Two days later.
It’s the 1st of January, New Year’s Day.
Dong Xuebing woke up early in the morning because of firecrackers in his neighborhood. He rubbed his eyes as he looks out of the windows. It’s too noisy for him to get back to sleep, and Dong Xuebing went to wash up. Luckily, it’s New Year’s Day, and not many people are lighting firecrackers. If it’s Lunar New Year, people will be letting off firecrackers for a few days.
After breakfast, Dong Xuebing rubbed his temples as he sat on the sofa.
The past two days, Dong Xuebing had attended lunches and dinners with his leaders and colleagues and had drunk a lot. Thus, he is having a bad hangover now. During this period, Dong Xuebing had bought liquor and cigarettes for Duan Zhengan, Cao Xupeng, and Xiong Zhiyong to thank them. He finally has time to do other things after settling all these.
Hospital.
Dong Xuebing drove to the County’s People Hospital.
The hospital is less crowded, as many patients had discharged before New Year’s Day.
Level 4. Yu Meixia is feeling down in her ward as she touched the bandages on her face. She was staring out of the window in a daze and did not even notice Dong Xuebing entering.
“Sister Yu, Happy New Year.” Dong Xuebing smiled.
Yu Meixia turned around and forced a smile. “Happy New Year to you. Why are you wearing so little clothes? It’s cold outside.”
Dong Xuebing sat down beside Yu Meixia. “I am fine. Oh, what are you thinking? Are you thinking of Qianqian? She is staying with my mother, and my Mum can help her with her revision. Her exams are round the corner, and she is studying hard.”
Yu Meixia nodded and hesitated.
Dong Xuebing looks at her. “… what’s wrong?”
“Are my wounds heal?” Yu Meixia asked. “When can I remove the bandages?”
Dong Xuebing took a deep breath and replied. “I think it will take a few more days. I will ask the Doctor later.” He wants to tell Yu Meixia but could not find the words. “Sister Yu, don’t worry. I promise you will be fine when the bandages are removed. Stop imagination things. The Doctor said, you will be fine.”
Yu Meixia touched her bandages and asked. “Can I remove it to take a look?”
“No!” Dong Xuebing quickly stopped her. “What if your wounds get infected?”
“… will my injuries leave scars?”
“No… Just have a good rest.
Yu Meixia might not be smart, but she is not stupid. She noticed Dong Xuebing had been stopping her from removing her bandages. Dong Xuebing could not face her and made an excuse to leave the ward. He stood in the corridor to calm himself. Sigh… How am I supposed to tell her that she is disfigured? Even if I send her for skin grafting, the chances of recovering her looks are slim.
After a while, Dong Xuebing found Yu Meixia’s Doctor.
“Doctor, Sister Yu’s injuries…” Dong Xuebing asked.
The Doctor’s name is Gao Liang and is responsible for Yu Meixia. “Her wounds had healed, and when I checked this morning. The last piece of scab had dropped, and she can remove her bandages now. But…” Doctor Gao sighed. “The new flesh is lighter in color, and the tissues around the wound are uneven. The five long scars on her right face are prominent, and from a doctor’s point of view, she is fully recovered… But compared to her looks before her injuries…” Doctor Gao had seen Yu Meixia’s photographs before her injuries, and she looks like a ghost now.
Dong Xuebing’s face changed. “Did you tell her about this?”
“No. I am worried she might not take it well, and her family members should tell her.”
Dong Xuebing thought to himself. Tell her? How am I supposed to tell her?
Doctor Gao looks at Dong Xuebing. “Even if you hide from her, she will also find out sooner or later.”
“I understand.” Dong Xuebing rubbed her temples. “Oh, the skin grafting…”
Doctor Gao replied. “I had contacted a former classmate who is working at a hospital in Korea. Their skin grafting techniques and scar removal technologies are more advanced than China. I spoke to her, and this is her number. You can call her if you decide to bring the patient there for treatment. She can also provide you with the necessary hospital documents for your passport application.”
“Did they mention if how confident they are in removing the scars?”
“They need further diagnosis as the scars are quite big, and the color of her skin from other parts of her body is different from her face. All of these will affect the result.” Doctor Gao replied.
“Under normal conditions, what is the percentage of her recovering her looks? I am talking about the total removal of the scars!”
“Hmmm… even the operation goes on smoothly, it will also be lesser than 20%.”
Dong Xuebing clenched his fist. “… it’s too low.”
“This is quite high. Many other hospitals do not even have 1%.”
Dong Xuebing took the contacts of the Korean hospital and thanked Doctor Gao. Regardless of how slim the chances are, there is still hope. Doctor Gao knew Dong Xuebing is going to be the Chief of Investment Promotion Agency, and he speaks to him politely.
“Ahhhh!!!”
Suddenly, a woman’s scream can be heard from outside of the Doctor’s office.
Doctor Gao was shocked and looks out of the door.
Dong Xuebing recognized it was Yu Meixia’s voice and turned pale. He rushed out of the Doctor’s office and ran to Yu Meixia’s ward. Doctor Gao also followed. A few nurses were crowding at the ward’s door, and Dong Xuebing squeezed his way through. “Excuse me!” Yu Meixia is not on her bed, but the bathroom’s door is opened.
Dong Xuebing walks closer and felt his heart stopped.
Yu Meixia was standing in front of the mirror in the bathroom in shock. She had removed her bandage and is staring at the five long scary scars on her face!
“Sister Yu!”
“… Don’t come near me!” Yu Meixia screamed.
“Sister Yu, you…” Dong Xuebing felt terrible.
Yu Meixia slammed the bathroom’s door shut, and Dong Xuebing can hear her sobbing inside.
Dong Xuebing’s eyes are all red. “Sorry… I didn’t tell you about this because I am afraid you cannot take it.”
Yu Meixia’s cried louder. “Why… Why is my face… my face…”
Doctor Gao sighed and waved the nurses away, before leaving the ward and closing the door lightly behind him.
Dong Xuebing did not know what to say and stood outside the bathroom quietly.
One minute passed…
Two minutes passed…
Dong Xuebing is worried about Yu Meixia and knocked on the bathroom’s door lightly. “Open the door. I know you are feeling upset. Yes… although your wounds can heal, it will leave scars. But don’t worry. With the advanced medical technologies now, the scars can be removed. Do you know about skin grafting? I had contacted a hospital in Korea, and I will bring you over after we got our passports. I promise all the scars will be removed.”
Yu Meixia replied, while sobbing. “Stop lying to me.”
“I am not lying. Trust me. Your scars can be removed.”
Yu Meixia refused to listen nor open the door.
Dong Xuebing is anxious and paced up and down outside of the bathroom. He wants to coax out of the bathroom. “Alright… Sister Yu, I will tell you the truth. The scars on your face are long and very deep. No hospitals in China are confident in removing them.”
Yu Meixia’s sobbing stopped.
Dong Xuebing continued. “But Korea’s plastic surgery is very advanced. If you receive treatments there, there is around 20% chance of recovering your previous looks. Even if you don’t look the same as before, the scars will be faint. Skin grafting is replacing the skin on your face with the skin from other parts of your body. The scars will be covered by the new skin.”
Dong Xuebing spoke for more than ten minutes.
Suddenly, the bathroom becomes quiet.
Dong Xuebing panicked. He opened the door and saw Yu Meixia fainted on the floor. He quickly carried her to the bed and called for the doctors and nurses. After checking Yu Meixia’s vital signs, the Doctor confirmed that she had fainted because she was agitated. After the doctors and nurses left, Dong Xuebing sat beside Yu Meixia and stroke her face lightly.
No! I should not wait any longer.
Apply for passports! I must bring Sister Yu to Korea as soon as possible!
Dong Xuebing decided and left the ward to call Doctor Gao’s friend in Korea. He spoke to her and asked her to arrange for the operation. After that, he had to apply for their passports. Yu Meixia’s Hukou is in Yan Tai County, and Dong Xuebing’s status does not need the Korean Hospital to send documents before they can apply for passports. Yu Meixia’s passport can be applied in Yan Tai County. Still, Dong Xuebing’s Hukou is in Beijing, and he had worked in the State Security before. His application might be restricted.
Xu Yan… Dong Xuebing’s former leader when he was with State Security Western District Branch.
Dong Xuebing called Xu Yan. “Hello, Chief Xu. I’m Xiao Dong. Happy New Year.
“Haha… It’s almost one year since you called. I thought you had forgotten about me.”
“I am afraid you are busy with work and will bother you.” After chatting for a while, Dong Xuebing asked. “Chief Xu, I have a friend who is going overseas for medical treatment, and I have to accompany along. My passport application…”
Xu Yan paused for a second and asked. “Where are you going?”
“Korea.”
“Oh… Send me a report with the Korean hospital’s verification, and I will get my men to prepare your passport. It should be ready in two days, and you can collect it in Beijing since you will be boarding the plane here. I will get my men to pass the passport to you at the airport.”
Dong Xuebing quickly thanked Xu Yan.
After hanging up, Dong Xuebing made a few more calls to arrange for Yu Meixia’s passport application and to inform the Bureau. Dong Xuebing is still under the Public Security Bureau, and his new appointment will only be out after Lunar New Year. He is supposed to be handing over his work now, but Yu Meixia’s operation cannot wait.
When Dong Xuebing returned to the ward, Yu Meixia had woken up.
Dong Xuebing walks over. “How are you feeling?”
Yu Meixia saw Dong Xuebing, and her tears started flowing. She quickly covered her face and shouted. “Don’t look at me! Don’t look!”
Dong Xuebing felt his heart aching. “Sister Yu…”
“Don’t come any closer!” Yu Meixia cried. “Go out!”
Dong Xuebing does not want to leave her alone and asked. “Are you thirsty? I will get you a glass of warm water.”
Yu Meixia did not reply to Dong Xuebing. She covered the right side of her face with one hand and pulled the blanket over her head with the other.
Dong Xuebing looked at her helplessly and said. “I will be outside in the corridor. Shout to me if you need anything.”
At this time, Doctor Gao and a nurse entered the ward to check on Yu Meixia’s face. Yu Meixia lifted the blanket and let Doctor Gao examine her face while crying. Dong Xuebing tried to look at Yu Meixia when Doctor Gao is examining her face, but she quickly hid under the blanket. Doctor Gao waved to Dong Xuebing, and Dong Xuebing can only leave the ward again.
Dong Xuebing knew Yu Meixia does not dress up or put on makeup, but she still cares for her looks, and she cares about Dong Xuebing’s opinion of her.
Noon.
Dong Xuebing tried to enter the ward again.
Yu Meixia saw him and quickly hide under the blanket again.
“Sister Yu, I’m not an alien. Why are you hiding from me?” Dong Xuebing joked and sat beside her. He sticks his hand under the blanket to try to hold her hand, but he touched something soft and round. He got a shock and moved his hands until he can finally grab her hand. “I had contacted the hospital and is applying passports for both of us. After the passports are ready, I will book the flight ticket, and we will be in Korea the day after tomorrow.”
“…I am not going.”
“What about your face?”
“……” Yu Meixia did not reply.
“Listen to me, alright?” Dong Xuebing said. “You don’t have to worry about the cost. Li Hong and Lui Dafa had compensated you 120,000 RMB, and it is enough. We will go for the operation first, and I will settle the score with them after we return.”
After a long pause, Yu Meixia said. “The chances of a full recovery are too low. My face… will not heal.”
“Who says your face will not recover?! I say you will recover your looks!” Dong Xuebing grabbed her hand tightly. “20% is enough. Trust me. Everything will be fine.”
“… Really?”
“Yes!”
“I will look the same as before?”
“Yes! You will be the same as before!”
After a while, Yu Meixia pulled down her blanket and showed her face. She looks at Dong Xuebing. “But… I don’t know anyone in Korea… I… If I go alone… I…”
Dong Xuebing laughed. “I will be accompanying you there. Leave everything to me.”
Yu Meixia nodded and asked. “What about your work…”
“Don’t worry about me. I had applied for leave, and your task is to relax and wait for the operation. This will increase the chances of recovery.” Dong Xuebing held on to her hand. “Don’t give yourself too much pressure. I promise you will be as pretty as before when we return. You might even be prettier than before.”
Yu Meixia asked. “What if… what if the operation is not successful? I…”
Dong Xuebing replied firmly. “Impossible! You will be fine!”
Yu Meixia kept repeating these questions to Dong Xuebing until she was discharged from the hospital in the afternoon. Dong Xuebing is not very confident also, as a 20% chance is very low, and the doctors there have not examined Yu Meixia’s wounds. But Dong Xuebing had to appear confident in front of Sister Yu to give her hope.
Back at Hua Mei Estate, Yu Meixia’s mood got better because of Dong Xuebing. She fell asleep with a face mask once she reached home.
