Within the face of sickness, any try to carry on was like a praying mantis attempting to cease a transferring automobile*.

*(螳臂当车) Idiom referring to a futile try to cease one thing a lot stronger or extra highly effective than oneself, akin to an insect attempting to cease a automobile.

Lin Chen now not struggled. His respiration steadily stabilized, and the soft-packed saline water was injected into his physique drop by drop. He appeared to have handed essentially the most extreme shock interval, however Xing Conglian knew that the matter was removed from over.

He brushed the moist locks of black hair on Lin Chen’s brow together with his hand, however Lin Chen didn’t even have the energy to react.

Duan Yang patted him on the shoulder and stated calmly, “Captain Xing, please come out.”

Xing Conglian didn’t know whether or not this was a needed ceremony that each affected person’s member of the family needed to undergo. They may clearly converse within the ward, and, given Lin Chen’s situation, he wouldn’t even hear them. But, he should be referred to as out by the physician and, by means of a skinny door panel, make selections that might decide the life and loss of life of the affected person.

He and Duan Yang walked out the door numbly. Each step he took was like stepping right into a winter’s night time that solely acquired colder.

The hatch closed gently.

The individuals ready on the door additionally appeared involved. He had seen these acquainted faces one after the other, whether or not it was Wang Chao or Xiao Wu, Zhang Lengthy or Kang An… These subordinates and buddies who had fought aspect by aspect with him now appeared meaningless to him, making him unable to really feel any sense of affection.

Wang Chao cautiously referred to as out to him. The expression on his face appeared to hope that he would convey some excellent news. Xing Conglian turned his gaze to Duan Yang, and the physician shook his head.

Zhao Hu handed over a pack of cigarettes. “They’ve been notified, however Zaratul is loopy. The complete space west of the Xazi Mountains is blocked. Those that ship drugs can solely come from the seaside, and the quickest means is to go in opposition to the present. It would take a day and an evening.”

Xing Conglian appeared on the warning “Smoking is dangerous to your well being” on the cigarette pack and didn’t choose it up. He stretched out his different hand and minimize the cigarette upfront. He noticed Duan Yang’s calm and lifeless face.

The younger physician appeared on the stern of the boat after which walked over to him.

Duan Yang had clearly by no means smoked a cigarette earlier than, so when he walked to the strict of the boat with the cigarette, he solely stood there awkwardly. Xing Conglian took out a lighter and threw it over.

The recent and humid wind blew throughout the younger man’s face. Duan Yang trembled with each palms as he lit the cigarette. After taking solely a puff, he choked and coughed violently. Xing Conglian didn’t care about him. He simply stood there in opposition to the strict guardrail, letting Duan Yang kneel on the bottom, coughing desperately as if he had been crying.

Xing Conglian turned his head and appeared on the fixed inexperienced bushes on either side of the river. He instantly realized that they had been truly beasts cornered by this terrifying greenery, struggling to discover a slim means out.

Duan Yang was quiet. Though he trembled throughout, he coated his face from starting to finish, and never a single tear flowed. He was simply immersed in deep ache and helpless confusion, and Xing Conglian knew this sense very nicely, as a result of he was now nearly just one foot away from falling into the identical abyss as Duan Yang.

Now, he actually wanted somebody who might inform him clearly that Lin Chen might survive by means of this.

Even when somebody opened a horoscope and advised him that Lin Chen can be in peril as we speak, he would undoubtedly flip misfortune into good luck. He would take it as a lifeline, but it surely was a pity that there was no such factor. They may solely get by means of it by themselves, and nobody would assist.

Half of the cigarette in Duan Yang’s hand burned, and the wind was sturdy, dashing up the burning of the second half.

Xing Conglian squatted down, took out a cigarette, and flicked it into the soiled river.

Duan Yang took his time to look at him with solely useless silence in his eyes.

“Duan Yang.” Xing Conglian spoke slowly, calling the younger man’s identify for the primary time. “It doesn’t matter what you wish to say subsequent, I can solely say that I don’t wish to surrender but, and neither does Lin Chen. Due to this fact, I received’t settle for any verdict-like phrases. Can we nonetheless consider an answer…physician?”

Duan Yang clung to the railing tightly. When he heard the phrase “physician”, Duan Yang instantly appeared up at Xing Conglian. After calming his feelings, Duan Yang sobered up and spoke with excessive problem. “Marketing consultant Lin’s allergic response is just too severe. Utilizing penicillin once more will inevitably result in a extra severe acute shock than simply now, and he’ll die instantly.”

“So now what?” Xing Conglian requested quietly.

“Now, I nonetheless have a small quantity of erythromycin* out there.” When Duan Yang stated these phrases, he didn’t convey any hope, however a deep sense of despair.

*Antibiotic used for therapy of numerous bacterial infections. This contains respiratory tract infections, pores and skin infections, chlamydia infections, pelvic inflammatory illness, and syphilis.

“Sounds fairly lethal,” Xing Conglian sneered then laughed.

“To start with, penicillin is nearly at all times the only option for sepsis. Erythromycin is usually solely used as an adjuvant drugs, and the dose I’ve now could be too small to achieve the quantity required for therapy. For this reason I didn’t select erythromycin within the first place.”

“Proceed,” Xing Conglian stated.

“Now, Marketing consultant Lin’s immune response has been triggered. Virtually all literature steering will say that the medicine needs to be stopped instantly and related medication needs to be prevented to forestall additional severe immune chain reactions. And his case clearly states that he’s additionally allergic to erythromycin, which implies that if I attempt to use the desensitization methodology I simply talked about to deal with him with erythromycin, there’s a excessive likelihood he’ll instantly go into acute shock and die…” Duan Yang paused and checked out him solemnly. “I’ve simply used up the final dose of epinephrine. If he goes into acute shock once more, I’ll undoubtedly not have the ability to save him.”

Xing Conglian quietly listened to Duan Yang’s narration. The physician advised him the cruelest details within the easiest and most comprehensible phrases. He thought for some time and requested, “What if we don’t use antibiotics?”

“He’s already had the incision on his hand, and I’ll do a drainage process on it later. With out antibiotics, he won’t make it by means of the day, except a miracle occurs. In fact, in case your individuals can convey the drugs earlier…”

“There will likely be no miracles, proper?” Xing Conglian requested as he checked out Duan Yang’s bloodshot eyes.

“Do you suppose I’ll nonetheless imagine in such a factor?” Duan Yang requested rhetorically.

Xing Conglian couldn’t reply. He thought the choice was tough earlier than, but it surely turned out to be just the start. Now the query of alternative had develop into: ought to he let Lin Chen die instantly, or watch him slowly die in entrance of him?

Seeing that he didn’t reply for some time, Duan Yang stated, “I’ll ask Marketing consultant Lin. I additionally must respect the affected person’s opinion…”

“No want,” Xing Conglian interrupted. “The selection is in my palms. Let’s strive once more.”

Duan Yang checked out him with deep shock. All of them knew that whoever made the selection must take duty for the loss of life and dwell with the heart-wrenching remorse which will come sooner or later.

……

When Lin Chen regained some consciousness from his extreme allergy, he felt that there was numerous crowding round him.

It was unusual that within the brief time frame when he was in a coma or fell asleep simply now, he didn’t dream and there have been no chaotic visions of useless individuals. He appeared to simply be a traveler after an extended journey. He noticed a really comfy and comfortable mattress on the finish of the desert, so he laid down and took a nap for some time.

It wasn’t too scorching or too chilly round; just a bit crowded.

He opened his eyes barely and appeared round him. He noticed somebody mendacity on the opposite aspect of his slim hospital mattress together with his head resting on his hand. Naturally, it was Xing Conglian.

He glanced on the hanging IV bag. The remaining quantity within the pack and the sky exterior the window advised him that the scene he had imagined of sleeping and waking up cured of his sickness had not occurred and that solely a brief period of time had handed.

“When are you able to cease being so good?” The low, hoarse voice of Xing Conglian got here from his left. “I used to be even pondering of tricking you into pondering you had been higher simply now.”

Lin Chen glanced at Xing Conglian, who was nonetheless mendacity carelessly, whereas he might solely specific his dissatisfaction with a really slight and nearly imperceptible voice: “I’m a affected person…”

“I do know.”

“You’re sleeping right here…and I sleep…the place?”

“In my arms.”

Earlier than he might react, Xing Conglian circled, gently grabbed his waist, and dragged him into his arms with an angle that couldn’t be rejected.

Lin Chen subconsciously wished to wrestle, however Xing Conglian clung to him tightly. He leaned behind his ear and stated solely two phrases in an especially chilly tone, “Don’t transfer.”

Lin Chen shuddered and calmed down in Xing Conglian’s arms.

Xing Conglian actually did what he stated.

He nonetheless had his chilly lips pressed behind Lin Chen’s ear, attempting to speak to him. “The place did you choose up such a child?”

Lin Chen thought for some time and requested him, “Duan Yang?”

“Sure.”

“It’s an extended story…”

“I don’t actually wish to hear it both.”

The unusual jealousy in his tone was fairly cute. Lin Chen shrank into Xing Conglian’s arms a bit extra, recalling the issues they skilled collectively, and stated to Xing Conglian, “He’s excellent, however… simply unfortunate.”

“His mind isn’t excellent both.” Xing Conglian’s tone was clearly poor.

“Do you want me… to intercede for him?” Lin Chen requested tentatively.

“No.” Xing Conglian’s voice was extraordinarily chilly. “Marketing consultant Lin, I feel we actually must deepen our understanding. Please imagine that regardless of how good an individual is, in case you put the lives of others earlier than your individual security subsequent time, I’ll undoubtedly lock you up in chains, and also you’ll by no means have to consider strolling out the door once more.”

Lin Chen didn’t know why the subject had shifted again right here once more, but when there was actually one other time, that might be very nice, so he stated, “Effectively… you’ll want to lock me up.”

“You may solely be by my aspect.”

“Okay.”

He felt that if he had been bodily allowed, they might in all probability discuss collectively for a very long time like they used to, as if it might by no means finish.

When Xing Conglian was speaking, he saved kissing Lin Chen’s ear. When Lin Chen stated “no”, he evenly bit his earlobe. Lin Chen felt his ears had been scorching and his entire physique was numb, in order that he couldn’t transfer any longer.

He blinked, however Xing Conglian’s embrace was too heat, making him wish to sleep once more.

At this second, Xing Conglian spoke slowly, and Lin Chen knew essentially the most crucial half was coming.

However there was no seriousness in Xing Conglian’s voice. He simply stated evenly, “Duan Yang stated that penicillin can now not be used, so now we have to strive once more. However the subsequent drug might provoke a extra severe immune response. As soon as the desensitization fails, you’ll die instantly. Nonetheless, you haven’t any alternative. I’ll let him are available for the drugs later.”

Lin Chen was shocked for an instantaneous. He didn’t know the place Xing Conglian had the braveness to make such a choice on his behalf. It was too tough. His lips trembled, and he might hardly converse.

Xing Conglian’s palms round his waist had been tight. He circled with problem, attempting to achieve out to hug Xing Conglian, however the second he raised his head, Xing Conglian’s kiss fell.

The again of his neck was gently hugged, and the person smelled of mint tobacco. His lips and tooth had been clear and chilly, just like the coldness of the forest.

Nonetheless, the kiss was comfortable and heat, like feathers brushing throughout the water or grass soaking within the solar. Lin Chen considered the daisies and geraniums on their balcony and the scene when the petals slowly unfolded when the solar rose.

Xing Conglian sucked his lips gently, with out making any additional aggressive actions. As a result of they had been so shut, their breaths entangled, and even their heartbeats had been nearly audible.

Lastly, Xing Conglian let him go.

“Lin Chen, include me.”

Xing Conglian’s voice was so calm and detached, as if he had been simply asking him what they had been going to have for dinner tonight.

Stick with me, dwell with me, and die collectively.

Lin Chen checked out him quietly with out shedding any tears.