Chapter 78 Don’t Tell Your Uncle About This

The next day, Lu Er woke up with a splitting hangover and an uneasy heart. After carefully choosing his words for a long time, he finally sent Song Jingmo a message:

[Lu Er: I’m really sorry about the trending topic. I caused you trouble. 🙇‍♂️]

The message disappeared into silence, like a stone sinking into the sea. Only after a long while did his phone buzz.

[Song Jingmo: Mm.]

Unwilling to give up, Lu Er shamelessly sent a few more messages:

[Lu Er: Are you angry?]

[Lu Er: Are you busy today?]

[Lu Er: Want to have dinner together tonight?]

This time, the reply came even later.

[Song Jingmo: Working. Busy. Not eating.]

Short, blunt, and distant.

Over the next few days, no matter how hard Lu Er tried to keep the conversation going—chatting idly or sharing bits of his daily life—Song Jingmo remained cold.

Replies were limited to “mm,” “oh,” or “busy,” or sometimes just read without responding.

This indifferent attitude—refusing unnecessary conversation—felt even more suffocating than a direct argument. It left Lu Er helpless and anxious.

Finally, the day of the Nurses’ Day social gathering arrived.

Lu Er spent the entire day restless. With no other choice, he decided to take a roundabout approach and contacted Leng Keyan.

[Lu Er: Keep an eye on your Teacher Song. If there’s any movement—especially if he’s chatting with any pretty nurses—take photos and send them to me immediately!]

After sending the message, he directly transferred a generous “operation fund” to Leng Keyan.

Leng Keyan quickly replied, puzzled:

[Leng Keyan: Why not just be straightforward? Why go around in circles?]

Lu Er sighed.

[Lu Er: What if after we get together and time passes, he loses interest in me and gets tired of me?]

If that happened, he might really lose his mind.

The insecurity buried deep inside Lu Er was magnified endlessly when it came to his relationship with Song Jingmo.

He feared gaining something only to lose it again—that pain was worse than never having it at all.

He would rather maintain this ambiguous push-and-pull. At least this way, he could stay by Song Jingmo’s side, without having to face the risk of losing him after having him.

Leng Keyan understood his uncle’s awkward temperament all too well. Wanting to give him a push, he decided to use a stronger method.

Soon, Lu Er’s phone was flooded with “frontline reports.”

[Leng Keyan: (Image) Teacher Song is chatting happily with a head nurse from City First Hospital.]

[Leng Keyan: (Image) Wow! This doctor from the maternal and child hospital is so pretty—Dr. Song actually smiled at her!]

[Leng Keyan: (Image) Teacher Song is exchanging contact info with this lady. Uncle, your position as the main partner is in danger!]

Each photo felt like pouring fuel onto the fire in Lu Er’s heart.

In the pictures, Song Jingmo was either listening attentively or slightly smiling. Though his expression wasn’t particularly warm, in Lu Er’s eyes, it meant he was interested.

Especially when he saw the last photo—apparently exchanging contact information—Lu Er could no longer sit still.

His fingers trembling with anger, he bombarded Song Jingmo with messages:

[Lu Er: Is the social event fun?]

[Lu Er: Met lots of new friends?]

[Lu Er: Are there many beauties?]

[Lu Er: Are you happy?]

[Lu Er: Reply to me!]

Message after message sank into silence.

The more time passed, the more panicked and angry Lu Er became. He directly called him.

“Sorry, the number you have dialed is switched off…”

Switched off?

Song Jingmo actually turned off his phone?

Was it because he found him annoying… or because he didn’t want to be disturbed?

Lu Er completely panicked.

Grabbing his car keys, he rushed out, started the engine, and sped toward the resort where the gathering was being held.

But halfway there, an emergency news broadcast suddenly interrupted the car radio:

“Breaking news: Around 4 PM today, a major multi-vehicle collision occurred in Yangan Port Tunnel in City A.”

“Preliminary reports indicate over thirty vehicles were involved, and a fuel tanker exploded. The tunnel is currently closed. Please reroute.”

Lu Er’s heart sank.

Even fate seemed to be against him.

Almost at the same time, Kangren Hospital and major hospitals across the city activated emergency rescue alerts.

At the event venue, everyone received an urgent summons:

“A major accident has occurred at Yangan Port Tunnel. Medical personnel nearby, please report immediately to Nandong Affiliated Hospital!”

Without hesitation, Song Jingmo and Yin Siyao rushed to the hospital at top speed, bringing Leng Keyan along.

The emergency department was already in chaos—like a living hell.

Cries, groans, and hurried footsteps of medical staff intertwined. The air was thick with the choking smell of blood and smoke.

As key surgeons, Song Jingmo and Yin Siyao were immediately assigned to emergency surgery. Leng Keyan followed into the operating room to assist.

The patient was a forty-year-old man, his chest pierced by shattered car window glass—his condition critical.

A cardiovascular surgeon carefully separated the glass shard from surrounding tissue, attempting to remove it.

Just as they finally grasped the shard and began to pull it out, a jet of bright red blood burst out like a high-pressure hose.

“Not good! It hit an artery!” a nurse cried out.

Almost instinctively, Song Jingmo and Yin Siyao stepped aside at the same time, shielding Leng Keyan behind them.

Warm blood splattered all over them, instantly staining their surgical gowns red. Their faces and goggles were covered in droplets.

“Quick! Hemostatic forceps!”

“Suction! Hurry!”

The operating room fell into chaos before the bleeding was finally brought under temporary control.

The head nurse’s expression was grave. “The patient is critical. Blood tests and infectious disease screenings aren’t back yet—I’ll call the lab to rush them!”

Song Jingmo and Yin Siyao exchanged a glance, seeing the same seriousness in each other’s eyes.

“Continue the surgery,” Song Jingmo said calmly through his mask.

After quickly cleaning and disinfecting themselves, they changed into fresh gowns and resumed the operation.

Several hours later, the surgery was successfully completed, and the patient was sent to the ICU for observation.

Just then, the head nurse rushed over with the test results, her face pale.

Her voice trembled:

“Dr. Song, Dr. Yin… the patient’s preliminary HIV antibody test came back positive.”

HIV.

The word exploded like a bomb outside the operating room.

Even though they all knew post-exposure prophylaxis existed, the sudden shadow and unknown fear still froze the air.

Leng Keyan’s eyes reddened instantly, his voice trembling:

“Dr. Song… Dr. Yin… you…”

Yin Siyao patted his shoulder, trying to sound reassuring:

“It’s okay. Don’t be afraid. Occupational exposure is part of being a doctor.”

“The hospital has emergency protocols. With preventive medication and regular check-ups, the chances of anything happening are low. Don’t burden yourself mentally.”

Song Jingmo looked at Leng Keyan, his tone firm and unquestionable:

“Don’t tell your uncle about this.”

With that, he didn’t linger. After completing the necessary procedures, he left the hospital.