Chapter 2516: with translation of chapter title

My name is Zheng Ren.

Uncle Zheng, hello." Shi Jian stretched out his hand.

His hand was somewhat pallid, very thin, veins showing bluish under the skin, yet not bulging even through the thin skin, like moss struggling to grow in rock crevices, no matter how it could never become a towering tree.

His muscles were atrophied, so thin that you could see his bones.

Call me big brother." Zheng Ren smiled and said to Shi Jian.

You're so old...

Call me big brother.

Zheng big brother, hello.

That's right." Zheng Ren was very happy, sincerely shaking hands with Shi Jian.

Their hands touched, and Zheng Ren could feel his skin temperature was low, pulse faint and rapid.

His physical condition was quite poor, a cachectic state, estimated lifespan less than one month.

Shi Jian...

Call me Little Stone, that's what my mom calls me." Shi Jian's voice was a little hoarse; he looked at Zheng Ren and asked softly, "Zheng big brother, can you lend me your phone to play for a while?"

Huh?" Zheng Ren froze for a moment.

I haven't played with a phone in a long time." Shi Jian said somewhat glumly.

Where's your phone?" Zheng Ren smiled, not refusing the child's kindness, "but there aren't any games on my phone, and downloading now would be too late."

It's fine, I just want to look." Shi Jian said, "Any little game, playing for a few minutes will do."

I remember half a year ago you said you wanted to play ranked matches and such." Zheng Ren saw Xiao Shitou holding the phone, eyes sparkling with crystal-clear light, and asked softly.

My mom's phone is gone, so I gave her mine to use." Xiao Shitou's hands were thin and weak, but his speed wasn't slow; if not for the cachectic condition affecting his body, he'd probably be no slower than Su Yun.

Oh? You don't use QQ to chat either?

Yeah, I know I won't live long, so there's no need to leave a deeper impression on classmates and friends. Otherwise, when I die, they'll be very sad." Shi Jian said in a hoarse voice, "Being alive is quite interesting, it's truly a pity.

Zheng Ren was speechless, watching the light and shadow flicker on the phone screen, casting a glow on Xiao Shitou's face, and hearing his words, he felt a sigh in his heart.

Brother, your phone doesn't even have a startup password?

Yeah, setting a startup password is too troublesome." Zheng Ren said.

There are still people as lazy as you." Xiao Shitou said, "Aren't you afraid others will look at your phone?"

I rarely use my phone." Zheng Ren thought, indeed he's different from many people nowadays. Not to mention not needing a power bank, a single phone battery charge can last two or three days. The main use is chatting with Yi Ren, besides that just sending files.

Really, only old people do this, calling you uncle is appropriate." Xiao Shitou played Snake, his happy smile looking sweet, "What era is this, hardly using phones. Uncle... brother, if you keep going like this you'll be left behind by the times.

Tch, this little brat talks like Su Yun, a bit snarky, daring to talk to adults like that.

Zheng Ren smiled watching Xiao Shitou play with the phone, saying nothing, the more he looked the more he felt it a pity. His heart felt empty, as if missing something.

Little Stone, how are you playing with uncle's phone?" The woman came back, speaking in a gentle "reprimand".

It's fine, he helped me adjust the screen resolution, I can't do it." Zheng Ren said with a smile.

Shi Jian paused, glanced at Zheng Ren, with a hint of slyness.

Oh." The woman didn't expose this simple, couldn't-be-simpler lie, "Doctor Zheng, we're going home."

Wait a moment, may I ask where Xiao Shitou's films are?

The woman nodded, pulled out the storage box from under the bed, and said, "Inside are all his films and past medical records; I've marked the times."

Zheng Ren looked at the full box, heavier than Xiao Shitou, and was stunned.

Doctor Zheng, if you're interested, I'll give you all of it." Wen Xiaonuan said, "I happen to be taking Xiao Shitou back; this box is too heavy, I'll have to come back several times to get it.

Zheng Ren knew this was because they didn't want to continue treatment, so keeping these documents and past records was useless. Bringing them home would only evoke memories of the person, serving no purpose.

He didn't say anything, just nodded, went out and found a small flat cart for garbage, and lifted the box onto it.

He greeted the nurses in the ward, said he'd return the box later, and Zheng Ren came to Xiao Shitou's side.

Brother, I'm returning the phone." Xiao Shitou played Snake for a while, like he'd charged for a few minutes, his whole spirit lifted a bit.

Zheng Ren took the phone, gave Xiao Shitou a deep look.

Wen Xiaonuan was tidying up, Shi Jian whispered, "Thank you for coming to see me, goodbye."

Yeah, goodbye.

This time it's really goodbye." Xiao Shitou murmured softly.

Zheng Ren's heart tightened, his brows furrowed.

But Shi Jian wasn't wrong, a dozen days, several dozen days, time flies like a white colt passing a gap. This meeting truly was the last time we'd see each other.

Will it? Zheng Ren looked at the box placed on the flat cart outside, his brows like knives, raised.

He didn't turn back to look at Shi Jian, but raised his hand, waved it, then pulled the flat cart away.

Because of the flat cart, taking the Elevator wasn't convenient; after waiting a long time, the Elevator finally arrived and he returned to the Intervention Department.

Boss, are you rummaging through junk? By the way, selling scrap paper nowadays can't even make a living, unlike before." Su Yun saw the box and asked casually.

That child's records." Zheng Ren said, "The family gave up on him, I brought them back to have a look.

This time even Su Yun was speechless.

The family gave up, and he's a patient who had been in late-stage cancer half a year ago. Bringing back a mountain's worth of records, is there any point?

He looked at Zheng Ren incomprehendingly, his eyes full of questions.

Zheng Lao Ban, what child?

Half a year ago I happened to meet a child with late-stage cancer; now he's already past the point of treatment, likely won't live a month." Zheng Ren said calmly, taking out the records. Just as Wen Xiaonuan said, the records were meticulously sorted chronologically, with labels, making it easy to find a specific date's data.

Having been a doctor for many years, Zheng Ren has seen all kinds of families. Basically, most people don't bring complete original records; those who bring all the films are less than 10%.

I've really never seen someone like Wen Xiaonuan.

"Wow, what a thoughtful patient's family member." Lin Yuan also figured it out and praised.

"Gurney, help me send it to Inpatient Ward Three, th Floor, Oncology Department Three." Zheng Ren tossed the menial work to Lin Yuan.

Just as Lin Yuan wanted to come over to see what was happening, Zheng Lao Ban threw him out to work.

She wore a bitter face, helplessly pulling the gurney out of the office.