Director Zhang conducted a series of tests on Shao Yiping and finalized the surgical plan. Upon hearing that three veins from Shao Yiping’s leg would be used to bypass her heart, Xu Ke’s heart began to race. By evening, the nurse brought the surgical consent form for her to sign. Her hand trembled as she wrote the simple words with difficulty, overwhelmed by the potential complications that flashed before her eyes. Yin Wancheng held her hand, laughing, “Don’t shake, or your handwriting will be too ugly.” His casual touch made Lin Ge’s face change slightly; he was a conservative person, believing that such physical contact was reserved for very intimate relationships. Xu Ke, lost in her thoughts, didn’t notice his expression, but Yin Wancheng did and casually let go of her hand.
That night around 9 PM, the doctors prepared Shao Yiping for surgery the next morning with an enema. From the nurse, Xu Ke inadvertently learned that Director Zhang had been called back from his May Day vacation in Hainan by Shen Mu. Although she was grateful, she kept it to herself. That whole night, she was restless, unable to sit still. In this world, there are no absolutes, and even though Zhang was the best expert in the province, she was still consumed by fear.
The next morning, before 8 AM, the nurse took Shao Yiping to the operating room. The surgery was expected to last until the afternoon. This wait was excruciatingly long for Xu Ke; she was so anxious that her hands were cold, her joints white. At 5 PM, Shao Yiping was brought out of the operating room and into the ICU. Seeing her mother, Xu Ke couldn’t hold back her tears. Shao Yiping was covered in tubes, with a breathing tube in her mouth, looking frail like a fallen leaf, seemingly sustained only by machines.
Director Zhang came over to comfort her, “The surgery was very successful, you can rest assured. She’ll stay in the ICU for now, you don’t need to watch over her, go home and rest.”
Yin Wancheng also chimed in, “Yes, Xiao Ke, go home and rest. You haven’t eaten or slept well these past few days, you’ll collapse if you keep this up. Go home, I’ll stay and watch over her.”
