Legendary Captain

Chapter 194 A Family Illness That Has No Way Out

Perhaps because of Wen Jingshu's instructions, a large group of doctors arrived for Xu Xian's simple coronary angiography. It seemed that even the head of the cardiology department had rushed over.

Before coronary angiography, some preliminary examinations are usually conducted. Because a contrast agent is injected, it's necessary to inquire about iodine allergies beforehand. Additionally, patients with severe cardiopulmonary or liver/kidney dysfunction cannot undergo coronary angiography.

Fortunately, Xu Xian was in good health and met the requirements for the imaging procedure.

Following the doctor's advice, Xu Xian then underwent a blood lipid test and an electrocardiogram.

Coronary angiography is actually real-time, but Xu Xian couldn't see it while lying down. After the examination, the doctor printed out the images. The previous blood lipid test results were also sent over as soon as possible.

"Your electrocardiogram doesn't show ST-T changes indicative of myocardial ischemia. However, the coronary angiography does show very slight atherosclerosis, which doesn't yet have any medical significance," said the head of cardiology. "Your blood lipids are slightly high, but not excessively so. Go home and pay attention to your diet and exercise more. High blood lipids can accelerate coronary artery stenosis."

"Doctor, there's something I need to tell you." Xu Xian paused for a moment. "My father has quite severe coronary heart disease, and my grandfather also has heart problems, seemingly showing early symptoms of coronary heart disease as well. You want to ask if coronary heart disease is hereditary?"

"Coronary heart disease does have a genetic predisposition, and it occurs more frequently in men! What about your mother? Does she have coronary heart disease?" the head of cardiology asked.

"I don't think so." Actually, Huang Ying hadn't had a specific coronary artery examination, but judging from her usual lively and energetic demeanor, she probably didn't have any problems with that.

"That's good!" the director said thankfully. "If both parents have coronary heart disease, then the next generation, especially boys, has a higher chance of inheriting it, and the onset of the disease may be earlier than that of their parents. So it seems that your coronary atherosclerosis is not just due to your own condition."

"Doctor, my daily lifestyle is generally fine, and I don't even understand why I have high cholesterol. My dad seems to have high cholesterol too, but he usually eats a very light diet."

High blood lipids are a very direct cause of coronary artery stenosis. However, both Xu Xian and Xu Jingyang suffer from high blood lipids, which is very inconsistent with their lifestyles.

Xu Jingyang has a very light palate and doesn't overeat. He also has very healthy lifestyle habits, so logically his blood lipids shouldn't be high. Xu Xian is the same way, and he even exercises much more than Xu Jingyang, yet his blood lipids are still very high.

The director waved his hand: "While high cholesterol is directly related to lifestyle habits, it's not the only factor. Some families have gene mutations that affect lipid metabolism, leading to primary hyperlipidemia."

"Doctor, you mean my family is one of them?" Xu Xian's heart skipped a beat, and the more he thought about it, the more certain it seemed. A significant reason why his symptoms were so mild while Xu Jingyang's were so severe was that during the period when the Xu family was starting their business, Xu Jingyang, preoccupied with socializing and handling company affairs, not only neglected his health but also developed many unhealthy lifestyle habits. It was during that time that Xu Jingyang experienced increasingly frequent chest pains.

The doctor said, "I'm not sure about that either. However, your blood lipid levels aren't particularly high, so the impact on coronary artery stenosis isn't too significant. Generally, if coronary artery sclerosis occurs, we recommend medication for high blood lipids. However, your coronary atherosclerosis is negligible, so you don't need medication. Also, if it really is high blood lipids caused by genetic factors, there's currently no permanent solution. If you start taking medication, you'll probably have to be prepared for a long period of time."

"Like blood pressure medication?" Xu Xian's mind was a little confused for a moment.

Once you start taking medication for high blood pressure, it's usually a long-term, even lifelong, commitment. He definitely doesn't want to spend the rest of his life on medication.

"If it really is due to genetic factors, is there really no good way to deal with it?" Xu Xian was unwilling to give up.

"I'm sorry! Genetic hyperlipidemia involves gene mutations in lipid metabolism, and there's currently no good treatment. However, don't be discouraged. Your condition is actually very mild. You're still young and have a strong metabolism, so at least for a long time, your coronary atherosclerosis shouldn't be a significant problem. Even as you get older and your metabolism declines, medical interventions should be very effective. At least it won't affect your normal life at all."

"But I'm a pilot! It might not affect ordinary people, but it could affect me," Xu Xian said irritably. "Just yesterday, I experienced chest tightness and palpitations while the plane was descending rapidly. I don't know if it will worsen or affect my work."

"Symptoms have appeared? How long have they lasted?" The director was surprised. Logically speaking, Xu Xian's atherosclerosis should not have caused symptoms.

"It only lasted a few minutes, and it wasn't very noticeable," Xu Xian said. "Actually, if my dad didn't have coronary heart disease, and if I didn't have some special knowledge about chest tightness and chest pain, I probably wouldn't have even noticed it."

"Oh, that's good! If it gets more serious, you'll need to take it seriously. I suggest you have your coronary arteries checked every six months. If you experience frequent or severe chest pain, tightness, or palpitations, be sure to go to the hospital as soon as possible," the doctor advised.

Many people suffer from high cholesterol, but medication isn't always necessary. If dietary adjustments or lifestyle changes can normalize blood lipid levels, doctors generally don't recommend medication. This is because if medication stabilizes the condition, but the underlying cause isn't addressed, a rebound is likely after stopping medication. Such instability is actually detrimental to the patient.

However, if Xu Xian's coronary atherosclerosis worsens, medication will be necessary. Of course, given Xu Xian's family history, it's highly likely that his family has a significant deficiency in lipid metabolism, which often leads to faster progression of atherosclerosis.

If Xu Xian cannot suppress the progression of his illness through changes in diet or lifestyle, then once he starts taking medication, it will likely be a long-term treatment.

As for hyperlipidemia at the genetic level, there is still no effective treatment. Given Xu Xian's current condition, the probability of him developing severe coronary heart disease is not high, but the likelihood of him needing long-term medication in the near future is quite high.

"Is my current condition still suitable for flying?"

In comparison, this problem is more urgent. Judging from the doctor's words, from the perspective of an ordinary person's daily life, his problem is basically negligible. However, due to the special nature of his work, Xu Xian needs to determine from the perspective of a civil aviation pilot whether his condition will affect his flights.

Xu Xian didn't believe that a heart problem could have no impact on flying. Otherwise, there would be no need for an electrocardiogram during the annual routine physical examination.

When asked about this more technical question, the director seemed unsure: "I don't quite understand your civil aviation medical examination standards! But I do know a few doctors at the Civil Aviation General Hospital. They seem to have some special clearance cases for coronary heart disease. It seems that it's not that anyone with coronary heart disease is prohibited from flying; as long as the narrowing of the coronary arteries isn't too severe, they can get a special clearance. Even pilots whose conditions have stabilized after medication, bypass surgery, or stent placement seem to be able to fly. I know a pilot who had a stent implanted, and he seems to still be flying. However, this is all hearsay; you should ask your company for the specific procedures."

The medical examination standards for civil aviation pilots are relatively unique, which is where the director's knowledge is lacking. He might offer Xu Xian some basic information about areas he's uncomfortable with, but he wouldn't dare ask Xu Xian for any professional conclusions.

"I see. Well, that doesn't necessarily mean we're doomed." Xu Xian was worried that his condition might lead to a physiological grounding, which he couldn't accept.

However, he didn't quite understand the issue of special qualification mentioned by the doctor. He would find some time to ask the company's flight doctor later, who should have a more professional answer.

"Thank you for your help today!" Xu Xian said, seeing that he had almost finished his business, and prepared to leave.

The director immediately stopped Xu Xian: "The coronary angiography you had left some small wounds on your thigh. Don't get them wet for the next two days, and avoid strenuous exercise."

Coronary angiography is a minimally invasive interventional procedure that involves inserting a catheter through a peripheral artery into the coronary arteries on the surface of the heart, injecting contrast agent, and then visualizing the morphology of the coronary arteries.

Normally, the radial artery on the right side, which is the blood vessel in the right wrist, is chosen as the peripheral artery. However, Xu Xian considered that pilots' hands are somewhat sensitive, and even a tiny, minor incision would make him wary. In the end, he opted for the femoral artery in the groin instead.

In addition, the area around the groin is relatively hidden and easy to cover up. Xu Xian doesn't want his family and friends to know about his situation yet.

"I understand, Doctor! By the way, please don't tell Chairman Jing about my situation for now!"

Xu Xian didn't want his parents to know, and he didn't want even some of his closer relatives to know, including Wen Jingshu. Since the hospital belonged to Wen Jingshu, he felt it necessary to make a special explanation to the hospital, otherwise they might report it to Wen Jingshu.

The director was taken aback for a moment, then assured him, "Of course, keeping patients' conditions confidential is our duty."

Seeing the director's assurance, Xu Xian thanked the director without much thought and hurriedly left the director's office.

Xu Xian's initial plan was to cover it up, even abandoning his usual method of using the peripheral artery in his right wrist and opting instead for the more concealed femoral artery. However, Xu Xian was still young. Beforehand, Wen Jingshu had specifically instructed him to report any unusual activity to her. These doctors dared not disobey the specific instructions of the entire group's leader. A few nice words would suffice to appease Xu Xian, but as for reporting, it still had to be done.

As a result, as soon as Xu Xian left the office, the director betrayed him by making a phone call.

"Chairman, I am the director of the Cardiology Department at the Dianyun Branch Hospital. Xu Xian just came here for a checkup, and the results are..."

Xu Xian returned home and found Xu Jingyang eating while wearing a security guard uniform. Xu Xian glanced at the food on the table and was slightly surprised.

"This dish is great! Your cooking skills are so good!" Xu Xian served himself a bowl of rice and sat down to eat as well.

Ever since Huang Ying went abroad on business, Xu Xian's meals have plummeted, and he has to endure Xu Jingyang's appalling cooking skills every day. Sometimes, Xu Xian can't stand it anymore and tries to cook for himself, only to find that it's not even as good as his father's, so he gives up.

But the food I ate today was quite good, both in appearance and taste. Could it be that Xu Jingyang's culinary skills have suddenly improved, and I'm destined for a good life?

While Xu Xian was eating in silence, he glanced at Xu Jingyang's security guard uniform and said, "How can you be a security guard with a body like that? What's wrong with you, you can't even run a few steps?"

Xu Jingyang is practically done with running now, it's absurd that he can still work as a security guard with that kind of physical condition.

Xu Jingyang objected: "Then I can open the door and take visitor notes, right? I won't do any physical labor, okay?"

"Does the boss agree to you just doing this to get by?"

"They're really happy about it! They even came over yesterday to tell me that I won't have to work the night shift anymore, and my monthly holidays will increase. Our company is really humane!" Xu Jingyang exclaimed.

The security guards in this community are on duty 24 hours a day, so they have to take turns working night shifts. However, having your day and night reversed for a long time is very bad for your health, let alone for someone like Xu Jingyang whose health is already not good.

As it turned out, the property management company owner was incredibly considerate. Not only did he personally visit Xu Jingyang, but he also publicly announced that Xu Jingyang would no longer need to work night shifts, his regular days off would be increased, and that he could end his workday at any time if he had any urgent matters, as long as he reported to the team leader.

In short, they practically worshipped Xu Jingyang like a Bodhisattva.

"Did you take a bullet for the property management company boss before? Or is he out of his mind?"

Xu Jingyang had some connections with the owner of the property management company in the past, and the job as a security guard in the community was given to Xu Jingyang out of consideration for their past relationship.

However, Xu Jingyang's relationship with the property management company owner was not deep, making the owner's current behavior highly suspicious.

"If you can't speak properly, then eat your food. Nobody's going to think you're mute!" Xu Jingyang finished eating and threw his bowl and chopsticks on the table. "It's your turn to wash the dishes today!"

"Alright, I know!" Xu Xian mumbled, his mouth still full of rice. Having not eaten such delicious food in a long time, Xu Xian turned into a rice-eating man, devouring the food in a whirlwind.

"You still haven't told me how your cooking is so good? Do you have any secrets? Teach me!"

Xu Jingyang is obsessed with his security guard job and refuses to quit. If Xu Jingyang happens to be on duty, Xu Xian will have to cook for himself. But his cooking skills are really nothing to write home about. If Xu Jingyang has any quick ways to improve, he wouldn't mind learning them by secret means.

"What kind of tricks could I possibly have! Don't you know what kind of skills I have? I can burn even a simple fried rice. Do you really think I made this? Can't you use your brain?" Xu Jingyang grabbed Xu Xian and mocked him mercilessly.

"Huh? Is that because Mom is back?" That was the only reason Xu Xian could think of.

Xu Jingyang pointed to his right: "Jing Shu brought this over. Look how good she is to you. Stop wearing that deadpan expression all the time, can't you be a little more cheerful? You could even go for a visit!"

"Where am I wearing a deadpan expression?" Even as he said this, Xu Xian unconsciously pinched his cheek. "Do I look serious?"

"A little!" Xu Jingyang glanced at Xu Xian. "Are you trying to distance yourself from Jing Shu? She's been living here for a while now, and I've never seen you visit her. There's no deep-seated hatred between you two, and the affairs of the previous generation have nothing to do with you. She is, after all, your ex-fiancée; can't you have a little deeper conversation?"

"Where did you say there was no communication!" Xu Xian felt that he had had a few good chats with Wen Jingshu, so how could she be as aloof as Xu Jingyang described?

"Huh?" Xu Jingyang almost jumped up: "Really! Where? Which hotel? It's not at her house, is it?"

Xu Xian was speechless: "What's going on in your head? Is this how a father talks to his son?"

"Then what should I say?" Xu Jingyang said, "Our future life of wealth and luxury depends on you! Marry a rich woman and reach the pinnacle of life!"

Xu Xian's face turned gloomy: "Get out of here!"

"I can overlook the fact that you told me to get lost, but could you seriously consider what I said? It really is quite constructive."

"Fine, if you won't leave, I will!" Xu Xian couldn't stand Xu Jingyang's frivolous behavior anymore. Seeing that he had almost finished eating, he threw down his bowl, wiped his mouth, and slipped away.

Xu Xian got up and headed straight outside.

"Are you deliberately trying to avoid washing the dishes? Hey, don't run away! Think about it, okay? You're not leaving?" Xu Jingyang noticed that Xu Xian had stopped at the door and thought he had changed his mind.

Xu Xian wasn't actually having a change of heart; rather, he remembered something: "When is my mom saying she's coming back?"

"She didn't say either, what's wrong?" The topic changed a bit too quickly, and Xu Jingyang was a little confused about Xu Xian's routine.

"It seems that Uncle Qing and Aunt Ting are coming to Yunnan. I was thinking of inviting them to our house for a meal."

Xu Jingyang jumped to his feet: "Why didn't you say so earlier? This is such a big deal."

"Something came up, I forgot."

"How could you forget that?" The Xu couple were considered great benefactors to their family, so they couldn't afford to be impolite if they invited them over for dinner. "Shouldn't we go somewhere a bit more upscale?"

Xu Jingyang felt that eating at home might be a bit too modest.

"That's enough. What's the point of pretending to be something you're not? Uncle Qing and the others aren't outsiders. Just treat them well at home."

"So that's why you asked about your mother? Oh dear, why didn't you say so sooner? What if your mother was slow to get back? Would we, father and son, have to cook? Wouldn't our cooking skills be embarrassing?" If Xu Xian decided to eat at home, Huang Ying, the hostess, would definitely be in charge of everything. But Huang Ying isn't in the country right now, and it's uncertain whether she can get back before Xu Qing's parents arrive. If she neglects Xu Qing and his wife because of this, it would be a big problem.

"I've found a helper. You ask my mom when she's coming back, and I'll find out Uncle Qing's exact arrival time. If we really can't make it, we'll talk about it again."

To be honest, Huang Ying's trip abroad was rather sudden, without any prior warning, which completely derailed Xu Xian's plans. If Huang Ying weren't there, not to mention preparing meals, without a hostess in charge, it just felt like something was missing.

Fortunately, the country Huang Ying went to wasn't that far away, on the other side of the world. The flight back to Yunnan took about six hours, which wasn't too far off.

"Okay! I'll explain the situation to your mom. You should also think of a backup plan so you won't be caught off guard later."

"Why is it always my idea?! You're supposed to be the man of the house, aren't you?"

Xu Jingyang was quite self-aware about this: "You don't really think they came here to see me, do you?"

"That makes sense!" Xu Jingyang's words were very reasonable, and Xu Xian was unable to refute them.

"By the way, Dad, is your cholesterol level a bit high?"

Xu Jingyang was taken aback: "Haven't my blood lipids always been high? A large part of my heart problem is caused by blood lipids! I remember during the physical examination when I joined the company, you told me that your blood lipids were also a bit high."

"Have you ever had normal blood lipid levels before, without taking any medication?" If it is indeed hyperlipidemia due to genetic factors, then Xu Jingyang's case is somewhat relevant.

"No! My cholesterol levels go up as soon as I stop taking the medication. I'm taking it now, it's called statin, I've been taking it for many years." Xu Jingyang said, "You don't take medication either, do you? Your electrocardiogram from your physical exam was normal!"

To be honest, because he himself had coronary heart disease, Xu Jingyang was quite concerned about Xu Xian's routine physical examinations. However, after two examinations, no problems were found, so Xu Jingyang naturally assumed that Xu Xian was healthy.

Actually, Xu Jingyang's idea wasn't entirely wrong. Strictly speaking, Xu Xian's condition hadn't reached the point of being seriously ill yet; it was just showing some signs of it.

"What nonsense are you talking about! Okay, I'm going out for a walk. You can wash the dishes if you want, or I'll wash them when I get back."

With that, he put his hands behind his back and leisurely walked out the door.

As soon as he came out, he ran into Wen Jingshu, who was also going out for a walk. This time, Wen Jingshu was genuinely going out for a stroll and hadn't been waiting for Xu Xian on purpose; it was purely a coincidence.

This time, Wen Jingshu did wear a fitted sportswear outfit, which accentuated her beautiful figure.

Wen Jingshu hadn't expected to run into Xu Xian while out for a walk, so she went up to greet him: "You're not out for a walk, are you?"

"Yes! Is there a problem?"

"Wearing leather shoes for a walk?"

Xu Xian froze, only then realizing he hadn't changed his clothes. His coat was casual, but underneath he wore a white shirt, suit trousers, and leather shoes. If Xu Xian took off his coat, two epaulets were still visible on his shirt.

There was no way around it; Xu Jingyang was indulging in lewd content, his words utterly vulgar. Xu Xian simply couldn't stand it anymore and hurriedly left, forgetting to change his clothes.

"I left in a hurry. Oh well, I wasn't going to be wandering around for long anyway."

Xu Jingyang needs to go on another two-hour shift, while Xu Xian can be back in about half an hour.

"Let's go, let's go!" Xu Xianchao waved to Wen Jingshu, signaling her to follow.

The two didn't go far, just walked around the Ningyue residential area. This residential area is very large, and there is an artificial lake in the center, making it quite pleasant for a stroll.

"What are you thinking about? You haven't said anything." The two walked for five or six minutes, and Xu Xian remained silent, making Wen Jingshu very uncomfortable. She had no choice but to speak first.

"My mom went abroad," Xu Xian blurted out out of the blue.

Wen Jingshu couldn't grasp the key point in Xu Xian's words: "So?"

"No one's cooking! What will we do when Uncle Qing and the others come over?"

"That's it? I have a housekeeper there, I can just ask her to help out, she's pretty good at cooking."

Wen Jingshu doesn't know how to cook, so she hired a housekeeper to come and cook at mealtimes; otherwise, she doesn't need to do anything else. Wen Jingshu doesn't like strangers staying in her home for extended periods.

"If I'm going to have my aunt cook, why don't I just eat out? Eating at home is about the thought that counts; what's the point if it's all done by strangers?"

"So your mom will do it all by herself? Can she manage it all by herself?"

"No, that's not it. I asked Lian Shanxue to come and help too; she can cook. She's met Uncle Qing before, so she's not exactly an outsider."

Wen Jingshu narrowed her eyes, a cold glint in them: "She can cook? She doesn't look like someone who can cook. You're not lying to me, are you?"

"Why would you lie to me?" Lian Shanxue seems to come from an ordinary family, so it's normal for her to know how to cook.

"What if he's trying to get close to you? Humph! And you didn't even ask me?" Wen Jingshu pouted, clearly very dissatisfied with Xu Xian's complete disregard for her.

Xu Xian pinched Wen Jingshu's puffed-up cheeks: "Can you even cook? My dear princess! You probably can't even chop vegetables properly! This isn't your job. You should just focus on making your money, okay?"

"I have more money than I could spend in ten lifetimes, so what's the point of earning more?"

Wen Jingshu's words were a devastating blow to Xu Xian, who was currently short of money. He didn't bother discussing cooking or making money with her. Instead, he put his hand on Wen Jingshu's shoulder, occasionally tapping and nuzzling her cheek with the back of his finger—a habit he used to love. Wen Jingshu was used to it and ignored Xu Xian's actions. She was still thinking about whether she should ask Yang Ning to find her a skilled chef to teach her.

The two walked side by side, just like they had done years ago.

Just then, Xu Xian's phone rang. He picked it up and saw that it was Li Jinyan calling.

"What's wrong?"

"Xu Xian, are you busy right now?" Li Jinyan's voice was filled with anxiety on the other end of the phone: "Qin Yue suddenly developed a fever and started talking nonsense. The doctors can't figure out the cause. I heard that your fiancée's family owns a very famous hospital. Could you help me transfer him there?"

"Are you talking nonsense? Are you out of your mind? Is it that serious?" Xu Xian was also startled: "Wait a minute!"

"Jing Shu, do you remember Li Jinyan and Qin Yue, the ones we ate with last time?"

"I remember, so what?"

"Qin Yue has a high fever, and we don't know why. Isn't your hospital supposed to be very good? Li Jinyan wants to transfer there!" Xu Xian quickly explained the situation.

"You just said he was unconscious? Is that him? It's that serious?" Wen Jingshu was also startled. "I'll give you a number. It's the director of the Dianyun branch. Have Li Jinyan call his number and say that I asked him to call. Just tell him the specific instructions. We might not be able to explain it clearly if we relay it."

After speaking, Wen Jingshu took out her phone, found the number of the director of the Dianyun branch in her contacts, and showed it to Xu Xian. As Xu Xian looked at it, he recited the number to Li Jinyan, telling her to memorize it.

"This number belongs to the director of Renxin Dianyun Branch. Call it." Xu Xian was about to speak when Wen Jingshu stopped him.

"Let me briefly explain to the dean first, otherwise he might not answer if I call from an unknown number. Tell Li Jinyan to wait two minutes before calling again!" With that, Wen Jingshu directly called the dean of the Dianyun branch.

"Did you write down the number? Call it in two minutes. Jing Shu has already informed us." Xu Xian thought for a moment, "When you leave for Renxin Hospital, just give me a call or a text to let me know. We'll go check it out too."

We've got 1000 monthly votes! Now we have two options. One is to update with a long chapter tomorrow or the day after, or we can save it for next month and add more during the next special event.

If we save it for next month, and if we can gather a thousand monthly votes before the special event next month, we can make a super long chapter of 20,000 words for you to read all at once!

You choose for yourselves! I'll decide based on your comments!

(End of this chapter)