Life is Like a Journey – Chapter 72
by Little PandaVolume 2: Inheritance
Confession
《The Handsome Female Police Officer Falls for the Steel-Straight Woman: The Straight Woman Has Something to Say》
Qin Xuan held the pregnant woman’s uterus in her hands, not daring to let go, and shouted into the phone clamped between her shoulder and ear: “You bastard, come quickly! This pregnant woman has rheumatic heart disease with severe mitral valve insufficiency, it’s a matter of two lives, damn it!”
“I understand,” Lu Qingshi said as she sprinted down the corridor with her phone: “Let the assistant make an incision at the apex of the heart. I’ll be there soon. You deliver the baby, and I’ll repair the heart.”
“Forceps, forceps, take them, take them,” As the baby’s head was already visible, Qin Xuan put down her instruments and directly supported the head with her hands, gently lifting the child from the mother’s womb.
The infant’s skin was wrinkled, eyes closed, covered in blood, with a face turning blue from lack of oxygen. Qin Xuan swiftly cut the umbilical cord, and the pediatrician immediately took over to perform cardiopulmonary resuscitation.
The real battle had just begun. Due to the hemodynamic changes caused by childbirth, the blood flow returning to the heart increased, overwhelming the right ventricle, and the blood pressure suddenly dropped. The anesthesiologist broke out in a cold sweat.
“Heart rate 70, blood pressure 60-80! Oxygen saturation 90!”
“Don’t panic, use vasopressors to maintain it,” Lu Qingshi said as she walked in, shaking her hands, and stood opposite Qin Xuan: “Come on, pull down the magnifying glass.”
The instrument nurse pulled down the magnifying glass for her. The assistant had already opened the chest cavity, exposing the irregularly beating heart.
Qin Xuan was covered in blood; the mother’s postpartum hemorrhage had already exceeded 50, which was a significant challenge for both of them.
She glanced over: “Need any help?”
The other didn’t even look up, inserting the hemostatic forceps into the mother’s belly: “No need. Do you need to establish extracorporeal circulation?”
In principle, cardiac surgery requires extracorporeal circulation support, firstly to reduce the chance of bleeding, and secondly to replace heart and lung functions.
“No need, I can perform mitral valve repair surgery without stopping the heart. Is the artificial valve ready?”
The nurse quickly ran to bring what she needed.
Lu Qingshi gently cut open the pericardium with a monopolar electrosurgical knife in one hand. The irregularly beating heart contracted, and the assistant standing next to her swallowed hard.
“Dr. Lu, the gap between the valves is very large, making repair extremely difficult. With the heart moving so violently, if we accidentally puncture it…”
“There are no ‘ifs’,” Lu Qingshi said without looking up: “Hemostatic forceps, get me about 2mm of her autologous pericardial patch.”
“Saline solution.”
The second assistant drew a syringe of saline to wash the heart.
“Tissue scissors,” the instrument nurse handed over the tool.
Lu Qingshi gently stroked the heart with one hand, feeling its rhythm amidst the irregular beats.
Time seemed to freeze at that moment. Lu Qingshi could no longer hear any sound, her eyes focused solely on the beating heart.
“Qingshi, like this, performing mitral valve surgery without stopping the heart, timing is crucial. You try,” the man said in a gentle tone, his smile evident despite the mask covering his face.
Lu Qingshi closed her eyes, feeling the rhythm at her fingertips—she found it.
She swiftly inserted the tissue scissors, cutting off the excess tissue at the moment of heart contraction, and quickly withdrew during diastole.
She extended her left hand: “2.0 absorbable suture.”
The instrument nurse was still in awe of her incredible operation and didn’t react, so she repeated with more emphasis: “2.0 absorbable suture.”
“Oh, oh, yes, Dr. Lu.”
The assistant opposite was already wide-eyed with amazement. Qin Xuan rolled her eyes: “You’ve never seen the world. This is just a basic operation for your Dr. Lu.”
A basic operation?
Lu Qingshi smiled bitterly, remembering that it had taken her three months of practice to barely catch up with that person’s pace.
“How much longer on your end? I’m preparing to close the abdomen,” Qin Xuan said.
Lu Qingshi’s hands moved quickly: “Almost done, you can close.”
Qin Xuan scoffed: “I’ll definitely be faster than you.”
“Not necessarily,” Threading the needle, tying knots, dancing within the beating heart, Lu Qingshi’s hands remained steady, perfectly avoiding each irregular contraction of the heart.
“Want to bet?”
“What’s the stake?”
“A year’s worth of coffee.”
“Then you’re sure to lose.”
“Surgery time’s up.”
Qin Xuan ultimately lost by a five-second margin. She grimaced, swearing painfully that she would never share an operating table with her again.
Lu Qingshi made no comment, took off her gloves, threw them in the trash, and waved as she strode out of the operating room.
“Don’t forget tomorrow’s coffee.”
The complex surgery for pregnancy complicated by mitral valve insufficiency had lasted a full four hours, and it was now the dead of night. She hadn’t expected anyone to still be in the corridor.
Seeing her approach from afar, Gu Yanzhi stood up: “Come on, I’ll take you home.”
“No need,” the doctor reflexively refused: “The roads shouldn’t be congested at this hour, driving shouldn’t be a problem.”
Gu Yanzhi shrugged: “Are you sure?”
It wasn’t until they reached the underground parking garage that she realized Gu Yanzhi’s foresight was truly remarkable. Commuting by motorcycle was absolutely genius.
Although the rain had stopped, days of continuous rain had caused water to backflow into the underground parking garage. A row of BMWs, Mercedes, and Teslas were all submerged in water, including her sports car.
The security guard was urging people to leave: “The water in the underground parking garage has now risen above knee level. Not only can’t you start the cars, but it’s also too dangerous to go in. The hospital has urgently deployed several water pumps to work. Doctors, please walk or take the subway home today.”
…
Lu Qingshi’s mouth twitched, and she walked out with a cold face. Her shirt was already soaked through, and she had to wear her scrubs out. When the cold wind hit her, goosebumps visibly rose on her arms.
Gu Yanzhi was smoking at the hospital gate waiting for her. She took off her own jacket and draped it over Lu Qingshi’s shoulders: “How about it? I told you it wouldn’t work with such heavy rain.”
Lu Qingshi’s lips had turned pale from the cold, but a hint of a smile appeared in her eyes as she felt the warmth of the jacket.
“Thank you.”
She patted the back seat and put the helmet on Lu Qingshi’s head: “Come on, get on.”
The memory of the last time she rode on the back of Gu Yanzhi’s motorcycle was still fresh in her mind. Lu Qingshi clutched her clothes nervously: “Drive slowly, okay?”
Gu Yanzhi turned back, only seeing her soft profile and beautiful jawline. Her heart softened, and she slowed down the speed.
“Alright.”
The subway after the rain was a mix of various odors, with the last train packed full of passengers stranded due to the heavy rain. It was as humid and stuffy as a can of herring.
Qin Xuan was surrounded by people on all sides. The buttocks of the man behind her were pressed tightly against her rear, and she placed her bag in front of her chest to block the approach of a middle-aged woman in front who reeked of pungent perfume. The carriage’s stop-and-go motion made her feel almost dizzy.
The subway doors opened, and more people got on. The man behind her moved slightly, seemingly turning his body. Qin Xuan felt something was off; there was a warm sensation on her buttocks, but she was so squeezed that she couldn’t move, not even turn her head.
A clean, slender hand reached through the gap in front of her chest and grabbed her wrist. Just as she was about to cry out in surprise, she was suddenly pulled out of the encirclement and fell into a warm embrace, her back pressed against the solid subway door.
“Mmm…” The hand that had just pulled her now cushioned her back, and a gentle voice came from above.
“Are you alright?”
Opening her eyes, she saw Xiang Nanke in her autumn uniform. She sighed in relief and shook her head: “I’m fine.”
Xiang Nanke took out her phone and made a call: “On subway line 1, heading towards Heping Road station, in the ninth carriage, there’s a middle-aged man wearing a plaid shirt, slightly chubby, carrying a laptop bag. He’s suspected of molesting women. You should stake it out.”
Qin Xuan’s ears turned slightly red. As the carriage shook again, Xiang Nanke leaned down to hold onto the door handle, bringing them almost flush against each other. Moreover, with one of her hands still cushioning Qin Xuan’s back, it looked even more like she was embracing her, which was indeed the case.
Qin Xuan fiercely said: “Haven’t you hugged enough?!”
The police officer used her broad shoulders to create a small space for her. Due to their proximity, her words were like whispers in Qin Xuan’s ear, causing a tingling sensation: “Then I’ll leave. I helped you escape from a pervert, and you’re still angry at me.”
Looking at the sea of people, Qin Xuan felt a chill run down her spine and clutched Xiang Nanke’s clothes tighter: “No, stay.”
The woman before her had bright eyes and white teeth. Today, without makeup, she looked even more clear and elegant. Due to the earlier commotion, her ears were slightly red. From this higher angle, even her pouting lips looked somewhat cute.
For some reason, Xiang Nanke reached out and gently flicked Qin Xuan’s nose: “You say one thing but mean another.”
Qin Xuan felt this gesture was too intimate and slightly turned her head to avoid Xiang Nanke’s gaze: “Move aside, this is my stop.”
Xiang Nanke held onto Qin Xuan’s wrist as they got off the train. The man was also caught by the police who arrived shortly after. She went over to give some instructions and then came back.
“I’ll walk you home.”
“No need,” Qin Xuan turned to leave, but Xiang Nanke caught up and gestured towards her buttocks with her chin.
Qin Xuan looked back and saw a milky white liquid on her black wide-leg pants. She immediately blushed furiously and threw her small fragrant bag at Xiang Nanke: “Are you crazy?!”
Xiang Nanke caught the chain steadily in her hand: “The pervert was that man, not me. Why are you hitting me?”
“If you’re not a pervert, why were you pressed so close to me on the train?” Qin Xuan angrily wiped at her pants with tissue paper: “It’s disgusting. Damn it, if it weren’t for the crowded train, I would have kicked his balls!”
Xiang Nanke couldn’t help but smile. She had figured it out; this person was actually a paper tiger, all bark and no bite.
“Alright, let’s deal with it when we get home,” Xiang Nanke took off her jacket and tied it around Qin Xuan’s waist, one hand holding her side to prevent the jacket from slipping down.
“It’s late, let me walk you home first.”
As they walked out of the subway station, it started raining again. The two shared an umbrella, stepping carefully through the puddles.
“Why were you here today?” To break the strange, awkward, and somewhat ambiguous atmosphere, Qin Xuan chose to speak first.
Xiang Nanke glanced at her: “Maybe it’s what they call ‘hearts in sync’.”
Qin Xuan jabbed her in the side: “Speak human language.”
Xiang Nanke coughed twice: “Alright, I was on a mission.”
Qin Xuan made an “Oh” sound and continued to search for topics, but no matter what she said, the other person could always twist the conversation to a subtle angle.
For example: “The weather has been terrible lately, it’s been raining for half a month straight, and I can’t even dry my clothes.”
“It’s okay, meeting you makes even this terrible weather seem a bit better.”
After several such exchanges, she fell silent. The last time she had felt this defeated was with Lu Qingshi.
The difference was that Lu Qingshi left her speechless.
Xiang Nanke left her at a loss for words.
Conclusion: These two women must have been sent by heaven to torment her for her beauty.
As Qin Xuan was thinking this, the red light had not yet turned green, and she took a small step forward.
An electric bike came speeding by.
“Watch out!”
The umbrella fell to the ground as Xiang Nanke pulled Qin Xuan into her arms. Their heartbeats pounded like drums, intertwining.
Qin Xuan had a look of utter resignation on her face: It must be a curse to nearly be hit by an electric bike twice in one day.
She wasn’t wearing perfume today, her natural scent was faint, only detectable when close – a hint of gardenia.
Xiang Nanke felt her own rapid heartbeat, confirmed some things, and slowly loosened her grip, picking up the umbrella.
“Let’s go.”
She felt that this person had become even more reserved since her comrade’s incident, making it increasingly difficult for Qin Xuan to read her. But she knew that Xiang Nanke had feelings for her. In the past, she might have tried to hide it a bit, being nice to everyone, but now it was as if she couldn’t wait for Qin Xuan to know.
So when they reached the bottom of the building, she spoke up: “Officer Xiang, there’s no need to waste time on me, I really…”
Before she could say “don’t like you,” she was interrupted.
“I know you have a boyfriend,” she stood holding an umbrella in the rain, quietly looking at her: “But give me a chance to court you too.”
“I’ll prove that I’m better than him.”
Qin Xuan held her forehead: “How can I make you understand! I like men! Men! I’m straight! A steel-straight woman!!!”
Xiang Nanke quietly watched her jump up and down, her face still wearing that usual gentle smile. She blinked, looking somewhat innocent: “You’re a doctor, don’t you know that sexual orientation is fluid? Besides, just now when I hugged you…”
“Shut up!” Qin Xuan wanted to take off her high heels and throw them at that pretty face to wake her up, but seeing the other’s consistently gentle expression, smiling as she watched her rage, with only her in those dark pupils.
Somehow, she remembered the moment in the subway when those not-so-broad shoulders still shielded her from the wind and rain, a warmth and sense of security different from being with Old Bao.
She tried hard to suppress this flutter, but could no longer say anything in rebuttal. The anger, once vented, felt like punching a pillow.
She chose to slam the building door shut with a bang: “Get lost!!!”
Xiang Nanke rubbed her nose, watching the lights in the stairwell light up floor by floor. She pressed the communication device on her chest, her expression turning cold.
“Team Two, continue surveillance, don’t act rashly.”
Qin Xuan returned home, washed up, and came out drying her hair. Seeing the jacket she had carelessly thrown on the sofa, she thought for a moment, then picked it up and tossed it into the washing machine. Then she threw herself into the soft bed.
At this moment, she not only wanted to let out a long howl to the heavens but also wanted to post on a forum: 《The Handsome Female Police Officer Falls for the Steel-Straight Woman: The Straight Woman Has Something to Say.》
In a small county town adjacent to Jinzhou city, surrounded by mountains, the torrential rain had been pouring for nearly half a month. The river flowing around the city had swollen, emitting a thunderous roar. A high-rise bridge was being constructed in the mountains, with tunnel workers operating in the heavy rain.
The engineer in a raincoat shouted at the top of his lungs: “With such heavy rain, the soil has loosened. We can’t continue working!”
The official holding an umbrella and carrying a briefcase was also shouting until his face turned red and his neck swelled. Water dripped from the umbrella’s edge, splashing mud. Under their feet, the ochre-colored mud had formed small rivers.
“The deadline given by the superiors is that it must be completed and open to traffic within this month! I’ve made a military pledge. Even if it’s raining knives by the end of the month, you must get this tunnel through for me!”
The textile factory’s machines didn’t stop until late at night. Fang Zhiyou walked out, dragging her tired body. In the distance, someone ran towards her with an umbrella.
“Zhiyou!”
She jolted, perking up: “Why did you come?”
Her lover had been waiting in the wind and rain for who knows how long, wearing a raincoat with hair soaked through, lips purple from the cold.
“It’s raining, I came to pick you up from work.”
“Silly, you’re still on medication. What if you catch a cold?” Fang Zhiyou held her ice-cold hand, intending to put it in her own pocket, but accidentally touched a wound and winced in pain.
Yu Gui took a look and was instantly heartbroken to the point of tears. Due to prolonged exposure to alkaline water, her hands were swollen and purple, with a layer of skin peeled off and bloody blisters formed.
Fang Zhiyou pulled her hand back: “It’s nothing, let’s go home.”
Yu Gui sniffled: “Okay, I’ll apply medicine for you when we get home.”
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