Sheng Zexi gestured for Gu Jianing to greet the Hua family members and introduced them to her one by one.
Gu Jianing greeted them politely, thinking to herself that every member of the Hua family was truly exceptional.
Especially the eldest and second sons of the Hua family—their brilliance and distinction were evident at a glance.
From this, it was clear that their youngest brother, Hua Zhenrong, was also an outstanding talent among men.
If he were to die as he had in her past life, it would be a true pity.
“Good child, good child.” Mother Hua looked at Gu Jianing’s heavily pregnant belly and held her hand, her eyes filled with gratitude.
Regardless of whether the treatment would be effective, the mere fact that Gu Jianing had come to help despite her advanced pregnancy filled their hearts with deep appreciation.
“Where is Comrade Hua now? I’d like to examine him right away,” Gu Jianing said proactively.
The “Comrade Hua” she referred to was naturally Hua Zhenrong. At the mention of him, a shadow of sorrow passed through the eyes of the Hua family members.
“Zhenrong’s condition has worsened recently…” Father Hua led them toward Hua Zhenrong’s room while explaining his recent state.
In the beginning, when he first fell ill, Hua Zhenrong had still been lucid. Later, he began drifting in and out of clarity, alternating between moments of awareness and bouts of madness.
Starting last year, his lucid periods grew fewer and fewer.
This year, he hasn’t had a single lucid moment in a day.”
Not only that, but whenever his emotions spiraled out of control, he would bang his head against walls or harm himself in other ways.
“We had no choice but to restrain him to the bed.”
As he spoke, Father Hua pushed open the door.
Gu Jianing looked inside and immediately saw a figure lying on the bed. When she approached and Father Hua pulled back the covers, the details became clearer.
The man was tall and broad-framed but terribly emaciated. Even through his clothes, the sharp protrusions of his bones were visible.
His face was hollow-cheeked, yet his striking features were still discernible.
Dark circles shadowed his eyes, a clear sign of chronic sleeplessness.
Mother Hua gazed at her youngest son on the bed, her eyes red-rimmed, and said, “Ever since he fell ill, Zhenrong’s condition has only worsened. He often lies awake all night, and when he does sleep, he’s tormented by nightmares…”
What those nightmares were about went without saying.
“He still can’t sleep normally. Only after prolonged episodes, when he’s utterly exhausted, might he manage to drift off.”
“Or if he’s given sedatives.”
Now, Hua Zhenrong has been given significantly more sedatives.
After all, sleep is a necessity for survival.
If a person goes too long without rest, their body will inevitably break down.
So even though they knew frequent sedatives were harmful, they had no other choice.
“Early this morning at 4 a.m., we gave him another injection. But now, even sedatives are becoming less effective at putting him to sleep.”
Before, a single dose could knock him out for a full day and night. Later, it only lasted a day, then just over a dozen hours, and now—merely a few hours.
They were terrified.
What if even sedatives stopped working? What then?
Thinking back to how bright and spirited Hua Zhenrong had once been, and now seeing this gaunt man tied to the bed, the Hua family’s eyes reddened without them even realizing it. Mother Hua turned away, discreetly wiping tears from the corners of her eyes.
Gu Jianing studied the man on the bed. At a glance, she could tell the Hua family had taken meticulous care of him.
After all, during her simulated training in the space, the PTSD patients she had observed were often disheveled—like madmen or beggars.
But Hua Zhenrong’s hair was neatly trimmed, still cropped short in a crew cut.
His face bore no unkempt beard, just a faint shadow of stubble.
Though restrained, he was dressed in clean, proper clothing.
And the bindings securing him were made of soft cloth strips.
As for his emaciated frame—well, there was no helping that.
With this illness, maintaining a proper diet was impossible.
Sheng Zexi stepped forward, taking Gu Jianing’s hand and asking quietly, “Well? Any confidence?”
Whenever Sheng Zexi had returned to the capital, he had visited Hua Zhenrong at the Hua residence.
And each time, Hua Zhenrong’s condition had worsened.
Seeing his former comrade and friend in such a state pained him deeply.
Even without medical expertise, he knew Hua Zhenrong’s current state was dire. He worried for Ningning…
“It’s fine. Let me check his pulse first,” Gu Jianing replied.
Even without taking his pulse or running a scan, she could tell Hua Zhenrong’s condition was severe.
If things continued like this, his death in a few months was inevitable.
But during her training in the space, she had treated many patients on the brink of death—and ultimately saved them.
So, Gu Jianing still had some confidence.
What’s more, she had the spiritual spring liquid specifically designed for PTSD, a reward from the system.
Therefore, there was definitely no problem.
However, since she hadn’t started treatment yet, Gu Jianing didn’t want to make any absolute promises.
“It’s alright, Xiao Gu. Just do your best. We understand Zhenrong’s condition…” Mother Hua quickly reassured her.
Gu Jianing nodded, then stepped forward to check Hua Zhenrong’s pulse.
As she placed her hand on his wrist, she noticed the deep marks left by the cloth restraints—some so severe that the fabric was stained with dark brown blood.
Gu Jianing took a deep breath before beginning the pulse diagnosis.
Sheng Zexi set down Gu Jianing’s medical kit and was about to fetch a chair for her when Hua’s eldest daughter-in-law had already brought one over.
Having a seat was naturally the best option for Gu Jianing, given her heavily pregnant state.
Once seated, she quickly placed her fingers on Hua Zhenrong’s wrist.
System, bind Hua Zhenrong as my patient, she instructed silently.
[Ding! Hua Zhenrong has been bound as Patient No. N. Scanning has begun.]
[Ding! Scanning complete. Host may check the results in the patient section of the Divine Doctor Space.]
[Ding! Please treat Hua Zhenrong successfully. Task reward: 150 points, Enemy Spy Marker ×3.]
Gu Jianing didn’t have time to check the rewards yet. While taking his pulse, she simultaneously activated the scanner in her eyes to examine Hua Zhenrong’s body.
Soon, she reached a conclusion.
The moment Gu Jianing’s hand touched Hua Zhenrong’s wrist, the room fell into complete silence.
No one made a sound, afraid of disturbing her diagnosis—but their hearts were in their throats.
Then, just as quickly, Gu Jianing withdrew her hand.
So soon?
Seeing her release his wrist after such a short time, the Hua family couldn’t help but feel a pang of disappointment.
Mother Hua’s eyes reddened further.
“Xiao Gu, it’s alright. If there’s no way to treat him, then…” No one knew how much it pained Mother Hua to say those words, but she understood just how dire her youngest son’s condition was.
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