90: Chapter 90 Taking Shen Xiaoning Back to the Orphanage
Lu Chen satisfiedly turned off the system panel.
He took out his phone and saw a few messages.
They were from Director Li Sen.
[Director Li Sen: The summary report on the mining accident treatment has been submitted to the Hospital administration. Your name is on it. The Emergency Department Operating Room was activated for two days and completed five surgeries with zero deaths. This is a very impressive result.]
[Director Li Sen: Also, I have some not-so-good news to tell you. Another miner passed away in the ICU this afternoon. Including the previous ones, the total confirmed death toll from the mining accident is three.]
Lu Chen looked at this message and was silent for a while.
Three people.
All of them had been transferred out of the Emergency Department and couldn't pull through during subsequent treatment.
He replied with one message.
[Lu Chen: Understood, Director Li.]
[Director Li Sen: Your performance in the Emergency Department phase was flawless. Don't put too much pressure on yourself.]
[Lu Chen: Hmm.]
He put down his phone.
Lu Chen lay in bed, staring at the ceiling.
Three people died.
He knew it wasn't his fault.
The injuries of those three patients had already exceeded the limits of medical capabilities.
But as a doctor, it was impossible not to feel a ripple in his heart every time he heard news of a patient's death.
This feeling wouldn't disappear as his skills improved.
Instead, it would become clearer.
Because the stronger he became, the more clearly he could see where that line was.
That line of the limits of medical capabilities.
On this side of the line, there were people he could save.
On the other side of the line, there were people he could not save.
All he could do was continuously improve himself and push that line forward.
Letting more people come back from the other side of the line to this side.
Lu Chen closed his eyes.
Rest.
Tomorrow is a day off.
He is going back to the Orphanage.
The next day.
7:30 AM.
Lu Chen finished washing up and changed into casual clothes.
A dark gray T-shirt, black trousers, and white sneakers.
Simple and neat.
When he walked out of the Duty Room, Shen Xiaoning was already waiting at the main entrance of the Hospital.
He saw her from afar.
Today, she wasn't wearing her Nurse uniform; she had changed into a white dress, her hair was loose, and she was wearing white sneakers.
She was carrying a large bag in her hand.
"Dr. Lu! Over here! Over here!"
She waved at him.
Lu Chen walked over.
"Why are you earlier than me?"
"I was afraid of being late! I left half an hour early!"
"What are you carrying?"
Shen Xiaoning held up the bag, smiling happily.
"I bought snacks and stationery for the children! And some fruit for Director Mother!"
Lu Chen glanced at the bulging bag.
"How much did you buy?"
"Not that much, just biscuits, lollipops, colored pencils, drawing books, and things like that. The children will definitely like them!"
Lu Chen didn't say anything, but in his heart, he felt that this girl was truly very thoughtful.
"Let's go. We'll take Bus 327 to the terminal station in the west of the city, then walk for fifteen minutes."
"Okay!"
The two walked to the bus stop.
There weren't many people at the bus stop on a weekend morning.
After waiting for a few minutes, Bus 327 arrived.
After getting on, the bus was only half full.
Lu Chen sat in a window seat, and Shen Xiaoning sat right next to him.
The bus swayed as it drove toward the west of the city.
"Dr. Lu."
"Hmm?"
"How long has it been since you went back to the Orphanage?"
"The last time I went back was over two months ago."
"Then Director Mother must miss you very much."
"Hmm."
"What were you like when you were little at the Orphanage?"
"What do you mean, 'what was I like'?"
"I mean... were you this amazing when you were little too?"
"I couldn't perform surgeries when I was little."
"I'm not talking about surgeries! I mean, were you this smart when you were little?"
"It was okay. My grades were always good."
"Then, did you want to be a doctor since you were a child?"
Lu Chen thought for a moment.
"Not since I was a child. It was when I was in junior high school. Director Mother had a serious illness and almost didn't make it. Since then, I wanted to be a doctor."
Shen Xiaoning quieted down.
After a few seconds.
"Then how is Director Mother's health now?"
"It's okay, but she's older now and has some chronic issues."
"Then you can treat her in the future!"
"Hmm, that's one of the reasons why I studied medicine."
Shen Xiaoning lowered her head, looking at the snack bag on her lap.
"You are truly amazing."
"What's so amazing about it?"
"I mean... leaving the Orphanage, getting into medical school, then becoming a doctor, and being so capable. You relied entirely on yourself."
"I had Director Mother."
"Hmm, and Director Mother."
The bus traveled through the city.
The high-rises outside the window gradually became shorter, and the streets became quieter.
After about fifty minutes, the bus passed a main street in the west of the city.
Lu Chen was looking out the window when his gaze suddenly paused.
"What's wrong?" Shen Xiaoning noticed his expression had changed.
"Look over there."
Shen Xiaoning looked in the direction of his gaze.
At the entrance of an alley next to the main street, several black sedans were parked.
Seven or eight young men were standing by the cars, some smoking, some playing on their phones.
And in front of this group of people, two people were standing.
One had a buzz cut, a thick gold chain, and a tattooed arm. Long Poshan. Brother Long.
The other was wearing a black short-sleeved shirt, had a sturdy build, and had scars on his face that hadn't completely faded. Shen Yu. Shen Xiaoning's brother.
Standing together, the air about them was that of people who called the shots on this street.
The lackeys behind them were respectful, standing straight one by one.
"Isn't that my brother?" Shen Xiaoning saw it too.
"And Brother Long?"
Her face showed a puzzled expression.
"How did they get together?"
Lu Chen also felt a bit surprised.
When Shen Yu came to the Hospital last time, his impression was that of a protective brother and a tough guy; he had a bit of a story, but not enough to be a thug.
Brother Long went without saying—he was a standard gang leader.
These two people together?
And looking at the situation, it didn't look like a chance encounter; it looked more like they had teamed up.
The bus continued to drive forward.
Shen Xiaoning's face showed some worry.
"Didn't my brother say he wouldn't do those things anymore? Why is he hanging out with people again?"
"Don't worry, we'll talk after we get off."
The terminal station arrived.
The two got off the bus.
Shen Xiaoning took out her phone and sent a message to Shen Yu.
[Shen Xiaoning: Brother! What are you doing in the west of the city!]
It was returned in less than ten seconds.
[Shen Yu: How do you know I'm in the west of the city?]
[Shen Xiaoning: I just saw you on the bus! There's a bunch of people next to you! And that Brother Long too!]
[Shen Yu: Why are you in the west of the city?]
[Shen Xiaoning: I'm going to the Orphanage to visit the children with Dr. Lu!]
Shen Yu was silent for a while on the other end.
Then he replied.
[Shen Yu: Where are you? I'll come find you.]
Five minutes later.
A black sedan stopped next to the bus terminal.
The car door opened, and Shen Yu got out from the driver's seat.
On the passenger side, Long Poshan also got out.
A car followed behind, and four or five lackeys got out.
This turnout.
Lu Chen glanced at it and was a bit speechless.
He was just going back to the Orphanage; how did it turn into a crime scene?
Shen Yu walked over, first looked at Lu Chen, and nodded.
"Dr. Lu."
"Brother Shen."
Then he looked at Shen Xiaoning.
"You're going to the Orphanage with Dr. Lu?"
"Hmm! What's wrong?"
"Nothing, just wanted to ask why you came over here."
Shen Xiaoning didn't answer his question; instead, she stared at him with a scrutinizing look.
"Brother, how did you get together with Brother Long? Didn't you say you turned over a new leaf last time?"
"Who told you I turned over a new leaf? When did I ever say that?"
"You said it when you went home last time! You said you wouldn't do those things anymore!"
"I really haven't done those things."
"Then what are all those people behind you for? A tour group?"
Shen Yu was choked up.