CHAPTER 355: CHAPTER 354 COURAGEOUSLY DOING WHAT IS RIGHT

The emergency room light stayed on, with several groups waiting outside. Qu Chaozong found an empty chair by the side and sat down. He called home first to inform his mom, so she wouldn’t worry.

As soon as Mrs. Qu heard Qu Chaozong went to the hospital to save someone and it was an elderly person, she got anxious: "What?! Did anyone else see you saving the person? What if they blame you? How serious is the old man? Do you have money on you? Have you contacted his family?"

Qu Chaozong said, "Mom, don’t worry. I’ve handled everything, but I might be home late today. Don’t worry about me, go to bed early, alright."

Mrs. Qu nagged for a while longer before reluctantly hanging up.

Qu Chaozong put his phone back in his pocket and, out of habit, wanted to smoke. He had just put a cigarette in his mouth before remembering he was in a hospital.

He awkwardly smacked the cigarette tip a couple of times before tucking it behind his ear.

The emergency room doors suddenly opened, and a young nurse came out, calling, "Who is the family member of the elderly man who was just brought in for emergency care?"

Qu Chaozong hurried over and said, "His family isn’t here."

The nurse paused, "We need a family signature here."

Qu Chaozong asked, "What’s the old man’s condition? Why did he faint? Is it serious?"

The nurse said, "The old man previously had lung resection surgery, this time he fainted due to a sudden inflammation, it’s not serious but we still need a family signature, it’s routine, everyone must sign."

Qu Chaozong said awkwardly, "But his family isn’t here. How about I sign on his behalf, is that okay?"

The nurse looked at him, "And who are you? I saw it was you who brought him in, right?"

Qu Chaozong explained, "I was just driving by and saw the old man faint, so I brought him here."

The nurse stared at him for a moment, then understood, "Ah, you’re acting heroically? Alright, you can sign here temporarily, write down your relationship with the patient, and when the family comes, they can amend it. We understand, it’s the best we can do."

After signing, Qu Chaozong watched the nurse as she went back into the emergency room, then turned back to his previous seat.

The light in the emergency room stayed on for over half an hour before it finally went off. Two nurses came out pushing a hospital bed; one was the nurse who asked Qu Chaozong to sign. She shouted, "Hey! The Good Samaritan! The patient is out!"

Everyone in the hallway turned to look, and Qu Chaozong quickly ran over to help with the bed, seeing the old man lying peacefully on it, eyes closed.

Qu Chaozong asked, "Is the old man okay? How is he?"

The nurse said, "It went smoothly, but he needs to be hospitalized for recuperation, given his age. The doctor will come to the ward later to discuss the details with you."

Qu Chaozong nodded and first helped settle the old man into the ward, then completed a series of additional procedures. Throughout, he kept all the receipts for the medical costs he paid, intending to use them as proof when the old man’s family arrives.

The old man’s condition wasn’t severe. When the doctor came, he specifically instructed, "The old man had part of his lung removed surgically, he must quit smoking; his lung is full of black holes. If this continues, once it gets serious, even putting a breathing tube won’t help, it’ll be painful!"

Qu Chaozong replied affirmatively, and after the doctor left, he carefully checked the old man’s belongings. Besides a pack of Zhonghua cigarettes and a lighter, there was nothing else. Thinking of the high-end villas in Zhang Xin’s neighborhood, he guessed the old man might have fainted while out for a walk after a meal, and he’d have to wait for him to wake up to ask more.

Qu Chaozong helplessly adjusted the old man’s lying position, covered him with hospital blankets, and sat down on a small round stool by the bed, looking up at the old man sleeping with closed eyes.

The old man’s hair was neatly trimmed, his hair white and a pair of long, drooping eyebrows. His eyes were shut tight, with deep-set sockets and a face full of the marks of time, like all elderly people in their twilight years.

Qu Chaozong turned his gaze away, rubbed his face, fighting to stay awake as he watched the IV drip. The nurse mentioned earlier that this would be the last round.

A full bottle of medicine, it would take about an hour to finish.

Qu Chaozong took out his phone and called Zhang Xin, wanting to chat with her and talk for a while.

The first attempt, busy signal, second attempt, busy signal, and the third attempt still the busy signal. Qu Chaozong furrowed his brows and sent Zhang Xin a message: Who are you on the phone with?

After sending the message, Qu Chaozong casually put his phone back, not taking it too seriously, knowing that Zhang Xin would call back once she saw the message.

Finally, after enduring until the IV finished, it was time for the lights to go out at the hospital.

Qu Chaozong arrived late, even unable to rent a bed for the caretaker, so he had to curl up next to the hospital bed and sleep that way for the night.

He was truly exhausted these past few days and in this crumpled position, he managed to fall asleep.

At dawn, someone patted him on the head twice and woke him up.

Sleepily, he sat upright, feeling like his entire body was out of joint, what a feeling. He wiped his mouth and rubbed his eyes, then squinted into the dim light from the window to see that the old man in the bed was awake, eyes open, watching him.

They stared at each other for a moment before the old man said, "I need to use the bathroom."

Qu Chaozong was taken aback and asked, "Can you get up?"

The old man tried and shook his head, "No, I have no strength."

Qu Chaozong found a urinal under the bed, holding his phone, reaching to lift the blanket.

The old man refused, "I can manage myself."

Qu Chaozong said, "It’s okay, I’ll help you. If it spills on the bed, where would I get a new set of bedding in the middle of the night? We’re both men, no need to be shy, it’s fine."

The old man chuckled and said, "I’m just afraid you’ll find it dirty. At my age, what do I have to be shy about!"

Qu Chaozong replied, "It’s fine, I’ll treat you like my grandfather, come on."

"You...you kid!" The old man chuckled under the dim light from the window, speaking with a tone mixed with laughter and a hint of admiration.

This is typical of Qu Chaozong, getting along easily with anyone, born with a warm heart, he doesn’t see himself as an outsider when talking or dealing with the old man.

This is also typical of the old man, with a generous personality, at his age, he enjoys lively interactions with young people, without airs.

The old man didn’t need to ask to know Qu Chaozong saved him. In today’s society, there aren’t many kind-hearted young men like this...