Little Meteor Chapter 13
byThe surgery was originally scheduled to end at seven, but Jiang Chengxuan hadn’t even had a sip of water after leaving the operating room when the Emergency Department called, urging him to hurry over.
It was the woman who had come in that morning, and this time her injuries were far more severe.
Intracranial hemorrhage, accompanied by severe skull fractures and multiple soft tissue contusions.
He checked the patient’s pupils; one side was already dilated, and the light reflex was absent—a sign of cerebral herniation.
Her husband stood outside the resuscitation room door, held back by a nurse, his voice even louder than it had been that morning: “Doctor! Doctor, you’re finally here! Hurry and look at her! She just wouldn’t listen to advice, she was dizzy but insisted on going downstairs herself, and ended up tumbling down the stairs! She’s so badly hurt! I’m going crazy with worry!”
Jiang Chengxuan issued instructions rapidly: “Immediately contact Radiology for an emergency head CT. Notify the operating room to prepare for emergency craniotomy.”
The man tried to squeeze into the resuscitation room, still shouting: “Doctor! It can’t be that serious, can it? She just fell. Why do you need to operate? Are you trying to—”
“Get out!” Jiang Chengxuan turned, his voice cold. “This is the resuscitation room. Unauthorized personnel, leave immediately! Do not obstruct us from saving a life!”
The surgery finished close to midnight. Liang Siyuan handed him a bottle of water with the cap twisted off, saying angrily, “The police came and took statements, but that scumbag still insists it was an accidental fall! It’s absolutely shameless!”
The patient remained in a deep coma and could not provide any testimony. Due to insufficient evidence, the police could only temporarily record the incident and instruct the hospital to monitor the situation before leaving.
Jiang Chengxuan took the water, drank several large gulps, his voice hoarse: “Understood. Send the patient directly to the ICU for enhanced monitoring. Notify me immediately of any subtle changes.”
Liang Siyuan nodded: “I know, Professor Jiang. You should go rest now. You look terrible.”
Jiang Chengxuan said nothing more. He hadn’t eaten dinner, and now he was past the point of hunger and couldn’t eat anyway.
There were indeed many things doctors were powerless against, especially regarding domestic violence. If the victim refused to report it, considering family, children, and that lingering affection between spouses, self-brainwashing that he would change next time—if a doctor meddled, and the police came to investigate and question, the victim wouldn’t cooperate, claiming she fell herself. The case couldn’t be established, and the ones affected would still be the doctor and the hospital.
He hadn’t called the police this morning because he saw the patient refusing examination and making excuses for the man. It was highly likely the police wouldn’t get anything out of her, and she would suffer even more when they left. But now, he regretted it. If he had called the police then, perhaps she wouldn’t be lying in the ICU now.
His mentor once told him that since ancient times, it has been difficult to have the best of both worlds, and doctors cannot be overly emotional; focusing on the current patient is paramount. But after all these years, he still hadn’t gotten used to it.
He couldn’t go home tonight. He remembered there were some small snacks in his office drawer. He should eat something to line his stomach, lest he actually suffer from low blood sugar.
His steps paused as he turned the corner. Shen Mu was sitting on the bench outside his office door, his head bobbing like a chick pecking rice, clutching an insulated bag in his arms.
Jiang Chengxuan’s heart felt struck by something, both sore and soft. He walked over quietly and crouched down in front of Shen Mu.
Perhaps his gaze was too focused; Shen Mu mumbled a hazy “Hmm,” his eyelashes fluttering. He opened his eyes and saw Jiang Chengxuan right in front of him. He froze for a few seconds, then snapped awake, sat up straight, subconsciously wiped his mouth, and asked vaguely, “Did you finish your surgery?”
“Yes, she’s temporarily stable.” Jiang Chengxuan’s voice involuntarily softened. “Why did you come here? Didn’t you say you wouldn’t be back for half a month?”
Shen Mu’s mind had been completely scrambled by the kiss on the forehead that morning. He had gotten into the car immediately after leaving Jiang Chengxuan’s place without grabbing a change of clothes. He had returned to pick up his clothes and decided to stop by to see Jiang Chengxuan. He felt that Jiang Chengxuan’s mood at noon was off, but he certainly couldn’t say that—it was too embarrassing: “Oh, well… I didn’t grab everything this morning, so I came back to get it, and stopped by to check on you.”
Jiang Chengxuan didn’t speak, just watched him quietly.
Shen Mu felt uncomfortable under his gaze. He shifted his eyes and handed over the insulated bag: “I brought you some late-night food. I wasn’t sure if you’d eaten, but it might be a little cold now.”
He couldn’t finish his sentence.
Jiang Chengxuan suddenly reached out and pulled him into a full embrace.
Shen Mu instantly froze, the insulated bag in his hand nearly dropping to the floor: “What’s wrong?”
Jiang Chengxuan rested his chin lightly on Shen Mu’s shoulder, closing his eyes: “Nothing. Just a little tired. I’ll be fine after a hug.”
Shen Mu hesitated, then raised his hand and gently patted Jiang Chengxuan’s back: “It’s okay. You should eat something first, or your stomach will suffer.”
After a long while, Jiang Chengxuan finally released him, taking his hand into his palm. He felt the hand twitch slightly, seemingly wanting to pull away, but ultimately it didn’t. “Come inside and keep me company while I eat.”
Shen Mu nodded, tacitly allowing himself to be led, and followed him into the office.
Jiang Chengxuan unwrapped the chopsticks: “Have you eaten?”
“I ate ages ago,” Shen Mu said, looking at Jiang Chengxuan’s tired profile and sighing, “Doctors really work hard.”
The congee was soft and well-cooked, sliding warmly down his esophagus. The stomach that had been empty all night finally felt comfortable.
Shen Mu watched quietly as Jiang Chengxuan ate a few bites. When his complexion seemed to improve slightly, Shen Mu finally asked, “What exactly happened today?”
Jiang Chengxuan briefly recounted the morning’s events to Shen Mu. Shen Mu was equally indignant. Jiang Chengxuan murmured, “I should have called the police then.”
Shen Mu sighed, his voice gentle: “But you couldn’t stop her from protecting that scumbag. If she herself isn’t willing, calling the police is useless.”
Shen Mu patted the back of his hand: “Don’t blame yourself.”
Jiang Chengxuan squeezed his hand in return and smiled: “Okay.”
The way Jiang Chengxuan looked at him was too deep, too intense, like fine spider silk wrapping around him, tangling his heartbeat out of rhythm. Shen Mu felt he couldn’t stay any longer. He stood up, flustered: “I have to leave. It will be too late to catch a ride soon.”
Jiang Chengxuan restrained himself from moving, looking up at him: “Should I walk you downstairs then?”
Shen Mu quickly waved his hands: “No, no need. You’ve had a long day. Get some rest.”
This was Jiang Chengxuan’s first time pursuing someone, and he lacked experience. Seeing Shen Mu’s reaction, he began to reflect on whether he was pushing him too hard. The Shen Mu from college always kept to himself, sitting alone in the corner of the cafeteria. When Jiang Chengxuan sat across from him with his tray, Shen Mu would first stiffen slightly, then cautiously relax, keeping his head down the entire time, quiet as if he didn’t exist. Jiang Chengxuan had sensed a certain detachment and sensitivity deep within him, as if he was afraid of bothering others and habitually resisted excessive closeness. He guessed this was related to Shen Mu’s family, but if Shen Mu didn’t want to talk about it, he wouldn’t press. It was precisely because of this that Jiang Chengxuan later realized Shen Mu had liked him back then. Therefore, when that cautious affection went unreturned, the self-doubt and disgust Shen Mu felt internally must have been incredibly intense—intense enough to make him decisively cut everything off and leave so completely.
He didn’t insist further, just smiled, his tone normal: “Be careful on the way. Text me when you arrive.”