Book Synopsis
Book Tags
Donation Rankings
Comment
0 Comments
You May Also Like
墨書 Inktalez
Chapter 151: The Pulse-less Person
The doctor came out, his expression serious, earnest, and perplexed as he looked at me. "Who is she to you? Who are you to her?"
"Just a friend."
"Follow me."
I carefully placed Chi Xinrong on a bench, ensuring she wouldn't fall, and hurriedly followed the doctor into his office.
The doctor had long fingers, skillfully twirling a pen between them. His deep-set eyes fixed on me as he spoke each word deliberately. "She has no pulse."
"No pulse? I must have misheard."
This relatively young male doctor had very fair skin, but it was still better than Chi Xinrong's pallid complexion. How could it be? A living person being declared as having no pulse? If she was cursed by Yuyaya or the Dead Loop, Yuyaya had already been subdued, so the possibility of the Dead Loop curse should no longer exist.
Was the problem with Chiang?
No, when Chi Xinrong had just appeared from the coffin's compartment, I had personally sensed her life force. At that moment, her pulse was slow but present; it was not the same as what the doctor claimed.
"Here’s what I’ll do. I’ll write you an Order. Take her to another department for further examination."
Going to the hospital usually meant blood tests, liver function tests, and blood pressure checks. The doctor scribbled a few notes on a prescription pad, almost as if trying to offload responsibility, and sent me on my way. When I turned back to look at Chi Xinrong, she was gone.
The doctor was also surprised; she had seemed so weak just moments ago—how could she possibly have had the strength to walk away?
Panic set in as I cursed under my breath and began searching alongside the doctor, splitting up to look in different directions.
Chi Xinrong was someone who loved fiercely and laughed heartily; her sudden transformation into this state was simply unbelievable. The doctor's words echoed incessantly in my ears: she has no pulse, no pulse, no pulse.
I searched every corner of the large hospital, but it was as if Chi Xinrong had evaporated from existence—not just from sight but truly vanished within the hospital.
I was so focused on searching for Chi Xinrong that the ringing of the phone startled me.
It was Han Mi calling.
"Brother Qi, did you need something from me?"
"Come to City Second Hospital right away." I didn't dare take Chi Xinrong to City Hospital because her uncle was the director there. At Second Hospital, her uncle's influence was limited, and he wouldn't suspect we were here. Besides, he still didn't know what had happened! I had nothing to fear.
"Okay."
Unable to find Chi Xinrong, I directed my frustration at the young doctor. After his shift ended, he didn't dare show his face and quietly slipped away. As for his claim that Chi Xinrong had no pulse, since the patient had left without explanation and there was no evidence, he faced criticism and reprimand.
I couldn't believe that Chi Xinrong had no pulse, yet I still couldn't find her.
Without finding her, I couldn't prove that the doctor was incompetent and had jumped to conclusions—how could a living patient be said to have no pulse? It was absurd; no one would believe such nonsense.
Trusting my instincts, I firmly believed that Chi Xinrong hadn't left the hospital. I was convinced she was still somewhere in the hospital that I hadn't searched yet.
When Han Mi arrived, I was dejectedly holding my head in my hands, sighing.
"Brother Qi, where is Rong Jie?"
I looked up in surprise at Han Mi. When did she start calling Chi Xinrong "Rong Jie"? I couldn't recall. I stood up and forced a smile. "She's lost in this hospital."
"Does her uncle know?"
"No, and we can't tell them."
"Alright, but this feels really strange."
"Mi, how did you manage to get away from your family and come here?"
Han Mi smiled brightly and said, "What are you talking about? My parents saw that I was determined, so they didn't force me. It's not as serious as you think; I took the bus here." I glanced at my phone and realized that she had indeed arrived much faster than I had anticipated.
"Alright! As long as you're okay, let's keep looking."
As night fell, the doctors and nurses in the hospital switched shifts. Since I rarely visited the Second Hospital, all the faces here were unfamiliar. Not knowing anyone helped avoid unnecessary trouble. After wandering around the hospital with Han Mi, even the cleaning lady seemed familiar, and she curiously wondered if we were lost looking for a ward.
Eventually, we both felt disheartened and walked out of the hospital, looking defeated.
Han Mi and I both understood that we couldn't report this to the police or tell anyone else. We could only search quietly; if we couldn't find her alive, we had to at least find her body.
A cool breeze swept through as we walked weakly down the desolate street. Our elongated shadows trailed behind us like ghosts, sometimes thickening and sometimes thinning out until they resembled slender bamboo stalks.
As the lights began to twinkle, it was already the thirteenth day of Ghost Month, and there were hardly any people on the streets. However, at the intersection, a few swaying figures gathered around a large iron tube, burning paper money while a woman set up offerings nearby.
The offerings mainly consisted of pastries.
On the roadside stood a nightclub called Dark Night Home, which seemed to be packed with people. Most of them appeared to be in their twenties or teens—those who were unafraid of Ghost Month taboos. Under the flashing laser lights, they danced wildly and sang loudly, reveling in the exhilarating sensations brought by music.
I had never been to a nightclub but had heard about them.
Nightclubs were places for wild emotional release and also one of the private venues for selling intimacy. Many students referred to as college girls came here to attract wealthy patrons.
"Brother Qi, should we head back to the Funeral Home?"
"If we haven't found her yet, we can't go back." I glanced at the nightclub and then at Mi beside me. Without thinking, I wrapped my arm around her waist. She shivered slightly at my touch, prompting me to ask, "What's wrong?"
"Nothing, nothing at all."
I leaned closer to her, my warm breath brushing against her face as I softly asked, "Are you thinking about it?"
"No, I'm not," she retorted, though she didn't push me away.
My hand wandered unbidden to her waist, my eyes fixed ahead. Fifty meters away, a candle flickered with a dancing flame, and amidst the curling smoke, I spotted someone crouched on the ground, shoving food into their mouth with both hands.
Is that Chi Xinrong? She was greedily grabbing the offerings meant for wandering souls and stuffing them into her mouth. Her face was covered in ash and crumbs, and she seemed completely oblivious to us as she devoured the food with gusto.
"Chi Xinrong!" I shouted, but she acted as if she hadn't heard me, continuing to snatch up the offerings. Her actions startled Mi, who stood wide-eyed in fear, too afraid to approach.
I dared to move closer. Were there not wandering souls surrounding the offerings?
Chi Xinrong must have seen them too; otherwise, how could she be so desperate to eat? Without hesitation, I grabbed her arms and pulled her away from the offerings. I turned to the encroaching spirits and warned them in a low voice, "It's just a bit of food. When I return to the Funeral Home, I'll bring you more. Otherwise, you know what will happen."
Comment 0 Comment Count