DSMIS CH28

Chapter 28: Are You Only Looking After Me Because Xu Cheng Asked You To?

Jiang Lin led Black Panther inside and sat by the door. He watched Shen Xing grab his clothes and dash into the bathroom. The sounds of brushing teeth and running water followed in quick succession, revealing how rushed he was.

At the nine-minute mark, Shen Xing bolted out of the bathroom with half-dry hair. He grabbed his coat, ready to head out, proving that when he said ten minutes, he truly meant ten minutes.

Jiang Lin watched his flurry of hurried movements, not knowing whether to laugh or cry:

“Doctor Shen, we’re just going to walk the dogs, not catch a flight. Dry your hair properly. The wind is strong today.”

Due to his profession, Shen Xing was never accustomed to making others wait. He smiled:

“Good point. Give me another three minutes then.”

“I’ll give you five.”

“How generous of you.”

Five minutes later, Doctor Shen’s hair was completely dry, fluffy, and had two stubborn cowlicks sticking up. He was wearing a strikingly bright yellow short down jacket today, which made him look several years younger, like a graduate student fresh out of university.

“Did your mom pick this one out for you too?”

Shen Xing looked down and smiled:

“Yeah. To make me easy to spot, all my clothes when I was little were brightly colored so people would remember me at a glance. My mom said that if I ever got lost, I’d have obvious defining features, and maybe passersby would have an impression of me.”

His mother had always had an obsession with making sure he was easy to find if he got lost.

It had started snowing last night, and by the time they headed out, a layer of fresh snow covered the roads. There weren’t many cars on the streets of the small county town on a snowy, freezing weekend morning. After all, the bed was the most comfortable place to be.

“Hey, how did I never think of walking the dogs by car?”

Shen Xing sat in the passenger seat with his legs crossed, holding two leashes in his hand. The window was half open, letting the leashes trail outside as the two dogs trotted along behind.

Shen Xing turned to look and noticed the stark contrast in the two dogs’ styles. Black Panther trotted steadily alongside the car, exuding an aura of “do not approach.”

Meanwhile, his silly dog acted as if it were his first day on Earth. Not only were his four legs flailing about chaotically, but he also kept shaking his head and occasionally rubbing his face against Black Panther, who was running ahead of him.

After Qianjin rubbed against Black Panther three or four times in a row, Shen Xing broke into a sweat. If Black Panther turns around and barks at him right now, won’t my Qianjin get scared into a catatonic state on the spot?

Just as he was worrying, Black Panther turned his head and gently pressed his chin onto the Samoyed’s fluffy head twice, as if acknowledging him. Then, his silly dog grinned even wider and looked even sillier. Shen Xing couldn’t bear to watch and turned his head back around:

“Hero, I think my Qianjin thinks your Black Panther is his big boss.”

Jiang Lin glanced at the two furballs in the rearview mirror and smiled:

“Black Panther treats him as someone who needs protecting.”

“Hmm?”

“Look, Black Panther is walking on Qianjin’s back right side now. A stray dog just passed by on that side.”

Shen Xing turned his head. Sure enough, Black Panther, who had been leading, was now behind Qianjin. His gaze was highly alert, and he would occasionally respond to the Samoyed, who kept turning around to shake his head at him.

Jiang Lin drove toward the less populated outskirts of the county. They walked the dogs for nearly twenty minutes before heading back. They went to the rice noodle shop downstairs that they frequented for breakfast and found a table near the edge. Since Shen Xing was a regular, the owner recognized him. While preparing noodles, the owner looked up, nodded, and greeted him:

“Minced pork rice noodles again?”

“Yes, two bowls. A portion of sugar-oil baba, two rice cakes, and a mixed cold dish platter.”

The owner turned to a child still wearing a school uniform beside him:

“Xiao Niu, go get the cold dish for the older brother.”

The kid was quick and efficient, placing a small cold dish and two pairs of chopsticks on the table:

“Here’s your cold dish.”

Jiang Lin’s gaze fell on the child’s rolled-up sleeve. Exposed on his arm were two intersecting, linear scars, accompanied by redness, swelling, and subcutaneous bleeding. This type of scarring was typically caused by being whipped. He initiated a conversation:

“Hey kid, you’re up this early on a Saturday?”

The kid merely kept his head down, grunted an “Mm,” and walked away.

Shen Xing’s attention was entirely on the rice noodles being prepared in the distance. Soon, the kid returned carrying two bowls of rice noodles. Shen Xing handed Jiang Lin a pair of chopsticks:

“I’m telling you, this place really has the best rice noodles I’ve had in years. I can never get enough.”

Jiang Lin nodded:

“Was this kid in the shop when you came before?”

“Hmm?”

Shen Xing looked up and glanced at the kid who was helping serve customers. He recognized him as the one who took his order the very first time he visited:

“He was here the first time I ate here. I haven’t run into him when I’ve come for breakfast recently, probably because he has school. It’s Saturday today, so he’s probably only helping out because it’s the weekend. Why do you ask?”

“Nothing.”

Shen Xing had arranged the vehicle transport that morning. Having nothing else to do, he accompanied Jiang Lin to the hospital:

“You go up first. If she decides to proceed with the treatment, give me a call. I’ll read some medical literature in my office.”

“Alright.”

When Jiang Lin went upstairs, Cao Shulan was staring blankly toward the rear building. Seeing Jiang Lin, she quickly gestured for him to sit down. Cao Shulan’s health indicators had recovered nicely, and the prospect of being discharged on Monday gave her something to look forward to. However, she looked anxious:

“Xiao Jiang, our whole family discussed it, and we’ve decided to let Xiaohu go to Beijing for treatment. It’s just… how do we contact them over there? And how much will it cost?”

Shen Xing hadn’t expected to receive a call from Jiang Lin less than ten minutes after sitting down. He hurried upstairs. He wasn’t wearing his white coat today, just a crewneck sweater, significantly lessening the intimidating aura unique to doctors.

Jiang Lin stood up to offer him his stool, but Shen Xing pressed him back down by the shoulder:

“Stay seated. Have you made a decision?”

“Auntie Shulan wants Xiaohu to receive treatment in Beijing. She wants to know the approximate cost and how to contact the hospital.”

“It’s like this: if you decide to proceed with the treatment, I’ll arrange a video call for you with the attending physician in Beijing. He will explain the pros and cons of this treatment plan in detail, as well as the risks. If, after understanding everything, you still decide to go ahead, you’ll need to sign an informed consent form. Then, the county hospital will issue a transfer certificate. Once they arrange a bed over there, you can go straight there.

As for the cost, I’ve asked around for you. This treatment isn’t standard clinical therapy; it’s equivalent to Liu Xiaohu entering an experimental medical group. Therefore, all medications and supportive care won’t cost extra. Even if there are costs, Xiaohu’s situation should qualify for full reimbursement, right?”

He directed this last question at Jiang Lin. Jiang Lin nodded:

“Yes, even the medications not covered by standard health insurance can be fully reimbursed.”

“Next is the issue of transport. I honestly haven’t dealt with inter-provincial transport for patients in this condition, so we’ll need to inquire about the methods and prices. Then there’s the matter of family accompaniment. Hospitals in Beijing operate on a no-family-caregiver system; the hospital provides professional caregivers, so family members don’t need to be there every day. However, a family member is still required to handle various procedures, so you need to decide who will accompany Xiaohu to Beijing. Given Auntie Cao’s current condition, I strongly advise against her making a long journey. The remaining expenses will be the living costs for the accompanying family member in Beijing.”

Cao Shulan hadn’t received much education. Aside from her son’s injury this time, the farthest she had ever traveled was to Baoshan City. After Liu Xiaohu was injured, he was sent directly to the Armed Police General Hospital, and then someone came to take her to Beijing. These issues clearly exceeded her capabilities. She looked visibly anxious, not knowing what to do.

Jiang Lin stood up:

“Auntie Shulan, rest well. I’ll handle the rest. Don’t worry, I’ll make sure Xiaohu gets to Beijing safely.”

His voice carried a profoundly reassuring strength.

Shen Xing wasn’t surprised by this outcome in the slightest. Liu Xiaohu’s family truly lacked someone who could take charge. Jiang Lin had requested a transfer to this remote area to support Liu Xiaohu. Now that Xiaohu was going to Beijing for treatment, and his family clearly had no one able to accompany him, would Jiang Lin simply follow him back?

After all, Tianjin was very close to Beijing—only a half-hour high-speed train ride away. Even though he knew a remote assignment wasn’t something one could abandon on a whim, Jiang Lin had merits and honors to his name; surely his unit would be understanding given the circumstances? Shen Xing himself didn’t know why he subconsciously resisted the possibility of Jiang Lin leaving.

He had been walking with his head down in utter silence when a hand suddenly waved in front of his face:

“Doctor Shen, what are you thinking about?”

“Thinking about you.”

Both of them froze for a moment at those words. Shen Xing quickly gathered his wits:

“Thinking about what you plan to do.”

Jiang Lin suddenly smiled:

“I might not have a solution, but that old man who complained to you definitely does.”

Shen Xing was taken aback. The old man who complained to him? Which old man complained to him? Suddenly, he remembered:

“You mean Vice President Xu?”

A sudden, sharp pain shot through Jiang Lin’s leg as he stepped down the stairs. He paused slightly, but quickly resumed his normal expression as he complained:

“Who else but that old man? He didn’t say anything nice about me to you, did he?”

“You really shouldn’t wrong Vice President Xu. He went through several connections to find me. I was wondering at the time—he’s the vice president of a top-tier hospital, a heavyweight in the orthopedics field. Tracking me down, asking for my WeChat, sending me videos… what kind of precious patient was he entrusting to me? He even repeatedly asked me over the phone to take extra care of this patient. Honestly, I really didn’t want to take the case back then.”

Jiang Lin’s movements stiffened:

“Why?”

Shen Xing pushed open the door to his office. The office was empty on the weekend. He turned to face Jiang Lin and instinctively went to shove his hands into the pockets of his white coat. Only after patting himself down did he realize he wasn’t wearing it today. He simply dropped his hands:

“Because I could tell from Vice President Xu’s tone that this patient wasn’t very good at following medical advice. Running around everywhere instead of listening to the doctor after we worked so hard to save his leg… patients like that are pure torture for a doctor. When Vice President Xu asked me to take extra care of him, I figured he wanted me to act as this patient’s nanny—pushing him to get treatment, pushing him to take his medicine. I’d have to be out of my mind to willingly take on a case like that.”

Jiang Lin thought about how attentive Shen Xing had been to him over the past two days and lowered his eyes to look at him gently:

“So, are you only looking after me because Xu Cheng asked you to?”

Meeting his gaze, Shen Xing felt as if his heart had been lightly scratched by something. Moreover… moreover, if he wasn’t mistaken just now, why did he feel like Jiang Lin looked a little… wronged? For some reason, a mischievous urge took over:

“What if I said yes?”

Jiang Lin’s eyes darkened for a moment. The nerve pain in his leg was intense, making it difficult for him to stand steady. He inconspicuously leaned a hand against the filing cabinet beside him:

“Then thank you for taking the trouble. I won’t cause you any more problems from now on.”

Hey, hey, hey? Why did he take it seriously? He was clearly just teasing, but now Shen Xing was the one feeling a bit dumbfounded:

“I was teasing you, couldn’t you tell? With our relationship, even without Old Xu, I’d still look after you!”

Jiang Lin gave a small smile. This smile suddenly made Shen Xing feel a pang of heartache. He grabbed Jiang Lin’s arm and pressed him down into the chair opposite his desk:

“Does your leg hurt?”

“A little bit.”

Although they hadn’t known each other long, it was enough for Shen Xing to understand “Jiang-speak.” If he said “a little bit,” it meant it hurt a lot.

Shen Xing sat opposite him, picked up the landline phone, glanced at the department directory on the wall, and dialed a number:

“Doctor Liu, do you have any patients right now?”

“Ah, yes, I have a friend here.”

“Alright, I’ll bring him over now.”

Shen Xing hung up the phone:

“Did you bring your medical insurance card?”

“No.”

“Your phone will do. Let’s go.”

Shen Xing scanned a QR code to register him and took Jiang Lin straight to the rehabilitation department. It was almost time for the lunch break, so Shen Xing simply took over Doctor Liu’s shift, letting him go eat, and turned to Jiang Lin:

“Lie down up there. A heat therapy session will help relieve the pain.”

Jiang Lin glanced at the time:

“It’s noon. Are you hungry?”

“Not hungry. We’ll eat after you’re done.”

Shen Xing turned on the infrared therapy lamp, adjusted it to the correct position, ordered him to lie still, and left the examination room.

The county hospital had a Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) department. Rushing against the clock, he managed to catch the old TCM doctor just as he was about to leave for lunch. The old doctor was a bit surprised to see him:

“Doctor Shen, what’s wrong? Come, let me check your pulse.”

“It’s not me, it’s for a friend. I need you to prescribe an herbal foot soak for him.”

The foot soak prescription primarily focused on unblocking meridians and promoting blood circulation. Because Jiang Lin suffered from nerve pain, Shen Xing asked him to add some analgesic and anti-swelling herbs as well. Only after the prescription was written did he let the old man go to lunch.

When Shen Xing returned to the examination room, he saw Jiang Lin looking toward the door. That look suddenly reminded him of a kindergartener waiting for their parents to pick them up. He waved the bag in his hand at him:

“I got your foot soak herbs prescribed.”

After the 30-minute therapy session ended, Shen Xing pressed down the man who was trying to get up:

“Let me give you a massage.”

Jiang Lin was startled and instinctively tried to block his hand:

“No, there’s no need. It doesn’t hurt anymore.”

Shen Xing found his reaction amusing and slapped his hand away:

“What are you being so coy for in front of a doctor? My technique is very good; I won’t break you.”

Jiang Lin obviously knew Shen Xing wouldn’t break him; he just didn’t want Shen Xing to have to do this. But sensing that Doctor Shen disliked disobedient patients, he hesitated for two seconds before lying flat.

Doctor Shen expressed satisfaction with his performance:

“Mm, that’s more like it. Let me tell you, I don’t like patients who don’t follow medical advice, I don’t like patients who make their own decisions, and I really don’t like coy patients.”

Jiang Lin looked up, realizing for the first time that Doctor Shen was quite authoritative even without his white coat:

“Understood.”

Shen Xing smiled, still grumbling internally. Isn’t he perfectly obedient? Why couldn’t Vice President Xu handle him?

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Author’s Note:

If Vice President Xu heard Doctor Shen’s words, he’d clutch his chest and cough up three liters of blood.

Vice President Xu: He’s never like this in front of me!