Chapter Text
Chapter 1
ENCOUNTER
3rd person's P.O.V
(3,269 words)
In the busy streets of Caiyi District, at the heart of the shopping center, on the roadside jewelry store, a 27-year-old lady with long black hair and a pair of silver-grey eyes named Wei Ying was struggling in choosing a nice necklace. She just got back from America one day ago and she forgot to buy a gift for her Nana. So, she decided to buy her a necklace at a jewelry store.
"Hey, sis, which one do you think is the best? This flower or this star? It's for my Nana. She's a --" Before Wei Ying finished her sentence, she was cut off by a loud gunshot inside the store.
The customers all shouted and sit on the ground covering their heads as if there was an earthquake. The robbers shot the surveillance cameras inside the shop which made the shouts louder and more cries can be heard. Wei Ying looked around and saw that there are five-armed masked men inside the shop. One goon locked the door and put down the blinds of the window. Security guards are down, injured. The other goons are breaking the glasses where the jewelry is being displayed. The remaining goons point their guns at the customers, threatening them.
Wei Ying reaches for her phone only to find that her bag was left near the other side of the counter. She remembered that in some movies stores like this have emergency buttons. When she looked up, she saw the emergency button to alert the nearest police or army force so she didn’t hesitate to push it. And thankfully, it didn’t create any noise. The alert signal was received by the Gusu Special Police department which is 45 minutes away from Caiyi District. So, the Chief Police called the Army Commander at Caiyi Army Base Camp to respond while they are on their way.
“Attention, there is a robbery in Ching Pao Jewelry Store, Roman Plaza, Caiyi District. Blue Lightning Commando, and Tiger Batallion 2, Depart immediately. The police force is on their way.” Commanded by Commander Liang.
Special forces battalions immediately responded and it only took them 10 minutes to get there. Sniper positions are ready. Some take care of crowded control making civilians step back. The Ambush unit is in a position ready to respond to any commands. Media reporters also arrived at the scene, live reporting what was happening.
Then the Captain of the commando transmitted a video coverage inside the store through the ceiling air vents and reported the situation to the commander, staying at the monitor vehicle. “Five robbers, all armed with two handguns, one shotgun, and two knives. A dozen hostages and all gathered at the center counter. Approximately four meters away from the front door.”
“Control the crowd first.” says the commander, reaching every soldier's earpiece. Then he called inside the store to talk to the robbers.
“Boss,” said one robber to their leader while giving the telephone.
While looking at the window blinds, the boss replied, “Listen, we’ll kill them if the car does not appear in five minutes.” Then ended the call.
The ambush unit on the front lines received the go signal to be ready for an attack. Counting five seconds while walking stealthily.
Wei Ying on the other hand felt somehow relieved that the police responded immediately. But anxiety fills her system when an elderly man, collapsed.
“Lao Ye, Lao Ye, Are you okay?” Shouted by the wife of the man. One of the goons went to her and shouted back a ‘Be quiet’ line while shoving her up with a gun pointed at her. This gets the attention of the leader. “What’s wrong with him?”
“Please, he had a heart attack.” The woman replied while crying.
The captain watching the transmitted video halted the attack operations and reported to the commander that one of the hostages is having a seizure.
Seeing what’s happening to the man, Wei Ying cant ignore it. She slowly raised her hand. “Speak.” The leader said to Wei Ying.
“I am a doctor.” She slowly replied while clutching her hands in front of her chest. Trying her best to alleviate her fear. After saying this, the leader gave his permission for Wei Ying to come close to the patient.
Wei Ying hurriedly put the tip of her index and long finger to check and feel the pulse in the carotid artery. She also checked his breathing.
“What’s the matter?” the leader asked her.
“Faint breathing.” Then she proceeded on giving chest compressions while speaking “I can’t feel carotid artery pulse. Maybe an acute myocardial infarction. He should be sent to the hospital immediately or he will die!” She can’t help but slightly raised her voice due to panic as she begged with the old woman beside her.
“Shut up!” the leader shouted when the old woman cried and begged loudly. He instructed someone to go near the windows side and check the situation outside. Wei Ying continues the chest compression and then she stands up to face the leader.
“What I am saying is true! He may die some minutes later!” she shouted. Wei Ying might be scared but when it comes to medical issues, she can’t just sit or standstill.
This irritated the leader. “Believe that I will kill you right now!” He shouted back while pointing a gun at her. This also made the other hostages cry in fear. “Keep down!”
Wei Ying sat with the others but the crying didn’t stop. The leader shot someone in the leg. The gunshot was heard outside and made the bystanders gasp and step back.
“Seeing the situation inside, everyone follows the command of the Commando’s Captain.” Said the commander.
“Everyone, the robbers are in rage. Ready to attack.” the captain informed them. Then the countdown started. But when the countdown was finished, everyone makes a move towards the store when the front door slightly opened with a grenade rolling out.
“They have grenades!” the 1st Lieutenant who saw the grenade shouted and they all run back and get out of the way. The explosion wounded several soldiers and broke the windows of the store.
The police force who just arrived rescued the wounded soldiers while the robbers got one hostage and pointed a gun at her neck. The robber shoves her to the remaining window pane to threaten the forces. “Step back away or else I will kill her right now! I mean it!! Step back!”
“Everyone, step back! I’ll shoot!” the leader continues to shout.
After the explosion, the Ambush unit of both forces along with the other members of the Blue Lightning Commando rushes to the front line. Despite the demands of the robbers, the captain commanded. “GO!”
Then the captain first made his move and broke the ceiling vent and accurately shot three of the robbers followed by the secondary shot of the snipers outside killing one more robber. While the other forces made their way through the front to save the hostages.
The team walks inside, captain falling smoothly when they saw the last robber, the leader, holding one hostage. Wei Ying holding a grenade without the pin, with a knife on her neck, slowly slicing her skin.
“Remain in your place! Or else I’ll blow it up and die with you!” the last one shouted. Making everyone halt their steps. “Drop your gun!”
The captain, with the full Special Force uniform with his face covered except the eyes, was in front of the robber and the hostage, pointing his gun. This made Wei Ying cry. The relief she felt when the police arrived left her system replacing it with panic.
‘I just freaking arrived here in China 2 days ago after being abroad for 8 years and now this is what happened?’ Wei Ying complained inside her mind.
Again, the captain did not listen to the robber. He did not drop his gun but commanded the others to stop by raising his fist, so they drop their guns and stepped back. The robber continues to hide behind Wei Ying, making the knife touches her neck more. She can feel the blood starting to ooze out of the wound.
‘Thank goodness that it’s not that deep to reach the Jugular Vein or any major veins or arteries. F*ck.’ She thinks while closing her eyes to feel the severity of the injury or how deep was the cut.
Captain slowly lowers his gun then the robber looks at him creating a perfect opportunity for him to shoot the robber accurately on his forehead.
Wei Ying falls together with the robber since he was holding her, still the grenade by her hands. This made her shout but then the soldier in dark green uniform jumps towards her holding the grenade. The captain changes their position while falling so that he could cushion the fall of the hostage.
"Grip it! Grip it and it won't blow up!” Captain Lan loudly instructed her so she could hear him despite her loud cries.
“You’re lying! He pulled out the pin! I saw it. It will blow up!” Wei Ying replied frankly while still crying.
“It won’t blow up even without the pin as long as you grip it tightly. It doesn’t blow up now, right?” Captain Lan assured Wei Ying.
Wei Ying tries to stop crying, “You’re not lying?” to which he replied ‘No’. “Then what should I do?”
Captain Lan assisted Wei Ying to sit up facing in front of him. Both of them still holding the grenade. Wei Ying looks at him then he replied, “Grip it and I’ll get you out of here.”
“Then what? Blow me up in another place without bystanders?” Wei Ying replied, still sobbing and not believing the soldier.
‘The army was the one who responded? In a local robbery case? Did China made a lot of changes while I’m away?’ she thought, despite the situation she is in. She’s trying her best not to think about what’s happening.
This reply made Lan look at her with disbelief. “You won’t die. I will take you to an anti-explosion place.”
“You are brave. What do you do?” Captain Lan is not the kind of person who initiates a conversation with someone, especially for those who he doesn’t know but to make her calm down, talking to her is the best decision he can think of.
“I’m a doctor, a surgeon. I just graduated and passed the board exams not too long ago.”
“As far as I know, a surgeon must have a steady hand.” Captain Lan replied while looking at her shaking hand who was holding the grenade.
“I can’t control my hands! There is a so-called neuroendocrine that responds to the sympathetic nervous system.”
“You are good at studying. You remember your lessons. But if you keep on producing it, we will both die here.” Replying amused. This girl still spouting medical terminologies in this kind of situation. It is a good thing that his reply made her try to stop her hands from shaking.
“What’s your name?”
“Wei Ying”
“Ying? As in baby (infant)?”
“What can I do with it? My parents said that I’m their only baby so I should be called baby.” She sobs.
“Dr. Wei, I need you to stand up and follow me outside.” This reply made Wei Ying panic.
“I can’t. I can’t walk. I’m scared that it will blow up once I move if I get too nervous. I am here to buy my Nana a gift because I forgot to buy her one from America after I returned. I have also never experienced going out on a date or having a boyfriend yet. I haven't even given my parents and my grandma a successor T.T I didn’t study for such a long time just to die without having to experience being a real doctor! I can’t die yet. Oh my gosh.” Wei Ying replied loudly. Saying the last two sentences in English. She was now crying and started to breathe fast.
“Dr. Wei. Dr. Wei, look at me.” Lan tried to get her attention. But Wei Ying seems to not hear him and keeps on murmuring the things she hasn’t done yet. “Look at me!” he said loudly with his commanding voice. This made Wei Ying look at him.
“Dr. Wei. This is not that complex. If you walk out with me, perhaps we could eat together later. But if you don’t, then we’ll just die here. Do you understand?” Wei Ying just looked at him.
“Believe me. I am here and you will be fine.” After the soldier in front told her this, she felt something tingling inside her. She trusted him and he slowly guide her to stand up.
‘What is this? Is this where I fall in love? In a situation like this? Wei Ying! Instead of thinking about the grenade, you’re thinking about love? To this man who you don’t even know his name or what he looks like? or how much older he is? Maybe he is an uncle for me.’ Wei Ying talks and mentally slaps herself for thinking something ridiculous in a dangerous situation.
“Slowly”
“I’m scared.”
“Hold on to me.” He replied while he hugged her to assist her to stand steady.
Hugging and hand in hand with a grenade in between them, they walk out of the store. This scene made the bystanders gasp again and the media reporters takes footage and images for the news report.
‘The hell, I look horrible! Plus I have a freaking bleeding neck! Don’t take pictures’ she thought and lean her head to the soldiers’ shoulder to hide her face. Then she realized that her family will probably see this.
“Anti-Explosion unit. Get ready!” commander.
After five minutes, they reach the Safe explosion area.
“Are you ready? When I count of three, you let go and I will hold it. Start removing your thumb and follow the rest.” The captain instructed. Wei Ying just nodded and notice how cool the voice of this soldier.
After removing the grenade from her grasp, she was approached by three other soldiers out of the area. Wei Ying looks back to the soldier who is now holding the grenade. “Then what about you?” she asked. He replied, “I am a soldier.”
Wei Ying then runs away from him. Captain Lan took one last look then walks to the area of the explosion. Letting the grenade explode. The explosion made Wei Ying look back with fear and worry in her eyes. Then she remembered. “I am a soldier.”
She was brought to the Caiyi Military Hospital by the Police to treat her neck wound. This is where she saw doctors wearing green uniforms under their doctors’ coats*. This piqued her interest and talked to the doctor. “Are you a soldier? Are you part of the Army? Can you tell me more about working here?” thinking that she can see the captain who saved her if she also joins the army. Wei Ying saw this as an opportunity to do what she loves while getting to know the captain.
For her, there was just something about the captains’ eyes and the way he speaks that made Wei Ying feel interested. Her hopeless romantic side is showing. This is the first time that she feels something like this so she is not yet sure if this is love or just a passing crush moment.
'But what if the soldier is an Uncle and has a wife? But he said that we can eat together. So that means he's single, right? Who cares!? I just adore the soldier for saving me. Nothing more, nothing less! He just inspired me to be a soldier to help others too!' Wei Ying said. In denial.
This made her attending doctor smile. “For a hostage victim, this is an unusual sight. I’m glad your mental state is good. To answer your question, yes. The Military hospital is somehow connected to the Army Medical Corps. We can be called for military field service anytime but they also request other residents from other hospitals if needed. This is where we treat the injured soldiers.” The doctor told Wei Ying while preparing for the stitching procedure.
The reply made Wei Ying think. The doctor added. “Why? Do you want to join? Army Medical Corps accepts civilians even without a physician’s license to be a medic. They trained them at the Lanling base where the training facilities are.”
“How about as a resident here? Can I apply?” Wei Ying said. Startling the doctor.
“You can talk to the HR department about the process. But as far as I remember, the hospital directors are the one who recruits residents. The hospital also requires all doctors without military rank to participate in a one-month recruit training before officially joining the post and passing the exam. Then you will be a Lieutenant or a Captain.” The resident doctor explained while cutting the suture. “Do you have an up-to-date Tetanus Vaccine?”
Wei Ying shook her head: “I’ve never been vaccinated against tetanus.”
“Ok, then you’ll need a Tetanus Jab.”
While the nurse is preparing for the vaccine, Wei Ying asks: “Is the one-month training hard?”
“It’s not that hard. It’s just the basic training to improve endurance and emergency response. They train us how to act if we are in the middle of an encounter and many more. The first week is for the classroom learning for army concepts, the second week is for the basic military exercises and basic skills to prepare for track training then for the 3rd week is the Field Training course along with basic firearm training and for the last week is the Army Simulation Operation course and the assessment.”
“Woah, that does sound hard.” Wei Ying said feeling the needle puncturing thru her muscle.
“It is right? But it is only hard on the 2nd week. But if you get the hang of it and you persevere, then the simulation and training course will be easier than you imagine.”
“Dr. Xia, Dr. Zhang wants to see you at the meeting room after this treatment.” A nurse passed by and informed the doctor.
“Dr. Wei? Right?” Wei Ying nodded. “Since this is your first Tetanus shot, the second one will be after four weeks. Then you need to come back next week to remove the suture. Okay?”
Even though Wei Ying knew that she can just go to her Nana’s hospital to get the second shot and to remove the sutures, she still agreed. “Yes. Thank you.” Wei Ying stands. “Also, thank you for the information.”
She can use this chance to observe and gather more information about this hospital.
Dr. Xia Chu smiled: “No worries. Let me know if you got accepted here! Names, Xia Chu courtesy Li Qin! Cardiosurgeon Fellow. I’ll guide you here. Good luck!”
Wei Ying smiled back.
After Dr. Xia left, she was asked by the police for a statement of what happened. Then the officers send her back to their house where no one is home yet. She didn’t bother telling her parents and Nana what happened over the phone because she knows that it will just cause them to panic.
Wei Ying went up to her room to clean herself when she realized something. “Oh shoot! I forgot to ask his name.” Wei Ying said sadly.
‘I hope we can meet again’