Original subtitles

(Thank You, Doctor)

(Adapted from Sheng Li's novel "ICU 48 Hours")

(Episode 24)

Mom.

The doctor made it very clear just now.

If Dad gets a nasogastric tube,

he'll be able to live for another half a year.

Mom.

No matter what,

we don't want Dad to give up on treatment.

I understand how you feel.

That's your dad lying there.

He's also my husband.

Of course I don't want him to leave us.

I know all these years,

taking care of Dad has been hard on you.

Don't worry.

From now on, Xiao Jie and I...

will come back whenever we have time.

We'll take good care of him together.

You know how many hospitals we've moved to.

We've consulted so many specialists.

They all said your dad's illness is irreversible.

You love your dad.

You can't bear to part with him.

But following what your elders want...

is also a part of filial piety.

At this point,

why should we let him live and suffer?

Mom.

Why can't you put yourself in your dad's shoes?

Mom, it's not that we're not filial.

It's not that we want to make Dad suffer.

If the doctor told me...

that Dad can't hang in there anymore...

and that he can't be saved,

we would accept it.

But he still has six months to live.

What kind of six months would that be?

What kind of quality of life would he have?

Mom.

That's enough.

Come with me.

Let's go.

Mom.

Why did you drag us back here?

What do you want to show us?

- Why is Dad's hand like this? - Be gentle.

What kind of hospital is this?

- I'm going to look for them. - Xiao Jie.

Keep it down. We're in a hospital.

Have some manners.

The doctors have done everything they can.

They really can't find...

any other place to give him injections.

Look at his ankle.

It's bandaged like this too.

Over the past decade,

your dad has been sick all the time.

He never stopped taking medicine or getting injections.

That's why his body was overwhelmed long ago.

After he got Alzheimer's,

you didn't come home much,

so naturally, you also don't know much.

You have no idea...

how much he has been suffering.

Your dad told me more than once...

that if he ever becomes terminally ill,

I must not listen to the doctors and save him.

The result of that...

would just be living a life without purpose.

It's meaningless.

Look at his face.

It's filled with pain.

He had already lost the ability to speak...

more than 600 days ago,

but...

I could hear him crying inside.

"Set me free."

Please, you two.

Don't let your dad suffer anymore.

Mom.

This...

concerns my dad's life.

It's really hard for us to decide.

Please give us some more time.

We'll think about it.

I'm actually struggling inside too.

During this time,

I hope we can maintain basic treatment for him.

Okay?

Dad.

You've suffered a lot.

With Dad's condition like this,

what should we do?

I don't know.

Let me think about it.

Let me think about it some more.

Dad. What are you doing here?

Go to sleep.

I'm looking for something.

You're making so much noise here.

I can't sleep.

For your birthday last year,

I gave you a neck pillow.

Where did you put it?

They're all in that bin.

All the birthday presents you bought for me...

are all in there.

Dad.

Why are you taking this?

You never used this, right?

That's right.

You claimed that you especially bought it for me in Germany.

Do you think I don't know...

that you just bought it for me at the airport...

for the sake of looking good?

It was even several sizes too big.

I couldn't use it at all.

That's why...

this is fate.

What fate?

What fate?

You can't use it anyway. It's too big.

I'll take it then.

Dad, it's my business whether I use it or not.

You have to get my permission before taking it.

What are you talking about?

I bought this for you.

You gave it to me,

so it's mine now.

Everything in this house is mine,

including you.

Go to sleep now.

Go to sleep.

My goodness.

It was a gift.

How can he take it back?

I did a follow-up ECG for the patient.

There's no typical myocardial ischemic change.

The cardiac enzymes are also normal.

I'm going to do another chest, abdomen, and artery CT scan on him.

Where are you going?

What is it, Dr. Bai?

Xiao Guang wanted me to give this to you.

He wants to thank you for taking him to the amusement park.

Xiao Guang?

How did he know that I have a bad cervical spine?

That kid has been spending a lot of time with Xu Yi Ran lately.

Maybe Xu Yi Ran told him.

Try it. See if it fits.

It fits perfectly.

Xiao Guang is quite thoughtful.

Please thank him for me.

Sure.

Okay, I'll get back to work.

Thank you.

What's with Dr. Bai?

Who knows what's wrong with him?

Dr. Xiao, let's go and eat.

Did you buy a neck pillow?

Is it good?

It's quite comfortable.

My neck has been sore lately.

Where did you buy this? I want one too.

Xiao Guang gave it to me.

What a sweet boy.

He's already so good with girls at such a young age.

Imagine how he'll be when he's grown up.

Why do I feel like...

this neck pillow probably isn't from Xiao Guang?

I think it's from Bai Zhu.

Why is that?

Think about it.

Xiao Guang is just a kid.

How would he know that Dr. Xiao has a bad neck?

Moreover,

you also saw how excited Bai Zhu was just now.

This neck pillow must be from him.

Yes.

Dr. Bai was indeed very excited just now.

But why did Dr. Bai give Dr. Xiao a neck pillow?

I'm going to make my rounds.

You're not going to eat?

We'll go then.

Ms. Lin.

Ms. Lin.

I made pear soup with white fungus.

Have some while it's hot.

I have no appetite.

You look terrible.

Why don't you go home and get some rest?

No.

Shi Lei needs me.

You can't do this to yourself.

Watch him for me.

I'm going to the restroom.

What's wrong?

Are you okay?

I'm fine. I just feel a little dizzy.

Let me help you up.

I'll take a look at you.

You're just too tired.

We're giving you some glucose.

You'll be fine after some rest.

Dr. Xiao.

Have a seat.

It has been a long time since I saw Shi Lei smile at me.

We've been together for 40 years.

In these 40 years,

we've given to each other...

and protected each other.

We've always given each other our warmest smiles.

We always shared even the bits and pieces...

of our work and lives.

We had endless topics to talk about.

Even if there were occasionally some small frustrations,

they garnished our lives.

Were we too lavish before...

and used up all of our happiness?

I wonder if their children have made up their minds.

What is there to think about?

They're disrespecting their elders' wishes.

How is that disrespect?

I think they're disrespecting life.

You have no idea.

Lin Ruo Yu and Li Shi Lei's love story...

is as romantic as a TV drama.

The scene back then...

is etched in my mind forever.

Shi Lei and I...

met in an accident.

It was an unexpected fate.

I traveled to Shanghai on my own,

but I got acute appendicitis.

Shi Lei was my attending physician.

I didn't know anyone here.

I was filled with fear and worry.

The first time I met Shi Lei,

it felt like...

I had known him for a long time.

As a doctor,

his professionalism, sense of responsibility,

patience, and thoughtfulness...

was the light...

that saved me from danger...

when I fell into an abyss.

Later on, we talked a lot.

The more we talked,

we felt like we were soulmates.

He can read my mind.

He's the one who understands me the most.

She's kidnapping him in the name of love.

Why are you so worked up?

No wonder she's always talking...

about the wind, earth, sky, clouds, rain, and stuff.

That's a sign that she's closing herself off.

She is too immersed in her own world.

Then what happened?

It was just a one-chance encounter.

They couldn't wait to get married right after that?

You don't even know what love is.

Her relationship with Li Shi Lei is true love.

- I don't believe that. - I believe it.

Anyway, after that,

Lin Ruo Yun came to Shanghai.

With his own ability and experience,

Li Shi Lei became an excellent internal medicine doctor.

As the two of them admired,

respected, and relied on each other,

their love deepened.

Later on, you know that Li Shi Lei got pneumonia.

His children were busy with work.

Lin Ruo Yun took care of him every day.

She fed him medicine and changed his dressing every day.

Lin Ruo Yun found it increasingly hard...

to be apart from him.

She felt he was so precious.

Ever since we met,

Shi Lei has put all of his heart into taking care of me.

He protected me from all obstacles...

and gave me his all.

I remembered it all...

and kept it in my heart.

Even though we went on to have two kids...

and no longer had time to ourselves,

we still loved each other just the same.

They had their eldest son Li Song...

in the second year of their marriage.

They had their youngest daughter in the fourth year.

Her name is Li Jie.

Although they have children,

they maintained a romance...

like one out of a fairy tale.

Lin Ruo Yun advocates the concept of Western education,

so she lets her kids run free and be independent.

She's a teacher herself,

so she had summer and winter vacations every year.

So every year,

she would travel with her husband twice.

Her exact words were,

"We have to walk through..."

"every corner of the world while we're still young."

Shi Lei liked to give me flowers.

Every year on my birthday,

I would get fresh flowers...

that he would choose especially for me.

There were hundreds of them.

Blooming red roses...

would fill the entire house.

On the other hand, he often forgot...

the kids' birthdays.

He also liked to take me on trips.

We took a walk...

on Golden Beach in Australia.

We saw the snow in Hokkaido together.

We admired the wildflowers on the roads together,

the fresh green leaves on the trees,

the flowing water,

the vast land,

and the sunset on the horizon.

Life is finite,

so we really cherished each other.

We seldom fought...

and rarely separated.

Over the past 40 years,

our love for each other has grown stronger.

It never changed with time.

But now,

the one who understands me the most...

is slipping further away from me day by day.

He's leaving me by forgetting me.

Dr. Xiao.

Do you also think...

I'm a heartless woman?

I can tell...

that you really love him.

Thank you, Dr. Xiao.

Thank you for listening to me.

Get some rest.

Unfortunately,

no matter how romantic and beautiful a relationship is,

you still have to face the torture of death.

It's someone else's love story.

How do you know it so well?

Are you his family?

Lin Ruo Lin shared...

their love story online.

I accidentally saw it...

when I was on the Internet.

Accidentally?

I think it was intentional.

Ms. Jiang.

Are you criticizing me again?

We're nurses,

not a gossip magazine.

Tell me.

Is talking about our patients' privacy...

an appropriate thing to do?

No.

Have you forgotten the lesson you got last time?

No, I didn't.

Poor thing, hurry and eat.

Remember it.

Mom.

Mom.

What are you doing?

We're inserting a nasogastric tube into him.

Mom.

About Dad's condition, we've already decided.

I don't agree.

Dr. Tang.

I'm Li Shi Lei's attending physician.

You should have told me...

that some of his family members...

requested for nasogastric intubation.

You acted on your own.

Who will take responsibility if something goes wrong?

But they're the patient's children.

The patient's wife didn't agree to it.

The family hasn't come to a consensus.

As doctors, how can we decide this on our own?

Dr. Tang.

We should separate our likes and dislikes...

from our profession as a doctor.

Dr. Xiao.

It's my mistake.

Dr. Xiao.

What should we do now?

Let's wait for the family's decision.

You've been together for decades.

You know him very well.

My dad has never been one to give up so easily.

Whether it's his work or his health,

as long as there's still hope for him,

he won't give up.

We also visited many doctors in the past two days.

That's how we came to this decision.

So your decision...

is to torture him with these cold tubes?

Mom.

I don't think our disagreement...

lies in whether Dad should be intubated or not.

It's about...

whether it's worth it for him to keep living.

How will he keep living?

What kind of quality of life will he have?

Didn't the doctor already tell you?

Most of his brain tissue is already dead.

His heart and lungs are starting to fail.

That means his life has reached its final stages.

We're educated people.

Can't you respect science?

Didn't the doctor also say...

that he still has half a year to live?

Never mind half a year,

but even if Dad is leaving us tomorrow,

we have to get through today with him.

We absolutely won't give up.

I won't give up either.

Mom.

It has been hard on you to take care of Dad all these years.

From now on,

Xiao Jie and I will take care of him.

Go home and get some rest.

I'm really sorry.

If your family cannot come to a consensus,

I can't insert a nasogastric tube in the patient.

Please understand.

Okay then.

I'll contact another hospital.

I hope you can cooperate and let us transfer hospitals.

As a doctor,

I don't recommend transferring the patient now.

The patient is very weak.

His life will be in danger if anything goes wrong.

If you think I'm trying to scare you...

and you don't trust me,

you can go to another hospital...

to consult another doctor.

Dr. Xiao.

Do you also think the same as my mom?

Do you think we're torturing my dad?

In my opinion, neither you nor Ms. Lin...

is right or wrong.

Your ways of love are just different.

As for whether a nasogastric tube should be given to the patient,

your family should discuss it again.

I will respect your decision.

I'll get back to work then.

So? What did she say?

Li Song.

Let's find another hospital for Dad.

Hello, Dr. Zhang.

This is Li Song.

I'd like to consult you about my dad's condition again.

Hello.

Dr. Xiao.

This is Lin Ruo Yun.

I'd like to meet you.

I'm sorry about the nasogastric intubation.

It's not your fault.

I just didn't expect...

he would suffer so much...

in the last moments of his life.

I'm also helpless in the face of all of this.

That's what pains me the most.

I understand.

To your family,

the patient leaving you...

is an unbearable pain in your lives.

They've just made a different choice than you.

So don't blame yourself.

I know.

Neither of our ideas is right or wrong.

They want Shi Lei to live.

I don't want him to be stuck in a living nightmare.

I also promised Shi Lei...

that I wouldn't let him suffer in the last moments of his life.

For Shi Lei,

I must be brave.

I must persevere.

Dr. Xiao.

If you or your hospital...

is affected throughout all of this,

I'll apologize to you in advance now.

Dr. Song and Dr. Zhang said the same thing.

They don't recommend letting Dad leave the hospital.

Li Song, look.

What is it?

Stop taking photos.

- Be quiet. - Be quiet for a while.

- Be quiet for a moment. - If you have any questions,

you can go to our hospital's communication room.

They'll answer your questions there.

- Everybody, be quiet. - Please be quiet.

Be quiet, okay?

- We can't answer you right now. - What's going on?

Lin Ruo Yun went to the media and accused her son and daughter...

of torturing Li Shi Lei.

It's a trending topic now.

She's stirring up the public.

You're affecting our patients, okay?

We can't work with you here.

Regarding the decision...

of whether to insert the nasogastric tube or not,

you handled it well.

A doctor shouldn't get involved in the family's disputes.

You can only guide them toward a solution.

Whether the family chooses curative care...

or to let things go with the flow,

we are in no place to criticize them.

As doctors,

we must respect the opinions of our patients...

and their families...

and give them all the help they need.

A lot of times,

a person's journey to death...

is very long and painful.

But the family's opinion...

is to save them if we can.

So in a way,

this kind of behavior...

actually prolongs the patient's suffering.

Sometimes, it's really hard to make a decision.

Life's biggest frustration...

is not being able to choose life and death.

If the patient's family...

still cannot come to an agreement after some time,

I'll talk to them.

Does that sound good?

Don't let this get in the way of your work.

Go on.

Mom.

You want to keep the promise you made to Dad.

We understand that.

You want to reminisce about the love you had with Dad.

We have no objection to that.

What we can't accept...

is you exposing our family's private matters online.

When I see those netizens, who don't even know the truth,

continuously liking, sharing our story,

and criticizing us,

it feels like they're telling us,

"Why don't you let your dad hurry up and die?"

"You're making your parents suffer like this."

I find it so ridiculous. Do you understand that?

They're not talking about anyone else.

They're talking about our dad.

Mom.

You exposed our family matters to the public...

and let them judge us.

Is this what you call love?

Mom.

You worked hard to take care of Dad.

We acknowledge that.

Xiao Jie and I also ran around and wore ourselves out...

for Dad's health.

Your love is a child's love for his parents.

What we have is romantic love.

It's different.

So we just have to watch Dad die?

Mom. Why must you compete with us?

I don't want to compete with you.

I just want to tell you this.

If you insist on inserting a nasogastric tube in him,

I'm also going to tell the press and do interviews.

As long as I'm alive,

I won't allow you guys to do this.

Do you really have to do this?

Yes.

I wonder how their discussion is going.

I can't stand stubborn people...

who won't listen to others.

Aren't they tired?

Don't say that.

You don't know what they've been through.

You're judging them with your own moral values.

Besides, they've been together for 40 years.

They must really love each other.

Even if they do,

this isn't just about the two of them anymore.

Since they have children,

they should try their best to understand them...

and respect the ideas and thoughts of the next generation.

She told the public about their family matters...

just because she is at odds with her children.

This kind of love is too selfish.

What is it?

I think you're really cute.

How's my dad?

It's acute heart failure.

He's being resuscitated now.

Dr. Xiao.

The patient's condition is stable now.

Have you decided?

Mom.

Are you just going to watch Dad die?

- Mom, say something. - Mom.

Mom, can you bear to see him leave? Mom.

Insert the tube in for him.

Insert the nasogastric tube.

Insert the nasogastric tube.

I'd like to be alone with him for a while.

Is that okay?

Thank you.

A year ago,

when I held your hand like this,

you could respond to me.

I won't be able to get a response like that anymore.

The hardest thing to face in life is death.

I can't believe your life and death...

keep tearing my heart apart...

time and time again.

I'm sorry.

I tried one last time but failed again.

I can't do anything else for you anymore.

I can't cry or call out for you.

I hope it's like the doctor said.

You don't have me in your heart anymore.

But you...

will live in my heart forever.

Goodbye, Shi Lei.

Wait for me in the next life.

- Mom. - Mom.

These are the daily necessities that Shi Lei needs...

and precautions to take note of.

I'll leave him to you.

Mom.

All these years,

you've always taken care of Dad.

It has been hard on you.

Xiao Jie and I will take care of him from now on.

Go home and rest well.

If anything happens here,

I'll tell you right away.

I hope you can take care of Shi Lei the same way I did.

Mom.

Don't worry.

Taking care of a patient like this...

is more difficult than you think.

It might even break you.

You must take care of yourselves.

These are sleeping pills.

They'll be of use to you.

Mom, don't worry.

(Doctor's Office 2)

After that long struggle,

there's finally some peace and quiet.

In a way,

I think this is a good thing.

A good thing?

Think about it.

This was the patient's family matter.

Now, because the children's argument with their mom...

was posted on the Internet,

it became a social topic...

that garnered a lot of attention.

China is an aging society now,

so their medical case...

is actually very typical.

There are actually a lot of families and patients...

who face decision dilemmas...

and need society's help and support.

There are many discussions based on their case online.

For example, how to take care of Alzheimer's patients...

and how to face eventual death.

So...

this chaotic family...

ended up bringing something positive and valuable.

Now that you mention it,

it does sound like a good thing.

What are you thinking about?

I heard...

the matter with Lin Ruo Yun and her husband is settled.

The family has come to a consensus...

and agreed to nasogastric intubation.

Speaking of which,

if this had happened in the past,

I would've fought until the end with the children.

I told you.

I've been unknowingly brainwashed by you.

Living in pain is still better than death.

That's how a lot of people think.

But there's also a small group of people...

who are like Lin Ruo Yun.

They choose to face reality.

There's no right or wrong when it comes to these things.

Look.

These are the comments on her Weibo.

So many people are arguing,

but there's no result.

So just let it go.

Tang Hua's mom arranged a lot of blind dates for her?

Two of them even ran into each other.

It was quite awkward.

No matter how anxious Mrs. Tang is,

she can't do this.

I guess Mrs. Tang is so anxious that she doesn't care anymore.

But from what I see,

Mrs. Tang won't stop.

Who knows what other trouble there will be?

You're purposely sending these people to disgust me, right?

If they keep coming to mess around,

I'm cutting ties with you.

Tang Hua.

Stop showing up in front of me.

I'm annoyed right now.

I know you're annoyed.

I have a way to free you of your troubles.

You have a way?

What can you do?

The reason Mrs. Tang is doing so much...

is actually quite simple.

She just wants you to find a boyfriend as soon as possible.

If you fulfill her wish,

then she'll stop.

I knew I couldn't count on you.

If I had a boyfriend,

would I be so troubled?

What I mean is...

you can get a fake boyfriend.

Get a fake boyfriend?

Get lost.

I was in a drama club when I was in college.

My acting is not bad.

If I got a boyfriend like you,

my mom would jump in a river.

What's the matter?

Why do you look so glum?

You haven't been yourself all morning.

Last night,

my mom talked to me for half the night.

I was in a daze the whole day.

I almost made a huge mistake.

If she continues this,

I really don't know what to do.

That can't be.

I think Mrs. Tang will only do this once in a while.

She's getting on in years.

If she doesn't get any sleep at night every day,

she won't be able to handle it.

Don't underestimate my mom.

My mom was a night owl when she was young.

She's retired now.

She has plenty of time to catch up on sleep during the day.

She's prepared for a long-term battle with me.

If this goes on, I'll go crazy first.

Then why don't you consider Chen Zhi's suggestion?

In his dreams.

I didn't say you have to find Chen Zhi.

He's not the only guy in our department.

Then who do you think...

is suitable for me?

What are you two talking about, pretty ladies?

Why are you so mysterious?

Dr. Xu.

You've been working too hard these days.

Have some cola to perk yourself up.

Most importantly,

we need your help.

Of course.

Tell me.

What needs to be moved in the department this time?

Xu Yi Ran,

I want you to be my boyfriend.

This sip really woke me up.

Really?

No.

I mean, my fake boyfriend.

Did you have to react like that?

I feel very sorry for your situation,

but I'm afraid I can't help you.

Dr. Xu, why are you being like this?

I even helped you when you asked me...

to pretend to be your fiancée.

That's exactly the point.

Think about it.

Just a few days ago,

I put on an act in front of Mrs. Tang...

and told her Lin Zhi was my fiancée.

But just a few days later,

I've become Tang Hua's boyfriend.

Mrs. Tang would kick me out right away.

How could I forget that?

You can't fool her forever.

I suggest you just find a real one.

It might even be easier than finding a fake one.

I don't care about "forever" right now.

I just care about this moment now.

Actually, if you have to find a fake one,

it's not like there isn't a suitable candidate.

Are you talking about Chen Zhi?

I wouldn't ask him even if it's just a fake boyfriend.

I'm annoyed every time I see him.

You may be annoyed,

but first, Chen Zhi will definitely be willing to help you.

He'll listen to everything you say.

I still won't choose him.

Then you can only choose...

between Mom Lu and Bai Zhu.

Just kill me.

I can't help you.

Chen Zhi.

I'll give you a chance.

Be my fake boyfriend.