S1 · E1 — Missing Mother
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Long Dongdong sees Liu Zhengliang's capabilities and offers to help him change his registered practice location to Xiaoximen Hospital, enabling him to operate legally. However, the condition is that he must stay and work at the rundown Xiaoximen Hospital.
Now playingAt the hospital, Liu Zhengliang reunites with his younger brother, Liu Zhengguang, who resents him for being away for so many years. Liu Zhengliang, with composure that borders on cold-bloodedness, concludes that their missing mother is dead. With hardly any words exchanged, the two brothers give each other the cold shoulder.
Long Dongdong sees Liu Zhengliang's capabilities and offers to help him change his registered practice location to Xiaoximen Hospital, enabling him to operate legally. However, the condition is that he must stay and work at the rundown Xiaoximen Hospital.
Liu Zhengliang returns to the hospital ward to visit his brother, Liu Zhengguang, and discovers that he doesn't actually work for a foreign enterprise like he thought all along. Liu Zhengliang is then set on finding a different job for him.
Jia Xin brings his mother, Duan, to see a doctor. She insists on having an IV drip without undergoing any tests, and she's so stubborn that no one can talk her out of it. Liu Zhengliang claims he's staying out of this, but puts on his white coat and takes over anyway.
Che Mingming examines a young girl and determines that she has multiple fractures to her left skull and is on the verge of death. There is no time to transfer her to another hospital. Given the high risks associated with the surgery, everyone pins their hopes on Liu Zhengliang.
Liu Zhengliang still says that he wants to return to the south, but he has already been tied down by Zhang Jiao.
They finally find Li Zhongling's body. Liu Zhengliang suggests, "No funeral. Just cremate her". Liu Zhengguang accuses his brother of being heartless, and the two argue again over their mother's funeral arrangements.
Liu Zhengliang uses work to numb himself. As Long Dongdong puts it, Liu Zhengliang is the one holding the key. No one else can help.
Liu Zhengguang sees his mother's presence in every corner of his home. He decides to leave Fucheng for Beijing without discussing it with Liu Zhengliang.
Long Dongdong drags Liu Zhengliang to have his professional portrait taken, then turns around and uses it for a flashy poster that hangs high on the side of the building. He also promotes Liu Zhengliang to deputy chief of both the Emergency Department and the Neurosurgery Department.
Liu Zhengliang sees a patient named Shao Nan, who suffers from abdominal pain. Her husband, Jiang Chao, refuses a blood test, so Liu Zhengliang can only prescribe her anti-diarrheal medication and request that she stay for observation. Soon after, Shao Nan goes into shock and passes away.
Just when Liu Zhengliang is about to leave Xiaoximen Hospital, he gets held up by a patient named Wang Zongqi, who is difficult to diagnose.
Long Dongdong refers Liu Zhengliang to a hospital in Fuzhou. Before leaving, Liu Zhengliang says a final goodbye to Ai Chen.
Liu Zhengliang helps a pregnant woman on the train deliver her baby. After seeing that mother and child are safe, he realizes that he had left all his belongings on the train.
Liu Guangliang is stranded in Bengbu. He goes to an internet cafe to send out resumes online and meets a young man named Zhou Zheng. Seeing that Liu Zhengliang has nowhere to go, Zhou Zheng takes him to his family's Dream Garden Theme Hotel.
Mr. Li is a patient who faked his illness to get attention from his son. His words resonate with Ai Chen. Determined not to have any regrets, she immediately sets out for Fuzhou.
Ai Chen reaches Bengbu and quickly hits it off with Zhou Zheng. She checks into the Dream Garden Theme Hotel. While she is in Bengbu, Ai Chen reveals her feelings to Liu Zhengliang.
Zhou Zheng reveals his secret. He has glioblastoma and has given up on treatment. He asks Liu Zhengliang to keep it a secret and not tell his mother.
Director Yan formally announces that Xiaoximen Hospital will soon be shut down. Liu Zhengliang still decides to sign a new contract and return to Xiaoximen.
After surgery, Du Fang suffers a sudden, severe heart attack. He briefly sees Su Jing and their child one last time before passing away.
A television crew arrives to conduct interviews, and Long Dongdong speaks his mind on camera, insisting that Xiaoximen shouldn't be shut down. Many locals who have been treated at Xiaoximen before show up in force to speak up for this hospital that is often looked down on.
Liu Zhengliang comes up with the idea of using ice for exposure therapy to treat his "chionophobia". Che Changhai suggests visiting the newly opened aquarium to see the ice in the penguin exhibit.
Liu Zhengliang enters a cold storage facility for exposure therapy. Seeing the room covered in ice, memories from his childhood come flooding back. In a daze, he sees his mother and his younger self before losing consciousness.
Liu Zhengliang visits his parents' graves. The caretaker tells him that Li Zhongling used to visit every year during the 12th lunar month and on Qingming. Liu Zhengliang gains a deeper understanding of his mother's loneliness and love. When he leaves the cemetery, he cheerfully tells the caretaker that he is a child with a family.
Xiaoximen Hospital is acquired by Xikang Group and transitions to a corporate-style management model. Huang Dongsheng is appointed interim hospital director.
When Liu Zhengguang hears that Jia Xin had suffered burns, he quits his job and rushes back to Fucheng to see him. He finds Jia Xin slowly on the mend with Gong Xue by his side. He is shocked to learn that the two of them are planning to get married.
