Chapter 11 - The Surgery (1/2)

Chapter 11: The Surgery

Translated by Shiya of Exiled Rebels Scanlations

In the first half of Li Sui’s life, he had never heard someone talk about matters regarding life and death so lightly. Just like when people watched movies where people hung themselves, people would often feel something at their necks too. When Li Sui heard Lu Shang, he clearly felt something cut his heart open, it hurt so much. In his mind were all kinds of screaming, but he was exceptionally calm, using one hand to hold Lu Shang and the other to reach for the phone.

Uncle Yuen was called, and Li Sui basically had to pick Lu Shang up to get him to the car. They drove to Rui Ge Hospital, the doctors didn’t say anything and pushed Lu Shang straight into the operating room.

“Prepare for first aid treatment.” Li Sui only heard that and was separated from Lu Shang by the closing door.

Buzzing sounds echoed through the hallway, Li Sui was panting heavy breaths. He lowered his head and rubbed his face, not sure if it was his sweat or the rain. Li Sui was only wearing a shirt. He was in a rush, blood seeped out of the wound on his arm when he wasn’t paying attention. It began to soak the sleeve of his shirt, mixing with the rain.

Not many people passed the hallway, it was so quiet that Li Sui was positive he could hear his own roaring heart. Li Sui didn’t feel like sitting down, nor liked the idea of standing still, so he walked in a circle outside the operating room. Just then, Uncle Yuen walked in with a receipt in hand, he saw Li Sui and paused for a moment.

“Uncle Yuen.” Li Sui nodded his head politely.

“Why are you still here?” Uncle Yuen walked over to Li Sui, “We don’t need you here, go home and get some rest, I’ll call Xiao Zhao to drive you home.”

Li Sui stood still, “His…his disease, is it serious?”

Uncle Yuen looked like this was difficult for him to talk about, he said, “You should ask Lu Lao Ban yourself when he wakes up.”

“I’m just worried.” Li Sui said with a powerless voice.

Uncle Yuen glanced at the bleeding wound on Li Sui’s arm. Remembering the little things Li Sui did on the way to the hospital, the care Li Sui had given Lu Shang, Uncle Yuen’s voice softened, “This is an old problem. It was terrifying and close every time, but he also bounced back every time.” The moment Uncle Yuen began talking about Lu Shang’s disease, he sighed, “He himself had a lot of experiences in the disease, us worrying won’t do him any good. Just believe in him, that’s all we can do now.”

Li Sui stared at Uncle Yuen, feeling sourness in his heart. No wonder Lu Shang didn’t sound like a person who was sick, it wasn’t the first time already. Li Sui didn’t know how Lu Shang managed to hang on all these years.

The door of the operating room opened, out came a middle-aged man wearing a surgical gown. He took his surgical mask off, behind it was a face similar to that of Leung ZiRui. Uncle Yuen handed the man the receipt he was holding, they talked for a while, in the conversation were a bunch of professional words. Li Sui didn’t understand a word, the only thing he could do was stare at the huge blood stain on the man’s gown.

Lu Shang was perfect in Li Sui’s heart, he was forever elegant and polite, he maintained a low profile and was reserved. If humans were stored artifacts, Lu Shang would belong in the most precious showcasing shelf. Li Sui couldn’t handle the thought, how could things like surgery and bleeding happen to someone like that?

Feeling the gazes that fell on him, Li Sui raised his head. The doctor glanced at Li Sui, then he looked back at Uncle Yuen, it seemed like they had reached a consensus. The doctor went back into the operating room, while Uncle Yuen went over to Li Sui, bringing him to the emergency room.

Re-bandaging the wound didn’t take long. Li Sui was young, his body healed quickly. The nurse wanted to hook Li Sui up with a bag of saline, but Li Sui refused. At the end, Li Sui only received an anti-inflammation injection. Uncle Yuen was waiting at the door, after the treatment was finished, he walked Li Sui out of the hospital.

Xiao Zhao was waiting in the car outside. Li Sui listened to the pattering of raindrops, he turned back and asked Uncle Yuen, “When will he wake up?”

“I think at least tomorrow.”

Li Sui asked, “Will there be someone to take care of him?”

“There will be nurses, caretakers, and all the doctors here know him. You can go home at ease.”

Li Sui was still worried, after thinking for a long while, he opened his mouth, “Uncle Yuen. Can I stay here and wait for him to wake up?” The difficult expression returned on Uncle Yuen’s face, this time Li Sui didn’t wait for Uncle Yuen to speak, he said, “I can accompany him and talk with him. I also have the strength to carry him, he won’t be mad if I was there.” Li Sui lowered his head, then adding one more sentence, “Also, I think, he might not want the nurses to touch him.”

Uncle Yuen didn’t feel right making Li Sui leave after he said those words. He knew the kid wasn’t wrong either. Lu Shang was always conflicted about going to the hospital, he also hated examinations that involved people coming in direct contact with his body, he always bickered with Leung ZiRui on the topic. Li Sui could be counted as the rare few people who had physical contact with Lu Shang, so having him around might be convenient.

“Then… you decide. Don’t run out of the hospital, if Lu Lao Ban can’t find anyone after he wakes up, it’d be difficult for me too.” Uncle Yuen agreed to Li Sui’s request.

Li Sui found the nurse and got a charger from her, he charged his phone and sat outside the operating room. On usual days, Li Sui just studied and did exercises as he didn’t have a hobby. Lu Shang would at least watch movies, while Li Sui would watch them half-way and fall asleep for the rest. Hence, he couldn’t think of anything to do now besides meditating.

This hospital didn’t have a lot of staff, so the environment was a little ghostly. The staff that passed by also walked lightly, making the building feel extra empty. Li Sui had no idea how long he would have to wait, so he went down to the convenience store and bought bread, the store sold millet congee too. Li Sui bought and packed up a bowl of the congee for Lu Shang, even knowing Lu Shang won’t be awake any time soon, and even if he did, chances were he wouldn’t be able to consume anything.

When Li Sui returned to the spot he was sitting on, the seat was already occupied by an old lady. She was holding a walking stick, looking like she was waiting for someone. Li Sui sat beside her, he put the congee on another seat beside himself.

“Little guy, what time is it now?” The old lady suddenly turned her head to ask Li Sui.

Li Sui took his phone out, replying, “It’s five minutes past two now.”

“It has past two already, why is he not out yet…” The old lady was very old, her face was covered in wrinkles, she seemed a bit obtuse. However, her face was clean and tidy, her clothes were clean and had traces of ironing, it seemed like she was well taken care of.