Chapter 56: Apnea

Song Ting Shen felt something was wrong.

Just moments ago, Song Qing Feng had been perfectly fine. His injuries weren’t serious—mostly superficial wounds—and the rescue team’s doctor had already cleaned them when he returned. By all accounts, there should have been nothing to worry about.

How could he have suddenly lost consciousness?

Without hesitation, Song Ting Shen followed the medical staff to the door of the operating room. Song Qing Feng had already been taken inside for emergency treatment, and Zuo Lan emerged from the operating room with a grave expression.

“Prepare some blood packs at the blood bank—preliminary diagnosis suggests a viral infection. We’ll try a blood transfusion for the Commander and see how he responds.”

“The Commander is allergic to penicillin. Xiao Li, head over to the pharmacy and fetch some clindamycin.”

After giving these instructions, Zuo Lan was about to return to the operating room when Song Ting Shen spoke:

“What’s the situation now?”

Zuo Lan looked at her son.

Over the years, Shen’er and Song Qing Feng had never been close; misunderstandings had always lingered between father and son. Now, with Shen’er suffering from amnesia, he still instinctively showed concern for his father. This brought Zuo Lan a touch of comfort.

She sighed, removed her cotton mask, and said, “It’s a viral infection at the wound site. I spoke with the rescue team’s doctor—he advised your father to get a thorough disinfection and cleaning after returning to the island, since there are many viruses at Moon Lake Island and lingering pathogens are a risk. But your father didn’t take it seriously. After returning, he was busy resettling the wounded and handling military affairs, rushing from meeting to meeting, and he ignored the issue.”

“He suddenly convulsed and collapsed on his way back to the conference room—it frightened all of us.”

After speaking, Zuo Lan glanced at Song Ting Shen’s tightly furrowed brow. Despite her own worry, she added, “Don’t worry, we can manage this. Just wait here… By the way,” Zuo Lan said, “don’t tell your brother about this yet.”

Song Ting Shen gazed at her in silence.

Only then did Zuo Lan realize, “Oh… I forgot you may not remember… Never mind, I’ll explain it to you later.”

With that, Zuo Lan returned to the operating room.

Though her specialty was internal medicine and she wasn’t the lead surgeon for this emergency operation, her anxiety compelled her to assist inside.

Song Ting Shen stood silently outside the operating room.

Before long, Hou Man Ling hurriedly arrived. She had heard about Commander Song’s sudden collapse and was deeply concerned.

Upon seeing Song Ting Shen, she went up and asked, “Is Commander Song… all right?”

Song Ting Shen didn’t look at her, replying simply, “He’s still in surgery.”

Hou Man Ling tried to reassure him, “Ting Shen, don’t worry too much.”

“Comrade Hou Man Ling,” Song Ting Shen said, “it would be more appropriate for you to call me Captain Song.”

Hou Man Ling was momentarily stunned.

She forced a nervous laugh, “I… I’m just worried about you.”

Song Ting Shen replied, “That’s unnecessary.”

Hou Man Ling fell silent, standing to the side with her head lowered, lost in her own thoughts.

Just then, Zhong Xiao also rushed over. She had finished delivering medication to the fourth floor and heard about the situation, so she hurried to the operating room to check in.

Upon arrival, she found Song Ting Shen and Hou Man Ling standing at the door.

Zhong Xiao paused in her tracks.

This was… awkward.

She felt uncomfortable, having just uncovered the secret of these “lovers,” and now she wasn’t sure how to face them.

Fortunately, there was no need for her to greet either of them.

Song Ting Shen’s attitude toward her was cold; he hadn’t even let her finish introducing herself. Hou Man Ling was even less welcoming—the two had clashed on Zhong Xiao’s very first day.

So, Zhong Xiao wisely positioned herself diagonally across from them, turned slightly to avoid their gaze, and looked elsewhere.

Song Ting Shen slowly lifted his eyes, his gaze landing on a flash of pure white.

Zhong Xiao stood at an angle, presenting only her profile. Her head was slightly bowed, one foot raised just a touch, the tip of her shoe lightly pivoting on the floor, as if to relieve boredom… or awkwardness.

Her curls hung beside her ear, obscuring much of her profile, leaving only the delicate tip of her upturned nose visible.

Song Ting Shen’s gaze was as deep and unfathomable as the sea.

Hou Man Ling glanced at Song Ting Shen, but his eyes had already shifted away, as though he had never looked at Zhong Xiao at all.

The atmosphere among the three, in the empty corridor outside the operating room, took on an odd tension—no one spoke, no one looked at one another, each lost in their own direction.

Zhong Xiao, from the corner of her eye, glanced at the other two, debating whether she should leave first.

Perhaps her presence was making it awkward for the two lovers to speak to each other.

Just as Zhong Xiao was considering slipping away, the operating room door suddenly swung open.

Zuo Lan appeared, her expression flustered.

“Shen’er, hurry to the pharmacy and fetch some atropine and glucose! Your father's breathing has suddenly stopped!”