Chapter 25: The Heartless Hospital: Admission

"I don't know when you left last time, and Dr. Xia even complained to me, fearing that something might have happened to your eyes—that would have been such a pity."

"Even though you left, our hospital has always been concerned about your health..."

Lin Xiaoyan and Xiang Rong listened to the nurse's endless stream of words. If it were anyone else, they might feel touched and find the hospital incredibly thoughtful. But for Lin Xiaoyan, who knew they were only after her corneas, every word felt like a death sentence.

"Director Xia is at the outpatient clinic today. Please wait here for a moment. Once the patient ahead of you is finished, I will take you in," the nurse said enthusiastically, even pouring them each a cup of hot water.

Within five minutes, the nurse led them to the doctor's office. The previous patient was just leaving, and Lin Xiaoyan walked in, feeling tense. Xiang Rong reached out to gently squeeze Lin Xiaoyan's hand, offering silent encouragement.

"Oh, excuse me, excuse me..."

A child, about eight or nine years old, accidentally bumped into Lin Xiaoyan. One of the child's eyes was covered in gauze, though the nature of her ailment was unknown. Lin Xiaoyan stiffened instantly upon contact. The child's mother reflexively apologized. Lin Xiaoyan remained silent, but Xiang Rong, sensing her friend's distress, quickly put on a smile and said to the mother, "It's fine, it's fine."

"I'll take you to complete the admission formalities. Director Xia just told you..." another nurse at the door said as she led the mother and daughter away.

"Ms. Lin, please come in," the nurse said to Lin Xiaoyan.

Supported by Xiang Rong, Lin Xiaoyan walked toward the office. She couldn't help but look back at the little girl she had just seen, but the child had already vanished from sight. Lin Xiaoyan clenched her fingers, her eyes turning red. She struggled to suppress the grief and fury boiling within her as she looked at the hypocritical doctor before her, a flash of rage crossing her eyes.

Xiang Rong nudged her, her own eyes filled with worry. Lin Xiaoyan lowered her head, hiding the anger in her gaze.

"Lin Xiaoyan, I told you last time that your eyes needed surgery and urged you to seek treatment promptly, but you left. This time, you must get your eyes treated before I can let you go!" Director Xia’s eyes flashed with triumph when he saw her; once they set their sights on someone, there was no escaping. "How have your eyes been these past two days?"

Lin Xiaoyan took a deep breath to steady herself and looked up at the doctor. "I feel like my eyes are much better. The redness has faded, but they still hurt sometimes." She added, feigning fear, "It just so happens that my friend is visiting, and when I told her, she insisted I come for a check-up, fearing something might be wrong."

Xiang Rong immediately chimed in, "Yes, she says her eyes ache from time to time. How could a normal person's eyes hurt? There must be something wrong, so please examine her, Doctor."

"Let me see." The doctor took out a penlight and shone it into Lin Xiaoyan's eyes, observing them carefully. As he touched her, Lin Xiaoyan saw that familiar, harrowing vision: she was lying on an operating table, undergoing surgery... The rest of the scene unfolded just as it had before.

Afterward, Dr. Xia rattled off a string of medical jargon that Lin Xiaoyan could not understand. He didn't care whether they understood; they were going to be admitted, and they were going to have surgery.

As her friend, Xiang Rong took care of all the admission paperwork and paid the fees. When Lin Xiaoyan entered the ward, she saw the little girl from earlier was also there. She paused, then walked in. The girl's mother was not around, and the innermost bed was empty. Only the bed closest to the door remained.

"Ms. Lin, you'll be staying in this bed. Here is your hospital gown; please change into it shortly. Also, someone will come to draw your blood soon, and there will be fasting blood work at six tomorrow morning..."

After the nurse left, Lin Xiaoyan sat on the bed and looked at the girl. Hesitating, she asked softly, "Little sister, how old are you? What happened to your eyes?"

The girl turned to look at her and replied obediently, "I'm eight. The doctor says I have a tumor in my eye and need surgery to remove it."

Lin Xiaoyan’s heart sank, and a look of fury crossed her face. She took a deep breath and asked again, gently, "Have you been checked at any other hospitals?"

The girl shook her head. "No."

Lin Xiaoyan nodded slowly. "Sister, what's wrong with your eyes?" the girl asked curiously.

Lin Xiaoyan managed a forced smile. "Sister's eyes... need surgery. I don't understand what the doctor said, just that I have to have it."

"Oh."

Silence fell between them, and the atmosphere in the ward grew quiet. Lin Xiaoyan took the hospital gown to the restroom to change. When she returned, she saw Xiang Rong had already struck up a friendly conversation with the little girl.

"Ningning, you're so amazing! Well done!" Xiang Rong turned to Lin Xiaoyan and laughed. "The paperwork is all done, and it's already noon. What do you want to eat?"

Lin Xiaoyan shook her head. "I'm not sure. You go ahead and eat; I'll buy something later if I get hungry. By the way, there's nothing left for you to do here, so you should head back. Tomorrow..."

Xiang Rong cut her off immediately. "Hey, I came here specifically to keep you company. Don't try to send me away."

Lin Xiaoyan sighed, helpless, and nodded. "Alright, I just didn't want you to be bored here."

"Bored? We used to talk all night back in the dorms..."

Just then, the nurse walked in and, hearing their conversation, smiled. "You two are truly close."

"Haha, yes, we're college classmates and best friends!" Xiang Rong said with a smile.

The nurse nodded and approached the girl. "Ningning, it's time for your blood draw."

The girl looked a bit frightened and glanced at the door, but her mother had not yet returned. Seeing this, Lin Xiaoyan and Xiang Rong stepped over, chatting with the girl to distract her. Xiang Rong, having a child of her own, showered the girl with praise.

"Alright, it's your turn next."

Lin Xiaoyan: "..."

Xiang Rong couldn't help but laugh at Lin Xiaoyan's stiff expression. "Scared? Haha, you were just telling Ningning to be brave, you should be brave too!"

Ningning, from the side, obediently chirped, "Be brave!"

Lin Xiaoyan looked at them both, speechless. After her blood was drawn, she asked Xiang Rong to go downstairs for lunch. Just then, Ningning's mother returned with food. The two of them greeted the mother and daughter and left.

"Are you two heading out?" the nurse asked with a smile when they passed the nursing station.