Chapter 192 - 141: A... a Chaotic Scene?
"This is why the mortality rate for severe acute pancreatitis is so high. Even in a top-tier ICU, once it triggers systemic inflammatory response syndrome, there’s very little a doctor can do."
After a moment, Shen Yu asked softly, "Then... what about pancreatic cancer?"
"Pancreatic cancer is known as the ’king of cancers’ for two reasons."
"First, its location is too concealed. It’s surrounded by vital blood vessels and organs, so a standard surgery can’t remove it completely."
"Second, and this is the deadliest part: the pancreas is hidden deep inside the abdominal cavity. In the early stages, a tiny tumor won’t pull on the organ’s capsule or touch any nerves."
"In other words, even if pancreatic cells become cancerous and start forming a tumor, your body won’t feel any pain at all during the early and intermediate stages."
"By the time you feel pain, or notice actual pathological changes in your body and go to the hospital for an exam..."
"...you’ll discover that it has already invaded the surrounding nerve plexus or metastasized to the liver."
"At that point, it’s already in the late stages."
"That’s what makes pancreatic cancer so difficult to treat and so terrifying. It’s usually discovered in the late stages, and the survival rate is extremely low."
Jiang He lifted his hand and held Shen Yu’s.
"That’s why the miRNA project I’m working on now is focused on early screening for pancreatic cancer."
"If we can screen for it early enough, it’s just a routine surgery. That way..."
Jiang He looked into Shen Yu’s eyes, the image of her lying weak in a hospital bed from his past life flashing through his mind, and said softly:
"I can save so, so many people."
’That way, I can save you.’
Shen Yu squeezed his hand back.
"It’s difficult, isn’t it?"
"Very difficult."
"...Even though I don’t understand medicine, Dr. Jiang, I’ll always be here with you."
"Okay." After a pause, Jiang He asked, "Teacher Shen, does this count as a confession?"
Shen Yu: "Huh!!!"
She made finger guns with both hands. "Don’t be ridiculous! I was just comforting you! Pew pew pew!"
"Heheh."
The hospital room was filled with warmth and sweetness.
It had been a long time since Jiang He had felt this way.
All the exhaustion and pressure in his heart miraculously eased in that moment.
He felt as if his entire being had been healed.
It was simply magical.
’Shen Yu hasn’t really done much, just massaged my head and chatted with me. How can it be this effective?’
’Is it because I love you so much, wifey?’
Just then, his phone rang.
Shen Yu casually picked up the phone and handed it to him.
The name Zhou Guanglin was displayed on the screen.
"Jiang He, I took care of that thing you asked me to, but the situation is a bit unexpected."
"What happened?"
"I contacted Old Lin’s wife and daughter and made it clear that we were willing to fully fund the girl’s studies abroad until she graduated from university, but she refused."
Jiang He froze.
Zhou Guanglin continued, "She told me that she used to be desperate to go abroad because it was her dad’s dream for her. But now that her dad is gone, it’s just her and her mom at home."
"This is what the girl said, word for word: ’I can’t just leave my mom here in the country by herself. I’ll take the exams here and go to a local university. If it’s close to home, I can work part-time while I study and take care of her.’"
As Jiang He listened, the image of the short-haired girl appeared in his mind again, and he couldn’t help but feel a pang in his heart for her.
Zhou Guanglin: "I then offered to fund her tuition and living expenses here in the country since she wasn’t going abroad, but she still wouldn’t accept it. And... she guessed you were the one who sent me. She insisted I pass this on to you: ’Please tell the doctor who fought so hard for my dad in the operating room that I appreciate his kindness, but my dad taught me not to accept favors for no reason. Thank him, and please tell him not to feel burdened. From now on, I will protect my mother and live a good life...’"
He hung up the phone.
Jiang He slowly lowered the phone.
This girl hadn’t been crushed by hardship. She chose to stand tall and face life head-on.
’And me... I overthink things, worry too much, and end up ruining my own health.’
’I never would have thought that after living two lives, I’d be taught a lesson by a young girl.’
A flicker of emotion crossed Shen Yu’s eyes. "She’s truly a very strong and sensible girl."
Jiang He nodded. "Yeah, she is."
KNOCK KNOCK—
There was a knock at the door.
Jiang He asked, "Who is it?"
Cheng Xiyao’s voice came from outside the door. "Boss, it’s me! I came to see you!"
Jiang He: "!!!"
’Fuck, why do I suddenly feel so panicked?’
Shen Yu tilted her head. "What’s wrong?"
Jiang He: "Oh, uh, it’s nothing. You can come in."