Chapter 12: Professor Shen

On a midsummer morning in Chenxing City, an inconspicuous, worn-out van was parked among a cluster of vehicles headed to the vegetable market, just outside the market closest to the University of Science and Technology.

Summer days arrived exceptionally early; though it was only four o’clock, the sky was already tinged with dawn’s pale light. Street vendors, eager to secure good spots, had begun setting up their stalls, marking the start of another busy day.

Not far away, inside the university, teachers and students who stayed on campus for the summer break were already up, preparing for their morning exercises.

Qiao Yuyan sat inside the van, glancing at the awkward hour.

Her aunt was still asleep, and she couldn’t disturb her by knocking on the door. Most of the elderly residents in the family housing area had already risen and were moving about, so climbing through windows was out of the question.

Through the grimy window, she watched the young people jogging outside, and after a moment’s thought, she shed her outer gear to reveal a sports outfit underneath. Grabbing a file bag from the seat, she tapped it on An Chen’s shoulder. “You coordinate with the employer for delivery. I won’t appear in person.”

“The boss can rest assured,” he replied.

Qiao Yuyan stepped out from the side nearest the wall and seamlessly blended into the crowd of people exercising. She jogged around the campus at a steady pace, pretending it was just routine training.

To avoid attracting attention, she changed her route every so often. Fortunately, the university grounds were vast; the stadium alone, both indoor and outdoor, had several sections, bustling with people coming and going.

No one noticed that the seemingly fair-skinned, slender girl had been running continuously for over an hour.

By half past five, estimating that her aunt would be waking soon, Qiao Yuyan slowed her pace and began heading back.

She bought soy milk and fried dough sticks from the school cafeteria and took a shortcut toward the family housing area.

As she passed through a small garden near the housing area, she spotted an elderly man sitting quietly on a wooden bench, leaning on a cane with his eyes closed, seemingly asleep. In his left hand, he loosely held a medicine bottle, with pills scattered on the ground.

Qiao Yuyan recognized him as Professor Shen, her aunt’s neighbor.

She hurried over and gently nudged the old man. “Professor Shen.”

There was no response.

She cautiously checked his breath—none. Placing her hand on the side of his neck, she found no pulse either.

This was bad.

Dropping the breakfast in her hand, she grabbed the pill bottle from his grasp. Seeing it was a heart medication, she immediately poured out a pill, carefully pried the man’s mouth open, and placed it under his tongue.

Then she gently laid him down on the bench, unbuttoned the collar of his shirt, intertwined her hands, and began rhythmic chest compressions.

For a gold hunter who had walked the edge between life and death for years, emergency medical knowledge was second only to hand-to-hand combat training.

Her CPR was precise and efficient.

While working, she activated the voice assistant on her phone. “Xiao Zhi Zang, call emergency services.”

The mechanical voice responded instantly, “Calling Chenxing City Emergency Center.”

After the dial tone, the call connected. “Hello, Chenxing City Emergency Center. Do you require an ambulance?”

“South gate of Chenxing University of Science and Technology, about 200 meters northwest of the old family housing area, small garden. A 70-year-old man is in shock, male, no breathing or heartbeat. Initial diagnosis: acute myocardial infarction,” Qiao Yuyan spoke rapidly, never pausing her compressions. “Please hurry, I am performing CPR.”

“Understood, ma’am. An ambulance from Chenxing University Affiliated Hospital is en route.”

Hearing the confirmation, Qiao Yuyan remained silent and focused on compressing the elderly man’s chest.

She had not slept all night and had just endured a fierce battle. Continuous exertion made the ache in her back, where she had been struck against a cabinet the night before, intensify.

Cold sweat broke out on her forehead, trickling down her cheeks.

Fortunately, the affiliated hospital was close—only about three minutes away. The piercing siren of the ambulance soon wailed through the air.

Footsteps rushed toward her. Qiao Yuyan straightened and waved to the campus security and paramedics. “Here.”

The first to arrive, a security guard, recognized the old man on the bench and exclaimed, “Professor Shen!”

Paramedics carrying a stretcher hurried up to her side. She quickly stepped aside.

Together, they lifted Professor Shen onto the stretcher. The emergency doctors ran alongside, checking his condition. One said to another, “It’s a heart attack. Prepare to establish intravenous access.”

Qiao Yuyan accompanied the stretcher to the ambulance and added, “I placed a heart medication pill under his tongue.”

“Well done,” the doctor nodded. After loading the man into the ambulance, he asked her, “Are you a family member?”

“No, I’m his neighbor,” Qiao Yuyan replied without hesitation. “I’ll come with you.”

She hopped into the ambulance and turned to the security guards. “Please notify Professor Shen’s family.”

“All right, all right. Don’t worry,” the guard said, sweating profusely as he hurried to close the ambulance doors and see them off.

Inside the ambulance, the doctors began emergency treatment, with various machines beeping steadily.

Qiao Yuyan sat nearby, her taut nerves loosening slightly. Only then did she remember her aunt, who was immobile at home. She had slipped out quietly; if her aunt woke and didn’t see her, she would surely worry.

Moreover, Professor Shen’s condition was uncertain. If anything happened, she feared the shock would be too much for her aunt.

Glancing at her phone, it was already six in the morning. She dialed Jiang Yunxi’s number.

The ringing tone sounded for a long while; just as it was about to hang up automatically, the call was answered.

“Hey, Yanyan, what’s wrong?” Jiang Yunxi’s voice was muffled and heavy with sleep.

“Sis, Professor Shen next door had a heart attack. I’m heading to the affiliated hospital with the doctors to help. Auntie is home alone, and I’m worried.”

Jiang Yunxi instantly woke up. “Don’t worry. I’m going to Mom’s place right now.”

“Okay, I’m at the hospital now. I’ll hang up first.”

As Qiao Yuyan ended the call, she faintly heard Ho Lingchen’s voice complaining softly on the other end.

She had no time to argue now. Following the doctors, she jumped out of the ambulance and hurried toward the emergency room.

Watching as the elderly man was wheeled inside for treatment, she rubbed her aching arms and back and sat down in a chair outside the emergency room.

To be honest, after a full 24 hours without sleep and two bouts of extreme exertion, she was truly exhausted.

Qiao Yuyan stifled a yawn. Just as drowsiness began to overtake her, Aunt Liu, Professor Shen’s housekeeper, rushed over, her kindly round face drenched in sweat.

Aunt Liu still wore an apron stained with grease and bore several fresh blisters on her left hand, evidently burned by hot oil while cooking. She had heard the news and hurried to the hospital in a panic.

“Miss Qiao, how is Professor Shen now?”

“He’s still under emergency treatment. Aunt Liu, please don’t worry,” Qiao Yuyan stood and led the trembling woman to the nearby nurse’s station, holding her hand gently. “Could the nurse please help treat these burns?”

“Oh, it’s nothing,” Aunt Liu quickly refused, her eyes fixed anxiously on the emergency room door.

That morning, Professor Shen had asked for a dish stir-fried in lard. After helping him downstairs, Aunt Liu stayed home to render the lard.

When the security guard came to fetch her, she had been flustered and accidentally knocked over the skimmer in the hot oil pot. The scalding lard spilled on her hand, causing painful blisters. She hadn’t felt the pain right away, but rushed to the hospital in haste.

Aunt Liu felt deeply guilty. If she had gone out with Professor Shen earlier, perhaps she would have noticed his condition sooner, preventing him from falling into such danger.