ALL NOVEL Chapter 33: Good Thing It Was Screened Early - Hospitalization and Treatment
Chapter 33: Good Thing It Was Screened Early – Hospitalization and Treatment
“No, how could we have met?” Su Nuokang denied quickly, without a moment’s hesitation.
After asking, Chu Hanting had watched Su Nuokang’s reaction closely, seeing no unusual expression on his face. The response came so naturally and quickly that Chu Hanting judged Su Nuokang must be telling the truth. Perhaps he’d confused him with someone else.
So he dropped the matter.
Seeing no further questions coming, Su Nuokang slowly unclenched his fist under the table.
Su Mu hadn’t thought much of it either, assuming Chu Hanting was just making casual conversation. After all, having lived through this life once already, he considered himself to have a god’s-eye view – there wasn’t much he didn’t know.
“Bang bang bang”
“Bang bang bang”
After the urgent knocking came an anxious voice.
“President Chu, are you still here?”
Su Mu got up to open the door. It was one of the government workers from earlier, peering inside.
Su Mu simply pulled the door wide open so he could see clearly. “Looking for Chu Hanting?” He nodded toward the inside, indicating where he was.
The worker thanked Su Mu with a smile, then stood in the doorway pleading: “Um, President Chu, the villagers seem to trust what you say more. Could you help maintain order?”
He smiled sheepishly, facing the boss’s stern expression.
He had no choice. Who knew that just when they were almost convinced, someone would demand President Chu make them guarantees? The voices grew louder and louder, becoming uncontrollable.
He had no option but to seek help.
Thankfully the boss hadn’t left yet.
“Most of Xinghua Village’s residents are farmers who’ve worked the land their whole lives, never ventured outside. They lack understanding of many things and feel insecure. If you can give them a sense of security, President Chu, I’m sure they’ll listen to reason,” Su Nuokang explained.
He said this partly for the villagers’ sake – they were kind people who, when his family first settled here as outsiders, not only didn’t discriminate but helped in various ways.
So Su Nuokang was genuinely grateful and wanted the best for them. These people weren’t well-educated and could easily be misled, but they also feared being deceived and ending up as victims.
They needed someone they could trust to make guarantees to them.
That’s why Su Nuokang made this suggestion to Chu Hanting.
On the other hand, he also hoped President Chu would leave soon, worried he might notice something.
After seeing the hospital report, Su Mu’s heart sank, though he was glad he’d convinced his father to come.
Su Nuokang seemed unaware of the gravity of the situation. Seeing Su Mu’s furrowed brows and worried face, he smiled reassuringly: “Don’t worry, son. It might just be benign. Let’s not worry too much until we get the results tomorrow.”
Su Mu forced a smile, knowing it must be malignant – otherwise Su Nuokang wouldn’t have died from cancer in his previous life. He just didn’t know how far it had progressed yet. He prayed silently that it would be caught early this time.
Earlier, Su Mu had been caught up in the joy of reuniting with his birth father, temporarily forgetting about Su Nuokang’s eventual death from cancer in his previous life. But when Chu Hanting mentioned Beijing, it came rushing back to him.
That’s why he’d suggested: “Dad, let’s get a physical checkup today?”
Su Nuokang had been confused, since he was middle-aged but had always been healthy and felt fine. “Why the rush? Don’t worry son, I get checkups every year. I’m in great shape.”
Su Nuokang assumed his son was just being caring and didn’t take it too seriously.
Su Mu wasn’t sure when his father’s cancer had first developed, but he knew early screening would help more than hurt.
“Dad, actually I’m feeling a bit unwell. I want to get a full checkup. Since we’re going, why don’t you join me?”
As expected, this immediately got Su Nuokang’s attention. “What’s wrong? Where are you feeling unwell?” he asked, brow furrowed with concern.
“I can’t pinpoint it exactly, just feeling off. A checkup will put my mind at ease,” Su Mu deliberately put on a weak expression.
“Alright, let’s go right now,” Su Nuokang decided immediately.
They took a cab to Beijing First Hospital, the best hospital in the city, and ordered a comprehensive set of tests. Su Mu made sure to include every possible examination he could think of, even rushing some tests that normally required appointments.
By evening, all the results were in. The ultrasound showed a tumor that needed further testing to determine if it was benign or malignant.
After a sleepless night of worry, Su Mu dragged Su Nuokang to the hospital early the next morning.
Su Mu’s hand trembled slightly as he pressed the print button for the report. Seeing his son’s state, Su Nuokang’s heart grew heavy.
“As expected,” Su Mu said immediately upon seeing the final diagnosis.
When Su Nuokang saw the malignant result, he stood stunned for a moment, so much that he didn’t notice Su Mu’s telling “as expected” comment. Otherwise, he would surely have noticed the slip in Su Mu’s words – they suggested he knew all along.
Now knowing the results, Su Nuokang took it seriously. He’d always been healthy and hadn’t worried before, but now he was glad he’d listened to his son about getting checked.
They went to see the doctor for a follow-up consultation with heavy hearts.
The one fortunate thing was that they caught it early. With surgery and medication, the chances of recovery were very high.
Hearing this, Su Mu finally felt grounded after feeling light-headed since yesterday.
Having just reunited with his birth son, Su Nuokang naturally wanted to take care of himself. He didn’t want to part ways right after reuniting.
So he followed the doctor’s advice and began hospital treatment. Earlier intervention meant better chances of recovery.
That evening, they went home to pack. The next day, Su Nuokang was admitted to Beijing First Hospital.
After arranging everything at the hospital, Su Mu left, deciding to move into the Beijing resettlement housing.
He had two reasons: First, Xinghua Village would be demolished soon anyway. Second, the village was far from both his school and the hospital, while the resettlement housing was conveniently located for both.
Meanwhile, at the Su family home, after Su Mu left, the family who thought he would return in a few days were discussing him in the living room.
“What’s wrong with this child? A few days of sulking would be one thing, but he still hasn’t come back.”
Su Mu’s mother’s tone was full of criticism and dissatisfaction with his behavior, without a trace of concern.