Invasion of the United States

The 'X' virus is extremely infectious, with a pretty high fatality rate, but its true horror lies in its spread speed—once the infection rates soar, the healthcare system is the first to collapse.

If healthcare workers fall one by one, and ventilators, medication, and beds are all in critical shortage, the death toll will grow exponentially.

The underground hospital filled with painful moans and desperate cries is evidence of the healthcare system's complete breakdown.

The conditions here are considered "favorable"—each bed is equipped with monitors and life-support equipment, with tubes inserted and IVs administered, while nurses shuttle back and forth, diligently fulfilling their duties.

Zhou Qingfeng quietly hid the cart behind a fire door, ready to find the exit, when suddenly—

"Who are you?!"

A sharp voice came from the side.

He turned to see a black female nurse in her forties whose eyes watched him warily under her face shield.

Zhou Qingfeng opened his mouth, not yet thinking of an excuse, when the nurse stepped closer, demanding again, "Did you come from the subway station? This is the ICU, non-staff members are not allowed!"

The black nurse's gaze swept over his empty hands, then focused on his lack of protective gear, her brows furrowing even tighter.

"Sorry, I'm in the wrong place. I'll leave immediately." Without spotting the exit, Zhou Qingfeng decided to retreat to avoid alarming any guards.

Hearing his confident tone, and seeing he looked healthy and robust, the black nurse asked, "Are you infected by the virus?"

"Uh... no," Zhou Qingfeng confessed.

"You have antibodies, right?" The nurse suddenly got excited, "Did you get into the subway hoping to find a way out because of the city lockdown?

It's useless, every area is closed off, you can't get out. But now that you're here, you can't wander off. You can't leave once you come to us."

Zhou Qingfeng took a closer look, and the badge on the nurse's chest read 'Debra Williams', her position was 'Head Nurse'.

This senior Head Nurse pressed the button on her chest communicator, calling out, "Shanni, bring the antibody test kit, there's a strong lad here. Let's see if he can help ease our pressure." Thanks for reading—brought to you by M|VL|EMPYR.

What?!

Zhou Qingfeng was a bit puzzled, muttering, "Ma'am, I've genuinely come to the wrong place, I'm... an illegal immigrant, not fit to stay here."

The Head Nurse suddenly said sternly, "Listen, kid, don't make me call security. I don't care if you're illegal or not, even if you're Satan, you better listen up."

Soon, a white female nurse in protective gear came over, holding equipment for a rapid virus antibody test—a small device like a blood sugar tester.

The Head Nurse firmly took Zhou Qingfeng's hand, pricked his fingertip to collect some blood, dripped it onto the test strip, and inserted it into the small device.

Soon after, the device lit up green.

"Good, we have a strong orderly," the Head Nurse announced, giving Zhou Qingfeng's chest a hearty punch. "Wow... Shanni, this guy is your advantage."

The white nurse sized up Zhou Qingfeng, asking, "Name?"

"Victor."

"Korean, Japanese, or Vietnamese descent?"

"Chinese."

"You're not naturalized yet?"

"I'm not a United States citizen."

"I figured."

The white nurse led Zhou Qingfeng to the hospital office, finding an unopened protective suit and tossing it to him, "Listen up, I'm Shanni, and you're under my command now."

Uh... holding the suit, Zhou Qingfeng began to stammer.

"I've been working continuously for seventy-two hours with little rest, my temper is bad, and my spirit isn't great, don't anger me."

Behind her face shield, the nurse's face was gaunt, with large dark circles under her eyes. Her speech was rapid and urgent, clearly indicating her mood was not good.

"Quickly put on the protective suit, I'll give you some work. There are staff shortages everywhere, as long as you can work, I don't care where you're from."

The nurse wrote 'Victor' on two A4 sheets, pasted one on Zhou Qingfeng's chest and another on his back, and also handed him a communicator to wear on his chest.

As for the nurse herself, on her protective suit, front and back, her name and a message were written with a marker, "Hang in there, Shanni Costa. God be with you!"

-----------------

The scent of disinfectant mixed with vomit and excrement fermented in the poorly ventilated space. Everyone entering the underground hospital couldn't help but furrow their brows.

Under the ghastly lights, the medical staff in protective suits moved like specters. And Zhou Qingfeng inexplicably became a "temporary orderly" in this underground hospital.

"Victor! C3 bed needs to be cleaned!" Shanni's hoarse shout came through the radio.

He quickly walked toward the specified bed.

The United States has many obese patients, one weighing at least three hundred pounds had just died, requiring the bed to be cleared swiftly.

Typically requiring three nurses to handle, but here—

"You grab the shoulders, and I'll take the legs." Shanni's thin arms contrasted sharply with the deceased's burly body. She meant for them to handle it together.

"I know, most people have a psychological aversion to the deceased, but you have to overcome that now..."

Zhou Qingfeng slightly bent down, gripping the deceased's hefty shoulders. With tensed muscles, he steadily lifted the heavy body.

Shanni, momentarily stunned, soon had the body bag on the gurney opened, allowing Zhou Qingfeng to place the body inside.

This type of task usually takes four or five women or at least two ordinaries, and even then, it might take four to five minutes to complete.

Zhou Qingfeng, very strong, easily managed it alone in just over ten seconds, showing no reluctance towards the body.

"Victor, were you a weightlifter before?" Shanni's eyes widened.

"No," Zhou Qingfeng shook his head, just used to it.

Before he could speak, the radio suddenly blared, "Bed B13 needs urgent intubation, the patient's reaction is too intense, someone come help!"

Shanni grabbed Zhou Qingfeng's wrist, "Follow me!" As they ran, she spoke rapidly, "Soon you'll need to restrain the patient, remember, don't let go no matter what happens!"

On Bed B13, a burly male patient was convulsing violently. Four or five medical staff tried to restrain him but were easily tossed away.

"Virus-induced neurological symptoms!" the attending doctor shouted, "Sedate immediately, hold him down fast!"

The patient, in an unconscious state, had muscles spasming with incredible strength. Zhou Qingfeng lunged forward, forcibly holding down the patient's shoulders.

"Hold firm!" The attending doctor injected a sedative into the IV. As the drug took effect, the patient finally calmed down gradually.

The surrounding medical staff looked at Zhou Qingfeng differently. What's most needed in a hospital? Not high-skilled doctors or seasoned nurses, but strong labor workers to handle tasks.

In the next hour, Zhou Qingfeng: transported eight tanks of liquid oxygen (each weighing up to 80 kg); assisted in six critical patient transfers; manually fixed a jammed elevator door.

Someone drew a crude sketch of a Superman symbol on the nurse station's whiteboard, scrawling 'Victor' beneath it—Zhou Qingfeng hastily wiped it off.

He whirled around the different wards like a top. His high efficiency suddenly made operations throughout zone B smooth.

A half-hour later, Shanni found herself unexpectedly having a brief moment to catch her breath.

Dragging her heavy steps back to the temporary office, she collapsed headfirst onto the makeshift 'desk' formed by stacked medication boxes, falling asleep instantly.

The scene evoked a pang of sympathy.

"Shanni! Zone two needs support!" The Head Nurse's irritable call blared over the radio. After several unanswered attempts, Nurse Debra fumed as she pushed open the office door.

Upon seeing Shanni asleep, she was about to erupt when Zhou Qingfeng stepped in, "Let Shanni sleep.

Otherwise, she'll be the next one on a hospital bed. If it's lifting work, I'll do it."

The Head Nurse regarded Zhou Qingfeng with a penetrating gaze. Finally, she sighed, "You're right, Shanni is exhausted and needs rest.

But..." The Head Nurse turned and opened the door, "Come with me, young man. There's always work in the hospital, and many female nurses who need your help."