Chapter 732: Determined to Die

Emergency.

The Emergency Department fears emergencies the most.

It's a place like a cesspit; even the hospital dogs avoid it.

The Pediatrics Department used to be a cesspit too, but with the birth rate getting lower and lower, Pediatrics isn't that busy nowadays.

Meng Qingfei stood up, walked out of the Consultation Room, and stood shoulder-to-shoulder with the Internal Medicine Doctor in the corridor.

The 120 emergency doctor pushing the gurney was very familiar with this scene; without waiting for the Internal Medicine or Surgery doctors to ask, he roared, "Jumper!"

The Internal Medicine Doctor let out a breath and patted Meng Qingfei on the shoulder.

Ji Xiang could sense the relief radiating from him upon hearing "Jumper."

Meng Qingfei rushed over quickly, and Ji Xiang followed behind him to begin emergency rescue.

The Patient had a Pelvic Fracture, a Femoral Shaft Fracture, and likely a Spleen Rupture; her blood pressure was very low.

After establishing Intravenous Access and running fluids in a stream, the Patient's blood pressure recovered, but as soon as she felt slightly better, she began grabbing at the intravenous infusion line.

A pale hand grabbed the infusion tube, and as the Patient's arm flailed about, the infusion tube was pulled out.

A faint stream of fresh blood sprayed out.

"Hold her down, hold her down, what are you doing!" Meng Qingfei roared.

A young man was panicking, lying loosely over the Patient, using both hands to pin down the Patient's arms.

Ji Xiang felt it was strange; the Patient was in Hemorrhagic Shock.

After the rescue, her blood pressure had temporarily risen, but she shouldn't have had the strength to struggle at all.

At the very least, in his limited medical career, he had never encountered a patient so determined to die.

"Juan'er, don't move, don't move around," the man said while tears fell, "I'm here, I'm here."

Such a heartfelt scene did not move the Patient; whether it was a mental disorder caused by Hemorrhagic Shock or something else, she struggled with all her might, wanting to continue the suicide "great cause" she hadn't finished.

But she was a woman after all, her strength was weak, and coupled with Hemorrhagic Shock, she couldn't withstand the man's strength at all and was pinned to the emergency gurney.

"Awoo~~~"

The man suddenly let out a miserable scream.

The Patient opened her mouth and bit his ear; this bite was extremely fierce, and if she hadn't been weak, Ji Xiang estimated she would have bitten off half of the man's ear.

Meng Qingfei immediately took out restraint straps and tied the woman's hands and feet to the gurney.

"Send her to the Hepatobiliary Surgery Department! Contact Orthopedics for a Hepatobiliary consultation! Tell them the Patient's condition is quite stable, but she needs emergency surgery!"

Meng Qingfei gave a series of medical orders.

Ji Xiang went to make the phone call.

The Patient's injuries looked serious, but the surgery was not difficult.

It only required a splenectomy, or if the Pelvic Fracture was severe, Interventional Surgery for Embolization, and so on.

As for the Femoral Shaft Fracture, it hadn't pierced the skin, so General Manager Xu Leyu likely wouldn't perform emergency surgery.

There was no point in following; Ji Xiang had no interest in such "minor" surgeries.

Watching the Patient being wheeled away, the Nurse also relaxed.

"The Patient really wants to die; if she wants to die, let her die, why must we insist on stopping her," the Nurse muttered to herself.

Meng Qingfei glared at her, but didn't say anything.

"Brother Meng, I didn't say anything wrong," the Nurse saw Meng Qingfei glaring at her and retorted, "A few years ago, an old man wanted to commit suicide, was stopped by his family, and sent to the hospital. Later, on the night of New Year's Eve, he jumped from the 12th floor carrying his Chest Bottle. You tell me, what was the point."

"……"

Ji Xiang sighed.

"Little brat, what do you know," Meng Qingfei scolded, "Go do your work, if you're free, go play on your phone. With so much to say, isn't TikTok fun, or are Korean dramas not good to watch?"

The Nurse was a bit annoyed at being called a little brat by Meng Qingfei, but she also knew that what she said was likely standing on the opposite side of public order and good customs.

The matter was very complex and couldn't be explained in a few words.

She glared back fiercely at Meng Qingfei and turned to get busy.

"Meng Laoshi, if there's nothing else, I'm heading back," Ji Xiang said.

"Wait a moment," Meng Qingfei didn't speak to the little nurse, but stopped Ji Xiang.

"Hm?"

"Come, keep me company for a smoke."

The two arrived at the Duty Room; Meng Qingfei opened the window and lit a cigarette.

"I rarely smoke, but after an emergency rescue, having one is truly refreshing."

"Heh, Wang Daxiao, Wang Laoshi, likes to smoke; every time he finishes a surgery, he has to have one, and he even calls it a post-op smoke."

"That old rascal," Meng Qingfei said with disdain, "Xiao Ji, let me ask you something."

"Meng Laoshi, go ahead."

"Just now, the Patient was determined to die; you saw it too."

"Yes."

"If it were you, what would you do?"

"We are doctors; these things have nothing to do with us," Ji Xiang replied.

His answer carried a hint of indifference, completely different from the young nurse; there was no passion in the answer, nor judgment, only a faint calmness and detachment.

Meng Qingfei nodded, "What if it were... your classmate? Your friend?"

Ji Xiang thought for a moment, walked to the window, took out a cigarette, and lit it.

Taking the opportunity to look out the window, Ji Xiang held his breath and focused, entering the System Space.

Meng Qingfei's question was quite strange.

Ji Xiang did not know how to answer either.

It seemed that no matter how he answered it would be wrong, but if he did nothing, it also seemed like something was wrong.

Not all questions in this world have answers.

Ji Xiang arrived at the System Operating Room to find the System NPC and see if the Old Man had any insights.

"Teacher."

Ji Xiang told the System NPC everything he had just seen in full detail.

The System NPC looked at Ji Xiang with great interest.

"Teacher, what do you say should be done when encountering such things?"

"Deal with it as it comes."

The System NPC gave a "vulgar" answer.

Ji Xiang was slightly stunned.

"This kind of matter has nothing to do with medical treatment; I see you coming to me, are you looking for Empathy?" the System NPC asked in return.

Ji Xiang thought carefully and nodded.

"There is no meaning in Empathy either, are you sure?"

"I want to see."

The System NPC was silent for a moment, then smiled.

"Love is what Maugham said in 'The Painted Veil': 'I know that you are foolish, frivolous, and empty-headed, yet I love you. I know your aims, your ideals, your snobbery, your vulgarity, yet I love you. I know you are a second-rate person, yet I love you.'"

"..."

Ji Xiang completely did not understand why the System NPC would quote this passage from Maugham.

Perhaps because of love?

A lingering, heart-wrenching love?

Ji Xiang smiled.

If that were the case, it seemed there really was no meaning in him wanting to experience Empathy.

But just when Ji Xiang was about to refuse, the System NPC said, "It is fine if you go take a look; after all, strictly speaking, the Patient should already belong to the early stage of Depression."

"..."

Ji Xiang only wanted to see Surgery; even if he were smashed to pieces, it would still be better than experiencing Empathy for a Patient with Depression.

"Come, this time I suggest experiencing Empathy from the perspective of the Family Member."

"Okay."

The System NPC brought Ji Xiang to the next Operating Room, and light and shadows flickered.

Before Ji Xiang could perceive the data, the sound of verbal abuse rang out beside him.

(End of this chapter)