Chairman Husband, Too Boorish - 148

 Chapter 148 : The reason for the persistent high fever is ...

11:20 PM.

Liang Xi Cheng had been at the hospital for over an hour, but Yan Liang's high fever persisted. At first, he thought it might be a minor issue, but with so much time having passed and the fever still lingering, he realized something was wrong.

Several chief internists and obstetricians from the hospital stood in Yan Liang's room, their expressions grave and anxious. Liang Xi Cheng sat calmly on the sofa. Frustrated, he closed the sliding door before smoking.

"Open the back window." The space was small, and the smell of smoke quickly filled the room. Liang Xi Cheng held up the half-smoked cigarette between his fingers, pointed to the doctor closest to the window, and then looked at the hospital director standing at the front. "I need an explanation from you as soon as possible, or perhaps not even an explanation, just a plan to bring her fever down in the shortest time possible."

The hospital director had a good relationship with Liang Chong Shan, though he was Liang Chong Shan's junior. Because he was of the same generation as Liang Qi Cheng, he knew Liang Xi Cheng quite well.

Although he hadn't exactly watched him grow up, this man, who was practically his son, had always called him "Uncle." But now, sitting casually on the sofa, his sharp brows betrayed a complete lack of warmth. He felt that the anger and anxiety emanating from Liang Xi Cheng were something he had never seen before.

The dean, barely daring to breathe, apologized repeatedly, "... Xi Cheng, I really can't give any answers right now, because she's pregnant and can't use medication, so we can only try to reduce her fever physically ..." He stammered, unable to speak, his tense expression making Liang Xi Cheng's already cold features even more stern. He stubbed out his cigarette, stood up, and took a step closer, "Tell me now, what's the worst possible outcome if she continues to have this fever?"

"... Lungs ... there's a possibility of pneumonia. Of course, it will be very difficult to save Miss Bai's baby ... Actually, I suspect she might have been infected." The dean took a deep breath. Since the outcome was the same anyway, dragging things out wasn't a solution. He craned his neck and mustered his courage to say, "... Xi Cheng, I know you're upset, but I hope you can trust us. We're helpless in this situation. If medication is necessary, we'll administer it, but given her current condition, medication wouldn't be good for the baby."

Liang Xi Cheng rubbed his aching temples. "When will we have the results?"

The dean checked his watch. "At the earliest, it'll be another half hour. I've already asked the lab staff to work overtime, but the fastest it can be is 30 minutes. In the meantime, just keep cleaning her body. I'll let you know as soon as the results are in."

The whole several leading figures from the hospital emerged from the ward, the hospital director leading the way. As soon as the door closed, the group breathed a sigh of relief. One doctor couldn't help but mutter, "... Director, you might as well just tell Young Master Liang that the woman ... is very likely infected with SARS ..."

"Shut up!" The director's sharp gaze swept over the doctor, silencing him instantly. The director paused, then shook his head, his face full of worry. "... Do you think I don't know? But the results aren't out yet ... Besides, our hospital doesn't have any SARS patients. Her chances of infection are very small, so there's still a glimmer of hope."

He was deeply concerned, yet he didn't forget to instruct everyone, "Listen carefully, everyone in the Liang family are important figures. The woman lying inside is Liang Xi Cheng's woman. Before anything is confirmed, none of you can leak any information, understand?"

Everyone fell silent, then nodded in unison.

Thirty minutes.

Liang Xi Cheng had never felt time slow for him so much; half an hour felt like torture.

Yan Liang's high fever persisted, and she remained delirious, seemingly never fully awake. He was anxious but helpless. For those thirty minutes, he constantly wiped her body with cool water, glancing at the time frequently. When the hands reached 11:50, Liang Xi Cheng immediately took out his phone and dialed the hospital director's number.

"The results, are they out yet?"

The director hesitated on the other end, finally saying, "... They're out, Xi Cheng, I'm coming to find you."

Liang Xi Cheng glanced at the woman's sickly flushed face, hung up the phone, and within two minutes, the director knocked on the door with the test results.

"Xi Cheng." He had already anticipated this outcome on the way here; it was actually within his expectations, but it was absolutely unexpected for Liang Xi Cheng. He knew this man would collapse upon hearing the news, but time was of the essence, so he had to say, "The results are in. I'm here to inform you, Xi Cheng. Miss Bai … we need to perform an abortion on her first, and then isolate her."

Liang Xi Cheng suddenly frowned, his gaze sharp as a blade. "What did you say? An abortion? Why an abortion?"

He stepped forward, his cultivated manners vanishing completely. He grabbed the collar of the dean's white coat, asking, word by word, "And isolate her?"

"...Xi Cheng." If it weren't for his close relationship with the Liang family, he wouldn't have had the courage to say anything more. However, some things, no matter how difficult, must be faced eventually. The dean reached out and patted Liang Xi Cheng's hand, which was clutching his collar, and handed him the test results, explaining with difficulty, "... I know you definitely can't accept this, but her child ... I'm afraid it's too late. Miss Bai's test results show that the reason she has a persistent high fever is because she has—SARS ..."

Liang Xi Cheng's tall body suddenly stiffened. The shock and heartache deep in his dark eyes were like a storm. Even this usually composed man could feel his body trembling, as if his entire soul was being torn apart.

"Impossible ... impossible!" Liang Xi Cheng roared, slamming the hospital director aside. His voice was broken and hoarse. "What kind of joke are you playing on me? SARS? How could this damn disease be on Yan Liang? Damn it, your hospital has SARS patients? Why aren't they isolated? She was infected here! You'd better cure her, no matter what! I'm telling you, her child can't be aborted. That's my child, do you hear me?"

The hospital director was genuinely terrified. The man before him was filled with overwhelming rage, almost out of his mind. Yet, he had no choice but to brace himself and try to explain and appease him. "... Xi Cheng, I know ... anyone would find this hard to accept, but there's no other way right now. I'm keeping this news under wraps. If it gets out to reporters or others ... If people find out, it will definitely cause a huge uproar. You should know that SARS is no minor illness, although it is curable now. But Miss Bai's baby is still too young. If we want to cure Miss Bai, she will have to take care of the baby, which will be several times more difficult than if she were alone. I'm only thinking of Miss Bai." He paused, then sighed softly, "Xi Cheng, if possible, Uncle Wu wouldn't refuse to help you, but this is all I can do ... Time is running out. If she continues to have this high fever without any treatment, it will only harm her."

... The director left, and Liang Xi Cheng stood there blankly. Behind him was the sick woman, the woman he had once sworn to protect with all his might, now tormented by illness, and he, too, was—powerless.

Powerless—this word were once what he despised most. How could a successful man be powerless?

But lately, with her, he had felt powerless far too many times.

Her mother was still in the ICU, and now she had inexplicably contracted SARS. Liang Xi Cheng had never felt such panic and helplessness. Even if the Liang family were to go bankrupt and collapse before his eyes, he felt he could handle it. But his woman had to endure such pain, and their child was only three months old … Three months. Liang Xi Cheng had always thought he could control his emotions, but now he felt incredibly vulnerable, as if the sky was about to fall …

He slowly turned around, sat on the edge of the bed, and reached out to hold her small, hot, soft hand. The light in the hospital room was exceptionally dim, yet it illuminated the woman lying on the bed, making her face appear even more flushed. But this wasn't a healthy flush; it was a sickly one, a constant reminder of the agony she was enduring with her eyes closed.

In his heart, it felt like there was a gaping hole, inside which a wounded beast was howling, roaring, and struggling desperately. But no one in the world could hear it except himself … and the stench of blood, only he could smell.

Why did this happen?

Why did it become like this?

He pressed his lips tightly together, asking himself countless "whys," but still found no answers.

Finally, with a hoarse voice, he called Guan Jiu, asking him to come over. He happened to see the time on his phone: midnight.

He remembered the time Ye Sheng Ming had given him at the airport—now. However, he didn't call to tell his decision …

Guan Jiu arrived within 20 minutes. He'd only taken a shower at home and naturally had no desire to sleep. Just as he was hesitating whether he should come to the hospital, Liang Xi Cheng called. Guan Jiu rushed to the hospital, only to find a Liang Xi Cheng he'd never seen before—distraught. His usually confident and radiant face was now filled with despair.

Guan Jiu's heart skipped a beat. "… Mr. Liang, has something happened to Madam?"

Liang Xi Cheng was still sitting by the bedside, his bloodshot eyes fixed on the unconscious woman. After a moment, he asked in a deep voice, "… Did she go out before the accident?"

According to the hospital director, there shouldn't be any SARS patients in this hospital. Even if there were, they would definitely be isolated. Why would Yan Liang suddenly contract the disease?

Even like a wounded, trapped beast, Liang Xi Cheng possessed basic analytical skills.

So many things have happened recently; he's indeed a bit overwhelmed. Perhaps at this moment, someone will take advantage of the chaos!

Guan Jiu was unaware that Yan Liang had been diagnosed with SARS, but seeing Liang Xi Cheng's grief-stricken expression, he knew the situation was serious. He racked his brains, not wanting to overlook a single clue, and finally remembered something. He quickly said—

"... I remember now, Mrs. Liang did leave her ward earlier, but she didn't leave the hospital. She said she wanted to ask a nurse for a change of hospital gown. I wanted to offer to get it for her myself, but she wouldn't allow it. I was worried and didn't want to force her, so I went with her to the nurses' station." Liang Xi Cheng's grip on Yan Liang's hand tightened slightly, feeling her unusually hot temperature burning his palm, as if it were burning his heart. His voice was even colder, "Go on, tell me what happened next."

"... Later, a clumsy young nurse bumped into Madam in the corridor. Madam cut her hand and bled. When I ran up, the young nurse was apologizing to Madam, but she said it was nothing serious, just a little blood, and told me not to make a fuss. She even went to the restroom to wash her hands, and then Madam and I came back together." Liang Xi Cheng quickly flipped Yan Liang's hand over and, sure enough, saw a cut on her left ring finger. Because of the cut and the lack of treatment, coupled with her high fever, the wound seemed to be infected, and it was swollen and red.

He hadn't noticed it before, but now, at first glance, it was even more shocking.

Liang Xi Cheng's eyes grew even more sinister, the glint in them almost capable of tearing someone to pieces. He asked, enunciating each word clearly, "Where is that little nurse? Find her for me, now!"

Guan Jiu glanced at his wrist; it was already past midnight. She'd probably been off work long ago, but he dared not delay and immediately went out to find her.

The little nurse's real name was Li Miao Man, only 25 years old. She'd worked at the hospital since graduation. She was petite and cute, and supposedly had a very good reputation there. Of course, what people saw was only the surface; they would never guess that she actually had an unusual relationship with that Dr. Zhang. Although Dr. Zhang had the Ye family as his backer, he was genuinely honest and diligent at the hospital, treating patients with exceptional enthusiasm. This kind of doctor had been awarded "Three Good Doctor" for several years, and many elderly people who came to the hospital for checkups or any discomfort preferred to see him.

These two, so skilled at acting, actually had an exceptionally illicit and scandalous relationship in private.

Li Miao Man worked the early and late shifts today, and she had already finished her shift. However, Liang Xi Cheng wanted her to see him now, so she had no choice but to come.

Actually, after Dr. Zhang told her beforehand, she was already mentally prepared to be called back to the hospital in the middle of the night. This seemed to be expected, but seeing Liang Xi Cheng's gloomy and terrifying face made her heart pound uncontrollably.

This man, tall and slender, stood in front of her, completely blocking the light behind him, as if casting a lingering shadow over her. Even though the ward was temperature-controlled, she subconsciously shivered, a chill running down her spine.

However, she knew she couldn't afford to lose her composure. After taking several deep breaths, she finally spoke, "... Young Master Liang, you wanted to see me?"

Liang Xi Cheng, his face grim, didn't bother with a single word. He stepped forward and, to Li Miao Man's horrified gaze, his large hand gripped the back of her neck, shoving her forward. Pointing at Yan Liang, he asked menacingly, "Look closely, do you recognize her?"

Chapter 147        |        TOC        |        Chapter 149