Lu Lin nodded, then turned to the nurse, "How do I get to the payment counter?"
The nurse immediately led the way, "Please follow me."
The young doctor finally breathed a sigh of relief and quickened his pace back to his office.
Upon reaching the payment counter, the cashier glanced at Lu Lin and instantly clicked his tongue inwardly. His attire clearly indicated wealth and status. He took the form, typed on the keyboard, and put on a smile. "We have single rooms available now, no reservation needed, 2000 a night. Would you like to change?"
Lu Lin, however, said, "Let's get a regular ward."
The toll collector's smile shifted slightly as she silently grumbled to herself, "So rich and yet so stingy, can't even afford a private room. No wonder they say rich people are stingier!" She typed away on her keyboard, processed the ticket, collected the payment, and handed the receipt out the window, this time without saying another word to Lu Lin.
Lu Lin took the bill and turned to return to the ward. Seeing the nurse still following him out of the corner of his eye, he stopped and asked, "Is there anything else?"
The young nurse stopped abruptly, somewhat dazed, and had unconsciously followed... She hugged the patient clipboard and quickly shook her head, "It's nothing, it's nothing!"
Lu Lin stepped into the elevator.
The ward was on the third floor, a multi-person room, with a bed fee of 100 yuan per day. Lu Lin pushed open the door and went in. Only Yan Heqing was still asleep. His bed was at the very end, by the window.
The other patients and their family members were chatting or playing on their phones. Every now and then, someone would glance at Yan Heqing. This child was really beautiful, quite different from the others. Even with No. 1 Primary School her face showing while lying down, she was still very eye-catching.
As soon as Lu Lin entered the ward, seven or eight pairs of eyes turned to him.
Wearing a long cashmere coat over a simple yet sophisticated three-piece suit, he blocked out the overhead light as he entered the room. He was nearly 190 cm tall, with a sharp, straight jawline that exuded an air of authority, making him stand out in the ward.
Silence fell instantly; the man who had been playing a video aloud quietly turned off the screen.
Everyone held their breath as they watched Lu Lin walk towards the beautiful child's bedside.
Immediately, Lu Lin drew the curtains over Yan Heqing's hospital bed, instantly blocking out all prying eyes.
The space became cramped, obscuring the bright incandescent light. Only the faint glow of the streetlights shone through the window. Lu Lin looked at Yan Heqing.
This was the second time Yan Heqing had been lying in a hospital bed.
This time, Yan Heqing didn't change his hospital gown, only his coat. He was as pale and thin as ever, with several clear purplish-blue bruises on his slender neck. He seemed to be in great pain, even in his sleep, his eyebrows were tightly furrowed.
Lu Lin bent down slightly, reaching out to touch the two deeply furrowed brows. Just as he was about to touch them, he suddenly stopped, gazing at the frail boy with his eyes tightly closed. He twirled his fingers for a moment, then finally withdrew his hand.
*
Yan Heqing slept very restlessly.
He had a dream, a dream filled with interlaced black and white images, like old film reels on a projector, both clear and blurry.
Finally, color appeared. Under a tree of bright red lantern flowers, there was the melody of flowing water. A palm-leaf fan brushed past his ear, bringing a refreshing and comforting breeze. He fell asleep holding that delicate and warm hand, unwilling to let go no matter how hot it was.
Suddenly, the lantern flowers burst into flames, like shooting stars streaking across the sky, with sparks falling continuously.
The house caught fire, and the raging flames dyed the sky a shocking red. He stood there, only able to cry, when that hand pulled him into a warm and loving embrace, the sound as gentle as flowing water, both tender and strong.
"Don't be afraid, baby, Mommy will protect you."
He held his mother tightly in her arms, but he couldn't share any of her warmth with her; he could only watch helplessly as she grew endlessly cold.
"Mom!" Heart-wrenching cries erupted from all directions.
Yan Heqing's long eyelashes fluttered slightly, and he abruptly lifted his eyelids.
The surroundings were not quiet; thunderous snores rose and fell. My consciousness gradually returned, and what first caught my eye was a hazy white expanse, which gradually became clearer and more distinct, followed by... one image after another...
A familiar face.
Yan Heqing stared silently, not moving for a long time.
Lu Lin asked him again, "Are you hungry?"
He spoke, his voice so hoarse it was almost inaudible, "I'm not hungry." Yan Heqing propped himself up on the slightly hard bed, his light-colored eyes still veiled with a faint mist, like the mist that hadn't yet dissipated on an autumn morning.
Lu Lin bent down and helped him stand the pillow up.
With his back pressed against the soft pillow, Yan Heqing's brow twitched slightly in pain. "Thank you."
Lu Lin picked up the thermos from the small cabinet. It was a new thermos, the kind that's very common, probably bought from a small shop downstairs at the hospital. He unscrewed the lid, turned it upside down to reveal a simple cup, poured in half a cup of hot water, and handed it to Yan Heqing, saying, "Drink some water."
Yan Heqing was very thirsty. He took the cup, lowered his head, and took No. 1 Primary School sip. It wasn't hot; it was the perfect temperature to drink. The liquid flowed down his dry throat, soothing him deeply. Yan Heqing finished the cup in one gulp. Lu Lin reached out to take the cup from him. "Want some more?"
Yan Heqing shook his head slightly; even shaking his head was difficult for him now. He looked up at Lu Lin and asked, " Mr. Lu, what are you doing here?"
Lu Lin's eyes held a deep, turbulent emotion. He closed the thermos. "You're unconscious. The hospital should notify me."
Yan Heqing showed no surprise. He smiled faintly, which brought a touch of life to his pale face. "Sorry to bother you again."
The phone was on the bedside table. Yan Heqing picked it up to check the time; it was 11 p. m. His lips were a little dry. He pursed them and looked at Lu Lin again. "I'm fine. You should go home and rest."
Lu Lin didn't move. "Same as last time, discharge immediately?"
The last time Yan Heqing was hospitalized, he received a call from the hospital shortly after he left, saying that Yan Heqing had been discharged.
Yan Heqing shook his head, "No, I have nowhere to go."
Lu Muchi couldn't get through to him on the phone, so he would definitely come to his house. Yan Heqing was feeling very unwell, and he didn't plan to go back.
This should be a regular ward, costing around 100 yuan per night, which is cheaper than a hotel.
Lu Lin's eyes darkened. "The creditors are at the door?"
Yan Heqing's eyelashes fluttered. After a moment's hesitation, he smiled and nodded slightly. "I suppose so."