The nurse glanced at the gathered crowd: "There’s a rectal cancer patient inside, it’s already metastasized. He’s barely holding on and just wants to make arrangements for his two children. But none of his relatives are willing to take responsibility, so the patient is thinking about sending the children away."
She sighed and continued: "But the two children refuse to leave, insisting on staying by their father’s side and giving him a proper send-off. It’s truly heartbreaking, but we don’t have the capability to help."
Luo Qiao walked over, only to see the little boy she had met earlier that morning kneeling on the ground, crying: "Dad, don’t send us away. My sister and I want to stay with you. Please trust me, I will take good care of my sister."
Luo Qiao was deeply moved by the boy’s filial piety and resilience.
She began inquiring about the situation from the young nurse nearby: "What about their mother?"
The young nurse replied softly: "I heard she had a difficult delivery when giving birth to the siblings. Her health had been poor ever since and eventually she couldn’t make it through."
Luo Qiao looked at the kneeling boy on the floor and the girl standing by the bedside, carefully wiping sweat from her father’s face. Feeling a pang of passion, she walked into the room.
She checked the patient’s pulse and realized he only had a day or two left. Though powerless to change his condition, she was moved by the grief and reluctance in his eyes, and her sympathy quickly grew.
She then said: "Let the children stay with you for your final days. Afterward, I will make arrangements for them to have a proper home and ensure they grow up well."
A glimmer of light flashed in the patient’s eyes, and he said with difficulty, "Thank you."
He had heard of Luo Qiao before; the nurses and patients often mentioned her. He never expected to receive her promise at the end of his life. Tears welled up in his eyes, and for the first time in a long while, his face showed a sincere smile of relief.
The young nurse tugged at Luo Qiao: "Director Luo, why are you involving yourself in this? Why step into murky waters?"
Luo Qiao smiled faintly: "You’ll understand once you bee a mother."
The boy hadn’t realized that the kind aunt he met in the morning was a doctor—let alone someone willing to help him. He stood up gratefully, pulled his younger sister close, and bowed deeply to Luo Qiao: "Thank you, doctor auntie."
Luo Qiao gently patted his head: "What’s your name?"
The boy looked up and answered loudly: "Doctor auntie, my name is Ran Jinsong, and my sister’s name is Ran Jinyue. My dad’s name is Ran Weiming."
Luo Qiao asked the nurse to disperse the crowd around the hospital room.
She then looked at Ran Weiming and said: "Since the children’s relatives are unwilling to take care of them, I will temporarily act as their guardian. Please rest assured, I promise on my honor that I will ensure they have a good life. When they turn eighteen, they’ll be free to decide their future."
Ran Weiming nodded, his face filled with gratitude.
He had never imagined such a blessing would e his way. He trusted Dr. Luo, as he had no other choice.
Calling his two children over, he said weakly: "You two siblings should kneel and bow to your benefactor."
The two children knelt immediately, only to be stopped by Luo Qiao: "There’s no need for this—it’s not something people do these days."
Luo Qiao turned to Ran Weiming and said: "While you’re still in good enough health, I’ll have someone e by later to handle the paperwork. This way, your relatives won’t cause trouble for the children afterward."
Ran Weiming nodded, expressing his agreement.
Perhaps because arrangements for his children had been settled and his heart was at ease, Ran Weiming looked more spirited than he had before.
Leaving the room, Luo Qiao called Xu Shifan and asked him to send someone over to take charge. She also instructed him: "Find a suitable location. If there’s already a house available, that would be ideal. Establish a welfare center. The funding will e from the Yipin Foundation."
Xu Shifan quickly sent someone, bringing along a lawyer. Soon, they finalized the handover and processed all necessary paperwork for Ran Weiming.
Ran Weiming even took the opportunity to draft a will to protect his children, preventing his relatives from using familial ties to seize what belonged to them.
Once everything was pleted, Ran Weiming finally felt truly at peace.
A few days later, carrying his lingering love and concerns, Ran Weiming left this world.
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