Struck Down by Illness!

Evening, eight o'clock.

At the County People's Hospital, a doctor on the night shift and several nurses rushed into Dong Xuebin's ward carrying equipment. Dong Xuebin lay on the floor, his face pale, long unconscious. Xie Huilan crouched beside him with a grim expression, her fists lightly clenched, unable to say a word. Qu Yunxuan, equally frantic, gripped one of Dong Xuebin's hands and kept talking to him, reassuring him that he would be fine, that he would definitely get better.

"Family members, make way!"

The doctor crouched down. "Heartbeat, blood pressure!"

One nurse said, "Blood pressure, 40 over 70." Another person in a white coat said, "Heartbeat, 45. Breathing is weak."

The doctor made an immediate decision. "Put him on a ventilator. Get him to the Emergency Room first. Call Director Yang right away, hurry!" Qu Yunxuan anxiously asked, "Doctor, Xiao Bin will be all right, won't he? He'll be all right, won't he?" The doctor had no time to explain much. As he directed the others to lift Director Dong onto the bed and administer temporary emergency treatment, he quickly turned back and said, "His blood pressure and heart rate are both too low. The situation doesn't look good. Notify the patient's family as soon as possible. We'll do everything we can to save him." With that, ignoring Qu Yunxuan as her face turned white, the doctor and several nurses pushed the hospital bed out at a run and entered the Emergency Room. Qu Yunxuan hurried after them, with Xie Huilan close behind.

Five minutes...

Ten minutes...

Fifteen minutes...

Outside the Emergency Room.

Qu Yunxuan sat on a plastic chair, frantic with worry. "Xiao Bin will be fine. He'll definitely be fine."

"That brat's luck is better than anyone's!" Xie Huilan closed her eyes slightly. "He'll definitely be all right!"

"Yes, yes, he'll be all right," Qu Yunxuan said. Yet anyone could hear that they were both trying to comfort themselves. As the resuscitation dragged on, Qu Yunxuan and Xie Huilan grew increasingly agitated. Xie Huilan rose from her chair and paced back and forth through the hallway in high heels, while Qu Yunxuan buried her hands in her hair, shedding a few tears one moment and then rushing to the Emergency Room door the next, pressing herself against the completely opaque door and staring desperately.

With a creak, the door suddenly opened, and a doctor came out!

Xie Huilan and Qu Yunxuan immediately rushed over. "Doctor, how is Xiao Bin?" Xie Huilan demanded forcefully, "Has Director Dong woken up?"

The doctor recognized County Chief Xie and sighed. "Not yet."

"Not yet? Look at the clock yourself! How long has it been already?" Xie Huilan flared up.

The doctor steeled himself. "County Chief Xie, although Director Dong has no obvious external injuries and his blood tests showed no major abnormalities, his condition is still very dangerous. A few minutes ago, the patient's heart briefly stopped beating, so..." Director Yang is doing everything he can. We will make every effort to wake Director Dong."

At those words, both Qu Yunxuan and Xie Huilan swayed!

His heart... had stopped beating? How could that have happened??

Then the doctor sighed and took out a form. "Who is the patient's family?"

"Xiao Bin's mother is in poor health, so we didn't dare notify her." Qu Yunxuan said, "Tell me whatever it is."

The doctor handed over a Critical Condition Notice. "You should still notify Director Dong's family. This needs to be signed."

The moment she saw the words "Critical Condition Notice," Qu Yunxuan went blank. Her feet wobbled, and she nearly toppled sideways, but Xie Huilan caught her from beside her.

Qu Yunxuan's lips trembled violently. "Xiao Bin... he's not going to make it?"

"Calm down." Xie Huilan drew a breath. "Issuing a Critical Condition Notice doesn't mean he'll die!"

Just then, the Old Director of the County People's Hospital, a Vice Dean, and a department director hurried down the corridor. When they heard that Director Dong had suddenly collapsed and that County Chief Xie was also at the hospital, the hospital leadership knew the situation was urgent. The Old Director, who had already gone to bed, immediately brought people over. Director Dong had rendered great service only that morning; if anything happened to him at their hospital, they would not be able to escape responsibility.

"County Chief Xie!"

"County Chief!"

Several hospital leaders stood respectfully beside Xie Huilan.

The Old Director immediately questioned the on-duty doctor about Director Dong's condition. After hearing the details, his expression changed, and he grew anxious as well.

Qu Yunxuan was nearly frantic. She shoved past the doctor and tried to rush into the Emergency Room, only to be stopped outside. Xie Huilan was slightly calmer than her. She grabbed the Critical Condition Notice and threw it at the Old Director. "Don't let me see this thing again! I don't care what methods you use! I don't care what it costs! You will save Director Dong! Do you hear me? Keep resuscitating him! Send in more people! Now!"

"Understood!" The Old Director and a department director personally entered the Emergency Room.

The atmosphere outside the Emergency Room grew heavier and heavier. No one spoke. The hallway was silent as a grave.

One minute passed.

Five minutes passed.

Ten minutes passed.

Suddenly, the Emergency Room doors opened, and the Old Director, Director Yang, and the others came out.

Xie Huilan's gaze tightened. Qu Yunxuan's heart leaped into her throat, terrified that she would hear the words, "We did all we could."

Director Yang, in his early forties, let out a breath. "Director Dong has woken up. He is temporarily out of danger."

Upon hearing that, everyone breathed a sigh of relief. Thank goodness, thank goodness. When Dong Xuebin was wheeled out, he seemed to have fallen asleep again from exhaustion, but there was more color in his face than before. Tears streamed down Qu Yunxuan's face. Covering her mouth, she sobbed softly in lingering fear. She had been scared half to death. Xie Huilan also let out a long breath, her whole body relaxing considerably.

The hospital advised that Director Dong get proper rest and not be disturbed. Xie Huilan ordered everyone to leave, and she sent away the several well-informed visitors who had come to see him.

Not long after, Director Yang, the attending physician, emerged from his office with a stern face. "Who is the patient's family? Come in with me." Then he turned and went back inside without another word. Wanting to understand Xiao Bin's condition, Qu Yunxuan hurried after him. After saying a few casual words to the Old Director, Xie Huilan followed as well and closed the office door. Only the three of them remained inside.

Director Yang looked at Qu Yunxuan. "You're family?"

"Yes." Qu Yunxuan asked worriedly, "What happened to Xiao Bin this time? Why did he suddenly become so seriously ill?"

Director Yang gave her no pleasant expression at all. "I should be asking you that! When Director Dong was brought to the hospital this afternoon, he wasn't in serious condition! How did he suddenly collapse?" Qu Yunxuan's expression stiffened. "When it happened, he... was very anxious and very angry." Director Yang glared. "Angry? Did you make him angry?" Qu Yunxuan said nothing. Xie Huilan frowned. "Just being angry could cause difficulty breathing and a temporary cardiac arrest?"

"Of course it could, and that may have been the primary cause." Director Yang said firmly. "You should know Director Dong's character better than I do. He is warmhearted, kind, and upright. Whenever the common people were in danger, wasn't Director Dong always the one who stepped forward? People like him tend to take things too much to heart. When they encounter something they can't let go of, something troubling, they push themselves too hard. Even when they can't figure it out, they keep thinking; even when it hurts, they keep thinking. Those emotions often trigger all kinds of acute illnesses. Myocardial infarctions, cerebral hemorrhages—many patients get sick from anger!" Xie Huilan's expression changed slightly. "It's that serious?"

"Could there be lasting effects? Xiao Bin has never had anything like this before!" Qu Yunxuan asked.

Director Yang said angrily, "Not having it before doesn't mean it won't happen later. I really don't understand what kind of family member you are! The patient is already hospitalized, and even if you don't take meticulous care of him, why would you make him angry?" One of the little girls trapped on the tourist bus during the landslide had been Director Yang's niece. He was deeply grateful to Director Dong and truly treated Director Dong's affairs as his own, which was why his temper had flared.

Qu Yunxuan gritted her teeth and remained silent, knowing she was in the wrong.

Xie Huilan had also pressed Dong Xuebin step by step earlier, so she said nothing as well.

Director Yang continued, "Everyone knows how many major things Director Dong has done these past few months. He was willing to enter a school as a hostage and saved the kidnapped students and teachers. He caught a man who jumped from a building with his own flesh and blood. During the landslide, he disregarded his own safety and desperately rescued trapped civilians, nearly losing his own life. Then this morning, he went to defuse the bomb. After escaping, the bomb's shockwave nearly killed him, and afterward he even drove off to catch criminals and collided with them. Let alone all those things piling up together—even one of them might be more than an ordinary person could mentally bear. This isn't just simple mental stress. How many times did Director Dong nearly die on the spot? How many narrow escapes from death has he had? Can all that be described with just the word 'stress'? Obviously not. Accumulated again and again, this distorted psychological pressure can completely crush a person."

Xie Huilan pondered for a moment. "Is this a psychological illness?"

"Yes, but not entirely." Director Yang sighed. "Director Dong has been overworking himself, and he has not fully recovered. From being hospitalized for severe soft-tissue injuries to both hands, to later fracturing both legs, and now this—the past three months have practically all been spent recuperating in the hospital. He may not feel it himself, and outsiders may not see it, but those injuries are real. In fact, in my view, under the double burden of physical and mental strain, even half a year of rest might not be enough for him to recover completely. Yet you, his family, actually made him angry?" Qu Yunxuan asked remorsefully, "Will Xiao Bin have another episode in the future?" Director Yang shook his head. "I can't say. We'll have to observe him. Fortunately, there are no pathological changes in his heart." Xie Huilan asked, "What treatment should come next?" "Rest. What Director Dong needs now is rest. He cannot be anxious or angry. Let him recuperate peacefully for a year, and perhaps those negative psychological pressures will gradually ease. Well, I'm not a psychologist. Director Liu will need to prescribe the specific treatment plan."

It was already midnight. After Xie Huilan sent everyone away, the corridor became empty as well.

Inside the ward, numerous instruments stood around the bed, beeping softly. Dong Xuebin lay on the hospital bed with his eyes closed, deeply asleep. Large and small wires were attached all over his body, and a monitor was clipped to one of his fingers. Xie Huilan and Qu Yunxuan stood silently in the room, watching the bed.

Suddenly, Dong Xuebin's eyelids twitched, and then he opened his eyes.

Xie Huilan stepped forward. "You're awake?"

Qu Yunxuan hurried closer. "How do you feel? Tell Auntie if anything hurts?"

Dong Xuebin blinked dazedly and said weakly, "What... what's wrong with me?" He did not have an ounce of strength left in his body, and he was mentally exhausted as well. It felt awful, as though he were about to die. Dong Xuebin's heart sank. He had clearly been fine before.

Qu Yunxuan stroked his hand. "It's fine as long as you're okay. As long as you're okay."

Dong Xuebin's brow twitched as he asked feebly, "Do I have some terminal illness or something?" "No." Xie Huilan bent down and patted the back of his hand as well. "Don't think nonsense. Rest and recover properly. You're just too exhausted. The doctor said you'll be fine after resting quietly for a while."

Dong Xuebin did not believe her. "It's really not cancer or anything?"

Qu Yunxuan's nose stung. "Aunt Xuan swears it's not." She repeated what the doctor had told her.

After hearing that, Dong Xuebin breathed a sigh of relief, though bitterness immediately welled up inside him. Perhaps Director Yang had been right. But how could his mental trauma have come from merely a few incidents? When he had saved the teachers and students at the school, the Escaped Prisoner's gun had shot him to death who knew how many times. Again and again, he had watched helplessly as bullets entered his body. Though he knew he would not die, that terror and helplessness were not something an ordinary person could endure. Then there was the man who jumped from the building, when he watched his arm break over and over again. After that came the landslide and the timed-bomb incident. Dong Xuebin had experienced death countless times. Anyone else would probably have collapsed from illness long ago. Only Dong Xuebin had held on through sheer stubbornness.

But speaking of it, this incident had dealt him the greatest blow.

Falling out with Sister Xie and Aunt Xuan had dealt Dong Xuebin a tremendous mental shock. Coupled with all the accumulated damage from before, it had finally erupted. Like dominoes, everything had collapsed in an instant. Even Dong Xuebin himself had been caught off guard. He had not realized that all those repeated deaths had left his mind in such a chaotic mess.

Dong Xuebin sighed repeatedly.

Qu Yunxuan comforted him softly. "Don't overthink it. The doctor said this is a good thing. Rather than leaving behind a ticking bomb that could go off at any time, rather than letting it pile up until you can't bear it anymore, it's better to discover it early and treat it early. Once the root of the illness is gone, you'll be fine." Dong Xuebin gave a soft "Mm." "Don't tell my mom. I'm afraid she'll worry."

"I know." Qu Yunxuan carefully stroked his face. "Just focus on recovering. You don't need to worry about anything else."

Xie Huilan asked, "How do you feel now?"

"I'm just weak. My head's a little dizzy, a little muddled." Then Dong Xuebin recalled what had happened before he fainted. His heart clenched, and his mood immediately turned terrible. His breathing became a little rapid as well. He forced down the discomfort of his dizzy, throbbing head and looked at Xie Huilan and Qu Yunxuan. "You two should go back. I'll be fine by myself." Qu Yunxuan's expression froze. "You can't be by yourself." Dong Xuebin said sickly, "I'm fine. Weren't you going back to the Capital City?" "Aunt Xuan isn't leaving. I'll stay here with you." Qu Yunxuan clasped his hand and tightened her grip. "What I said tonight was just said in anger. You're the only one in Aunt Xuan's heart. How could I bear to leave you? Be good. The doctor said you can't get upset or angry anymore. Don't think so much. I'm not leaving. I'll stay by your side and protect you for the rest of my life. Even if you did something to wrong me, I won't be angry anymore. Be good." Dong Xuebin said helplessly, "Are you just trying to comfort me?"

Qu Yunxuan said gently, "I'm not comforting you. I mean it. I'm really not angry with you anymore." Then she glanced at Xie Huilan. "Miss Xie, I'll be enough here. You're busy with work, so go back." Xie Huilan looked at her. "Why should I leave?" Qu Yunxuan said, "There's nothing else to do here. I can take care of Xiao Bin."

Xie Huilan narrowed her eyes. "Miss Qu, I think you should go back instead. Xiao Bin was injured several times because of me, so it's only right that I stay to look after him. Don't you agree?" The two of them were starting to clash again.

Seeing them about to quarrel again, Dong Xuebin felt miserable. It suddenly became hard for him to breathe.

Qu Yunxuan was startled and hurriedly stroked Dong Xuebin's chest again and again, helping him catch his breath. "I won't say anything anymore, okay? Don't get worked up. It's okay. Be good, it's okay." Xie Huilan also sat down beside him and said mildly, "We were just talking. We weren't fighting." Dong Xuebin took two breaths and said weakly, "Seriously, you should both go back. Don't worry about me anymore. I wronged both of you. I lost the right to face either of you a long time ago."

Xie Huilan smoothed the messy hair from Dong Xuebin's forehead. "Why are you saying such foolish things? Let's not talk about relationship matters anymore, alright? From now on, Aunt Xuan and I won't force you either. We'll deal with things when the time comes. Your task right now is to recover properly. Don't get anxious. There's no hurdle in this world that can't be crossed. Isn't that what you always say? For now, just think of yourself as having two girlfriends. Don't think about anything else."

Dong Xuebin hurriedly shook his head. "How could that work? I'm not worthy of even one of you, let alone two."

Xie Huilan lightly nudged Qu Yunxuan's shoe with her high heel.

Qu Yunxuan hesitated. "Stop saying you're not worthy. What Miss Xie said... Aunt Xuan agrees too. Just think of yourself as having two girlfriends for now. We'll talk about everything else later." Even now, the Critical Condition Notice still made Qu Yunxuan shudder with lingering fear. She was truly afraid that Dong Xuebin would spiral into despair and fall ill again, so this was the only way.

Dong Xuebin said, "How can that be? I..."

Xie Huilan cut him off. "Let's not talk about this anymore, alright? Let's leave it at that for now."

Qu Yunxuan gave a soft "Mm." "Neither Sister Xie nor I have any objections, so what are you being coy about? Get some rest. Close your eyes and sleep for a while. Sister Xie and I will stay here with you. If anything feels uncomfortable, call for us. Don't tough it out, understand?"

Dong Xuebin knew they were only trying to make him happy and keep him from overthinking and worrying himself sick. Otherwise, given their personalities, they would never have said anything about two girlfriends even if it killed them. Thinking of that, Dong Xuebin was overwhelmed with emotion.