Chapter 204 182: Father and Son

Mei Ru Xue was a little overwhelmed by his gaze. Just then, someone came over to notify her about a meeting.Xu Chunliang stood up to say goodbye. Before leaving, he informed her about Tong Guangsheng's illness. Mei Ru Xue said she would visit the hospital after the meeting.

Xu Chunliang returned to the hospital and saw Wang Jinwu driving in with a Land Rover. He guessed it must be Tong Guangsheng's son, so he went over proactively.

The Land Rover parked in the parking lot, and a well-dressed man got out. He was of medium build, fair-skinned, and wore black-rimmed glasses, giving off an air of sophistication. He was Shu Yuanhang, Tong Guangsheng's son.

Wang Jinwu locked the car and made an inviting gesture. Xu Chunliang had already walked over.

"Brother Wang, is this Mr. Shu?"

Wang Jinwu smiled and introduced Xu Chunliang to Shu Yuanhang.

Shu Yuanhang looked at Xu Chunliang's outstretched hand but did not respond. He merely nodded slightly before striding toward the ward.

Xu Chunliang's hand lingered in the air. Wang Jinwu winked at him and patted his shoulder, suggesting he should be understanding. This kid had been in a foul mood since he landed.

If it weren't for Tong Guangsheng, Xu Chunliang wouldn't bother being so warm and proactive. Normally, he would have been furious at getting a cold reception. He had originally planned to accompany them, but Shu Yuanhang's cold demeanor made him lose interest, so he turned and went back to his office.

Wang Jinwu could understand Xu Chunliang's reaction. Shu Yuanhang treated him the same way, with an attitude as if everyone owed him money. Xu Chunliang could leave if he was displeased, but Wang couldn't.

Wang Jinwu accompanied Shu Yuanhang to the ward. So far, he hadn't told Shu Yuanhang about Tong Guangsheng's condition. After some thought, he decided it was best for the doctor to convey it.

Opening the ward door, they saw Tong Guangsheng hooked up to an IV.

Tong Guangsheng was overwhelmed with emotion when he saw his son. He nearly leaped up but was held back by reason. He knew his son didn't have strong feelings for him. Lying in bed, he looked at his son, and thousands of words condensed into two: "You're here!"

Shu Yuanhang nodded, first glancing at the chart by the bed and frowning, "Gout?"

Tong Guangsheng nodded, "An old issue, flares up almost every year."

Shu Yuanhang leaned in to examine his complexion, then checked his eyelids, lifted Tong Guangsheng's shirt, and gave him a physical examination.

Usually stubborn, Tong Guangsheng was as docile as a kitten in front of his son, not daring to speak much, fearing he'd upset him.

An outsider sees clearly what an insider overlooks. From Shu Yuanhang's actions, Wang Jinwu sensed something. Could Shu Yuanhang be a doctor?

Information about Shu Yuanhang was scarce. They only knew he went to study in Australia but were unclear about his major. Before coming here, he worked at a research institute and didn't seem to be a doctor.

Shu Yuanhang tapped Tong Guangsheng's joints while Tong Guangsheng endured the pain.

"Does it hurt?"

Tong Guangsheng shook his head. What was this? Back in the war, bullets left holes in my body, and I never uttered a word.

Shu Yuanhang said coldly, "Now's not the time to act tough. Tell me, does it hurt?"

Tong Guangsheng was like a scolded schoolboy, "A little..." He couldn't figure out what was going on with his son.

Shu Yuanhang excused himself to the washroom and called Wang Jinwu out.

The two of them went to the end of the corridor. Shu Yuanhang fixed his gaze on Wang Jinwu, "What's his condition?"

Wang Jinwu said, "Gout."

Shu Yuanhang replied, "Your country's medical standards are really backward."

Wang Jinwu was a bit annoyed by this. What do you mean by 'your country'? Does he really think he's a foreigner? Even as a foreigner, does Southeast Asia have high medical standards?

Shu Yuanhang said, "Take me to see the bed doctor. I have questions."

Wang Jinwu had no objections, preferring the doctor reveal the truth. Not because he worried Shu Yuanhang would be upset; he didn't seem upset. He took Shu Yuanhang to the doctor's office and found the old director, Miao Xiujun.

After introducing Shu Yuanhang's identity, Miao Xiujun handed over the medical records to Shu Yuanhang.

Shu Yuanhang looked at his father's test results and closed the records, "Since you suspect leukemia, why keep it from him?"

Miao Xiujun honestly replied that, first, they hadn't done a bone marrow puncture test, and second, they were considering the patient's reaction to the true diagnosis.

Even facing Director Miao, Shu Yuanhang showed no respect: "The lab results and symptoms are clear. You're not considering the reaction, you're afraid to take responsibility."

Even-tempered Miao Xiujun couldn't tolerate the young man's baseless accusations: "I have my own professional judgment on such matters, no need for your interference."

"Professional? From your treatment plan, I see no so-called professionalism."

Miao Xiujun was livid. This young man was too arrogant. What was wrong with my treatment plan? Improving the patient's basic condition, symptomatic treatment—should I start chemotherapy before a confirmed diagnosis? She didn't want to say more and turned back to her office, clearly not wanting to engage further with Shu Yuanhang.

Wang Jinwu couldn't help but criticize, "How can you talk to Director Miao like that? She's been earnestly treating President Tong."

"For a patient, what they need is not just a dedicated doctor, but one who can help relieve their pain, a doctor who can cure them." Shu Yuanhang said, "Tell me, when did he start having a fever?"

Wang Jinwu carefully recalled that Tong Guangsheng should have started to have a fever after the explosion at Yu Shui Qing and his participation in the rescue. He remembered that day he was rescuing in the rain, got sick after returning, and has been feverish since then.

Shu Yuanhang said, "Utterly without common sense, having a fever for so long and only now coming to the hospital, what are you doing?"

Wang Jinwu felt even more guilty at his words; he indeed had been too careless and not concerned enough about Tong Guangsheng.

Shu Yuanhang turned and walked towards the ward, Wang Jinwu following in his steps, "Mr. Shu, what do you plan to do about this?"

Shu Yuanhang said, "Depends on what he wants."

Wang Jinwu got a bit nervous, feeling that this guy was about to tell Tong Guangsheng the truth.

"Mr. Shu, shall we keep it secret for now..."

Shu Yuanhang had already entered the ward.

The nurse was removing the needle for Tong Guangsheng, and he smiled at Shu Yuanhang, "Yuanhang, I feel much better and plan to be discharged today. Jinwu, go handle that for me."

Shu Yuanhang said, "You indeed should be discharged."

Wang Jinwu quietly breathed a sigh of relief, this kid seems to have some conscience, not telling the truth to his dad.

Shu Yuanhang said, "This hospital is not capable of curing your illness, you should choose a higher-level hospital for treatment."

Wang Jinwu clenched his fist; this guy really had to say it, couldn't he be a bit more tactful?

Tong Guangsheng was momentarily stunned, then he laughed, interpreting his son's words as concern for him, "Gout is indeed hard to cure, but you don't need to worry about me, I'll find time to visit a big hospital."

"You don't have much time left, you likely have leukemia."

The room's atmosphere instantly froze, so silent you could hear a pin drop.

Wang Jinwu was so frustrated he clenched his fist hard; Shu Yuanhang, Shu Yuanhang, is he really your father? Couldn't you at least consider his feelings?

Tong Guangsheng's smile froze on his face, and it took a while before he finished the smile, "Really, I felt it wasn't that simple this time. Wang Jinwu, you brat, you tricked me."

Wang Jinwu said, "President Tong, it's not confirmed yet; the doctor says a bone marrow test is needed..."

Tong Guangsheng interrupted him, "First help me go through the discharge procedure; this kind of illness isn't cured in a day. Yuanhang is here, let's head back to the farm for lunch at noon." He got out of bed to put on his shoes, revealing his prosthetic left leg.

Shu Yuanhang told Wang Jinwu, "Go handle the discharge for him."

Wang Jinwu suppressed his anger, reminding himself that he wasn't Shu Yuanhang's servant, but considering Tong Guangsheng was present, he endured and left the ward.

Tong Guangsheng picked up a cigarette from the nightstand and lit it, Shu Yuanhang quietly watched him, "Smoking is harmful to health."

Tong Guangsheng took a puff and slowly exhaled a cloud of smoke, "In my current situation, it seems it doesn't matter anymore, does it?"

Shu Yuanhang said nothing, just quietly watched his father, as always as if he were a stranger.

Tong Guangsheng said, "I was planning to be discharged yesterday, but then I heard you were coming, so I thought I'd stay another day. Am I childish, trying to earn your concern this way?"

Shu Yuanhang said, "Everyone is vulnerable at times and wants others' care."

Tong Guangsheng glanced at him; though his son was right there, for some reason he felt even more alienated than before. From his son's eyes, he saw no concern or warmth, only formulaic expressions as if looking at an ordinary patient.

"Are you a doctor?" When asking this, Tong Guangsheng realized how little he understood his son.

Shu Yuanhang said, "I went to medical school for college."

Tong Guangsheng nodded, "You never told me that."

"It didn't seem necessary."

Tong Guangsheng pondered, "Indeed, why choose to study medicine?"

Shu Yuanhang's eyes flashed with a tinge of anger, "Because my mother had an acute illness, and I watched her die helplessly."

Tong Guangsheng's heart jerked as if stabbed deep within and twisted around.

This was his eternal pain. Twelve years ago, it wasn't his ex-wife who contacted him, but his son. Shu Yuanhang told him his mother had an acute illness and needed money to save her, yet he didn't immediately send the money, suspecting it to be a scam. Out of caution, he personally flew to Penang, but by the time he arrived, his ex-wife had died without timely rescue. He could never forget the look of hatred in his son's eyes then; if he had wired the money right away, perhaps his ex-wife could have been saved, only perhaps.

Twelve years have passed, and his son's angry and grieved eyes from that day continue to haunt him.

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