System Came When the Doctor was Thirty

”Doctor, do I really need all these tests?” The young man asked as he saw the head MRI on his test order.

”Didn’t you say you accidentally fell into a ditch? What if there’s a head injury?”

”You guys are covered for everything, so why not just check?” Lu Cheng said.

The young man paused, jokingly said, ”Dr. Lu, you guys are just working on those performance metrics?”

He didn’t mind and just said it casually.

Lu Cheng thought for a moment before saying, ”Bro, it’s not really about performance metrics. Mainly, you just told me you don’t even know how you fell in.”

”And with my faith in the physical strength of you firefighters, I don’t think you’d just randomly not know how you ended up in a ditch.”

”If it were a few decades ago, it might be because you stepped on something soft. But you were very certain that you didn’t step on anything breakable, so I’m worried you might have had a transient dizziness episode.”

”But the doctors over there said there’s nothing major wrong?” The young man pointed in the direction of the surgery department.

”Isn’t it better if there’s nothing major? Even small issues can be checked out.”

”Really, trust me.” Lu Cheng said.

”Of course, if you insist on refusing, just sign a waiver.”

The young man shook his head, ”No, no, Dr. Lu, whether I do an MRI or not is all the same to me. I just don’t think it’s necessary.”

”You want me to do it, so I’ll do it, right?”

Since the injury happened during his duty, even if he got hurt after withdrawal, no matter how his captain scolded him, it was still a ’work injury’ and fully reimbursed.

No need to pay out of his own pocket.

...

The young man walked off on his own to get the test done.

Meanwhile, Lu Cheng took a moment to call his parents, wished them a happy New Year, and told them to rest early, and he’d visit them the next day.

Then, after checking the firefighter brother’s medical record, Lu Cheng went into the doctor’s lounge to video chat with Mu Nanshu!

Over at Mu Nanshu’s place, Mu Leng and Yan Sangyue were no longer playing mahjong.

Instead, they were cuddled on the couch watching TV.

Mu Nanshu’s glance showed a hint of envy, ”How about I go back to our hometown with you tomorrow?”

”Sure, as long as Uncle and Aunt agree, I’d be more than happy.” Lu Cheng said.

Mu Nanshu asked, ”Mom, Dad, how about I go with Lu Cheng tomorrow to visit Uncle Lu and Aunt?”

”Why ask us if you’re going to visit your in-laws?”

”Girls always side with outsiders.” Yan Sangyue replied from Mu Leng’s embrace.

Mu Nanshu said, ”Mom, if you don’t want me to go, just say so directly. Why be passive-aggressive?”

Realizing Mu Nanshu was still on video call, Yan Sangyue quickly replied in a more formal tone, ”You can go if you want, but you must return to Long County tomorrow, we’re visiting your grandmother’s house the day after.”

”Xiao Lu, has work been busy?” Yan Sangyue greeted Lu Cheng.

”Manageable, Aunt… Did you win in mahjong just now?” Lu Cheng didn’t dare say he wasn’t busy; he was starting to believe the ’superstitions’ circulating in emergency medicine.

Yan Sangyue said, ”Lost a little.”

”Come over for breakfast tomorrow, eat first before heading back.”

”Alright, Aunt.” Lu Cheng replied.

...

After chatting for a while, Lu Cheng ended the video call, put on his white coat, and sat in the doctor’s office.

Then he opened the MRI he just ordered and began reviewing the images.

At a glance, Lu Cheng knew his suspicion was correct.

Sometimes, if a person with strong physical fitness or specialized skills makes a rather basic mistake, you can’t blame it on carelessness; a pathological cause should be carefully considered.

Head CT is not a mandatory annual checkup; indeed, this patient had an intracranial aneurysm.

In emergency situations, if an aneurysm transiently acts up, it could cause dizziness or leg weakness, which is extremely dangerous.

The brother returned to his bed after the exam for an IV, and the MRI room told him it would take two hours to get the results.

Lu Cheng, however, had reviewed the images and already had the results.

Lu Cheng approached his bed, ”Brother, the images are out. I’ve seen them, you might want to call your family over.”

He had a family, immediately opening a video call with his wife and kids before hanging up, ”Dr. Lu, is there a problem with my MRI?”

”There is a bit of an issue!” Lu Cheng nodded.

Having had a history of an intracranial aneurysm means it’s a major issue.

This time it was just ”accidentally” slipping; next time, it could rupture.

”Dr. Lu, don’t scare me,” he quickly ended the video call.

”Brother, why would I scare you? You’re in a special occupation like me. When you find a fire safety issue during inspections, do you merely use scare tactics?” Lu Cheng countered.

”Do I really need my wife to come here? At this hour?” the young man asked.

”It’s best if they come sooner. Your condition is rather unique, dealing with it sooner would be better.”

”Even if not immediately, it must be dealt with quickly. I just reviewed it closely, and that thing requires serious attention.” Lu Cheng was not exaggerating.

If the young man had never had an episode before, it was an asymptomatic intracranial aneurysm, unlikely to rupture.

But with a history of episodes, no one knows when or if it might rupture.

And if it ruptures, it can be fatal or cause paralysis.

Lu Cheng said, ”Specifically, I’ll leave it to the neurosurgeons and neurologists who will talk with you later. They are the experts.”

”You should quickly call your family over. I’m really not trying to make things difficult for you.”