Chapter 17 Section 16

It was Monday again, and Dr. Ling Di came to Di Nong's ward on time at ten o'clock in the morning to do a routine physical examination for the old man.After it was over, when he was packing up the medical equipment, he turned his back to Di Nong and said to Wu Leting in a low voice: "Come out for a while, I want to tell you something." Wu Leting looked at him and nodded. After Ling Di walked out of the ward, Wu Leting said to Di Nong on the bed, "Mr. Di, I'll go out for a while." Di Nong seemed to be getting used to it—almost every time after Ling Di came, Wu Leting would go out and talk to the doctor for a while.He nodded.

Wu Leting and Ling Di walked to the end of the corridor.Wu Leting remembered the last time Dean Ge saw her go out of the room to answer the phone.She said to Ling Di: "What's the matter, Doctor Ling? I can only come out for a while." "I know. It won't delay you for too long." Ling Di said while holding the medical kit, "I feel a little strange about Dinon's physical condition." "What's wrong?" "You know, Dinon's medical records say he has chronic myelogenous leukemia, and it's in an advanced stage of incurable disease. I didn't pay much attention to it at first, but now that I figure it out, I come in for his physical every week. It's been almost two months. I'm starting to see... something's not right."

Having said this, Ling Di stopped, frowning deeply. "What's wrong? Go ahead, Doctor Ling." Wu Leting asked eagerly. Ling Di pursed his lips. "Maybe you don't know much about this disease, but I know it better. Patients with chronic myelogenous leukemia generally have anemia. But Dinon's face is rosy, and there is no sign of anemia; in addition, Patients with this disease tend to bleed easily, such as nosebleeds, bleeding gums, etc.—for so long, have you ever seen him bleed?" Wu Leting shook her head. "Not once." "Then did he show fatigue, dizziness, or shortness of breath?"

"No, he is in good spirits and can often chat with me for an hour or two." "I think so. I can see he's in good spirits. And if he's had any of these before, you'd have told me." "Yes, Doctor Ling, what do you think this means?" "Very strange...don't you think? His medical records say he has chronic myelogenous leukemia, but he shows no symptoms of the disease—except for occasional night sweats, which is more in line. But, Night sweats are not a symptom of chronic myelogenous leukemia patients, many elderly people have night sweats - this does not explain the problem."

Wu Leting stared into Ling Di's eyes, and asked again: "Doctor Ling, what do you think these circumstances indicate?" "I wondered, could he have been misdiagnosed? Maybe he didn't have CML at all." Wu Leting looked at Ling Di, opened her lips a little, then closed them again. Ling Di saw that Wu Leting hesitated to speak."Do you know something?" he asked. Wu Leting shook her head slightly. "I'm just guessing..." "Guess what?" Wu Leting hesitated, and said, "I doubt he was misdiagnosed. That medical record may have been forged."

Ling Di was taken aback. "You mean, someone did it on purpose?" "Please keep your voice down, Doctor Ling." Wu Leting said anxiously, "I don't have evidence, I'm just guessing." "But there must be a source for this guess—based on what you've learned about Dinon in the past two months, right?" "Maybe..." Wu Leting said, "Actually, I told you a long time ago that Mr. Di—including what happened to him—may not be as simple as we imagined." I think so, and after hearing more of his story, I'm almost convinced of it."

"What stories did he tell you?" "Some stories about famous people in history. Perhaps it is indeed like what you said, Mr. Di prefers to chat with me. He told me many wonderful stories--Darwin, Da Vinci, the Pyramid of Khufu... Although these The protagonist of the story is different, but I always have a feeling, as if he is talking about what he has experienced, it is really..." Speaking of this, Wu Leting seemed to realize something suddenly, and stopped. "What's the matter, Miss Wu Leting?" Wu Leting lowered her eyes. "I... shouldn't have told you so much."

Ling Di nodded and said, "I understand. But, Miss Wu Leting, you should have already guessed it." Wu Leting looked at him. "Guess what?" Ling Di put his face close to her and said in a low voice, "I signed that special contract just like you." Wu Leting stared at Ling Di with wide eyes.Indeed, she had already thought of it.Now Ling Di has put it through. "So, the two of us are actually 'alliance comrades-in-arms'—maybe we should keep it secret from the outside world, but there is absolutely no need for us to hold anything back." Ling Di said in a low voice, "Just like I told you that Dinon's condition is not right. This is also a 'breach of contract'. But I believe you will not tell others. Just like you told me, of course I will not say it."

Wu Leting was stunned for a while, then said, "You mean, we can communicate in private?" "Exactly. Anyway, I am very willing. You know, I can only tell you about this, otherwise it will be really uncomfortable in my heart. I don't know what you think?" This sentence resonated with Wu Leting. In fact, she had long wanted to find someone to confide in and talk to, but due to the terms of the contract, she could only keep many words in her heart. It was really a painful thing.Now Ling Di's proposal like this is exactly what she wants. "Okay, Dr. Ling. I would also like to communicate with you privately."

Ling Di nodded. "Then let's stop talking here. I know you can't leave the ward for too long, and this is not the place to talk." "Ok." "Can you tell me your cell phone number?" Wu Leting told Ling Di a series of numbers.Ling Di took out his mobile phone and immediately called Wu Leting. After Wu Leting's cell phone rang, Ling Di hung up the phone. "Save my mobile phone number, if you need anything, just call me." "Okay, Doctor Ling." "Then I'll go down." Ling Di nodded at Wu Leting and walked downstairs. A person hiding at the bottom of the stairs quickly retracted and walked back to his office quickly.

After closing the door, Dean Ge walked slowly to the desk.With a gloomy expression and deep frown, he picked up a pencil on the table, turned it slightly, and then snapped the pencil into two pieces. The next morning, when Wu Leting came to work, she passed by the fourth floor.She found the dean standing at the stairs, as if waiting for her specially. "Miss Wu Leting, please come here." After Dean Ge said this to her, he turned and entered the dean's office. Wu Leting's heart skipped a beat, with a bad premonition.She bit the bullet and walked into the office. Dean Ge was already sitting behind the desk. When he saw Wu Leting come in, he took out a stack of money from the desk drawer and placed it on the desk. "This is the salary for this month, 8,000 yuan, you can count it." Wu Leting's heart sank. She guessed what it meant, but she still said, "Dean, it's only the 23rd of this month, and it's not time to pay wages yet." Dean Ge folded his hands and propped his chin, showing an incomprehensible smile. "You know what I mean, Miss Wu Leting." "You want to fire me?" Dean Ge stood up, walked up to Wu Leting, and shook his head. "No, it's not that you're fired. It's that your current job will soon cease to exist. So—sorry, I don't need to hire you again." Wu Leting was stunned. "Dean, I don't understand what you mean." Dean Ge said, "Well, it's your job to take care of Mr. Dinong, right? But he's going to be transferred in a few days—to another hospice. So, you understand? " "Transfer?" Wu Leting asked in surprise, "Why?" "Because the hospice is larger and equipped with psychiatrists, it is obviously more suitable for old Di than ours." "Then... what does Old Man Di mean?" "He has a mental illness. Originally, his family members should be consulted on such matters. But you know, he has no family members, so our hospital decided for him." Wu Leting said anxiously: "Principal, Mr. Di... is not mentally ill—I... think. And, anyway, this kind of thing should follow his own ideas, right?" "How do you know he doesn't want to?" "Based on what I know about him, I know he will definitely not be willing." Wu Leting said affirmatively. "However, it is our duty to provide him with a better environment and services." The dean said righteously. "But, Dean..." "Okay, stop talking." The dean stretched out his palm, signaling her to shut up. "Miss Wu Leting, this is our hospital's decision. To put it bluntly, you have no right to participate in opinions." Wu Leting opened her mouth, speechless. Dean Ge's tone softened a bit at this moment: "Actually, you have done a good job in the past two months. You come to and leave work on time every day, and you have never been late or left early once. Moreover, Mr. Di likes you very much—— Over the past few months, you may have had some feelings for Mr. Di. However, what I want to remind you is that Mr. Di is a dying patient, and it is impossible for him to live here for too long. Sooner or later, you will still face parting." Wu Leting looked into the dean's eyes, trying to find traces of lying in them.But she couldn't see anything. Dean Ge handed the money on the table to Wu Leting. "Take it, Miss Wu Leting. Your first job is a success." Wu Leting took the money silently, and asked, "When will Mr. Di be transferred?" "The car from that hospital will pick him up tomorrow." "So, I won't use it tomorrow?" "Yes, today is your last day working here. When you leave in the afternoon, say goodbye to Mr. Di." Wu Leting nodded, turned and left with a depressed expression. "By the way, Miss Wu Leting." The dean stopped her. "There is one thing to remind you-the confidentiality clauses in the contract you signed are not only for the working period-even if you don't work here, you still have to abide by the provisions of the contract. Otherwise, I will You can be sued for breach of contract." Wu Leting said flatly: "I see." She left the dean's office. Wu Leting walked up to the fifth floor with heavy steps.She couldn't explain why she was so lost and melancholy.Just because of losing this job?Obviously not.Perhaps it is true as the dean said, in the past two months, I have been with this old man every day, and I have developed some feelings.Thinking of Dinong telling stories to himself like a grandfather to his granddaughter, thinking of his kind face and gentle smile—to Wu Leting, a girl raised by her grandparents, this old man is as kind as a grandfather—however, After today, maybe I will never see him again... Throughout the morning, Wu Leting tried not to let herself appear listless and unhappy.But in the afternoon, when Wu Leting got off work, Di Nong still saw something.He asked, "what's the matter with you today, you look very preoccupied." Wu Leting asked: "Old Man Di, don't you know?" "what do you know?" Wu Leting was very surprised. "You really don't know?!" "what are you talking about?" "This morning, the dean told me that you will be transferred to another hospital tomorrow. Hasn't he told you yet?" Dinon looked a little shocked, but immediately, he lowered his eyes and said sadly: "It's not surprising. He has told this kind of lie for countless times - every girl who took care of me might have been taken away by this lie .Tomorrow, a new girl will apply for the job, and she will take care of me." Wu Leting was stunned for a moment, and suddenly realized: "So it's like this... I understand." Di Nong was surprised by Wu Leting's reaction: "You believe what I say, but not the dean?" Wu Leting looked at the old man and said, "Of course, I believe in you, Old Man Di." "Trust me I've lived here for 13 years?" "yes." "Believe I'm not mentally ill?" "yes." Wu Leting answered without hesitation.Dinon and her stared at each other for a full minute. "Heh..." The old man laughed and shook his head slightly. "You're a special girl. None of the girls used to really believe me. They all thought I was an old madman." "Old Di, why did the dean let me go so soon?" Dinon sighed, "Probably because—he sees that you're different from those other girls. You believe me—that's the last thing he wants." Wu Leting couldn't help asking: "What is the relationship between you and the dean? Why does he keep doing this to you?" Di Nong lamented again: "It's a long story. Forget it, I don't want to talk about it..." Wu Leting couldn't force it.But Dinon said to himself after a while, "But I can tell you a secret—" Wu Leting stared at Di Nong. "The dean kept me 'raised' here in order to ask for one of my things." Just as Wu Leting was about to speak, Dinong said, "Don't ask me what it is, I don't want to scare you." Wu Leting had no choice but to keep her mouth shut.Then she remembered something in the secret compartment of the low cabinet, the little wooden box. "Don't touch it" - that's what Dinon said at the time. Could it be that what the dean wanted was in that little box? Seeing Wu Leting in a daze, Di Nong said: "I'm sorry, that's all I can tell you. There are some things that you don't know. It's good for you, or me—" Maybe.Wu Leting comforted herself in her heart.She adjusted her mood and said, "Old Man Di, I won't be coming tomorrow. Is there anything you want me to do for you on this last day?" "Thank you, girl." Dinon nodded gratefully. "What you can help me is to find a good job and live a good life. Forget about me and the stories I told you." Wu Leting felt a little moved and sad.She tried to hold back the tears. "So, Old Man Di, can you promise me a request?" "What request, child?" "Can you tell me one more story?" Dinon smiled, "Of course. What story do you want to hear?" "A story about yourself." Wu Leting stared at him. "is it okay?" Dinon was silent for a long time, and sighed on his back: "Okay. After so many years, you are the only one who let me recall and tell this story again - after listening to this sad story, you will know why I am willing to spend my life Come to atone." I did a wrong thing when I was young, which made me regret for the rest of my life - Wu Leting remembered what Di Nong once said.Obviously, what he was going to talk about next was this matter.She watched Dinon intently.