(A place to store your brain—better store it here anyway. The author's afraid of getting flamed.)
Zhang Shuai realized he couldn't move at all. In a daze, he heard people talking.
"Director Chen, the patient has no heartbeat or breathing. His body is stiff, and he has no vital signs. We've done everything we can. Should we stop resuscitation and issue a death certificate?"
"Did the patient die from electrocution?"
"According to the woman who brought him in, he accidentally got electrocuted while installing wiring. We've done everything we can to revive him, but there's no bringing him back."
Zhang Shuai was deeply suspicious. Are they talking about me? Am I dead?
That couldn't be right! When a person died, it was like a lamp going out. A dead person shouldn't have any awareness. He was still conscious—he wasn't dead!
Zhang Shuai was frantic. The doctors were already preparing to issue his death certificate. Would they send him to the hospital morgue next, then wait to cremate him?
What should he do? He didn't want to die! He was twenty-five years old and still a virgin. He hadn't even experienced what it was like to be with a woman. Dying just like this would be unbearable.
Zhang Shuai tried to shout, but couldn't make a sound. He couldn't even open his eyes, let alone move a muscle.
What's wrong with me? Am I in some kind of medically recognized state of suspended animation?
Zhang Shuai only remembered going with Wang Qiang to install wiring in the shop of a beautiful female owner. There were lots of people eating barbecue inside, and the owner wouldn't let them shut off the power, so Zhang Shuai had to work on the live wires. He hadn't expected to get electrocuted by accident.
The barbecue shop's owner and Wang Qiang must have brought him to the hospital.
But what kind of lousy hospital was this? Were all these doctors useless? He was clearly still alive, and they were going to issue a death certificate.
This was far too careless. It was practically murder!
No!
It really counted as murder!
Just then, Zhang Shuai heard a familiar voice. It was his childhood friend Wang Qiang's. The voice was loud, but far away. He must have been shouting from the hallway outside the ward.
"Doctor, please, save him! You have to find a way to bring him back. He can't die..."
Zhang Shuai was deeply moved. As the saying went, you learned who your true friends were in a crisis. Wang Qiang was a real friend to him. Having one confidant in life was enough!
Then Zhang Shuai heard Wang Qiang cry out in anguish, "He can't die! He still owes me ten thousand yuan! If he dies, who am I supposed to collect from?"
Those words left Zhang Shuai feeling a little bitter. Damn it, I'm about to die, and you can't even show a little concern? All you care about is the money I owe you?
Zhang Shuai could faintly hear a woman's voice, but it was too weak for him to make out what she was saying.
Then he felt a pair of hands pulling open his eyelids. They were probably checking his pupils.
"I think the patient's pupils are still somewhat reactive. Try resuscitating him again. Use the defibrillator!"
Zhang Shuai was so moved he could have cried. What a good doctor! If he survived, he would definitely send the doctor a banner of thanks.
Then Zhang Shuai felt something cold pressed against his chest.
A moment later, an electric current shot through his whole body, and he jolted.
One of the doctors kept pressing the defibrillator against his chest. A jolt of electricity passed through him, and Zhang Shuai felt his spirits lift.
Then he faintly heard a woman say, "Director Chen, the patient's responding. Look!"
Director Chen sounded surprised. "Huh! There's still a physiological response? That means he can still be saved. The patient's brain is still functioning. Quick, keep shocking him!"
Another series of electric shocks hit him. Zhang Shuai was a little confused. Why did he seem to enjoy being shocked?
Unfortunately, the sensation soon stopped.
Then the female doctor spoke again, her voice full of excitement. "Director Chen, the patient's heartbeat has returned, and he's breathing on his own..."
Director Chen exclaimed excitedly, "Check the patient's body right away. How many times have I told you not to give up on anyone too quickly? If I hadn't checked myself, you would have declared this patient dead today!"
Zhang Shuai was extremely unhappy. The sensation of being shocked by the defibrillator had been intoxicating. Why had they stopped so soon? How could they just leave him hanging like that?
"No! Don't stop! Quick... I want more!"
Zhang Shuai couldn't help crying out in desperation. The moment he spoke, he suddenly snapped out of his completely immobile state, sat bolt upright, and opened his eyes.
Four people came into view: three male doctors and one female doctor, all wearing green scrubs. One of them was still holding a defibrillator.
All four doctors wore shocked expressions. The female doctor's gaze was especially strange.
A moment later, Director Chen, standing near the door of the resuscitation room, gave an order. "Quick, get the patient to lie down. Give him a thorough examination."
At Director Chen's instruction, the female doctor gently supported Zhang Shuai and said softly, "Come on, lie down and let us examine you."
Zhang Shuai cooperated and immediately lay back on the bed with the female doctor's help.
After giving Zhang Shuai a series of examinations, the female doctor said to Director Chen, "Director Chen, the patient is completely fine. There aren't any burn marks on his body, either."
Director Chen nodded. "All right. He was just in a state of suspended animation after being shocked. Since he has no burns, he should be fine. Let's observe him for a day. If there really are no problems, we'll arrange his discharge."
After giving his instructions, Director Chen was about to leave when Zhang Shuai suddenly called out to him.
"Director Chen!"
Director Chen reached the door and stopped. He turned to look at Zhang Shuai on the bed, unsure why the patient had called him.
"Director Chen, thank you for saving me!"
Director Chen smiled slightly. "No need to thank me. It's a doctor's duty to save lives and heal the injured."
Zhang Shuai said, "I was unconscious just now, but I could still hear you talking. If you hadn't insisted on trying to resuscitate me again, the other three would probably have declared me dead. If they'd put me in the morgue to freeze, I wouldn't have had a chance. You saved my life, so I have to thank you properly. Once I'm discharged, I'll treat you to a meal. I hope you'll do me the honor."
At those words, the two other male doctors and the female doctor in the resuscitation room all looked awkward. What Zhang Shuai had said was true, but saying it to their faces made it all the more embarrassing.
Director Chen smiled with satisfaction. He could sense the sincerity in Zhang Shuai's words. For any doctor, saving a patient's life and receiving their heartfelt thanks was one of the most meaningful things there was.
"There's no need to treat me to a meal. I appreciate the thought. And I hope you won't blame them for what happened. Your condition was very unusual. Even I thought you couldn't be saved at first. I only tried because I wanted to do everything possible. It was your strong will to live that got you through."
Before you continue