Chapter 76: A Fulfilling Day

In the afternoon, Yi Shou did not have any leisure time. Because there were examinations scheduled in the morning that extended through noon, the nurses hadn’t given him an IV drip earlier. However, by the afternoon—specifically, after the landlady and Heixue had both left—two nurses came in together.

These two nurses appeared quite young, their features delicate and pleasant. They didn't seem much older than Heixue, though their looks were perhaps just a little less striking. Judging by their appearance, they had probably started working at the hospital right after graduating from vocational high school. Perhaps they were still interns, perhaps already full-fledged nurses; Yi Shou wasn't entirely sure.

Whether it was due to his special circumstances, the hospital’s standards, or simply the personalities of these two nurses, he couldn’t say. But even though Wang Jie’s body was rather overweight—which gave them quite a bit of trouble in finding a vein—they didn’t glare at Yi Shou in frustration. Instead, after completing their task, they simply stepped back with gentle smiles.

Not long after the nurses left, two police officers entered the room: a man and a woman, both in uniform. Judging from the order in which they came in, it seemed likely the man was the senior, the woman his partner.

The man appeared to be in his thirties—still in the prime of life, neither old nor especially young. He was quite handsome, and with his age and profession lending him further charm, he exuded the charisma of a distinguished gentleman. Even if he weren’t married, just a single stroll through a university campus would likely draw more attention from women than most others could hope for. Such were his natural advantages.

The woman, on the other hand, was much younger—she looked to be around twenty, though her youthful features suggested she might actually be a bit older, perhaps twenty-two or twenty-three. She was a striking beauty, even more so than Heixue and the landlady, with an air of crisp competence that only added to her allure.

In short, these two officers made for an impressive pair—a handsome man and a beautiful woman. Walking together on the street, they might not turn every head, but certainly more than ninety percent.

“Hello. We’re from the police department. Apologies for disturbing you here, but we have a duty to perform,” the male officer said as he approached Yi Shou’s bedside, pulling up a chair. “I’m Gao Wei, and this is my partner, Mi Tu.”

“I understand,” Yi Shou replied, showing no sign of surprise. Given the circumstances, it would be more troubling if the police didn’t show up.

In truth, they were simply following procedure. Yi Shou wasn’t a suspect, but a victim—even if, as the victim, he had managed to lay out five suspects by himself. According to standard practice, suspects are required to give statements at the station, and if evidence is clear, they are detained. Victims and witnesses must also provide statements.

Since many people had been present the previous night, they were all considered witnesses. Most of them had already given their statements that morning. The facts were clear, so there was no need to cross-examine for inconsistencies; the process went quickly.

Only two people remained who hadn’t given their statements. One was Heixue, who, after finishing lunch, had been taken by the landlady to the station to give her account before heading on to school.

As for Yi Shou, his injuries made it impractical to require him to go to the station. If even suspects with serious injuries could remain in the hospital, there was certainly no need to move an injured victim.

So, in the end, the officers came to him to take his statement. And, as previously mentioned, since the facts were so clear, it took only a short time. After confirming his name and other routine details, Yi Shou recounted the events of the previous night, including some of the speculations he’d discussed earlier with Heixue and the landlady.

Once the officers had finished taking his statement, they left promptly. After all, few people willingly linger in a hospital unless they work there.

And so, the afternoon gradually slipped by. Aside from the two officers, the people who came in most frequently were the two nurses, who needed to change the IV drips before they ran out and risked blood flowing back.

In addition, the senior doctor who had led the team in the morning stopped by. He mainly came to discuss the details of Yi Shou’s upcoming surgery, though they hadn’t yet settled on a plan. Understandably so—there hadn’t been enough time.

Other than that, there were no further visitors. The orderly, for his part, remained in the room for most of the afternoon. At noon, he had been absent, since the landlady and Heixue were present. He waited until the police left before returning, and after that, he did not leave again.

Time passed quietly, and before long, it was time for dinner. The landlady and Heixue returned, and upon seeing them, the orderly relaxed, greeted Yi Shou, and went out for a meal.

This time, the landlady and Heixue brought not only dinner but also Yi Shou’s gaming helmet and laptop. Since Yi Shou rented his room from the landlady and hadn’t changed the locks, she still had a key to his place.

“Here, your gaming helmet,” the landlady said, placing it on the bedside table and adding, with some anxiety, “Your head is injured, so please, don’t get too absorbed in gaming. It’s fine once in a while, but don’t overdo it.”

“All right, I understand,” Yi Shou nodded, signaling his compliance.

The three of them ate together, after which the landlady took Heixue away. For one, Heixue was still a student and needed to study; she couldn’t be at the hospital day and night. For another, it could be dangerous for them to head home too late—both of them had experienced that firsthand and didn’t dare take risks. Lastly, as young women, it wouldn’t be appropriate for them to stay overnight in the hospital.

Thus, the two of them left early in the evening.

As for whether there were reasons beyond those three, only they themselves would know.