Chapter 705: Shen Lang with Ears Pricked Up Like Antennas

Arriving at the intensive care unit, Liu Zhuren first took Ji Xiang to see the Patient.

The expressions of the group of department heads were all very solemn.

But solemn as they were, Ji Xiang discovered that within their solemnity lay a trace of strange and complex emotion.

Where exactly it was strange, Ji Xiang could not say clearly.

No one asked about the medical history; it seemed everyone was very familiar with this Patient, and while no one wanted to speak, they had no choice but to come.

The atmosphere was inexplicably strange.

"Zhuren, what is going on?" Ji Xiang lowered his voice and asked in Liu Zhuren's ear.

"Just watch, I'll explain it to you when we go back," Liu Zhuren said softly.

Only a few urgent test results had returned for now, and the situation was quite grim; it was judged to be multi-organ failure, especially of the heart, lungs, and kidneys, which was basically unsolvable.

Based on Ji Xiang's clinical experience, for a similar Patient, one should communicate with the Family Member, frankly stating that everyone had done their best, and secretly praise the Family Member for taking such good care of the Old Man over the years, saying things like they should let the Old Man suffer less.

Doing this would allow the Family Member to save face and keep their dignity.

Finally, they would give up treatment and let the Old Man peacefully ride a crane to the west.

But Ji Xiang's clinical experience had suffered a heavy blow.

Facing an Old Man who in all likelihood had no specific disease, but whose various parts were simply worn out and had reached the end of their lifespan, all the department heads, Experts, and professors were acting as if facing a formidable enemy.

Ji Xiang hesitated for a moment, found a quiet corner, held his breath, and entered the System Space.

"Teacher." Ji Xiang first greeted the System NPC, then stated his confusion.

No matter how tangled or complex Ji Xiang's explanation was, the System NPC did not seem to misunderstand a single bit, as if this type of Patient was very common in clinical practice.

Seeing the System NPC's smile and that air of having everything under control, Ji Xiang was even more unable to understand.

Ji Xiang had thought his clinical experience was already very rich through Standardized Residency Training and over a hundred instances of Empathy.

He could switch between different perspectives to feel the mindset of Patients and Doctors; this was a convenient condition that others simply could not possess.

But the System NPC's expression told him that he was still very green.

While still confused, the System NPC did not explain anything to Ji Xiang like a Medical Record, but instead asked, "Doctor Xiao Ji, do you want to experience it?"

Experience?

Ji Xiang was startled.

The Patient was already in a coma, so he shouldn't be experiencing it from the Patient's perspective.

The Family Member had been nowhere to be seen; it wasn't like some consultations where the Family Member stood outside the door, bowing to anyone wearing a White Uniform and speaking words of gratitude.

This Patient's Family Member seemed to care about nothing; they didn't even show their faces, leaving the hospital to handle the consultation and treatment.

It was as if the person lying in the ICU had nothing to do with them at all.

If he were to experience it, he could only do so from the Doctor's perspective; what difference would that make from now?

"Teacher, is it from the perspective of the attending Doctor?" Ji Xiang asked.

He felt it was unnecessary.

"It's a very interesting experience," the System NPC smiled, "Zhou Congwen specifically built the model."

Hearing Zhou Jiaoshou's name, Ji Xiang immediately perked up.

"Okay!"

The System NPC stood with hands behind his back and a hunched waist, leading Ji Xiang to turn back to the adjacent Operating Room.

Light flickered.

"Xiao Ji, Xiao Ji, do you know!"

Someone spoke urgently in Ji Xiang's ear, giving Ji Xiang the illusion that he had encountered Zhao Zhe during Empathy.

He opened his eyes and saw that he was in the Fire Exit, with a young Doctor in front of him who looked ordinary but had a face full of desire to confide.

What made Ji Xiang somewhat surprised was that he felt this Doctor's ears were pricked up like antennas.

Shen Lang.

Such a strange name; it seemed to be the protagonist of the martial arts novels his grandfather loved to read.

"Lang Ge, what's wrong?" Ji Xiang asked.

Seeing that Ji Xiang was interested, Shen Lang began to play coy, something Ji Xiang detested deeply.

But as a newcomer, Ji Xiang didn't say anything, instead lighting a cigarette and sitting on the steps of the Fire Exit with Shen Lang to smoke.

"Lao Wangtou is coming to be hospitalized, I heard it from the Zhuren," Shen Lang said.

Ji Xiang recalled while smoking.

Lao Wangtou was an old Patient who had undergone Coronary Artery Bypass Grafting in the department many years ago and had been hospitalized here ever since for check-ups and the like.

Although his Coronary Artery Bypass Grafting was perfect and he recovered well, his subsequent problems had nothing to do with the Thoracic Surgery Department.

But since the Zhuren was willing to admit him, the junior Doctors couldn't say anything.

"I know," Ji Xiang answered honestly.

"You just arrived, so I have to tell you a few more things," Shen Lang said, feigning mystery, "Lao Wangtou is a bit strange; he will..."

This guy was playing coy again; Ji Xiang really wanted to rub his mouth against the sole of his shoe.

"Suck away people's lifespan."

"!!!"

Ji Xiang really hadn't expected to hear such words in a hospital.

His impression of Shen Lang plummeted instantly.

What was all this? Did he know he was a Doctor? How could he even say things about sucking away people's lifespan? Was this guy even reliable at all!

Once the floodgates were opened, Shen Lang and Zhao Zhe still had something in common: they both talked too much.

But Zhao Zhe only talked about meaningless things, while Shen Lang was particularly fond of gossip.

Ji Xiang even felt that Shen Lang's ears perked up like antennas, and a strange light flashed in his eyes.

Did Zhou Jiaoshou actually have such an unprofessional Doctor under him?

In his heart, Ji Xiang even began to doubt Zhou Jiaoshou as well.

"I'll tell you from the beginning," Shen Lang said while smoking, "Back in the late seventies and early eighties of the last century, Lao Wangtou was still the boss of the company next door, and he was hospitalized for Acute Pancreatitis."

"It is said that the Acute Pancreatitis was super severe at the time, brought on by drinking."

Super severe?

Ji Xiang was stunned for a moment before he realized; this was local slang, meaning especially severe.

"The medicine back then wasn't as good as it is now. Such severe Acute Pancreatitis required surgery to cut away all the glandular tissue, leaving only the branches, like the pancreatic ducts and such."

"Performing this kind of surgery was a matter of life and death; it was like... it was like... even riskier than the Elephant Trunk Surgery we perform."

Ji Xiang pondered Shen Lang's words, having no idea what he was going to say next.

"It is said that Lao Wangtou's daughter took care of him back then, and she was so meticulous that many doctors nowadays, when they see some severely ill Patients, will say—if it were Lao Wangtou's daughter, the Patient wouldn't die."

"Oh, oh, oh, that's amazing!" Ji Xiang said perfunctorily.

He had some private complaints about this Empathy, especially regarding this Shen Lang.

"And guess what happened? Lao Wangtou walked out of the hospital 23 days later, and his body was as sturdy as could be!"

"Maybe his physical constitution was good and he pulled through, plus the Doctor who performed the surgery on him was highly skilled," Ji Xiang said.

"That's not what I'm talking about; that's all just background."

"..." Ji Xiang was speechless.

This is just too long-winded.

"Not long after he was discharged, Lao Wangtou's daughter was beaten to death by her husband due to domestic violence!"

(End of this chapter)