Geisterbestattung

Kapitel 4

Every time Zhang Lili heard this, her eyes would light up and widen, revealing an incurable envy and jealousy. At this moment, Li Hui felt like the happiest person in the world; being envied by her companion gave her immense psychological satisfaction.

But now, her situation was terrible! She really didn't want Zhang Lili to know about her current misfortune. Would Zhang Lili truly sympathize with her?

Thinking it over, she forced a smile, took off her coat, poured Zhang Lili a glass of water in a disposable paper cup, and asked evasively, "Have you found a suitable person for the house renovation?"

Zhang Lili looked at Li Hui suspiciously, then absentmindedly agreed, "It's all set! Just let them know in advance when you want to start construction."

Li Hui thought Zhang Lili would be more specific about the details, such as wages, technology, construction period, and quality, but Zhang Lili seemed distracted. She didn't mention the renovation again, only saying that there was a patient waiting for her to return to the physiotherapy room for acupuncture, and then she took her leave.

Li Hui, preoccupied with worry, had no time to dwell on it. She thought, since Wang Yang would be back soon anyway, she could let him handle the renovations then; she simply wasn't in the mood for it right now.

Just as Li Hui was getting ready for work, Director Chen from the obstetrics department came over and asked her to go to the director's office.

Director Chen, in his early fifties, with a pale complexion and thinning hair, was a stern and unsmiling old man. He was always very polite to the female doctors in the department, especially to young and beautiful doctors like Li Hui. So, although he always treated Li Hui, who was skilled and had a good character, differently, Li Hui always felt a little afraid of him.

She understood that the leader must have overheard something about yesterday's surgery. She walked anxiously down the corridor, wishing time could stand still and that she would never reach her destination.

The director's office was on the sixth floor. Li Hui deliberately took her time, climbing the steps one by one, and finally arrived. But it wasn't until she stepped into the director's office that she nervously realized she hadn't thought of her "lines" yet.

With three years of medical experience, she's considered a veteran doctor compared to newcomers. What happened yesterday is simply unexplainable. But she can't report the entire mysterious "death schedule" to her superiors. Using such an absurd excuse would only lead to her being perceived as dishonest, lacking a proper understanding of the issue, and not honestly admitting her mistakes. She might even become a laughingstock afterward.

Li Hui didn't know how she sat down or how she walked out of the director's office.

She only remembered that Director Chen didn't actually talk about anything, just asking about her life in random, fragmented questions: "Is Wang Yang coming back soon? When will he be back? Has the new house been handed over? When do you plan to renovate it? Are you having any difficulties in life?" etc. What impressed her most was Director Chen's last sentence: "You are a prestigious doctor; you must cherish your reputation."

This is the most important sentence, and the one that the director most wanted to say!

She walked down the hospital corridor, her eyes scanning the patients and their anxious families. She felt guilty for the elderly woman whose uterus she had inadvertently removed. The woman was only fifty; this surgery might have damaged more than just one organ; it could very well have destroyed her once-happy sex life. Yet her family remained completely unaware, not only failing to say a word of complaint to the doctor but also repeatedly thanking her for saving their loved one's life!

Li Hui's inner pain was indescribable. She had no heart to feel fortunate for having escaped punishment by sheer luck. What worried her most was that if she continued with this mindset, she probably wouldn't even be able to perform the most basic tasks.

She didn't have the courage to go through the obstetric surgery this morning. Director Chen seemed to have guessed her thoughts and had already arranged a replacement for her.

Now, she should analyze the reasons for this matter carefully and then proactively write a situation report.

How should I write it? Should I say that I was momentarily distracted and lost my composure? Or should I say that the tumor was implanted too deep in the uterine wall, and that the patient's uterus had become too thin and fragile due to the long period of menopause?

The real reason, of course, absolutely cannot be included! But she still needs a suitable, plausible reason, right?

Feeling unwell lately? What's wrong? What illness? What's the cause? If it's work-related, no one would believe it! Currently, Li Hui's popularity at work is soaring. The hospital hasn't mistreated her; they've provided her with housing, her salary has increased, and she's on the verge of a promotion. Is it personal? Wang Yang is about to return to China—this is fantastic news! Li Hui's face has recently shown an unusual sweetness and satisfaction, which is known to almost everyone at work.

So, what reason could you possibly have to make such a ridiculous mistake? She kept blaming herself, feeling utterly wronged and aggrieved…

Or maybe I should just give up? I won't write anymore! Anyway, the director didn't ask her to do this, so why should I worry unnecessarily?

Unconsciously, Li Hui walked to the fire escape staircase at the end of the corridor. This staircase is usually unused because it is specially prepared for evacuation of people from the fifth, sixth, and seventh floors of the inpatient ward in case of fire. Starting from the fourth floor, it does not pass through any other floors and leads directly to the safety exit on the side of the lobby on the first floor.

Now, there wasn't a soul in sight around Li Hui.

When she suddenly realized where she was, she realized she had gone the wrong way and needed to get back to her office on the third floor. Of course, she couldn't take the fire escape.

But at that moment, she had already lifted her left foot and stepped onto the first step downstairs. Just as she realized she had taken the wrong step, her outstretched left foot suddenly retracted as if she had lost her bearings, but her body weight had already shifted to the bottom of the step.

Li Hui felt a spinning sensation before her eyes, and then she tumbled down the high stairs.

When Li Hui woke up, she found herself lying in an emergency room ward.

She felt pain all over her body, especially her head, which was throbbing badly. She also felt nauseous and wanted to vomit constantly.

Zhang Lili rushed in, exclaiming softly, "Oh dear! What's wrong?" as she pulled back the sheet covering Li Hui. Every time Zhang Lili touched a spot, Li Hui hissed and gasped in pain.

"Oh my! What were you doing up to the fire escape?" Zhang Lili asked her again, puzzled.

"Exactly, that staircase has more than twenty steps on each section. If you fall down, it'll be terrible!" The doctor who was treating her wounds chimed in.

Only then did she realize that she had multiple soft tissue contusions and skin abrasions all over her body, covered with anti-inflammatory topical iodine, and her left ankle had abrasions covered with bright red medicine.

The doctor was applying iodine to her forehead and cheekbones, and the pain brought tears to her eyes. Before he finished, Li Hui called to Zhang Lili, "Lili, quickly get me a mirror!"

She was anxious to know if she was "disfigured." Wang Yang was coming back next month, and how could she go to see him looking like this?

"Even in this state, you still haven't forgotten to adorn yourself!" Zhang Lili said as she left the room. A moment later, Director Chen hurriedly followed Zhang Lili in. He looked at Li Hui nervously and, finding that she was still conscious, breathed a sigh of relief: "Dr. Li, you scared us all!" Then he turned to the doctor: "We need to investigate thoroughly. How about this... go downstairs and get some X-rays and a CT scan."

Li Hui felt as if she had just gotten into trouble and now this had happened, as if she owed Director Chen another favor. She couldn't say a word and could only lower her head, staring blankly at the injuries on her legs and feet.

Director Chen misunderstood her meaning, thinking that Li Hui harbored resentment towards his last words in the office, and was speechless for a moment.

The atmosphere in the room was awkward, but Zhang Lili smoothed things over, saying, "It's fortunate that Li Hui wasn't seriously injured. Let's not say anything and let her get some rest!"

Upon hearing this, Li Hui immediately felt extremely dizzy, her stomach churned, and she vomited a mouthful of filth.

"It's probably a concussion. She needs injections and medication, and we'll observe her further," the doctor told Director Chen. Li Hui didn't hear what was said next; she was in a daze, like she was on a spaceship, and quickly fell into a deep sleep.

Sitting at home with the door closed

The morning after Li Hui fell down the stairs, as soon as she opened her eyes, pain shot through her entire body—arms, legs, ribs, neck, and even buttocks—everywhere felt like it was burning and pricking her bones.

She tried to roll over, but as soon as she moved, she cried out in pain, "Ouch!"

He let out a loud scream and broke out in a cold sweat.

Li Hui gasped for breath, but she found it difficult to even breathe. Her entire chest cavity felt like it had been shattered, and every breath she took was like being pricked by needles!

Upon closer inspection, his entire body was covered in bruises and scratches. All his joints were scraped raw, and from the broken black scabs, a pale yellow fluid oozed out.

Li Hui lay motionless on the bed, tears streaming down her cheeks like a stream. She called Wang Yang's name in her heart, wishing he could fly to her side immediately, embrace her, and gently comfort her.

She knew it was impossible; Wang Yang wouldn't be home for at least another month. She felt even more helpless and aggrieved, and she couldn't stop crying.

As she cried, Li Hui felt extremely dizzy and drifted off to sleep again.

When she woke up again, she wanted to go to the bathroom, so she struggled to get up, but she was in so much pain that she was sweating all over and couldn't get up.

She glanced at her watch; it was already noon.

I remember Zhang Lili said last night before she left that she would bring her some food for lunch today. She should be here by now.

The events of yesterday morning flashed before her eyes.

After falling down the stairs, Li Hui underwent a comprehensive examination from head to toe at the hospital. Fortunately, no fractures or internal injuries were found; she was only diagnosed with a mild concussion and soft tissue contusions.

Li Hui knew she was alright and would recover gradually with rest. Besides, although the hospital had given her a week of sick leave, she couldn't just stay on leave indefinitely for such a minor injury, could she? She didn't want this to become the talk of the hospital; it would be best to go back to work as soon as possible so people could forget about it quickly.

But to her surprise, after a night's sleep, she felt like a shattered clay doll, completely disfigured. She had originally planned to go to work once things were alright, but now she didn't know what to do.

Thinking about the events of the past three days carefully, one by one, they were all purely coincidental.

She didn't realize the water was too hot while showering because she was distracted. She remembered that the weather had started to cool down recently, and the day before, after showering, she had turned the water temperature to the highest setting, filled a bucket halfway with hot water, and then diluted it to make a full bucket for washing clothes. However, in her busyness, she forgot to return the thermometer on the faucet to its original position, which is why the water was too hot the next day.

The mistake during the surgery was due to not having slept the night before and feeling unwell. During the surgery, the tension and busyness caused her hands to tremble slightly. Furthermore, the nurse's reminder happened to coincide with the entry on the "death timetable," which startled her and led to the error.

The left foot was even more unexpected.

She walked towards the fire escape in a daze on her way back from the director's office. If she hadn't been thinking about writing the accident report, or had managed to control her emotions, none of this would have happened!

Li Hui realized that her ability to cope with things was surprisingly poor, like an immature college student. How could this be? If she hadn't been so absent-minded these past few days, many things could have been avoided.

Even if there really is such a mysterious figure who can control her destiny, she doesn't need to be so helpless. She should outwit him and see who can win.

Then she was surprised and realized: when did she get into character and seriously compete with that mysterious opponent? She was initially skeptical about this, because she had been secretly observing Ning Kun these days and had not found any special signs.

Strangely, none of the events that happened to her in these three days escaped the secret arrangement of the "death timetable"!

The coincidences are so extreme that they are truly chilling.

Perhaps there's someone else around her who hasn't caught her attention?

Thinking this way, Li Hui fell into pessimism again: now she was in the open, while the other party was in the dark, and she couldn't guard against it at all! She felt that the invisible and intangible mysterious force seemed to be firmly controlling her every move, and had a strong tendency to influence her fate.

Li Hui suddenly felt a pang of panic. Oh, she hadn't eaten anything since last night. But this feeling of emptiness wasn't entirely caused by hunger; she felt as if she had forgotten to do something important.

Right, she should have checked her email this morning; it's already noon!

Li Hui wanted to help Zhang Lili get up after she arrived, but how could she let others know about the email? Besides, she couldn't wait any longer. She had a strong urge to see if that person really knew everything about her situation. If he knew she had been resting at home these past few days, what would he say in the email?

Would he give her some leeway? Let her rest and recuperate before proceeding according to the new schedule? Or would he continue to deal with her according to the established timeline? This thought irritated Li Hui so much that she couldn't wait even a moment longer.

She struggled to sit up, groaning in pain. Finally, she slowly moved to the computer desk beside the bed. The screen lit up, and Li Hui's heart raced. Her eyes were glued to her inbox; sure enough, there was a message from this morning, signed "SW"!

The content of the dialog box is:

"Regardless of any special circumstances, the death schedule will remain in effect!"

It seems he knew she fell down the stairs yesterday! Li Hui felt a throbbing pain in her head.

She realized he was a vicious and ruthless guy. Why was he pushing her so hard? It seemed he knew everything about Li Hui, meaning this guy was lurking around her!

She remembered that she hadn't seen Ning Kun after her fall yesterday, but she had been unconscious for a period of time. Perhaps Ning Kun had arrived at the scene without her knowledge and had already been aware of her movements.

Who else knew about her condition yesterday? Among those present were the emergency room doctor, Director Chen of the Department of Surgery, Zhang Lili, and others who hadn't been there but had heard the news from others. Li Hui felt her mind was a jumbled mess, a thousand thoughts swirling in her head, and she couldn't sort them out at the moment.

Today is the fourth day, and the email notification reads: "Today, an unimaginable calamity awaits!" The tone was extremely sinister.

Li Hui couldn't help but feel a chill run down her spine. She could even feel the other person's cunning grin flickering in the dark like a will-o'-the-wisp.

However, she quickly calmed down.

She wanted to see if any trouble would come out of nowhere while she was sitting at home.

Li Hui shut down her computer and went to the bathroom. As she slowly walked towards the bathroom, she paused frequently, treating every part of her body with extreme caution, with the unparalleled care one would show when transporting a national treasure into a safe. Even while sitting on the toilet, she seemed afraid a brick might fall from the ceiling and smash her head.

Back in bed, she lay down. Li Huicai found herself ridiculous; how could she be so trembling with fear, so deeply believing in the curse of a madman? She couldn't help but feel a chill run down her spine at her erratic state.

It was almost one o'clock in the afternoon when Zhang Lili arrived. Li Hui was starving.

But the door was locked, so Li Hui struggled to get up and open it. After a lot of effort, she finally got it open. Zhang Lili, carrying large bags, rushed into the room and grabbed Li Hui, heading straight to the bedside: "Oh my god! I thought calling a taxi would be faster, but there was traffic, so walking was faster! There's no subway here, it's really inconvenient!"

As she spoke, she turned around and opened the thermos she was carrying in her other hand. Inside were wontons that had been soaking and swelling, all white and looking completely devoid of any elasticity.

"Oh dear! I'd better go out and get some fresh food! This is all inedible!"

Zhang Lili's face showed a look of self-reproach, feeling sorry for Li Hui.

But the aroma of the wontons had already filled the entire room, and Li Hui's mouth immediately watered: "No need, I'll eat it anyway, it smells great!"

"Oh dear, it's good that you have an appetite, which means the wound is okay. Come on, have something to eat first, I'll cook you a couple of side dishes tonight!" Zhang Lili smiled reassuringly, quickly helping Li Hui up and propping her up with a large pillow. Then she found a small bowl, filled it with wontons, and handed it to her.

Li Hui ate the tasteless wontons that had been soaking in water, and then she broke out in a sweat, her face flushed. She leaned back on a large pillow and chatted with Zhang Lili.

When the two of them met, they always had endless things to talk about. Most of the time, Li Hui would talk and Zhang Lili would listen. However, Zhang Lili was the kind of listener who was very ideal. Her eyes always encouraged you to keep talking, and no matter what you said, she seemed interested in listening patiently.

Li Hui wasn't feeling well today, so Zhang Lili was very considerate and talked to her a bit more. But her "talking" was all in fits and starts, perhaps because she was afraid Li Hui would get tired.

"Did you sleep well last night?" Zhang Lili asked.