A day passed.
Two days passed.
Wang Zizai's wife showed no signs of imminent death for the time being.
Instead, the news of Elder Dong's hospitalization spread rapidly, attracting many media reporters to take candid photos.
As for the news headlines, they were left to the reporters' imaginations.
Headlines like "Elder Dong Critically Ill in ICU, His Demise Imminent," "Money Backfires, Renowned Scholar Loses His Reputation in Old Age," and "A Scourge for Ten Thousand Years, He Dies Worthily."
All in all, Elder Dong, lying in bed, almost threw his phone when he saw these headlines.
These reporters were too malicious, not even understanding the reason for Elder Dong's hospitalization before openly declaring his imminent death, and doing so with a gloating demeanor.
"Endure, you must endure. If you cannot bear it, our plan will be in vain!" Professor Li advised from the side.
Elder Dong knew this principle.
But he was genuinely infuriated. In the end, he simply turned off his phone and went to sleep.
This scene, as witnessed by Wang Zizai through the curtain, made him believe that the news was true and Elder Dong was about to pass away.
He had been bringing him chicken soup, fruits, and other items during these days, placing them down and leaving without saying a word.
It was evident that despite his poor communication skills, his heart was good.
Another day passed.
That night.
Elder Dong, lying in the hospital bed, tossed and turned.
Pretending to be sick sounded simple, but in reality, it was extremely difficult.
The main problem was that you couldn't just eat whatever you wanted or play on your phone as you might imagine. You had to lie there weakly, like a real patient, staring at the ceiling in a daze.
A day or two might be fine, but after a while, pretending to be sick could become a real illness.
"Why isn't she dead yet? Why isn't she dead yet?"
Elder Dong stared at Wang Zizai's wife's bed, muttering continuously.
At that moment, Wang Zizai happened to bring another pot of chicken soup. Hearing Elder Dong's mumbling, he frowned, "Elder Dong, what are you saying?"
A hint of panic flashed across Elder Dong's face, and he explained, "Ah... no... I wasn't saying anything..."
"I just feel that life is bleak, and living is meaningless. I want to die quickly..."
Hearing this, Wang Zizai sighed.
He seemed to want to comfort Elder Dong, but didn't know what to say.
He quietly put down the chicken soup and left.
Watching Wang Zizai's receding back, Elder Dong couldn't help but sigh, "If Mr. Ying hadn't been bragging, heaven shouldn't bully one person! My daughter is gone, and my wife is about to be gone. If I were Wang Zizai, I wouldn't know how to bear such a blow."
Just then, a voice filled with grief and despair came from beyond the curtain: "Wife, wife! What's wrong with you?"
"Wake up quickly!"
"You said you'd stay with me until I'm eighty. You're leaving me halfway there, how can you go back on your word?"
"Nurse! Doctor! Come quickly and check on my wife, her vital signs are dropping!"
Hearing this voice, Elder Dong and Professor Li exchanged glances.
Here it comes!
Finally, it's here!
The days of waiting had not been in vain; they had finally waited for it!
Both of them cried out in excitement almost simultaneously, "She's going to die! She's finally going to die!"
However, they had forgotten the setting, forgotten that Wang Zizai was only separated from them by a curtain.
These words immediately reached Wang Zizai's ears.
Wang Zizai, in his extreme grief, was already unable to find an outlet.
Upon hearing Elder Dong and Professor Li's words, he instantly found one.
He tore down the curtain separating the beds and rushed to Elder Dong and Professor Li.
"What did you say? Say it again if you dare!"
"From the tone of your conversation just now, I already felt something was wrong! You were clearly cursing my wife's death all along!"
"How can there be such malicious people in this world? You're about to die, and you want to curse others to not live?"
"Let me tell you, if my wife doesn't make it, I'll drag you two to accompany her in death!"
Wang Zizai, this honest man, displayed a terrifying rage like a lion for the first time.
His eyes were red, his face contorted, and he roared sternly.
The doctors and nurses who rushed over upon hearing the commotion also happened to overhear Wang Zizai's words.
Instantly, the way the doctors and nurses looked at Elder Dong and the other man changed.
Before, they had treated Elder Dong and the professor with some respect, after all, they were nationally renowned experts and scholars, even if their reputations had declined recently.
But now, the doctors and nurses showed undisguised contempt in their eyes.
"Indeed, the more knowledge one has, the more despicable one becomes!" a young nurse spat.
Elder Dong and Professor Li's faces immediately turned red.
However, they knew that no explanation would be useful at this moment, so they quickly slipped out of the ward.
Especially Elder Dong, his agile steps astonished everyone present.
Was this still the Elder Dong who was on his last legs?
Outside the ward.
Professor Li took out his phone and dialed Ying Chen's number: "Mr. Ying, Wang Zizai's wife's vital signs have significantly dropped. She's estimated to be on her last breath."
"Are you coming now, or after she's completely dead?"
On the other end of the line, Ying Chen responded calmly, "I'm on my way."
After hanging up, Professor Li looked nervously towards the ward, "Elder Dong, honestly, my heart is in turmoil. I hope Wang Zizai's wife is strong and can overcome this ordeal, yet I also hope she dies soon. What if Mr. Ying can truly bring the dead back to life?"
Elder Dong also sighed, "Who isn't? Looking at the doctors' expressions, Wang Zizai's wife is indeed beyond saving. The doctor shook his head at least three times just now. They're probably just pretending to resuscitate her now to avoid being blamed by Wang Zizai for irresponsibility. Otherwise, they would have declared Wang Zizai's wife beyond help long ago."
The two of them whispered like paparazzi peeking through a window, eavesdropping at the ward door.
Ten minutes later.
The doctors and nurses inside the ward stopped their actions. The doctor regretfully said something to Wang Zizai.
Then they turned and walked out of the ward.
On the monitor screen, long straight lines were displayed one after another.
Whether it was heart rate, respiration, blood pressure, or blood oxygen, none were beating anymore; they had all become static.
This indicated that the patient's vital signs had essentially disappeared!
Only the brain could be slightly maintained for five to six minutes with the residual blood oxygen.
After five to six minutes, the brain would also die due to the cessation of blood supply.
At that point, it would be truly hopeless!
"No! Doctor, try again, she can still be saved, she can still be saved!"
"Wife, wake up, wake up! I won't allow you to die, I won't allow you to die!"
From within the ward came Wang Zizai's heart-wrenching cries.
A moment later, Wang Zizai suddenly turned his head and saw Elder Dong and Professor Li at the doorway.
As if he had lost his sanity, his eyes blazed with furious anger: "It's you! You killed my wife!"
"I said I'd have you two accompany her in death, and I will keep my word!"
"You two die!"
Wang Zizai suddenly grabbed the knife used for cutting fruit from the bedside and charged at Elder Dong and Professor Li!
Having lost both his daughter and his wife, Wang Zizai had no more attachments and no intention of living on!
He wanted to take Elder Dong and Professor Li with him, and then commit suicide at his wife's bedside!