The ward was filled with the pungent scent of disinfectant. Huo Changfeng lay quietly on the hospital bed, one hand extended from beneath the quilt to receive an IV drip.
With her sharp eyesight, Mu Qingxuan easily spotted the words on the medicine bottle: "Conaflurazepam."
Her brows furrowed, and her expression darkened.
Cui Lirong, who had been keeping watch, turned to look at her, forcing a tired smile onto her face. She whispered, "Xuanxuan, you’re here."
Cui Lirong’s gaze was incredibly gentle. After a night of observation, the doctors had determined that Huo Changfeng’s condition had stabilized. Once he woke up, he would be completely out of danger. This was all thanks to Mu Qingxuan’s medical skill. Without her, Cui Lirong dared not even imagine what the outcome would have been.
Mu Qingxuan pursed her lips, her eyes grave. "Mom, was this drip administered by the doctor?"
"Yes. In the early hours of the morning, Changfeng kept groaning in his sleep. The doctor said the lingering trauma from the explosion was affecting his nerves, so they prescribed some painkillers." Cui Lirong paused, then immediately realized something. "Is there a problem?"
"A big one."
With a taut face, Mu Qingxuan stepped closer. She pulled a pair of clean medical gloves from the bedside table and efficiently removed the thin needle from the back of Huo Changfeng’s hand.
Cui Lirong’s eyes widened, a gasp caught in her throat.
"What do you think you’re doing?"
A strange voice rang out from the doorway. A tall woman in a white coat and a mask walked in. She looked at Mu Qingxuan’s actions with intense hostility and barked coldly, "Who gave you permission to treat a patient like this? Do you want me to call security and have someone like you—a delinquent trying to cause harm for profit—dragged off to the police station?"
Mu Qingxuan put away the IV setup and used medical alcohol and a cotton swab to clean the back of Huo Changfeng’s hand. Although she was a practitioner of traditional Chinese medicine, she had always known that broadening her knowledge base could never hurt. In her past life, she had spent time practicing Western medical techniques like injections; pulling an IV needle was a piece of cake for her.
How could this possibly be considered "causing harm for profit"?
Mu Qingxuan lifted her eyes slightly. "Comrade Doctor, you need evidence when you speak. When did I ever try to harm anyone?" She was, if anything, trying to save him.
Gaoliyue pointed at the IV setup on the bedside table. "You still say you didn't? I saw with my own eyes that you pulled out the patient's drip. Don't you know that if your technique isn't professional, you could easily cause an infection?"
"Besides, that was medication for the patient’s treatment. Why would you suddenly pull the needle out?"
Cui Lirong had been startled by Mu Qingxuan’s actions, but seeing Gaoliyue berating her so coldly, she reflexively defended her. "Comrade Doctor, isn't there some misunderstanding? This is my daughter-in-law. She wouldn't harm Changfeng."
Gaoliyue glanced at Cui Lirong, showing no respect. "So you're the patient's mother? How could you let her behave so recklessly and disregard your own son's life?" She added, "If you’re so unwilling to let the hospital treat him, then pack your things and leave. Clear the bed for other patients."
Cui Lirong’s face went pale. Having rarely been offended like this, she was clearly becoming angry.
Gaoliyue, completely oblivious, lifted her chin and looked down at them with contempt. "The patient we worked so hard to save is not here for you to ruin." She paused, a flash of suspicion crossing her eyes. "Could it be that you can’t afford the medical bills? Let me tell you now—even if you pulled the needle out, you’ll still have to pay the full bill. There's no escaping that!"
"You look like decent people, yet you do such shameful things." Gaoliyue looked Cui Lirong and Mu Qingxuan up and down with disdain, rolling her eyes without any attempt to lower her voice.
Cui Lirong’s expression turned icy. "Comrade Doctor, please watch your tongue. When did we ever say we wouldn't pay?"
"If it's not to avoid the bill, then what you just did..."
"Comrade Doctor!" Mu Qingxuan raised her voice slightly, interrupting her. "I recall you aren't the doctor in charge of Changfeng’s treatment. Where is the attending physician who performed the surgery yesterday? Please call him here; I have something to discuss with him."
She had her reasons for pulling the needle. Although the woman in front of her wore a white coat, Mu Qingxuan hadn't seen her in the operating room yesterday. Her attitude was atrocious, and she had insulted her multiple times. Given that, she saw no reason to explain anything to Gaoliyue.
Gaoliyue felt as though her authority was being challenged. "I am a doctor, too! Even if you have a concern, you should have consulted us before acting. How could you just pull a needle out? If the patient has a complication, don't try to blame it on our doctors later and say we didn't treat him well."
Watching the two women act so stubborn and unruly, Gaoliyue became convinced they were the type of people who would stir up medical disputes. The look of disgust in her eyes became almost palpable.
"What’s going on here? Why all the noise?"
The attending physician, Doctor Xu, had calculated that it was time to change Huo Changfeng's IV. He had heard the arguing before even reaching the room. He scratched his head in confusion, but his eyes lit up the moment they landed on Mu Qingxuan.
It was the girl who had brought Huo Changfeng back from the brink of death yesterday!
"Doctor Xu, you have to be the judge! This woman acted on her own and pulled the patient's needle out. I told them they were endangering the patient, but they refused to admit it and their attitude is absolutely atrocious." Gaoliyue’s features were twisted in irritation beneath her mask. She hadn't expected to run into such unreasonable people on her first day at the Military Region Hospital. She had assumed anyone staying here would at least be educated, not some village shrew.
"Pulled the needle out?" Doctor Xu was stunned and confused.
Mu Qingxuan nodded directly, speaking frankly. "Doctor Xu, I pulled the needle."
Gaoliyue fanned the flames. "Doctor Xu, look! She doesn't have a shred of remorse. This is just too ridiculous."
Doctor Xu, however, shook his head. "If Comrade Mu did it, then she must have her reasons. We should trust her."
"The patient has such severe injuries—we worked so hard to snatch his life back from the jaws of death, not to have her ruin it—" Gaoliyue stopped mid-rant, finally registering what Doctor Xu had just said. She stared at him in shock.
Doctor Xu’s expression was complex. "She is the one who saved the patient. Strictly speaking, she is Director Huo’s primary physician. How can you call this ruining him?"
"Wh-what?" Gaoliyue was left completely stunned.