Changxi was caught in a huge dilemma… should she help someone like her, or should she help herself first…
Seeing the old man pleading continuously, she felt a sudden sharp pain in her brain. When she closed her eyes, a blurry scene flashed in her mind,
.
In front of so many people and continuously flashing lights, an unfamiliar feminine voice said while looking at the register in her hand,
'… as the licensed doctor of this nation, I solemnly pledge myself to consecrate my life to service of humanity. I will practice my profession with conscience and dignity. The health of my patient will be my first consideration. I will…'
.
Changxi opened her eyes. "The health of my patient will be my first consideration," she murmured and agreed.
The old man helped his grandson to sit on the wooden table. Changxi placed her three slender fingers on the young man's extended right hand and closed her eyes, "Since when?"
The old man replied, "Since he was eight years old. That time, he got a severe head stroke and then suddenly turned blind. We showed him to some physicians, but no one could cure it. They said he is permanently blind."
After a minute, her hazel eyes moved to the young man's unfocused gaze. Subconsciously, her sharp voice turned a bit gentle, "How is your vision? Is it extremely blurry or—"
"Completely dark," the young man finally replied in his cracked deep voice.
Changxi knitted her brows, seeing the old man's hope-filled eyes, she hesitated to agree with the other physicians.
Master Hong asked, "Hmm, should we observe him for some days?"
Changxi nodded as she was thinking the same, "I need a few days to find the root cause by checking his overall health," and warned the pair, "If you lie, it will be your loss."
The old man stuttered, "Actually… years ago, when Chen was fifteen years old, one of the physicians managed to get it back, but it lasted only for a few minutes."
"WHAT! That's impossible!" Changxi was utterly shocked.
The villagers and Master Hong were stunned by her reaction, wasn't it good news?
The old man answered confusingly, "Yes, that physician had inserted some needles on his nape. He tried it again for many days, but each time it would last for a moment. The longest was for half… a day—" his voice died in his throat seeing her deathly cold gaze.
"Then he must be behind your grandson's life," Changxi spat, "How dare that f*cking sadistic man do this."
It was the first-time villagers was seeing her completely pissed form. Master Hong said, "Calm down, Changxi… Don't you think that Physician was nearly successful in it—" The villagers and old man nodded as well.
"Successful? My foot!" Changxi mocked, "Did he ever think how traumatizing it had been for a young teenager to see only for a few minutes and then again drawn back to the pit of darkness? Not just for once but many times! I wonder how Chen still retained his sanity," she tried to control her outburst.
Her sharper-than-blade words made everyone tongue-tied. The old man hung his head down in guilt, whereas Chen's eyes flickered in her direction. He gave a weak smile… Not even his family, but a certain stranger girl correctly caught his situation. Subconsciously, two words fell out of his mouth, "Thank you," which calmed down her anger.
Master Hong offered the pair to stay in their house for a few days.
Later at midnight,
Changxi was looking at the parchments lying on the table. The reflection of the table lamp flame was visible in her unwavering dazed eyes as she remembered her conversation with Chen about his conditions earlier.
She thought, 'Strong irregular pulse during anxiety and anger, and sudden sharp pain in the brain— It's migraine. During the peak moment, the patient with severe issues experiences temporary blindness caused by a blockage of blood to the optic nerve. I should treat this first.'
A sudden little sound broke her daze. She assembled the papers quickly and went outside.
"Still awake?"
She flinched at the sudden hoarse voice.
Changxi turned around, holding the lamp up, she saw Chen coming out slowly to avoid tripping. "What are doing at this time?" She asked while helping him to come out. "Not able to sleep," Chen replied. They sat on the wooden table silently.
After some time, suddenly, Chen broke the silence, "Do you pity me?"
"Why would I? I don't even know you," Changxi frowned.
Chen chuckled. For some reason, her vicious coldhearted words felt more comforting and genuine than the sweet lies he had been hearing since childhood. "Changxi…will I be able to live again normally?" he mumbled.
"You must. Don't live shamelessly on your grandfather's support," her scolding made him chuckle, "Sure I will."
They stayed like that for some time. Unknowingly, there was a comfortable silence between them.
…
Meanwhile,
In a certain town,
"Young master, we have something to say," the servant said to the young aristocratic couple sitting in front of them. They both got confused seeing the servant and maid hesitating. The noblewoman nodded, "Tell us, what happened?"
The maid nudged the servant who finally spoke, "Young master, Madam, should we quicken our voyage to the main mansion, or-or stay here more so that, we could vi-visit the temple again after a few days."
The Nobleman was perplexed, "Why should we visit the temple again?"
The servant gulped, "F-F-For mourning. It-It would be the first death anniversary of young—"
Thud!
The nobleman banged the table with his book firmly, "Let me clear one thing… She is not dead. We are here to find her, not to mourn over her assumed death, understood?"
"B-B-But it has been o-one year—"
"Enough!"
"Y-yes! Please forgive us, master, we won't make this mistake again," the servant and maid quickly bowed in apology.
"Tell others as well. I won't tolerate it again," the nobleman said.
When the servants left, the noblewoman said softly, "Minister, do you believe she is alive? Or you saaid just for my sake."
"No honey, I do believe that she is alive. She was very close to me, and she was like our child. If our heart is telling us that she is alive, then she must be! Maybe that is why Abbot has told us to keep faith and wait for it," the nobleman said while holding her palms gently. She could feel the warmth and assurance in his eyes and touch.
"Thank you, thank you so much," the noblewoman smiled with welled-up eyes. Embracing her, he assured, "Nuying, I promise, we will soon find her. But for that, we must stay strong until then, alright?" The noblewoman nodded with a sweet smile.