Lin Zhilan rarely got this anxious.
Xu Yueyun knew something serious must have happened and hastily agreed not to ask further.
Upon arriving in Guangzhou, Lin Zhilan bought a train ticket to the capital and immediately called home.
Su Lang had been waiting in the telephone room and picked up at once.
"Zhilan."
"Su Lang, listen to me. Second Brother is in trouble. He’s still being rescued at the hospital."
Su Lang shot to his feet. "What happened?"
Lin Zhilan shook her head. "I don’t know the details yet. I’ll contact you again once I reach the hospital. Second Sister-in-law is panicking. Keep Mom and Dad calm, and don’t let them know for now."
Su Lang’s first instinct was the same as Lin Zhilan’s—to leave for the capital immediately.
But there were no boats out tonight, and with three children and two elderly parents at home, Auntie Yu alone couldn’t manage.
The train was about to depart, so Lin Zhilan had no time to say more and hung up.
As soon as Su Lang put the phone down, he called a friend in the capital.
Someone did know about Su Jue being hospitalized and rescued, but they couldn’t find out anything else.
Su Lang could only ask them to look after Second Sister-in-law and the two children; the rest had to wait for Lin Zhilan’s news.
Luckily, by the time Lin Zhilan reached the capital, Su Jue had temporarily been out of life-threatening danger, though further observation was needed.
The moment Deng Jing saw her, she burst into tears, hugging her tightly.
Lin Zhilan patted her back. "It’s okay, it’s okay. I’m here."
Once she calmed down, Lin Zhilan took her hand and led her to a chair in the hallway. "Second Sister-in-law, how is Second Brother now?"
Deng Jing shook her head. "He’s still unconscious. Hasn’t woken up."
Deng Jing was a middle school teacher who usually took great care of her appearance.
Whenever Lin Zhilan had seen her before, she was always neatly dressed, with her hair combed immaculately.
This time, she was noticeably thinner than before, her clothes wrinkled, and there were even a few white strands in her hair.
Lin Zhilan tightened her grip on Deng Jing’s hand. "Second Brother is still young. He’ll be fine."
Deng Jing clung to her like a lifeline. "Zhilan, help me, help me…"
"Second Sister-in-law, take me to see Second Brother first."
"Okay, okay."
Deng Jing led Lin Zhilan toward the ward, but a soldier standing guard at the door stopped them.
Deng Jing quickly said, "This is my sister-in-law, the wife of Su Jue’s younger brother. She’s also a doctor."
Lin Zhilan hurriedly pulled her introduction letter out of her pocket.
The soldier took it and looked it over. "Please wait outside for a moment. I need to make a call and check with the leadership."
One soldier left with the letter, while the other remained standing rigidly at the door, unmoving.
Deng Jing leaned against the wall, her eyes red and swollen.
Lin Zhilan waited patiently, though her own heart was pounding.
About ten minutes later, the soldier returned, his tone much gentler. "Doctor Lin, please come in."
Su Jue was in a private ward, with a bench and a table inside.
He lay in bed with his eyes closed, his face pale and ashen.
His right hand rested outside the blanket, with an IV catheter taped to it, continuously dripping fluids.
Lin Zhilan didn’t waste any time. She walked straight to Su Jue and took his pulse.
The moment her fingers touched his wrist, her heart sank.
It had been nearly two years since she last saw Su Jue, and even then his health was depleted, but now it was far worse.
His pulse was thin, rapid, and erratic, coming and going like a thread, with occasional skipped beats.
This was a sign of heart energy on the verge of exhaustion and the dispersal of vital qi.
Seeing Lin Zhilan frown, Deng Jing’s heart tightened.
"Zhilan…"
"Oh," Lin Zhilan let out a breath and managed a faint smile. "Second Sister-in-law, don’t worry. Second Brother’s condition is tricky, but it can definitely be treated."
Overwhelmed by the swing from despair to hope, Deng Jing fainted.
Lin Zhilan caught her swiftly and lifted her in her arms.
The soldier on guard outside heard the noise and pushed the door open, only to find Lin Zhilan holding Deng Jing.
They froze in place.
Lin Zhilan frowned. "Can you arrange a bed for my Second Sister-in-law to rest?"
"Oh, right, right. Follow me."
The wards on either side of Su Jue’s were empty, so Lin Zhilan placed Deng Jing in one of them to rest.
Deng Jing had likely gone several days without proper sleep; fainting gave her a chance to rest.
Lin Zhilan then went to see Su Jue’s attending physician and reviewed his medical records and test reports.
Pulmonary edema, hypoxemia, and even mild cerebral edema.
The hospital had already used every available treatment.
Su Jue’s life was saved, but the sequelae from these conditions posed a major problem.
Higher authorities had been applying pressure, and the hospital had held multiple consultations for Su Jue.
Returning to his previous normal state was almost impossible.
Lin Zhilan knew that Su Jue’s work was highly important and classified, but that wasn’t something she could ask about.
For now, all she could do was see if traditional Chinese medicine could help his recovery.
When she proposed giving Su Jue acupuncture, the attending physician hesitated before notifying the hospital leadership for a meeting.
In the end, they approved Lin Zhilan’s acupuncture plan.
Partly because the hospital had no better options, and partly because they might have wanted to shift responsibility.
Since Lin Zhilan was Su Jue’s sister-in-law and had offered to do it, if the results were poor, the blame wouldn’t fall on them.
They had already done their best.
Lin Zhilan didn’t care what they thought. Saving Su Jue was what mattered most.
The hospital’s decision wasn’t final yet—it had to be reported to Su Jue’s department leadership.
After a series of approvals, it was already dark outside.
Once the call came through, Lin Zhilan didn’t say another word. She picked up her acupuncture kit and headed to the ward.
She selected the Neiguan point to soothe the chest and regulate qi, the Taiyuan point to nourish the lung meridian, and the Fenglong point to dispel dampness, clear phlegm, and regulate water pathways.
Next was the Shuigou point, also known as the philtrum.
This was a key acupoint for awakening the brain and opening the orifices.
Lin Zhilan inserted the needle at a tricky angle, slanting toward the nasal septum, with large rotations and fast frequency to deliver a stronger stimulus.
Su Jue’s brow furrowed suddenly.
That was the most noticeable reaction he had shown since losing consciousness.
Deng Jing had woken up by then. Covering her mouth, she watched through the glass outside the door, tears streaming down her face.
Lin Zhilan then rolled up his pant legs and selected the Zusanli, Sanyinjiao, and Yinling points to strengthen the spleen, drain water, and boost vitality.
The final needle went into the Baihui point at the top of the head.
The entire procedure took over twenty minutes.
Lin Zhilan wiped the sweat from her forehead with a handkerchief. After half an hour, she removed the needles.
She packed up the needles and took Su Jue’s pulse again.
Su Jue hadn’t woken up, but thankfully his pulse was much steadier.
Lin Zhilan opened the door and met Deng Jing’s pleading eyes. "Second Sister-in-law, I need to take a shower and change clothes first."
