Episode Summary
Zhang Chi misdiagnoses a young girl's encephalitis as tetanus, leading to severe self-blame. He later gets injured while stopping a patient's father from self-harm, potentially ending his surgical career. He decides to pursue research instead, supported by Qi Ji. Zheng Bo works on a pre-hospital alert software.
Spoiler Alert
Episode 14 of "The Top Speed" was packed with drama, both inside and outside the emergency room. The episode opens with Xiaofang, who is pregnant, experiencing pregnancy-induced hypertension and eclampsia. The Qi Ji team works together to save her, and she is successfully stabilized and sent to the hospital. Hua Zi, overcome with gratitude, kneels and thanks Qi Ji and the team.
Meanwhile, Chen Xue takes the initiative to become sworn siblings with Zheng Bo, even offering to set him up on dates. Zheng Bo is visibly annoyed by Chen Xue's constant presence, especially when she joins his calls with his father. He actively tries to avoid her, a sight that doesn't go unnoticed by Sun Jiaqi, who seems a bit jealous.
The drama continues with Zhang Chi attending a movie. After the film, a young girl, who is an art student, collapses and starts having convulsions. Zhang Chi rushes to help, noticing a deep wound on her elbow. Suspecting tetanus, he calls for assistance. The Gao Xing team arrives, and Zhang Chi accompanies them to the hospital. The girl's condition worsens, and Zhang Chi provides oxygen. At the hospital, doctors diagnose her with encephalitis. The girl's aunt causes a scene, and Zhang Chi is filled with self-reproach, believing his misdiagnosis worsened her condition.
Zhang Chi is deeply affected by the incident, refusing to eat or speak, and just lying on the sofa, lost in thought. Qi Ji tries to comfort him, pointing out that misdiagnoses happen, but Zhang Chi remains inconsolable. Qi Ji gives him a stern talking-to, urging him to rest. Zhang Beihai, Zhang Chi's father, learns about the misdiagnosis from Secretary Liu Zhigang and visits his son. He shares a story from his own past, when he and Liu Zhigang were young emergency doctors. They, too, had misdiagnosed a patient in a car accident, leading to the patient's death. Zhang Beihai encourages Zhang Chi to learn from the experience and prevent future tragedies, which slightly eases Zhang Chi's mind.
Zheng Bo has designed a 120 emergency alert and triage software during his university and he wants to improve his project. Sun Jiaqi is very supportive of the software and encourages Zheng Bo to apply for funding from the emergency center. Zheng Bo is hesitant, but Sun Jiaqi cheers him on.
Qi Ji's team is dispatched to pick up a young girl experiencing sudden abdominal pain at home. Qi Ji initially suspects food poisoning. The girl's father arrives at the hospital, claiming his daughter was fine earlier and accusing the medical team of foul play. He threatens them. As the medical staff works to save the girl, her father interferes and verbally abuses them. A nurse manages to calm him down.
The girl's father confronts Qi Ji and Zhang Chi, but Qi Ji receives a call from the command center for another emergency. The father forbids them to leave, so Zhang Chi volunteers to stay behind as a "hostage." The young girl requires a tracheotomy due to laryngeal edema, her father becomes hysterical, and he even threatens self-harm. Zhang Chi intervenes and gets stabbed in the hand. Zhang Chi's surgery is successful, but his chances of performing surgery again are slim. Qi Ji is heartbroken for Zhang Chi, who had always dreamed of returning to the operating table. Liu Zhigang and Director Lu also express their sorrow. Qi Ji musters the courage to visit Zhang Chi, encouraging him not to give up. Zhang Chi, unable to accept this harsh reality, asks for some time alone. Zhang Chi's childhood dream was to become a cardiac surgeon, just like his father.
Zhang Chi is admitted to the hospital. Patients who have heard of him flock to see him. Qi Ji brings him food and urges him to focus on recovery. Zhang Chi, knowing he can no longer perform surgery, wants to contribute in other ways and expresses his desire to join the research center, a decision Qi Ji fully supports. Zhang Chi struggles to eat with his injured hand, so Qi Ji feeds him. Zhang Beihai arrives to bring Zhang Chi food but sees this intimate moment from the doorway, smiles, and quietly leaves.
After Zhang Chi is discharged, Qi Ji picks him up. She excitedly reveals a "big secret": the jellyfish Zhang Chi has been raising are actually sea slugs. Zhang Chi, refusing to believe he was tricked, shows off his specialized surgical headlamp and glasses, boasting to Qi Ji.
