Exposure

After Zhang Hongyuan left, the ward fell into a deathly silence. His seemingly polite and considerate, yet in reality veiled and threatening remarks were like a cold file, repeatedly cutting into the already fragile nerves of the Monkey's parents.

The Monkey mother could no longer hold on; she collapsed into a chair, covered her face, and wept silently, her shoulders trembling violently.

The Monkey father stood stiffly by the bed like a stone sculpture that had aged ten years in an instant, his eyes staring blankly out the window. His clenched fists were white at the knuckles from excessive force, yet they were filled with a sense of powerlessness that had nowhere to go.

When the Monkey finished dealing with some chores and returned to the ward with the lunch he had bought for his parents, this was the scene he saw. His heart skipped a beat, and he quickly went forward.

"Dad, Mom? What's wrong? What happened?" the Monkey asked anxiously.

When the Monkey mother saw her son, she felt as if she had found her pillar of support and cried even harder. She recounted, in fits and starts, Zhang Hongyuan's visit, including his arrogant "technological difference theory," his sophistry in shirking responsibility, and his despicable act of threatening her with advance payments.

As his mother recounted the story, the Monkey's face gradually turned ashen. His chest heaved violently, a burning rage shooting from the soles of his feet to the top of his head, making his eyes bloodshot. He hadn't expected Ankang Hospital to be so arrogant! Not only did they show no remorse or apology, but they dared to come directly to his door, using such a condescending attitude to make a blatant threat!

"Bastard!" the Monkey spat out through gritted teeth, then slammed his fist against the wall beside him with a dull thud. His hand instantly swelled up, but he seemed oblivious to the pain.

"They're sure we're helpless!" The Monkey's father's voice was hoarse, filled with deep despair. "They said... if we take legal action, they'll fight to the bitter end, even if it takes years... our money... Xiaoya's subsequent treatment..."

Money! Money again! This advance payment was almost all of their family's savings, and also their hope for their sister's recovery. Ankang Hospital had precisely seized their lifeline.

"I'm going to find the police!" The Monkey suddenly turned and was about to rush out. He felt this was blatant threat and extortion; surely the police couldn't just ignore it?

"Monkey!" his father called out, his eyes filled with complex emotions. "Just now... that person said their legal team is very professional..."

The Monkey paused, understanding his father's meaning. The other party dared to be so blatant; they must have been prepared for any eventuality. But he was unwilling to give up! Were they just going to let it go like this? Let his sister suffer in vain? Let his parents bear this immense injustice and loss?

"I'll go ask! I need to know at least how the case is going!" Monkey gritted his teeth and finally rushed out of the ward.

He went to the municipal police station again and found Detective Captain Li, who was in charge of the case.

Captain Li was clearly very busy, with bloodshot eyes, but he still made time to meet with Monkey. After listening to Monkey's emotional account of Zhang Hongyuan's visit, Captain Li's brows furrowed tightly.

"This behavior is indeed egregious and threatening," Captain Li said in a deep voice. "We will record it for future reference in our investigation."

"Captain Li, what's the status of the case now? When will Qin Ming and Ankang Hospital be convicted?" Monkey asked eagerly, his eyes full of anticipation.

Captain Li paused for a moment, looking at Monkey's young and anxious face, and sighed inwardly. Due to discipline, he could not reveal specific details or progress of the investigation, but seeing the family's plight, he felt compassion and decided to reveal some of the hardships they faced in a rather subtle way.

He carefully chose his words and slowly said, "Hou Jun, I understand how you and your family feel. We take this case very seriously, and Director Wang is also pushing it forward under pressure. But... you have to understand that the situation at institutions like Ankang Hospital is often quite complicated."

He paused, his gaze sharp and frank. "To convict, especially to clearly define the entire chain of responsibility, requires a very solid and complete chain of evidence. The medical field is highly specialized, and the opposing party's defenses, such as equipment error or diagnostic discrepancies, do indeed have some... room for legal recourse."

He watched as the glimmer of hope in the Monkey's eyes faded, and added, "Moreover, the other side has a professional legal team. They will exploit every procedural and legal loophole to delay and resist. This process may be longer and more difficult than you imagine."

Captain Li didn't say it explicitly, but the Monkey understood. Although the police were trying their best, facing such a deeply entrenched and legally astute opponent, convicting him in a short time was an impossible task. The numerous obstacles of the legal process had ironically become a shield that the other side could use.

"Is there really no way to deal with them?" The Monkey's voice trembled slightly with resentment.

"We will definitely act in accordance with the law and do our best to investigate," Captain Li gave an official but factual answer. "But you family members should also be prepared, remain calm, and protect your rights according to the law."

Stay calm? Protect your rights according to the law?

The Monkey left the municipal police station dejectedly. Captain Li's words were like a bucket of ice water, extinguishing the last vestige of his illusions about relying on public power. He understood the difficulties faced by the police, but this understanding brought with it a deeper sense of despair and anger.

Walking back to the hospital, the early summer sun shone brightly, the streets were bustling with traffic and pedestrians hurrying by, each seemingly carrying their own goals and hopes. Only he felt as if he were trapped in an invisible, cold glass dome, the outside world's clamor irrelevant to him. A sense of powerlessness entwined him like vines, tightening its grip until it almost suffocated him.

He remembered his younger sister Xiaoya lying pale and weak in the hospital bed, his parents' hair turning white overnight and their eyes filled with despair, Zhang Hongyuan's hypocritical face that uttered the most shameless words, and Captain Li's helpless words, "long and arduous"...

On what grounds?

Why are those who commit evil allowed to be so arrogant?

Why should the victims have to bear all the pain and injustice?

Why is the path to protecting one's rights so arduous and hopeless?

An overwhelming surge of suppressed emotions, a mixture of anger, resentment, grievance, and despair, raged and fermented within his chest, searching for a way out.

He abruptly stopped in his tracks, standing on the busy sidewalk, and pulled out his phone. The screen unlocked, revealing the familiar orange icon— Quick Sound.

A crazy idea, one he had never considered before, suddenly sprouted out like a poisonous bamboo shoot breaking through the soil.

The law can't touch you for now?

Do the police have their procedures and difficulties?

Do you use your expertise and the law as a shield?

Alright!

I'll tear all of this apart and expose it to the sun!

Let everyone see what kind of place your Ankang Hospital really is!

Let public opinion judge you!

A hint of almost obsessive determination flashed in the Monkey's eyes. Without further hesitation, his fingers trembled, but he pressed the record icon on Quick Sound with unusual firmness. He pointed the camera at his face, which was bloodshot and somewhat ferocious from anger and insomnia.

He took a deep breath, as if inhaling all the humiliation and power into his lungs, and then, in a hoarse and agitated voice, began his accusation to the camera...