Story: Shen Xihan 1
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a/n: I'm no doctor/nurse any medical person so please bare with my logic.

It's for the plot, readers. I'm sorry if my knowledge isn't accurate but brother Google is the fastest help I could get. Please be understanding. *bows*

Everything changed when 13 year old Shen Xihan saw the blaring headlights that blinded him.

Th driver's name was Tang Man. Middle aged and had long served the Shen family. He was  nice man and was hard working, well accepted by everyone that was working in the Shen Mansion. 

But he had a bad tendency to hide and force himself whenever he was ill. For a while now, he'd been visiting the doctor often and other than his recent heavy coughs and tiredness, he had been doing fine. At least bearable for him.

13 year old Shen Xihan and his younger brother Liangxi, who were 3 years apart hopped inside the car. 

Today was a big day, celebrating the birthday of their new born little sister. She came late but none of that mattered as little Liangxi was too captivated with the image of her big round eyes and fan like eyelashes. Shen Liangxi loved being a little brother for he has a reliable big brother to spoil him but then the thought of being a little princess' knight in shining armor was enticing too! 

He could take his little sister to go anywhere! See the aquarium, go to the amusement park- ah! M-maybe she'll even like his tiny car models or watch movies with her! A-and haha, maybe she can even help him prank everyone else and embarrass them! Mmn! That would be good since Big brother Xihan would scold him whenever he does.

His big brother Xihan was boring and no fun sometimes but pfft- the face he makes whenever he made him angry hehe. That's why little Liangxi never listened to him since it's fun.

"Liangxi, tell quickly tell brother what trouble you have planned or i'll throw all the models you made in my room away." His little brother was never good at hiding his thoughts so when he saw that playful snicker on his face, his naughtiness was made clear.

"AH- no! I-I'm not planning on doing anything really ... really! N-not yet! Ah-" Little Liangxi hurriedly covered his mouth but this easily blew his cover off, hiding away from Xihan's sight.

"Shen. Liang. xi..."

"I-I only put something inside ... m-my gift. It's nothing that will make Mother mad! p-probably?"

This confession of his naughty deeds didn't make Shen Xihan any happier. He pinched Shen Liangxi's ear, dragging it in the air making it so the little brother would somehow beg and reflect on his deeds.

"What else?" The level of distrust he had had reached a point where he was sure there was more of it.

"N-Nothing! that's it- ow! Let me go! There really isn't any-"

Cough! Cough! ... COUGH! COUGH!

Driver Tang Man's coughing interrupted them as it seemed to be getting worse and worse.

"Uncle Tang. If you're not really well, we can turn back and ask Uncle Mo to take us there. It's okay if we're a bit late." Xihan was deeply concerned about this Uncle's health yet Driver Tang Man simply waved his hand, that he was okay.

Little Liangxi grabbed his sleeve so he pulled back, reaching for his ear to punish him again. The car started to move but driver Tang's coughing couldn't stop.

Cough! COUGH! ... COUGH! COUGH!

Shen Xihan was occupied, intent on punishing the younger one despite the bubbling laughter that came from their mouths. He didn't plan to give up. His fingers touched the tip of his little brother's ear but then suddenly there was this loud, painful grunt.

"Uncle Tang ...?" The Uncle didn't reply and his body simply, like a tree cut off from his trunk, bent forwards.

"Uncle Tang! Wha-ugh!" The unconscious driver unluckily pressed on the gas pulling the children strongly backwards.

"B-b-brother? ... BROTHER?!!" The accelerating speed of the car was frightening that little Liangxi didn't even need to know what was wrong to be scared.

The first thought that came to mind in Shen Xihan's head was simple.

PROTECT LIANGXI.

His head came into a conclusion. 

He hurriedly unbuckled his little brother's seat belt and protectively curled the tiny figure into his embrace to protect him from what was sure to come. And the timing ... was just right.

A blaring light accompanied by a loud, deafening honking was the last thing he felt before the cars collide.

"Liang ... xi ..." he mumbled through gasoline scented air.

-

Heavy.

Heavy like being squished in between two walls, this was the level of discomfort he felt when Shen Xihan woke up.

"Liangxi ... Liang ... xi ..."

His bed shook as his parents who were at the door talking to the doctor rushed to his side leaving the doctor speechless.

"Xihan, darling- thank God! thank God! How are you feeling? Hmn? baby?" Shen Mother wanted to just hug her son in his embrace but knew that she couldn't. Her only comfort was his hand that she held firmly in hers, as she was reminded that he almost lost his son.

"Liangxi ... where ..."

"You- tch! That brat is doing well so don't worry! Just sleep! W-we'll tell you more later but for now just rest!" Father Shen was both sad and angry. This older son of his was suffering more yet- ah, his sons really didn't deserved this. They really didn't!

"He is ... okay ... good ..."Xihan weekly smiled but was in too much medication that it was slowly pulling his consciousness back.

"You stinky brat! I tell you to sleep now sleep!" Even Shen Father who was usually cold was close to tears, not daring to look at his son's legs.

"Darling ... baby ... we'll tell you more later okay? now sleep mmn?" Mother Shen smiled in tears desperately trying to stay positive despite the circumstances ...

 Shen Xihan didn't even hear his mother's soothing words since he already knocked out before she could say them. The doctor patiently waited for them to calm down. Father Shen didn't want to leave his wife out of their conversation so he slowly pulled her back to reality to face fate.

"Doctor, can my son be cured? Can his legs heal again?!"When mother Shen heard the news, she almost fainted but didn't, for she wanted to see his son's condition first. She dare not comfortable faint while knowing nothing and after long hours of waiting outside the operating room, this was what she saw.

"Just say it! Don't waste more time and out with it already!" Father Shen could easily tell that the doctor himself was troubled to answer. 

At heart, the doctor was scared out of his wits. This is the Shen family he's dealing with! He really doesn't want to offend them!

But there wasn't any good news to tell! None at all!

"Doctor ... Doctor ... my darling baby ... my Xihan!" Mother Shen had a foreboding feeling in her heart .

"We'll try to save what we can ... but to be honest ... the procedures won't be easy. We're afraid that the child would not be able to take it. Concerning full recovery .... it will be long term and I-I am sorry to say but the Doctors in this hospital are lacking ... I-I'm really sorry ..."

The Doctor had good intentions when saying this. He didn't want them to put so much hope in them. The hospital might be the best in Capital but this reputation doesn't amount to being skilled at all. Most of their fame came from their high end facilities and care but skilled surgeons aren't many, especially one that could handle such a case.

The patient was young.

His bones were still growing.

Too many variables made it hard for him to even know where to start.

The younger brother was well, almost uninjured other than the slight concussion on the head which posted no problem. However the older one ... when the car crashed, his legs were crushed between his seat and the driver's making his situation a cause of great worry.

The doctor praised the young boy at heart. If the little brother remained seated, not only would he had experienced the same but for someone so young, he might have even lost his life.

The doctor really couldn't fathom why bad karma would strike the two.

"Xihan! Ah- my baby ... my baby- ah!" As nothing good came out of the doctor's mouth, Mother Shen fainted as her heart couldn't bear to know more.

Father Shen gently caught her and hugged her close. He must not panic. He was the head of this family so he must stand strong and do whatever they could to save the situation.

"Doctor ... by saving what you could, what do you mean by that."

"W-We can avoid the need of amputation ... and then we'll see what we can do for him to regain the movement in his legs ... It won't be easy."

"Do what you can ..." Father Shen's eyes that gazed at him had a hint of begging, not the usual look that pressured someone to take him as the law. It was a Father's earnest and desperate gaze.

"I understand, President Shen."  With such a look in this man's eyes, the Doctor could not possibly let him down. Not that easily.

-

But often, those that are desperately sought for are hard to grant.

When Xihan was fully conscious, the parent's explained to him of what was to come. Mother Shen was being careful and said hopeful words. 

That everything will get better and that he'll be be back to normal, the way everything once were. All he needed to do was to endure and be patient.

Father Shen didn't say anything and gazed at Xihan's eyes, facing him face to face. It was Father Shen's honest gaze that did not promise anything and warned him ... that it might not turn out well.

The 13 year old Xihan didn't falter but of how much he really understood from it ... only he himself could know.

Father Shen knew that he's asking too much from a 13 year old child, yet he was afraid. He had never feared anything so much in his life than this moment, where his child might not be able to overcome this set back.

This was frightening.

"I can do it. Mother, Father, i'll be fine."

"The doctors are thinking of what they could do, be patient okay?" Mother Shen leaned to kiss his son's forehead.

"Mmn, now go and look after Langxi. He easily get's lonely." It was only when he said this that his mother pulled back. With reluctance, his mother left while hold his father's hand for without him, she wasn't sure if he could continue gathering her composure anymore.

When they left, Xihan finally closed his eyes due to the sore, aching pain on his thighs.

He did not dare look under his blanket,afraid to look at whatever he was about to witness. However one thing was sure.

He couldn't feel his lower legs, at least at the moment.

Whenever he shifts his upper body, his lower body didn't seem to follow and this uncomfortable cracking sound would ring in his ears.

He tried not to panic.

He needed to be strong.

But everything that was out of the norm for him would bother him and his mind would be thrown into disorder, imagining for the worse.

Stay positive.

Have courage.

Everything will be okay ... like what mother said.

Crack.

You're not hearing anything. It's just your imagination. You're thinking to much.

Then the constant honking of the car suddenly played inside his head and he reflexively closed his eyes although no light passed through as the window was quite a distance away.

He started to shake ... tears dropped on his lap as he hugged himself, trying his best to stay calm.

Stay positive.

Have courage.

Everything will be okay 

okay... like what mother said.

-

After a weeks of planning and waiting, it was the start of the first procedure.

First was to get rid of the shattered pieces then putting the bones back to it's places and-

The surgery ran smoothly, taxing yet the results were good, exactly what they wanted. Hours passed and the child came out.

But when Xihan woke up, the first thing he did was scream.

Discomfort.

Pain.

But what's worse ... was the sight of metal contraptions attached to his leg.

Now the fear was real. More real and dreading than ever. To the point of suffocating him.

His parents wanted to rush in but was overtaken by the nurses and doctors to keep the child down. They locked the door leaving the parents on edge and clueless on the other side. Mother Shen started to cry, bawling harshly on the floor as father Shen hugged her in silence.

Ah, sh*t. What the f*ck is this- 

Father Shen inhaled all the curses back in since nothing would change the situation.

He can only hope, that his son could overcome this.

Somehow, in some way. So desperately.

His son's screams passed through the tight gaps of the door. Calling them, his mother and father for help. Heck he just wanted to kick the f*cking door down but knew he couldn't! He shouldn't!

Father Shen relaxed a bit when everything turned quiet and finally, the doctor doning his pure white medical robe frowned at them.

"He's alright ... the child was too shocked and went through panic. We put sedatives through his systems to keep him calm but we can't keep doing this or it'll be bad for the child. Prepare yourselves and go in ... make sure he doesn't make any sudden movements ..."

The nurses lowered their heads and followed the doctor out. Now all they needed to do was to step in and see.

And when they saw him, both parents understood how scared their son must have been.

"Oh my baby .. ah .... Xihan ...ah-" Mother Shen didn't dare come to close, afraid to touch the metal things and hurt him. 

She gently touched his son's cheek, wiping the tears away. She felt so sorry and started to apologize as she started blaming herself. Father Shen didn't stop this and ever so gently did he reach out and held his son's hand. He breathed out a heavy sigh as if he'd aged a full 10 years at this moment.

This was just the first. How long would it take?

How long ... can his son endure?

"No ... d-don't ... " Even Xihan's sleep weren't peaceful, haunted by pain and fear.

"Ay ... my poor baby ..." Mother Shen continued to cry silently, afraid to wake her son up.

If only ... if only they could take the burden from him.

The Shen parents were more than willing to do so.

-

Slowly, things were heading for the worse as months continued to pass with Xihan going through constant procedures.

Xihan's body condition was slowly getting better, snail paced yet there was no worry of amputation anymore.

What was concerning was the patient's mental health.

The child would flinch soon as the door would open. A person wearing a medical coat, something they come in pairs and overwhelmingly there could be three or four present.

The sight of their white coats reminded him of a blaring light that would often flash from his memory, whenever they neared and touch the metal contraptions on his legs his breath would hitch, then stuck within his lungs and he would start to tremble in fear.

The honking noise would play, and then the clinking of metal would come along.

Don't touch it .... take it out ... don't ...

The pain ... the swelling ... make it stop ...

How long was he supposed to stay in here? Where were his mom and dad?

Is Langxi ... is Langxi doing okay...?

Xihan shook his head and the nurse grabbed his shoulders telling him not to move.

When his shoulder was grabbed, there were deafening noise of sirens that no one else but him could hear.

Then his vision suddenly cleared and his eyes engraved every single detail of what was before him.

White coats, metal contraptions, nurses in blue, pens, closed doors, white room.

His heartbeat started pounding fast as if being chased. It was hard to breathe and he felt dizzy. Sweat trickled through his back and he felt like choking, stomach in pain.

His mouth opened wide and he vomited leaving them all stunned and surprised.

He couldn't stop and wanted to vomit out whatever he could, forcing himself yet none came out.

They all started to panic and Xihan reached an arm, reaching out for the door then fainted.

When the doctors came to conclusion of what just happened, they ... had never felt so much sympathy to a patient before and they all, doctor or nurse, started blaming themselves for it.

-

PTSD.  Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder.

The child couldn't take it.

"We're sorry. But in this condition, we cannot treat him."

"No ... no! NO! Doctor! H-How can you abandon a child?!"

"WE ARE NOT ABANDONING HIM MADAM SHEN!" The doctor felt offended and raised his voice forgetting the fear that he had on the Shen name when he first met them.

His sympathy for his patient was deep. He witnessed how Xihan tried his best till this point and even admired him, he wasn't abandoning but rather proceeding in such a state could ruin the child. Permanently. He wasn't cold enough to do this.

"Doctor. Tell us what we need to know." Father Shen had witnessed the doctor's hard work so raising his voice at them was fine. But he can't control his wife since he also understand where she's coming from.

"Your son's bones are still growing so we can't implant him anything ... we planned on watching his progress but now we can't even do that. H-He's afraid of us ... doctors, the hospital itself ..."

"I can assure you that nothing would go wrong as all that needed to be done for now was to let his bones naturally grow and then we'll go through the implants, then rehabilitation ... " he sounded exhausted. Extremely exhausted.

"Doctor ... what's your name?"

"Gu Wuji." This question left him puzzled but when Father Shen lowered his head, he almost jumped from his seat in shock.

"Thank you ... for everything these past two years. I'm sorry if my wife offended you."

This act left the doctor speechless and he was at lost of what to say especially when Madam Shen did the same, thanked and apologized.

Looking at the two parents, Doctor Gu took a pen and wrote on a piece of paper before handing it straight on Father Shen's hands.

"These ... are my private contact details. I know a lot of people and if you need, contact me. I have not much to show other than contacts but I do care for the child a lot. There's a psychiatrist I know from America, if the child is ready just call me."

"Thank you." Father Shen said.

"We'll be undergoing one more surgery to take off the apparatus and check everything meticulously. For the 2 months at best 3, please make sure that the child wouldn't put pressure on his legs. Wheelchair ..."

Doctor Gu was a parent himself so he gazed at them, square in the eyes.

"I don't know how it is to live up to the Shen name, however the children needs the two of you as parents. If If I overstepped my boundaries by saying too much then i'm sorry."

Shen Father wryly smiled at him and stood up, hugging his wife. He lowered his head one last time before leaving Doctor Gu's office.

"Ay ... poor child ... poor child ..." Doctor Gu could only chant to himself in concern.

Even doctors under such cases have it hard.

Especially when a life was about to die out.

-

The young Shen Liangxi heard a loud crashing noise coming out from his older brother's room late at night so he kicked his blanket off, taking tiny clumsy steps to peek through the gap of his door.

His brother's room was across the narrow hallway and the housekeeper auntie was anxiously standing outside the wide open door in fright.

Shen Liangxi flinched when a glass was thrown almost hitting the Auntie's foot.

" ... brother is angry ..." he mumbled, and bit his lips when he remembered his older brother's angry stare when he tried to approach him yesterday.

Ever since his big brother Xihan came home, he stopped playing with him.

The car accident was scary. It made his big brother scary.

He almost went deaf when his brother screamed which scared him to tears. He wanted to see but the auntie wouldn't let him in, carried him back into his room and warned him to not go outside.

"But it's brother's birthday soon ..." Shen Liangxi mumbled and tugged the blanket that he chose as a gift. Even though he hadn't given it yet, it already belonged to his big brother so he hugged it close while thinking of him.

"Big brother, Liangxi wants you to get better soon ..." he yawned then closed his eyes.

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