Chapter 8: Accidental Death

That year, Qin Lang was a senior in college, interning at Renya Hospital, which was owned by the Qiao Group. This was part of a collaboration between the Qiao Group and the medical school to provide internships for students. Qin Lang was in a combined bachelor’s and master’s program, so, strictly speaking, he should not have been eligible for an internship. However, in an effort to cultivate medical talent, the Qiao Group had specifically extended this opportunity to the school.

At the time, Qin Lang was thrilled and called Yu Xiangsi to share the good news. Yu Xiangsi, however, felt a bit uneasy. "An internship so early? What is the Qiao Group’s motive? Did they make you sign an employment agreement?"

Back then, Yu Xiangsi assumed that the Qiao Group’s massive investment—offering scholarships and early internships—was simply a way to scout talent and secure the future career paths of these medical students.

But Yu Xiangsi had overestimated human nature; such minor benefits were hardly enough to justify the Qiao Group going to such great lengths.

Three months into the internship, Yu Xiangsi clearly noticed a change in Qin Lang. He had originally been a very cheerful person, and they would have so much to talk about every day. But ever since he started the internship, his calls became infrequent, and whenever they did speak, he always seemed preoccupied.

If they were an ordinary couple, one might assume Qin Lang was having an affair. But Yu Xiangsi knew better. Qin Lang would never do that. She took a leave of absence specifically to go see him, heading straight to Renya Hospital to wait for him.

When Qin Lang first saw Yu Xiangsi, he was stunned, then hurriedly pulled her away, as if terrified of being seen.

It was then that Yu Xiangsi became certain: Qin Lang was hiding something from her.

He had only changed after starting at Renya Hospital, so Yu Xiangsi tentatively suggested, "Brother, if you’re unhappy at Renya, let’s just quit."

"No!" Qin Lang immediately rejected the idea. Seemingly realizing his tone was too intense, he added defensively, "Actually, it’s quite good."

Yu Xiangsi knew him too well, so she continued, "Is that so? Then I should come to Renya Hospital in the future, too..."

"No!" This time, Qin Lang was even more agitated. "You can't! You must not come!"

Qin Lang took a deep breath and said, "The workload at Renya is too intense. I’m worried you won’t be able to handle it. I... I don't want you to be too tired."

But how could being a doctor, especially an intern, not be tiring? Yu Xiangsi became convinced that there was something wrong with Renya Hospital.

At that point, Yu Xiangsi still assumed it was just a matter of internal bullying or harassment within the hospital. She naively thought that if she just earned a little more money to ease the pressure on Qin Lang, perhaps he wouldn’t have to suffer such grievances.

Qin Lang was happy to see Yu Xiangsi, but he had no time to spend with her. Yu Xiangsi pretended to be a patient’s family member and waited for him in the hospital, finding joy just by catching a glimpse of him as he passed by.

Eventually, Yu Xiangsi had to return to school, and Qin Lang walked her to the train station.

They hugged, reluctant to part. Qin Lang smiled and said, "It’s your birthday next month; I’ll come to see you then."

Yu Xiangsi’s eyes lit up. "Will you have time?"

Qin Lang kissed her forehead, his ears turning red. "To spend your birthday with you, I will definitely make time."

Yu Xiangsi couldn’t help but smile, her dimples appearing sweet and tender.

Yu Xiangsi did not realize that would be the last time she ever saw Qin Lang.

Half a month later, Qin Lang fell to his death at Renya Hospital.

Yu Xiangsi could no longer bear to recall the feeling of receiving the news of his death. Even five years later, the mere thought of that reality would cause her uncontrollable, heart-wrenching pain and leave her body trembling.

That kind of visceral, physical agony was impossible to contain.

By the time she and Qin Shuyue received the news, it had already been three days since Qin Lang’s death. Qin Shuyue had rushed to the hospital first, collapsing before she even saw her son’s body. Later, one of Qin Lang’s classmates brought her to the hospital.

When Yu Xiangsi finally arrived, she was intercepted by one of Qin Lang’s classmates, who told her that there was something suspicious about his death.

Yu Xiangsi had reached the same conclusion; it was abnormal for the family not to be notified until three days after he had died.

Furthermore, his body was missing its internal organs.