The Brain Science Case 19

Chapter 19: The Schizophrenic Executioner – 8

When Jinglin arrived at the ward, Ge Ruxuan was watching a TV drama on a tablet.

She had thought she was catching up on a new show, but when she got closer, she saw that the picture was blurry and the subtitles were old-fashioned. “Ruxuan, what are you watching?”

“A show Grandma Gao was in. Have you seen it, Big Sister?” Ge Ruxuan mentioned the title.

She shook her head. “When was it from? Was it famous?”

“I don’t know, but she said she was only in her twenties when she filmed it. She said it was really famous, with a rating of over fifteen.” She said excitedly, then immediately asked, “Is fifteen high?”

“Very high.” Jinglin did a quick calculation. “It must be a show from at least thirty years ago. Can you understand it?”

She pouted and shook her head. “All this lovey-dovey stuff is so troublesome.”

“In that case,” she said, pulling a chocolate bar from her bag, “eating chocolate isn’t troublesome at all.”

“Yay! You’re the best, Big Sister, thank you!” Ge Ruxuan took it and was about to unwrap it, but she quickly stopped.

“What’s wrong?”

“I haven’t had dinner yet… Mommy will scold me.”

Jinglin nodded in approval. “Then… you can eat it later?”

“Okay.”

She put the chocolate aside and unexpectedly saw an opened bag of milk candy.

“Did your mom buy this?” she asked, picking up the bag.

“Ah, no, it was the big sister with glasses,” Ge Ruxuan answered nonchalantly, tapping the tablet to continue playing the show.

The big sister with glasses? “You’re still watching?” She rested a hand on the blanket.

“Grandma Gao said it’s really good, so I want to at least finish this episode… What happened to your hand, Big Sister?” Ge Ruxuan noticed her bandage and cried out in surprise. “Does it hurt? It’s wrapped up so big.”

She quickly pulled her hand back. “It’s fine, it’s nothing.”

Mrs. and Mr. Ge came over at dinner time. Ge Ruxuan quickly finished her meal and said she wanted to go to the common room.

“I’ll go with her. You two take your time.”

“Thank you for your trouble, Officer Zhou.”

As they were leaving the room, Ge Ruxuan was holding the chocolate. “Do you want some, Big Sister?” She broke off a piece.

“Sure.”

Although she was walking in front, Ge Ruxuan kept looking back. “What’s wrong?”

“You look so cool dressed like that, Big Sister.”

“Really?” She was always in a suit with pants and leather shoes.

“Yeah! You look even cooler when you’re holding a gun.” Ge Ruxuan made a gun gesture with her hand. “Bang! The bad guy is dead.”

“He’s not dead. He has to go to court.”

“Oh.” Ge Ruxuan nodded readily. Does she even know what a “court” is?

“Wait, Ruxuan? Weren’t we going to watch TV…” The common room was in the other direction.

“I’m going to see Grandma Gao. I’m going to tell her I’ve finished one episode.” She put a finger to her lips, her expression serious. “Don’t tell Mommy and Daddy, Big Sister. It’s our secret.”

“Okay, it’s a secret.” So cute.

But the bed in Ward 15 that belonged to Gao Shengmei was empty. The family member next to it only said she had been moved, but didn’t say where.

“Let’s ask the nurses. They’ll definitely know.”

“Ruxuan, don’t run so fast.” She saw the scar hidden in Ge Ruxuan’s hair, and her chest tightened.

“If she was just moved, it means she’s still in the hospital. Take your time, she’ll be waiting for you.”

Ge Ruxuan, who had been in a panic, immediately calmed down. “Okay.”

Jinglin gently stroked her hair. “Why do you care so much about that Grandma Gao?”

“Huh?”

“Isn’t that right? I heard from your mom that you’re the only one who talks to her. Even the nurses avoid her.”

“Grandma Gao is very nice. Sometimes when my parents are at work, she takes me to eat salad and drink coffee, even though it’s bitter. I always say I want to add sugar, and Grandma will scold me and say, ‘Eating sugar will make you fat,’ but she still lets me add it… She seems to be really afraid of getting fat. I think Grandma is very beautiful. You can’t tell she’s already sixty.”

She looked surprised. “She takes you to eat?”

“Yeah. Mom doesn’t know. Grandma said it’s a secret.”

So many secrets. She smiled. “Is she only this nice to you?”

“I think so. At first, she didn’t really pay attention to me, until she saw this on my head. She asked me about it, and I told her I was caught by a bad guy, and I bit the bad guy and got hurt and had surgery. After she heard that, she said I was as brave as her, and after that, Grandma was especially nice to me.”

“So that’s why…”

They went to the nurses’ station and found out she had been moved to Ward 3.

Gao Shengmei. Jinglin silently committed the name to memory.

“Let’s go, Big Sister.” Ge Ruxuan started running again. “It’s in the other direction.”

In the hallway just outside Ward 3, Jinglin was startled to see that familiar tall figure talking to another nurse.

Ge Ruxuan muttered to herself, “Ah, it’s the big sister with glasses…”

Her attention completely focused on Tang Yingli, she didn’t hear her.

**

When the woman with glasses appeared before her, Dai Yicheng had just retrieved an empty salad container.

The woman’s smile was very friendly. “You must be Nurse Dai Yicheng. May I have a few minutes of your time?” In her left hand, she held a bag with two cups of convenience store coffee.

“I suppose so. May I ask who you are…”

The woman was young and beautiful. It wasn’t until she introduced herself that Dai Yicheng realized she was Tang Zhichao’s sister.

Although Tang Yingli’s attitude was very polite, she still refused the coffee. “I’m sorry, I can’t accept your gift. Thank you.”

She didn’t insist, pushing up her glasses and getting straight to the point. “I’ve heard from many patients that you are especially concerned about the elderly patients.”

“Yes. The elderly need more meticulous care, so in addition to the usual medication administration and blood pressure checks, I try to pay extra attention to those who need special help, for the sake of their families.”

“That’s very admirable. Whether it was Mr. Wei or Mrs. Feng with the heart failure, they must have received your special care.”

“Uncle Wei often forgot to take his medication, so I would always remind my colleagues to give it to him with his dinner after physical therapy. Teacher Feng was all alone and would get out of breath after just a few steps. I remember she said she especially liked hot soup, so whenever I had time, I would prepare a bowl for her.”

“I see.” Tang Yingli nodded with deep understanding. “That must be very difficult. The work on the ward is busy enough, and you still have to pay special attention to the needs of each elderly patient.”

“It’s what we’re supposed to do.”

“No, what you’re doing goes beyond the scope of a nurse’s duties.” In that instant, her smile vanished. Dai Yicheng was stunned, but just as quickly, the serious expression melted away, and she was smiling again. “That’s on the level of family, isn’t it?”

“That’s true, but I don’t find it difficult. As you said, I treat the patients like family.” Dai Yicheng tightened her grip on the empty salad container. “Since they’re family, of course we want them to get better soon…

“Or at least not to suffer so much, to pass away without any worries. I understand very well the feeling of helplessness that comes with injury and illness. To live to that point is truly, truly pitiful.”

“To have a nurse like you must be a blessing,” she said with a sigh, walking out of the room with Dai Yicheng.

“Then you must be very sad that after Mr. Wei, Mrs. Feng also passed away last night.”

Dai Yicheng’s tone, however, was unusually calm, as if she had expected it to happen. “Patients with heart failure often suffer from ventricular fibrillation. Sudden death is also very common.”

Her voice rose sharply. “You knew she died of ventricular fibrillation?”

Dai Yicheng was taken aback. She frowned, but then quickly smiled. “Oh, what am I thinking? A professional nurse like you who cares so much about her patients must have done a perfect handover, right?”

“That’s right.” Dai Yicheng nodded with a smile and placed the empty container on the medicine cart. “Excuse me, I still have to continue with my rounds. I’ll be going now.”

“Sorry to bother you. You’ve worked hard.”

Before pushing the cart away, she gave Tang Yingli a deep look, then turned and happened to run into Ge Ruxuan, who was approaching.

And another strange, sharp gaze.

“Big Sister! What are you doing here?” Ge Ruxuan’s surprised and happy voice rang out. It was only then that Dai Yicheng realized the person wasn’t glaring at her, but at Tang Yingli. She rubbed her nose and quickly slipped into Ward 5.

**

Meeting Zhou Jinglin’s questioning gaze, Tang Yingli raised an eyebrow, took out one of the coffees, opened it, and took a sip.

“Big Sister! What are you doing here?”

“Am I not allowed to come?” She put her hands on her hips and wagged a finger at her. “And you should call me Auntie! Do you know I’m the same age as your mother?”

“If you’re the same age as Mommy, I have to call you Auntie?”

“Technically, anyone who is a generation older than you and younger than your parents should be called Auntie. Calling me Big Sister makes me sound like a little girl.” She pouted and huffed.

“But you look so young!” Being so young, she of course didn’t understand Tang Yingli’s dilemma. She broke off a piece of chocolate. “Do you want some, Big Sister?”

“You eat it. Are you out for a walk with the police big sister?” She pointed at Jinglin, who was still standing where she was.

“Yeah! I came to see Grandma. I’ve already finished one episode. I’m going to go tell her.”

Watching Ge Ruxuan’s small back, she smiled faintly. When she turned back, Zhou Jinglin was already in front of her.

“Still investigating the killer?”

“Mm. Have you had a doctor look at that again?” She tilted her chin up. “Dr. Tao’s suturing skills are really not that great.”

“Not yet, I’ll go later.” The wound on her right hand was throbbing. She hid her hand behind her back, gave a nod, and was about to follow her into the room.

“Officer Zhou, you’re so concerned about a little girl who is practically a stranger, yet you neglect your own flesh and blood. Is that right?”

Jinglin turned back, confused, and met her stern, almost reproachful gaze. “What do you mean?”

“Exactly what I said. Chief Fang has been taking your mother’s calls for you, hasn’t he?”

The chief told her? “S-So what?”

“Nothing. I just wanted to remind you not to wait until you’ve lost someone to regret it.” Tang Yingli’s voice was ice-cold. “I have personal experience with that pain. I know exactly what it feels like.”

“Personal experience with that pain?” Aren’t her parents and brother all fine?

Tang Yingli didn’t explain further, just pushed the remaining cup of coffee into her hand and winked. “Also, next time you’re tailing someone, remember to put your phone on silent. Getting caught because of a phone call is just unprofessional.”

Sh-She found out! “W-Wait a minute! Tang Yingli, come back!”

Jinglin was both embarrassed and angry, but her calls did not stop Tang Yingli from leaving. She stared blankly at that slender back, Tang Yingli’s words, “personal experience with that pain,” echoing in her mind…

And the image of her winking and smiling playfully before she left.