The video showed Xia Tian straddling the old man, wielding a butcher's knife—bringing it down again and again onto the man's chest.
The camera zoomed out, focusing on Xia Tian's face.
His cheeks were flushed, splattered with blood. Something that looked like torn flesh clung to his glasses. Behind the lenses, his bloodshot eyes burned with a frenzied intensity, bordering on madness.
He had been desperate to save the old man.
Since childhood, Xia Tian's eyes would flush red whenever he grew anxious.
But with a butcher's knife in hand, in that horrific setting, the scene could have been lifted straight from a horror movie.
Even Xia Tian was startled by how terrifying he looked.
Still, he calmed down quickly.
Adjusting his glasses, he said flatly, "There wasn't a sternum saw available. The butcher's knife was the only option I had. I had no choice."
Wang Xiaobei glanced at him with a touch of pity and tried to comfort him.
"I know you meant well... but not everyone understands your intention."
"Look at the comments…"
Xia Tian scrolled through the video feed and opened the most-liked clip. As soon as he tapped on the comments, a wave of outrage surged toward him.
"What the hell is wrong with this guy? Even if your girlfriend dumped you, you can't take it out on society!"
"Take it up with the person who hurt you—don't prey on the weak. Shame on you!"
"Scum like this should be executed!"
"You're young, but your heart is black. You've disgraced your parents by becoming a monster!"
"This is horrifying. Was that really a cleaver in his hand? Everyone gets angry, but who picks up a butcher knife to kill someone?!"
Comment after comment called for his blood.
Words can't kill—but if they could, Xia Tian would have died hundreds of times already.
Meanwhile, his WeChat exploded.
Ding!
Ding ding!
Ding ding ding ding ding!
More than thirty new messages flooded in from classmates, mentors, friends, and family. His face had been caught clearly in the video—anyone who knew him could recognize him instantly.
"Holy crap, Xia, what the hell happened? You—killed someone?! You're not that kind of person!"
"Xia Tian, was that really you in the video? Please tell me it wasn't. I was shaking when I saw it."
"Bro, what's going on? Are you on the run? If you are, say the word—I've got ten grand I can wire you."
Reading the chaos, Xia Tian sighed and simply powered off his phone.
His mother and younger brother still lived in the countryside, in a village so isolated they used outdated phones and had no access to Douyin. He didn't need to worry about them—for now.
As for everyone else…
Let the truth speak for itself.
He tossed aside his phone, opened his laptop, and got back to work.
Wang Xiaobei gaped. "Wait... You're seriously working?"
"Yeah," Xia Tian replied, pushing up his glasses.
The entire office went silent. A female doctor's sharp voice cut through the air.
"Don't you think you owe us an explanation?"
"You killed someone!"
Once, Xia Tian had been the sweetheart of the office—fetching water, taking out trash, treating colleagues to milk tea. Everyone liked him.
Now, all eyes were filled with fear. It wasn't just unease—it was the kind of soul-deep dread reserved for monsters.
Clearing his throat, Xia Tian gave a deep bow.
"I'm sorry. I should've explained sooner. This is serious, and you deserve to know the truth."
"It went like this…"
"The old man had lost vital signs for nearly twenty minutes. Based on my initial assessment, he was suffering from a pulmonary hemorrhage. I had to stop the bleeding immediately. Under those conditions, the only option was to perform an emergency thoracotomy using what I had—a butcher's knife."
"So… that's what happened."
He paused, then muttered, "By the way, human sternums are hard as hell—way tougher than pork ribs."
Dead silence.
You could hear a pin drop.
His explanation was so surreal, the entire office seemed to freeze.
Three seconds later—
The female doctor finally snapped back to reality. Eyes wide, neck straining forward, she forced out a single line:
"You opened a man's chest… in McDonald's… with a kitchen knife?!"
"Exactly," Xia Tian nodded.
The room erupted into stunned stares.
Fatty Yang suddenly pinched Wang Xiaobei's thigh. Wang jumped up with a yelp, furious.
"You lunatic! What was that for?! I could sue you for harassment!"
Fatty Yang slapped his own leg and exclaimed, "This isn't a dream! It's real!"
"Xia Tian performed a thoracotomy in a McDonald's! Damn, that's straight out of my dreams. I've always wanted to do open-chest surgery with a cleaver."
"To feel the blood flow through my fingers…"
"Xia Tian, you're insane—in the best way!"
The others exchanged glances, torn between disbelief and awe.
Open-chest surgery... with a kitchen knife?
It sounded insane.
But then again, the idea that Xia Tian could commit murder seemed just as absurd.
After all, he was their sweetheart.
Could a sweetheart really be a killer?
The female doctor, the most senior in the emergency department, frowned. With over a decade of experience, her instincts kicked in. Based on their time together, she doubted Xia Tian was capable of murder.
He'd always had good character.
"Xia Tian, as your teacher, I must tell you—what you did was wrong."
"Terribly wrong!"
Her expression turned stern as she scolded him.
"We're doctors. It's our duty to help, especially during emergencies. But you should stick to CPR and basic resuscitation techniques. Performing open surgery without consent—especially with a kitchen knife—crosses the line."
"You know the protocols!"
"Now that the video has gone viral, the public's reaction is spiraling out of control. Rumors like this can destroy lives."
"If the media, the patient's family, and public opinion turn against you, you won't be the only one to suffer. The entire ER, even the hospital itself, could be dragged down."
"While there's still time—go to the police and turn yourself in."
Xia Tian stood there, stunned.
Turn myself in?
For what—saving someone's life?
At that moment, the office door creaked open.
The Vice President of the hospital stepped in, his face dark and unreadable. He scanned the room, then asked coldly,
"Which one of you is Xia Tian?"
"I am," Xia Tian answered, rising to his feet.
The VP looked him up and down with a frosty gaze.
"Come with me."