Intoxicated Friends
Translator: Jury
Editor: NomNom
First Published on Chaleuria
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20.2 – One Day I’ll Make You Pay
Tianxia Hospital was close by, if his recollection was correct.
“Ling Li? It was that bastard?!”
From the phone came another voice. Yao Yuan guessed it was the Ye Jun Jiang Luo had mentioned.
“Got it. Yao Yuan, when we’re done I’ll come find you at the hospital.”
“All right.” Yao Yuan ended the call and glanced back at his sister, who was still unconscious. He floored the gas pedal and wove through the jam-packed streets of S City, drawing the annoyed gazes of many passersby. But he didn’t have time to worry about any of this; he wanted to get to the hospital and hand his sister into the care of doctors quickly. Yao Qian was Yao Yuan’s only kin and he couldn’t bear for her to be harmed in any way, but he kept accidentally getting her hurt. He hated himself for it.
He parked the car at the hospital entrance and rushed in, carrying his sister. When the nurses saw the heavily injured woman, they hurried her to the emergency room and moved her between many rooms before finally sending her to the neurology ward, where a group of doctors met to diagnose her. Yao Yuan watched the busy nurses and doctors who wore grave expressions, his heart gradually sinking. He punched the hospital wall, his eyes red with anger. Bastard, I’ll fucking kill you.
“Chief…”
“Yuan-ge…”
“Yuan…”
Three equally anxious voices accompanied hurried footsteps. Yao Yuan glanced up and saw with surprise that, aside from Zhang Chen and Jiya, Su Mu was there too. He shouldn’t have known about this.
“How is Qian-jie?” Zhang Chen asked.
“I don’t know. The doctors said that her external injuries aren’t serious, but the brain injury is more troublesome…” Yao Yuan punched the wall again. “How could I not have realized they would aim for my sister… I was so sure that his men in G City would definitely come for me… why wasn’t I more careful…”
“I’m sorry, chief, we didn’t watch Qian-jie properly,” Zhang Chen said guiltily. Before Yao Yuan left, he had reminded them to look after Qian-jie, but they had let her fall into danger.
“Yuan!” Su Mu took a step forward and grabbed his fist, stopping him from punching the wall. He had never seen Yao Yuan like this before: the violent recklessness a cover for weakness and fear. He could no longer control the churning in his heart as he gently grasped Yao Yuan’s shoulder and said, “If you want to cry, then cry.”
“Cry? Stop it with the damned jokes. Why would I cry? I have to beat that bastard Ling Li into ten thousand pieces…” Even as Yao Yuan cursed, his eyes filled with tears. Lying in the ward was his sister who he had relied on for so many years, but now it was uncertain whether she would live or die.
“Right. Chief, we’ll help…” Before Zhang Chen could finish, Jiya stopped him.
“Yuan, Yao Qian will be fine. Trust me.” Su Mu could not help lifting a hand to wipe away the tears Yao Yuan was wilfully trying to hold back.
A nurse pushed open the door. “Which of you is the patient’s family?”
“I’m her brother.” Yao Yuan immediately rushed up. “Nurse, how is my sister? Is she all right?”
“Dr. Zhang told you to come in. He’ll tell you about the patient’s situation in detail.”
“Okay.” Yao Yuan started to walk in but someone caught hold of him from behind. He looked angrily back but heard Su Mu say, “I’ll go in with you.”
“Doctor, how is my sister?” Yao Yuan rushed into the doctor’s office and said to the middle-aged man behind the desk.
“Not good,” Dr. Zhang said with a grave expression. “Her brain suffered a serious concussion and there is a large hemorrhage. If the blood isn’t removed she might remain in a coma forever.”
“Then do the operation quickly!” Yao Yuan’s gaze was anxious and pleading, and he trembled slightly. Thankfully, Su Mu supported him from behind.
“But…” Dr. Zhang hesitated, unsure where to begin.
“The operation isn’t likely to work?” As Su Mu asked, he took hold of Yao Yuan’s hand. He understood Yao Yuan’s feelings for Yao Qian, and if Yao Qian really did not wake up, he didn’t know what Yao Yuan would do.
Dr. Zhang nodded. “The success rate is not even 10 percent.”
“What?” Yao Yuan looked with shock at the person in front of him. Was this a joke? 10 percent? He fought hard to break free of Su Mu’s grip but Su Mu held on too tightly. He glared at Su Mu. “Su Mu, damn it, let go of me.”
“I’m not letting go.” Su Mu caught him by the waist. “Do you think I’ll let you go so you can look for Ling Li? Do you know who he is?”
“I don’t care who he is. I won’t let him off.”
“Gentlemen…” Dr. Zhang finally spoke. “This is a hospital. Keep your voices down.”
“Sorry, Doctor.” Su Mu’s voice remained mild and polite. “I’ll take him out.”
Dr. Zhang watched Yao Yuan, who was on the verge of a breakdown, with compassion. He knew that it was cruel, but as a doctor, he had to remind Yao Yuan. “Mr. Yao, if the operation fails, Miss Yao may… but if we don’t operate, she won’t survive a year in her current condition. Please think carefully about what you want to do.”
“Shut up. My sister will be fine.” Yao Yuan who couldn’t get free of Su Mu now yelled at Dr. Zhang, his tears finally flowing freely.
“I’m sorry.” Su Mu apologized politely, then dragged Yao Yuan out of the doctor’s office with a grave expression He ignored Zhang Chen and Wang Jiya who were waiting in the doorway, and pulled Yao Yuan into the nearby elevator.
“Su Mu, what are you doing?” Zhang Chen tried to catch up but someone stopped him. “What are you doing, Jiya?”
“Let Su Mu take care of it.” Jiya hadn’t missed the look in Su Mu’s eyes when he looked at Yao Yuan: there was care there, and concern. Maybe right now, Su Mu was more suitable than them to be by Yuan-ge’s side.