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The next day, early morning.
Jiangzhen First People's Hospital.
Looking at the bustling hospital entrance, Zhao Wanqiu was filled with disbelief. "Brother Yi, is this the 'interesting place' you were talking about yesterday?!" She had been so full of anticipation...
"Brother Yi, why did you call us to the hospital so early?" Shen Hao, beside her, yawned, couldn't help but complain. Why come to the hospital for no reason? Isn't sleeping at home more comfortable? The night before, Shen Hao had decided he would make up for all the sleep he'd lost during his three years of high school this summer. Yet, on the very first day, Fang Yi had dragged him out of bed early in the morning.
"Last night, my dad gave me three health check-up forms. No point in wasting them!" Fang Yi pulled out the forms from his pocket and handed one to each of them. Many large factories had cooperative relationships with hospitals; workers could get a free annual check-up, a kind of alternative welfare. Last night, Fang Yi had his dad arrange for three check-up forms. Fang Yucheng didn't refuse this request; he even highly approved. Old Fang was a workshop director and didn't have much authority, but getting three check-up forms was no problem.
"Brother Yi, we're not sick or in trouble, why get a check-up? How about I go back first!" Shen Hao mumbled. Check-ups were troublesome: blood draws, urine tests, ECGs, X-rays—a whole set that would take half a day. More importantly, they were exhausting, so Shen Hao was particularly resistant.
Fang Yi frowned, "Stop your damn nonsense. You're already here, finish it and then go back!" Seeing his serious expression, Zhao Wanqiu pursed her lips and stopped talking. Shen Hao was the same; despite his reluctance, he obediently followed Fang Yi into the hospital. This was a habit formed over more than ten years. Since childhood, their small circle had revolved around Fang Yi. Normally, the three would tease and joke with each other, and anyone could take a loss. But once Fang Yi made a serious decision, Zhao Wanqiu and Shen Hao would no longer argue.
Oncology Outpatient Clinic.
The doctor pushed up his glasses and said sternly, "From the current diagnosis, it can be preliminarily confirmed as lung cancer!"
Lung cancer? Hearing this term, Shen Hao, standing nearby, instantly turned pale, his face filled with disbelief. Fang Yi already knew the result, so his expression remained normal. As for Zhao Wanqiu, the person concerned, she fell silent.
For a moment, she felt her mind go blank, her entire being disconnected from the outside world, hearing only a buzzing in her ears. It took a while for her to regain her composure. Zhao Wanqiu slowly looked up, gazing at the doctor, her voice tearful: "You're not fooling me, are you? I just came for a check-up, how could it be lung cancer?" Having said that, tears instantly rolled down her face. This news was too sudden and too heavy.
Lung cancer! Although Zhao Wanqiu had no medical knowledge, she knew how terrifying the mortality rate of lung cancer was! She was only 18! It was the most brilliant time of her life; she was about to go to university and start a whole new life. Now, just two words shattered all her fantasies about the future. To be honest, Zhao Wanqiu being able to sit steadily here at this moment was already a testament to her strength.
Just then, a warm hand rested on her shoulder, followed by a familiar voice from behind: "Brother Qiu, with me here, what are you scared of?!" This seemingly joking remark, however, was like a stabilizing stone, pressing down the stormy waves in her heart. Feeling the warmth from the hand on her shoulder, Zhao Wanqiu's almost collapsing emotions gradually stabilized.
Turning her head, Zhao Wanqiu sniffed, looking at him with teary eyes, "Brother Yi, I heard lung cancer is incurable."
"Who told you that?!" Fang Yi pouted and comforted her, "Don't worry, if lung cancer is detected early, it's completely curable!"
"Don't fool me!" Looking at Zhao Wanqiu's tear-streaked face, Fang Yi reached out to wipe her tears, saying earnestly, "I'm not fooling you, it really can be cured!" This intimate gesture made Zhao Wanqiu feel a tingling sensation all over, and a hint of shyness flickered in her eyes. When she fell down as a child, or was bullied by other children, Fang Yi would always wipe away her tears like this. Later, as she grew older, she cried less and less, and the act of wiping her tears also disappeared. Amidst her nostalgia, a different emotion slowly began to grow in Zhao Wanqiu's heart.
At this moment, the gray-haired doctor also chimed in, "This young man is right, the cure rate for early-stage lung cancer is very high. So, young lady, don't be so pessimistic."
"Then am I early-stage?" Zhao Wanqiu quickly asked.
"From the X-ray, it should be early-stage. However, to be safe, you should also get a bronchoscopy." The old doctor said, then picked up his pen and wrote out a referral for a check-up. Fang Yi took the referral, leading Zhao Wanqiu and Shen Hao out of the outpatient clinic.
Queue up, pay, get examined, wait for results.
Returning to the outpatient clinic with the examination results, the old doctor carefully read the report and then smiled kindly, "Young lady, you're very lucky. The cancerous tissue is only 1.8 centimeters and hasn't invaded the main bronchus; it's classified as early-stage 1a. As long as the cancerous cells and surrounding lymphatic tissue are surgically removed in time, the lesion can be cleared."
Hearing this, Zhao Wanqiu and Shen Hao both let out a long sigh of relief.
"You should go home and discuss it with your parents, and see when you want to schedule the surgery." The old doctor added at the end, "It's best to decide as soon as possible; this matter cannot be delayed!"
"Okay, thank you, Doctor!"
On the way back, the three pushed their bicycles. Zhao Wanqiu's eyes were red, clearly not having fully recovered from the shock.
"This time, thanks to Brother Yi, otherwise we would never have known about Brother Qiu's lung cancer! Damn it, I'm going to get a physical exam every year from now on!" Shen Hao said, looking visibly shaken. He was truly terrified this time. Just thinking about Zhao Wanqiu, who was usually so lively and healthy, suddenly being diagnosed with lung cancer, it would panic anyone.
"It's good that you know!" Fang Yi chuckled, "In the future, whatever I tell you to do, don't talk back to me, just do it obediently."