Screams were heard everywhere.
“What are you doing? You’re killing him!” the cameraman exclaimed.
“Are you guys seeing this?” Rex asked those watching the livestream. “I think he’s insane.”
– Nice! Free gore show.
– What is he doing?
– Crap. Is this legal?
Hyunbin nearly collapsed once again, but he also didn’t want to stop watching.
The first-aider had become pale while Selina’s eyes started shooting literal hearts. She was never a big fan of blood, but seeing it on Zeno was pretty hot! Jiho was on the verge of going insane.
“You can’t do that!” he exclaimed. “You’re killing him, really!”
Meanwhile, Chaewon PD had become mute as she watched Zeno dig the knife deeper into Kwong’s neck.
He lifted his head and glared at Jiho. The latter’s sweat felt cold as Zeno continued to give him a nasty stare.
“Keep quiet,” he said with venom.
That seemed to do the trick as he shut his mouth. The others, too, were afraid to speak out loud.
That was when Zeno heard it—a pop.
He was in.
He couldn’t believe he was performing a cricothyroidotomy at a movie set. It had been a while since he was a doctor, but it seemed he still got it. He had done this plenty of times when he was dispatched to a war zone where resources were always lacking.
It was meant for those who have lost spontaneous breathing—an emergency medical procedure when endotracheal intubation wasn’t available. In short, it was the last resort.
He then rotated the knife 90 degrees to widen the incision and make space for the pen tube.
“Remove the ink and douse it with saline,” he said to the first-aider. She nodded once again and gave him the clean pen tube.
Then, he inserted the hollow pen tube into the incision at a 45-degree angle, directing it inferiorly toward the lungs.
Jisoo watched the scene before her with wide eyes. They were all playing as doctors, but at this moment, Zeno was the only one who looked like a legit one. He was still wearing his white coat, so it added to the image.
Zeno then grabbed the bag-valve-mask and secured it over the tube before handing it to the first-aider.
“Press it every 6 seconds,” he directed.
After that, he placed the stethoscope on his ears with one hand while the other stabilized the tube. He listened to Kwong’s breath sounds and nodded. They were back.
The others were yet to be convinced, though.
“Is he dead?”
“Did we just witness a murder?”
Meanwhile, those watching from the livestream were also enamored.
– It’s either I witnessed the first successful cricothyroidotomy with a pen and pocket knife in my life or a murder on a film set.
– He shouldn’t have done anything. What if the patient died?
– Well, his career would be over before it started.
Just then, the livestream ended, causing Rex to curse. He was all out of battery! He sighed and ran his fingers through his hair. It was his most successful livestream, too!
“What a waste,” he muttered, shaking his head.
“Tape,” Zeno said.
The first-aider gave it to him right away. However, Kwong’s neck was still filled with blood, so the tape wouldn’t stick. Without any hesitation, he ripped out the bottom hem of his white coat and used it to clean the area.
Then, he taped the pen in place.
He listened to Kwong’s breath sounds once more and nodded when he heard that it was still present. It was silent for a while before the doctors finally arrived.
They were all chattering, acting like they were having a walk in the park.
“Those were the biggest hemorrhoids I’ve ever seen.”
“Seriously. It was as big as an apple! I don’t even want to know how he got it.”
However, when they saw the scene before them, they began running toward the patient.
“What happened?” one of the doctors exclaimed.
Zeno read the doctor’s nameplate and sighed. What a coincidence.
“Dr. Song,” he started off. “The patient suffered a smoke inhalation injury from the fire. The airway has been established, and breath sounds are present. He is still unconscious. I suggest you bring him to the nearest hospital so he can get a more comprehensive treatment.”
“Some others also need your help, although Mr. Kwong has the worst injury out of them all.”
Dr. Song, the real one, looked at Zeno with wide eyes. “Are you a doctor?” she asked. He looked too young to be so knowledgeable.
Zeno pursed his lips. “No,” he answered. “Just acting to be one.”
“Huh?” Dr. Song muttered in confusion. Then, she focused her gaze on the patient, gasping when he saw the state he was in. The other doctors also began whispering to each other.
“Is that what I think it is?”
“A cricothyroidotomy with a pen tube? I’ve only read it in research papers. I’ve never seen one in real life.”
“I’ve seen one, but the patient died right away.”
Dr. Song knelt down and listened to Kwong’s breath sounds. Then, she stood back up to look at Zeno. “Did you do this?” she asked.
Zeno nodded. “Now, go. Change the cricothyroidotomy as soon as you guys land in the main city.”
Dr. Song was still amazed, but she nodded.
With that, Zeno began walking away. They watched as the doctors carried Kwong to the boat. Meanwhile, the rest tended to the injured ones.
“Wait!” Chaewon PD exclaimed, but Zeno kept walking.
Just then, Minseok ran over to him and pulled him back, making Zeno face everybody.
“Did you just kill that man?” Minseok exclaimed.
Zeno pursed his lips and massaged his aching head. He had been up there for quite a long time, too, so the effects were also getting to him.
“No,” Zeno answered with a small smirk, looking Minseok in the eyes. “But you nearly did. Jumping without even thinking of the people with you.”
Minseok’s eye twitched, and he was about to retort when those around them began voicing out their disappointment.
“He really is sleazy.”
“Yeah, he began acting like he was the most injured when only his measly beard was charred.”
“What an asshole.”
Minseok felt irritation surge through his veins, and he screamed before storming out of the filming set.
Meanwhile, Zeno looked at the other staff and actors, who were looking at him with amazement.
His head began hurting even more, and it was then that he felt the effects of the rescue on his body.
Just then, something popped up that made him even more nauseous.
[+1 Public Perception. Acknowledged for great life skills.]
[+1 Talent and Skills. Improved Acting. Got mistaken as a real doctor.]
[TALENTS]
Acting: A-
[Notable Meter: 17%]
And just like that, Zeno fell to the ground.