his head, tidying up his things as he continued flipping through the pages.
The next person was Director Zhang, whose highest record for admitting patients was 62. He also spoke with a somewhat blunt and fiery tone.
Director Zhang: [What's wrong with this new director? Is he trying to intimidate us old guys? This young man is arrogant and doesn't know his place. I'll see how many people he can actually treat in the end.]
Director Zhang: [Jerkingly, 50 already, not bad.]
Director Zhang: [58... No, it's already this late, does he still want to continue treatment?]
Without any warning, there was no further news.
If Director Zhou's breach of defense only left Director Li helpless, then Director Zhang's sudden silence was like a heavy, ominous blow to his heart.
He glanced quickly at the time displayed for the last message.
When Xie Xubai admitted 58 people, it was only 4:30 pm?
Director Li was extremely surprised, his breathing was unsteady, and his fingers were on the screen, rapidly scrolling up the messages.
Director Cao, who recorded 64, Director Chen, who recorded 71, Director Nian, who recorded 72... all of them happily ran to join in the fun, but in the end they all fell into a deathly silence!
He didn't know that his subordinates, who had watched the whole thing, were even more shocked. But who would dare to report that Xie Xubai was good? That would be a sure way to offend the director and his colleagues.
At this moment, Director Li's heart was like a rollercoaster, eager to know news from Xie Xubai's side, and he hurriedly opened the group chat.
Coincidentally, a few old guys, whether out of despair or disillusionment with the world, were having a lively chat about Xie Xubai.
A notification appeared at the bottom of the page saying "Someone @ed you," and Director Li accidentally clicked it.
The message bar scrolled forward in a flash, jumping directly to nearly 8 PM.
Director Zhang: [I was still outside his consultation room, and Lao Zhou was there too. He's treating his 96th patient now, and it seems he has no intention of stopping.]
Director Zhang: [@Old Li (clasped hands) You should take it easy. It's the era of the young now. New talents will emerge in every generation. There's nothing to be upset about.]
Director Cao: [@Old Li (clasped hands)]
Director Chen: [@Old Li (clasped hands)]
Director Nian: [@Old Li (clasped hands)]
...
It all seems to have a smug, "If we're suffering, you can't escape it either" vibe.
Director Li felt like he was going to vomit blood.
Don't even mention letting go of the past. He's staring intently at the number "96" right now, feeling no sense of reality whatsoever. It's as absurd as if he's been fucked by a zoo.
You must know that from the moment he saw Xie Xubai cure the patient, his heart was trembling wildly.
There is a procedure for seeing a doctor: first, the condition is diagnosed, then appropriate medication is prescribed, and finally, a surgical procedure is performed to remove the lesion.
The final step is especially important and should not be taken lightly.
Therefore, it is no exaggeration to say that it can take up to six months for a severe case to go from being under control to being fully cured.
The highest number of patients admitted on a single day, as recorded by the hospital, should actually be called the "patient admission record," which includes all patients whose illnesses have been diagnosed.
The dean was also like that, which is why he was able to create the brilliant result of 154.
Otherwise, even if 154 patients were treated from start to finish without eating or drinking, and each patient only needed 20 minutes, it would still take more than 50 hours! That would exceed the time limit by more than two days.
But Xie Xubai was different.
He can not only diagnose the cause of a patient's illness with just one look, but also completely control the condition within ten minutes.
Looking at the chat logs of other department heads, it seems that the other person also used this treatment method afterwards?
Director Li was still shaken.
He arrived impatiently outside Xie Xubai's clinic and saw a large crowd of onlookers, their eyes practically glued to the observation window.
It's after work hours now, and everyone has some free time. Some people come because they've heard about it, while others just want to take a quick look and leave.
Who knew that after watching it, I would be unable to move?
Xie Xubai's situation can only be described in four words.
That's outrageous!
Not to mention Director Li, even the slow-witted attending physicians had already noticed that something was wrong.
What doctor treats every patient they see? And so efficiently, he's like a living miracle doctor!
If it weren't for the rules requiring confidentiality of the treatment process, everyone would probably be eagerly taking out their phones to take photos and videos by now, and Xie Yu's name would top the trending news lists on various medical websites within three days.
Another patient, beaming, stood up, excitedly grasped Xie Xubai's hand, and thanked him incoherently: "Thank you, doctor! I feel so much better, I've never felt so relaxed before!"
Watching the number on the appointment screen jump from "112" to "113," one doctor murmured incredulously, "My goodness, this should be worshipped!"
"Speaking of which, has he had any rest?"
"I went to the toilet once and drank two cups of water during the trip."
"Haven't eaten?"
"It seems not..."
"I thought the people in the department were already pretty hardworking, but I never expected there to be someone even more hardworking. This guy is a walking king of hard work! He's working so hard, what's he after?"
"Could this be Dean Tu's highest record?"
The group exchanged bewildered glances, feeling that these words seemed to have touched upon the truth.
However, the veterans knew perfectly well that if compared in terms of actual results, Xie Xubai had already left everyone in the hospital far behind.
They all stared at the slender figure in the consultation room.
No matter how many people came to the consultation room or how many questioning glances they cast, the young man's attention remained focused on the patient from beginning to end, attentive and serious, never wavering.
The emotions of countless onlookers were turbulent and profound, and they could not calm down for a long time.
...Even though the perspective is from top to bottom, the young man is the one sitting below.
But it made them feel as if they were looking up at a majestic mountain.
After Xie Xubai finished treating the 127th patient, he suddenly stopped and did not continue calling out numbers.
The veins on my temples were throbbing and extremely painful.
His vision was slightly blurred, and his mental energy was almost completely depleted.
I felt intense discomfort throughout my body and could barely feel any hunger.
Xie Xubai knew he had reached his limit, and continuing the treatment would be extremely irresponsible to both the patient and himself.
Thinking of this, his gaze shifted to the number "127," and his tightly furrowed brows suddenly relaxed.
Of the 127 patients, 33 met the poverty criteria and received assistance from the Xu's Charity Association.
Nothing could make Xie Xubai overjoyed more than seeing those sorrowful and gloomy faces regain their hope.
He was so preoccupied with "saving one more, saving one more" that he lost track of time and didn't even have time to eat.
Xie Xubai suddenly looked up.
All eyes followed his movements and were focused on him.
Respect, admiration, disbelief.
Countless gazes, like dazzling spotlights, shone upon his body.
At this moment, not a single look of disdain or contempt could be seen in the crowd, and no one dared to question his strength anymore.
Just then, a rousing broadcast suddenly blared overhead: "Midnight is coming! Midnight is coming!"
"Everyone except patients, defense staff, and on-duty medical personnel, please leave the hospital within one hour. Please be careful on your way and be sure to avoid crowds!"
Everyone present was immediately startled and hurriedly checked the time.
"What? It's almost midnight??"
"Oh no, oh no, I'm doomed! My husband is going to kill me today!"
"You're still talking? Hurry up and go. If you don't make it out of the hospital in time, you'll be in big trouble."
Upon hearing the broadcast, Xie Xubai didn't delay and quickly packed his things.
When he left the consultation room, he discovered that many people were still waiting for him to come out.
"Thank you for your hard work, Teacher Xie!" the younger generation said in unison, their words filled with respect and their eyes shining.
Xie Xubai remembered the tradition of the First Hospital: if the seniors don't leave, the juniors have to stay. He quickly waved his hand and told them to go home.
Little did he know that these younger generations had stayed here voluntarily.
That happened in the afternoon.
A junior colleague, blocked at the back of the crowd and unable to see what was happening inside the consultation room, was extremely anxious and mustered up the courage to ask Xie Xubai to activate "teaching mode".
With the patient's consent, Xie Xubai allowed the "teaching mode" to be activated.
The treatment process was recorded in real time and then broadcast live on a large screen in the lobby, allowing many interns to witness the entire treatment process and benefit greatly.
Right now, these younger students still have many details they want to ask, and they also want to know if Xie Xubai is willing to take on students.
It was too late, and several directors were still nearby, seemingly to talk to someone, so they had to leave reluctantly.
Then Xie Xubai saw his former mentor and Xiao Liu in the crowd.
The two avoided his gaze, not daring to meet his eyes, and nervously said, "Thank you for your hard work, Director Xie."
Xie Xubai looked at them for a while longer.
That calm, unwavering gaze was enough to send shivers down their spines, making them hold their breath and dare not breathe too heavily.
Suddenly Xie Xubai smiled, breaking the tense atmosphere, and extended his hand, saying, "From now on we are colleagues, please take good care of me."
"No, no, no, what do you mean by 'giving guidance'? How could we dare to give you guidance? You... are really strong, worthy of the position of director." The supervising teacher hurriedly grasped his hand and said repeatedly.
Forget about playing dirty tricks on Xie Xubai anymore; they've even lost the courage to look people in the eye.
Several of the directors have already left.
Director Li didn't leave. After the crowd had mostly dispersed, he suggested to Xie Xubai, "The hospital isn't very peaceful at night. Why don't you come with us, Director Xie?"
Xie Xubai did not refuse Director Li's kindness.
On the one hand, he was already exhausted, and if something unexpected happened, it would be very difficult for him to cope.
On the other hand, the warnings broadcast over the radio gave people a bad feeling.
A group of people left the building.
Xie Xubai, in his early twenties, seemed somewhat out of place among the team of older doctors in their forties and fifties.
To the surprise of the directors, Xie Xubai did not act arrogantly even after setting an impressive record of treating 127 patients in a single day.
He spoke calmly and respectfully, was gentle and polite to his elders, and spoke with proper manners. His voice was pleasant to listen to.
The old men exchanged glances, completely convinced and secretly thinking how remarkable it was.
After a brief conversation with the young people, even they couldn't help but relax a bit.
Director Cao warmly invited, "Director Xie, you didn't drive here today, did you? Why don't you ride with me back later?"
Another director said, "Old Cao, give me a ride too!"
"Go away, your home is nearby, just a few steps away, why would you want to hitch a ride?"
Xie Xubai listened to their conversation and, finding it unexpectedly harmonious and friendly, smiled slightly.
The next second, a hideous blue-eyed snake head suddenly entered his field of vision, leisurely hovering beside his left hand, hissing out cold, damp red tongue.
Xie Xubai: "..."
He was caught off guard, and his breathing became slightly labored.
The snake's head was attached to the wrist of a certain director, who was completely unaware of his sudden revelation, which startled Xie Xubai so much that his muscles tensed up.
He patted the snake's head and laughed heartily: "It and I are both full, we're not going to have any more food."
"Since you're going in that direction anyway, giving you a ride along the way won't tire you out. At worst, I'll help you treat that Class A critically ill patient tomorrow, and the performance bonus will go to you."
"Okay, okay. What did Director Xie say? Do you want to come with us?"
Upon hearing the sound, the snakehead looked at Xie Xubai, seemingly wanting to show friendliness, and grinned widely.
Sharp teeth exposed in the pale moonlight, with a drop of crystal-clear venom unconsciously seeping from their tips, reflecting a chilling light.
"..." Xie Xubai calmly shifted his gaze. "No need. My dog is still waiting for me at the hospital entrance. We'll go back together then."
"You're walking back?"
"A friend helped me call a car."
“Okay, then there’s no problem. There are a lot of people around this hospital, and they often come out in groups at night. Although they’re not a threat, blood is hard to wash off once it gets on your clothes, so it’s best not to walk around.”
Xie Xubai feigned surprise: "Is that so? It's good that you told me. It seems I won't be able to walk back anymore."
No one else suspected anything.
Xie Xubai pinched his fingertips, quickly and subtly calming his breathing.
On this day, everyone looked like a human, and their behavior was no different from that of humans.
He almost forgot that Lü Xiangcai had warned him long ago that the First Hospital had long since become a den of monsters.
He couldn't help but glance at the others, including the medical staff who were leaving work together not far away. Several of his subordinates noticed his gaze and nervously stepped out of their mechanical positions.
No one was surprised by the director's snakehead; this commonplace demeanor made Xie Xubai's heart tighten slightly.
He suddenly realized that he might be the only human in the entire monster zone.
Do these colleagues eat people? What if they do? The hospital has a human ward, and so far there haven't been any reports of missing persons... Should he keep his human identity a secret?
Xie Xubai was right; none of the directors in front of him had imagined that he was a pure human.
After all, humans become alienated once they awaken. If Xie Xubai were a pure human, where would he get his spiritual power?
They haven't had any contact with pure humans for a long time, and they avoid humans whenever possible. After all, those little creatures are too fragile and break easily. Who has the time to protect a human to the end?
Speaking of which, Xie Xubai's mental power was so strong that they were very curious about his true appearance. Out of politeness, they did not investigate, thinking that there would be plenty of time in the future to see him.
One of them glanced at Director Zhou, who remained silent behind him, and raised his voice meaningfully, "And Old Zhou, with this kind of accident happening today, shouldn't you say something?"
Director Zhou was startled, his face showing obvious embarrassment: "I really didn't do that. Haven't I already explained it?"
"Besides, you all know that you need to submit a report to the hospital director before admitting any Class A critically ill patients. Without his approval, who would dare to release those difficult patients?"
The directors suddenly fell silent, because they knew that what Director Zhou said was true.
The hospital's back-end system makes it easy to find out who abused their power. The punishment, if not terrible, can wipe out a director's years of hard work in an instant.
If it weren't for the dean's instructions, who would dare to take this risk?
Unsure of what to do, Director Li looked at Xie Xubai and tentatively asked, "Director Xie, does the dean disapprove of you...?"
Before he could finish speaking, everyone's expression changed slightly.
Their gaze shifted forward, towards the hospital entrance, and settled on the middle-aged man with a cold expression.
That was none other than Dean Fu Zong.
The middle-aged man reeked of blood, with fine beads of sweat clinging to his temples. His breathing was unsteady, and his eyes were fierce, as if he had just emerged from a battlefield.
When Director Li saw Fu Zong staring intently at Xie Xubai, his heart tightened. He stepped forward and said with a cheerful smile, "Dean, it's so late, why haven't you left yet?"
Fu Zong didn't even glance at him, his cold gaze sweeping over Xie Xubai. Just as he was about to speak, he suddenly saw the man move.
The young man's expression remained calm and composed as he walked towards him without looking to the side.
Her indifferent gaze abruptly averted itself the instant it met his, like a wisp of wind that could not be grasped.
Then, I brushed past him.
I don't take him seriously, and I won't linger for him even for a moment.
In an instant, Fu Zong froze like a statue. His surging emotions snapped the string of reason, and he finally couldn't help but shout in a deep voice, "Little Rabbit... you stop right there! Do you still want Lu Xiangcai's things?"
Xie Xubai stopped in his tracks and glanced back out of the corner of his eye.
Very good, they've taken the bait.
Author's Note:
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com