Chapter 757

In the ward, it was so quiet that the sound of the medicinal fluid dripping from the IV tube could be heard.

Everyone held their breath, looking at the attending physician with graying hair, who was the authority on neurosurgery at Jianglan Province Renmin Yiyuan—Director Wang.

Director Wang pushed his glasses and pointed at the CT film hanging on the wall.

He explained in as plain language as possible: "Deputy Director Yang's injury this time is mainly in the occipital lobe at the back of the brain. Look here, there's a small shadow—it's an intracranial hematoma compressing the hippocampus."

He turned and looked at Yang Qing, who wore a bewildered expression on the hospital bed, his tone softening: "The hippocampus is the key part of our brain responsible for forming and storing memories. When it suffers external impact or compression, retrograde amnesia can occur—that is, forgetting events that happened before the injury for a period of time."

Yang Qing blinked, looking confused: "So… I've lost my memory?"

"That's one way to understand it." Director Wang nodded and continued: "Clinically, this kind of retrograde amnesia can present in various ways. Mild amnesia might mean forgetting only a few minutes or hours before the injury. Severe amnesia could mean forgetting weeks, months, or even longer. And…"

When he got to the point, Director Wang paused for a moment.

After confirming that everyone present was listening attentively to his explanation,

He then went on: "The content of forgetting is often selective. One might forget certain specific people or events, but retain basic life skills and common sense. For example, you might not remember your wife and children, but you still know how to eat and how to speak."

As soon as he said that, everyone in the ward sucked in a breath of cold air.

Director Qi's face, however, turned extremely grave.

He walked to the bedside and firmly gripped Yang Qing's hand: "Old Yang, think again. Your wife Xu Yue, and your two kids, Xiao Nan and Xiao Bei—you really can't recall them?"

Yang Qing put on an expression of trying hard to remember.

Looking as if the harder he tried, the more his head hurt, he clutched his bandaged head in despair: "My head hurts so much… I really can't remember anything…"

This scene portrayed the anguish of futile effort to recall, down to the last detail.

Lin Dongfan felt both admiration and the urge to laugh.

What he admired was Yang Qing's acting—this guy's breakdown and pain expression were spot‑on! Indeed, shamelessness makes one invincible.

What made him want to laugh was that, judging from Director Qi's and Director Wang's reactions, this act had already fooled everyone.

This also means:

The case Yang Qing is investigating is no ordinary major case! Otherwise, as a high‑ranking deputy director, Yang Qing would have no need to risk his family's lives putting on this act.

He doesn't even trust his direct superior, Director Qi.

"Director Wang…" Director Qi turned to the doctor, his voice urgent: "What are the chances of recovery in this situation, and how long will it take?"

Director Wang sighed:

"It's hard to say; brain injury recovery is a complex process.

Some people regain their memory in a few weeks, others may need several months, or even… some may never fully recover.

What we can do now is actively treat it, reduce intracranial pressure, and supplement with psychological counseling and memory rehabilitation training."

After saying all that nonsense.

Director Wang then glanced again at Yang Qing on the hospital bed.

He added:

"However, there is a situation that needs attention.

Deputy Director Yang, while suffering amnesia, has also endured severe psychological trauma—his subconscious may know that his family has perished, but the specific memories are being blocked by the brain's protective mechanism.

If we forcefully stimulate his recall, it could trigger a severe stress reaction."

Those words made Director Qi's face turn even paler.

The ward fell into silence.

After Along while, Director Qi solemnly instructed Director Wang: "Director Wang, thank you for your hard work. Please be sure to use the best medicine and the best plan, and make sure Deputy Director Yang recovers as soon as possible."

"Director Qi, rest assured—saving lives and healing the sick is our duty as doctors."

Director Wang then gave a few more precautions and left the ward with the other doctors.

Only Director Qi, Lin Dongfan, and the "amnesiac" Yang Qing on the hospital bed remained in the ward.

Director Qi sat beside the bed, looking at Yang Qing's vacant gaze, and suddenly his eyes reddened.

He patted the back of Yang Qing's hand.

His voice choked: "Old Yang, old Yang… why did you do this… for work, you put your family on the line, and now you've even lost your memory…"

Yang Qing merely stared at him blankly, as if he couldn't understand what was being said.

Director Qi shook his head, stood up, and told Lin Dongfan: "Dongfan, let's step out for a word."

"Sure."

The two walked out of the ward to the smoking area at the end of the hallway.

Director Qi lit a cigarette, took a deep drag, and the smoke swirled upward in the harsh white light, immersing him entirely in gloom.

"Dongfan…" Director Qi said with a heavy tone: "You and Old Yang are friends who've been through life and death together; I won't hide anything from you—Old Yang this time… has truly sacrificed too much."

Lin Dongfan also lit a cigarette, said nothing, and waited for what came next.

"The case he's investigating is too deeply involved." Director Qi continued: "Half a year ago I told him it might touch some people's fundamental interests, with a high risk factor. I advised him to wait, to act only when the time was ripe. But you know his temperament—once he makes up his mind, not even ten oxen could pull him back."

Having said that, Director Qi exhaled a smoke ring.

He gave a wry smile: "Now it's come to this—his family shattered, himself even amnesiac. I tell you, if his memory doesn't recover, then all his efforts over the past six months will have been for nothing. The vital leads he risked his life to uncover, and the evidence he gathered, will all come to nothing, wasted effort."

Hearing that, Lin Dongfan couldn't help but furrow his brows slightly.

For a moment.

It was unclear whether Director Qi truly wanted Yang Qing to regain his memory quickly, or whether he feared Yang Qing would regain his memory.

Because Yang Qing had arranged his feigned amnesia without telling Director Qi beforehand, this meant Director Qi was not among those Yang Qing trusted.

He pondered silently for a moment.

Lin Dongfan probed: "Director Qi, what case exactly is Old Yang investigating? It's serious enough to warrant such a vicious move against him."

Director Qi's hand paused.

He turned his head to look at Lin Dongfan, his eyes complex, and remained silent for the length of half a cigarette.

Finally......

He shook his head and gave a few evasive answers: "Lin Dongfan, it's not that I don't want to tell you. But... you know the rules yourself— the less you know about this, the better. All I can say is, Jiang Lan isn't the Jiang Lan from a few years ago. Now the waters of Jiang Lan run deep, with undercurrents, whirlpools, and things that eat people and don't spit out bones."

As he spoke, Director Qi stubbed out the cigarette butt in the trash can.

He also patted Lin Dongfan on the shoulder: "You're a smart person, and you've worked in the system before, so you should understand what I mean. Yang Qing is like this now, and I feel worse than anyone. But some things, knowing too much is actually dangerous. Keep him company, see if you can help him regain his memory—that's better than anything."

After he finished speaking, Director Qi turned and left, his back looking somewhat weary in the hallway light.

Lin Dongfan stood in place, the cigarette in his hand slowly burning out.

Jiang Lan's waters run deep—this is damn nonsense, even a fool knows that what Yang Qing is investigating is definitely not an ordinary criminal case; it likely involves a deeply entrenched interest group.