Episode Summary
Episode 6 focuses on the immense pressure on Xiao Feng as she cares for her terminally ill husband, and Dr. Zhang Jun's empathetic approach in supporting her. It also portrays the peaceful passing of an elderly patient, Zhu Ayi, who had made her final preparations. Zhang Jun gives a heartfelt speech about life and death at Yi Yi's kindergarten. Meanwhile, Shen Xin Xin continues to struggle with punctuality and feels increasingly isolated from his colleagues, Zhang Jun, Yu Shi, and Zhao Dong Cheng, especially after discovering their private group chat and being excluded from a training session. His frustration grows when Director Cheng appoints him deputy leader of a new "6s team," seemingly to make him responsible for more work.
Spoiler Alert
The episode kicks off with some tension around Bed 1, which is under Zhang Jun's care. The patient's wife, Xiao Feng, has been noticeably absent for a while. This, coupled with the patient becoming increasingly agitated, is putting a lot of pressure on the nursing staff. Zhang Jun, trying to manage the situation, reaches out to the patient's parents and younger brother. Their immediate assumption? Xiao Feng has simply decided she doesn't want to care for her husband anymore. Talk about a tough spot for her.
We then see Xiao Feng by herself at a bakery, having some cake. She even brings some back to the hospital. However, her father-in-law and brother-in-law are quick to criticize her for this moment of respite. Thankfully, her mother-in-law shows some understanding of the immense stress and difficulty Xiao Feng is enduring. Zhang Jun happens to overhear one of the nurses advising Xiao Feng to spend more time with her husband. He steps in, gently interrupting the nurse and reminding her about the importance of choosing her words carefully when communicating with family members in the hospice ward, given their fragile emotional state. Smart move, Zhang Jun. Afterward, he calls Xiao Feng into his office for a private chat.
Zhang Jun, showing his empathetic side, offers Xiao Feng a piece of cake and reassures her that taking a break and eating cake is not wrong, especially given how hard she's been working to care for her husband. This kindness allows Xiao Feng to open up. She reveals that she and her husband have been married for a year and a half, and he's been ill for the past six months. She's acutely aware that his time is limited. Her visit to the bakery wasn't really about enjoying the cake; it was more about escaping the oppressive atmosphere of the hospital room. She confesses to feeling trapped and incredibly selfish for wanting that escape. It's a raw and honest admission of the immense burden she's carrying.
In a somber turn of events, Grandma Zhu Ayi, the elderly patient in the bed next to Bed 1, passes away. Her husband is, understandably, heartbroken. We learn that their daughter had wanted to continue medical interventions, but her father made the difficult decision to let his wife go, unwilling to see her suffer any further. It seems Grandma Zhu Ayi found some measure of peace in her final days; she had painted her fingernails, chosen the clothes she wanted to wear for her passing, and even selected the photograph to be displayed at her memorial. It was a poignant farewell, marked by a sense of completion.
Shifting gears a bit, Zhang Jun is invited to Yi Yi's kindergarten to give a speech. He talks to the children about his work in a way they can understand. His core message is a profound one: they shouldn't be afraid of death. He explains that everyone who comes into this world will eventually reach the end of their life's journey, and because of this, it's vital to love and cherish the people around them in the time they have.
Now, let's check in with Shen Xin Xin, who seems to be having a perpetually rough time with punctuality. He's late for work yet again, and it's mentioned that his entire bonus for the month has already been docked due to his repeated tardiness. He always seems to have an excuse involving unexpected incidents on his commute. Later, Zhang Jun returns from a training session with some apples and thoughtfully brings two for Shen Xin Xin. This is how Shen Xin Xin discovers that Zhang Jun, Yu Shi, and Zhao Dong Cheng attended this training without him. Naturally, he's quite upset about being left out.
Adding to Shen Xin Xin's woes, Director Cheng announces the formation of a "6S team" (whatever that entails, it sounds very official) and appoints herself as the team leader. In a move that seems quite deliberate, she names the chronically late Shen Xin Xin as the deputy team leader. He feels he can't refuse and has to accept the role. He then has to accompany Director Cheng on inspections of the wards and office areas. Unsurprisingly, the task of organizing all the related documents falls squarely onto his shoulders – a clear setup by Director Cheng.
The final blow for Shen Xin Xin comes during lunchtime with his colleagues. He accidentally finds out that Yu Shi, Zhao Dong Cheng, and Zhang Jun have a private three-person group chat, excluding him. He was already feeling down because they hadn't had time to hang out with him over the weekend, but this new revelation of a secret chat makes him furious. He storms out of the restaurant without even finishing his meal. He even lingers outside for a moment, perhaps expecting Zhao Dong Cheng and the others to come out and look for him. When they don't, Shen Xin Xin leaves in a huff, clearly very angry. You can just feel the workplace drama simmering!
