Chapter Forty-Four: Lavish Generosity

"What do you mean by that?" Professor Jin wore a mocking smile, refusing to clarify his words. Qin Ruonan, growing anxious as she listened, couldn't help but press him for an explanation.

Professor Jin pursed his lips and said nothing more. He drew two sheets of paper from his folder and handed one each to Qin Ruonan and An Changpu. "See for yourselves."

The paper Qin Ruonan received was a consent form provided by the family. Its contents were simple enough: it emphasized that for many years, Lu Min had longed to undergo gender reassignment surgery and to become a true woman. As his family, they wished to help him fulfill this wish as soon as possible. The document was signed by Ding Mulan and the two daughters, and even carried Lu Ji's signature.

Qin Ruonan was no handwriting expert, but after examining it for a while, she could tell that the names of Lu Anmei, Lu Anju, and Lu Ji were clearly written in the same hand.

An Changpu finished reading his own document and swapped with Qin Ruonan.

The document he'd held was a record prepared by Professor Jin's assistant—a kind of transcript, noting in a question-and-answer format Lu Min's purpose and requirements for the surgery.

"Why did you make a record like this in the first place? Is it required for every patient?" Qin Ruonan asked, puzzled. She wasn't in the medical field, but everyone had relatives or friends who'd been hospitalized. Such detailed preoperative questioning, meticulously recorded, was something she had never encountered before.

Professor Jin seemed a bit annoyed by the question. He frowned and replied, "We had a patient before who insisted on having the surgery—said life was unbearable without it, and we had no choice but to operate. But less than half a year after the surgery, he came back demanding that we restore him to being a man! Accused us of ruining his life, claimed it was our persuasion that made him go through with it. It was absurd. So, to avoid trouble, we now have everyone seeking gender reassignment surgery sign a document like this."

His reasoning was quite sound, Qin Ruonan thought, nodding as she returned her focus to the record.

From Lu Min's statements, Qin Ruonan understood why Professor Jin had found it selfish and amusing after reading it himself. The record showed that Lu Min had signed his name and pressed his fingerprints twice, with a considerable gap in between.

The first time he was asked why he wanted to become a woman, his answer was startling: he believed being a woman was better than being a man. Men had to work hard to earn money and support their families, while women could enjoy the fruits of others' labor without effort. Women could wear makeup, dress in beautiful, flamboyant clothes, and bask in men's affection and care. He wanted to be a woman because he thought life would be happier and more comfortable that way.

That was where the first part of the record ended. Later, there was a further conversation. Lu Min's attitude seemed to have shifted, and his reasons became more justifiable. He began to say that he had always wanted to be a woman, that both his habits and orientation matched those of women.

"Do you think his second explanation was genuine, heartfelt? And what about the consent from his wife and family—do you really think that proves anything?" Qin Ruonan asked after reading.

Professor Jin didn't seem to care much. "We have our own interests to consider, as you know. If he completes both stages of surgery, the fees are considerable. Getting his signature is merely to prevent future disputes and trouble. As for why he wants the surgery, whether he truly wishes to be a woman—it's not our responsibility, nor is it something I care about personally."

Neither An Changpu nor Qin Ruonan were surprised or indignant at his response. Despite all the accolades calling doctors angels in white, in reality, theirs was just another profession among many, requiring them to consider daily necessities like everyone else. Especially doctors like Professor Jin, whose job was to enhance and transform the human body, not save lives or cure illnesses. One could hardly expect them to be utterly selfless and uninterested in fame or fortune.

He helped fulfill others' deepest wishes and received ample compensation for it—nothing blameworthy in that.

As for Lu Min's death, it was still unclear whether it was related to the surgery. Even if it were, the responsibility would hardly fall on the doctor.

Not wanting to delay the next patients, and having clarified Lu Min's reasons for surgery, An Changpu and Qin Ruonan thanked Professor Jin for his cooperation and, with his permission, went to the wards to speak with the nurses and aides who had cared for Lu Min.

Generally, during a patient's hospital stay, while the attending physician is responsible for treatment and surgery, it is the nurses and care assistants who spend the most time with the patient.

After explaining their purpose at the nurses' station, and with Professor Jin's prior approval, the head nurse greeted them warmly and soon found the nurses who had been on duty for Lu Min. Those not currently on shift were invited to the break room with An Changpu and Qin Ruonan.

Speaking of Lu Min, the nurses had vivid memories of him. After some scattered anecdotes, their conversation began to flow more freely. Even knowing he had died in a criminal case, two or three of the younger nurses couldn't help but stifle laughter as they recalled the patient they had cared for.

"It's not that we're disrespectful to the deceased—it's just that you wouldn't believe how amusing he was while he was here! He'd come to the nurses' station asking us about brands of cosmetics, which foundation wasn't drying, which eyeliner didn't smudge, and insisted we call him 'Lu Bing!'" One young nurse, unable to suppress a smile, hurriedly explained herself.

A more senior nurse, appearing to be in her forties, shot a reproachful look at the younger ones, cleared her throat, and addressed Qin Ruonan and An Changpu. "Lu Min wasn't in our department for very long, so we don't know him all that well. The doctors are more familiar with his treatment, but for details of his daily life in the hospital, you'd do better to ask the care aides. As far as I know, he spent quite a bit during his stay. Normally, for a prosthesis implant, you wouldn't need to hire aides, but he hired two. Even when he later went to other departments for facial surgery, I heard he kept the same two aides. The aides here are assigned by a special company, so they're easy to find. You'd be better off asking them!"

Clearly, the older nurse was more experienced in life, and aware that involvement in a murder case could be troublesome. She was eager to distance herself and avoid entanglement.

Seeing this, An Changpu and Qin Ruonan didn't press the issue. They rose to take their leave. As they were departing, while the senior nurse was occupied with the head nurse, An Changpu pulled aside one of the young nurses who had spoken earlier and quietly asked, "During Lu Min's stay, did any of his family come to visit him?"

The young nurse, perhaps naturally talkative or perhaps taken with An Changpu's dashing police officer demeanor, was much more open than her senior colleague. She pursed her lips in thought, then shook her head firmly. "No! I'm certain—no one! From beginning to end, aside from the care aides, not a single person came to see him. We all found it strange, too. If the family was supportive, they lived close by—why didn't anyone visit? But if they weren't supportive, then why did they sign the consent form? It's really odd!"

[At this point, what kind of impression do you have of the heroine this time? Even just a few words—leave a comment and let me know. The comment section is so lonely during this slow update period… 555…]