“Doctor, I’m sick! It might be something serious.”
“You’re Yun Jiao, right?”
“Yes, I’m Yun Jiao.”
“Your name is pretty tough, huh? You look fine right now, though. Where exactly do you feel uncomfortable?”
“I think there’s something wrong with my eyes. I keep seeing strange things.”
“Strange things? Do your eyes hurt?”
“No, they don’t hurt!”
“Hmm. I checked your lab results and your scans. Everything looks normal. Why don’t you tell me specifically what strange things you’ve been seeing?”
“They’re all vague shadows. Some look like animals, some look like people, and some I can’t even describe. Their expressions are all twisted and hideous, and they have colors. Most of the shadows are white, some are black, and just now at the hospital entrance I even saw a red one. They…”
“Wait!” The doctor immediately cut her off, goosebumps rising all over. He scanned her up and down. “From what you’re saying… it sounds like you’re seeing… ghosts?”Yun Jiao paused, then nodded. “If there’s no other explanation, then yes, that’s the only reason.”
“Nonsense!” The doctor suddenly felt a chill, then looked at her disapprovingly. “Superstitions are unacceptable! You’re still young, what, just over twenty? How can you believe in such lies?” He glanced at her age on the chart. Twenty-eight. Well, still considered young.
“Doctor, I’m telling the truth. That’s why I came for treatment.” Yun Jiao’s expression didn’t change. She didn’t even blink, her face serious and solemn.
“I think you really are quite sick!” The doctor grew even more dissatisfied with her stubbornness. He gave a short laugh, then said, “Alright, if you really think you’re seeing ghosts, then tell me—aside from the strange colors, what do they look like?”
“Most of them are really ugly. Some are decapitated, blood spurting from their necks like fountains; some have lost arms or legs and can only crawl on the ground, leaving trails of blood that stretch for hundreds of meters; some have holes in their bodies and gouged-out eyes, and when the wind blows, it whistles through them; others are mangled and mashed together like minced meat… In general, it’s rare to see a complete body.” Yun Jiao calmly described, as if she were discussing a fashion show rather than a parade of gruesome spirits.
“…” The doctor felt the chill deepen, an inexplicable coldness spreading from his heart. Even drinking several sips of hot water didn’t help.
“Oh, right!” She suddenly tilted her head slightly, her gaze falling on the doctor’s right hand as he reached for his thermos. “Like the one beside your left hand—it looks like it had an abdominal surgery. It’s draping its intestines over your hand. I think it wants to sun its guts.”
The doctor’s hand jerked violently. The cup slipped from his grasp, clattering to the ground, water spilling everywhere.
Instinctively, he bent down to pick it up, but Yun Jiao’s utterly calm, emotionless voice came again. “Ah, the intestines fell down.”
“…” His hand froze midair. He didn’t dare bend down. In his mind’s eye, the floor was covered with bloody, slippery entrails.
This patient was too damn terrifying!
And the worst part—she maintained that same solemn, serious demeanor the whole time. Even her voice was steady and deep. Her eyes carried not the slightest trace of mockery or intent to frighten. Even he almost believed she really was seeing ghosts.
No, no, no! The doctor shook his head vigorously, forcing himself back from the brink of superstition. In his heart, he silently recited: Prosperity, Democracy, Civilization, Harmony…
He rubbed his goosebumped arm hard, then finally drew a deep breath to calm himself. As a doctor, he believed in science. Superstition was unacceptable—unacceptable! If this woman named Yun Jiao wasn’t lying, then she must be experiencing hallucinations. Yes, that was it—it was all hallucinations. And hallucinations weren’t the concern of ophthalmology.
“Ahem, well… Miss Yun, this is a hospital. Please be serious, don’t go around scaring people.”
“I am serious!” Yun Jiao replied.
The doctor looked at her face. Indeed, she hadn’t changed her expression once. There was not the slightest hint of a joke. He couldn’t even find a reason to argue with her. Suddenly understanding something, he sighed and gave a tactful suggestion. “Your case is complicated. It falls under the mental health category, while this is ophthalmology. I think you should see a professional in that field. Why don’t you go out, turn left, and register on the third floor?” Clearly, this was a problem in her head.
“You mean psychiatry?” Yun Jiao asked.
“Uh… yes.” That was way too direct.
“No need.” Yun Jiao shook her head, but not with the slightest trace of anger. “I just came down from the third floor. The chief physician there said I’m completely normal and recommended I come to ophthalmology.” She pulled out a psychiatric medical record.
“…” Damn it, so psychiatry had tossed the problem down here.
The ophthalmologist’s mouth twitched. His eyes darted around and landed on the lab results on the desk. Suddenly, his expression brightened.
“Ahem… Miss Yun,” he said with a solemn tone. “Based on your case, it’s impossible to diagnose just from what you said. My preliminary suspicion is that something might be growing in your eye, causing hallucinations. It’ll require further testing to be sure. And later, it might even involve surgery.”
“…” Yun Jiao’s expression finally changed a little. She frowned slightly, as if seriously considering his words.
Seeing hope, the doctor spoke even more smoothly. “So, I suggest you visit the surgery department. That way, once they identify the cause, they can treat you properly and save you time. What do you think?”
“Surgery…” Yun Jiao tilted her head, frowning deeper as she looked at the young doctor. “Are you sure?”
“Very sure.” The doctor nodded firmly. As long as she didn’t come back to ophthalmology to scare people, he didn’t care where the problem went. After all, departments were evaluated on patient satisfaction. He couldn’t afford to lose points here. “Hurry and get checked, it’s on the sixth floor. Don’t delay your illness.”
“I see.” She suddenly sighed. But instead of standing up, she lifted the bag at her side, opening it as she spoke. “Actually… I don’t think it has anything to do with surgery, because I myself am a surgeon—specialized in neurosurgery.” With that, she pulled out a stack of documents, laying them on the desk one by one. “This is my physician’s license, pharmacist’s license, chief physician certification, my Harvard Medical School Ph.D. diploma, and my appointment letter from a provincial hospital… I was afraid you wouldn’t believe me, so I brought them all.”
Doctor: “…”
You’re really making things hard for me, Fat Tiger!
(╯°Д°)╯︵┻━┻
(End of Chapter)