Chapter 12: Escaping the Hospital

"Be careful, there is a step inside. Watch your step; I will wait for you outside."

"Okay... thank you..."

Lin Xiaoyan managed a stiff smile and slowly entered the restroom. Once inside, she quickly locked the door. Her hands were shaking uncontrollably, and her mind raced, desperately searching for someone who could help her escape.

Who could she turn to? Her family wasn't in the city, and her friends and classmates had all moved away after graduation. Gao Miao and Su Shan lived too far away to arrive in time.

Sister Irene!

But the next second, her hope withered. It was Irene who had recommended she get her eyes checked in the first place. If these doctors told Irene that her condition was serious, Irene would likely join them in pressuring her.

What was she to do?

*Knock, knock, knock.*

Suddenly, the restroom door was pounded upon. Lin Xiaoyan froze in terror, her heart hammering against her ribs as if it were about to leap out of her throat.

"S-someone is in here!" Lin Xiaoyan called out.

"Ms. Lin, are you finished? The staff over there is about to clock out; we need to hurry and process your paperwork," the nurse urged.

Lin Xiaoyan said nervously, "I... I have a bit of a stomachache. Please, give me a moment."

"Alright, please be quick."

"O-okay."

Hearing the nurse’s footsteps retreat, Lin Xiaoyan hurriedly unlocked her phone, racking her brain for anyone else she might know in Haishi. Suddenly, her thumb hovered over a contact: Dr. Yang. It was the number for Dr. Yang Lin, which she had saved last time.

Lin Xiaoyan hesitated. She had no real relationship with Dr. Yang; would he help her if she reached out to him so abruptly? Calling the police wouldn't work; it wasn't a criminal matter, and they wouldn't intervene.

What could she do? She was desperate, panicked, and terrified. Finally, she decided to call him, praying that he would help her in return for the time she had once helped him.

*Beep... beep...*

The phone rang, and her heart rose into her throat.

"Hello?"

Hearing that familiar voice, Lin Xiaoyan felt like crying. "H-hello... Dr. Yang, it’s me, Lin Xiaoyan..."

Hearing it was Lin Xiaoyan, Yang Lin sounded surprised. He asked softly, "Oh, it’s you, Xiaoyan. Are your eyes bothering you? Or is something else the matter?"

Lin Xiaoyan didn't know how to explain it. "Dr. Yang, I'm at the Aire Hospital right now. I originally came here to see a colleague, and then..."

She quickly recounted what had just happened. "The doctor is forcing me to check in for surgery. The nurse is following me, making me process the paperwork, and won't let me leave. I'm in the restroom right now..."

Upon hearing she was at Aire Hospital, Yang Lin’s brow furrowed, and he immediately reached out to someone he knew.

"Xiaoyan, listen to me. Stay in the restroom and don't come out. I’ve contacted someone; a man named Li Hongzhi will come to find you soon," Yang Lin said patiently and quickly.

"Stay calm now. Listen to me: take a deep breath and don't be afraid. If they come in to drag you out, don't resist. Just go along with them and sign the papers. They won't operate on you tonight—at the earliest, it would be tomorrow. Don't be afraid..."

Listening to Yang Lin’s voice, Lin Xiaoyan took a deep breath, forcing herself to calm down. "Thank you, Dr. Yang. I... I really had nowhere else to turn, that’s why I called you..."

"I understand. Don't worry, wait for me to come get you."

Yang Lin was already in the parking lot, driving quickly toward Aire Hospital.

Outside, the nurse had grown impatient and began knocking again. "Ms. Lin, are you done? They are about to leave over there. Ms. Lin?"

Lin Xiaoyan gripped her phone tightly. The call was still active, and Yang Lin could hear everything. He whispered, "Don't be afraid. Relax. Raise your voice and be firm. Tell her this..."

Following his instructions, Lin Xiaoyan steadied her voice and spoke up, "I have a stomachache and can't get up. If they’re clocking out, let them. It’s fine if I process the paperwork tomorrow."

The nurse outside looked annoyed, a flicker of displeasure in her eyes. "Ms. Lin, Dr. Xia insisted you be admitted tonight. There are treatments to be done. Your eyes are quite serious, and before the surgery, you need to first—"

Lin Xiaoyan ignored the nurse, listening only to Dr. Yang.

"Don't listen to her. There is nothing wrong with your eyes. I’ll examine you later, and if there is an issue, I will treat you myself."

"Okay," Lin Xiaoyan replied softly.

"Ms. Lin, did you hear me? Ms. Lin..."

"Stop knocking! Can't I even use the restroom in peace? Does Aire Hospital forbid people from using the bathroom?"

Stunned by her retort, the nurse didn't know how to respond. She took a deep breath, her face showing irritation, though her voice remained deceptively gentle. "Very well, Ms. Lin. Continue, I won't disturb you further."

Hearing the nurse walk away, Lin Xiaoyan finally let out a breath of relief.

Meanwhile, Li Hongzhi had received Yang Lin’s message. He paused, frowned, and checked the time. He turned to his supervisor and said, "Sir, it's almost time to clock out. I’m going to go finish the daily reports."

"Go ahead."

Li Hongzhi grabbed his things and headed downstairs. Upon reaching the first floor of the inpatient department, he saw the nurse guarding the restroom door. He sent a quick message to Yang Lin, waited for a reply, and then strode toward her.

"Hey, Xiao Zhang, what are you doing here?"

"Dr. Li, are you off work?"

"Not yet. I saw it was nearly time, so I thought I'd finish my paperwork at the outpatient clinic and hand over a few things before heading out. How about you? On the night shift?"

"No, I have night shifts next week..."

Inside, following Yang Lin’s instructions, Lin Xiaoyan quietly unlocked the restroom door. She listened to the nurse’s voice outside, her heart thumping nervously.

"Don't be afraid. That doctor will help you," Yang Lin comforted her gently.

"Okay."

Lin Xiaoyan gathered her courage and stepped out. As she emerged, the nurse was standing with her back to her, while the male doctor was facing her. When she appeared, the doctor acted as if he hadn't seen her and continued chatting with the nurse. Seizing the moment, Lin Xiaoyan quickly walked to the side and made her escape.

Seeing Lin Xiaoyan exit the hospital entrance, Li Hongzhi breathed a sigh of relief and continued his conversation with the nurse.

"Hey, Dr. Li, you're not off yet?" Another doctor walked by and greeted him.

As if suddenly remembering something, Li Hongzhi looked at his watch. "Oh, my! I was so busy chatting with Xiao Zhang that I completely forgot about my errand!"

At that moment, the nurse also remembered the person in the restroom.