Live fortune telling: Sending a top star to prison right from the start.

The smell of disinfectant permeated every inch of the air in the hospital corridor.

The sounds of footsteps and trolleys mingled together, creating the unique, noisy background noise characteristic of a hospital.

Inside the consultation room, Zheng He clenched his hands tightly together, his knuckles turning white from the force.

His eyes were filled with anxiety as he stared intently at Lu Zhinian.

Xiaoling's mother stood beside her, constantly wiping her reddened eyes with tissues and sniffling from time to time, suppressing her inner grief.

Lu Zhinian looked at the medical record in his hand, his eyes revealing both the professionalism and helplessness of a doctor.

After taking a deep breath, he slowly said, "Because Xiaoling's illness is a rare neurogenic brain tumor, there are currently two treatment options. I need to tell you in detail, and then you can make the decision."

“The first option is conservative treatment.” Lu Zhinian’s voice was calm and clear. “Through medication and regular recuperation, the progression of the disease can be controlled to a certain extent and symptoms can be relieved. Conservative treatment is relatively safe and puts less burden on Xiaoling’s body.”

Hearing this, Xiaoling's mother breathed a slight sigh of relief, but Lu Zhinian's next words made her heart jump again.

“However, conservative treatment cannot cure Xiaoling’s illness.” Lu Zhinian’s expression became serious. “Based on current medical cases, conservative treatment will only give her a maximum of ten more years to live.”

"Moreover, over the past ten years, as her condition has gradually worsened, Xiaoling has experienced frequent relapses, each accompanied by severe pain."

Xiaoling's mother's eyes instantly reddened, and tears welled up in them.

She was heartbroken to imagine her child suffering from illness for the next ten years.

Zheng He held his wife's hand tightly, trying to give her some strength, but his own hand was trembling slightly.

"What about the second option?" Zheng He asked in a hoarse voice, with a hint of urgency.

Lu Zhinian paused, his expression becoming increasingly serious: "The second option is surgical treatment. This is the only method that may cure Xiaoling's condition. The surgery mainly involves precise repair and removal of the lesion, solving the problem at its root."

Upon hearing the words "cure," a glimmer of hope flashed in the eyes of Zheng He and his wife.

But Lu Zhinian's next words were like a bucket of cold water, extinguishing the hope that had just been ignited.

“However, the surgery is very risky.” Lu Zhinian said in a heavy tone, “There are not many cases of this kind of surgery in China. Our hospital has only performed a few before, and the success rate is only 30%.”

"If the surgery is successful, Xiaoling will likely make a full recovery and live a normal life. But if the surgery fails, Xiaoling may..."

Lu Zhinian didn't continue speaking; his unfinished words were like a sharp knife, piercing the hearts of Zheng He and his wife.

The consultation room fell into a deathly silence, broken only by Xiaoling's mother's suppressed sobs.

Zheng He frowned, his eyes filled with pain and struggle.

What an incredibly difficult choice this was.

On one side is the child's limited life and painful future, and on the other side is a sliver of hope and enormous risks.

After a long while, Zheng He raised his head, his eyes filled with helplessness.

"Dr. Lu, we've decided to have surgery." His voice wasn't loud, but it carried a great deal of force.

Upon hearing the word "surgery," Xiaoling's mother covered her face with her hands, her shoulders trembling slightly.

"But the success rate is only 30%, what if..." Her voice choked up again.

Zheng He patted her back, trying to comfort her, but his own voice choked with emotion.

“I know it’s risky, but think about it, if we opt for conservative treatment, the child will have to spend the next ten years in pain.”

"And there are only ten years left. I don't want to watch my child suffer from illness every day. I'd rather take a chance, even if there's only a sliver of hope, to give my child a chance to live a healthy life."

After hearing her husband's words, Xiaoling's mother burst into tears.

She understood that her husband was right; it was a huge gamble. She gritted her teeth and nodded forcefully.

"Okay, let's proceed with the surgery."

Lu Zhinian looked at them seriously, his expression solemn. "I respect your choice, and we will do our best."

Zheng He stood up, grasped Lu Zhinian's hand tightly, and shook it vigorously.

“Dr. Lu, you and Miss Yun are our family’s saviors. No matter what the outcome, we will never forget your kindness.”

Xiaoling's mother also stood up and bowed deeply to Lu Zhinian.

Lu Zhinian quickly helped them up, saying, "This is my duty as a doctor, and I will do my best."

He added, "After the surgery, the child will need a period of recovery, and you should be mentally prepared during this time."

Mr. and Mrs. Zheng nodded repeatedly, their eyes filled with gratitude.

Lu Zhinian said solemnly, "Next, we will arrange for Xiaoling to undergo a series of preoperative examinations to ensure that her physical condition can withstand the surgery."

"At the same time, I will have multiple discussions with the surgical team to continuously optimize the surgical plan. You can come to me anytime if you have any questions."

After leaving the consultation room, Zheng He and his wife walked hand in hand down the hospital corridor with heavy steps.

Their hearts were filled with worry and unease, but at the same time, they held onto a glimmer of hope.

This is a battle against fate; they don't know what the outcome will be, but they are prepared.

Back in the ward, looking at Xiaoling sleeping soundly on the bed, Xiaoling's mother gently sat down by the bed and stroked her child's face.

"Xiaoling, you must be strong. Mom and Dad will be with you to fight this illness."

She spoke softly, tears blurring her vision again.

Zheng He stood aside, looking at his distressed wife and pale-faced daughter, tears welling up in his eyes.

To pay for his daughter's medical treatment, he not only spent all of his family's savings but also borrowed money from all sides, and now he is heavily in debt.

Relatives and friends all advised him to let go, saying that it was unnecessary for a girl and that this disease was a bottomless pit, and that continuing would only plunge the whole family into despair.

That was his precious child. From his first words to his first steps, every moment of his growth was etched in his heart.

How could he abandon her life?

He can't do it!

He thought of the vow he made when he married his wife, to never let her suffer any hardship.

But now, I'm busy and on the go.

God, why are you doing this to me?

They gave him hope, so why were they so cruel?

Zheng He shed a tear.

Lu Zhinian looked at the three people in the ward, finally shook his head, and left helplessly.

Birth, aging, sickness, and death are unchanging natural laws; all he can do is try to cure diseases and save his life.

This girl is lucky. Although she was born in an area where sons are favored over daughters, her parents love her very much and never thought of giving up on her.

Lu Zhinian returned to his office and sat lazily in his office chair.

He took off his glasses and reached out to pinch the space between his eyebrows.

There's another surgery this afternoon.

I need to rest and recuperate.

He leaned back slightly, straightened the chair, and slowly closed his eyes.

……