Hong Kong variety show: Hung Hing, are you contributing to society?

A few seconds of silence fell over the ward, broken only by the sound of Ruan Mei sipping her porridge.

Lin Yaodong looked at her, this woman who was frugal to the core, even calculating every penny spent when she was sick and hospitalized.

He suddenly remembered the times he had seen her, when she was haggling with vendors in the market over a penny.

"I heard the dress was custom-made, and the fabric was imported from Italy," Lin Yaodong said deliberately. "The designer is French, and he just launched his new collection at Paris Fashion Week last month."

Ruan Mei's hand froze in mid-air, her eyes slowly widening.

"So, you'll never be able to pay it back." Lin Yaodong's lips curled into a slight smile. "You'll never be able to pay it back in this lifetime."

Ruan Mei's face flushed red, whether from anger or something else, it was hard to tell.

She lowered her head, silently ate her porridge, and stopped talking.

At nine o'clock in the morning, Dr. He Lansheng arrived on time with several team leaders and a group of interns for ward rounds.

Although this cardiac surgeon is nearly fifty years old and has a full head of white hair, he walks steadily and has sharp eyes.

He performed a simple examination on Ruan Mei and asked her some questions.

"Ms. Ruan, how are you feeling today? Have you experienced any chest tightness or difficulty breathing?"

"It's okay... just a little nerve-wracking," Ruan Mei answered honestly, then added, "It's probably because hospitalization is too expensive."

The interns couldn't help but chuckle, and He Lansheng laughed too: "Mr. Lin, your girlfriend is quite amusing."

Lin Yaodong remained noncommittal, only asking, "When will the test results be available?"

"Tomorrow afternoon," He Lansheng adjusted his glasses, "there are a few tests that need to be sent out for testing. However, based on current observations, Miss Ruan's condition is stable for now, but surgery is necessary."

He took out a coronary angiography image and explained to Lin Yaodong, "This is an image of Ms. Ruan's coronary arteries. Look here, the anterior branch of the left atrium is significantly narrower than normal. Normally, the cross-sectional area at this location should be 5-6 square millimeters, but Ms. Ruan's is less than 4 square millimeters."

As Ruan Mei listened to the medical terminology and looked at the winding blood vessels on the angiography image, she felt her palms begin to sweat.

She instinctively grabbed Lin Yaodong's hand; his fingers were icy cold.

"How will the surgery be performed?" Lin Yaodong asked, gently placing his other hand on the back of Ruan Mei's hand.

"Interventional treatment." He Lansheng pointed to the narrowed area on the angiography image. "We insert a puncture into the blood vessel from here, place a mesh stent, and open it up."

The surgery itself involves a small incision and quick recovery, but it requires a high level of skill, especially in Ms. Ruan's case, where the blood vessel walls are quite fragile and could rupture with the slightest mistake.

"Can it be done on Hong Kong Island?"

He Lansheng pondered for a moment: "Technically... it's possible, but our team lacks experience. This type of surgery is relatively mature in Europe and America, especially at the Cleveland Clinic in the United States, where they perform thousands of similar surgeries every year with a success rate of over 90%."

"What about the cost?"

"If I go to the United States, including surgery, hospitalization, post-operative check-ups, plus round-trip airfare and accommodation..." He Lansheng calculated, "it will cost about $3 to $3.5. I can contact my mentor in Cleveland to try and get some discounts, but it will still cost at least $3."

"3... US dollars?" Ruan Mei gasped.

In the 1990s, the average worker on Hong Kong Island earned only three or four thousand Hong Kong dollars a month.

US$30,000 is equivalent to more than HK$200,000, which is enough to buy a small apartment in the New Territories.

Ruan Mei has saved up 200,000 yuan over the years by living frugally and even refusing to throw away expired bread.

Although I recently invested in stocks with Lin Yaodong, and my 20 yuan turned into over a million yuan...

But that's $3. After the surgery, plus post-operative recovery... she probably won't even have enough money.

"No, no..." Ruan Mei shook her head repeatedly, "It's too expensive, I won't do it, I'm fine..."

"I'll pay for it," Lin Yaodong said, emphasizing each word. "You just need to focus on how to get better."

Ruan Mei looked up and met his eyes.

In those usually calm and composed eyes, there was an emotion she had never seen before—was it worry, or something else?

She couldn't explain it, but her heart was pounding uncontrollably.

"But…"

"No buts." Lin Yaodong interrupted her, turning to He Lansheng, "Contact your tutor and arrange the earliest possible time. I'll cover all the expenses."

He Lansheng nodded, a hint of appreciation flashing in his eyes: "Alright, I'll contact them this afternoon. But Mr. Lin, there are some things I need to discuss with you privately."

He had long heard of Lin Yaodong's great reputation.

Recently, there have been rumors that he will run for office.

It's absurd to think that a gangster could become a district councilor.

But this is exactly what happened to this young man in front of us.

Lin Yaodong understood and gently patted Ruan Mei's hand: "I'll go out for a bit and be right back."

Outside the ward, on a small balcony at the end of the corridor, He Lansheng handed Lin Yaodong a cigarette.

The two lit the fire, and the smoke slowly rose into the humid air.

In the distance, dark clouds gathered over Victoria Harbour, and a typhoon was brewing.

"Mr. Lin, there are some risks I must tell you in advance." He Lansheng took a drag of his cigarette, his expression serious. "Even if you have the surgery in the United States, the success rate is not 100%. Any heart surgery carries risks, especially interventional procedures. During the procedure, there is a possibility of blood vessel rupture, stent displacement, thrombosis..."

"What's the worst possible outcome?" Lin Yaodong asked directly.

"Intraoperative death, or severe postoperative complications leading to brain hypoxia and a vegetative state," He Lansheng said, looking at Lin Yaodong. "These possibilities are small, but they exist. As a doctor, I must inform the patient and their family of all the possibilities."

Lin Yaodong silently gazed into the distance, a cigarette slowly burning between his fingers.

After a long silence, he finally spoke: "If she doesn't have the surgery, how long can she live?"

"In 3 to 5 years, if she takes good care of herself and doesn't experience major emotional fluctuations or overwork," He Lansheng paused, "but Miss Ruan's heart problem will worsen with age, and she may not be so lucky next time she has an attack."

The wind before the typhoon blew across the balcony, carrying the salty smell of the sea.

Lin Yaodong stubbed out his cigarette: "Arrange the surgery. It's better than watching her die, no matter what."

"I understand," He Lansheng nodded. "I'll contact her as soon as possible. But Mr. Lin, Miss Ruan needs to remain emotionally stable before the surgery and avoid any stimulation. Last night's surprise..."

He smiled. "It's best if there aren't any more."

Lin Yaodong gave a rare wry smile: "I understand."

When I returned to the ward, Ruan Mei was holding a calculator, her brows furrowed as she calculated something.

Seeing Lin Yaodong come in, she quickly hid the calculator under her pillow.

"What are you calculating?" Lin Yaodong raised an eyebrow.

"No...it's nothing." Ruan Mei's eyes flickered.

Lin Yaodong walked to the bedside, took out a calculator from under the pillow, and the screen displayed a string of numbers: 30000 × 7.8 = 234000.

"Still calculating the surgery fees?" Lin Yaodong put down the calculator and sat down on the edge of the bed. "I told you, you don't need to worry about the money."

"But it's over two hundred thousand..." Ruan Mei bit her lip, "How can I let you pay so much money? We...we're not..."

"Not what?" Lin Yaodong looked at her.

Ruan Mei's face flushed again. She lowered her head, twisting the bedsheet between her fingers. "We're just ordinary friends... You've helped me so much, I can't repay you..."

Although the two have had sex more than once, Lin Yaodong has yet to make a clear promise.