Bone-Attached Disaster - Chapter 38:

Chapter 38: The Cloud Layer

Fu Jia’an’s schedule was tight; it wouldn’t be an exaggeration to say he had been through a cycle of life and death over the past few nights. The Chief Resident’s job was inherently complex, serving as the critical nexus for the normal operation of every department. Normally, besides eating, he barely had time to close his eyes and rest for a bit.

The addition of a complex case was akin to forcefully jamming a dollar coin through a needle hole—it was an extreme stretch.

Zhan Qionglou’s brain tumor was in a special location, and the complexity of his identity also influenced the judgment of some attending physicians in the department. No one wanted to wade into this mess, let alone be an assistant to Fu Jia’an, the Chief Resident.

People were contradictory: if Zhan Qionglou had been assigned to them, everyone would avoid it. But now that Jin Shaoqian had directly assigned Zhan Qionglou to Fu Jia’an, those seasoned, skilled professors were secretly unhappy, feeling that Fu Jia’an, at such a young age, had again landed an opportunity for fame and glory.

Everyone had their own agenda, so the few consultations Fu Jia’an initiated were not very smooth, and the process of finding assistants was arduous. At the same time, he had an endless stream of calls to respond to. After several days, his body and mind were pushed to their limits.

Fu Jia’an knew he needed rest, and more importantly, he desperately wanted to see Lu Jie.

He wasn’t collapsing. He had faced dangerous situations more than once since choosing the path of Neurosurgery. People around him said he was a natural doctor because he rarely showed emotion. He never looked back, whether the surgery was a success or a failure.

People attributed this to the favor of a genius’s halo, but Fu Jia’an knew they were secretly discussing: Rather than becoming a cold-blooded genius like Fu Jia’an, it’s better to be a normal person with feelings, who grieves, and who has humanity.

People are like this; they excel at finding cracks in the divine altar. The more favored you are, the more people desperately seek flaws and darkness in you to find internal balance.

— He’s a genius, oh, well, that was earned with a miserable start in life.

— He’s a genius. Geniuses are typically cold and lonely. I don’t want to be like that.

Fu Jia’an knew that behind every smile full of envy and admiration he had seen since childhood, there was a heart that wished to grind him into dust. Being a genius must be painful, so living an ordinary life was not so sad.

Fu Jia’an truly believed this before he was sixteen. He felt that all his talents were exchanged for equal suffering. He shouldn’t struggle. He should stand still and wait for greater pain to descend. His life should have been a steady tragedy.

It was only after meeting Lu Jie that Fu Jia’an first allowed himself to live a slightly happier life. Or, perhaps, Lu Jie was a declaration of amnesty from heaven.

“Yes, I’m going home tonight,” he answered Lu Jie. “I swapped shifts with a colleague. I just need to be at the hospital by 8 AM tomorrow.”

Fu Jia’an couldn’t bear to look away as he spoke. He felt energy returning to his body with every moment he looked at Lu Jie. He was still standing there, truly exhausted, yet he could only stare at Lu Jie like a puppy seeing its owner come home.

Lu Jie raised his arm and looked at his watch. “Then we don’t have much time. Let’s go home first. I have something to tell you.”

Lu Jie remembered to be discreet, so he didn’t directly hold Fu Jia’an’s hand as they left, but the way they walked side-by-side still implied a closeness.

However, Lu Jie no longer cared about those details. He didn’t speak on the drive home, thinking the car wasn’t the right atmosphere for a serious talk. Since they would arrive soon anyway, they could discuss everything at home.

Fu Jia’an, on the other hand, acted as if nothing was wrong and even teased Lu Jie. “So eager to take me home? We haven’t prepared anything. Maybe we should stop by the supermarket to buy two boxes of…”

“Fu Jia’an.”

“Mhm.”

Lu Jie sighed. “Just stop talking for now.”

Upon reaching the apartment, Lu Jie didn’t even drive the car into the garage. He simply stopped hastily on the side of the road, got out, opened the passenger door, and pulled Fu Jia’an out. The two entered the apartment.

After closing the door, Fu Jia’an leaned back against the wall flippantly, seeing Lu Jie rummaging through a drawer in the entryway without looking at him. He said a little disappointedly, “Sigh, I thought you were going to passionately kiss me.”

Lu Jie was nearly out of patience with Fu Jia’an. He successfully found two stomach pills, cracked them, chewed them directly, and after a dozen seconds, finally felt the sharp pain subside a little.

“Your stomach is hurting again?”

“It’s not important,” Lu Jie asked Fu Jia’an. “Can’t you cancel that surgery on Sunday?”

Fu Jia’an immediately understood. “My brother told you something, right? About Zhan Qionglou.”

“Yes, he asked me if I could persuade you to cancel the surgery.”

Fu Jia’an turned and walked towards the living room. Lu Jie followed behind, waiting for his answer. Fu Jia’an only asked, “Will you stand by me?”

“You know that taking on the Zhan Qionglou case is very dangerous.”

“The surgical plan is ready; I can’t call it off.” Fu Jia’an was actually reluctant to discuss this with Lu Jie because he couldn’t change his decision. Taking on Zhan Qionglou was a critical part of his plan, and he wouldn’t abandon it even if Lu Jie asked him to. But he couldn’t speak his mind the way he did with Shen Rufei. He didn’t want to argue with Lu Jie and could only try to make his tone less direct.

“Fu Jia’an, if you really don’t want to give up…” Lu Jie said seriously. “I will stand by you.”

Fu Jia’an’s heart skipped a beat; this was clearly a very unexpected answer. He paused for a few seconds before asking, “Why?”

“I think you’ve already made up your mind,” Lu Jie said. “And your brother told me some things. He said Aunt Fu was framed back then. So, your choice to go to J University’s Medical School, choose Neurosurgery, choose the Second Municipal Hospital, and even choose to work under Director Jin—it’s all to clear Aunt Fu’s name one day, right? Although I don’t know your specific plan, to be honest, I might think the same way as your brother. I don’t want you to spend your whole life consumed by a desire for revenge. But, this is something you’ve been focused on, dedicated twelve years to, and paid a price for since you were sixteen. How can I interfere?”

“People live their lives driven by one goal after another. Your goal is very, very difficult, but it’s not base or dirty. So, I’m willing to stand by you.”

“If I’m not mistaken, the near-fatal car accident patient you saved despite Director Jin’s opposition, and now this Zhan Qionglou, are cases that can bring you great fame. Success means a spotless genius; failure means a notorious reputation. And your goal is to make the name ‘Fu Jia’an’ carry more weight in the medical world, so that your voice won’t be easily drowned out.”

“But Fu Jia’an, my promise to stand by you comes with conditions. Do your best not to fall into danger, not to sacrifice yourself, and not to shoulder everything alone. Let me help you, or even just be a listener.” Lu Jie understood the feeling of swallowing all your worries alone too well. He had experienced that suffocating feeling and just hoped no one else would have to endure it.

Fu Jia’an was good at catching the main point. He took a half-step forward, closer to Lu Jie, his eyes looking meaningfully at the other. “In what capacity will you be standing by me?”

Lu Jie answered quickly, “As a friend, of course.”

Fu Jia’an didn’t argue, as if even this small bit of progress was satisfying. He smiled and said, “Fine, friend.”

Lu Jie felt uncertain, worried that Fu Jia’an hadn’t taken his words to heart. So, he said seriously, “I mean it. Tell me more about this Zhan Qionglou case.”

“Let’s sit down,” Fu Jia’an said. “I’m really tired.”

As he walked towards the sofa, he habitually used his left hand to pinch his right shoulder, rotating his arm to relax the stiff limb. After sitting down, he looked at Lu Jie, who had followed him, and patted the spot next to him, signaling Lu Jie to sit beside him.

Fu Jia’an said, “Open your hand.”

“?”

Lu Jie didn’t understand, but he still spread his palm open.

Fu Jia’an placed something in his hand. Lu Jie looked down to see a white card with Fu Jia’an’s photo, his department, his Chief Resident title, and his employee ID number at the Second Municipal Hospital.

“This… is for me? What use do I have for this?”

Fu Jia’an explained, “Aren’t you worried I’m in danger? Here’s my access card. You can come to the special ward to find me anytime. Because for the next week, I’ll mostly be staying near Zhan Qionglou.”

Lu Jie was shocked. “If you give this to me, how will you get around the hospital?”

“I use face recognition.”

“Oh, so this card is actually useless,” Lu Jie said. “Surely the security at the Second Municipal Hospital isn’t so lax that anyone who finds your access card can move freely through the hospital, right?”

“Just swiping the card is indeed useless,” Fu Jia’an said seriously. “But I didn’t tell you to use the card directly to find me. Just tell any staff member that Dr. Fu forgot his special ward access card at home, and you specially brought it for him. They’ll bring you to me.” He instructed solemnly, “If they offer to hand it over for you, you must refuse and say the access card is very important and must be personally delivered to me.”

“……” A surge of inexplicable anger rose in Lu Jie. “Am I a last-mile delivery courier?”

Was there no more dignified way? This was too ridiculous.

“Pfft—” Fu Jia’an had been holding it in and finally burst out laughing.

“How can you still be messing with me right now?” Lu Jie felt like he was talking to a brick wall.

Fu Jia’an quickly tried to soothe him. “I just find your reaction… very cute. But I’m not tricking you. Keep this access card safe, otherwise…”

He paused. “You have to pay 50 yuan to replace it.”

“……”

Lu Jie was so angry he started to get up. Fu Jia’an quickly grabbed his arm and wouldn’t let go. “Okay, I’ll be serious. Don’t go. I only have a few hours to rest at home in total. Stay with me.”

When had Fu Jia’an ever used such a tone with him before? Lu Jie looked down and saw that Fu Jia’an genuinely looked quite pitiful. Although he was ninety-nine percent sure it was an act, he still couldn’t help but soften and sat back down.

“I’ll give you one last chance. Tell me, what’s the situation with Zhan Qionglou right now?”

Fu Jia’an said concisely, “He was uncooperative at first, but he’s much better now.”

“That’s it?”

Of course, Fu Jia’an omitted a lot of details, including how Zhan Qionglou didn’t say a word when he was first admitted, only constantly breaking the IV tube in his hand and knocking over pills and water; and how Fu Jia’an stayed by his side, besides his regular Chief Resident duties, “owl-watching” him for four days until Zhan Qionglou’s first words were, “No need to treat me. They’ll all get what they want if I die.”

However, looking at the result, Fu Jia’an’s statement that “he’s much better now” wasn’t wrong and wasn’t exactly withholding information. It was just unnecessary to report all the previous turmoil to save Lu Jie from worrying.

“That’s it,” Fu Jia’an said with a smile. “The real trouble is next week, so you should come to see me often.”

“Got it. What’s the security like in the ward?”

“Two police officers and two security guards from the Second Municipal Hospital. Someone is outside the special ward 24 hours a day.”

“Good.” Lu Jie seemed lost in thought.

Fu Jia’an extended his arm and touched Lu Jie. “My arm feels numb again. I can’t lift it. I had surgeries the past two days.”

Was this even a job for a human? To have surgeries scheduled even in this condition?

Lu Jie understood Fu Jia’an’s plea for attention and rare display of vulnerability. He didn’t avoid him. He took Fu Jia’an’s arm right where it was and silently began to massage and stretch it for him.

He felt quite uncomfortable in his heart. Forget Fu Jia’an; even if it were any stranger being so utterly consumed by work on the internet, he would sigh in sympathy.

Lu Jie’s massage felt comfortable to Fu Jia’an. Several currents of warmth ran from his fingertips to his arm, seemingly clearing the blockages. Each of his fingers felt warm, slightly warmer than Lu Jie’s own body temperature.

Fu Jia’an’s sleep had been very poor recently. He had too many worries, and he could only snatch quick naps in between shifts, needing to be ready to answer the pager at any moment. Sometimes, he felt like a cloud fragment, shredded after a flock of birds flew through it.

All of Lu Jie’s guesses today were correct. From the first day he entered the Second Municipal Hospital, Fu Jia’an knew why he was there. Initially, he wasn’t completely confident; he just wanted to go as far as possible. To achieve this, he had to cut off his emotional nerve. He could only hold his breath and move forward. Later, what he held in his mouth turned into a mouthful of bl00d.

On this night, the metallic taste of bl00d in his mouth faded. He was a scattered wisp of cloud, meeting a vast and clear, thick cloud layer. That huge cloud gently enveloped him, not forcing him to heal his wounds immediately, but guarding him like a knight.

Fu Jia’an leaned over, resting his head bonelessly in the hollow of Lu Jie’s neck. He was so tired that his eyelids nearly sealed shut.

He mumbled sleepily, like talking in his sleep, “Lu Jie, I think we’re more compatible now, like Mr. & Mrs. Smith.”

Lu Jie knew Fu Jia’an was taking advantage of the moment to cling to him, but when he turned his head, he realized Fu Jia’an was genuinely asleep. Falling asleep so quickly, just like when he was little.

Was he a sloth reincarnated?

He should have pushed him away, but he couldn’t bring himself to do it. Lu Jie justified it to himself: Fu Jia’an was working so hard at the hospital; out of humanitarian concern, he should be understanding.