Chapter 16: The Incurable Disease

  “You two know each other?” Xu Danlu’s mother asked in surprise.

  Zhang Yang nodded. After a moment’s hesitation, fearing the truth about his grandfather might upset her, he said, “Auntie, Dr. Yang is actually the sister of the teacher you just met. She’s highly skilled and kindhearted—you’ve really found the right doctor this time.”

  Hearing Zhang Yang’s praise, Yang Jing couldn’t help but glance at him with a small smile. Then, exchanging a quick look with him, she turned to Xu’s mother with a polite smile and said, “Don’t listen to Zhang Yang’s flattery. Still, science has advanced a lot, and malignant tumors are no longer what we call incurable diseases.”

  She paused before continuing, “Well, Auntie, the scans are out. Our medical team is discussing a treatment plan, but we need to brief the family first. Your daughter is waiting in the office, so I came to get you.”

  She turned to Xu’s father, who still wore a confident expression, and said, “Uncle, please rest well. Don’t worry—it’s not too bad. Among malignant tumors, hypopharyngeal cancer is one of the more hopeful types. What you need most now is to eat and rest properly.”

  Then she looked back at Zhang Yang. “Zhang Yang, why don’t you come along too?”

  Zhang Yang nodded, knowing she must have more to say.

  As they left the ward, Zhang Yang noticed Yang Jing’s expression tighten, her steps quickening noticeably.

  “Dr. Yang…” Xu’s mother noticed the change and her face darkened. With a pleading tone, she whispered, “Doctor, can my husband still be saved?”

  Yang Jing stopped, clutching her clipboard to her chest, biting her lower lip lightly. After a pause, she said, “Let’s talk in the office.”

  From that single line, Zhang Yang knew Xu Danlu’s father didn’t have much hope. His mind flashed to the theories he had given Professor Shangguan and the others—but those were only theories. Even if they worked, it would be far too late now.

  “To put it simply, Mr. Xu’s diagnosis is T4N2Mx—poorly differentiated squamous cell carcinoma, stage IV, bilateral lymph node metastasis, distant metastasis unassessed.” Yang Jing placed the scan on the light board and sighed. “It was discovered too late.”

  As soon as she said that, Xu’s mother collapsed onto the floor, and Xu Danlu’s eyes filled with tears as she covered her face, speechless.

  Xu’s mother was the first to recover, clutching Yang Jing’s arm as she choked out, “Doctor, so there’s no hope left, is there?”

  Yang Jing turned toward the light board, lips pressed tightly, hesitated, and said, “It’s not entirely hopeless…”

  Hearing that sliver of hope, both Xu Danlu and her mother clung to her hands, kneeling down like drowning people clutching a lifeline. “Doctor, please, save my father.”

  “Please save my husband—I’ll do anything!”

  Yang Jing quickly helped Xu’s mother up and gestured for Zhang Yang to assist. He half-held Xu Danlu up and comforted them. “It’s still unclear whether there’s distant metastasis. As long as it hasn’t spread, there’s hope. The key now is to get a PET-CT scan to check if the cancer has spread.”

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  “Doctor, is that true? Then please, do a PET scan for him right away,” Xu’s mother said frantically, looking to Yang Jing for confirmation.

  “Yes, if you wish, you can start with a PET scan.” Yang Jing gave Zhang Yang an approving look, then nodded to Xu’s mother with a conflicted expression. “However, Meining City hospitals don’t have PET-CT equipment. If finances allow, it’s best to go to the capital, Shanghai, or Yuezhou—they have better facilities and technology.”

  “Still, even without distant metastasis, as a doctor I must be honest—the prognosis is poor…” Yang Jing took a deep breath and said, “Medical statistics show about a 10% five-year survival rate.”

  “Ten percent? Even if it’s one percent, we’ll fight for it,” Xu Danlu said firmly, then hesitated. “Doctor… how much will it cost?”

  “If there’s no distant metastasis and you use a high-quality treatment plan, it’ll be around five hundred thousand yuan.” Yang Jing looked at her seriously. “And that’s just the beginning—there’ll be follow-up chemotherapy, observation, nutrition, and more.”

  “Five hundred thousand…” Xu’s mother’s eyes went dark, almost fainting. She barely earned three thousand yuan a month, had two more daughters in school, and this astronomical number was beyond their reach. And as Yang Jing said, that was only the start—future costs would be a bottomless pit.

  “That’s the best treatment option. Of course, standard radiotherapy and chemotherapy would be around seventy to eighty thousand.” Yang Jing glanced at Yang Fei. “You could also try social aid, like university donation programs or insurance coverage.”

  “But first things first—we need a full-body scan. If there’s distant metastasis…” Yang Jing paused, leaving the rest unsaid. They all understood what that would mean.

  “Danlu, don’t worry about the money just yet.” Yang Fei patted her shoulder gently and said softly, “For now, take your father for a PET-CT as soon as possible.”

  “Thank you, Teacher. There’s no time to waste. I’ll take my father to Shanghai for the scan.” Xu Danlu said without hesitation.

  Yang Jing glanced at Yang Fei, then shifted her gaze to Zhang Yang. Her beautiful eyes flickered as she said to Xu Danlu, “Actually, you could ask Zhang Yang to go with you. He’s quite knowledgeable about malignancies and patient care.”

  “Huh? Why?” Yang Fei looked at her sister strangely. Clearly, Yang Jing hadn’t told her about Zhang Yang’s condition—or if she had, Yang Fei hadn’t paid attention.

  Yang Jing shot her a casual look, taking the CT scan off the light board. “He’s your student. Ask him yourself.”

  Yang Fei glared at her but didn’t ask.

  Zhang Yang didn’t explain either. Instead, he said to Xu Danlu, “No need to rush to Shanghai. PET-CT can actually be done here in Meining.”

  “Oh?” Yang Jing raised an eyebrow, then seemed to recall something. Nodding, she said, “Right—you’re right. Meining’s hospitals don’t have the machines, but there’s a private company that does. Xiangyun Group.”

  She turned to Xu’s mother and said meaningfully, “No need to travel so far. You’ll save a lot of money. Zhang Yang is your daughter’s classmate, right? Auntie, this young man is quite something.”

  Her tone was teasing, and Zhang Yang could tell she was back to her matchmaking habits—first trying to set him up with her beautiful sister, and now with Xu Danlu.

  Xu Danlu didn’t catch the hint, but Yang Fei did. Her lovely face flushed slightly as she glared at her sister. “Yang Jing, don’t meddle. We’ll talk at home.”

  Yang Jing glared back mockingly. “You hardly go home anyway. We’ll see if that day ever comes.”

  She packed up the scans, her tone turning serious again. “Auntie, the sooner we do this PET-CT, the better. I’ll contact Xiangyun Group and let you know once it’s arranged.”

  When they returned to the ward, they were surprised to find several new visitors around Xu’s father’s bed, chatting warmly.

  Most were fine, but among them were Bai Liangfeng, Bai Gang, Xia Weiwei, and one of Xu Danlu’s dormmates.

  Zhang Yang couldn’t make out the full conversation, but he caught words like “Zhang Yang,” “toad,” and “punk.”

  When the group noticed him, their faces changed instantly—especially Bai Liangfeng, whose reaction was over-the-top. Bandages still around his chest, he jumped back like he’d seen a ghost, pointing at Zhang Yang and saying to Xu’s father, “Uncle, that shameless bastard pestering Danlu all the time—it’s him.”

  Zhang Yang immediately realized he’d been set up. This idiot really had no brain. Without holding back, he stepped forward and sneered, “What? Didn’t get enough last time?”

  To his surprise, Bai Liangfeng didn’t get angry. Instead, he gave Zhang Yang a calm glance, then turned to Xu’s father with a mild smile. “Uncle, do you really feel comfortable leaving Danlu in the hands of someone like him?”

  Xu’s father’s expression grew complicated, while Xu Danlu, realizing what was going on, frowned deeply. She walked up to Bai Liangfeng, pulled him aside, and asked, “What did you say to my dad?”

  “Nothing. I just told him that you and I were a couple, and that I’d already arranged a top hospital for your father. But then you suddenly ran off with Zhang Yang, that thug, so now it’s hard for me to help your family.”

  “You’re lying.”

  “Lying?” Bai Liangfeng sneered, lowering his voice. “Your father’s treatment will cost over five hundred thousand. You think Zhang Yang can get that kind of money?”

  “How do you know that?” Xu Danlu froze. The fifty thousand figure had only been mentioned by Dr. Yang moments ago—how could Bai Liangfeng know?

  Bai Liangfeng smiled faintly. “Don’t forget what my family does. It’s not hard to find out. And I also know your father urgently needs a PET-CT scan. Unfortunately, Xiangyun Group’s schedule is already full. Even if you wanted one, it would take two or three days. But if Bai Group makes the call, you could do it tomorrow morning and have the results by the afternoon.”

  “And what’s the price?” Xu Danlu glanced down at her chest, wrapped in a tight black T-shirt, and sneered. “Sleep with you once?”

  Bai Liangfeng’s eyes were already glued to her chest, lust flickering in them. Staring at her cleavage, he licked his lips and said smugly, “Since you already know, why make me say it?”

  “Despicable!” Xu Danlu glared at him, her rosy lips trembling with anger.

  “Despicable? So what? I’ll give you one minute to think about it. Don’t forget—with Bai Group’s ties to Xiangyun, delaying your father’s PET-CT by ten days would be no problem.” Bai Liangfeng’s tongue slid across his lips, already picturing her on his bed. “Oh, and one more thing—you’ll also need to accuse Zhang Yang of attempting to rape you at Qingyuan Hotel in front of the faculty.”