CH 126

Chapter 126 – Guardianship

After a flurry of nervous activity, the comatose Xu RenDong was pushed into the ICU.

The ICU, or the Intensive Care Unit, was a special department that provided advanced life support for all kinds of critically ill patients. Lian Qiao’s mother, Director Qiao, is the director of the ICU department of this hospital. She was not on duty today. She was attending an academic conference out of town and, when she heard that her son had been in an accident, was rushing back in a hurry.

Father Lian’s rescue was very effective. Xu RenDong had recovered his heartbeat and breathing, but his vital signs were still unstable. He was hurt very badly.

A group of white lab coats pushed a flat cart and transported Xu RenDong from the emergency room to the ICU. The medical staff in the ICU had received notice some time ago and came out from a distance to meet them, helping them to push the cart and asking loudly about the condition.

Father Lian quickly explained to the ICU doctor everything he knew, who then turned his head and began to issue doctor’s orders to the nurse.

As soon as the ambulance was pushed into the intensive care department, the door of the department closed automatically. This is the rule of the ICU: family members can only visit for half an hour every day, and the rest of the time they wait by the door. This big iron door was closed most of the time and it was only briefly opened when patients entered and left.

Lian Qiao’s thoughts were all on Xu RenDong. Out of the corner of his eyes, he saw that the door of the ICU was full of patients’ family members and his heart jumped.

It was not the first time he came to the ICU, but he never thought that one day he would come in as a family member of a patient.

The ups and downs have not yet subsided, and he was stopped by his father as soon as tried to go inside.

“You want to go in? Go and change your clothes first!”

Lian Qiao was taken aback. The little nurse next to him quickly explained: “You need to change into sterile clothes when you enter the ward! Come on, I’ll take you there!” 

Lian Qiao saw that all the doctors and nurses in the ward were wearing green sterile clothes and then realized that it was not appropriate to wear casual clothes. As for his father, as soon as Director Lian stepped into the ward, a little doctor came up to hand over a white coat. Director Lian stretched out his hand and fished it up. The size was just right. Obviously, the ICU doctors had prepared it for him in advance after getting the news.

Lian Qiao didn’t understand why his father could enter in a white coat but he had to change into sterile clothes. But now is not the time to think about it, he honestly followed the nurse to change his clothes.

The clothes and trousers were replaced with green sterile clothes and the shoes were replaced with non-slip slippers specially provided by the ICU. Fortunately, the ICU has a constant temperature all year round, so he didn’t feel cold wearing this suit. Lian Qiao ran out of the locker room and went straight to the ward. From a distance, he saw a lot of people around a certain bed, including his father.

The ICU was full of critically ill patients and everyone had a monitor beside their bed, so as Lian Qiao ran over, the whole way his  ears were full of beeping. He squeezed into the pile of doctors and nurses and finally saw RenDong. He also saw several young nurses cutting his pants.

The nurse’s movements were quick and efficient, this was obviously something she was used to. In just a few seconds, Xu RenDong had been cleaned up and lay like a white fish, naked and alone.

RenDong was unaware of this. His eyes were closed as he let the nurses toss him out. His male’s organs were unobstructed, shaking gently with the flipping movement.

Lian Qiao’s heart skipped a beat. RenDong really cared about his face. At this time, the most private parts of the body were exposed like this and were being observed by a large group of people. With his pride, he wouldn’t be able to bear it. Then he said cautiously, “Is it necessary to clean him so thoroughly? Can he keep some pants?”

Director Lian glanced at him strangely and hummed, “What is he going to do with his pants? Hurry up, get the catheterization ready.” 

The surrounding nurses got the order and moved swiftly. Disinfection of the skin, dismantling of catheterization packs. Before Lian Qiao could react, he saw a little nurse pick up the little head of RenDong’s penis, flip her instrument down, aimed at the little hole and shoved the urine tube into it.

Lian Qiao’s head felt like it had exploded. He was so shocked that he couldn’t say anything at all: “This goes in there? Don’t you use anesthesia? If not, won’t he be in pain…”

Director Lian suddenly became angry and roared: “Where are you babbling about? What nonsense! Has his family been found? When will they arrive? I want to talk to them!”

In front of this group of medical staff, Lian Qiao did not dare to come out of the closet, so he had no choice but to make some excuses: “The family members haven’t been found yet… But I’ll sign the signature! Do you want to do surgery? I’ll sign!”

Director Lian glanced dismissively at him, just ordered him to try to continue to contact Xu RenDog’s family and kicked him out of the patient area.

There was also a large transparent office between the ward and the iron gate of the ICU. Doctors usually work here, while writing medical records and observing patients from transparent glass.

It’s not the first time that Lian Qiao has been here. The head nurse asked him to pour his own tea and asked casually, “How are you related to this person?”

“He’s my…” The words twitched on the tip of his tongue, but he couldn’t say it.

It’s not that he didn’t have the courage to come out but this is the hospital where his parents work.

His parents are people with status and status. Every move of their family will be fueled by jealousy and turned into exaggerated gossip, which will spread throughout the hospital and even the entire medical system within an instant.

Gossip is terrifying and no one knows how it will turn out in the end. He can give everything for RenDong, but he must also consider his parents.

Lian Qiao felt extremely useless and changed his words angrily, “It’s my good friend, the kind that is very good. So it doesn’t matter, I can sign it. Head nurse, can you tell my dad for me? Don’t delay the operation, let me sign first, I will take any risks.” 

The head nurse shook his head: “Don’t blame your father, he is protecting you by scolding you. Don’t mention a friend, even if it was the immediate family who signs, sometimes there are disputes. You should contact his family as soon as possible. Where is he from and are his parents out of town? If they really can’t make it, it’s okay to do it over the phone. I think the risk of his surgery is not small.”

Lian Qiao heard: “The risk is not small” and his attention was instantly diverted. He said anxiously: “How big is the risk? What are they doing now?”

The head nurse said: “You have to talk to your dad about the specifics. He is the trauma expert. Don’t think about it for now but contact the family as soon as possible! You really can’t afford this responsibility!” After speaking, she left in a hurry and went back to the ward.

Lian Qiao was leaning on the transparent glass, looking inside eagerly. Helpless, a lot of doctors and nurses surrounded RenDong tightly. Other than the fact that he knew everyone was busy with the rescue, he couldn’t see anything.

His father always left him only a back to see. Although the back was tall and steady, and his body exudes the arrogance of a senior director, Lian Qiao felt uneasy and his heart was pounding. If he was hooked up to an ECG monitor, it would probably be making alarms widely.

But what can he do for RenDong now?

RenDong lay naked on the hospital bed, surrounded by a lot of instruments and a lot of strangers wearing masks and hats. He was tossed around like an object by the nurse and pressed like a dough by the doctor. His two arms were still broken! How painful and helpless he must be.

But what can I do for him?

Lian Qiao clenched his fists and was full of anger at himself.

He hated himself for being self-willed and fooling around, causing RenDong to fall like this. He hated himself for not being able to suffer for RenDong, so he could only look at RenDong suffering.

He slammed the wall hard. His hand didn’t feel pain, but his stomach hurt.

The pain was piercing, as if the action of hammering the wall had affected a nerve. In fact, he felt a little sick to his stomach along the way but RenDong was hurt so badly, how could he have the mind to take care of himself.

No pain, no pain!

He bit his lip, still lying on the big glass, staring inside like a gecko without blinking.

It scared the medical staff who passed by.

Ten minutes later, Director Lian roared loudly and kicked him out of the office on the grounds that it would affect the normal work of the ward.

This was fine. Lian Qiao was kicked out of the gates of the ward and reduced to staying with other family members.

According to regulations, family members can only visit the ICU for half an hour a day. However, the doctors inside would come out at any time to talk to and sign documents with the family members. Hence many family members squatted outside the ICU, anxiously waiting for the door to open and receive their sentencing.

Just now, everyone saw the scene where someone was hurriedly sent into the ICU. Lian Qiao, a newcomer, was also a young and handsome junior and hence has received a lot of attention from the family members.

Several family members came over and asked him who he was and how he was able to get into the ICU. They also told him the many rules and regulations for getting into the ICU. For example, the daily visiting time was 3 o’clock in the afternoon and he has to change his clothes at the door before entering. Also every three to five days money would need to be transferred into the hospital’s account, otherwise if the patient’s account got frozen then the doctor’s would not be able to prescribe any medication.

Although these family members were well-intentioned, the chatter surrounding him made Lian Qiao dizzy. Lian Qiao responded silently but his stomach still hurt. He covered his stomach unconsciously, thinking in a trance: Will RenDong be alright? Will RenDong be all right…?

After all, he just got out of the elevator… It should be a blessing in disguise…

But if he really comes to the point of life and death, will he immediately re-enter the elevator?

Will he go into the elevator alone?! Like Yuan XueMing?!

Damn it! He forgot about that! How could he leave RenDong alone!

Thinking of this, Lian Qiao couldn’t breathe. He immediately got up and went to ring the doorbell of the ICU. He said to the camera: “Let me in, hurry up!” 

The  little nurse’s timid voice came from the walkie-talkie: “Your dad… er, Director Lian won’t let me, he said you’re in the way… “…”

Lian Qiao pleaded, “No, I’ll be obedient, just let me stay by his side, I promise…” Having said this, he suddenly squatted down holding his stomach, sweating all over his body.

On the walkie-talkie, the little nurse continued to apologize. The ICU doors remained locked.

The family members of other patients around him gathered around him. Some cared about him, and some accused the ICU medical staff of being inhumane. With all the incessant chattering, Lian Qiao felt dizzy.

In the midst of incomparable irritability, he heard a familiar voice.

“Why are you squatting here?”

Lian Qiao raised her head in embarrassment with cold sweat and tears and saw a familiar face bathed in sunlight.

“Mom!” The appearance of his mother was like a shot of adrenaline, making him feel no pain anywhere. He stood up abruptly, pointed at the door and complained, “He won’t let me in!”

This middle-aged woman was valiant and walked with wind. The family members around her recognize her at a glance.

—Isn’t this the chief director of the ICU, Director Qiao! {Yup Lian Qiao’s name is literally just his mum and dad’s surnames put together.}

The young man who called her “Mom”…

When the family members who felt pity for him a while ago saw that this young descendant turned out to be from a super-connected family, they couldn’t help but shrink their hands and back away in embarrassment.

Several family members politely called “Director Qiao”. Lian Qiao’s mother nodded to them as a greeting, then carted her son off to the staff passage next to him.     

“What’s the situation? Why are you squatting outside and crying in sterile clothes?” Lian Qiao’s mother said casually while swiping her card to open the door, “Aren’t you embarrassed?”

With a twist of her lips, she shook his head and said, “You are really annoying and affecting the rescue team. Have his family members been found yet?”

“That’s not important.” Lian Qiao was anxious and wiped the cold sweat off his forehead, “I have to stay by his side.”

Lian Qiao’s mother changed into her work clothes and took Lian Qiao into the patient area again. This time, Lian Qiao has behaved well and was determined to keep his mouth shut and stop being a nuisance.

However, when he saw RenDong, his mood was still a little broken.

RenDong was still lying naked, with tubes all over his body. HIs two arms was simply bandaged with gauze. So the bones were invisible but the joints were strangely shaped, blood oozing out of the gauze and they still appeared shocking. A young doctor in full gear, gloves and a hat, was putting a needle in his thigh.

At this time, Director Lian had gone somewhere and only the doctors and nurses of the ICU were left by the bedside.

It was unknown if it was because of excessive blood loss or too low body temperature but RenDong was as pale as paper. His skin was almost transparent and it’s unknown how many needles had pierced his thigh, leaving several blue-purple needle holes. Lian Qiao’s scalp was numb when he saw it and only felt that his thighs were also hurting. He couldn’t help but whisper, “What are they doing? Why is he getting so many needles?”

Lian Qiao’s mother glanced over briefly: “A femoral vein puncture in order to put a tube into it to facilitate fluid rehydration. The ones on the side are arterial blood gas. They need to be dynamically reviewed, so they are punctured a lot.”

After she finished speaking, she ignored Lian Qiao and went over. She asked the young doctor: “Why don’t you do the subclavian vein?” 

The young doctor was sweating profusely and his face was embarrassed: “The condition of the blood vessels is very poor and I can’t get it under the clavicle. Even if I can, I can’t do it three times. Director Lian explained that the patient’s pain should be minimized as much as possible. It’s painful so don’t puncture the same place repeatedly, so…”

Lian Qiao’s mother pursed her lips: “He doesn’t know shit. Let me do it.” 

The sentence “He doesn’t know shit” made everyone in the ICU hide behind the mask and snicker. There is no doubt that Director Lian and his wife are deeply in love. However, one is a cowboy surgeon and the other was a careful ICU doctor. Dissing each other was common and everyone was long accustomed to it. The two directors didn’t mind being joked about either, as long as they didn’t laugh too loudly.

Lian Qiao’s mother put on her gloves and hat, reached out and touched the groin of RenDong, probably looking for blood vessels. She quickly set the position, picked up the puncture needle, and pushed down for a while. The dark red venous blood immediately poured into the needle.

Everyone breathed a sigh of relief. Subsequently, the guide wire, catheter, and tube sealing solution were delivered in turn. Lian Qiao’s mother flipped her fingers, placed the tube neatly and completed a beautiful deep vein puncture.

The crowd started applauding her. However Lian Qiao was a little unable to stand and needed to grab the fence beside the bed to just barely stabilize his body.

His stomach started to hurt again, he felt bloated and wanted to vomit.

Did he eat something bad…how come at such a time…

His damned digestive system!

Everyone’s attention was on Xu RenDong but no one noticed that Lian Qiao, who was silent beside him, was as pale as paper.