CHAPTER 84: CHAPTER 79: TONG TONG’S DECISION

Xiao Lin did not object; although Director Liu’s words showed a serious work attitude, Xiao Lin could sense that he was somewhat unhappy or resentful about making such a fuss over this matter, so he didn’t stay long.

"Well then, Director Liu, since our school’s student Tong Tong is fine now, may I take her back?" Xiao Lin sensed a bit of resentment from the other party, and naturally wouldn’t stay here any longer.

"Mm, you can!" Director Liu said to Xiao Lin without showing any expression, then turned to a staff member standing nearby and said, "Shirley, please see Dr. Xiao out!" After that, he lowered his head to look at the documents on his desk again. It was clear that Director Liu was not very fond of Xiao Lin. After all, because of a report from Xiao Lin yesterday, the Epidemic Prevention Bureau quickly mobilized a lot of manpower and resources. If it weren’t for the fact that this is a special time and the HTC4 variant virus is very sensitive, Director Liu would have thought about how to punish this person for falsely reporting an outbreak.

The accusations could be serious or minor, and if pursued seriously, Xiao Lin would inevitably face charges of falsely reporting an outbreak. However, now that an outbreak has occurred in Jingliang Province, the Ministry of Health has allocated special funds for this epidemic to health and epidemic prevention departments nationwide, so there’s no real loss, allowing Xiao Lin to avoid trouble.

Xiao Lin is not someone who is oblivious to social nuances. With a little thought, he understood why Director Liu didn’t give him a pleasant look, but he didn’t mind. He even thanked Director Liu, "Thank you, Director Liu. There’s no need to see me out. We can go down ourselves!" With that, he waved to Tong Tong and said, "Tong Tong, I’ll take you back to school!"

"Oh, right, the treatment costs for this student here total four hundred and eighty-three yuan, and they haven’t been paid yet!" Seeing that Xiao Lin was about to leave with Tong Tong, the staff member named Shirley immediately reminded them.

Xiao Lin frowned and said, "Even if one is infected with the HTC4 virus, isn’t the treatment cost for such explosive infectious viruses managed by the national health department? Why is there a charge?" Since the outbreak of the HTC4 virus four years ago, a provision was added to the health and epidemic law stipulating that once infected with a new infectious explosive virus or a known untreatable infectious virus, treatment costs are to be managed uniformly by the Ministry of Health.

"The epidemic prevention law does say that, but currently the HTC4 virus doesn’t fall under the relevant provisions, so the patient has to pay the treatment costs!" Shirley’s attitude towards Xiao Lin was quite positive. After all, who wouldn’t like a handsome guy like Xiao Lin?

Xiao Lin looked at Tong Tong, who had an embarrassed expression on her face. He realized that this little girl didn’t have the money to pay and wondered how she would have handled it if he hadn’t come. Xiao Lin had a habit of seeing things through once he started, and a few hundred yuan wasn’t something he’d worry about. He nodded and said, "Please lead the way. I’ll help her pay the fee!"

Tong Tong walked up to Xiao Lin, her head lowered, and her voice as small as a mosquito, "Dr. Xiao, I’ll withdraw money to pay you back once we’re outside!"

Xiao Lin looked at Tong Tong. Her attire wasn’t very fashionable. From the perspective of today’s college students, it might even be quite outdated. For other wealthier students, such a large extra expense wouldn’t be a big deal, but for Tong Tong, a girl in her youthful years wearing such outdated clothes, her financial situation was probably not great. Xiao Lin smiled and said, "Let’s talk about it later. Let’s go pay the fee first!"

Tong Tong did not argue back. If Dr. Xiao hadn’t come, she really wouldn’t know how to pay this fee. Then, Tong Tong followed Xiao Lin and Shirley down to the first-floor lobby to settle the fee.

After paying the fee, Xiao Lin led Tong Tong out of the Epidemic Prevention Bureau’s lobby, drove his car over, and prepared to take Tong Tong back to school first. It was just getting off work, so he’d drop by the emergency department to check in and then get some food for Xia Xue.

Thinking of Xia Xue brought a smile to Xiao Lin’s lips; that woman was just too adorable.

Tong Tong looked worried. Her living conditions weren’t good; she had five hundred yuan left on her card, meant to cover a month and a half of living expenses. If she returned all the money to Dr. Xiao now, she’d have nothing left for the remaining month and a half. Tong Tong thought of Xiao Lin’s earlier words, but kind-hearted as she was, she couldn’t quite reconcile it with herself.

"Dr. Xiao, there’s an Agricultural Bank at the corner up ahead. Let me withdraw money there!" As the car exited the gate, Tong Tong finally made up her mind. Paying back what she owed was the right thing to do, and more so since Dr. Xiao had found out she was infected with a virus, albeit not the variant. This expense was indeed her responsibility.

Hearing her words, Xiao Lin glanced at her in surprise, then seemed to remember something and asked, "By the way, Tong Tong, what did the doctors say when you entered the epidemic station?"

"Several old professors came to treat me and ran numerous tests. They concluded that I wasn’t infected with the HTC4 variant virus, just the kind from four years ago. But that virus already has a rapid treatment antibody, and I got better overnight!" Tong Tong replied quickly upon hearing Xiao Lin inquire about her condition.

Xiao Lin frowned a bit but quickly had a change of heart. Tong Tong’s current state was indeed much better than yesterday, and she had exhibited symptoms of the HTC4 virus yesterday. Perhaps after reading the news, he had jumped to the conclusion that she had the recently exploded variant virus. Xiao Lin didn’t think further.

"That’s good!" Xiao Lin nodded. The Yanjing Health Bureau’s Epidemic Prevention Bureau was a department-level agency, and even more, so, in recent years, various epidemic prevention departments were equipped with comprehensive testing equipment, which should be accurate. Furthermore, with Tong Tong vibrant and lively in front of him, there was no need for other considerations.

While speaking, Xiao Lin’s car had already turned the corner, and just as he wanted to ask something else, Tong Tong suddenly said, "Dr. Xiao, please stop here; I’ll go withdraw the money!" Her tone was decisive, leaving no room for refusal.

Xiao Lin looked at Tong Tong in bewilderment. Her eyes showed determination. It puzzled Xiao Lin a bit; on the surface, Tong Tong seemed gentle and weak, speaking softly, but when she said this sentence, she was so firm and resolute, as if she had made a huge decision.

Xiao Lin also gleaned from Tong Tong’s decisive and resolute tone that her financial situation wasn’t great. He felt conflicted in his heart, and after thinking about it, he said, "Let’s move ahead a bit; it’s not convenient to park here!"