16: Chapter 16 Rhythm!

Ye Tong felt as if he were in a great dream.

In the dream, he was in a boundless sea of fire; the sky and earth were crimson, and heatwaves surged around him. He was trapped within, unable to escape.

The earth was trembling with a strange rhythm—thump, thump—dull yet powerful, like something massive pulsating deep underground.

He seemed to hear the sound of drums.

Thump! Thump! Thump!

The sound grew closer and closer until he finally realized it wasn't drumming; the sound was coming from his own chest.

'Is that the sound of my heart?'

...

Finally, he opened his eyes.

What met his eyes was a patch of blinding sunlight and a young face.

A young man in a white tracksuit was crouching in front of him, looking at him calmly. His expression was placid, but his eyes were bright and piercing, as if they held something profound.

Beside him was a girl with a long ponytail and a gentle aura. The worry in her eyes was gradually turning into pleasant surprise.

"You're awake." Su Ye's voice was steady, yet it provided an indescribable sense of security.

The man blinked blankly and found himself lying in the shade by the side of the track. Several jackets, discarded by unknown people, were cushioned beneath him. A few buttons of his jersey had been undone, and the skin on his chest was a flush of crimson, as if he could still feel that terrifying heat from before.

"You just fainted. Luckily, this handsome doctor saved you," someone nearby said with a smile. Their tone was relaxed; the heavy atmosphere from moments ago had dissipated. Now that he was saved, everyone felt a sense of shared pride.

The crowd began to disperse. Some patted the man on the shoulder and said, "Keep it up, brother," while others gave Su Ye a thumbs-up before continuing their own races.

Perhaps this was the meaning of a Marathon—not just reaching the finish line, but also lending each other a hand along the way.

The man propped himself up and sat up slowly. His face was still a bit pale, but his spirits had recovered significantly. He looked at Su Ye, his eyes full of gratitude.

"Thank you, Doctor. Truly, thank you."

Su Ye took a business card from his first-aid kit and handed it over. "My name is Su Ye, from Jiangcheng's The First Peoples Hospital. If you have any issues with your body in the future, you can contact me."

The man took the card. Su Ye looked at him, his tone flat but deliberately emphasizing the word 'issues'.

The man froze for a moment and scratched his head in confusion, not quite understanding why that was said so solemnly. However, he still nodded and tucked the card away.

"Don't continue running. Go back and rest first. If you still feel chest tightness or palpitations after you return, you must go to the hospital for a comprehensive heart check-up."

"Oh, okay. I'll remember that."

The man stood up, thanked Su Ye and Sister Su Bei, and slowly walked off the track.

...

Sister Su Bei stood beside Su Ye, watching the man leave with a thoughtful look in her eyes.

In truth, as a Standardized Resident Trainee who was just starting out, Sister Su Bei had felt quite flustered handling such an emergency for the first time. After all, in these situations, the slightest mistake or delay could worsen the patient's symptoms or lead to even more severe consequences. Under such immense psychological pressure...

...it turned out that Su Ye was actually so calm.

It seemed what Wang Luo said was true.

Su Ye truly lived up to his reputation as a medical genius who had become famous while still in university.

Methodical, steady, and calm—he didn't seem at all like a novice who had just begun residency training.

It had to be said that having such a genius as the backbone of the team was truly reassuring.

"Su Ye! Sister Su Bei!"

Wang Dandan and Wang Luo came running over, panting for breath.

"We heard! Someone up ahead said the medical team saved a fainted runner. How is the situation? Is everything okay?"

"Yeah, he's fine now. We've sent him back to rest."

After listening to Sister Su Bei explain the whole story, Wang Luo looked at Su Ye with even more admiration. "Brother Su, you're awesome!"

Su Ye felt a bit uncomfortable under his gaze; the guy's eyes were truly too intense. A reserved person like Su Ye found it hard to handle. He quickly waved his hand. "It's our duty. It was just simple medical first aid; you guys could have done it too."

Wang Luo and Wang Dandan exchanged a glance, thinking, Simple, my foot. Judging by Sister Su Bei's expression earlier, the situation was definitely not simple. However, since Su Ye didn't elaborate, they didn't push it, though their respect for this genius doctor grew even more.

...

The four of them rejoined the flow of people on the track.

After that, they encountered a few more contestants who felt unwell, but after brief inquiries, they found these were only minor issues that resolved after a short rest.

The atmosphere of the second half was completely different from the first. There was no more jostling for position; everyone's energy was depleted. People began to encourage each other. Someone suddenly shouted "Keep going!" at a stranger next to him, startling the man. "Whoa, buddy, are you crazy?"

"Hahahaha!"

"Let's do this together!"

The two moved forward side-by-side, joining hands in this tug-of-war of endurance and willpower.

An elderly couple with graying hair ran slowly hand-in-hand, their steps surprisingly in sync. The young people nearby made way for them, casting looks of longing.

Who wouldn't want a love like that?

By the side of the track, a little girl held up a piece of cardboard with "Daddy, you're the best" written in crooked handwriting. A middle-aged man on the track saw it and was instantly motivated, his speed visibly increasing.

As Wang Dandan ran, the corners of her mouth curled up.

"What is it?" Sister Su Bei asked softly.

Wang Dandan maintained her steady breathing rhythm. "I suddenly feel like the Marathon isn't so off-putting anymore. In an extreme sport like this, I see human fragility, yet beneath that fragility, even more light shines through."

Panting, Wang Luo didn't forget to tease her, "So you're a 'literary girl' now?"

"Your pronunciation is a bit off; it makes me feel like you're calling me a dog."

"Girl!"

Su Ye, however, remained preoccupied. The rhythm of the fallen man's heartbeat kept replaying in his mind.

He felt like he had gained an epiphany.

He felt a sense of urgency.

He wanted to verify it.

In the distance, the arch of the finish line was faintly visible. The cheers, shouts, and music from both sides of the track merged into one.

The four of them sprinted toward the finish line side-by-side.

The moment they crossed the finish line together, Wang Dandan couldn't help but jump up, raising her hands above her head. "Finally finished!!!"

There were no rankings.

Perhaps by the second half, many people's goal was simply to persevere.

Su Ye stood at the finish line. Everyone else was slumped over, yet he was still glowing with energy. He tried his best to look exhausted, but the vitality radiating from within him couldn't be hidden. He felt a bit troubled, which eventually turned into a wry smile.

Below his line of sight, Wang Luo struggled to give a thumbs-up, looking like a dead dog. "Brother, you're a beast."

"My constitution is just a billion bits better, that's all."