Chapter 2719: 2621.2521 Hope is slim

2621.2521 Hope is slim

Coming out of the PICU, Zheng Ren saw Lin Yuan standing outside on guard, while Gu Xiao Ran comforted the patient's mother.

The other family members haven't arrived yet; the traffic jam in the imperial capital is no joke. In extreme situations, being stuck for ten or more hours is normal.

"The tests are done; blood alcohol level is over the limit, preliminary diagnosis is alcohol poisoning." Zheng Ren said: "There are also complications like cerebral edema; dialysis has already started, and the specific effect will need a few hours to evaluate."

Upon hearing Zheng Ren's words, the patient's mother burst into a loud wail. Gu Xiao Ran, hearing her crying, also wiped away tears.

Zheng Ren zhen wanted to glare fiercely at Gu Xiao Ran—what's with a grown man crying like that every now and then?

After waiting a full five minutes, the woman felt slightly better; she asked, worried and choking back sobs: "Doctor, is the child okay?"

"The condition is serious; I expect the PICU doctor will soon come to have you sign a critical illness consent form."

Upon hearing that, the woman's tears welled up again in her eyes.

"If you have the heart for it, pay attention in daily life." Su Yun estimated the child should be fine, so he tried to change the subject.

""

"A burn—how could you just pull off the clothing? The skin would come off in strips, and even what could have been saved would be lost. This is only the forearm; if it were the torso, it would probably be worse." Su Yun said.

"With clothing that hot, can you not take it off?"

"First rinse with cool water, don't hold back, for at least fifteen minutes. If conditions allow and you're not afraid of the cold, soak in cold water for a while." Su Yun said, "After finishing, then remove the clothing. Then cover the wound and go to the hospital immediately."

The patient's mother felt embarrassed and said nothing; she subconsciously tried to remember Su Yun's words, not knowing if writing them down would be of any use.

If she didn't do something in this situation, her negative emotions would likely overflow.

"Dialysis has already started; it can filter out the alcohol the child absorbed from the blood." Zheng Ren said, "The rest is just symptomatic treatment."

After saying that, Zheng Ren looked at Gu Xiao Ran and said, "Xiao Ran, you don't need to keep crying with her."

Gu Xiao Ran hurriedly wiped her tears and nodded vigorously.

"Take good care of him; let me know via WeChat if the child shows any reaction after dialysis."

"Okay, okay, Boss Zheng." Gu Xiao Ran nodded repeatedly.

Zheng Ren finished speaking and turned to leave.

"Boss Zheng, is the child okay?" Lin Yuan asked softly from behind.

Having taken the child to the PICU and seeing the unconscious little one, Lin Yuan also felt a bit uncomfortable.

"It's fine." Zheng Ren left the patient's family, his speech turning to affirmative statements: "Since they arrived early, the cerebral edema probably isn't severe. After dialysis filters out the alcohol, liver function should recover quickly as well."

"Oh, that's good, that's good." Lin Yuan let out a long breath.

"Time to eat, let's go eat." Su Yun said, "I'm hungry."

"Go take a look at Little Stone." Zheng Ren said.

"He's doing well; the little nurses in the ICU like him." Su Yun laughed, "If Little Stone can grow up, he'll definitely be more popular than you."

Zheng Ren chuckled; he had no objection to that metaphor. Little Stone is well-behaved and cute, surely more popular with girls than he is.

But can he really make it to adulthood? Zheng Ren let out a soft sigh.

"Boss Zheng, Little Stone's surgery… you say his illness can be cured?" Lin Yuan knew it was impossible, but she couldn't help asking.

"No." Zheng Ren gave a firm answer that Lin Yuan had long known but refused to accept.

"If cancer could be cured, the next Nobel Prize would surely still go to the boss." Su Yun said, "Ask a more nourishing question."

"Uh…" Lin Yuan froze for a moment.

"Are you wondering why, if it can't be cured, we still put him through the ordeal of treatment?" Su Yun, like a tapeworm, clearly knew what Lin Yuan was thinking.

Lin Yuan nodded.

"If everyone were like you, there'd be no need to keep hospitals open." Su Yun said, "Will anyone not die? The purpose of medicine is to extend human lifespan, not to create a myth of immortality. Life is suffering for all; it's not only the sick who anguish."

That argument sounds… reasonable, yet Lin Yuan felt Su Yun was twisting logic—something felt off.

"Don't listen to Su Yun." Zheng Ren said, "Little Stone's condition is severe; wanting to cure it belongs to the slim‑hope category."

Lin Yuan froze for a moment—what was Boss Zheng saying? 'Slim hope,' not 'no hope'!

"Boss Zheng, I didn't mishear, did I?" Lin Yuan asked instinctively.

"No." Zheng Ren said seriously, "Humanity's research on diseases advances with technological progress; many ailments once considered incurable have been gradually overcome. Little Stone has a good medical disposition; I'm preparing to launch a project—are you interested?"

"A project?" Lin Yuan blinked.

"Boss, have you not seen? This is what happens when you read too many books and addle your brain." Su Yun said, "Ask her about cancer subtypes and pathological causes—she can talk about them fluently."

Lin Yuan's mind was still on what Boss Zheng had said about slim hope; she didn't notice the deeper meaning behind Su Yun's sarcastic remark, her head filled with exclamation marks.

"Little Lin, go back; we're heading home to eat." Seeing Lin Yuan lost in thought, Su Yun knew her brain wouldn't switch over in a moment, so he raised his hand and waved twice.

Although they all needed to go back to the department to change clothes, Su Yun and Zheng Ren strode off together.

Although Lin Yuan is tall and long‑legged, keeping up with Boss Zheng and Yun Ge'er in daily life is a bit of a hassle, usually requiring a little jog. This time she had something on her mind; seeing Su Yun wave, she instinctively raised her hand.

Boss Zheng actually said the hope is slim; Lin Yuan carefully recalled Little Stone's imaging and condition, but she couldn't find a single reason to convince herself the condition would improve.

Everything is merely palliative care, no matter how much effort Boss Zheng puts in.

Lin Yuan strained to think, her finger unconsciously moving to her mouth to bite her nail.

But the instant her finger touched the corner of her mouth, she snapped out of it and quickly lowered her hand.

It's already late; better to head home, Lin Yuan thought. As for Little Stone's illness… if Boss Zheng wants to treat it, let him—he's the big boss, and I'm just a temporary member.

Lin Yuan still hasn't figured out what just happened.

She returned to the ward to change clothes, drove her little POLO home, and all along the way her mind kept replaying Boss Zheng's words—hope is slim.

If someone else had said that, even her Harvard advisor, Lin Yuan wouldn't have cared, let alone taken it seriously.

But the one who said it was Boss Zheng!

Unbeknownst to her, Zheng Ren had already left a deep imprint in Lin Yuan's heart.