The Secret of the Height Increase Clinic
When Old Wang walked into the "Step by Step Higher" clinic, his heart was pounding. At a height of one meter sixty-eight, it had become the biggest obstacle in his life. Failed blind dates, setbacks at work, even the dancing grannies in the community would look at him with eyes that seemed to say, "How can you be so short?" He gritted his teeth and decided to try this unconventional method of "bone lengthening."
The clinic was decorated in a luxurious and glittering style, more like a high-end club than a hospital. The receptionist had a sweet smile, addressing him with "sir" at every turn, making Old Wang feel lightheaded. He was led into a small room where a doctor in a white coat was waiting for him. The doctor was young, wearing wire-rimmed glasses, looking refined and scholarly.
"Mr. Wang, we understand your situation. The bone lengthening surgery has immediate results, but..." the doctor adjusted his glasses, "of course, there are always risks."
Old Wang swallowed. He was aware of the risks, having seen terrifying failure stories online. But the thought of growing taller, of showing those snobs, made him feel it was all worthwhile.
"Doctor, how much taller can I get?" Old Wang's voice trembled slightly.
The doctor smiled, the smile somewhat meaningful. "That depends on your perseverance, and... our techniques."
The surgery went smoothly. Old Wang was in excruciating pain, but every morning, waking up to see the numbers on the leg braces increasing, he felt it was worth it. A month passed, and he had grown five centimeters. He began to look forward, imagining a better life after growing taller.
One day, during a follow-up, the doctor handed him a form. "Mr. Wang, congratulations, the surgery was a success. You have reached our minimum standard. Now we can proceed to the next step."
"Next step? What next step?" Old Wang took the form, puzzled. It listed a series of cold, clinical items.
"Bone age test, gene matching, psychological assessment, and... an organ donation agreement," the doctor said with a smile, his voice somewhat icy.
Old Wang was instantly stunned. He pointed at the words "organ donation" on the agreement, trembling, and asked, "What does this mean? I only came here to grow taller!"
The doctor didn't answer, but pressed a button on the table. The walls of the room began to move, revealing a huge glass enclosure. Inside, lay men with blurred faces, covered in tubes. They also wore similar height increase braces, but their eyes were empty and lifeless, as if they had lost their souls.
"We're not just about height increase," the doctor adjusted his glasses, his eyes filled with a kind of morbid excitement. "We're creating miracles. Providing... new lives for those in need."
Old Wang finally understood. The so-called height increase was just a facade. This clinic, under the guise of height enhancement, was engaging in organ trafficking. And the men lying in the glass enclosure were like a harvest of crops, their height a price paid for others’ lives.
He suddenly remembered the failure stories, the victims with pus-filled legs, unable to walk, even dying. They hadn't failed due to surgery; they were squeezed dry of their remaining value and then discarded.
He tried to escape, but the clinic's security had already blocked the door. The doctor slowly walked up to him and handed him a pen. "Mr. Wang, life is short. Why not contribute to society? Look, you've grown five centimeters, isn't that great?"
Looking at the doctor's smiling face, Old Wang felt overwhelming fear. He realized he had come here for more than just height; he had become a link in this absurd chain of profit.
"Oh, by the way, Mr. Wang," the doctor suddenly remembered something, "You're quite tall, with great potential. We can make you even taller. We have professional 'bone lengthening masters' here."
Old Wang looked at the ceiling. He saw a banner with a slogan written in bold red letters: Step by Step Higher, Peak of Life! He suddenly found the slogan incredibly glaring, ironic, and absurd.