Hello, Jie Fen – CH17

Chapter 17: Emergency Hospitalization

Xiaomi was much smarter than the Husky, Egg Fried Rice.

Although Chi Wang had heard that Border Collies were the most intelligent breed of dogs, he hadn’t truly felt it until now.

After spending the past few days with Xiaomi, he discovered that the dog was exceptionally well-behaved and considerate.

He wouldn’t bolt ahead; even if he got a bit excited and ran forward, he would stop and wait for Chi Wang.

He knew how to shake hands, would gently nudge Chi Wang, and when he jumped on him, his movements were light—unlike the Husky, who was reckless.

He would even move to Chi Wang’s right side when a car approached, positioning himself between Chi Wang and the road—overflowing with protective instincts!

A dog that prioritized him throughout the walk—who wouldn’t like that!

So Chi Wang couldn’t help but speak up for Xiaomi.

After speaking, he pretended to glance casually at Xie Sicheng’s expression—

But he couldn’t discern anything. The streetlights were dim, and with the backlighting, it was impossible to read any expression on Xie Sicheng’s face.

Retracting his gaze from watching Chi Wang, Xie lowered his eyes to look at the reading list Chi Wang had sent on his phone. He finally spoke, “Thank you. I will study them word by word.”

Chi Wang was a bit surprised, his smile becoming more genuine. “Alright then.”

He stood up and continued walking the dogs.

The Husky was the most difficult to manage. Even though he was now familiar with Chi Wang, the dog still lacked any sense of consideration and would suddenly bolt forward, dragging Chi Wang along.

With this sudden pull, his stomach felt uncomfortable again.

Chi Wang stopped, tugging the Husky back, and couldn’t help but frown and touch his stomach.

Maintaining a certain distance behind him, Xie seemed as if he wasn’t following Chi Wang but merely happened to be walking the same route.

He saw Chi Wang run and then suddenly stop, clutching his stomach. His tall figure revealed a stiffness that suggested physical discomfort.

Unconsciously quickening his pace, Xie walked up to Chi Wang’s side and asked in a cold voice, “Are you feeling unwell?”

“Uh,” Chi Wang replied, “Maybe I ate something bad.”

“Stomachache?” Xie asked.

“Not exactly pain,” Chi Wang said.

“Forget it, it’s nothing.” With that, he continued walking the dogs.

Watching his back, Xie said unhurriedly, “If you’re unwell, you can take a day off.”

Chi Wang waved his hand dismissively. “It’s fine.”

Xiaomi circled anxiously around him, seeming worried. Chi Wang was touched by this and sincerely praised, “Senior, your Xiaomi is so considerate. He even knows to care about me. It would be a shame not to send such a smart dog to school.”

In contrast, the Husky was impatiently scratching the ground nearby.

Xie didn’t respond.

After all, Xiaomi’s full name was Zuo Xiaomi, not Xie Xiaomi.

Although it was a bit difficult, Chi Wang still persevered and completed the full one and a half hours of dog walking.

He endured the occasional discomfort in his stomach.

After walking the dogs, Chi Wang handed Xiaomi back to Xie and took Egg Fried Rice back to the senior’s place.

After walking a short distance, Chi Wang looked back and, as expected, saw that the distance between Xiaomi and Xie was over two meters again. The man and dog were walking toward the community gate with a galaxy between them.

Chi Wang was puzzled. Could Xie really take care of a dog like this?

He didn’t even seem to like dogs.

For a dog as smart as Xiaomi, wouldn’t such a master be considered emotionally neglectful?

After returning Egg Fried Rice, Chi Wang went back to the dormitory to take a shower.

Perhaps due to the changing seasons and being exposed to the wind outside, Chi Wang developed a fever.

He noticed the fever because he felt his skin temperature rising. After taking his temperature, he found it had reached 39.4°C (103°F).

That was already considered a high fever.

Chi Wang took some antipyretic medicine and grabbed a slightly thicker quilt to sweat it out.

Before long, he started vomiting and having diarrhea. He vomited a greenish-yellow liquid, which looked serious.

Both Luo Lianyun and Shu Tingyu hurriedly poured him hot water to rinse his mouth and handed him tissues. “What’s wrong with you? Suddenly it’s this severe.”

Shu suggested, “Let’s observe for now. If the fever doesn’t go down, we’ll take him to the emergency room.”

Luo insisted, “We should go to the hospital now; don’t delay.”

Chi Wang was still stubborn. “It’s fine; drinking more hot water will help. I have experience.”

Luo and Shu exchanged glances. “Who still believes that drinking hot water cures all illnesses?”

“What’s the use of drinking hot water? Going to the hospital for an IV will bring the fever down faster!”

Luo immediately started putting on clothes and shoes. “Come on, we’re taking you to the hospital now.”

Chi Wang protested, “Wait! Don’t rush. I’ve already taken medicine.”

With a serious expression, Luo said, “I suspect you have acute gastroenteritis. If it gets severe, you could go into shock!”

Startled, Chi Wang said, “No way. I’ll just take some anti-inflammatory medicine…”

“Don’t take random medications!” Luo interrupted. “Hurry up. What’s the point of saving money now? Who are you saving it for? At worst, Shu and I will cover the costs. You must see a doctor for this illness. You might have had inflammation for a long time. Ignoring it could lead to chronic gastroenteritis, which is hard to treat!”

Frightened by this, Chi Wang began to get dressed.

Luo acted efficiently. He quickly informed the dorm supervisor about the situation, got permission to leave, and, together with Shu, took Chi Wang to the hospital.

Shu said, “Your gastroenteritis is probably caused by eating spicy food. I had acute gastroenteritis before—had diarrhea until I was exhausted and had a fever of 42°C (107.6°F).”

Hearing this as they hailed a taxi, Luo couldn’t help but complain, “42°C? How did you not become an idiot? People can’t have a fever that high.”

Unconvinced, Shu retorted, “I did have a fever of 42°C. My mom was crying at the time. Not becoming an idiot was thanks to my ancestors’ blessings; they probably knocked their heads in the afterlife.”

Luo said, “Hmm, Chi Wang, don’t listen to him. It’s impossible to reach 42°C. In my hometown, there’s a guy who became mentally challenged after a high fever of 40°C.”

Chi Wang was vomiting into a trash bag. Luo said, “Stop vomiting. Hold on, okay? If you vomit too much, it’ll corrode your teeth.”

Shu handed a box of tissues to Chi Wang, letting him pull out some to wipe his mouth.

Weakly, Chi Wang said, “I feel my body is soft, with no strength.”

Luo scolded, “Serves you right. I told you to go to the hospital earlier, but you were stubborn.”

Chi Wang: QAQ

He said, “It’s just that I’ve always been healthy. Whenever I got sick before, drinking hot water and keeping warm would make me better.”

Luo: “You never took medicine?”

Chi Wang replied, “Couldn’t afford medicine.”

Both Luo and Shu fell silent.

Common medications like antipyretics aren’t expensive, yet he couldn’t afford them. They felt heartbroken and didn’t know what to say.

On the way to the hospital, Chi Wang started vomiting again, his face pale. The driver, frightened, stepped on the gas and sped them to a tertiary hospital.

In the emergency department, the doctor examined him and initially diagnosed acute gastroenteritis, prescribing an IV drip and arranging for hospitalization.

Luo requested a thorough examination, telling the doctor about Chi Wang’s recent condition. The doctor thought for a moment and said, “Alright, let’s run some tests.”

He swiftly wrote down several test items, totaling 1,200 yuan.

Chi Wang nearly fainted.

Luo wanted to pay for him, but Chi Wang wouldn’t agree and tearfully paid the fee himself.

After leaving, Luo saw his expression and said with frustration, “Since we’re here, consider it a physical exam. Prevention is better than cure, you know.”

Chi Wang’s eyes became like fried eggs. “This is too expensive! I get the gastroscopy, but why do I need a colonoscopy too? Isn’t a colonoscopy done through the anus?”[^1]

Uncertain, Luo said, “I think so? I’ve never had one.”

Chi Wang looked despairing. “I don’t want to live anymore; I might as well go die.”

Luo said, “Don’t be embarrassed; you’re already here.”

Chi Wang thought: Well, ‘since we’re already here.’

He felt like vomiting again and continued retching into the trash bag.

Shu tried to comfort him, “It’s okay. I’ve had a digital rectal exam before. It was uncomfortable at first, but it felt quite good afterward.”

Chi Wang: “?”

Better if you just stay quiet.

Chi Wang carried a thermometer with him. His temperature had slightly decreased, but since they were already there and had paid, they couldn’t refund the tests.

This showcased Luo’s cleverness; he used this opportunity to get Chi Wang to have a full examination.

Being frugal, Chi Wang wouldn’t want to waste the money and would end up completing the tests even if he didn’t want to.

After confirming he was fasting, Chi Wang went for blood and urine tests. The gastro-colonoscopy couldn’t be done immediately; it would be scheduled for the next day.

However, he could get imaging done, so he had an ECG and an ultrasound.

The ultrasound was performed by a female intern. Chi Wang lifted his shirt and lay on the bed. After applying coupling gel to his abdomen, the doctor began the procedure and then exclaimed, “Huh?”

She said to Chi Wang, “Wait a moment; I’ll call someone.”

She left briefly and returned with an older female doctor. The two of them huddled over the machine, whispering in the local dialect, which Chi Wang couldn’t understand. Then there was a long silence.

Chi Wang became anxious. Did he really have some serious illness?

The younger doctor stepped aside to let the older doctor take over.

The older doctor applied a large amount of coupling gel to his abdomen and carefully maneuvered the device.

At times, she pressed a bit harder, causing discomfort. She gently asked, “Does it hurt here?”

Chi Wang replied, “Not exactly pain, just discomfort.”

“Bear with it; it’ll be over soon,” she said softly.

Her gentle voice made Chi Wang unable to hold back from asking, “Doctor, do I have some illness?”

She replied, “Not sure yet; please wait.”

After finishing, she took out her phone and made a call, this time speaking in Mandarin, “Dr. Zhao, could you come over and take a look? There’s a patient I’m not sure about.”

Chi Wang: “…”

What kind of terminal illness requires consulting three doctors?

His heart was in his throat.

He just lay there. The doctor, fearing he might catch a cold, placed a piece of paper over his navel.

Chi Wang: “…”

Soon, an older male doctor arrived. “What’s going on?”

The female doctor said, “Take a look.”

The male doctor bent down to look at the screen and quickly exclaimed, “Huh?!”

Chi Wang said, “Doctor, you’re scaring me. I’m only 18.”

He didn’t respond to Chi Wang but removed the paper covering his navel, applied more coupling gel to his abdomen, and continued the examination.

The two female doctors crowded around, conversing in the local dialect. The younger one sounded noticeably excited.

After the male doctor finished, he took out his phone and called several more older doctors.

It soon escalated to a group of doctors gathered around the machine.

As they looked, they chatted in the local dialect and then called over the oldest one, addressing him as “Teacher.”

Chi Wang: “…”

Did they bring in some top expert?

He was terrified.

He didn’t know what they concluded. The oldest doctor handed him tissues to wipe his abdomen, doing so meticulously. He then said, “All done. Please come back to the hospital tomorrow and register under me.”

As he spoke, he pointed to the name tag on his white coat, which read “Zhao Yongchun.”

Chi Wang said dryly, “Alright, thank you, doctor.”

He asked, “Doctor, what’s wrong with me?”

The old doctor said, “We’ll discuss it when you come tomorrow. You can go home now.”

Seeing his cryptic response, Chi Wang didn’t press further; perhaps now wasn’t the best time to talk.

But after all this, he was scared out of his wits, and his face was pale when he left.

Seeing his expression, Luo and Shu asked, “What’s wrong? Several doctors went in just now; were they all examining you?”

Chi Wang said, “It’s not scary when doctors are expressionless; it’s scary when they call in several other doctors. I think I’m doomed.”

Despite his words, his tone was calm, not showing much dejection.

He was used to it—being fate’s chosen unlucky person.

Might as well get used to it.

Luo and Shu exchanged glances. Luo was the first to react, “No way. It’s just an ultrasound; it can’t detect any serious illnesses. Besides, doctors are usually calm when diagnosing illnesses. They wouldn’t call in so many people just for a cancer diagnosis.”

Chi Wang wasn’t comforted but tried to pull himself together. “Let’s go get the IV drip. I still have a fever.”

After speaking, he felt nauseous again. Shu quickly handed him a new trash bag, and Chi Wang went to the corner to vomit before proceeding to the infusion room.

The doctor had prescribed four large bags for the IV drip; it would probably take all night.

Luo decided to contact their counselor to ask for leave.

Shu also wanted to stay with Chi Wang, so they all took leave together.

As Chi Wang was getting the IV drip, he suddenly said, “The password for my bank card is 853760. If anything happens to me, you guys can split the money.”

Luo: “???”

Shu looked puzzled. “How did we get to the point of last words?”

Luo said, “Though I’m touched that you’re willing to leave your inheritance to us, you’re talking nonsense. The fever has muddled your brain.”

Chi Wang: QAQ
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Translator’s Note: