Inside the Car

In the darkness, Ankang Hospital was left far behind by the car, like a pale box that was gradually shrinking and exuding an ominous aura. Professor Liu walked in silence the whole way, his refined face covered with a layer of frost.

Lin Feng followed silently beside him, his steps equally swift and steady. Monkey followed behind, somewhat unsteadily, his mind in turmoil. The eerie sense of disharmony he had felt outside the ICU window, and Professor Liu's solemn expression, weighed heavily on his heart like a boulder.

Lawyer Zhou's black sedan remained parked quietly, like a lurking shadow. Upon seeing the group emerge, Lawyer Zhou quickly got out and silently opened the back door. Professor Liu and Lin Feng bent down and got in, while Lin Feng waved to the distracted Monkey to follow.

The Monkey paused for a moment, then quickly climbed into the car and sat next to Lin Feng. Lawyer Zhou closed the car door, returned to the driver's seat, and the engine emitted a low hum as the vehicle smoothly drove away from the Ankang Hospital area and merged into the sparse traffic of the night.

The car was silent.

The streetlights outside the car window rushed past, the alternating light flickering on everyone's faces, reflecting their different moods. Monkey gripped his knees tightly, his knuckles white, his breathing rapid, yet he dared not utter a sound to disturb them. Lin Feng leaned back in his seat, his eyes closed, as if resting, or perhaps waiting for something. Lawyer Zhou drove with focused attention, seemingly just an emotionless driver.

This suffocating silence lasted for about five or six minutes, until the car drove out of the hospital area and turned onto a relatively quiet city road.

Professor Liu then slowly raised his hand and removed his mask. His expression remained serious, even more so than before. He took a deep breath, as if to completely expel the stale air from the hospital, before speaking slowly, his voice low and clear, breaking the silence in the car:

"Whether a patient has lymphoma cannot be definitively diagnosed solely by observing instrument data and the Patient's external appearance from outside the ICU window. A detailed pathology report and more precise examinations are required for confirmation."

He first presented a rigorous premise, but then abruptly changed his tone, becoming incredibly certain:

"However, there's one thing I'm now basically certain of."

He paused deliberately, drawing everyone's attention to the vehicle, especially the Monkey, who almost held his breath.

Professor Liu's gaze swept over Lin Feng, finally landing on the pale-faced Monkey, and he said, word by word:

"The patient's sudden loss of consciousness and admission to the ICU was not due to a rapid deterioration of their condition."

His voice was resolute:

"It's because she's under the influence of drugs."

"Anesthesia...?"

The Monkey sitting to the side was struck as if by lightning, jolted from its seat, cried out in shock, and stared wide-eyed in disbelief and horror.

Professor Liu looked at the Monkey, which was trembling with excitement, and explained in a calm tone, with an unquestionable professional authority:

"Yes, anesthesia." He explained in detail, "I carefully observed the data on the monitor, including her vital signs, especially the bispectral index of her EEG, as well as her external muscle relaxation and eyelid reflexes. These indicators combined show that her current loss of consciousness and 'stable' vital signs are not due to exhaustion or crisis caused by the disease itself, but rather a controlled state of sedation induced by drugs."

He further emphasized with sharp insight. "Based on my many years of clinical experience, her current condition is completely consistent with the typical manifestations after general anesthesia. A Patient is truly in the late stage of lymphoma and whose condition is rapidly deteriorating and is on the verge of death would never exhibit this kind of... artificially intervened 'stability' in terms of vital signs, breathing patterns, or even subtle nerve reflexes."

Upon hearing this, the Monkey felt a chill run from the soles of his feet to the top of his head, as if his blood had frozen. Not because of cancer, but because of anesthesia? Why did the hospital anesthetize Xiaoya? And lie about her worsening condition and send her to the ICU? A terrifying thought, one he dared not delve into, frantically grew in his mind, leaving him icy cold and his teeth chattering. He opened his mouth, wanting to question, wanting to roar, but boundless fear and anger choked him.

Just then, a steady hand landed on his violently trembling shoulder.

It's Lin Feng.

Lin Feng shook his head slightly, using his eyes to stop him from losing control. Then, Lin Feng turned to Professor Liu and asked the most crucial question, his tone frighteningly calm:

"Professor Liu, in your opinion, is my sister's current condition suitable for immediate transfer to another hospital for treatment?"

Professor Liu pondered for a moment, seemingly quickly assessing various risks and possibilities in his mind, before giving a clear answer:

"Although the specific reasons for your sister's anesthesia and the medications used are still unclear, considering her relatively stable vital signs under anesthesia, she is fully capable and safe to be transferred to another hospital for treatment."

Upon hearing this, Lin Feng nodded, showing no surprise on his face, as if he had already expected this answer. He didn't say anything more, but simply instructed Lawyer Zhou in the front row, "Lawyer Zhou, take Professor Liu home to rest first. Thank you for your hard work today, Professor."

"Okay, boss," Lawyer Zhou replied, adjusting the direction of the car.

The atmosphere inside the car grew even more somber for the rest of the journey. Monkey tried to speak several times, his lips moving, but seeing Lin Feng's calm, almost cold profile and feeling the oppressive aura of impending doom, he swallowed the words that were on the tip of his tongue. He could only clench his fists tightly and silently, his nails digging deep into his flesh.

The vehicle eventually stopped in front of a quiet, upscale residential complex.

Lin Feng and Monkey got out of the car and expressed their sincere gratitude to Professor Liu once again. Professor Liu waved his hand, his expression still solemn, and said, "Be careful in everything," before turning and walking into the apartment building.

After watching Professor Liu's figure disappear, Lin Feng and Monkey got back into the car.

The moment the car door closed, Monkey's suppressed emotions finally collapsed completely. He abruptly covered his face with his hands, and scalding tears, like a burst dam, gushed out from between his fingers. Suppressed, painful sobs echoed softly in the enclosed car. It wasn't sadness, but rather lingering fear, anger, and extreme worry about his sister's situation after learning the truth.

Lin Feng didn't speak, but simply reached out and patted the Monkey's constantly shrugging shoulders again.

When the Monkey's crying subsided slightly, leaving only intermittent sobs, Lin Feng raised his head, his gaze through the windshield to the deep night outside, his eyes sharp as knives.

He spoke to Lawyer Zhou in the front row with a slightly menacing tone:

"Lawyer Zhou, contact Li Jun."

"Tomorrow, I'll pick Xiaoya up from school!"