When A Lai regained consciousness, he found himself in a standard hospital bed at Renxin City Hospital, having been brought there by a passing coworker.
The medical report read: Gender: Male, Name: Lei Tianlai, Age: 18, Admitted for: Lightning Strike, Bed Number: 8, Medication...
A young man lay in the hospital bed, dressed in a blue-striped hospital gown. Due to the need for wound care on his head, the medical staff had shaved his hair, leaving him with a bald, gourd-like head. A small wound the size of a thumb was visible on his scalp, coated with some antiseptic purple solution, making him look like a little monk. His pale face bore some bruises.
The attending physician, Dr. Wang Zhi, was not only a specialist but also a leading academic authority at the hospital. In her thirties, with a sleek short haircut and an aura of cold elegance, she was an exceptionally alluring woman. A group of students holding notebooks followed closely behind her as she approached A Lai's bedside.
She addressed the students around her, saying, "Each lightning strike can generate tens of thousands or even hundreds of thousands of volts. If a person happens to be in the path of the lightning, they will undoubtedly be injured or killed. Immediate cardiopulmonary resuscitation is crucial in saving a life."
A Lai's grandfather, who was tending to him at the bedside, suddenly remembered something and asked anxiously, "Excuse me, is the director of the hospital here?"
Dr. Wang replied, "Why do you need to see the director for medical treatment? What business do you have with him?"
Grandfather, in a fluster, pulled out a letter from his inner pocket and said, "This is a personal letter from Master Laikong of Lei Yin Temple, which I must deliver to him."
"Director Li is very busy and has gone abroad on business. I am not only the head of this department but also the deputy director of the hospital. You can rest assured and focus on the treatment."
Upon hearing this, Grandfather recalled Master Laikong's instructions that if the director was unavailable, the letter should be given to the person in charge without delay. He immediately handed the letter to Dr. Wang, saying, "Since you're in charge, please open the letter."
Dr. Wang opened the envelope and was astonished. It was a letter from Director Li's Buddhist mentor, and reading it was like seeing the master in person, filling her with reverence.
"Hurry, hurry... everyone, get moving! Prepare the best intensive care room and bring the best equipment over. Notify the experts from all departments to gather; I will personally oversee the treatment."
Without further explanation, Dr. Wang issued commands in a tone that brooked no argument. The staff moved swiftly, transferring A Lai to a special intensive care unit on the hill behind the hospital.
Dr. Wang then began unbuttoning A Lai's shirt and pointed out the lightning strike wounds to the gathered experts, explaining and analyzing the situation.
"Complications and sequelae of electrical injuries include massive tissue damage and hemolysis, which can lead to hyperkalemia. Intense muscle contractions and spasms can cause joint dislocations, even compressive fractures of the spine. Neurological sequelae might include blindness, deafness, or peripheral neuropathy..."
She also noted the severe brain injury at the back of his head, accompanied by a concussion that could result in short-term memory loss.
The experts nodded frequently as Dr. Wang continued her detailed explanation. Then, each specialist took turns carefully examining A Lai, offering their insights and opinions.
A young nurse, silently taking notes on the side, interjected, "This person is really fortunate to have survived such a disaster. When he arrived unconscious, we found multiple blood-red patterns on his arm, waist, and soles during the wound cleaning. They looked like tattoos or even hieroglyphs."
Dr. Wang, annoyed, glanced at the nurse and said impatiently, "That's just the burn marks from the lightning. Nothing to be surprised about."
Grandfather hurriedly asked, "Doctor, will there be any lasting effects?"
Dr. Wang reassured him, "Don't worry, sir. Now that he's in the hospital, leave everything to us. You just need to cooperate with the treatment."
With that, she waved her hand, signaling the experts to move to the conference room for further analysis and consultation.
Despite his anxiety, Grandfather could only wait for the experts to come up with a specific treatment plan.
After a short while, the young nurse returned to the room carrying an IV drip.
With practiced efficiency, she attached the IV line to the bottle, waited for the air to be expelled, and then hung the drip on the stand. As she worked, she listened to the conversation between A Lai and his grandfather.
Grandfather gently asked, "A Lai, can you recognize me? Can you hear me clearly? Are you feeling unwell?"
A Lai, trying to reassure him, replied, "You're my grandpa. I can hear everything, and I remember everything. Don't worry; the doctors are just exaggerating to scare us."
"Sigh..."
Grandfather sighed deeply, tears streaming down his face as he lamented, "It's all my fault. I won't let you take on temporary work again..."
"Grandpa, what are you worried about? I'm fine, see? We'll go home in a few days; no need to waste money."
Grandfather, full of concern, replied, "Don't worry about the money. Master Laikong already gave me six thousand yuan. If it's not enough, I'll go back and sell the courtyard house. Even if it costs everything I have, I won't let you suffer from any aftereffects."
The young nurse, who had been listening, looked at A Lai with his newly shaved head and advised, "Your grandpa is right. The treatment needs to be thorough; otherwise, there might be lasting effects. Let's start the IV drip now."
As she spoke, she took out a cotton swab soaked in iodine for disinfection. Bending down, she noticed A Lai staring at her intently, seemingly in a daze, and said, "Little monk, stretch out your hand."
A Lai was suddenly struck by how sweet her voice sounded. Following the sound, he examined her closely, but the large mask hid her face, leaving only her bright eyes visible. "Wow! Those eyes look just like hers from when we were kids," he thought.
As she leaned in closer, a unique, fresh scent of femininity filled the air, overwhelming A Lai's senses. He breathed in deeply, his heart racing as he extended his hand nervously from under the blanket.
The nurse took his hand, preparing for the injection.
"Ouch!"
The moment she touched his hand, the nurse cried out and stepped back in shock.
Something strange had just happened.
A Lai looked up in astonishment, seeing the nurse's face turn from rosy to pale as she began trembling all over.
"What's happening?" Grandfather Lei asked, confused and concerned.
Dr. Wang, having just finished the consultation and hurried back to the ICU, entered the room just in time to hear the nurse's cry. She looked at the pale-faced nurse in surprise and asked, "What's going on? Why are you so clumsy?"
"He... his hand... it shocked me," the nurse stammered, struggling to find the right words.
Dr. Wang, puzzled, quickly stepped over, took A Lai's hand, and examined it thoroughly. Annoyed, she said, "You're making a fuss over nothing. It didn't shock me. Static electricity would have dissipated by now; how could there be any current left in a living person?"
The nurse defended herself, "But it's true! I really got shocked when I touched him just now."