Chapter 23

Li Kai was very reluctant to go to the hospital, but he couldn’t win against my persistence.

Playing the part of the devoted wife, I patiently took him for various tests: a head CT, a chest CT, a head MRI. The results were all perfectly normal.

I also took him to the lab for a series of blood tests, specifically requesting an immune panel of eight tests (Hepatitis B panel, Hepatitis A antibody, syphilis, and HIV).

It was the weekend, so the results of the immune panel wouldn’t be out until Monday.

From the moment his blood was drawn, Li Kai was extremely nervous.

Some people who fear they have AIDS still cling to hope and fantasy. They avoid seeing a doctor to give themselves a psychological comfort. In their minds, not getting tested means everything is fine.

Afterward, I took him to the psychiatric department. I showed the doctor the video I had recorded last night. The doctor then had Li Kai complete a series of psychological assessments, such as the Hamilton Depression Rating Scale, the Hamilton Anxiety Rating Scale, and the Young Mania Rating Scale.

Li Kai was diagnosed.

Bipolar disorder, moderate.

Li Kai insisted he wasn’t sick and refused to take medication.

On this point, I agreed with him.

Because everything I had done was just to get a record of his visit to the psychiatric department, to lay the groundwork for what was to come.

“Bipolar disorder isn’t that scary.”

“Wang Xi, you’re a doctor yourself. You know better than I do the importance of regular medication in addition to psychotherapy. I’ve prescribed the medicine; whether you take it or not is up to you.”

My colleague at the hospital was insistent, so I “reluctantly” agreed.

In reality, I was overjoyed.

I wanted to laugh, but I couldn’t.