Volume 1: Rise
Awakening
Her lips were cold and cool, carrying a sense of wetness.
Lu Qingshi inserted the key into the keyhole, and with a “click,” the door opened. What greeted her was not the cold and icy air, but a big white dog rushing towards her.
During the ten-plus days Gu Yanzhi was in the hospital, she came every day to feed Hamburger, three meals a day without fail, which even made her own routine much more regular. Watching it lie on the food bowl eating vigorously, Lu Qingshi felt a bit happier, rubbed its head, and Hamburger came to lick her hand. It then used its front paw to rest on her knee, stretching its neck to lick her face. Lu Qingshi, being ticklish, kept dodging, and the person and dog played together.
In Gu Yanzhi’s home, there is a wall specially used for displaying her honor certificates and medals. In the photos, she is depicted from her youth when she first joined the military, showing her greenness, to later in her youth when her sharpness was fully revealed, and now in a flame blue uniform, her eyebrows and eyes marked by the passage of time, yet her temperament is restrained. When not smiling, she appears very cold, but when she smiles, there is a somewhat roguish feeling.
Lu Qingshi took a rag to wipe away the dust on the photos, thinking in her heart: You must get better soon.
Yu Gui was on the night shift, lying on the triage station drowsily when someone gently asked, “Excuse me, is Doctor Yu Gui here?”
She subconsciously hugged her head: “I am not, I am not here, don’t hit me.”
The woman burst into laughter, placing the fruit she was holding on the triage station: “This is for Doctor Yu, could you please help me pass it to her? Thank her for saving my child.”
Yu Gui suddenly lifted her head: “You… you are…”
It is the mother of the burned child.
She quickly stood up and declined: “No, no, no, the hospital has rules that we cannot accept this, cannot accept.”
The woman smiled, and because of her kindness, her otherwise unremarkable face radiated warmth and generosity: “Please accept it, this is a small token from me and the child’s father. Without your persistence, Nannan wouldn’t have made it to today.”
For the first time being thanked by a patient, Yu Gui was so happy she couldn’t speak, as if the gloom that had been hanging over her these past few days suddenly dissipated. She felt like crying, and then the woman said something else that completely broke her composure.
“Doctor Yu, I saw the news on television, don’t take it too much to heart. If there’s any way I can help, please just ask.”
Yu Gui couldn’t say anything, so she bent down and bowed: “Thank you.”
The next day, there was a news conference held by the Jinzhou City Health and Family Planning Commission in conjunction with Renji Medical University regarding the fire rescue incident.
Lu Qingshi got up especially early, washed her face and brushed her teeth, remaining bare-faced, only lightly drawing on her eyebrows. She tied her hair, changed coats, and before leaving, went to Gu Yanzhi’s home to feed Hamburger. Upon arriving at the hospital, she was told some good news.
Gu Yanzhi had woken up, no longer in a subconscious coma state, but fully awakened medically, with all vital signs tending towards stability.
Lu Qingshi took her medical records and looked at them carefully; there were no problems. The person lying on the hospital bed had a face marked by the paleness of a serious illness not yet recovered, but her eyes had a bit of vitality. Seeing her looking over, she even lightly tugged at the corner of her lips.
She wanted to speak, but still had a tube in her mouth. Lu Qingshi understood her meaning and personally helped her remove the tube, worried that seeing her like this would make her feel uncomfortable, and gently placed her left hand over her eyelids.
Really so gentle it’s indescribable, Qin Xuan pouted, inexplicably getting goosebumps all over.
Lu Qingshi’s palm was very dry and warm. Gu Yanzhi hadn’t even had much time to feel it before the other person moved her hand away, and the tube in her throat was removed. She felt somewhat unsatisfied, of course, unsatisfied with the loss of warmth.
During these days of her coma, her mind was actually clear, but her eyelids were so very heavy that she simply couldn’t open them. Her entire body was weak, without a bit of strength, as if trapped in mud. Every time she despaired, it was Lu Qingshi’s voice that brought her back to the light.
She felt very grateful and moved, and didn’t know why she felt a sense of dependence on her voice and her warmth. Maybe it was due to a patient’s instinctive trust in a doctor?
Gu Yanzhi didn’t know; she only knew that looking at these hands in front of her, not wide enough but sufficiently warm, was just like the person herself—appearing cold and distant, but actually possessing a pure heart.
She followed her heart and buried her head into them.
Lu Qingshi froze; her lips were ice-cold and damp, much like a large dog’s nose. Her breath brushed over her palm, bringing a tingling itch.
The pretty female doctor pressed her lips tightly, wanting to pull her hand away, but suddenly felt a warmth in her palm, more and more, overflowing between her fingers.
This was her first time being so close to death and yet feeling a trace of long-lost warmth from Lu Qingshi. A person who was always strong found herself somehow filled with tears.
She thought, living is really good.
Lu Qingshi hesitated for a moment, but still placed her free hand slowly on her trembling shoulder, embracing her in a not very comfortable, half-kneeling, half-squatting way.
Yu Gui came in to call her to attend the press conference, and suddenly her eyes widened: “Lu—”
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Qin Xuan quickly covered her mouth, pulling her back: “Go, go, go, quickly go, restricted scene, not suitable for children.”
Until they pulled her out the door, Yu Gui peeked her head out from the wall: “But I still want to watch.”
Qin Xuan also stretched her neck: “Me too.”
Hao Renjie tiptoed and pressed Yu Gui’s head down: “Count me in too.”
The three people exchanged a glance: “There is an affair.”
The media were all in place, and Lu Qingshi, with a notebook under her arm, arrived slowly and walked straight to the table with her nameplate and sat down.
On the chairman’s platform were all the hospital leaders, with the most central figure being Secretary Wu from the Health and Family Planning Commission. Her position was to the side, conveniently next to Xu Qiankun. She ignored the look of dissatisfaction from him for her being late, then everyone stood up to apologize to the patient’s family and the public. Lu Qingshi slightly lowered her head, while the flashlights clicked at her.
She sat down calmly, with the patient’s family and accompanying idle personnel opposite her. Other involved medical staff, like Yu Gui, sat next to the wall.
Seeing this situation, Yu Gui began to tremble, and Hao Renjie felt the same. He was not a rookie fresh out of school and knew this matter could affect his career. Initially, he acted with passion following Yu Gui, but only now did he feel fear in hindsight.
He cast his gaze towards Lu Qingshi, and she slightly nodded her head. For some reason, this gave him a bit of reassurance.
After Lu Qingshi left, she napped for a while again. Upon waking, finding that she was not next to her, she felt a small disappointment in her heart. So she pressed the bell to call a nurse to help her turn on the television in the ward, having been isolated from the world for so long, she urgently wanted to know some outside news.
“Recently, the appeasement work for families of the deceased in the apartment fire has entered its final stage. Jinzhou City government and the fire department have jointly conducted safety hazard inspections within the city’s group rental houses. What needs to be dismantled will be dismantled, and what needs to be banned will be banned. For those apartments passing fire inspection and being legally licensed, the city government will provide free unified installation of fireproof and burglarproof doors and windows for residents. At the same time, it requires a strict prohibition on indoor charging of electric vehicles, and each household must be equipped with a dry powder fire extinguisher. It is reported that the next step will involve the traffic control bureau conducting a city-wide real-name registration and licensing activity for electric vehicles. Unlicensed electric vehicles will be prohibited from the road and uniformly confiscated and destroyed.”
A vigorous reform quietly swept through the entire Jinzhou City, although it came somewhat late, it was also considered a comfort to the spirits of those innocently lost in the fire.
Gu Yanzhi, feeling comforted, tugged at the corner of her lips and asked the nurse to turn up the volume a bit.
“Now, we interrupt with a piece of breaking news. This morning, a news conference regarding the child who had legs amputated in the Lounge Apartment fire was held at Renji Medical University. Leaders from the Health and Family Planning Commission and hospital staff were all in attendance. Jinzhou TV brings you a live report from the scene.”
The screen flashed over Lu Qingshi’s face, and Gu Yanzhi suddenly clenched the sheet tightly beneath her.
“Respected patient families, and media friends who have come from afar, hello everyone. I am Liu Changsheng, Director of Medical Affairs at Renji Medical University’s First Affiliated Hospital. This is Secretary Wu from the Health and Family Planning Commission’s Organization Department. Next, please let Secretary Wu provide an explanation of the situation.”
Director Liu bent forward, bowed, and shook hands with him: “Secretary Wu, thank you for your hard work.”
The other party did not say a word, walked to the speaking platform, stood properly, picked up the microphone, and made two sound checks. The venue momentarily quieted down.
Dean Meng sat on his left side, with nothing in between, allowing him to see Lu Qingshi on the other side slowly opening her computer, hands on the keyboard, completely not listening, and slightly shaking her head.
“After the accident occurred, Jinzhou City’s Health and Family Planning Commission took it very seriously, dispatching a workgroup overnight to thoroughly investigate and verify the matter. After three days and nights of intensive work, they conducted one-by-one questioning of the medical staff involved in the rescue. The facts are clear, and the evidence is conclusive. Lu Qingshi, the deputy chief physician of Renji Medical University’s emergency department, bears significant unshirkable responsibility. Other involved medical staff also have varying degrees of responsibility. After internal discussion within the hospital, the treatment results are announced as follows. We ask media friends to supervise and promote the healthy and vigorous development of our city’s medical industry!”
He continued to speak, but found that the microphone suddenly went silent. He tapped it twice, but it remained unresponsive, causing a commotion among the media, while the hospital leaders on stage remained indifferent.
Liu Qingyun, wearing a mask, scarf, and peaked cap, slipped out of the power room, and discreetly threw the scissors into the medical waste bin at the door to destroy the evidence. The on-duty security guard turned around and deliberately pretended not to see.
“Isn’t it just paid internet commenters? Damn, who doesn’t have some dirty money to hire internet commenters?” Qin Xuan took out one, two, three… a total of five different model phones from the bag and placed them on the table. Everyone’s jaws almost dropped, and they all took out their own tools for the task.
Over there, Fang Zhiyou lit a cigarette in a dark room, her fingertips quickly tapping on the keyboard: 「Do me a favor, help me make this post go viral.」
She sent over a link, and the other side quickly accepted: 「Your girlfriend works at this hospital?」
She replied with a “Hmm.”
The other side sent an “OK” gesture, and shortly after, her phone began to light up frequently, with the little red notifications on social accounts increasing more and more.
The Medical Affairs Director slowly stood up, signaling everyone to calm down: “Our emergency department director, Doctor Lu, has a few words to say to everyone.”
Lu Qingshi stood up, took the microphone, and slightly bowed: “I am Lu Qingshi, the commander of the medical team at the 4.13 fire rescue scene. The decision for amputation was made by me, but why did I make this decision? Please look at the PPT.”
She turned the computer around, and the slides clicked open. Secretary Wu looked at the microphone in his hand, which was silent, while Lu Qingshi’s allowed her to speak freely. Even without thinking, it was clear what had happened, and he immediately felt a deep-seated anger.
Her voice was not particularly crisp but had a kind of middle-aged depth. Her Mandarin was very standard and comprehensive, explaining complex medical knowledge through pictures in a captivating manner.
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“Our emergency doctor, entrusted by the patient’s family, rushed into the fire scene. Although the open flames were already extinguished at that time, there was still a large amount of thick smoke. In this extremely harsh situation, they reached the patient’s floor, the fifth floor, room 503, with great difficulty.”
She displayed a picture, enlarging it on the slide: “This is a photo taken later by the fire brigade. Everyone can see that pressing down on the little girl is this iron cabinet, which weighs a full two hundred jin. Without the help of demolition tools, lifting it by hand is simply an impossible task, and it cannot be lifted. As for the reason, I have just explained.”
The media below all turned their cameras towards her, while frantically taking notes on paper.
“The most infuriating part is that the little girl was chained on the cabinet, which is why she was trapped in the room when the fire occurred.”
Hearing this, An’an’s mother suddenly stood up and shouted: “You are talking nonsense! You are slandering! You…”
Security came over and restrained her, as human voices cannot outshout the loudspeaker, making it a futile effort.
A trace of a contemptuous smile appeared at the corner of Lu Qingshi’s lips: “That is to say, what caused the little girl to be trapped under the cabinet was this iron chain.”
She enlarged the picture, and a thumb-thick iron chain appeared on the screen.
The room was in an uproar, and An’an’s mother collapsed in her seat.
“According to the 《Medical Institution Management Regulations》 and the 《Practicing Physicians Law》 of the People’s Republic of China, Articles 31 and 33, medical institutions must immediately rescue critically ill patients. When unable to obtain the patient’s opinion and family consent, the attending physician can propose a treatment plan, and after obtaining superior approval, can perform surgery.”
A member of the media raised a hand: “Doctor Lu, you are only the medical team commander, so you might not have this authority, correct?”
Dean Meng slowly picked up the microphone: “I am the person responsible for the hospital. At the emergency scene, Doctor Lu has the highest authorization and has the right to decide any medical plan and implement it. This was written into the work rules when Renji Hospital was established, and everyone can verify this.”
Yu Gui was so startled that her eyes almost popped out; this sudden reversal caught everyone somewhat off guard.
“The situation progressed to this point, and we rescued the little girl without incident. However, the patient’s family did not tell us about an extremely serious matter that endangered the lives of all rescue personnel, which was that the gas tank at her home had leaked and had been burning for an unknown duration.”
At this point, Lu Qingshi’s voice became somewhat heavy: “To save the little girl, we needed to use an electric saw. At that moment, even the slightest spark would have caused the entire floor to vanish without a trace. If we had not attempted the rescue, there might not have been today’s press conference.”
“For the life safety of all rescue personnel and to save a young life, Jinzhou City Fire Brigade Commander Gu Yanzhi led by example, carrying the gas tank by hand from the fifth floor to downstairs. She was injured by the explosion’s shock wave, causing internal bleeding, and is still in our hospital’s ICU.”
A firefighter in a brand new uniform stood up with red eyes and saluted the public: “Captain Gu is the pride of all officers and soldiers of the Jinzhou City Fire Brigade!”
No one knew who started the first applause, but scattered clapping soon followed, eventually gathering into a sea of applause.
Lu Qingshi, with her hand placed on the table and tightly clenched into a fist, inserted the USB into the computer: “Next, I will show everyone a surveillance recording.”
Director Liu sprayed a mouthful of tea, as this was not in the script. He looked at Dean Meng, who remained motionless, so he had to let it go.
It was the surveillance video of the day when the medical disturbance smashed the clinic hall, including the part where Yu Gui was violently beaten, stopping right before the police arrived.
“Organized and purposeful in coming to the hospital to demand money, everyone knows what kind of nature this is.”
Lu Qingshi raised a piece of paper: “This is the injury assessment of our injured medical staff, along with a list of damaged items. We will later file for civil compensation in court.”
“In the process of treating An’an, we also discovered some unusual things. For example, the little girl had many bruises caused by human beating, a certain degree of skull injury, was excessively thin and malnourished. So we requested the prosecution to intervene, and it was identified as abuse. The guardian has no blood relation to An’an, who is the child of her deceased husband and his ex-wife. The prosecution will continue to monitor whether to revoke her custody rights.”
Lu Qingshi finished speaking in one breath, and Hao Renjie couldn’t help but want to applaud her: “Amazing Sister Lu! So amazing!”
Yu Gui was dumbfounded.
Director Liu wiped the cold sweat from his forehead: they even revealed the family background, Lu Qingshi is really ruthless, but it’s also good. This way, the hospital doesn’t need to bear any responsibility and can even leap from perpetrator to victim.
For a time, #Renji Medical University Medical Disturbance Event Latest Reversal# and #Most Beautiful Reverse Running Fire-Hugging Sister# simultaneously climbed onto the hot search, quickly occupying major media homepages.
“I have finished speaking; right and wrong will be judged by public opinion.” She closed the computer and sat down, with the grace of a sword returning to its sheath.
The Medical Affairs Director quickly stood up to continue: “Regarding the medical disturbance, Renji Medical University has always maintained a zero-tolerance attitude! We will firmly not pay a single cent! Nor will we encourage bad practices. If it is our responsibility, we will definitely bear it; if it is not our responsibility, we will absolutely not compromise!”
Yu Gui clapped her hands while tears streamed down her face: “He finally spoke like a human.”
Hao Renjie repeatedly nodded: “Yes, yes.”
“However,” the elderly dean stood up tremblingly: “In the spirit of humanitarian aid, we have decided to waive all medical expenses for An’an, including subsequent prosthetic installation, correction, and rehabilitation training. After she fully recovers and is discharged, we have already arranged for a welfare institution to receive her and will continue to track her health status until adulthood. We also welcome caring individuals from all sectors of society to extend a helping hand to her. Thank you!”
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The conference hall suddenly erupted in thunderous applause, with everyone moved to tears, including Secretary Wu, who was just angrily gnashing his teeth on the side.
Lu Qingshi shook her head, realizing why they agreed to her plan. It was just one playing the good cop and the other the bad cop; she was thoroughly used, but fortunately, the outcome was satisfactory for all.
“Please, colleagues from the Renji Medical University First Hospital emergency department, quickly report to your posts, quickly report to your posts. A serious stampede accident occurred at the Rainbow Cultural Festival marathon race…”
The hospital broadcast sounded, Lu Qingshi glanced at Dean Meng, who quickly nodded. She pushed away the table in front of her and stood up: “Hao Renjie”
“Present!” He quickly stood up.
“Liu Qingyun”
“Present,” the orthopedic doctor quickly took his position.
“Chen Yi”
“Present!” The anesthesiologist also stood up.
She glanced at Yu Gui, who immediately sprang up: “Present!!!”
Lu Qingshi’s eyes filled with a smile: “Check the instruments and medicines, take the emergency kit, and prepare to depart!”
“Yes!”