“Mrs. Zong.” Guan Jing opened the car door for Lin Xinyan.
Lin Xinyan was startled by the man’s appearance. “What are you doing here?”
“Mr. Zong ordered me to come,” Guan Jing answered.
Zong Jinghao had instructed Guan Jing to come to the hospital and set up an appointment with a medical specialist for Zhuang Zijin. Hence, there was no need for her to queue.
“Come with me. I’ve already made an appointment for you,” Guan Jing said and led the way.
Lin Xinyan held on to Zhuang Zijin and followed him into the hospital. Instead of queueing downstairs, they headed up to the outpatient hall. At that moment, several people were seated at the lounge. Guan Jing went straight into the doctor’s room and had a few words with the doctor before letting Zhuang Zijin into the room.
Zhuang Zijin did not have much time to spare when she was out of prison, which was why her medical checkup had to be done quickly.
Guan Jing had spoken to the Dean of the hospital and made necessary arrangements earlier on. Therefore, Zhuang Zijin was attended to immediately after a word with the doctor.
Zhuang Zijin was very cooperative. However, she requested to be alone with the doctor in the consultation room.
She wouldn’t even allow Lin Xinyan to be in there with her.
“Mom, why can’t I be in there with you?” Lin Xinyan was puzzled and asked, “Are you hiding something from me?”
“What’s there for me to hide from you?” Zhuang Zijin looked at her daughter nonchalantly. “Don’t you know that others do not know of my identity? I only ask to have a one-on-one consultation with the doctor about my condition. Haven’t I come to the hospital with you? What more can I hide?”
“That’s not what I meant,” Lin Xinyan tried to explain.
“Well then, you can wait outside,” Zhuang Zijin said plainly, showing no signs of anger. But, she had a rather uncomfortable look on her face.
Lin Xinyan did not argue with her any further and walked out of the room.
As of now, Zhuang Zijin was laden with guilt. Lin Xinyan had thought she was only willing to come out because she was under an emotional burden.
When the door shut, Zhuang Zijin sat on a chair and faced the doctor. “I’m sorry for taking up your time.”
The doctor replied, “That’s what I’m here for.”
“I know my body well.” Zhuang Zijin was willing to come to the hospital because she wanted Lin Xinyan to be at ease. ”I have an older brother who died of lung cancer.”
The doctor made a note of Zhuang Zijin’s family medical history. “What about your parents?”
“My dad too.”
Which was why she guessed that she could be having cancer when she started feeling unwell.
The doctor looked at her and asked, “In other words, you suspect that you might have it too?”
Zhuang Zijin nodded her head.
“The woman who was with me just now is my daughter. I don’t want her to know about this. So, in the event the result comes out positive, could you give her a copy of a falsified negative test result?”
The doctor did not dare call the shots, having no other choice but to agree. “I can do that.”
“Then I will write you a medical report.” The doctor started making notes on various report forms.
“How soon will the result be out?” Zhuang Zijin asked.
The doctor thought over her question. There were going to be numerous checks involved due to her suspicion of having cancer. Some of the reports could take a while to be out, but considering what they had discussed earlier, they could speed up the test results for her. “At least a week.”
“No matter what the result is, please give my daughter a copy of a result stating that I am in good health,” Zhuang Zijin reminded the doctor again.
The doctor nodded and handed her the report forms. “You can go for the checkup now.”
Zhuang Zijin took the forms from the doctor and nodded. “Thank you.”
She opened the door and stepped out. Lin Xinyan was waiting for her right outside the room.
Upon seeing Zhuang Zijin exiting the room, she walked over quickly.
Zhuang Zijin smiled lightly and said, “The doctor said there’s nothing serious and has asked to proceed for a checkup. Let’s go, come with me for the checkup.”
Lin Xinyan nodded.
Guan Jing followed behind them. Since she had the appointment, she was given priority for the checkup. Firstly, she went to get her blood drawn and then an X-ray.
The checkup itself took two hours to complete.
All they had to do now was to wait for the result.
“You can go back first. I will collect the report forms,” Guan Jing said.
Lin Xinyan thought about the suggestion for a while. It made no difference if Guan Jing or herself were to collect the result.
“Alright, let’s go back then.”
Lin Xinyan left with Zhuang Zijin.
Guan Jing waited for a medical report that was to be released on the same day. Just as he was about to collect the report, he bumped into the doctor who had consulted Zhuang Zijin.
Not intending the hide the truth, the doctor decided to have a talk with him.
“I’d like to talk to you about the patient just now.”
Guan Jing froze in his tracks and asked, “What about her?”
“The patient suspects she has cancer. Both her father and her brother had a history of this disease. Moreover, her brother died of it. So, it’s likely she has inherited the cancer gene,” the doctor said.
“So it’s hereditary?” Guan Jing asked solemnly.
The doctor replied gravely, “If she’s tested positive, then the hereditary rate is high.”
Guan Jing nodded.
He now understood why Zhuang Zijin had dismissed Lin Xinyan in the doctor’s room.
“One more thing, she asked to hide this from her daughter…”
“I understand. I will handle it,” Guan Jing stated.
“Good.” The doctor turned to leave. “I have patients waiting for me, so I’ll take my leave now.”
“Thank you,” Guan Jing said.
The doctor inserted both hands into the white coat’s large pockets and walked towards the consultation room.
Guan Jing walked to the stairwell, knowing that there were no people there and it was quiet. He began to make a phone call to Zong Jinghao.
He had to inform Zong Jinghao about this, regardless of the outcome.
Zong Jinghao leaned back on the sofa, and Lin Ruixi sat facing him on his chest. Her small hands hooked around his neck as she talked to him.
“Daddy, can grandma stay here the next time she comes over?”
The little girl cocked her head to the side, looking serious.
Zong Jinghao pinched her small nose. “Anything you say.”
“Then grandma will stay with me. This way, I can be with everyone, and I will be the happiest kid in the world.”
Just then, Zong Jinghao’s phone rang.
One hand around his daughter, he took out his phone with the other hand. Guan Jing’s name was displayed on the screen. He answered the call and held the phone to his ear.
“Mrs. Zong has left with Zhuang Zijin,” Guan Jing reported.
Zong Jinghao responded in acknowledgment.
“Zhuang Zijin…” Guan Jing did not know how to break the news. “She has a family history of inherited cancer genes. If she’s tested positive for cancer, it would mean that the hereditary rate is high. That would mean, Mrs. Zong…”
If it was hereditary, then Lin Xinyan… and her children…
Zong Jinghao gripped the phone tightly. This was an unexpected piece of news.
“I understand.” His voice was deep and rueful.
This was not the worst of it. If Zhuang Zijin’s tested to be cancer-free, it may not be hereditary at all.
They could only wait for the test results to be out.
Zong Jinghao hung up and set the phone aside. He hooked his index finger under his daughter’s chin, carefully studying her face. She had a pair of bright eyes, clear and gleaming like stars. Her skin was white like porcelain dolls.
He kissed his daughter’s forehead and held her in his arms.
She’s my angel. God won’t be so cruel as to take away their health.
“Daddy…”
