Dense Fog - C7.1

“Doctor, can I go back to the dorms now?” Jiang Tan, who had been quiet, asked.

His face showed no emotion, and his voice was indifferent. Neither his appearance nor his tone indicated any strong desire.

Since his desire wasn’t strong, Dr Hu had to play it safe: “No, you can’t leave until the observation period is over.”

Today, too many mysterious emergency cases had been brought in.

These three were just one group. Several other patients lay in the ward, all with accidents that seemed normal at first glance but turned out to be strangely irrational upon further inquiry.

Jiang Tan didn’t argue further. After being denied, he continued to lean against the head of the bed, closing his eyes to rest.

However, Ren Feiyu noticed that Jiang Tan’s brows furrowed slightly.

So, this person did have emotions, but his way of expressing them was quite restrained and obscure.

Ren Feiyu was secretly surprised by this new discovery when he heard Dr. Hu say, “Ren Feiyu, not to criticize you, but…”

If it’s not to criticize you, it’s indeed to criticize you.

Ren Feiyu obediently lowered his head. Regardless of right or wrong, he first aimed for a good attitude, “Hmm?”

Dr Hu: “Your spirit of selflessly saving your classmates is commendable…”

Ren Feiyu nodded vigorously. Here comes the ‘but.’

Dr Hu: “But jumping into the water without knowing how to swim is too dangerous!”

“Hmm? Hmm…” Ren Feiyu raised his head, instinctively defending himself, “I can swim…”

“Being able to swim doesn’t necessarily mean you can save someone,” Dr Hu said irritably. “There’s a scientific method to rescuing a drowning person, and you can’t just act recklessly.”

Ren Feiyu’s voice became weaker, “I didn’t act recklessly…”

Dr Hu’s momentum grew stronger, “If you didn’t act recklessly, why did you choke on so much water? If you had been in the water any longer, you would have been in serious danger, you know!”

Ren Feiyu wanted to say he had followed the standard rescue posture, but who could have anticipated the sudden reverse embrace from the other person as if they were determined to perish together?

But the doctor said the classmate couldn’t remember the situation in the water clearly and even asked the doctor to thank the two of them. If Ren Feiyu mentioned it now, it might seem like he was blaming the other person, which didn’t feel right. Besides, the classmate probably didn’t do it on purpose…

With a jumble of thoughts, Ren Feiyu convinced himself once again, “Hmm, I understand.”

His voice was like the hum of a mosquito, and Dr Hu couldn’t help but soften her tone, sighing and letting her expression soften.

However, Jiang Tan, who was in the adjacent bed, suddenly chimed in at this moment, “His rescue method was correct. He embraced the drowning person from behind, under the armpit, and then quickly surfaced. The entire process was very standard.”

Ren Feiyu looked at Jiang Tan in surprise.

Had Jiang Tan seen him rescuing someone? No wonder he was the first to jump in to save Ren Feiyu when the accident occurred.

But Ren Feiyu didn’t expect Jiang Tan to defend him now.

Dr Hu was puzzled, “If the method was correct, then how…”

“I’m not sure,” Jiang Tan said, “In my view, it might be that the classmate briefly regained consciousness in the water or had some sort of conditioned reflex, causing him to desperately cling to this classmate, turning the rescue into a mutual danger.”

Dr Hu fell silent, deep in thought.

“I need to go and check on him.” She turned around and hurried out. At the door, she turned back to remind them, “You two stay here and observe. You’re not allowed to leave until the time is up.”

As the school doctor left, the observation room returned to its slightly awkward silence.

Ren Feiyu looked at Jiang Tan, “Um…”

At that moment, Jiang Tan’s phone rang.

Jiang Tan glanced at the name, confirmed who it was, and answered, “Wang Ye.”

Ren Feiyu obediently closed his mouth, then listened to Jiang Tan on the other end, “Yes… But you have to wait… I’m at the school infirmary… I…”

Beep, beep, beep.

Jiang Tan only managed to say three and a half sentences, eleven words in total, before the other party unilaterally ended the call.

Ren Feiyu watched Jiang Tan put his phone away. His side profile didn’t seem to show much annoyance from being hung up on. Only then did Ren Feiyu cautiously speak, “Um, thank you…”

Jiang Tan turned to look at him coldly, “You’ve said that several times already.”

“I meant just now,” Ren Feiyu said, “Thank you for explaining to Dr Hu on my behalf.”

“It’s not for your sake, I’m just stating the objective facts,” Jiang Tan said. “Besides, you were indeed reckless when you jumped in to save the person. You had already shouted that someone was drowning, and two lifeguard teachers were rushing over. They could have handled the situation more appropriately than you.”

Ren Feiyu’s head hung lower and lower as he listened, even lower than when Dr Hu scolded him. He felt incredibly wronged, but he instinctively apologized, “I’m sorry, it won’t happen again…”

Jiang Tan shook his head with extreme rationality, “There’s no need for you to promise to me. Your life is your own, and you have the absolute right to handle it as you see fit.”

Ren Feiyu: “…”

This conversation was too difficult.

However, everything has two sides. Although Jiang Tan was hard to converse with, he was calm and decisive, and his ability to control his emotions was something Ren Feiyu, who was prone to losing his temper, admired and even looked up to.

Jiang Tan possessed almost every quality that Ren Feiyu desired but knew he could never have.

So, Ren Feiyu decided to give it a shot anyway—

“Benefactor, can I add you on WeChat?”