Chapter 66: Have I Done a Good Deed?

Beep! Beep! Beep!

An ambulance, with practiced skill, swerved and skidded to a halt in front of the mental hospital. Doctors and nurses, equally practiced, rushed out pushing a gurney.

"Where's the patient?"

The familiar first words, the familiar environment, the familiar routine of transporting a patient—all familiar, except for the recent change in the patients themselves. Once, the patients were a constant, but now, new faces occasionally appeared, injecting fresh blood, so to speak, into the hospital's population.

"This patient…"

The doctor examined Liu Kai, gently pressing on his body. No doubt about it, several bones were severely broken. A clear fist print on his abdomen was a potentially fatal injury. A tremendous force had shattered his ribcage. Without an X-ray, the internal damage was unknown, but internal bleeding was almost certain. If bone fragments had pierced any organs, the situation was even more dire.

And that was putting it mildly.

To be blunt, they should probably start preparing for the worst.

Medical school graduates were attending to Liu Kai, bathing him in a gentle green light, stabilizing his condition.

"Doctor, how is he?" a staff member from a special department anxiously inquired. They had simply brought the students to the Qingshan Mental Hospital for some volunteer work. No one expected such an incident. How would he explain this? If the man died, the situation would become incredibly complicated.

"His breathing is stable, but he needs to go to the hospital immediately. Please help us lift him onto the gurney," the doctor directed calmly.

Lin Fan and Old Zhang stood beside the gurney, looking at the battered Liu Kai.

"You'll be alright. Old Zhang saved you," Lin Fan reassured him.

"We'll come visit you."

They had a simple view of life and death: either you were alive, or you were dead. If someone was severely injured but still breathing, then they were alive.

Liu Kai tried to open his eyes, but blood flowed from the corners, obscuring his vision. Even with great effort, he couldn't see.

He feebly raised a hand.

Lin Fan grasped it, filled with remorse. "I'm so sorry. I didn't know this would happen. I know you wanted to say goodbye. Don't force yourself. We understand."

Liu Kai struggled to sit up, agitated, and mumbled, "￥%#@#￥%…"

"Yes, we understand. Go to the hospital first. We'll visit you," Lin Fan said.

The doctors and nurses quickly wheeled the gurney away, loaded him into the ambulance, and sped off.

Beep! Beep! Beep!

The driver expertly activated the siren, slammed on the accelerator, drifted around a corner, and the ambulance's taillights disappeared from the mental hospital gates.

Lin Fan and Old Zhang stood there, watching the ambulance vanish, feeling a pang of guilt.

Director Hao, maintaining a safe distance from Lin Fan, said gently, "Don't feel too bad. I just checked. He'll be fine. Just a month in the hospital, that's all."

Lin Fan and Old Zhang felt relieved upon hearing the director's comforting words.

Yes, he would be fine. As long as he was alive, that was all that mattered.

"That's good," Lin Fan said.

"I'm a bit thirsty. How about we go get some Sprite?" Old Zhang suggested.

They exchanged glances, their faces breaking into bright smiles.

"Sounds good."

Arm in arm, they walked away, the incident already fading from their minds.

Director Hao noticed the special department staff member trying to stop them. He frowned. "What do you want?"

"Something like this happened, we can't just let it go," the staff member said.

Director Hao narrowed his eyes. "Let it go? You want an explanation from two mental patients? I can write you a certificate, and you can stay here and slowly discuss it with them. How about that?"

"I firmly believe my patients had no malicious intent. What happened was an accident. If you have trouble explaining it, have One-Eye call me. I'll explain it to him."

The staff member was angry, but facing Director Hao, his anger couldn't ignite. He could only weakly say, "That's not what I meant."

Director Hao patted his shoulder. "I know. Didn't we agree earlier? As long as no one dies, it's fine. See? No one died. Don't be so upset. I apologize for what happened."

Director Hao was a tough man. He would fight for his patients.

But he also needed to make a living. If he upset them, there would be no more extra income.

"Sigh!"

Director Hao feigned distress. Seeing the young students still shaken, he began his shameless performance.

"You young people, the future pillars of Yanhai City, you don't understand. They are so pitiful, misunderstood, uncared for, and suffering from such severe mental illnesses. Look at my hair, all white, all because of worrying about them."

"The expenses of Qingshan Mental Hospital are all paid by me. The mental pressure is immense. Due to lack of funds, the patients often can't take their medication on time, which is why their conditions worsen."

"I apologize for their behavior. I apologize on behalf of all my patients."

Director Hao was a man who could act decisively and let things go easily. True to his word, he bowed to the students.

"Director Hao, you shouldn't!"

The young students, full of youthful passion, were easily moved. Looking at the white-haired old man with a haggard face and a helpless expression, their hearts softened.

A tall, thin boy said, "I'll donate 100,000 yuan to Qingshan Mental Hospital. I was going to use this money to take my girlfriend on a date, but if she knew I did this, she would be so proud of me."

Well… a future beating was definitely in store for him.

Director Hao looked at the boy in surprise and praised him. "Such kindness at such a young age! You're truly remarkable. I'm a good judge of character, and with your compassion, your future is limitless!"

The tall, thin boy raised his chin, slightly smug and proud.

He wasn't short of money. Although 100,000 yuan was a considerable sum, it felt worth it.

"I'll donate 10,000."

"I'll donate 20,000."

"I'll donate 3,000."

…

"Thank you all. On behalf of all the patients, I thank you, the pillars of our nation, for your donations! My patients will finally be able to take their medication on time."

Director Hao pretended to wipe away tears.

The special department staff member, seeing this, wanted to say something. But just as he was about to speak, Director Hao put an arm around his shoulder.

"These are good people."

Then, lowering his voice, he whispered in the staff member's ear, "There was once a powerful, wicked man who no one could touch. I personally diagnosed him with a mental illness, resulting in him being imprisoned for life, unable to live or die. Tell me, haven't I done a great good deed?"

The staff member's expression turned serious.

He pondered for a moment.

"Yes, a good deed."